Wen Jiao showed no mercy, clearly intending to put Zhuang Jie Ning in an embarrassing position. Wen Jiao arranged the gathering on a cruise ship, and had not explicitly required invitation cards for entry, but now that she brought it up, it was clear that she was targeting Zhuang Jie Ning. For a moment, silence fell. Zhuang Jie Ning smiled, facing Wen Jiao’s hostility with a gentle voice, "The Zhuang Family is interested in cooperating with the Shen Family, and I hope Miss Wen can put past grievances aside and give us a fair chance at collaboration." Wen Jiao’s smile carried a chill; she was well aware of the cooperation between the Zhuang and Shen families. It was an alliance that had been promised by Shen Jinci before going abroad. But what kind of person was Wen Jiao? She couldn’t stand even a speck of dust in her eye, let alone dust related to Bian Yue. The draft agreement was held indefinitely in her hands. Shen Zhaoli did not wish to plead further with Wen Jiao on behalf of the Zhuang Family, preferring to turn a blind eye and pretend as though nothing had happened. However, now without the protection of the Li Family, the Zhuang Family was not what it used to be, and the moves by Lixing Group served as a signal within the industry, causing the situation of the Zhuang Family to worsen day by day. "Fair cooperation? Zhuang Jie Ning, what makes you think you have the right to seek fair cooperation from me? Even if I decide not to work with you, what can you do about it?" Wen Jiao abruptly became assertive, her tone hardening, "Did you not consider the consequences of your previous actions?" "One should take responsibility for their own actions. I accept whatever you want to do to me, but my father is innocent," said Zhuang Jie Ning calmly. "Besides, since Mr. Shen has already approved the cooperation, what right does Miss Wen have to hold it back and prevent progress?" The air was filled with tension, truly a dramatic scene to behold. Zhuang Jie Ning’s visit was indeed not for the sake of reminiscing old times. Wen Jiao didn’t care about Zhuang Jie Ning’s dissatisfaction; she only hated herself for being too ethical, otherwise, she would have made sure Zhuang Jie Ning and Li Sihe slept with the fishes. "My status doesn’t matter; what’s important is that neither Shen Jinci nor Bian Yue are in Xiangjiang right now, and Lixing Group’s affairs are fully managed by my husband. If you have any complaints, go find him. If he decides to be generous, there’s nothing I can do." Wen Jiao let out a cold laugh, her anger not increasing but rather decreasing in her eyes. Everyone looked at her with respect, even Pan Ni lost her will to continue joking. Everyone watched Wen Jiao uneasily. Wen Jiao sneered, stood up, and said to Zhuang Jie Ning, "Come with me." Zhuang Jie Ning complied calmly with Wen Jiao’s request, and the two women walked inside, leaving a group of young ladies looking at each other in bewilderment. Had they had any doubts about Wen Jiao’s status before, now it seemed entirely unnecessary. With Shen Zhaoli even allowing Wen Jiao to interfere in business affairs, forcing Zhuang Jie Ning to personally ask for mercy, what kind of power did that speak of? On the open-air balcony near the sea, the salty sea breeze hit their faces. Zhuang Jie Ning, looking at Wen Jiao’s angry face, smiled and said lightly, "Are you taking this out on me for Bian Yue’s sake?" Wen Jiao scoffed, not hesitating at all as she slapped Zhuang Jie Ning across the face, "Zhuang Jie Ning, do you realize Bian Yue is pregnant! How could you team up with Li Sihe to take her abroad! If anything were to really happen to her, would your life even be enough to compensate?" Zhuang Jie Ning’s cheek turned from the blow, a trace of blood seeping out from the corner of her mouth. She looked towards Wen Jiao expressionlessly, calmness in her eyes, "That’s not enough for compensation, so I’ll take that slap. Please pass the cooperation draft with the Zhuang Family." "Pass it? Do you think just because of that slap, everything can be wiped clean? Zhuang Jie Ning, I’m not Bian Yue, I share no affection with you, if it weren’t for Bian Yue considering you her close friend, I wouldn’t have given you a second glance!" Wen Jiao glared coldly at Zhuang Jie Ning and said, "Since high school, you’ve always been a supreme hypocrite!" Zhuang Jie Ning coldly accepted Wen Jiao’s sarcastic fury. From Wen Jiao’s point of view, with Bian Yue missing and her body not stable enough to return to the country in time, everything was enough reason for her to never let go of herself. The ship was already slowly moving away from the port, the distant sound of its engines could be heard. "I am hypocritical, and I don’t deserve to be friends with Bian Yue. I accept everything you’ve said, Wen Jiao. I just want to know, how can you be satisfied, so my father’s cooperation with Lixing Group can continue?" Wen Jiao leisurely watched Zhuang Jie Ning, who was now speaking in a negotiating tone that, in her eyes, was no different from a threat. "Zhuang Jie Ning, you come from a good background. Even if the Zhuang Family has fallen to its current state, it’s still a lean camel that’s bigger than a horse. Even if the cooperation between Lixing and the Zhuang Family is canceled, your life would still be unobstructed." Wen Jiao’s face was cold and her voice grew even more solemn, "But what about Bian Yue? You and Li Sihe tricked her abroad, you hurt her time and again. If she took even one step out, her life would be doomed! And now, you can’t handle a little setback in your life?" Zhuang Jie Ning felt the bone-chilling sea breeze on her face, carrying a piercing chill. She understood that Wen Jiao did not intend to make peace. Smiling, she said, "You’re right, what goes around comes around, it’s all my own doing. So just say it, what do you want?" Wen Jiao scoffed, "I remember back in high school, you won a swimming competition." Pointing towards the port that was now far away, her tone casual as if making small talk, "Swim back from here, wait for me at the port. If I’m in a good mood, I won’t hold up the cooperation." Zhuang Jie Ning’s face turned pale, but after only a moment’s silence, she jumped into the sea without hesitation. The splash rose, Wen Jiao expressionless, turned, and walked away. When she passed by a security officer, Wen Jiao instructed him to follow Zhuang Jie Ning, to remember to rescue her in case of any accident. As for everyone else, when they saw Wen Jiao return without Zhuang Jie Ning, they all started to wonder. Someone tried to probe, "Wen Jiao... that... where’s Zhuang Jie Ning? Why didn’t she come back with you?" Wen Jiao smiled, cutting the steak in front of her, her tone innocently replying, "She swam back." The crowd was instantly in an uproar. "What do you mean swam back?" "Everyone is so surprised, does that mean..." Wen Jiao put down her utensils, calmly looking around, "Does anyone else want to go down and join her?" ɴᴇᴡ ɴᴏᴠᴇʟ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀs ᴀʀᴇ ᴘᴜʙʟɪsʜᴇᴅ ᴏɴ novèlfire.net Wen Jiao smiled softly and slowly said, "I know you all came today to test me. Yes, it’s true, I almost got married twice within a year. During my wedding, Shen Jinci and Bian Yue did not attend due to matters, and I married well into the Shen Family. I understand rumors, but from now on, I hope no one spreads gossip about me anymore. As you’ve seen, I have a bad temper." First, it was quiet, then Bai Wending laughed and said, "Indeed, Wen Jiao and Mr. Shen are well matched, it’s Wei Shuqian who’s not good enough for Wen Jiao!" Wen Jiao, however, looked down and spoke faintly, "He’s good, not unworthy of me, it’s just that the fate was not there."