"No," Song Chenglu panicked, hearing the wrong tone in her voice.
"Yiyi, listen to me, I didn't mean it like that. I really want to marry you. How could I possibly think of you that way?"
Since the conversation had reached this point, Song Chenglu decided to say it again.
"Anyway, your small studio doesn't earn much. Why don't you just be Mrs. Song peacefully? I promise, every penny I earn will be yours, and you can manage everything in the Song family.
"Every penny you spend will be something I beg you to spend. I will absolutely not let you ask me for money. Okay? Yiyi, marry me. As long as you nod, I'll deal with everything online immediately."
His words, a mix of coaxing and threatening, made Xie JinYi let out a cold laugh.
"Song Chenglu, do you truly not understand what I want, or are you pretending not to? Mrs. Song has never been my goal."
After a pause, Xie JinYi said in annoyance, "Let's break up. If you feel like you'll lose face by being dumped, I can announce publicly that you're the one breaking up with me."
"Xie JinYi!" Hearing the word "break up" again, Song Chenglu lost all patience and threatened, "I'll give you three seconds to take those words back, or else..."
Beep—
She hung up directly.
Song Chenglu's rage instantly surged to his head.
He smashed his phone against the wall with a loud bang.
The women accompanying him shrieked.
"Get out! All of you, get out!"
Song Chenglu roared explosively while frantically smashing things.
He was left alone in the room.
The madam, sensing something was wrong, quickly sent for someone.
A young master, a friend of Song Chenglu, opened the door. "Fighting again?"
They were accustomed to the couple's tantrums.
They were also somewhat impressed by Song Chenglu's indulgence towards Xie JinYi.
A lady from a fallen family, besides being attractive, had almost no capital to match Song Chenglu, yet she had a bad temper.
What was even more bizarre was that Song Chenglu was willing to spoil her.
To be honest, if that woman had been with them, she would have been tamed completely. It was just that Song Chenglu was soft-hearted.
A woman's tears would make him yield. No wonder she had him so tightly in her grasp.
"What is it this time?" the young master asked, putting aside his thoughts and bending down to pour him a drink.
Song Chenglu, with a cold face, did not take it.
He did, however, respond, "She wants to break up with me."
"Oh," the young master raised an eyebrow, "Having such a big tantrum? Why are you still indulging her? Aren't you afraid she'll fly too high later?"
Originally, these were just a couple of teasing remarks, but something in what was said struck a chord with Song Chenglu.
Song Chenglu snapped, "Get out! It's not your place to speak!"
"..."
Suddenly being yelled at, the young master's expression turned displeased for a moment.
But what he said was the truth. Their families still relied on the Song family for a living.
Pressing his lips together, the young master began to appease him. "I have plenty of ways to deal with a woman like her."
Song Chenglu indeed gave him a sideways glance.
The young master continued, "Isn't little sister-in-law full of thorns? Then pull out her thorns and let her know that without you, she's nothing!"
Song Chenglu felt the same way.
This time, he wouldn't be the one to chase after her and coax her.
He wanted to teach her a lesson!
How dare she casually speak of breaking up? Did she really think he had no temper?
"Give the order, no one interferes with the online situation!"
He was waiting for her to yield!
*
Xie JinYi's studio.
Working overtime until midnight, there was still no sign of improvement in public opinion online.
The calls made and the money spent had barely made a ripple.
"Yiyi," the agent couldn't help but persuade her again, "Your future is limitless. You don't want it ruined like this, do you? Since Young Master Song isn't trying to corner you, it means he's still waiting for your attitude. You..."
"That's enough."
Xie JinYi picked up her phone and calmly interrupted, "I know what to do. Tell everyone to go home. We'll reimburse their overtime pay and travel expenses twice."
The agent thought she had come to her senses and happily showered her with compliments before going out to relay the message.
Xie JinYi casually pressed the dial button.
She had been with Song Chenglu for three years; she knew his temper best.
To think he could make her bow her head this way was impossible!
Xie JinYi, in this lifetime, was not one to yield to any pressure!
"Little Yi Jie!"
Upon receiving Xie JinYi's call, Wen Bin was overjoyed beyond measure.
Xie JinYi frowned at his clamor, "I have to go out this afternoon. I don't want any tails following me."
"Don't worry, I'll arrange it immediately. I absolutely won't let any paparazzi catch you!" Wen Bin wished he could pat his chest to guarantee it.
Xie JinYi gave a soft hum, "Hang up."
"Little..."
Wen Bin wanted to say more, but the beeping sound from the phone had already started.
Alas.
Wen Bin sighed regretfully as he put down the phone, which had returned to the main screen.
He still had a lot of things he wanted to say.
However, he was still very happy that Little Yi Jie had taken the initiative to contact him.
…
Xie JinYi casually tossed her turned-off phone aside.
Then, she took off her accessories and lay down on the boss's chair.
She casually draped a jacket over herself and managed to sleep until five in the morning.
She then started her various exercises.
By the time the employees started arriving, she went to shower and put on makeup.
When she came out of the bathroom, her agent was already waiting at the door, looking disapproving.
"What exactly did you say to Young Master Song? Didn't I tell you to show some softness? Why is it getting worse?"
"I'm going out today," Xie JinYi said indifferently while drying her hair, "You keep an eye on things online for now. And from now on, don't mention Song Chenglu again."
She sat down at the vanity, her wet hair and red lips making her look like a siren.
Even though her natural appearance wasn't bewitching, the aura she exuded was incredibly alluring.
The agent stood behind her, staring at her in the mirror, his brows deeply furrowed. "What? Have you really broken up with Young Master Song?"
Xie JinYi didn't respond, not even moving her gaze, as if Song Chenglu were a stranger.
"What's going on?" the agent read the answer from her face.
Unable to sit still, he went to her side, squatted down, and earnestly persuaded her, "Yiyi, what are you thinking?
"You don't even fancy someone with such great conditions as Song Chenglu. He's offering you the position of Mrs. Song! It's not just a mistress's title, how can you not cherish it?!"
The agent was practically exasperated by her lack of ambition.
In their eyes, Xie JinYi, with her ordinary background, was already blessed by a past life to have hooked up with a wealthy young master like Song Chenglu.
What's more, Song Chenglu was willing to grant her every wish, even offering her the position of Mrs. Song, yet she didn't appreciate it!
When the hat was placed back on her face, Xie JinYi finally fell into a deep sleep, sensing the car starting.
She woke up again at the entrance of the nursing home.
Xie JinYi squinted her eyes hazily.
She couldn't remember how long it had been since she last visited.
"Little Yi Jie, he... is living quite miserably."
Wen Bin could never guess her thoughts, so he could only speak based on his instincts about topics she might be interested in.
He then cautiously observed her emotions.
However, as time passed, she revealed fewer emotions externally.
Often, he couldn't even tell if she was happy or angry.
"Oh," Xie JinYi put on her sunglasses again, her tone so indifferent it was almost nonexistent, "He deserves it."
She pushed open the door and got out of the car, her slender and graceful back receding into the sunlight.
Wen Bin sat in the car, watching her leave.
Only when she was completely out of sight did he avert his gaze.
"Tsk, still hasn't eaten anything."
Wen Bin rubbed the paper bag, his eyes full of affection.
A courtyard house.
Upon receiving the news of Xie JinYi's arrival, the director immediately put down his work and accompanied her.
"Your father is doing well. He just misses you constantly."
Standing outside the glass partition, the director spoke meaningfully.
After all, anyone who had seen Xie Liangzhe's condition could not honestly say 'doing well.'
Han Xianyun was no exception.
"Alright."
He put down his phone and stood up, his tone lazily asking, "How do we play? Strip if I lose?"
He deliberately intended to humiliate her.
"Alright," she replied with a smile, "Who goes first?"
With a fiery opening, a crowd quickly gathered around the table.
Han Xianyun's skills were beyond doubt.
As a rich young master, he had been playing these games since childhood.
The possibility of losing was negligible.
Xie JinYi was also a good sport. She took off her top.
Her slender waist was revealed, and the eyes of those around her lit up.
"Again."
Throwing off her clothes, Xie JinYi picked up the cue stick again.
Han Xianyun narrowed his eyes. Amidst the crowd's heckling, he asked word by word, "Are you sure?"
"Of course," Xie JinYi met his gaze, smiling ambiguously and seductively, "I can afford to lose."
Han Xianyun let out a light laugh. "But I don't want to watch."
He dropped the cue stick and walked towards the lounge area.
Unexpectedly, as they brushed past each other, she suddenly hugged him from behind and softly pleaded, "Fourth Master, help me..."