Princess Syndrome - Chapter 112

Chapter 112: Going Back

Zhou Yan wasn't a complete fool who would believe everything, but he didn't dare to act rashly. If what Su Lingyue said was true, the consequences were something he couldn't bear. He had barely gotten through the Yang Zhizhi incident and hadn't been peaceful for two months. He really didn't want to be thrown out of the company by Zhou Shiyu.

But what if Su Lingyue was telling the truth?

Given her temper, could she tolerate others occupying Su Qi? Would she personally come to him to discuss business?

He had this much self-awareness: Su Lingyue didn't like him.

So, Zhou Yan was half-believing, half-doubting. Today, when Su Lingyue suggested treating, he simply went along with it to test the waters. That's why he invited a few friends over. If there was any offense, he could shift the blame.

The idea was perfect, and his friends were very cooperative, entering the room after catching Zhou Yan's eye.

These men had been coveting Su Lingyue for a long time. Before, the Su family protected her, and they couldn't touch her. Later, they heard she had joined Yilin, and who would want to go against Ji Zhiyi? So, everyone endured it. These young masters usually had no shortage of entertainment, but compared to Su Lingyue, they preferred her. Thus, a few of them arrived promptly after a phone call.

Su Lingyue watched the private room door open and close again. She had met these people before, never giving them a pleasant look, and they still didn't take the initiative to greet her now.

She remained unperturbed.

Zhou Yan was a bit unsure, seeing her calm demeanor. He chuckled, "What a coincidence, running into some acquaintances. Miss Su doesn't mind, right?"

Su Lingyue raised an eyebrow at him. Zhou Yan felt a tremor in his heart from her calm gaze. Just as he was about to speak, Su Lingyue said, "Manager Zhou is too polite. It was my immaturity in the past that caused trouble for everyone. Since we've met today, it's a good opportunity to apologize to you all."

She took the offered step, her expression natural.

She also gave the others enough face.

The others were surprised to hear this. The man sitting next to Su Lingyue said, "Oh my, I heard Xiao Yue is now adept at business. It seems it's true."

If he had dared to call her "Xiao Yue" before, Su Lingyue would have glared at him and told him to "scram."

Now, she calmly poured him tea and said, "I still need to rely on all of you."

Zhou Yan sat across from her. The others gave him a thumbs up, seemingly thinking Zhou Yan was impressive, able to make Su Lingyue so obedient. Zhou Yan felt a surge of pride. The biggest obstacle he had encountered since birth was Su Lingyue, and he had been the subject of much ridicule in their circle because of her. Now, his vanity was being fulfilled.

After all, whom among those present had ever received a pleasant look from Su Lingyue?

Now, Su Lingyue was being pleasant to them because of him.

This contrast gave Zhou Yan immense satisfaction, and he found Su Lingyue much more agreeable. The person beside Su Lingyue said, "If you ask me, this business of showing your face is tiring and not suitable for women. It's a man's job. Women should find a good man, right, Xiao Yue?"

Hearing this, Su Lingyue turned to look at the speaker. "Does Mr. Gu mean that women are inferior to men in business?"

Mr. Gu, as she called him, looked like it was a matter of course. "Yes, look at which woman can run a business well? Aren't they all backed by someone?" As he spoke, he tried to place his hand on Su Lingyue's shoulder. Su Lingyue moved aside, looking at Zhou Yan and asking, "Does Manager Zhou think so too?"

Being singled out by Su Lingyue,

Zhou Yan was stunned. Seeing everyone looking over, he had no choice but to put on a brave face. "Mr. Gu is right."

Su Lingyue nodded. "So, President Zhou has someone backing him?"

She stared at Zhou Yan. "Who is it?"

Hearing this, Zhou Yan was instantly infuriated. How did the topic turn to Zhou Shiyu? Wasn't the conversation about Su Lingyue? These brainless idiots! If he said Zhou Shiyu had someone backing her today, he wouldn't know how he'd die when he got home!

Mr. Gu laughed to smooth things over. "There are always exceptions."

Su Lingyue nodded. "So, President Zhou is an exception." She said, "Then what about President Shen of Dingsheng?"

She looked at Mr. Gu. "Is she also an exception?"

Mr. Gu felt a prickle from her sharp gaze, and his mind cleared. He had only come for fun, but what was all this about? He looked at Zhou Yan with resentment. Zhou Yan said, "President Shen..."

...

The door opened.

A woman in business attire walked in.

Behind her was Shen Yuan.

Shen Yuan's expression was unusually serious, her gaze cold as she scanned the people present. Su Lingyue's heart skipped a beat. She didn't know how Shen Yuan had arrived, but she knew Shen Yuan was having dinner at Haotai today. That was why she had chosen Haotai as the venue, thinking she could seek Shen Yuan's help if anything happened, or at least bump into her and greet her, letting Zhou Yan know she wasn't lying.

She never expected Shen Yuan to come in.

Shen Yuan's expression was indifferent.

Su Lingyue seized the opportunity. "What a coincidence, I've also run into an acquaintance. Manager Zhou and the others don't mind, do you?"

Zhou Yan's face was ashen.

In terms of age, he was the oldest here. These young masters and Su Lingyue were of the same generation, close in age. They often complained about Shen Yuan and Ji Zhiyi. They couldn't help it; these two stood at the top.

Although they complained, they were also afraid of them.

Otherwise, no one would dare to touch Su Lingyue while she was at Yilin.

So, everyone looked very uncomfortable seeing Shen Yuan enter, especially since Shen Yuan's expression was so grim. Two of them exchanged glances and made an excuse to leave, saying they had other matters to attend to. The others followed suit.

Zhou Yan and Shen Yuan weren't exactly close. Usually, it was Zhou Shiyu who met with Shen Yuan; he wasn't in that league. Now, seeing Shen Yuan, he didn't quite know how to greet her, and the atmosphere became awkward.

Shen Yuan glanced at Zhou Yan, then turned to Su Lingyue. "Am I interrupting?"

Su Lingyue said, "How could you be? President Shen is also very clear about the PV patent issue. It's a good opportunity for her to help me decide."

Let Shen Yuan help her decide?

And directly mentioning the PV patent.

Zhou Yan glanced at Su Lingyue.

So, she was telling the truth.

His heart skipped a beat, and he quickly said, "President Shen, please sit, please sit. Shall we chat while we eat?"

Shen Yuan glanced at her watch. "I won't be having a meal; I have other matters to attend to."

Finally, she looked at Su Lingyue. "Oh, right, Assistant Su, I won't help you decide. If you and Manager Zhou can't reach an agreement, feel free to come to Dingsheng anytime."

Although Su Lingyue didn't know why her attitude had changed so much, she nodded. "Okay, President Shen."

Shen Yuan didn't even look at Zhou Yan as she walked past him, leaving a lingering scent in the private room. Su Lingyue sat down and looked up at Zhou Yan. "Still eating?"

Zhou Yan snapped back to reality. His attitude was no longer the same as before. He moved to sit beside her and smiled at Su Lingyue.

...

After lunch, Su Lingyue called Ji Zhiyi.

She opened with, "Did you send Shen Yuan?"

Ji Zhiyi hadn't slept yet and had been waiting for her news. Hearing her question, she breathed a sigh of relief. "Did you finish eating?"

Su Lingyue said, "Yes."

Ji Zhiyi asked, "What did Zhou Yan say?"

Su Lingyue said, "Shen Yuan came. He probably won't say anything out of line. Whether we cooperate or not still depends on Zhou Shiyu's intentions."

Ji Zhiyi hummed in agreement.

Su Lingyue asked her, "Did you ask Shen Yuan to come?"

Ji Zhiyi paused for two seconds. "Yes."

Su Lingyue asked, "How did you get her to come?"

Coming today was no ordinary visit. It had significant implications for her and for Dingsheng. Shen Yuan, having navigated the business world for so long, wouldn't fail to understand such a simple principle.

At most, she had hoped to have Shen Yuan return a favor by bumping into her at the door.

Ji Zhiyi said, "I exchanged some information with her."

Su Lingyue asked, "What information?"

Then she thought of Zhang Xian's words. "Her ex-girlfriend?"

Ji Zhiyi said, "I'm investigating as well."

She wasn't sure if Jiang Ya had done it on purpose, but there was no trace of Jiang Yunlu's runaway incident. She had pieced together some information before daring to think this way. Naturally, she wouldn't directly tell Shen Yuan about Jiang Yunlu, but the information she exchanged was indeed about her ex-girlfriend.

Su Lingyue was a bit confused.

She said, "Never mind, I'll settle the PV patent issue first."

Ji Zhiyi said, "Okay."

Su Lingyue sat in the car, hearing her "okay," she closed her eyes and leaned back, saying, "Ji Zhiyi."

Ji Zhiyi hummed in response.

Su Lingyue said, "Say something else."

Ji Zhiyi asked her, "Say what?"

Su Lingyue said, "Anything."

She wanted to hear Ji Zhiyi talk, to hear her voice, to miss her. Hearing this, Ji Zhiyi felt a throbbing pain in the sole of her foot where the shard had pierced. She looked down, the broken skin a ghastly white. Pressing her finger on it, it still hurt.

Ji Zhiyi endured the pain and got up, walking into the bedroom, saying, "Are you coming back to the office later?"

Su Lingyue said, "Yeah, I need to send the cooperation plan with Su Qi to Zhou Yan in the next two days. I might have to work overtime tonight."

She feigned a light tone. "Can't sleep with you tonight."

Ji Zhiyi called out to her, "Lingyue..."

Su Lingyue said, "What?"

She was being stubborn. "Thank me? You should thank me, Ji Zhiyi, you have to thank me!"

Ji Zhiyi said, "Yes, I know."

"I'm just teasing you!" Su Lingyue said, "If it weren't for me, you wouldn't have encountered these things."

If it weren't for her saying she wanted to deal with Su Qi, Ji Zhiyi wouldn't have been treated like this. Saying thank you was what she should be saying to Ji Zhiyi.

Ji Zhiyi said, "But I broke my promise."

"So what if you broke your promise!" Su Lingyue turned to look out the window, blowing on her bangs to suppress the burning sensation in her eyes. She said, "You're not a god, how could you predict everything?"

Even immortals had moments when their plans failed.

Ji Zhiyi inexplicably felt a sense of relief. She called out, "Lingyue."

Her voice was gentle.

A little more pleasant than before.

Su Lingyue bit her lip, replying softly, "Hmm?"

Ji Zhiyi simply called out again, "Lingyue."

Su Lingyue's ears turned red.

She touched her earlobe; it was a little hot, and her eyes were also warm. She patted her cheeks. "I'm going back to the office."

Ji Zhiyi said, "Okay, good."

Su Lingyue wanted to hang up but couldn't bear to, so she minimized the call. Ji Zhiyi held her phone, closing her eyes.

Su Lingyue hung up after arriving at the office.

She spent the entire afternoon working on the plan, attending several back-to-back meetings. She worked overtime until past three in the morning to finalize the plan. She was thinking of going back to rest when she fell asleep on her desk. It was Zhang Xian who called her the next day and woke her up. "You didn't come back last night?!"

Su Lingyue yawned. "I'm at the office."

Zhang Xian said, "Oh," and then, "I thought you didn't come home."

Su Lingyue chuckled and asked Zhang Xian to bring her a change of clothes. She sneaked into the break room. It wasn't time for work yet, and some people were in the break room gossiping about her visit to Su Qi yesterday.

The news spread fast.

Su Lingyue thought.

"Assistant Su really went to Su Qi?"

"I heard she went to beg Zhou Yan."

The gossip was so outrageous that even she, the person involved, wanted to laugh.

Then she thought of the rumors about her and Ji Zhiyi before, and she couldn't help but chuckle.

The people in the break room heard the noise and looked over, seeing a person squeeze out from the sofa booth. The person smiled at them and said, "Morning."

Everyone scurried away.

Zhang Xian arrived at the break room and, hearing the gossip, said angrily, "Are the people at Su Qi blind? Where did they see you begging Zhou Yan?"

Su Lingyue wholeheartedly agreed.

Zhang Xian asked, "Did you finish the plan?"

Su Lingyue said, "Yeah, just need to finalize it today."

The plan for cooperating with Dingsheng had been prepared long ago, so making modifications wasn't difficult. It was just a matter of staying up all night. Su Lingyue squinted and went to change her clothes. When she came out, she heard Zhang Xian on the phone. "What? When did this happen?"

Her tone was very unhappy. Seeing Su Lingyue come out, Zhang Xian fell silent and said, "I understand."

Su Lingyue asked her, "What's wrong?"

Zhang Xian said, "Nothing."

Su Lingyue kept staring at her. Zhang Xian couldn't hold back. "The new material isn't from Xinyuan." She glanced at Su Lingyue. "Nor is it PV." Her voice was even lower. "It's—it's Tianxing."

Su Lingyue's mind buzzed, wondering if she was still asleep.

She asked Zhang Xian, "Wha-what?"

Zhang Xian knew she must be very upset right now. Even she was annoyed, let alone Su Lingyue. It was like being played for a fool. First, they told her to be in charge of the PV patent, then watched her negotiate with Dingsheng and seek reconciliation with Su Qi.

Now, they suddenly said they had signed with Tianxing?

Su Lingyue asked, "When did they sign?"

Zhang Xian said, "Last night."

Su Lingyue was furious. "Ha!"

They signed last night, and she worked on the plan all night, yet Meng Jiu didn't say a word? Were they messing with her?

Su Lingyue prepared to go find Qi An but was stopped by Zhang Xian.

She was angry. "Let go of me!"

Seeing her anger, Zhang Xian quickly hugged her. "Don't be angry, don't be angry."

Su Lingyue squirmed a couple of times and then stood still. She said, "So, they chose Tianxing from the beginning?"

Was it deliberate?

Did they intentionally watch her busy herself with the PV patent?

She had initially been curious why Yilin would choose to cooperate with Su Qi, and even take the initiative to do so.

So, it was all to make fun of her!

Su Lingyue couldn't help but be angry. She took a deep breath, unable to move while being hugged by Zhang Xian. After struggling a bit, she said, "Let go of me."

Zhang Xian said, "Then don't be impulsive."

Su Lingyue said, "I know."

She calmed down.

But she was still upset. She wanted to send a message to Ji Zhiyi to complain, but when her fingers touched her phone, she felt listless and lowered her hand.

Ji Zhiyi received the news almost at the same time.

She was uncertain. "Signed with Tianxing?"

"Yes, they signed last night." The person on the other end of the phone spoke calmly. Ji Zhiyi scoffed. "I see."

After hanging up, she looked at Jiang Yunlu lying on the hospital bed, staring for several minutes.

There was a knock on the door.

She turned her head. It was Jiang Ya coming in.

Jiang Ya was carrying fruit. "I saw these downstairs, they looked fresh. Want to try some?"

Ji Zhiyi took the apple she offered, peeled it, and put it on a fruit plate. The light shone into the room, reflecting off the white walls, a stark white. Ji Zhiyi took a bite and said, "Godmother, it's sweet. You have some too."

Jiang Ya took a piece. "Very sweet."

She offered a piece to Jiang Yunlu, but Jiang Yunlu didn't react.

Jiang Ya put down the fork and massaged Jiang Yunlu's shoulders and arms. Ji Zhiyi finished chewing the apple and said slowly, "Godmother, I'm going back now."

Jiang Ya didn't take it seriously. "Be careful on the way."

Ji Zhiyi didn't move, just looked at Jiang Ya, repeating, "I want to go back."

Hearing this, Jiang Ya paused her massaging, turned her head, met Ji Zhiyi's gaze, and chuckled. "What's wrong? Isn't it good here?"

Ji Zhiyi said, "It's good, but I have things to do back there."

"What things? I can have Qi An help you?" Jiang Ya said.

Ji Zhiyi said, "She can't help. I need to handle these things myself. Godmother, I'll come to see you and Sister Yunlu when I have time."

Jiang Ya said, "So urgent? Can't you wait a little longer?"

She was silent for two seconds. "Besides, your parents will be here in a few days. Aren't you going to spend time with them?"

Ji Zhiyi said, "I've already called them and told them to go back to our hometown first."

Jiang Ya frowned. "When?"

Ji Zhiyi said, "Last night."

Jiang Ya looked at her.

She said, "Zhiyi, are you angry that Yilin signed with Tianxing last night without informing you?"

Ji Zhiyi said, "Just informing me?"

Jiang Ya said casually, "What? Are you feeling sorry for your little assistant? Or did your little assistant tell you something again? Called you to complain?"

"Didn't you say she's just your assistant?"

Ji Zhiyi said, "Godmother, you know she's not."

"She's not what?" Jiang Ya got agitated. "She's not what? You've disrupted our plans for her multiple times, opened a factory for her. Do you think I don't know about this?"

A "as expected" emotion welled up in Ji Zhiyi's eyes.

She knew. Jiang Ya already knew.

Sure enough.

Jiang Ya said, "I let you come here to give you one last chance. I know you value Haoyue and want to help Su Lingyue get back Su Qi. Fine, Godmother agrees. I will absolutely not interfere with anything Su Lingyue does again. I can even have Qi An help her get back Su Qi as soon as possible. Isn't that what you want? Zhiyi, you know Godmother has never made such a deal before, but for you, I can make an exception."

Ji Zhiyi asked, "What are the conditions?"

Jiang Ya said, "The condition is that you stay here and don't contact her again in the future. I'll bring your parents over. We can live here from now on. You can choose whether or not to join the company. If you want to start your own company, we can also open an Yilin here."

Hearing this, Ji Zhiyi nodded.

Her expression was calm as she looked at Jiang Ya. "What if I don't agree?"

Jiang Ya didn't speak, just looked at her.

Ji Zhiyi said, "If I don't agree, you can play us many times like you did with the PV patent. You can inform Su Qi about the factory and make us lose completely, Godmother, isn't that right?"

Jiang Ya said, "Zhiyi, Godmother doesn't want to go that far."

Ji Zhiyi said, "I don't want to go that far either."

Her tone was slightly lower, her emotions suppressed. "The day my mother came back from the hospital, she was especially happy. She said she met a living Bodhisattva. She said you were willing to help our family with medical expenses."

It was a fortunate connection, but also a karmic entanglement.

Ji Zhiyi said, "I haven't seen her so happy in a long time. She said, 'Zhiyi, you must remember, Godmother's matters are your matters from now on. You may not be filial to us, but you cannot be unfilial to Godmother. She is our family's benefactor, a debt we can never repay in a lifetime.'"

"I know how great your kindness to our family is. I've never doubted it, so I've always listened to you."

Jiang Ya's expression softened.

She thought Ji Zhiyi was giving in.

But Ji Zhiyi continued, "But this time is different." She looked at Jiang Ya. "I'm sorry, Godmother."

Jiang Ya frowned. "Is Su Lingyue worth it? Zhiyi, I've always thought you were a smart child who knew how to choose."

Facts proved that Ji Zhiyi was indeed smart, and each of her choices had pleased her. But this time, she actually defied her. Jiang Ya was angry. "Do you know what you're giving up?"

Ji Zhiyi's tone was calm. "I know."

Jiang Ya said, "Do you know that your parents will never agree?"

Ji Zhiyi said, "I also know they won't agree."

Everything going wrong, family discord.

She knew all of this.

Jiang Ya didn't understand, her jawline tight with anger.

Ji Zhiyi said, "Godmother, haven't you always asked me why I went abroad in the first place?"

Jiang Ya slowly turned her head to look at her.

Ji Zhiyi said, "For the person I love."

She was very calm. "It's Su Lingyue."

"You!" Jiang Ya blurted out, "You're completely insane!"

Ji Zhiyi had no expression.

Jiang Ya was furious.

She really couldn't understand why Ji Zhiyi had gone abroad, why she had wanted to return several times but stubbornly held back. She had always thought Ji Zhiyi wanted to stay and develop her career overseas. She had never imagined it was because of Su Lingyue.

So, from the beginning, she wasn't seeking revenge at all; she was going after Su Lingyue!

This madwoman!

Ji Zhiyi apologized. "I'm sorry, Godmother. I should have been honest with you sooner."

After saying this, she turned to leave. Behind her, Jiang Ya's body tensed as she called out, "Ji Zhiyi!"

Ji Zhiyi stopped.

Jiang Ya's voice trembled with anger. "If you walk out that door today, you have to think about the consequences! I'll make it impossible for you to stay in Qingquan! Make it impossible for you to stay in this industry! I'll let you watch your Haoyue series be destroyed with your own eyes! Ji Zhiyi, don't you care?"

Ji Zhiyi didn't speak, taking another step forward.

Jiang Ya shouted, "Ji Zhiyi!"

She said, "Fine, you don't care! Do you think Su Lingyue doesn't care either?"

Only then did Ji Zhiyi stop and turn to look at Jiang Ya.

Jiang Ya said, "Su Lingyue is willing to go to Su Qi for you. Do you think she'll just watch you be ruined? If she knows about these things, what do you think she'll do?"

Ji Zhiyi's hands slowly curled into fists, tightening. When she thought of Su Lingyue, she didn't feel nervous but even more relaxed. She said to Jiang Ya, "She'll love me even more."

Jiang Ya roared, "Ji Zhiyi!"

Accompanying her voice was another sound, hoarse and difficult, like rusty gears grinding after a long time, a weak sound swallowed by Jiang Ya's voice. But when the ward was quiet for two seconds, it called out again, "Ji Zhiyi."

This time, it was much smoother.

Ji Zhiyi turned her head and looked at the hospital bed. Jiang Yunlu, who had been unresponsive all along, was looking at her.

After being here for so long, it was the first time their eyes met.

Jiang Yunlu's gaze was no longer vacant; it was focused and clear. She looked towards the door, at the person, and called out, "Ji Zhiyi."

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