The news of Jiang She joining Jiang Family Properties had long spread throughout the circles of Jiangnan City.
Everyone was astonished by the old Master Jiang's doting on Jiang She.
But Zhou Yunsheng had never expected Jiang She to take Wen Zhiyao away from Jiang Jingyan. Even though Wen Zhiyao had been mad at him for the past few days because of previous matters, she hadn't mentioned a word about this big change!
Zhou Yunsheng was understandably angry.
Wen Zhiyao also hadn't expected the Zhou Family's representative to be Zhou Yunsheng. It seemed the Zhou Family was taking this alliance quite seriously. She greeted him formally, "Hello, Minister Zhou."
Zhou Yunsheng swallowed hard, reminding himself why he was here at Jiang Family Properties and suppressing his anger.
The two sides began negotiations.
Throughout, Jiang She didn't utter a word and even seemed bored enough to yawn.
Wen Zhiyao handled all the problems on his behalf with ease, offering no face to Zhou Yunsheng, and pushing the land price to its peak.
After all, it was the Zhou Family that was in urgent need of this piece of land.
Once the contracts were confirmed to be without problems, the people in charge on both sides signed.
The man with clearly defined knuckles signed his name casually on the title page, his handwriting firm and powerful.
Seeing Jiang She sign for the first time, Wen Zhiyao couldn't help but take a few more glances.
Jiang She tossed his pen forward, leaned luxuriously on the leather chair, and said dismissively with a slight smile, "Don't let the door hit you on your way out."
Zhou Yunsheng, who was already furious, coughed in anger.
Wen Zhiyao took the signed contract to register it. She hadn't taken a few steps when she heard someone calling her from behind. Although she originally intended to ignore it, Zhou Yunsheng stepped forward, blocking her path.
"Zhiyao." Zhou Yunsheng tried to grab Wen Zhiyao's hand, but she stepped back, leaving him awkwardly hanging.
"Hasn't Minister Zhou left yet?" The comment from Wen Zhiyao made Zhou Yunsheng choke immediately.
He forced a smile and said, "There's no one else around now so you don't need to call me like this."
"We are at the company. We should keep personal life separate from work." Wen Zhiyao curled her lip, her smile not reaching her eyes. "I don't think Minister Zhou would want others to see our close relationship and make insinuating remarks."
Zhou Yunsheng was left speechless by her official response.
After quite a while, he asked the question that had been bothering him, "Why are you working with Jiang She in Jiang Family Properties?"
Wen Zhiyao gave a perfunctory response, "It's a company decision. Naturally, I have to cooperate."
However, Zhou Yunsheng didn't believe it, especially after what happened the other day when Jiang She meddled in matters that he shouldn't have.
Everyone knew that apart from the women Jiang She was interested in, he wouldn't even give others a second glance, let alone lend them his coat. But afterwards, he also learned about the incident at the hotel where Zhao Minghai tried to take advantage of Wen Zhiyao when he was absent, and was saved by Jiang She just in time.
While he did trust Wen Zhiyao, he did not trust Jiang She.
Jiang She's reputation was nothing short of notorious.
So for Zhou Yunsheng, this issue was like a thorn in his heart, causing discomfort whenever he thought about it.
"Did Jiang She give you a hard time?" He asked immediately without giving Wen Zhiyao the opportunity to answer. "If you don't want to work at Jiang Property, I can talk to my parents and arrange something for you at Zhou Family's."
Talking about this, Zhou Yunsheng, fresh from negotiating a business deal, regretted his decisions immediately.
If he had known about Wen Zhiyao's brilliant ability, he wouldn't have avoided suspicion and handed her over to the rival company.
If the Wen Family hadn't fallen, Wen Zhiyao would have been his competent helpmate.
"There's no need. I like the working atmosphere of the Jiang Family," Wen Zhiyao struggled not to laugh, her cold eyes full of disdain for Zhou Yunsheng.
He clearly wanted to marry Jian Keyan, but he still refused to let go of her, which made her nauseous.
Zhou Yunsheng, engrossed in his own world, assured her, "Don't worry, with the Zhou Family backing you, Jiang She won't dare do anything to you!"
"Apologies, but I don't plan to switch jobs any time soon," Wen Zhiyao's patience was running thin. She turned to leave and unexpectedly saw Jiang She, who was smoking in a corner.
Jiang She extinguished the cigarette in his hand. Half of the smoke had yet to disperse, wrapping around his eyes, adding an inscrutable element.
"Zhou Yunsheng, it's not nice to corner an employee of my company in front of me, is it?"
Zhou Yunsheng's face changed immediately, but he had been tempered by his struggles in the company and was able to maintain his composure, responding with a faint smile, "I didn't realize the young Master Jiang had habit of eavesdropping. I was just catching up on the work status of my fiancée."
"Really?" Jiang She moved closer, towering over Zhou Yunsheng. It was only then that Wen Zhiyao realized that he was half a head taller than Zhou Yunsheng, inherently exerting pressure on him. His powerful voice echoed, "If you're dissatisfied with the Jiang Family, I guess we can forget about the contract."
Zhou Yunsheng couldn't hide his shock but he managed to laugh sarcastically, "Young Master Jiang, the contract has already been signed."
Jiang She chuckled nonchalantly, "It's just money. I can afford it."
"You…" Zhou Yunsheng's words were caught in his throat due to his astonishment. But jealousy flickered in his eyes.
Being groomed in the same way by their families, he could only follow their decisions, while Jiang She jumped straight into the position of General Manager of Jiang Family Properties. He was arrogant enough to declare a multi-billion contract void just like that.
Blinded by his jealousy, he blurted out, "Just a bastard child, don't you dare think that you will ever have a share in the Jiang Family."
Jiang She's face became cold, a reaction that Wen Zhiyao had never seen before.
She glanced at Jiang She's clenched fist, not surprised that in a second he may punch Zhou Yunsheng in the face.
Zhou Yunsheng was also a bit frightened but he tried to maintain his composure. Looking at Wen Zhiyao, he said, "Zhiyao, Uncle and Auntie Jian asked me to invite you to dinner tonight. I've sent the location and timings to you. Don't forget to be on time."
Wen Zhiyao paused, looked down at the latest message from Zhou Yunsheng on her phone and pulled her lip back in self-mockery.
Now, even when her uncle and aunt wanted to have dinner with her, the invitation came through Zhou Yunsheng.
It appeared they were more of a family now.
When she came back to her senses, Zhou Yunsheng had already left.
With a droning sound, a man's impatient voice sounded in her ear. Wen Zhiyao turned her head to see Jiang She's eyes filled with cold fury. He said coldly, "You're not actually going to have dinner with him, are you?"
Wen Zhiyao retorted, "And if I am?"
"Come with me," Jiang She's words were simple and concise.
"With you?" Wen Zhiyao raised her eyebrows, slowly lifted her hand and drew a circle, watching the man's Adams' apple bob. As she hooked her lip and mercilessly withdrew her hand, she said, "Mr. Jiang, I'm very expensive."
Just before she withdrew her hand, Jiang She grabbed her petite and soft hand, scoffing disdainfully, "But I'm loaded."