Chapter 8: The Scheming Young Wolf

"Li Jiuwei, what right do you have to order an apology statement?" Jiang Huaiting's eyes were cold as ice, his clear voice barely containing his anger.

"What do you think?" she replied with a question of her own, making Jiang Huaiting's expression darken even further.

"Xin Chun did nothing wrong. The words of a mere minor blogger aren't worth believing. Since you're supposedly acting in the company's best interest, I'll let your part in this go for now. But you must use your own identity to issue a new statement, explaining on Xin Chun's behalf. She is innocent."

This, in truth, was the real reason for his visit.

Li Jiuwei was the jewelry designer at Jiang Corporation, with a modest reputation in the industry. If she issued an explanation, naturally Li Xin Chun's name would be cleared.

Li Jiuwei, seated in her chair, let out a low laugh.

"How calculating. Using me as a scapegoat to bear the brunt of public opinion. Jiang Huaiting, what makes you think I would sacrifice myself like that?"

"As long as you agree, I can promise you anything," Jiang Huaiting said, his eyes filled with certainty and arrogance.

In that moment, Li Jiuwei felt utterly disgusted.

She turned her computer towards him, smiling. "Instead of wasting time with me, why don't you have Li Xin Chun apologize? Jiang Huaiting, if this affects the Jiang Corporation's stock price, do you think those old men on the board won't throw you and Li Xin Chun out of the company together?"

Threatened, Jiang Huaiting pointed at Li Jiuwei, furious. "Li Jiuwei, you really are vicious."

"Thank you for the compliment."

Jiang Huaiting was left choking with rage. He gave a cold snort and stormed out.

Afterwards, Zhang Bing entered, her face worried. "Jiuwei, President Jiang looked really angry."

"Don't mind him. Have you gotten in touch with that blogger?"

"I have, but he's firm—he doesn't want a private settlement."

Li Jiuwei arched an eyebrow, glancing over the chat record on her tablet. "Try different approaches. As long as he agrees to settle privately, we can grant any request he makes."

"Understood. I'll arrange it right away."

Li Jiuwei's status in the design department was pivotal.

After all, she had won various international awards and her designs were highly sought after.

With her background and credentials, she could easily be a design director at another company.

"Zhang, President Jiang just lost his temper—why doesn't Jiuwei just change jobs? She's so talented, why put up with this here?"

"Shh, keep your voice down. Jiuwei stays here for Vice President Liu—they're friends."

The junior employee suddenly understood.

Sister Jiuwei valued loyalty and friendship, so she was embarrassed to resign. President Jiang and Li Xin Chun truly had no shame.

...

After work.

Li Jiuwei waved goodbye to her colleagues.

A car stopped in front of her, and as the window rolled down, an impossibly handsome face appeared.

"Sister, let's have dinner together," Feng Su said, his eyes shining as he smiled.

With so many people from the company around, Li Jiuwei didn't want to attract attention. She got in the car and said, "Feng Su, have you forgotten what I told you the other day?"

"I haven't forgotten. But I like you," he replied. He'd looked into Li Jiuwei's background and found no sign of any fiancé.

She must have deliberately lied to get rid of him.

He must have done something wrong to make her angry.

Li Jiuwei felt a headache coming on.

Her engagement to Jiang Huaiting was only known to their families and a few close friends. Outsiders couldn't possibly find out, no matter how hard they tried.

Feng Su simply wouldn't believe it.

They went to a Hunan restaurant, and Feng Su ordered all of Li Jiuwei's favorite dishes, blinking at her in hopes of praise.

But Li Jiuwei kept her eyes on her phone, replying to messages.

Feng Su wrapped his arm around her waist, giving it a gentle squeeze in protest. "Sister, am I really less important than your phone?"

"Be good, I'm busy with work."

"It's after work. No need to be so conscientious," Feng Su grumbled.

"This is my life's work."

Without looking up, Li Jiuwei continued working. Feng Su, catching a glimpse of her chat, quickly guessed the situation.

"Wanwan Leiqing?"

He read out the blogger's name. Li Jiuwei glanced at him. "A fairly well-known blogger. Their art style is delicate yet bold—a very talented artist."

Precisely because of that, Li Xin Chun had set her sights on them.

"You want to get in touch with them?"

"Yes. So far, there's been no reply."

"How about a kiss, and I'll help you?" Feng Su's suggestion finally caught Li Jiuwei's attention.

She looked at him with a teasing smile, lifting his chin with her finger. "Do you know them?"

"A friend of mine."

Surprise flashed in Li Jiuwei's eyes. The little thing before her was learning to bargain with her now.

"Even without your help, I would have reached them eventually. No one can resist the lure of profit."

So, Feng Su's request was one she could not fulfill.

Feng Su pretended to be hurt. "You always bully me." His act of playful grievance went ignored by Li Jiuwei.

Still, Feng Su was efficient and immediately got in touch with Wanwan Leiqing.

"Sister... now that I've helped you, you can't break my heart again. Or I won't forgive you next time."

The way he acted like a spoiled pup was indeed cute.

If only his hands weren't so restless, he'd be even cuter.

Li Jiuwei didn't respond. She picked up an oyster and placed it in his bowl. "Eat."

"Seems like you're not satisfied with me," he said, eating the oyster in a way that was suggestive.

Li Jiuwei only then noticed his implication. The heat in his gaze was almost too much.

Soon, a young man knocked on the private room door.

He was tall and muscular, the very image of a tanned athlete. Seeing the beautiful and enchanting Li Jiuwei, he scratched his head bashfully.

Li Jiuwei, for her part, kept studying him.

Beside her, Feng Su pursed his lips, visibly jealous.

"Fang Tiantian, why are you just standing there?"

Startled to be called out, Fang Tiantian looked away awkwardly from Li Jiuwei and grumbled at Feng Su, "Su, have a little mercy."

"Fang Tiantian?" Li Jiuwei's lips curled in a half-smile.

"Uh... that's me."

"Sister, he's Wanwan Leiqing. You can talk to him now."

One surprise after another.

Wanwan Leiqing was a man? And with a name so sweet?

Fang Tiantian was entirely at a loss as he looked at Li Jiuwei.

"Talk about what?"

"Fang Tiantian, nice to meet you. I'm Li Jiuwei from Jiang Corporation." She could see his expression shift, growing colder by the second.

This kid clearly had no fondness for Jiang Corporation.

Feng Su stepped out to take a call, missing the conversation. By the time he returned, Li Jiuwei and Fang Tiantian had already reached an agreement.

Fang Tiantian shook Feng Su's hand excitedly. "Su, thank you, thank you so much."

Feng Su was left utterly bewildered.

After Fang Tiantian left, he turned to Li Jiuwei with curiosity. "Sister, what did you two do behind my back? That kid was so happy, I'm actually a little jealous."