Accidentally Marked My Ex’s Crush, the Ice-Cold Goddess O - Chapter 21: You Now Make Me Very Unhappy

Chapter 21: You Now Make Me Very Unhappy

Regarding her relationship with Little Aunt, it wasn’t exactly an unspeakable secret. It’s just that after Mother and Mommy divorced, no one had mentioned it to outsiders for over twenty years.

The Fu family only acknowledged one legitimate eldest daughter to the public.

Gu Feiran looked at Jiang Ci and said, “If I tell you that my relationship with your Aunt Liu isn’t what you think, but I can’t explain it clearly, would you believe me?”

“I believe you,” Jiang Ci accepted frankly.

Gu Feiran slightly frowned. “You don’t need me to explain more? What if I’m lying to you?”

Jiang Ci shook her head. “No need. I trust Aunt Liu’s character, and I trust you. I don’t know why you and Aunt Liu know each other but pretend not to, but as long as it’s not what I misunderstood, that’s fine. I’m not someone who digs for answers. Besides, you clearly know each other but can’t say it publicly. It must not feel good for you both.”

Gu Feiran looked at her with gentle eyes, her tone softening. “Thank you. And, sorry.”

The thank you was for her understanding.

The sorry was for the secrecy she and Little Aunt kept from them.

After clearing things up, Jiang Ci let out a sigh of relief. She pushed the contract forward a bit and said, “The contract was drafted according to standard procedures and meets all regulations. Although you said no payment is needed, I still wrote three million on it. Whether you think I’m compensating or something else, I hope you’ll accept it.”

Jiang Ci continued, “You can take the contract back and have a lawyer review it. If there’s anything you’re not satisfied with, let me know. After we finalize it, if you want to register, you can message me, and I’ll go with you. Or we can set a time, and I’ll pick you up to register together.”

Gu Feiran lowered her eyes, thought seriously, and said, “How about Thursday morning? If you’re free, I can take a day off.”

“Okay,” Jiang Ci said.

Then she stood up, put the contract away for Gu Feiran, and reminded her to drink the soup before it got cold.

Gu Feiran hummed, lowered her head, and continued drinking the soup. But after about a bowl, she was too full to drink more and couldn’t waste the rest.

So Jiang Ci picked out the half-piece of ginseng for Gu Feiran to eat, then held the lunchbox, tilted her head back, and gulped it down in a few sips, leaving only the ginger slices and goji berries at the bottom.

After finishing, Jiang Ci set the lunchbox down. When she looked up, a slender, jade-like hand appeared in front of her with a tissue.

Jiang Ci stared for a moment before taking it. “Thank you.”

Gu Feiran packed up the lunchbox layer by layer, carefully wiped the chopsticks and spoon, wrapped them in a tissue, and put them in the storage box. She said, “Be safe on your way back.”

Jiang Ci bent down to throw the trash in the nearby bin and kindly said, “It’s okay. I can wait for you to get off work.”

“No need,” Gu Feiran refused, handing over the utensils. “I’m on night shift today and won’t be off until tomorrow. Go home. Thanks for the soup.”

Since she was on duty, there was no choice.

Jiang Ci stood up, packed the utensils with the lunchbox into the bag, and said, “Alright, you work hard. Bye.”

She couldn’t find comforting words for overtime.

After speaking, Jiang Ci picked up the lunchbox and was about to leave when Gu Feiran suddenly called out, “Wait.”

“Anything else?” Jiang Ci stopped immediately.

Gu Feiran’s gaze fell on the wound on Jiang Ci’s forehead, concerned. “How’s the wound on your forehead?”

Jiang Ci replied, “It’s already scabbing.”

When she was first injured, she thought it would take one or two months to heal, but it scabbed surprisingly fast.

Gu Feiran said, “The brain has a good bl00d supply, so scabbing is faster than other parts of the body. But after scabbing, don’t let it get wet, especially if it’s bandaged—don’t let water get in. Just pay attention, and the wound will heal faster.”

Jiang Ci nodded. “Got it.”

Then Jiang Ci left the office, and Gu Feiran continued working.

The next day, at 9:30 a.m., Jiang Ci and her colleagues arrived at Shengding Group to discuss the contract with Fu Ruanyi.

Fu Ruanyi still didn’t care much for Jiang Ci. Like last time, she made them wait in the reception room from 9 a.m. until past 1 p.m. before her assistant notified Jiang Ci to go to the meeting room.

This time, her colleagues were used to it and complained less than before.

The group entered the meeting room and took their seats.

Before the meeting started, Jiang Ci carefully reviewed the contract and documents. A colleague sitting next to her couldn’t help but grumble, “Shengding’s people are something else. Last time, they made us wait hours, and now again. Fine, we wait, but they don’t even offer a bottle of water. What’s that about?”

Others wanted to complain too, but with Jiang Ci there, they didn’t dare speak, though they were frustrated inside.

Jiang Ci turned a page without looking up and said, “We’re the ones seeking cooperation with Shengding, not them begging us. If you can’t understand the difference between being the client and the supplier, you don’t need to come next time. I can replace you.”

The colleague quickly explained in a low voice, “Boss Jiang, don’t be mad. I was just saying.”

Jiang Ci calmly said, “Sometimes, a casual comment can cause big trouble, especially in a setting like this. Be cautious with your words. When I said I’d replace you, I wasn’t just saying.”

The colleague sat up straight, face red with embarrassment. “Sorry, Boss Jiang. I didn’t consider the situation.”

Jiang Ci didn’t respond.

The others suppressed their frustration, focused, and prepared for the meeting.

Ten minutes later, the meeting room door was pushed open. Fu Ruanyi, in a fitted black suit and high heels, walked in first, followed by seven or eight people, exuding a commanding presence.

Jiang Ci led her team to stand and greet her. “President Fu.”

Fu Ruanyi casually hummed in response, then walked to the main seat. The others pulled out chairs and sat across from Jiang Ci’s team.

The meeting room door closed, and Jiang Ci spoke first. “President Fu, regarding the contract details, we’ve adjusted them according to your company’s requirements. You’ve likely reviewed them, but we’ll still explain the details thoroughly. I hope you’ll be satisfied after hearing them.”

An assistant handed Fu Ruanyi a cup of brewed coffee. She took a sip before saying, “Hmm, fine. But you’d better speak quickly and clearly. Don’t waste my time. I don’t have the energy to keep dragging this project out. This is your Jiang family’s priority, not Shengding’s.”

Jiang Ci nodded. “Of course.”

Fu Ruanyi said, “Then start.”

This time, Jiang Ci was meticulous, leaving Fu Ruanyi no room to find fault. Though she couldn’t pick at the work, her verbal jabs at Jiang Ci were no less than last time.

Jiang Ci let it go in one ear and out the other.

No matter when, she always faced Fu Ruanyi with a smile, which made Fu Ruanyi even more irritated.

By 4 p.m., the contract was officially signed.

Per the agreement, both parties would keep an original and a copy of the contract.

Work done, Jiang Ci stood up, faced Fu Ruanyi, and said, “President Fu, I hope our future cooperation is pleasant.”

Fu Ruanyi’s sharp gaze swept over, annoyed. “Cooperation is cooperation. Whether it’s pleasant or not is another matter. For example, you now make me very unhappy.”

Jiang Ci smiled lightly. “President Fu, despite being so unhappy, you agreed to our cooperation and let the work proceed smoothly. On behalf of the Jiang family, I thank you.”

Her words were airtight, but they made Fu Ruanyi angrier, like punching cotton with no impact.

Fu Ruanyi sneered. “Back then, even your Jiang family’s Jiang Xi didn’t dare talk to me like that. You’re really getting bold.”

Jiang Ci nodded humbly. “President Fu, how could I disrespect you? By age, you’re my elder. By business, you’re my client. I have no reason to be rude. Please don’t misunderstand.”

“You just said, by age?”

Fu Ruanyi gripped her pen tightly, singling out that phrase.

The others, hearing her tone grow heavier, kept their heads down, some even wanting to bolt from the room.

This young Boss Jiang seemed mild and polite, but her words carried a sly edge. Age… wasn’t she deliberately hitting Fu’s sore spot?

Everyone in Linjiang City knew Fu Ruanyi was a top alpha but had been single for thirty-two years.

With her status, finding a family matching the Fu family’s was hard, let alone a top omega. It was nearly impossible, so she stayed single for thirty-two years.

Sure, President Fu had money, looks, a great figure, and a stellar career, standing at the peak of life, not needing love to define her. But that didn’t stop gossip. In recent years, unflattering terms like “old single woman” had reached Shengding, making “age” a taboo word at the company.

Jiang Ci, unaware, said simply, “By age, President Fu is the same year as my sister, so you’re my elder.”

Shengding’s people, hearing Jiang Ci bring up age again, panicked internally. If she kept going, President Fu might flip the entire meeting room.

Boss Jiang, please spare us.

They groaned inwardly.

Smack—Fu Ruanyi suddenly slammed her hand on the table.

Everyone in the room flinched, too scared to look up, fearing worse if they did.

Jiang Ci, startled, slowly realized why she was angry and hurriedly said, “Um, President Fu, I didn’t mean it that way. Please don’t misunderstand. I meant you’re exceptional, worth learning from, an elder, not a senior. My wording was wrong. I apologize. I mean, a senior, not an elder. Sorry.”

“Jiang…” Fu Ruanyi’s anger peaked, and she was about to confront her when a phone rang in the meeting room.

Since it was a meeting, everyone’s phones were on silent except Fu Ruanyi’s personal phone.

The assistant picked up the phone, saw the caller ID, stepped to Fu Ruanyi’s side, and whispered, “President Fu, it’s Miss Gu.”

Fu Ruanyi glanced at the phone. Xiao Ran.