Chapter 23: Why Does This Honor Belong to Jian An?
The sound of clicking keys echoed in the vast, luxurious room. Rows of data scrolled continuously on the computer screen.
Suddenly, a familiar name slid past quickly, but Shen Chuyan still noticed it immediately.
He clicked the mouse in disbelief, gradually enlarging the interface until he carefully confirmed the name “Jian An” on the art competition registration form.
Why did this person sign up too?!
It shouldn’t be. Ever since Jian An entered the Ji family, he had never participated in any competitions, let alone a large-scale international painting competition like this.
Could it be that he wanted to use this opportunity to make a name for himself? Did he want Ji Songting to look at him in a new light?
Shen Chuyan felt an instant sense of crisis.
The Venice Italy Art Competition was invested in and sponsored by many famous people. The participants and mentors were all top-tier domestic and international figures, and the management was exceptionally strict. Removing someone’s name from the registration list was harder than climbing to heaven.
“Jian An, why do you have to snatch everything from me!”
Shen Chuyan’s fingers gripped the water glass until they turned white. He stared at the screen through gritted teeth, his eyes full of anger and hatred.
He had previously taken several oil paintings from Jian An’s office and presented them as his own work to the dean of a highly respected art academy in Yaocheng for evaluation.
As expected, the dean was actually willing to buy and collect them for the astronomical price of one million!
At that time, Shen Chuyan had rejected the offer using the excuse that his painting technique wasn’t refined enough. While he listened to the praise from many senior professors, his heart was burning with resentment.
Why did this honor belong to Jian An?
He was going to snatch away everything that belonged to that man!
Just as his jealousy was peaking, his phone suddenly vibrated. The caller ID made him freeze.
After hesitating for a long time, Shen Chuyan finally grew impatient with the ringing. He answered the phone and said irritably:
“Hello? Is something wrong?”
A drunken man’s voice came through the phone, carrying a hint of flirtation:
“Xiao Yan… I miss you. I’m at your front door… come out and open the door for me…”
The person was the eldest son of the Jian family, Jian Yufeng.
Hearing this, Shen Chuyan was so scared he instantly sprang up from his chair. His usually weak voice became sharp:
“What? Who told you to come here? Get lost!”
Fortunately, it was already the early hours of the morning, and both Father and Mother Shen had long since gone to sleep. Otherwise, if Jian Yufeng made a scene, it might reach Ji Songting’s ears the next day.
On the other end, Jian Yufeng became interested in his embarrassed and angry reaction. He threatened unhurriedly:
“Leaving me outside the door, are you? Just wait. I’ll have Chairman Shen come down and open the door himself. I’m really looking forward to seeing the surprised look on his face…”
Immediately after, Shen Chuyan heard two light knocks on the door through the phone. His heart instantly leapt into his throat, and he compromised in a panic:
“Don’t! I’m coming down. Stop knocking!”
Jian Yufeng let out a satisfied chuckle. “Little thing, as if I couldn’t handle you. I’m waiting for you…”
Hanging up the phone, Shen Chuyan threw his phone onto the bed in anger. The more he thought about it, the more aggrieved he felt.
If it weren’t for some unavoidable reasons, he would never have to be held in the palm of this profligate playboy, Jian Yufeng. It was too humiliating!
He adjusted his emotions and put on a coat. Before leaving, he specifically deleted and turned off the surveillance footage.
At the door, the man reeking of alcohol leaned crookedly against the wall. His arms were crossed, and a frivolous smile played on his lips. He was the perfect image of a wasteful, rich young master.
The moment Shen Chuyan came out, he pulled the man forcefully behind the tall bushes. He looked around cautiously, and only after ensuring no one had seen them did he breathe a sigh of relief and scold:
“What do you want? It’s not good if people see us!”
The man suddenly leaned in, his alcohol-laden breath fanning across Shen Chuyan’s neck. His restless hands moved back and forth on his waist as he smiled suggestively:
“Why is baby so nervous?”
This sudden contact made Shen Chuyan push him away abruptly, and then he slapped the man hard across the face, saying angrily:
“Young Master Jian, please have some self-respect! I already have someone I like! I’m warning you, keep your hands off me!”
This loud slap landed perfectly on his face, instantly sobering Jian Yufeng quite a bit.
He raised his thumb to lightly wipe the corner of his mouth and looked at the youth with a poisonous and aggressive gaze.
Being glared at like this made Shen Chuyan feel uneasy. He immediately put his hands behind his back and stammered:
“What… what are you looking at? You’re the one who made me angry first. Getting slapped… you deserve it!”
The man couldn’t help but sneer. “How can you be so stubborn when I have dirt on you? I’m starting to like your despicable and shameless personality more and more. I wonder what Ji Songting would do if he knew that you’re a ‘little white rabbit’ in public and a ‘big bad wolf’ in private?”
Hearing this, Shen Chuyan was nervous for a moment, but then he blinked his wet eyes innocently and said sinfully:
“You haven’t even gotten a piece of the big cake that is the Ji Group yet. Isn’t it a bit unwise to expose your partner so early?”
“Every time I see this slutty, seductive look of yours, I want to handle you right here on the spot.”
Jian Yufeng’s eyes were hazy with lust as he continued:
“So when can you replace Jian An and enter the Ji family? In recent years, the Jian Group’s stock has fallen seriously. If we don’t find a way to recover the losses, we’ll be swallowed and acquired by other enterprises. You must help me.”
“Why are you rushing me? Do you think I don’t want to enter the Ji family? It’s all because of that old thing, Ji Xiao.”
Shen Chuyan felt a bit nauseous seeing his expression. He backed away a few steps, his tone carrying a bit of evasion and testing:
“And I’m just an art professor. I know nothing about business management. How can I help you?”
To his surprise, the other person didn’t care and teased:
“Then I can only make your secret public and see who loses the most…”
“You…!”
The curtains were drawn tight, making the room pitch black. Only a small, dim yellow desk lamp on the nightstand cast a faint glow over the large bed.
The person on the bed made no movement.
Chen Ma turned on the light. Seeing that Jian An was still breathing, she let out a silent sigh of relief. Then she saw the cold food on the table, not a single bite taken.
“Mr. Jian, why aren’t you eating? Your body won’t be able to take it. Ji-zong specifically instructed me to keep you alive.”
The person curled into a ball was trembling, saying in a faint voice: “I can’t eat. Don’t send any more…”
To this, Chen Ma didn’t indulge him. She threw the rice onto the table and roughly dragged him out of bed. One hand pressed against his back while the other held the bag, she said:
“Listen, this old woman is soft-hearted. I went to the hospital to buy medicine for you. If you really want to die, no one will stop you!”
Jian An leaned against the bed, half-dead. Hearing this sentence that sounded like she was frustrated he wasn’t living up to expectations, the heart that had been submerged in stagnant water finally rippled.
“I want to live…”
Recommended Reads
![Those Years When the Son of Destiny Was Severely Scammed [Quick Transmigration]](https://beereads.space/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/QUICK-TRANSMIGRATION1-214x300.jpg)
