Chapter 38: Jiang Xiaoyou, I Miss You So Much!

Jiang Xiaoxiao spoke, “That’s why I applied to be Bo Jinshu’s secretary. WORLD is a Bo family enterprise, and Bo Jinshu is their sole heir. If he gives his blessing, Qingben Beauty will be the first domestic fashion brand to enter WORLD. You know how valuable that is, Dad.”

Jiang Jinhui shook his head. “Xiaoxiao, it’s not as easy as you think.”

The Bo family also has its own fashion business, much larger than the Jiang family’s. They haven’t even allowed their own brand into the mall, let alone an outsider’s.

But Jiang Xiaoxiao was brimming with confidence. “Dad, you never know unless you try. Give me three months. I’ll win Bo Jinshu over in that time.”

Seeing Jiang Jinhui’s skeptical look, she added quickly, “I mean, I’ll make sure the crown prince lets Qingben Beauty enter WORLD.”

Jiang Zhiyou had been silently listening, saying nothing.

Jiang Xiaoxiao’s plan was far too naive. Not only does WORLD have clear standards for brand partnerships, it would never compromise its reputation as the country’s top luxury mall for any single brand. Moreover, Jiang Zhiyou recalled Bo Jinshu mentioning that WORLD wasn’t under his control, but managed by his elder sister, Bo Wanzhou. The relationship between Bo Wanzhou and Bo Jinshu was notoriously bad.

And Jiang Xiaoxiao had lied. She hadn’t been hired as Bo Jinshu’s secretary, but as a secretary’s assistant—a position that rarely saw Bo Jinshu.

After dinner, Jiang Jinhui said to Jiang Zhiyou, “Stay at home tonight, your room hasn’t had anyone in it for ages.”

Jiang Zhiyou glanced at Yao Shulan. Her expression was as cold as ever, not even bothering to look at her. A chill seeped into Jiang Zhiyou’s heart. She’d died once already; what hope was left?

She was about to decline when her phone suddenly rang.

It was Yan Feng’s childhood friend, Xiao Kai, calling. “Zhiyou, Yan Feng’s drunk. Come pick him up.”

Jiang Zhiyou seized the chance for an excuse. “Yan Feng’s had too much to drink. I’ll go get him, so I won’t stay here tonight.”

Jiang Jinhui, feeling relieved, said, “All right, you’d better hurry.”

Room 1008 at the “Blossoms” club.

Jiang Zhiyou pushed open the door. Inside, the atmosphere was rowdy. Everyone was singing, drinking, thoroughly drunk. But Jiang Zhiyou recognized almost everyone in the room—they were Yan Feng’s childhood friends.

And since Yan Feng’s childhood friends were also Jiang Zhiyou’s, some were even closer to her than to Yan Feng.

As soon as she entered, the room fell silent.

Xiao Kai hurried over. “Zhiyou, you’re here.”

Although everyone was a year or two older than Jiang Zhiyou, they all called her “Zhiyou.” When she was little, her fiery, bold personality meant she never lost a fight with the boys. Eventually, they were won over and started calling her “sister.”

“I organized this get-together for Yan Feng’s return, but he’s not in a great mood tonight and has drunk quite a bit,” Xiao Kai explained.

Jiang Zhiyou glanced at Yan Feng, collapsed on the sofa. “You should have called Xia Ling, not me.”

Everyone knew the story between the three of them.

Xiao Kai joked, “Who’s Xia Ling? Never heard of her. You two have been a pair since childhood playing house, and now you’re the legitimate Mrs. Yan. Who else would I call?”

Jiang Zhiyou didn’t bother with his banter. She looked at Yan Feng. “Can he walk?”

Xiao Kai had someone help Yan Feng up to follow Jiang Zhiyou out.

Just as they reached the club’s main hall, Yan Feng suddenly came to.

He shook off the hands supporting him. “Let go, I’m not drunk, I can drink more.”

Jiang Zhiyou stepped up to him. “Can you walk? If so, walk yourself. I’ll take you home.”

Yan Feng, bleary-eyed, stared at her for a moment. Then, suddenly, he stepped forward and pulled Jiang Zhiyou into his arms.

His voice was choked with emotion.

“Jiang Xiaoyou, I’ve missed you so much!”

Jiang Zhiyou was stunned, standing rigid and straight, her back stiff. It wasn’t the sudden embrace that startled her, but the three words “Jiang Xiaoyou.”

That had once been Yan Feng’s special name for her, from childhood to adulthood. She hadn’t heard it in years.

A wave of inexplicable sorrow welled up inside her.

Yan Feng held Jiang Zhiyou tightly, sobbing like a child, his shoulders trembling.

“Jiang Xiaoyou, why did you leave me? Why?”

Jiang Zhiyou was dazed for a moment, then snapped back. Yan Feng really was drunk—he’d started talking nonsense.

She patted his back. “Yan Feng, look closely. I’m Jiang Zhiyou, not Xia Ling.”

“Jiang Xiaoyou, you’re not allowed to abandon me. Anyone else can despise me, but not you. You can’t look down on me. I became who I am today because of you—because of you! How could you be so heartless?”

Jiang Zhiyou was bewildered, her intuition telling her there was something here—perhaps a chance to uncover why Xia Ling had stirred things up between them.

She softened her tone, coaxing him gently. “Come on, I won’t leave you. Tell me, what happened? Why are you saying these things?”

Meanwhile.

Bo Jinshu and his entourage exited the elevator and stopped in their tracks. With Bo Jinshu leading, no one dared move.

Everyone followed his gaze toward the Blossoms club’s main hall, where a couple embraced.

Xue Tao joked, “Blossoms has really gone downhill. Public displays of affection everywhere.”

Fang Bo chimed in, “I don’t think she’s one of the club’s girls—it looks like a couple making up after a quarrel, pouring their hearts out under the influence.”

“That poor girl—he’s seven-tenths drunk, acting until you cry.”

While everyone laughed, Xue Tao suddenly noticed something.

“That woman… isn’t she the crown prince’s girlfriend?”

At that, everyone seemed to recall something.

“Yes, it’s Jiang the reporter.”

Just a few days ago at Xue Tao’s birthday party, the crown prince had brought a woman and publicly introduced her as his girlfriend, leaving Xue Qin in tears. And wasn’t that the same woman now embracing another man?

No one had high hopes for the couple, suspecting the crown prince was using her to scare off Xue Qin. But still, she was the only girlfriend he’d ever introduced to his friends.

For her to behave like this—it was a slap in the prince’s face.

Everyone looked at Bo Jinshu.

Sure enough, his expression was dark and forbidding.

Xue Tao, always sharp-eyed, noticed something else. “The man with her is… Young Master Yan from Haifeng Construction. No wonder she challenged Mrs. Jiang at the golf course—it turns out she really is Young Master Yan’s lover.”

Everyone was shocked.

“So, Miss Jiang is playing both sides—keeping Yan on the line while also seducing our crown prince?”