After being reborn, I became the big boss's darling.

The phone vibrated, and Ji Nianci pulled it out from under the bed. The name "Zhou An" on the caller ID stood out starkly.

Ji Nianci frowned, but still pressed the call button.

"Baby, are you alright? Did Shen Ceyan bully you last night? I was so panicked yesterday that I ran away. I had no other choice."

As soon as the call connected, Zhou An couldn't wait to start talking.

Yesterday, Zhou An tricked her into taking her home, originally just saying he would take her for a visit. But once they arrived, his hands and feet started to wander. Luckily, Shen Ceyan returned from his business trip early and arrived in time, otherwise… Ji Nianci shuddered and dared not imagine any further.

That's why Shen Ceyan was so angry and took her despite her wishes.

Shen Ceyan usually respects her very much and would never do anything out of line.

As soon as Zhou An saw that the person who came was Shen Ceyan, she hurriedly ran away without even tidying her clothes, leaving her alone to bear Shen Ceyan's anger.

"Baby, why aren't you saying anything?"

"I'm fine. Is there anything else you want to say?"

Zhou An sensed that Ji Nianci's tone was a bit strange, but he didn't think much of it and continued, "You know, after I ran away yesterday, Shen Ceyan's men came to my door and beat me up. I was badly injured, but my injury doesn't matter, it's good that you're alright. Can you come out now? I really want to see you."

That tone was so offensive it made me want to vomit.

"Fine, then let's meet." Ji Nianci chuckled and said expressionlessly.

……

Shen Group.

"Sir, the men protecting Madam say she has gone out," Assistant Lin Cheng said as he pushed open the door to the president's office.

"I understand. Tell them to be careful and not let Madam find out. That little girl is very clever."

Shen Ceyan stood in front of the floor-to-ceiling window, a cigarette between his fingers. His long, narrow phoenix eyes were slightly upturned, and the emotions in them were unfathomable. His thin lips were slightly parted, seemingly lazy and casual, yet exuding an aura of dominance over the world.

“Okay, um… They also said that Madam went to see Zhou An again.” After thinking it over and over, Assistant Lin gritted his teeth and said it.

Upon hearing this, Shen Ceyan was stunned. He didn't even notice the ashes falling onto his hand, as if it took him a long time to react.

"I understand, you can leave now." His voice was low, and the emotions in his eyes seemed turbulent, yet calm and restrained.

Inside the restaurant, Ci Ji was bored, stirring his coffee with a spoon while listening to the person opposite him, who had a bruised and swollen face, spewing out his thoughts.

"Look, he beat me up and I'm covered in bruises. I really can't stand people like that who can do whatever they want just because they have a little power. It's only because I like you so much and treat you so well that I would have broken up with you long ago if it were anyone else."

Look at this person, he's always trying to manipulate her.

"Right, Nian Nian?"

Zhou An suddenly moved closer to her, and his pig-like face suddenly magnified in her eyes.

"Cough cough..." Ji Nianci looked at him and almost spat out the coffee in her mouth.

"What are you laughing at?" Zhou An asked, puzzled.

"It's nothing... I just feel so sorry for you. Look at your face, it looks awful from being slapped."

"..."

After hearing the answer he wanted, Zhou An continued to coax him: "Now that I've been beaten like this, I don't dare go to the hospital. I don't know how much money these injuries will cost..." As he said this, his eyes kept glancing at Ji Nianci.

It's always the same. He says he's not after my money, but he always plays the victim, leaving me to foolishly pay for his expenses.

In her previous life, she had no idea how much money he had swindled from her. He would say he didn't need it, but he always accepted it without hesitation.

"Oh really? That's so pitiful. I feel so sorry for you." Ji Nianci pretended not to understand the meaning behind his words.

"It's all because of you..."

"That's enough," Ji Nianci interrupted him.

"I just thought about it, and this really isn't good for you. I don't want you to get hurt because of me anymore, so let's break up. It'll be better for both of us." Ji Nianci said in one breath, not giving Zhou An a chance to react.

The air fell silent for five seconds.

"What did you say...you want to break up with me?!" Zhou An, realizing what was happening, jumped up, almost knocking over the glass on the table.

"What's wrong with you? Do you even know how much I've sacrificed and done for you? And now you're just saying you want to break up?"

Zhou An's loud voice drew the attention of everyone in the restaurant.

Ji Nianci propped her head up with her hand and looked at him calmly.

"Don't you have any conscience? Let me tell you, I will absolutely not agree to break up. Don't even think about it. I've been so good to you, aren't you satisfied?" Zhou An said, his face flushed and his emotions running high.

Jinian Ci also lost her temper, slamming her phone face down on the table and yelling at him, "How dare you say that? Aren't you ashamed? Tell me what you've ever done for me!"

"I..." Zhou An suddenly fell silent.

Cijian got more and more excited as she spoke, and stood up to confront him, "I don't know where you get the nerve. You never give me surprises or gifts, you never spend time with me, all you do is open your mouth and ask me for money. Think about how much money you've gotten from me?"

"When have I ever asked you for money? Wasn't it all given to me voluntarily?"

"You don't have any?" Ji Nianci was so angry that she laughed. "Who was it that was crying about being poor in my ear every day? Who was it that was saying they wanted to buy this and that every day?"

"I won't even mention anything else, just look at the clothes you're wearing, the apartment you're living in now, and this Mercedes." Jin Nianci grabbed the car keys that were on the table and threw them in front of him.

"Which one of them didn't you beg me to buy for you? Do you think you can afford them with your salary? I was going to give you some face, but you didn't expect you to be so shameless."

Upon hearing this, everyone around understood the gist of the matter, and their gazes toward Zhou An were filled with disdain.

Zhou An was hit where it hurt, and she jumped up and down in anger, cursing, "Your family is so rich and powerful, what's wrong with giving your man some money to spend? You have to haggle with me over such a small thing? When you marry into the family, won't all that stuff of yours still belong to me?"

"This is the first time I've seen someone live off a woman so confidently. You're really something."

"Say that again if you dare!" Zhou An was so angry that he lost his temper. He grabbed a glass and smashed it on the ground, then shoved Ji Nianci hard.

Ji Nianci was pulled backward by his force, unable to control herself as she fell backward, with only one thought in her mind:

Oh no, I should have known better than to stand up. This is so embarrassing. She closed her eyes tightly, unwilling to face the situation.

The pain she had imagined didn't come; instead, she was embraced warmly, and her heart skipped a beat.

Ji Nianci opened her eyes and found herself being held firmly in someone's arms. She quickly turned around and, upon seeing that it was Shen Ceyan, exclaimed in surprise, "Why are you here?"