No reconciliation, no forgiveness! Mr. Pei leaves with nothing.

Chapter 286 These are all things she owes him.

A black, luxurious minivan stopped in front of her. The moment the window rolled down, Jiang Hua saw Zhou Wenqing's expression froze for a moment as the car lock was unlocked.

"It'll rain heavily soon, get in the car." Jiang Hua glanced at her briefly before looking away.

Zhou Wenqing looked at the empty streets around her, took her bag from the driver's seat, and got into the car without thinking much about it.

"Thank you," she said, then explained, "I've had this car for almost seven or eight years. I used it to drive to school, but I never had time to get a new one, and the engine kept having problems."

Going to school? Going to university? You're so young and you already have your own car?

At that time, she was still with Pei Zhan. Pei Zhan had joined Jiang's Shanghai branch a long time ago. He was a member of the sales department. She had heard from some people that Pei Zhan, who had a girlfriend at the time, wanted to buy a car. He did have a car then, but she hadn't seen him drive it much. Did he give it to her?

To save money, he bought a second-hand car.

After Dad found out about this, he gave him a car when he was promoted to sales manager.

Jiang Hua took one last look at the car parked on the side of the road; it did look somewhat familiar.

"No need to thank me. I just saw you're pregnant. Where are you going?" Her tone was cold, carrying an aura of "keep away."

Song Wenqing smiled faintly in thanks: "I'm going to the tax bureau to deliver a document."

She must have some ability to get into this unit without relying on her background. Jiang Hua suddenly remembered that in the investigation of Zhou Wenqing's information, she had become the top liberal arts student in the city in the college entrance examination and was preparing to be recommended to Tsinghua and Peking Universities. Later, for some reason, she chose to repeat the year and chose science, and got first place again. In contrast, Jiang Hua had hired private tutors since she was a child, and her test scores were almost always terrible.

Those teachers were all professors in their respective disciplines…

With Zhou Wenqing's strong learning ability, being with Pei Zhan does seem to meet some of the criteria for being his wife.

Two highly capable people together, even without a background like Jiang's, Pei Zhan's life after marrying Zhou Wenqing would not be any worse than it is now...

Because of her and her father's selfishness, she ruined his marriage to his childhood sweetheart and fiancée. If this hadn't happened, the child in her belly should have been his and Pei Zhan's.

When her father made Ji Liangchuan leave, she was devastated for many years. Not to mention that Pei Zhan had a fiancée who was a perfect match for him in terms of ability, and their relationship was so deep...

Because of her own selfishness, Jiang Hua couldn't help but feel a little guilty.

The direction from Jinsha Shallow Bay to the tax bureau she was going to was exactly opposite, so the car made a U-turn ahead.

Zhou Wenqing, "Haven't I seen you somewhere before?"

Jiang Hua looked down at her phone and found someone in the group to help her buy the crystal hair clip that Bao'er had wanted to buy but hadn't yet. She planned to wait until Bao'er calmed down and the weather got better before trying to coax her.

Hearing the voices beside her, Jiang Hua paused in her typing, but quickly resumed, saying in a somewhat distant tone, "You don't need to recognize me. When you reach your destination, just take a taxi back yourself."

"I'm helping you only because you're pregnant. This is in the suburbs, and it's hard to get a taxi here."

Jiang Hua is naturally stiff when talking to people she doesn't know well, and this is already considered to be toned down. If she were to meet other people, she might not be so easy to talk to.

Zhou Wenqing smiled slightly and said, "You must be Jiang Hua."

"You've been sending people to investigate me these past few days, haven't you?"

"You know, pregnant women are very sensitive to everything during pregnancy. Lately, when I go to the market to buy groceries, I always feel like there is a pair of eyes watching me."

"Besides Pei Zhan's matter, I can't think of anyone else who could be interested in me."

She saw right through it, and she was very clever.

Jiang Hua readily admitted, "Yes, it was me. But don't worry, I just wanted to know what kind of fiancée Pei Zhan, that country bumpkin, could like and have been thinking about for so many years."

However, she's a bit better than Song Qingran. Jiang Hua doesn't like people who are two-faced. They may appear innocent and naive on the surface, but who knows how many underhanded things they might be up to... Saying they don't want it while pretending to refuse is just too pretentious!

When they're going to harm someone, they'll do it all without making a sound.

She also has a knives for using those around her as innocent pawns, easily manipulated by a few words, while she herself manages to remain uninvolved.

It's likely that Zhou Wenqing broke up with Pei Zhan under pressure from the Jiang family. The two parted on bad terms, but she cut ties with Pei Zhan cleanly and never resented the Jiang family because of it. Afterwards, she was able to decisively end the relationship and marry someone else. Based on this alone, no one can match her strong heart.

Almost...no one can do it.

If it were Jiang Hua, and this happened to her—without family, an orphan, and the only person she could rely on for affection had her love stolen away, leaving her powerless to resist—she would probably take the perpetrator with her, preferring to die rather than live in dishonor.

"If possible, we can find a place to sit down and have a proper talk."

Few people could interest Jiang Hua, but she agreed to Zhou Wenqing's conditions.

After driving for a while, Jiang Hua waited for her at a coffee shop at the bottom of an office building. A few minutes later, Zhou Wenqing arrived after delivering the documents.

"Sorry to keep you waiting."

Jiang Hua propped her head up with her hand, lazily drooping her eyelids. She picked up a glass of ice water, took a sip, and responded indifferently.

The waiter came over. "What would you like to drink?"

Zhou Wenqing: "A glass of warm water."

“When I got back to my workplace, I realized that the first time I actually saw you was in the newspaper. I didn’t expect you to be even more beautiful in person than in the newspaper. No wonder he fell for you. From the very beginning… when he mentioned breaking up with me, I knew I had no chance.”

"Actually, I've known him since we were little, so I know his temperament. He's stubborn, clear about his goals, and calm and collected. He understands his objectives. I also know that... sooner or later we won't be on the same level. Even if he becomes successful one day, we'll still separate. There will be many women around him who admire and entangle him. Even if I marry him, I'll still be harassed by the women around him, which will affect my own career prospects. Rather than having such a distressing thing happen, it's better to let go. Maybe in the future... we can still be friends."

Jiang Hua gradually regained her composure, leaned back on the sofa, and listened attentively to what she had to say.

“You were born into privilege, never having to worry about the mundane things like food and shelter, nor the possibility of ending up homeless or starving because you have no money… We’ve experienced all of that. The orphanage never lacks children, but it lacks resources. We only get one meal a day, and even that’s barely enough. We also face bullying and targeting from time to time…”

"So... I understand very well that what I want is the financial security that comes with it, and my feelings for him are just... an additional condition for the stability of my life."

"I worked hard to get into the best universities, Tsinghua and Peking University, and now I work in a public institution. I also married a husband who is emotionally stable. Every day is ordinary, and I have a child and a daughter in my belly. I feel that this is the life I want."

“When we got together, we just felt that we were both suitable for marriage, including our respective abilities and that we could complement each other. But after being together for so many years, all the feelings we had at the beginning were worn away, and I no longer had much affection for him. So when he broke up with me, I was able to leave without hesitation, find another man, and start a family.”

"Fate is a truly mysterious thing. We were so close, but thinking about the future, the instability that comes with his success, even if we got married, we'd probably still separate..."

“I’m telling you this without any other meaning, and you don’t need to see me as an enemy. I love my husband very much, and Pei Zhan and I are both in the past.”

"From the first time I saw you, I knew that with your personality and family background, you were more than capable of keeping the women around him in check. You don't need to worry about what I'm concerned about."

Every word Zhou Wenqing said was flawless. Just as she said, for someone who has nothing, feelings are not a necessity. They only crave the security that money brings, because money can bring everything. They want a material life, even if it's just feelings. But in her previous life, Jiang Hua never lacked anything materially, but what she lacked was emotional support.

Just like Shen Wanrou, she spent so much money on a man, just wanting his love to stay by her side, but in the end... she was still betrayed.

Jiang Hua obtained everything that everyone else desperately wanted too easily, but things like family background are innate, predetermined from birth... and no one can decide for themselves.

Pei Zhan certainly doesn't lack women around him, but very few dare to provoke him. Even if they do, Jiang Hua can deal with them effortlessly, and most of the time she doesn't even need to lift a finger...

Aside from Song Qingran…

The exception is Pei Zhan's side.

Hearing her say that, Jiang Hua didn't have many emotions or thoughts in her mind. She just felt that... her clarity and understanding were at a level that even she herself couldn't reach.

“I already know what you’re thinking. You deserve your current success. If it were me… I probably couldn’t do what you do. You can let go of the person you love so easily, without even the slightest bit of regret.”

Even if we hadn't met by such coincidence today, I would still have gone to find you.

“Since we’ve run into each other…” Jiang Hua said, taking a check out of her bag and handing it to her. “Consider this compensation for my and my father’s selfish actions in breaking up your relationship with Pei Zhan. Most people can’t earn this much money in their entire lives.”

"The fact that I can give it to you means that I believe you deserve this amount of compensation."

If it were Song Qingran…

She is worthless.

"Isn't this...too much?"

“Three hundred million?” Jiang Hua scoffed. “You and Pei Zhan have been separated for so many years. You should know that he has spent far more money on another woman than that. Do you still think it’s a lot?”

A beautifully decorated villa costs nearly 200 million yuan, not to mention the millions of yuan Pei Zhan has spent on dialysis treatment for Song Qingran's mother every year for so many years, and the best things she has to wear and use.

A childhood sweetheart relationship of over twenty years is not as good as a Song Qingran?

If Pei Zhan weren't still valuable to the Jiang family, Jiang Hua would never have continued to use marriage to balance the current situation where each party gets what they need.

"This money is enough to improve your current lifestyle. Treat yourself better and get a nicer car." It was supposed to be a caring statement, but the way she said it made it sound arrogant.

Jiang Hua looked at the fabric of her maternity dress, which cost only a couple hundred yuan. To Jiang Hua, it was just cheap stuff from a street stall.

"Miss Jiang, no need, that's too much."

“I’m not in it for the money.”

Jiang Hua: "Shut up, stop nagging."

Just as she was about to leave, she suddenly heard a voice that everyone could hear coming from around the corner of the coffee shop, "I'll sign, Mr. Pei."

Pei Zhan stopped and looked at the person not far ahead. His deep gaze met Jiang Hua's, who was sitting by the window.

The voice behind him continued, "Two years can be changed to three years. I don't want any commission during these three years; consider it my repayment of everything you've done."

Xue Ruyao, who had also chased after them, exclaimed, "Qingran, are you crazy?"

"Do you know what you're saying? The Jiang family is clearly trying to lure you in and make money off you. You could have made that money without cooperating with them."

Xiaoyu: "Yes, Qingran. Those ladies who ask you to design jewelry pay you many times more than what the Jiang family pays. Aren't you just working for them for free?"

Song Qingran hesitated, then said, "Ayao, Xiaoyu... you don't need to say anything more."

These are all things she owes him.

He has done enough for himself over the years.

“I’ve thought it through. Xiang Nan will coordinate the next steps with you. If you have any conditions or requests, just let me know.” After saying this, Pei Zhan walked towards the French window. When he looked at Zhou Wenqing, their eyes met without saying a word. Pei Zhan nodded to her and didn’t exchange any more words. Instead, he hooked his arm around Jiang Hua’s waist as she left with her bag. “Let’s go together.”

Jiang Hua looked at him with a smile, her eyes filled with coldness, "New love and old love, they're all here."

"Pei Zhan, how come I didn't know you used to eat so well?"

"Don't touch me with your filthy hands."

"nausea!"

There were still quite a few people in the coffee shop at that moment, and Jiang Hua reprimanded him mercilessly.

Jiang Hua pushed him away forcefully, and after speaking, she glanced at Song Qingran beside her with disdain and contempt, then walked away arrogantly in her high heels.

Pei Zhan's encounter with her here was purely coincidental. Just as they were about to get into the car, Pei Zhan grabbed Jiang Hua's hand, pinning her against the front of the car and imprisoning her. "We agreed on two days, and now you've completed what Mrs. Pei asked you to do in just one day. What... is there to be unhappy about?"

Jiang Hua retorted, "What a coincidence! It just so happens that both your new and old flames have run into each other here today..."