◎For anyone else, I would definitely grant you this favor. Except for Fu Jiaxi.◎

Fu Jiaxi woke up at eight o’clock.

The curtains were slightly parted, allowing sunlight to spill onto the wall in a butter-yellow glow.

Yue Jincheng turned his head toward her. “Awake? I bought breakfast.”

Instinctively, Fu Jiaxi touched her back, her dazed eyes meeting his.

“Your car’s downstairs. If you want to leave, you can head out after breakfast,” Yue Jincheng said.

“What about you?”

“I have some business to take care of here.”

After a brief silence, Fu Jiaxi replied, “Alright.”

Indeed, Yue Jincheng had a company in Xinchao—a modest but profitable venture in cultural tourism.

Back then, when he was first pursuing her, he followed her from Jincheng to her hometown, never leaving her side.

Pretending to be annoyed, Fu Jiaxi placed her hands on her hips. “Why are you always following me?”

“I’m not following you,” Yue Jincheng chuckled. “I’m here for a meeting at my company.”

Fu Jiaxi clearly didn’t believe him.

“Really, I’m not lying,” Yue Jincheng said earnestly, extending an invitation. “Would you like to visit and give me some pointers?”

Looking around the fully equipped office, Fu Jiaxi’s expression was one of surprise. “Oh wow, so you’ve set up shop here?”

Standing beside her, Yue Jincheng appeared sincere. “So, if I follow you from now on, don’t find it annoying.”

At the time, Fu Jiaxi didn’t realize—

That someone could willingly spend lavishly just to see her, without expecting anything in return.

In the past, he came under the guise of work.

Now, he left for the same reason.

Yue Jincheng gave a self-deprecating smile. This, too, was a kind of closure.

Through the app on his phone, Yue Jincheng tracked the designated driver’s location. Fu Jiaxi’s car was steadily cruising along, already halfway through the journey. Yue Jincheng placed his phone on the passenger seat, preparing to return.

A new WeChat notification popped up—it was from Yuan You, Fu Jiaxi’s cousin:

“Brother-in-law, I think I saw your car 😄 Black Mercedes-Benz, right? 😋”

In the rearview mirror, about ten meters away, the spoiled brat stood awkwardly.

Yue Jincheng calmly shifted his gaze, started the car, and drove off.

________________________________________

By the time they reached Yunjin City and exited the highway, Fu Jiaxi had dozed off during the second half of the journey and only woke up now.

“I’ll transfer the money for the designated driver to you,” she said, her voice hoarse as she took out her phone.

“He’s already been paid.”

Fu Jiaxi raised her head. “He has?”

“Yes, last night. Your friend was very generous—they even added two hundred extra to ensure you arrived safely.” The driver grinned contentedly.

Fu Jiaxi scrolled through her contact list, hesitating several times before her finger hovered over Yue Jincheng’s profile picture.

A new message appeared at the top of her screen.

Bai Duo: “Shocked!”

Bai Duo: “I just found out—Qin He is actually Guan Yeqin’s cousin! Didn’t he deliberately come to harm you? Such bad luck!”

Seeing that name abruptly swept away Fu Jiaxi’s fatigue. It felt like a heavy hammer struck her chest, leaving her suffocated.

When Yue Jincheng returned to Jincheng, it was dinner time.

He stopped by the villa to check on Yue Puhui.

The housekeeper, Mr. Liu, took his briefcase and informed him, “Miss Guan is here, chatting with Master upstairs.”

Yue Jincheng remained composed and went up to the study.

Inside, Yue Puhui laughed heartily while Guan Yeqin skillfully flattered him, making him extremely happy.

Yue Jincheng knocked and entered. “Father.”

“You’re just in time. Join Yeqin for dinner,” Yue Puhui said with a lingering smile, subtly trying to bring them closer. “You’ll be working together more in the future. Be sure to take good care of her.”

Yue Jincheng responded warmly and naturally, “Of course.”

As they left the study together, Yue Jincheng walked ahead, his posture relaxed yet formal. His demeanor had shifted—now distant, even in silhouette.

“Why are you walking so fast? Are you afraid I’ll confront you?” Guan Yeqin teased.

“Afraid? You rushed all the way here just to showcase your eloquence and misrepresent facts?” Yue Jincheng wasn’t buying it. He rolled up his sleeves and continued walking without stopping.

Guan Yeqin quickened her pace, catching up to block his path. “You care deeply about protecting others, but Qin He is my cousin. Can’t you ease up a bit for my sake?”

Yue Jincheng countered coolly, “If you truly understood how much I care, you wouldn’t have let him act recklessly. Seems like you still don’t know enough.”

Guan Yeqin hadn’t expected such a firm response.

After the previous incident, Qin He had been blacklisted in the industry, unable to find employment or revive his career. Every day, he complained bitterly to her, appearing pitiful.

“Jincheng Ge,” Guan Yeqin adapted quickly, softening her tone. “Young people chasing success make mistakes. He got carried away and used the wrong methods. Give him another chance—for my sake?”

Appealing to their supposed sibling bond, though insincere, was a calculated move. Even someone as tough as Yue Jincheng couldn’t afford to lose face entirely.

Guan Yeqin’s strategy was flawless; her gaze was pleading and earnest.

Standing tall at 185 cm, Yue Jincheng looked down at her with an air of superiority.

He said, “Then please understand that I, too, have no choice in this matter.”

“What?” Guan Yeqin was taken aback.

“For anyone else, I would definitely grant you this favor,” Yue Jincheng said calmly. “Except for Fu Jiaxi.”

She was not a pawn in the game of calculations and compromises, nor a bargaining chip in the balance of gains and losses.

Never had she been.

Guan Yeqin’s preemptive strike backfired, and the dinner became an exercise in forced smiles. Her face grew stiff from the effort. Excusing herself to the restroom, she instead slipped out to the garden to catch her breath.

Guan Yeqin just pulled out a cigarette when—

“My father can’t stand the smell of smoke.” From the shadows of the dimly lit swing on the right, Yue Shaoheng emerged unnoticed.

Guan Yeqin quickly tucked the cigarette back into her bag and smiled. “Oh, it’s Shaoheng. What’s wrong? Was dinner not to your liking?”

“On the contrary, it was so good I overate. Came out here to digest.” Yue Shaoheng wore a loose-fitting athletic T-shirt that accentuated his broad yet lean shoulders.

Guan Yeqin’s eyes flickered as she casually steered the conversation. “With the current economic downturn, only your brother has managed to keep Baifeng Group thriving against all odds.”

Yue Shaoheng nodded. “My brother has sacrificed a lot for the group. No one else in this family could have done what he does.”

Guan Yeqin sighed dramatically. “If it were anyone else, life wouldn’t be easy. Open attacks, hidden daggers, baseless accusations—it’s all so exhausting.”

Yue Shaoheng’s shoulders tensed, and he urgently pressed, “Is it Jiaxi? Is she having trouble at work? Is she doing alright?”

Guan Yeqin replied, “She was forced to resign. Heard she ran into some trouble.”

Yue Shaoheng shot up abruptly, causing the iron swing to shake violently. “What happened? Why was she forced out?”

His eagerness and impulsiveness dawned on him too late, and he hastily sat back down. “After all, we used to be family. If there’s anything I can do to help…”

Guan Yeqin observed everything with a knowing smile and suggested lightly, “Why don’t you ask her yourself?”

Alone under the night sky, Yue Shaoheng stared blankly for a moment before slowly picking up his phone.

He deleted and retyped the title “Sister-in-law” multiple times, finally making up his mind—

“Jiaxi, how are you doing?”

But the turmoil in his heart never received a reply.

________________________________________

Late at night.

After finishing his video conference, Yue Jincheng drove to “August.”

The servers here all recognized him. He greeted several people as he walked up to the bar.

Yan Hua caught the bottle of wine Yue Jincheng tossed over and examined it. “Being so generous?”

It was an excellent vintage Lafite—one of only two bottles left in his wine cellar.

“The other bottle is in my car. Take it later,” Yue Jincheng said. “This one, give it to your uncle. Consider it a favor.”

Yan Hua placed the red wine upright on the counter. “You want Jiaxi to join my uncle’s company?”

“Yes.”

“Pulling strings, huh?” Yan Hua teased.

“Her education, expertise, and work experience don’t require any special treatment,” Yue Jincheng replied. “It’s a mutual choice—no obligations on either side.”

“Then what’s this?” Yan Hua gestured toward the bottle of Lafite. “Pure goodwill?”

“A stepping stone,” Yue Jincheng said.

Yan Hua understood why Fu Jiaxi resigned and also knew Yue Jincheng’s lingering concerns. He agreed, “As long as she’s willing to come, I’ll keep your involvement a secret. Not a word will be mentioned.”

Yue Jincheng didn’t feel like drinking tonight. He tipped back a glass of ice water but immediately waved his hand upon hearing Yan Hua’s words. “No, hiding it from her would make me even less likely to survive her wrath. Jiaxi is smart. She has the ability to discern right from wrong and the right to know the truth. Besides, what I’m doing isn’t shady—it’s not something to be concealed.”

Yan Hua gave him a thumbs-up, grinning. “Not bad. You’re actually acting somewhat human.”

Yue Jincheng replied dryly, “Yeah, something you’ll never achieve.”

Yan Hua: “…Damn! You really aren’t human.”

________________________________________

Fu Jiaxi looked at the detailed information on her computer screen. Even without reviewing it, Changzhe City Investment was widely regarded as an industry benchmark and the top choice for professionals in the field.

Confused, she turned to Yue Jincheng. “You want me to join Changzhe?”

Yue Jincheng explained, “Changzhe’s business division aligns perfectly with your expertise—it’s a great match.”

Without blinking, Fu Jiaxi asked, “So, visiting your son was just an excuse? You just wanted to tell me this?”

Yue Jincheng’s expression shifted slightly, silently admitting it.

Fu Jiaxi’s expression remained unreadable. Her almond-shaped eyes were calm, but her lips tightened—a habitual gesture when deep in thought.

The sudden silence made Yue Jincheng uneasy. He tried to explain further, “Changzhe’s business division plans to branch out a new team next year, specializing in derivative options research. It’s a new sector—are you interested?”

Fu Jiaxi’s gaze remained steady, simply observing him.

Yue Jincheng continued methodically, “Options trading is something Baifeng Group will inevitably adopt in the future. Starting next year, we’ll begin constructing high-speed rail lines across the north-south axis, requiring large-scale procurement and inventory accumulation. With such massive inventory, hedging becomes essential.”

“You’re going to handle this?”

“Of course. It’s a core aspect of corporate risk management.” Yue Jincheng persuaded her, “Changzhe City Investment will be one of our potential partners. They have rich experience and mature internal controls. Joining them will allow you to learn a great deal.”

A spark of interest flickered in Fu Jiaxi’s eyes.

Yue Jincheng pressed on earnestly, “If Baifeng and Changzhe collaborate, you’ll get hands-on experience with real cases. This will also enhance your professional portfolio—a win-win situation.”

It was clear that Yue Jincheng was trying hard to paint a vivid picture to convince her to join Changzhe.

Fu Jiaxi didn’t hesitate. “If that’s the case, wouldn’t joining Baifeng Group allow me to learn even more?”

Yue Jincheng froze. “What?”

Fu Jiaxi straightened her back and leaned closer to him. “Is Baifeng Group hiring? Yes, someone exactly in my field.”

During discussions, Yue Jincheng had never experienced such a mental block before. Like a cold, rigid steel beam aimed directly at its target, it suddenly tangled itself into a messy knot.

He had been cautious, fearing her reservations. But who knew that the person completely free of hesitation and inhibitions would be her?

Yue Jincheng’s thoughts swirled with complexity, reason and emotion clashing fiercely.

Finally, he responded awkwardly, “I don’t directly oversee HR matters. Ask Jiao Rui—he knows the specifics.”

Fu Jiaxi took his response as permission, her eyes glowing with determination and enthusiasm.

She harbored no qualms or conflicts of interest. She only weighed the pros and cons of her career, salary, and prospects.

Perhaps, in her mind, his existence no longer stirred any ripples.

Yue Jincheng’s gaze swept past her face. Since when had fruit trees been planted in this neighborhood? Why did the breeze carry a faint trace of sourness and frustration?

________________________________________

During lunch break, shortly after the meal hour, Fu Jiaxi sent a WeChat message to Jiao Rui: “Good afternoon, Secretary Jiao. I’d like to consult you about something.”

Jiao Rui replied promptly.

“Baifeng Group’s human resources structure consists of twenty-six levels, each with different requirements depending on the business area. Particularly in investment development, the qualifications are higher, and the final interview is overseen by the HR director.”

Fu Jiaxi asked, “What are the specific requirements?”

Jiao Rui elaborated, “From what I understand, there are ten key criteria. I’ve heard that new regulations will soon be added, making the standards even stricter. Of course, compensation for core positions at Baifeng Group is also very competitive.”

Fu Jiaxi asked, “If I submit a resume, how long should I expect to wait for a response?”

Jiao Rui replied, “There’s no fixed timeline—it depends on the HR department’s recruitment plan. At the earliest, it might be the third quarter.”

Holding her phone, Fu Jiaxi fell into deep thought.

The prolonged silence made Jiao Rui suddenly realize something. He cautiously followed up, “Sister Jiaxi, is this for a friend or relative looking for a job?”

“Oh, no, not a friend or relative.”

Jiao Rui let out a discreet sigh of relief.

“It’s me.”

“…”

The vibration frequency of the new messages was quite high, causing a slight tingling sensation in her palm.

Fu Jiaxi unlocked her phone and opened the screen.

“Sister Jiaxi, would it be convenient for you to come to the group at 8:30 tomorrow morning? If not, no worries—we can reschedule! 😊🤝✌️”