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

Does he know?

Jiang Hua pondered for a moment, "Whether he knows or not is not important. It's not really helping, it's just that my words are not as effective as yours. If I had known Rong Xingzhi's thoughts earlier, I probably wouldn't have said those things to Du Yuesheng."

"What did you say?" Shen Yebai asked.

Jiang Hua then told Shen Yebai everything she had said, "...At the time, her condition was so bad, and what I said was just to make her feel a little better."

“Rong Xingzhi founded Xingchuang Technology only to earn money to treat his mother’s illness. Now that his mother’s condition has recovered, he… seems to really not want to take over the company anymore.”

Shen Yebai pondered for a moment, "What do you want me to do?"

"Let the Du family let Rong Xingzhi go. Matters of the heart cannot be forced. Just like I told you, it's difficult for someone without status or background to establish himself in Haishi. He has indeed gotten to where he is today thanks to the Du family's help over the years. Let him and Du Yuesheng resolve their own issues."

"Xingchuang just gave up on it without hesitation. He... is indeed very different. Perhaps... it's because he's thought it through and wants to use Xingchuang, which he built from scratch, to exchange for peace in the rest of his life."

"You know what? I never expected that Rong Xingzhi would like to paint. He even wants to hold his own art exhibition. In the future... who knows, he might actually be able to do it."

When Shen Yebai listened to every word she said, his eyes would sparkle with a lively light. She shared her thoughts with him. When she was happy, Shen Yebai seemed to be happy too. When she laughed, he would laugh with her.

Shen Bao'er couldn't understand what they were saying, she just kept eating and kept watching them talk without interrupting. She left a portion of every snack she ate for Jiang Hua.

"Then...may he get what he wants." Shen Yebai offered tea instead of wine, raising it in front of her.

Jiang Hua picked up her glass and clinked it against his. She didn't know much about drinking etiquette, and her glass was about half the height of his. Shen Yebai didn't seem to mind. "You too."

Shen Bao'er wanted to join in too, "Me too, me too..."

"cheers!"

Shen Yebai sipped the tea in his cup, then covered the red mark on her neck with the rim of the cup. A fleeting, unreadable emotion flashed in his eyes, disappearing almost imperceptibly.

This time, she asked Shen Yebai for this favor, and Jiang Hua silently noted it down in her mind. This kind of favor is not so easy to owe, no matter how good the relationship is.

Shen Yebai shouldn't be in this position. He abuses his power for personal gain. The reason Jiang Hua spoke to him was simply because she admired Rong Xingzhi's actions. He was able to take things on and let them go. Being controlled by others might be tiring for him, but he still didn't want to be imprisoned by those shackles. For his own wishes, he... was truly willing to risk everything and give up everything.

As long as he's willing to nod, money, power, status... the future of Haishi will be nothing more than his possession. He can build a skyscraper in his own domain, making everyone look up to him, while he can also look down on everyone below.

Rong Xingzhi is unambitious, content with his lot, and lives a carefree life.

Compared to Pei Zhan, they are the complete opposites. Pei Zhan is ambitious and wants to control the entire world's economy. He wants to break free from the constraints of the rules and become the kind of person who sets the rules of this world.

He wished the whole world belonged to him.

However... it seems that's not working now.

Having signed a contract of servitude with the Jiang family, he no longer had even basic freedom.

Do you want to become the richest person in your life, just like in your previous life?

Hmm... it seems... there's probably no hope.

After finishing her meal, Jiang Hua packed a portion for Pei Zhan to take to his company later. A few minutes earlier, she had messaged him, but he was still in a meeting.

After replying to the last message.

Shen Yebai: "I'll take you there."

Jiang Hua: "No need, Zuo Xiangnan is already downstairs, so I'll be going now."

Shen Yebai nodded and replied, "Okay."

Jiang Hua rode in Zuo Xiangnan's car to Jiang's Corporation. When she arrived at the president's office, she found it empty. Jiang Hua could only sit and wait in his seat for a while. After putting down her things, she saw the lawsuit documents in front of her, demanding a total compensation of 200 million yuan, not including the money that others had been defrauded of... Because the amount involved was huge, unless a huge amount of compensation was paid, Xue Ruyao and her gang would be sent to jail the day after tomorrow.

It can be considered... reaping what you sow.

Jiang Hua only glanced at it before tossing it aside; she had no interest in the other contracts either.

I sat in my seat and played for a while before putting it away. Then I heard footsteps approaching.

"Send me today's meeting summary and financial statements."

"Yes, President Pei." Zuo Xiangnan quickly opened the door to the president's office.

Pei Zhan put one hand in his pocket, walked into the office, saw her at a glance, and walked towards her with a smile, "What are you looking at so intently, Mrs. Pei?"

"Nothing, just browsing." Jiang Hua looked at the school's group chat, which was bustling with activity, with everyone talking about Xue Ruyao.

Most of them were gloating.

Pei Zhan scooped her up, and Jiang Hua sat on his lap. He opened the food she had packed, including a dish of pickled bamboo shoots and pork, which was Jiang Hua's favorite dish.

He ate his food, not bothering Jiang Hua to lean against him. They looked at the messages and chatted for a while. When the group chat went quiet, Jiang Hua put away her phone and noticed another dish he hadn't touched. "Why aren't you eating this?"

"Tired of it."

Jiang Hua raised an eyebrow but didn't speak. Back when Jiang Hua was pursuing him and forcing him to go to Xiangweiju with her, Pei Zhan ordered this dish quite often, and at first, she didn't like the taste either. Later... it was only after eating with Ji Liangchuan that she gradually got used to it, and it was during that time that Jiang Hua realized that his taste seemed to be similar to Ji Liangchuan's.

At the time, Jiang Hua didn't think much of it, just assuming that since they were all from Wuchuan, they were probably used to this kind of food.

However, she didn't know that Pei Zhan had deliberately approached her back then. He had heard of a waitress at Xiangweiju and knew that Jiang Hua had a crush on someone who also liked to order this dish at Xiangweiju. Pei Zhan was just trying to get closer to Jiang Hua, cater to her preferences, and deepen her impression of him.

Actually... Pei Zhan is allergic to bamboo shoots, and he always prepares allergy medication whenever he eats them.

This time, however, Pei Zhan made no preparations whatsoever.

"You're already tired of it after only a few times? Why don't you just say you're tired of me!"

"You dare not finish your meal and see what happens!"

"You! You have to finish it all today, do you hear me!"

Pei Zhan used his chopsticks to pick up a piece of fish and brought it to her lips. "Together?"

Jiang Hua said disdainfully, "Who wants to eat these? They're chopsticks you've already used."

"How disgusting are you?"

Pei Zhan's eyes flickered slightly, his gaze falling on her alluring red lips. "Disgusting? Why didn't you say it was disgusting when you kissed me, Mrs. Pei?"

“It’s different, you eat by yourself.” Jiang Hua was about to get up and leave when Pei Zhan put down his chopsticks, put one hand on her waist, and ran his other fingertips through her hair as he looked up at her. Jiang Hua naturally hooked her arms around the man’s neck and kissed him tenderly, their love blossoming.

The man's other restless hand slipped under her skirt, his rough palm caressing her thigh, making her skin feel a little itchy.

After kissing for a while, Jiang Hua pushed him away, saying, "I have to go see my grandfather later."

In his deep black eyes, the desire gradually dissipated.

Pei Zhan pressed his forehead against hers, his voice low and husky, "Let's do it tonight."

"It depends on my mood."

"I really have to go now. After visiting my grandfather, I have to go back to have dinner with my father tonight. I haven't been back for a long time."

Pei Zhan pursed his lips, a smile spreading across his face as he nodded. He reached out to wipe away the lipstick that had smudged from her lips. "We left Royal Dragon Bay less than a week ago, Huahua."

"What do you know?" Jiang Hua pushed him away this time, straightened the wrinkles in her dress, and said, "Let's go."

Pei Zhan: "I'll take you."

Jiang Hua left without looking back: "Alright, you should just eat your food."

When they arrived at the Jiang family's old house, Jiang Zhu was still at school. Jiang Hua was carrying the fruit she had just bought. The servant immediately took the fruit from her. Seeing the pile of pillars and bamboo strips in the yard, she asked, "Grandpa, what are you doing?"

"Grandpa is going to make a few bamboo baskets. Your dad likes fishing, so these bamboo fish baskets can hold quite a lot. And look at these, they're all for you, they can hold a lot of things."

Jiang Hua picked it up and looked at it. It was a small bamboo basket that could fit on the table and hold her cosmetics. "Grandpa, I accept the school's studio and association."

Jiang Huai took off his gloves, stood up, moved a little further away, and patted the debris off his clothes. "I heard about it from your father, and I know the general situation of those people."

"Being too greedy ultimately backfired. I never expected them to be so bold as to do this kind of business."

“Huahua…”

Jiang Hua suddenly heard this solemn voice. She looked up from the little toy in her hand and asked, "Hmm?"

Jiang Huai: "What's your opinion on Pei Zhan?"

Jiang Hua: "Which aspect are you referring to, Grandpa?"

Jiang Huai: "What do you think of him as a person? Are you truly sincere with him?"

Sincerely? Jiang Hua hesitated for a moment, not immediately giving her an answer. She simply smiled and said, "I don't know. Anyway, it's already like this, so let's just keep going."

"Although I still can't completely let go of the past, isn't it good to maintain the current state?"

“Dad always said that one shouldn’t be too greedy, and one can’t have it all. Pei Zhan had surgery for me and decided not to have his own children. He also signed an agreement that he would not take any shares in the Jiang family. Abroad… he risked his life to make up for the Jiang family’s losses. I think… everything should be about this.”

Jiang Huai saw through her thoughts at a glance, just like he had seen through Qingcheng back then. All she cared about was the Jiang family; she never thought about herself. Back then, when Qingcheng ran away from her arranged marriage, Jiang Huai didn't really blame her. He knew that things forced never had a good outcome. Even though she had the Huo family's protection back then, if she couldn't be happy, what difference was there between living and dying?

So, you still have feelings for him?

Yes, I like it.

Jiang Hua: "Mm."

She doesn't know either.

Hearing her answer, Jiang Huai understood a bit more. The matter between the Jiang family and the Huo family had failed when it happened between Qingcheng and Huo Tingshan, but now it had come true for their respective descendants. Such a fate was truly hard to explain.

Even if he reveals his identity, at least Huahua will be less resistant because of him.

Jiang Hua brought less than she took back to Yulong Bay.

Back at Yulong Bay, Jiang Weiguo was still leisurely sipping his tea.

Xu Qiulan: "Young Miss, you're back."

Jiang Weiguo: "Xu Ma, brew some ginger tea for the young lady to warm her up."

"Yes, sir."

Jiang Hua was exhausted from traveling back and forth. As soon as she entered the entrance hall, she kicked off her high heels and lay down on the sofa. "I'm still more used to it here."

“Dad, I suddenly realized that having a villa that’s too big isn’t a good thing. I’m exhausted just walking downstairs every day. Besides being big and expensive, it’s not good at all.”

Upon hearing this, Jiang Weiguo raised his eyelids to look at her, "If you want to stay at home for a few more days, then stay. You don't need to make up these excuses."

"Aunt Xu, please add another dish. I want to eat sweet and sour pork."

"Yes, Miss."

Jiang Hua didn't like being there alone. She was telling the truth. The house was too big, and without her father, it was too deserted. The servants were all like robots.

"Is Pei Zhan coming over tonight too?"

Jiang Hua shook her head. "I don't know, I didn't ask, but he should know I went home."

Jiang Weiguo knew that she wouldn't stay there for more than a few days before coming back.

After having dinner at home, Jiang Hua went back to her room upstairs. Xu Ma then prepared a bath for her, tidied up the room, and found her a change of clothes.

But when Jiang Hua finished showering and came out, it was almost nine o'clock, and Pei Zhan still hadn't returned.

Little did they know, Pei Zhan was still receiving intravenous fluids at the hospital.

Zuo Xiangnan received the prescription and said, "President Pei, the doctor said your allergic reaction wasn't too severe, but you should still be careful. You almost had to have surgery."

"The allergy testing will have to wait a little longer."

"Once this IV drip is finished, we can go back."

Just then, Zuo Xiangnan's phone rang. He took out his phone and saw the caller ID. He hesitated, then said, "President Pei, it's Miss Song on the phone."

"No need to answer."

Zuo Xiangnan did as instructed and hung up the phone.

Song Qingran called again and again, looking anxious, but the calls were all hung up on. She had no choice but to send a message.

Song Qingran: Brother Xiang Nan, I saw Mr. Pei in the hospital. Is he sick?

The message was sent out and disappeared without a trace, as if it had sunk into the sea.

Until the man's cold voice echoed in her mind, "The last time..." Those four short words, along with his resolute departure, seemed to be telling her to stop dreaming.

For the last time, Song Qingran bit her lip, her heart clenching painfully, and put down her phone, not knowing why she felt so bad.

Lu Yuanzhou brought back some porridge from outside. Before Song Qingran could delete the call history, she quickly pretended to be nonchalant and hid her phone under her pillow.

Upon seeing this action, Lu Yuanzhou's eyes sharpened. "Give me your phone..."

"I'm hungry, what...did you buy?" Song Qingran stammered, clearly showing her guilty conscience.

Who are you messaging?

Song Qingran gripped her phone tightly, her eyes filled with fear as she dared not look at her. "I'm not asleep."

"Pei Zhan?"

"Qingran, ever since you came back last night, your mind has never been on me. What are you thinking!"

"Have you fallen for him?"