Chapter 38: Ripping the Mask Off
“You…”
Zhang Xin bit her lip, a hint of embarrassment flashing in her eyes. Chen Jiamu raised his index finger to his lips. “You’re too noisy.”
“If you want to maintain your reputation in the company, don’t provoke me.”
“Otherwise, I’ll expose everything about your ‘fish-keeping’ activities. I don’t care about face.”
“It’ll be a lose-lose situation. No one will be able to stay at Jingyi.”
Chen Jiamu spoke clearly, leaving no room for negotiation.
Zhang Xin didn’t understand. How long had it been since they last saw each other? Chen Jiamu was a completely different person, a far cry from the gentle and polite man she knew.
Did she do something too excessive, and he was still angry?
“Does it have to come to this?”
“Can’t we just be friends?”
Zhang Xin reached out to grab his hand, but Chen Jiamu didn’t give her the chance, dodging her as she approached.
“Friends?”
“Why didn’t you say that a year ago?”
“Now that there’s a better choice, I’m naturally eliminated, right?”
Chen Jiamu’s words were too blunt. Zhang Xin didn’t know how to respond, only fidgeting awkwardly.
“I had my reasons…”
After a long pause, Zhang Xin uttered these false words, her tone soft and full of grievance.
“Cut it out.”
“Your reason is that you need money, and I’m poor and can’t give you what you want, right?”
“If you had explained it from the beginning, I wouldn’t have wasted a year on you.”
“Zhang Xin, you’re actually quite disgusting.”
“I’ve said my piece. It’s up to you. If you push me too far, don’t blame me for ruining you.”
After Chen Jiamu finished, the elevator doors opened. He stepped out and left without looking back.
Leaving Zhang Xin dumbfounded at the elevator entrance…
When Chen Jiamu arrived at the private room of the restaurant across the street, Li Qi had been waiting for a while.
“Why are you so late?” Seeing him arrive, Li Qi told the waiter they could serve the food, not forgetting to mention it.
“Ran into an idiot on the way. It’s nothing.”
Chen Jiamu poured himself a glass of water and drank it in one gulp. He didn’t say much, and Li Qi didn’t ask.
The food was prepared in advance. Li Qi kept it warm while Chen Jiamu was delayed.
As soon as the food arrived, Chen Jiamu’s stomach started rumbling. He patted his belly and exclaimed, “Starving! Starving!”
“Eat, eat more.”
Li Qi was amused by his actions and picked up a piece of sparerib for him.
With food in front of him, Chen Jiamu shut up, and the private room fell silent.
They ate quietly, occasionally commenting on which dish was delicious.
Halfway through, Li Qi suddenly asked, “You have such a big family business, but you’re here in my small operation. Won’t your parents hunt you down?”
“My sister is here. As long as she’s here, I won’t be hunted down.”
“Besides, half of the company is my sister’s hard work. If I suddenly take over, how would she feel?”
“My family’s old men are terribly patriarchal. They said that after my sister gets the company running smoothly, I’ll take over. Then, they’ll find a suitable marriage partner for my sister to consolidate the Chen family’s position.”
“Listen to this. They’re using my sister as a pawn. My parents didn’t say anything, so they obviously agree with this idea.”
“But I can’t accept it.”
Only in front of Li Qi could Chen Jiamu pour out this bitterness he’d held in for a year.
He accidentally overheard this news when he was about to graduate. His family was having a meeting, and he overheard it by chance.
“So, you came to Su City not to chase a girl, but for your sister?”
Li Qi finally understood. Otherwise, he couldn’t understand why Chen Jiamu would give up so much for a woman.
He had wondered if Zhang Xin meant something different to him…
“I have money; what kind of woman haven’t I seen?”
“Is Zhang Xin, that empty-headed airhead, worth my trouble to come all this way?”
“She only has her looks. As for her intelligence, I don’t even want to talk about it.”
Speaking of Zhang Xin, Chen Jiamu couldn’t stop expressing his disdain. Even the crayfish couldn’t stop him.
“So, how long do you plan to stay here?”
“If you don’t go back, your family will find a way to get you back. You won’t be able to change anything. Your sister will still be pushed out by your family’s elders.”
“Marriage is inevitable, it’s just a matter of time.”
“Perhaps, even without you, your sister would still be pushed into an arranged marriage.”
Li Qi’s words were cruel, but that’s the reality of wealthy families; girls’ choices are often not in their hands.
If they find a suitable and normal marriage partner, their life will be happy.
If not, their future is predictable.
“What should we do?”
“Based on my sister’s personality, if they arrange a partner for her, she’ll probably crack their skulls.”
“But one person’s strength is not enough…”
Chen Jiamu felt sorry for Chen Cheng, but he didn’t have a better solution. He could delay it for a while, not wanting to worry Chen Cheng or let their relationship grow distant.
“You…”
Li Qi was about to offer a solution, but his emotions choked him.
If he gave Chen Jiamu advice, Chen Jiamu would return to Beicheng, and they would have to communicate long-distance.
It would be hard to see him…
What if Chen Jiamu liked someone else in Beicheng?
What if his family arranged a blind date for him?
What if…
What if Chen Jiamu forgot about him?
He could see that Chen Jiamu only had friendly feelings for him now. Because of their connection four years ago, he was completely unguarded around him.
He’d been pining for four years because of his sudden departure…
He remembered him because of this. If they made peace, and he returned to Beicheng, Li Qi couldn’t imagine if Chen Jiamu would distance himself from him…
Bang…
The sound of a glass falling. Li Qi looked down, realizing he had dropped his water glass.
His palms were sweaty…
“What’s wrong?”
“Your face looks pale.”
While eating spareribs, Chen Jiamu heard the noise, looked up, and saw Li Qi’s pale face.
“Nothing, I slipped.”
Li Qi bent down to pick up the glass, no longer in the mood to eat. His gaze was fixed on Chen Jiamu, who was eating.
Noticing the gaze, Chen Jiamu looked up, and Li Qi immediately looked away…
“But, speaking of which, do you have any ideas?”
“To prevent my sister from being pushed into an arranged marriage?”
At Chen Jiamu’s question, Li Qi lowered his eyes and reluctantly shook his head. “From what you said, it seems the only way is for you to stay away for now.”
“As long as you don’t go back, they can’t get your sister married.”
“After all, the company needs someone to manage it, and your parents don’t work in the company.”
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