Zong Yanxi was taken aback for a moment. What did I say just now?
She played back what she just said in her mind. I think I said something I shouldn’t have said.
“How would I know what you were like last time? You’re mistaken.” She feigned calmness and placed all the blame on Jiang Mohan. “Are you trying to change the subject?”
Jiang Mohan was rendered inarticulate.
“Just be upfront with me. Are you thinking of backing out on our collaboration? Or do you have something else on your mind?” Zong Yanxi demanded.
“Ms. Lin, I’m a little confused.” Jiang Mohan peered at her, sensing that behind her calm exterior lay many secrets. His gaze sharpened slightly. “Why such a huge reaction? What are you trying to hide?”
Upon his intense gaze, Zong Yanxi simply turned away, avoiding his piercing eyes that seemed to make her more anxious by the second. “I don’t know what you’re talking about, President Jiang. Also, prepare for contract termination.”
After that, she prepared to scurry away. However, she had only taken a step when she was grabbed by the wrist. She looked over her shoulder in shock. “What are you doing?”
“I wish to make certain things clear, Ms. Lin.” With that, Jiang Mohan began tugging her towards a café by the corner.
“Let go of me!” Zong Yanxi struggled against his hold.
Suddenly, Tian Qifeng came up to stop Jiang Mohan. “I’m gonna need you to let her go.”
“Who are you?” Jiang Mohan narrowed his eyes. He had never seen this man around Lin Ruixi before.
“He’s the bodyguard Gu Xian assigned to me. Do you have a problem with that?” Zong Yanxi quickly came up with a suitable mix of truth and lies to throw him off.
As Jiang Mohan gazed at her, his urge to see through her facade became stronger.
The domineering way she behaved just now made her look exactly like the other woman when she was still alive.
“I only want to discuss work with you. Why are you so against it? What are you afraid of? You even hired a bodyguard to protect you. But from who? Me?”
“I almost lost my life because of someone close to you, President Jiang. Isn’t it normal for me to be more careful now? Is it wrong for my boyfriend to worry about me?”
After being momentarily speechless, she barked out a retort through gritted teeth.
The word “boyfriend” grated on Jiang Mohan’s nerves for some reason, greatly upsetting him. This feeling was the kind that was completely out of his control.
“It’s my fault for causing you trouble, Ms. Lin. And I apologize to you for that.” Then, he swiftly changed the topic. “As for work matters, I believe there might be a misunderstanding. Let’s sit down and talk about it, shall we, Ms. Lin?”
In reality, Zong Yanxi didn’t really intend on canceling the contract between them, so she agreed and glanced at Tian Qifeng to order, “Wait for me in the car.”
Tian Qifeng nodded and turned to go back to the car.
“I don’t mind sitting down to have a chat with you, President Jiang. But could you please let me go first?” Her features were lined with frost.
Faced with her impassive eyes, Jiang Mohan felt as if in his heart was missing something. Only by holding onto her hand could that sense of emptiness be alleviated slightly. Despite his reluctance, he still let her go.
They walked into the café and found a quiet place to settle down. Following that, a waiter came over to get their orders.
Jiang Mohan asked, “What would you like to drink?”
“Anything,” Zong Yanxi answered blandly.
Jiang Mohan nodded and ordered a latte, which was Zong Yanxi’s favorite drink last time.
He ordered a latte for himself as well before closing the menu and handing it back to the waiter. “That’s all.”
The waiter took the menu with both hands and stepped away.
Zong Yanxi only found it ironic. He brought me to my favorite restaurant last time, and this time he even chose my favorite coffee beverage? Is he acting affectionate?
Hah!
She snickered in her heart.
“You seem slightly upset, Ms. Lin.” Jiang Mohan could sense her unpleasant mood.
Zong Yanxi rebuked, “I don’t like milk in my coffee.”
Jiang Mohan smiled. “I didn’t use to like it too. Coffee was supposed to be bitter, and I couldn’t see the purpose in adding milk to balance it out, which would only end up changing the original taste of it.”
“Then what made you change, President Jiang?”
Zong Yanxi regretted it the moment the question left her lips.
Why should I care why he’s changed?
What does it have to do with me?
I shouldn’t have asked!
Looking at her, Jiang Mohan answered, “Because of my wife.”
“But isn’t your wife dead already?” Zong Yanxi slanted her head slightly.
“Yes, she’s no longer here, but she left me with memories.” Thinking about her made Jiang Mohan’s heart squeeze in pain.
Right then, the waiter came over with two cups of latte just then and retreated soon after.
“Ms. Lin, give it a try,” Jiang Mohan encouraged.
Yet Zong Yanxi didn’t move to touch it. “I don’t like it.”
“Everything in this world has its own reason for existing. Just like this cup of coffee. It originally tastes bitter, but after adding milk to it, the bitterness is reduced. There’s even a hint of milky texture to it. If life is already bitter, why would you want to have something bitter too…”
“President Jiang!” Zong Yanxi interrupted him with a solemn voice, not wanting to listen to him anymore because this was something she had said to him in the past.
To get him to drink the same coffee beverage as her, she had given him a grand speech.
“We’re here to talk about work, not coffee, President Jiang. I didn’t study it, nor am I interested in understanding it. I came here to discuss work with you, President Jiang.”
“I just felt that you and my ex-wife shared some resemblance, Ms. Lin. I’m sorry – that was rude of me.”
With that, Jiang Mohan got back to business. “I’d like to understand what’s gotten you so angry, Ms. Lin.”
“Do you really not know? Didn’t you get your subordinate to tell me to report the progress of my proposal to you?”
