Chapter 381: Chapter 379: Catching Someone by Surprise
"She’s just asking for trouble!" Wan Yu snorted, not considering Xinxin worthy of her attention.
Jian Xi spoke casually, "Are you afraid that if she really becomes Mrs. Si, she’ll come after you in the future?"
"What a joke! If Si Yuhuan could fancy someone like her, I’d pull my brain out and let you kick it like a ball," Wan Yu said confidently. "When it comes to matters of the heart, I have quite a bit of say. Si Yuhuan is completely focused on you now; he can’t look away."
"Stop talking nonsense," Jian Xi blushed.
"It’s just some self-important women who think they can snag a Diamond Bachelor. Let me tell you, with ten years of experience in this field, men often present themselves as prey, but they are actually the hunters. Why would a hunter let himself be caught by another hunter he doesn’t even like?"
What a powerful theory.
Jian Xi sighed. "It doesn’t matter who Si Yuhuan loves or who he ends up with. I’m more concerned about when Mingming can come back."
With her fourth brother looking after him, Jian Xi felt considerably calmer. But he was her own son, and her entire heart ached to fly to his side.
She had tried to go downstairs to wait several times, but Si Yuhuan had pulled her back each time.
"Just wait a little longer; it’ll be soon," Wan Yu comforted her.
Jian Xi glanced at Si Yuhuan.
The man seemed to have eyes in the back of his head. He turned and met her gaze precisely. Jian Xi, flustered, hurriedly lowered her head.
"I’m really afraid he lost today."
"See? I told you, you’re worried."
"Nonsense! If he loses everything, I’m just afraid Xinxin will turn tail and run."
"Heavens, could that woman be so heartless and ungrateful?" Wan Yu clicked her tongue.
The exhibition hall started to bustle with activity.
"It looks like the results are about to be announced," Wan Yu said, pulling Jian Xi along with her.
On stage stood a man of average height, with a scholarly and refined aura. He wore black-framed glasses and had the meticulous air of a tech professional.
He spoke fluently in a foreign language, lavishly praising Salsi Group.
With a resonant announcement,
"Please welcome our President Fu to the stage!"
Wan Yu looked at Jian Xi. "It’s over. Tianyao Group really did stab us in the back."
Jian Xi’s heart lurched. Did Si Yuhuan fail?
She instinctively hurried over and sat down beside him.
Xinxin’s expression was already quite strained.
Looking up at Jian Xi, Xinxin nodded in acknowledgment, then picked up her bag. "I’m sorry, Director Si, I need to step out for a moment."
Wan Yu came over, feigning surprise. "It’s not over yet. Aren’t you going to stay and see?"
"No, thank you!" Xinxin forced a smile and turned to leave.
"Hey, hey, hey—"
Wan Yu pointed at her. Xinxin glanced back at the still-unmoved Si Yuhuan, clenched her jaw as if making a difficult decision, and then turned to leave.
Jian Mingcheng intercepted her.
"Miss Xin, regardless of the outcome, remember to do your job well. The Jian Family will not treat you unfairly."
Seeing his cool, polite demeanor, one hand in his pocket, Wan Yu immediately had stars in her eyes.
"Your older brother is so handsome!"
Jian Xi merely pursed her lips and said nothing.
Xinxin gave him a forced smile. "Alright!" I’d be a fool not to take the money.
Wan Yu looked down at Si Yuhuan with a hint of schadenfreude. "Looks like you’ve been abandoned."
Si Yuhuan glanced at her, ignoring the enthusiastic conversation between Fu Shengyuan and Purda on stage. His gaze was fixed steadfastly on Jian Xi. "If I really went bankrupt, would you leave me?"
Jian Xi didn’t answer. Jian Mingcheng stepped forward to speak for her, "There was never anything between you two! Si Yuhuan, don’t think that helping find the child gives you the right to threaten Xixi however you want!"
He angrily stood in front of Jian Xi. "Don’t forget how you hurt her back then! Si Yuhuan, the path to reconciliation isn’t that easy to walk!"
"It seems I’ve fallen on hard times. Are you all planning to kick me while I’m down?"
Wan Yu grew a little nervous.
The tension between the two was palpable; the atmosphere was frozen.
Fortunately, everyone’s attention was on the stage, so no one noticed them here.
"I won’t kick you while you’re down. I remember what I promised you. Regardless of the outcome, I will honor my commitment. If you really go bankrupt, I’ll return Yaowang Group to you."
Wan Yu’s eyes widened. "Xixi, are you out of your mind?"
Jian Xi was incredibly serious. "I hope you’ll manage Yaowang Group well. After all, it represents all my hard work."
Suddenly, Purda concluded his cordial exchange with Fu Shengyuan, and the audience erupted in applause.
Si Yuhuan hadn’t heard what Jian Xi said.
Just as she was about to repeat herself, she heard Purda announce, "Thank you all for being here today! The result of today’s bidding is that, from this moment forward, Salsi Group will become a part of Haohan Group! Director Si Yuhuan! Please come to the stage!"
The entire venue fell silent.
The smile on Fu Shengyuan’s face instantly vanished.
Under the watchful eyes of everyone present, Si Yuhuan walked towards the stage, step by step.
Wan Yu pinched her own arm hard. "Ouch, it hurts! Is this really happening?"
She hadn’t misheard. Purda had just announced that he would officially collaborate with Fu Shengyuan, and that the two of them would work together to build a future.
How could the company be handed over to Si Yuhuan in the blink of an eye?
What on earth had he done?
Everyone present harbored the same question.
Only Jian Mingcheng’s eyes grew deeper, his emotions unreadable.
Jian Xi kept her lips pressed together, offering no comment.
Whispers rippled through the crowd below. "Did Fu Shengyuan just have to swallow that bitter pill? He signed a cooperation agreement with Purda, and then Purda turned around and sold the company to Haohan Group. Purda plays both sides so he never loses! How is that guy so good at exploiting loopholes?"
"Look at Fu Shengyuan’s face; it’s as dark as thunder, like he’s ready to kill someone. Haohan Group has now completely torn away all pretense with Tianyao Group."
"I heard Tianyao Group was still throwing its weight around and antagonizing Jian Group just a few days ago. Do you think it’s possible Si Yuhuan managed to acquire Salsi Group because of..."
All eyes converged on Jian Xi.
He used his ex-wife to climb the ladder, acquired Salsi Group, and instantly reclaimed his position as the wealthiest man.
Si Yuhuan’s masterful reversal stunned countless people. No one knew how he had orchestrated it; they were more inclined to believe Jian Xi had played a role.
Fu Shengyuan, who also believed Jian Xi had played a crucial part, shot her a look as cold as the dead of winter—a frigidity Jian Xi had never witnessed from him before.
Jian Xi bit her lip, unable to utter a single word.
She stared intently at Si Yuhuan.
Si Yuhuan’s lips curved into a smile as he signed his name on the document and exchanged it with Purda. After both had signed again, he raised the contract in his hand towards Jian Xi.
This gesture effectively "confirmed" Jian Xi’s "complicity" in the eyes of the onlookers.
Those not in the know chuckled. "So it really was a joint power play. No wonder Fu Shengyuan was outmaneuvered. Tianyao Group must have suffered a significant loss this time. Their ambition to break into the international top ten is likely dashed."
"Well, fortunes change. Who can say for sure!"
Under everyone’s gaze, Fu Shengyuan turned to face Si Yuhuan and extended a hand. "Congratulations, Director Si. You truly are full of surprises."