CHAPTER 235: CHAPTER 233: DO YOU ADMIRE MY SECOND BROTHER VERY MUCH?

After being released, Du Mingrui found a hospital to briefly treat her injuries and then headed straight for Jiang Qimeng’s villa.

The nanny, seeing a woman covered in wounds, was so frightened that she scrambled inside to report, "Miss Jiang, there’s someone outside..."

Before she could finish, Du Mingrui kicked open the main door and charged in, landing several slaps across Jiang Qimeng’s face.

The force was so great that the sound echoed throughout the living room.

Jiang Qimeng, completely baffled and unable to react in time, took several slaps. She screamed in rage, "Du Mingrui, how did you get released?"

She had just received word that Jian Chuxin had captured her.

She was supposed to be dead! Why is she standing in front of me? Doesn’t Jian Xi dare to kill anyone? Doesn’t she know how to send people to prison? Isn’t she extremely fond of lawsuits? This is absolutely infuriating!

With a sinister laugh, Du Mingrui glared at Jiang Qimeng like a demon from hell. "You used me as a pawn, made me confront Jian Xi and the Jian Family, while you sat back and reaped the benefits! When trouble arose, you threw me out to take the fall! How can there be someone as malicious as you in this world? Jiang Qimeng, you truly deserve to die!"

She lunged forward in a frenzy, gripping Jiang Qimeng’s neck and squeezing with all her might.

Jiang Qimeng’s eyes rolled back as she gasped, "Help me! Help—"

She struggled frantically, pounding on Du Mingrui’s arms. But lacking Du Mingrui’s strength, she thrashed about like a kite with a severed string, unable to draw a breath. "Du Mingrui, spare me! I can give you lots and lots of money!"

"I’ve already been blacklisted! I have no future! I don’t want your money—I want your life!"

Du Mingrui tightened her grip, and Jiang Qimeng could only make choked sounds.

"Are you all just standing there like statues? Pull her off!"

The terrified nannies rushed forward to pull them apart, but they were no match for Du Mingrui in her desperate fury and were flung aside.

Just as Jiang Qimeng thought she was about to die, having experienced death up close—

BANG!

The person attacking her suddenly collapsed.

The grip on her neck loosened. Air rushed into Jiang Qimeng’s nostrils; she inhaled frantically, coughing nonstop.

Si Junyan tossed aside the stick in his hand and rushed over to help Jiang Qimeng. "Dream Sister, are you okay?"

If he hadn’t arrived in time, the consequences would have been unimaginable.

Jiang Qimeng, seething with rage, viciously kicked the fallen Du Mingrui several times. "You tried to kill me, and now you’ve fallen into my hands! You damned thing! How dare you shout at me in my own house? Go to hell!"

She kicked Du Mingrui’s vital spots, and the unconscious woman coughed up several mouthfuls of blood.

Si Junyan’s eyelids twitched. He hadn’t expected Dream Sister to be even more ruthless than he’d imagined. He’d assumed that any woman, after such an ordeal, would be terrified, but he hadn’t anticipated her striking back.

Suddenly remembering Si Junyan was beside her, Jiang Qimeng suppressed her rage, put on a terrified expression, and immediately threw herself into his arms, sobbing, "Thank goodness you arrived in time! Otherwise, I would really be dead now! How could she be so cruel? Just because I couldn’t help her, she wanted to kill me! What kind of friend is that? She’s a demon!"

"There, there, Dream Sister. You’re so kindhearted; you’ll always be bullied by such scoundrels. You should stop associating with these unsavory characters from now on."

Jiang Qimeng clenched her back teeth. If I don’t associate with these ’unsavory characters,’ how can I expect him to accomplish anything significant for me!

Although she inwardly resented that he had done precious little for her ambitions since becoming president of Haohan Group, she concealed her feelings and took the opportunity to hint, "I do wish to associate with genuine ladies of high society, but they’re all so arrogant. How could they possibly pay any attention to me? Especially after what happened this time..."

She trailed off, subtly implying that Jian Chuxin’s one "handsome man ploy" had caused all of Si Junyan’s efforts to go down the drain.

Her words irritated Si Junyan, filling him with annoyance and guilt. He coughed awkwardly. "Dream Sister, don’t worry. What are those snobbish women? If you want to associate with anyone, it should be with the truly elite ladies of the world. In two months, the International Charity Gala will be held. You’ll be my date, and I guarantee you’ll outshine everyone there and become the object of their envy."

"Really?"

She had never attended such a top-tier gala before!

The physical pain she felt was nearly forgotten as her face lit up with joy.

Si Junyan nodded repeatedly. "I’ve already received the invitation. Very few women in the country are qualified to attend an event of this caliber."

"That’s wonderful! I need to start preparing early."

She glanced at Du Mingrui, who was still lying on the ground. "Then I’ll leave her to you. I’m going abroad immediately to select an evening gown."

"Alright."

***

Jian Xi received news that Si Junyan’s men had broken Du Mingrui’s arms and legs and thrown her into a barren wasteland to fend for herself.

Wan Yu, who was sitting next to Jian Xi, couldn’t help but shiver when she heard the news. "That despicable pair! They really play dirty. Someone with broken limbs thrown out there won’t last more than three days."

"By then, even her bones will have been gnawed clean. She’ll have completely disappeared, and even the police won’t be able to do anything."

A cold glint flashed in Jian Xi’s eyes. "They, too, will eventually receive the same punishment."

She placed the last champagne-colored rose into the vase, suddenly losing all interest in admiring the arrangement.

Resting her chin in her hand, Wan Yu commented, "Du Mingrui is truly useless. She couldn’t even handle Jiang Qimeng."

Jian Xi wasn’t surprised in the slightest. If she died that easily, the game wouldn’t be fun. "Get ready. Mother’s birthday banquet is about to begin. This is an excellent opportunity for you to shine, future sister-in-law."

At the mention of Jian Mingcheng, Wan Yu’s face instantly flushed crimson.

***

Mother Jian’s birthday banquet was held at the Jian Family’s old residence. Unlike previous years, today’s celebration was very homey. Apart from the Jian brothers, only Wan Yu was invited.

Yet, the atmosphere was doubly lively.

The servants had already prepared banners and flowers for the birthday celebration. Following Jian Chuxin’s instructions, his team had also set up scented candles, more banners, and balloons.

The event was set up near the swimming pool, where a grand piano had been placed, seemingly in the middle of the water.

Melodious piano music began to fill the air.

Jian Chuxin played with flamboyant passion, his slender fingers dancing over the black and white keys with relish. Each note seemed to strike a chord in people’s hearts. What was meant to be a small family banquet felt as grand as a concert thanks to his arrangements.

Dressed in a tailcoat, he was as strikingly handsome as a divine masterpiece, breathtakingly so. His perfectly sculpted, lean and streamlined physique, enveloped in the tuxedo, exuded an air of nobility. Even every strand of his hair was meticulously styled with aristocratic precision. He seemed to merge seamlessly with the beautiful scenery.

The ambient lights and vibrant colors of the party paled in comparison to his splendor.

As Wan Yu drew closer, she couldn’t help but exclaim, "From a professional standpoint, Jian Chuxin is truly a once-in-a-century superstar, as perfect as a work of art. If I ever had the chance to develop such a new talent in my career, it would undoubtedly be the most glorious achievement on my résumé."

"Is that so? I didn’t realize you admired my younger brother so much," Jian Mingcheng remarked casually, having appeared behind her at some point.