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

Zuo Xiangnan saw the white sedan parked behind his car in the rearview mirror. "President Pei, Miss Song, Lu Yuanzhou and the others..." Zuo Xiangnan said, turning to look at the passenger seat. The man in the back seat had already gotten out of the car.

Upon seeing the person getting out of the car, gasps of surprise rippled through the crowd. People covered their mouths in disbelief, whispering excitedly to their companions, their eyes fixed on Jiang Hua as if watching a show.

"This is President Pei of the Jiang Group. My goodness, he's so handsome."

"When he brought Song Qingran to school before, I only caught a blurry glimpse of him. I didn't expect him to be so handsome."

"Yes, it's rare to see them in magazines or on TV."

Lu Yuanzhou stopped the car and looked at the girl sitting in the passenger seat beside him with a deep gaze. He looked at her, but her gaze was fixed on another man.

At the school gate, Jiang Hua, the center of attention, was followed by Song Qingran, who then saw the tall, well-built man in a suit and leather jacket getting out of the car. For some reason, her chest felt like it had been hit by a hammer, making it hard for her to breathe.

He's finally alright.

Has Mr. Pei really divorced his wife?

So, Mr. Pei has now chosen to be with Jiang Hua?

Then why did Jiang Hua choose to leave when Mr. Pei was injured, leaving her to take care of him in France?

The obvious disappointment in her eyes made her gaze tremble, and her long eyelashes cast a shadow. She seemed unable to look any longer and could only look away. But in that last glance, she saw the scene of exclusive affection in front of her and heard the exclamations of the people around her. Song Qingran's heart felt as if it had been violently clenched.

them…

Jiang Hua was still holding the lipstick that Pei Zhan had personally given her after getting out of the car. She was about to take her hand back when, unexpectedly, Pei Zhan leaned down and kissed her lips in front of everyone at the school gate.

She opened her eyes in astonishment, not having time to react to the man's lewd actions, and met his deep, dark gaze.

They just kissed.

After they parted, Pei Zhan noticed the smudged lipstick on her lips and reached out to wipe the excess clean with his fingers. "I'll be picking you up at the school gate at 5:30 tonight."

Under the watchful eyes of everyone, she felt as if she had been sexually assaulted by a hooligan. In front of so many people, Jiang Hua concealed her inner panic very well.

Without saying a word, she turned and left as if angry.

But only Pei Zhan knew that she wasn't angry, it was...

Jiang Hua's steps as she turned to leave were somewhat hurried and disordered. She felt a burning sensation behind her ears. Was she... shy?

It's crazy!

His gaze just now clearly showed a reaction to her. Others might not notice, but she couldn't possibly not notice. How come she never noticed before that he was a male dog who was in heat at any time?

Jiang Hua was still clutching the heavy metal lid in her hand, which was slightly deformed from her grip. "Pretending to be something you're not," she muttered under her breath. Her heart was beating inexplicably fast. She hadn't felt this way when they were being intimate in France. Why was it beating so fast this time?

Who are you trying to impress by doing this in front of so many people?

Loading!

With a cold look in his eyes, Lu Yuanzhou waited until the car in front of him was far away before impatiently stepping on the gas, turning the steering wheel, and driving towards another school gate.

After the car stopped, Lu Yuanzhou lit a cigarette in frustration. The nicotine couldn't relieve his emotions. After a few puffs, he threw the cigarette away. "He wasn't back, and you were distracted. Now that he's back... you're still the same."

"Qingran...we are already engaged."

Song Qingran snapped out of her daze, but her emotions remained unchanged. "I'm sorry, Brother Yuanzhou."

"I was just spacing out."

"I...I'm going back to class now. Drive carefully."

Song Qingran unbuckled her seatbelt and hurriedly got out of the car. To Lu Yuanzhou, her appearance just now seemed like she was running away from something.

"Xiao Ran..."

After closing the car door, Song Qingran turned and left, not hearing her voice at all.

Lu Yuanzhou watched her reaction. They had grown up together since childhood, so how could Lu Yuanzhou not know her every expression? She could never hide her feelings. In the three years he had been away, her heart... seemed to have drifted far away from him. She probably didn't even know that her heart... had changed.

It changed, and he was no longer in her heart.

Jiang Hua went to Professor Guo's private office, where two prepared publications were presented to her. She was responsible for writing the content, while the other details, including later additions, were completed by elders with whom her mother had worked. Professor Guo had also used a lot of connections to contact them.

Professor Guo, “You made the right choice to publish a book. Some schools have already turned your book into a textbook. Now the education bureau is also considering whether to reinstate the jewelry restoration course at Imperial University.”

"Although the jewelry industry has barriers to entry, its future development trend will require a large number of employees. In addition to restoration, jewelry maintenance will also be included as a core course. Where there is a market, there is demand. How much you can learn depends on your individual skills. However, we won't be hiring too many people in this field."

Jiang Hua nodded, "I understand, Professor Guo. I didn't have such high hopes at first. I just found what I wanted to do. Now that I have achieved this result, I feel it's all worthwhile. Regardless of whether it will be restored in the end, I am already very satisfied."

Professor Guo: "Speaking of which, I just remembered. This is your scholarship money. It's not much, and I've been keeping it for you since you weren't here before the winter break."

Scholarships… This was the first time Jiang Hua had heard these three unfamiliar words.

Jiang Hua only wanted to get a diploma at the time and never considered this aspect.

"By the way, are you still interested in taking over the Jewelry Restoration Association? And... the workshop?"

Jiang Hua: "Isn't Song Qingran and Xue Ruyao managing the association's affairs? Professor Guo, you know me, I don't like hanging out with trash."

When Jiang Hua mentioned this, she saw Professor Guo say with a solemn expression, "There's a conflict within the studio right now, and it almost got into a lawsuit. If it weren't for the school leaders intervening, everyone would have been punished."

"They were too eager. They didn't lay a solid foundation before thinking about making money. Now all their work has been suspended."

"Those who haven't given up are trying to restart all the projects and are doing everything they can to attract investment so that the studio can stay afloat. If this continues, they won't even be able to graduate."

Jiang Hua had anticipated their current predicament; each one of them was arrogant and conceited. Without Song Qingran and Pei Zhan, they would be nothing at all.

At this moment, Xue Ruyao was pulling Xiaoyu and Song Qingran outside Professor Guo's office, wanting to think of a way to salvage the studio. After all, they had all invested so much money, and now it was all gone.

They even had to pay a large sum of money in compensation, which was covered by the compensation Qingran received from the Jiang family.

Seeing that the studio has been operating for more than a year and has started to show some promise, they still don't want to give up.

Thinking about the start of the new school term and preparing to restart all their work, they were determined to give it their all this time.

When they saw Jiang Hua in Professor Guo's office, they all stopped in their tracks and overheard their conversation.

“It’s good that they want to make money, but they’re only sophomores. They should focus on their studies. Even if they want to make money, they can’t neglect their original major courses. You understand better than me that the jewelry circle in high society requires connections. Now the Jiang Group has terminated its cooperation with the school’s jewelry restoration studio and has no plans to invest. They’re just wasting their time if they continue like this.”

Jiang Hua: "The most important thing for a person is to know their own limitations. If nothing bad happens, it's their own fate. Professor Guo, you've done everything you could. If they don't listen, that's their problem. The school has no obligation to bear the consequences for them."

"I won't get involved in the association's or the studio's affairs; they're not worth it."

"Moreover... Jiang's money doesn't come from thin air. I know Pei Zhan, and he won't invest in them. He's a person who... aside from not having a good eye for money, he'll never suffer a second time when it comes to interests."

Song Qingran bit her lip.

When Jiang Hua mentioned Pei Zhan, Xue Ruyao and Xiao Yu both looked at him at the same time.

Professor Guo suddenly laughed, "I understand. This is between you and him; you two can discuss it."

"Jiang Hua, how shameless you are!"

"I was wondering why we were rejected when we went to seek investment. Was it you who was behind this?"

Xue Ruyao angrily pushed open the office door and walked up to Jiang Hua, her eyes looking as if she wanted to devour her.

Jiang Hua swiveled her chair, glancing at the people walking towards her through the door. Their faces were contorted with rage and anger, but Jiang Hua remained calm and composed, looking at them leisurely. "Did I say something wrong? It's been a year. What achievements has your studio made that are worth showing me?"

"And you've brought all the association members to your studio. They haven't even learned the basics, yet you're already thinking about how to swindle money from investors?"

"Do they really think these Beijing-based investors get their money so easily? They have no performance to show for it, and they're embroiled in a bunch of lawsuits..."

"Xue Ruyao...do you know anything about jewelry restoration? Do you know the significance of jewelry restoration?"

"Or do you think that just because you have those tens of millions of dollars worth of jewelry belonging to the wealthy wives of Beijing's elite, you've already entered the upper echelons of Beijing's social circle?"

"Previously... if it weren't for Pei Zhan backing Song Qingran up and protecting you, do you really think you could have done all this?"

It all started with her mother, but it all rotted in their hands.

"Aren't you right, Song Qingran?" Jiang Hua tilted her head, looking at the timid person hiding behind her friend.

Song Qingran clenched her fists tightly at her side, her heart tightening. Just when everyone thought she was going to cower in fear, Song Qingran stood up. "I know... it was our shortcomings in the past that led the Talent Association and the studio to where they are now."

"So... I beg Professor Guo, please help us one last time, give us one last chance!"

"This time, I will definitely give you and the school a perfect answer!"

Jiang Hua picked up two books from the table, stood up with a smile, and raised her red lips in a flamboyant gesture. "I'm sorry, you don't have a chance anymore. I... regret it."

She stepped forward and stood opposite them. "Professor Guo, I take back what I just said. I've taken over both the association and the jewelry restoration studio."

"After all, this was originally mine..."

Xue Ruyao stared intently at her, "Jiang Hua! Don't go too far."

"Why are you stealing our things! Are you addicted to stealing other people's things?"

"You're trying to steal Qingran's boyfriend, and now you're even trying to steal our association..."

How shameless you are!

Professor Guo stood up angrily, "Xue Ruyao! Watch your attitude!"

Jiang Hua pursed her lips, pondered for a moment, and then pretended to be very troubled, saying, "Oh dear, you're absolutely right. I do like other people's things. After all... what you can't have is always the best."

"Isn't it just an investment from the Jiang Group?"

"It's just a matter of me saying a word, is that so difficult?"

As she spoke, Jiang Hua exclaimed "Ah!" again. Before leaving, she said to them, "By the way, before I officially take over everything from you, you'd better dismiss all those of you who are incompetent and just freeloaders."

"Otherwise... it would be embarrassing if I came here in person."

Jiang Hua walked past them with an air of arrogance.

Xue Ruyao roared angrily, "You think you can just disband like that? Who do you think you are?!"

"Who told me that the president of the Jiang Group is my husband?" Jiang Hua said, raising her hand with her wedding ring on her ring finger, as if she were deliberately saying this to someone else.

Jiang Hua looked at Song Qingran's expression, lowered her eyes, and remained silent timidly, but she did feel a sense of relief.

Song Qingran... this is only the beginning...

In my past life, what you gave me was far less than one ten-thousandth of this.

Even if you and Lu Yuanzhou are engaged.

I don't believe that Pei Zhan doesn't hold any place in your heart.

I'm really looking forward to seeing what you'll do when you want to get back in Pei Zhan's arms after you rejected him!

Lu Yuanzhou is indeed excellent, but in every aspect, he is not as accomplished as Pei Zhan. All women admire strength and prefer to compare the men around them with others, ultimately choosing the best man among them as their partner.

Someone as self-righteous as Song Qingran, I wonder how long she can keep up this act.

Before leaving the office, Jiang Hua picked up her phone and dialed Pei Zhan's number, expecting him not to answer. To her surprise, her call was answered almost instantly. "Are you at Jiang's?"

Pei Zhan stopped the meeting, glanced at all the executives below, and they all wisely shut their mouths, not daring to make a sound. "Hmm."

"Have Zuo Xiangnan come and pick me up."

Pei Zhan raised his wrist, glanced at the time, and said, "Okay."

He had already guessed that she wouldn't stay at school for more than three hours.

Jiang Hua: "Can you use your brain more in the future? Don't invest in just any project. You should use this money to buy me more jewelry and bags. It's such a waste!"

This last sentence seems to be a veiled sarcasm.