43: Chapter 43 Jiang Yan Returns the Gift, Hidden Past Events

Jiang Jing shook his head indifferently: "I didn't want to bother with you all, but you insisted on jumping out to seek attention. If you don't die, then who will!?"

Seeing this, President Wang intended to renege on the bet; he sprang up and bolted!

Jiang Jing was completely unperturbed. He flashed directly in front of President Wang, pressed his large hands onto his shoulders, and applied force—

"Ouch, ouch, ouch!" Feeling the terrifying strength coming from his shoulders, President Wang knew he had run into a tough opponent.

He looked at Jiang Jing with a pleading expression, but Jiang Jing remained unmoved, coldly spitting out two words: "The bet!"

With no other choice, under the gaze of everyone, President Wang slowly knelt down and squeezed a few words through his teeth: "I am a moron..."

The crowd of onlookers burst into a roar of laughter, and some even took out their phones to record.

President Wang, ashamed and furious to the point of wanting to die, scrambled up, grabbed Liu Meng, and ran outside.

As she ran, Liu Meng kept looking back at Jiang Jing, seemingly reluctant to leave this genuine tycoon.

...

In front of Villa No. 3 at Shanshui Manor, Jiang Yan took a deep breath and straightened her collar.

Today, she had specifically changed into a standard butler uniform. The gift box in her hand contained an authentic painting, "Clear Distant Streams and Mountains" by Wen Zhengming of the Ming Dynasty, which was a return gift selected by Jiang Jing from the villa's private collection.

This painting was worth over three million, enough to demonstrate the sincerity and taste of the owner of Villa No. 1.

After she rang the doorbell, a middle-aged man opened the door before long and welcomed Jiang Yan inside.

"Miss Jiang, please follow me."

Butler Zhou Shan bowed slightly and made a gesture of invitation.

Jiang Yan nodded in acknowledgment and followed Butler Zhou Shan through the meticulously manicured French garden.

The architectural style of Villa No. 3 was completely different from Villa No. 1; it adopted a neoclassical design, with white marble columns supporting an arched porch, displaying restrained luxury everywhere.

"Miss Su is waiting for you in the study." Butler Zhou Shan stopped in front of a carved wooden door and knocked gently, "Miss Jiang has arrived."

"Please come in."

A cold, feminine voice came from inside, as crisp and pleasant as ice striking against ice.

Jiang Yan's fingers tightened unconsciously around the edge of the gift box.

It had been five years. Since that incident, she had not seen this famous talented woman.

Now, things had changed; she had become someone else's butler, while the other party remained a high-and-mighty heiress of a wealthy family.

The study door slowly opened.

Sunlight spilled in through the floor-to-ceiling windows, outlining a slender figure sitting in a high-backed chair.

The woman had her back to the door, her jet-black long hair cascading down like a waterfall, shimmering with a satin-like luster in the sunlight.

"Long time no see, Jiang Yan."

The chair slowly turned around, revealing Su Yingxue's breathtakingly beautiful face.

Today, she was wearing an ivory-white qipao with a jade brooch pinned to the collar, which made her skin look as white as snow.

Those cold eyes stared directly at Jiang Yan, with a faint, almost imperceptible smile hanging at the corners of her lips.

Jiang Yan's breath hitched slightly; five years had passed, and Su Yingxue's beauty was even more stunning, though the sharpness in her eyes was even greater than before.

"Miss Su." Jiang Yan bowed slightly, her voice steady and devoid of any emotion, "I have come to return the gift on behalf of Mr. Jiang."

She presented the gift box with both hands, "This is 'Clear Distant Streams and Mountains' by Wen Zhengming of the Ming Dynasty; I hope you like it."

Su Yingxue did not immediately take the gift box, but instead sized up Jiang Yan with those eyes that could see through people's hearts: "It's been five years, and you've actually learned these servant's manners."

Jiang Yan's fingers tightened slightly, but she maintained a professional smile on her face: "Miss Su, you are joking; I am a butler now, after all."

"Sit down." Su Yingxue pointed to the chair opposite her, "Old friends meeting, why be so distant?"

Butler Zhou Shan tactfully exited the study and gently closed the door.

Only the two women remained in the room, and the air was filled with a faint, lingering scent of perfume and a hint of tension.

Jiang Yan placed the gift box on the coffee table and sat down gracefully with her back straight. She noticed a document spread out on the desk—it was a background investigation report on Jiang Jing.

"It seems Miss Su is quite interested in Jiang Jing." Jiang Yan said calmly.

Su Yingxue chuckled, her delicate, white fingers tapping lightly on the desk: "A mysterious tycoon who suddenly appeared, sitting on Villa No. 1 in Shanshui Manor, driving a globally limited edition supercar... who wouldn't be curious?"

She suddenly leaned forward, a flash of sharpness in her eyes: "Especially when his butler happens to be you, Miss Jiang. I really don't know if it's a coincidence or something else."

Jiang Yan's pupils contracted slightly, but she quickly regained her composure: "Miss Su, you have mistaken me for someone else. I am just an ordinary butler."

"Is that so?" Su Yingxue took a photo out of the drawer and pushed it over, "Then who is this person who looks exactly like you?"

The photo showed Jiang Yan from five years ago, standing under the spotlight at a charity gala in a high-fashion gown, with her father—Chairman of the Jiang Group, Jiang Wanli—by her side.

Back then, her smile was bright, and her eyes were full of pride and confidence; she was like a completely different person from now.

Jiang Yan's fingertips trembled slightly, but her voice remained steady: "There is no need to bring up the past."

"The Jiang Family went bankrupt, your father's whereabouts are unknown, and you fell from being a rich young lady to working as someone's butler..." Su Yingxue's voice suddenly softened, "Xiao Yan, you have suffered these past years."

This long-lost nickname made Jiang Yan's eyes heat up slightly.

She quickly lowered her eyelids to hide that momentary vulnerability: "Miss Su, let's talk about business; this painting..."

"The painting can wait." Su Yingxue interrupted her, "I am more curious about how you met Jiang Jing? Who exactly is he?"

Jiang Yan looked up and stared straight into Su Yingxue's eyes: "Mr. Jiang is my employer; as for his identity, I'm afraid I cannot disclose it."

"Still so stubborn." Su Yingxue sighed, "Do you know? My father has always felt very guilty about what happened back then..."

"Su Yuanshan would feel guilty?" Jiang Yan sneered, a flash of hatred appearing in her eyes, "When he took advantage of the situation to acquire the core assets of the Jiang Family, I didn't see any guilt at all."

The temperature in the study seemed to drop suddenly.

Su Yingxue's expression became serious: "The business world is like a battlefield; winners take all and losers suffer. Your father's decision-making mistakes led to the breakdown of the capital chain; you cannot blame others."

"Decision-making mistakes?" Jiang Yan's voice trembled slightly, "It was your Su Family colluding with the bank to set a trap, deliberately tightening loans, and spreading rumors of the Jiang Family's financial crisis!"

Su Yingxue was silent for a moment, then suddenly changed the subject: "Does Jiang Jing know your true identity?"

Jiang Yan was stunned, then shook her head: "I am just his butler; there is no need for him to know these things."

"Interesting." Su Yingxue smiled meaningfully, "A tycoon with an unknown background, and a young lady living under an assumed name—you two are quite the perfect match."