"Give my equity in New Fashion Media to him."

Wan Yu hesitated, then said, "Okay." 𝒻𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝘯𝘰𝑣ℯ𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝘮

But Zhou Yan wouldn’t accept it anyway. What a habit her close girlfriend had, scattering wealth as if she were the Prodigal Son himself.

"Honestly, you look just like Si Yuhuan in the old days; it’s uncanny."

"What nonsensical thing are you saying!" Jian Xi muttered.

Wan Yu giggled, "Using money to buy peace, huh?"

Upon reflection, it indeed seemed a bit immoral. But these uncontrollable feelings couldn’t be forced when there was no affection. Zhou Yan was different from Zhang Yaxuan; if she agreed to be with him, he would only fall deeper, and if he ended up losing his life over it, it would be an unbearable loss! The chaos that had happened to her couldn’t be allowed to replay in someone else’s life. And the protagonist would still be herself.

...

Jian Xi couldn’t sleep all night. Her mind was filled with debts of romance.

At midnight, Zhang Yaxuan knocked on her door. "Aren’t you sleeping?"

Jian Xi turned over, got up, and opened the door. Pulling her clothes around her, she asked, "What’s up?"

"I saw the light in your room and knew you weren’t asleep. I’m returning this to you."

The card balance was fifty million.

"You know everything?"

Zhang Yaxuan gave a bitter smile. "Isn’t it obvious?"

Wan Yu, you unreliable guy!

Jian Xi gritted her teeth. "Fine, I’ll accept it. Consider it as you depositing it with me. Zhang Yaxuan, without me, this painting would definitely fetch a higher price at auction than what I gave you. Let’s consider it part of my collection."

"Jian Xi, actually, I’ve long since wanted to leave this circle."

Now it was Jian Xi’s turn to be surprised.

Fame! Artwork selling for sky-high prices! For all painters, these things were often illusory goals!

Zhang Yaxuan’s words were like opening a new world for Jian Xi.

"I never wished for fame, and neither did I wish for my painstaking work to be auctioned off for high prices. What’s the point of having money? In life, we just need three meals a day. Even if I had hundreds of millions, it wouldn’t make me happy. Rather, being in a quiet place without disturbances, focusing on creating, doing what I love—that makes me happy. If in the future no one comes to ask for paintings, to disrupt my creativity, to tempt me with money, or to nag my family into forcing me to do things I dislike, my art will reach even greater heights."

This is the backbone of a literati and an artist!

Jian Xi couldn’t help but give a thumbs-up.

"This state of mind—I could learn from it for a lifetime."

Zhang Yaxuan laughed carefreely. "You probably won’t be able to learn it in this lifetime; you have too many ties."

"Hey! You speak so nonchalantly, but don’t you care a lot about your parents’ feelings too? Otherwise, why would you fake a relationship with me, even considering carrying on the family line!"

Zhang Yaxuan’s departing footsteps became flustered, and he stumbled, almost falling over.

Jian Xi chuckled.

"Such an exaggeration! You just don’t want to take my money! I’ll save it for you! Sooner or later, it will end up in your hands."

Revolutionary friendship is revolutionary friendship, but when it comes to money, every penny must be accounted for. That’s the bottom line!

Jian Xi finally managed to enjoy a period of calm in her life.

Jian’s Mother couldn’t wait to get in touch with her.

Jian Xi had wanted to wait until the child was born to answer, but the incessant, frantic calls were truly hard to fend off.

Jian Mingcheng repeatedly assured her, "Take Mom’s call, or she’ll get worried sick. Even if she scolds you, just don’t talk back. Let it in one ear and out the other—isn’t that what you’re best at?"

Jian Xi was speechless. Where else could you find such an amazing older brother?

"Mom!"

As soon as the call connected, Jian Xi’s eardrums were nearly shattered by her mother’s voice.

"Jian Xi, where on earth did you disappear to? Why didn’t you tell us your address? Are you afraid I’ll come over with a knife and kill you?"

Jian Xi shuddered and touched her belly. "Mom, keep your voice down. Your future grandson and granddaughter are in here!"

"What? Twins?"

"Yeah! Boy and girl twins!"

Jian’s Mother was both shocked and delighted, overjoyed. But then, remembering her stern demeanor, she pulled a long face. "Stop being cheeky with me! You’re all by yourself in a foreign country, and I’m worried. Give me your address; I’ll come and stay with you. At the very least, having your mother there will protect you."

Jian Xi’s nose tingled, and she nearly burst into tears.

"Do you realize how bold you are, cuckolding Si Yuhuan like that? He would have hunted you down if it weren’t for Old Master Si. By now, you and the babies might all be dead."

Jian Xi pursed her lips and remained silent.

"Never mind! I can’t be bothered to be angry with you right now; the children are more important. It’s hard having twins. You stubborn girl, why didn’t you speak up sooner? The first five months are the toughest, and you’ve been so busy with your career, practically living at the company. I can’t imagine how hard that’s been for you."

"Mom! It’s all in the past!"

Jian Xi was nearly moved to tears by her mother’s words.

This mother of hers, with a tough exterior but a soft heart.

"It’s over between you and Fu Shengyuan, and I’m not dwelling on that anymore. When will you bring this Zhang Yaxuan home for us to see?"

Jian Xi hesitated. "Wait a bit longer."

Her mother sensed her attitude and immediately became angry. "What do you mean by that? Are you planning to cut ties with your family over this man? I never said I wouldn’t accept him!"

"Uh... Mom, I’m a bit tired. I’m going to sleep now. My phone will be off for a while, so please don’t call."

After saying that, Jian Xi promptly turned off her phone.

No matter how much her mother tried, she couldn’t get through.

Jian’s Mother was furious. "That girl, hiding her whereabouts from her own mother! I’ve raised her in vain."

Jian Mingcheng sighed helplessly. "Mom! With that attitude, how could she dare let you go there? She must be scared to death."

Father Jian grunted. "You’re about to scare the daylights out of your daughter."

"So, it’s my fault now?"

Jian’s Mother felt a bit guilty.

She had made a call and understood nothing, leaving her heart in turmoil with worry.

"Xixi is not a child anymore; Mom, you can rest assured." Jian Chuxin walked in at that moment. He slouched into a chair, legs crossed, lazily reclining and munching on a piece of fruit. "If she’s not willing to talk about it," he said, "she must be in some difficulty. We should just support her with the logistics; that’ll be a big help."

"You?" Jian Mingcheng sized up Jian Chuxin. "If you go, you’re likely to just cause Xixi more trouble!"

"You little brat, I’m going to smack you!"

Jian’s Mother grabbed a slipper.

Jian Chuxin turned and ran. "Jian Sirun is there! What are you afraid of!"

Watching her second son quickly disappear from view, Jian’s Mother sighed in resignation. "That’s true. With Jian Sirun there, nothing serious should happen."

Jian’s Mother started to worry. How am I going to face Si Yuhuan next? After all, my daughter was the one who cheated first! And there’s Fu Shengyuan... All those gifts from before, I’ll have to find time to return them. I’m not one to be swayed by money; accepting gifts was meant to encourage him to pursue my daughter. Now that there’s no relationship, it’s only proper to return those things.

「It wasn’t many days later.」

Fu Shengyuan had just returned from acquiring a company abroad when he saw his secretary rushing forward with a large box.

"President Fu," the secretary said, "Madam Jian asked me to hand this over to you. She said these are all the gifts you sent in the past and are to be returned."

His assistant, standing nearby, then nodded. "There’s also some bad news," the assistant added. "Miss Jian has eloped with someone named Zhang and fled abroad."