Chapter 123: Overthinking

Jiang Yunzhou’s gaze lingered on Xu Wan’s face for a fleeting moment, her fingertips unconsciously tracing the rim of her coffee cup.

She had to admit, the woman was truly beautiful. Standing next to Shen Tingxiao, they were indeed a perfect match.

Jiang Yunzhou instinctively sized up the woman before her, wearing a faint smile. "Hello, may I ask how to address you?"

"My name is Xu Wan. You can call me Xiao Wan."

The woman before her had delicate features, her dark hair cascading over her shoulders like a waterfall. A pair of pearl earrings on her lobes cast a soft, gentle glow. Xu Wan was dressed in a well-tailored gray suit dress; her makeup was subtle yet served to highlight the contours of her face. As she looked at Jiang Yunzhou, a light smile remained at the corners of her lips.

"You seem quite surprised to see me, Miss Jiang?" Xu Wan nodded toward her and took a seat opposite her. She reached out with slender fingers to tuck a stray lock of hair behind her ear, every movement appearing meticulously curated.

Jiang Yunzhou lowered her eyes and took a sip of her coffee, the bitterness spreading across her tongue. "Since you invited me here, Miss Xu, I assume it wasn't just for a simple cup of coffee?"

"Of course." Xu Wan’s smile remained as she fixed her gaze on Jiang Yunzhou. "I learned about your situation from Tingxiao. To be so young and yet able to balance both your studies and your company—I truly admire you. So..." Xu Wan took a document from her handbag and pushed it forward without haste. The cat-eye pearl polish on her nails caught the light, shimmering. "Since you are an intelligent person, Miss Jiang, I will speak plainly."

"Please, go ahead." Jiang Yunzhou set her coffee cup back onto its coaster and nodded at Xu Wan.

"In the coming period, I intend to break into the Beijing film and television market. I need a partner who understands the industry and has the presence to hold their own. That is why you were the first person to come to mind, Miss Jiang."

"Director Xu, I..." Jiang Yunzhou was about to refuse when she was interrupted by Xu Wan.

"Miss Jiang, why not take a look first?"

At these words, Jiang Yunzhou turned her attention to the contract on the table. Her hand paused as she opened it.

The terms were clear and professional, and the profit-sharing ratio was more generous than anything she had ever seen. It was, quite literally, a windfall delivered to her doorstep. However, the capital requirements listed in the contract were incredibly high—far beyond what Jiang Yunzhou’s current net worth could support.

As she looked up in surprise, she met Xu Wan’s gaze. The woman was resting her chin on her hand, a meaningful glint dancing in her apricot-shaped eyes.

"You've looked into me, Miss Xu?" She closed the file and tapped her knuckles against the hard cover.

"I wouldn't call it an investigation..." Xu Wan smiled and spoke slowly. "It’s just that, as Shen Tingxiao’s fiancée, I’m naturally a bit curious about the women he has taken a fancy to. The more I learn about you, Miss Jiang, the more I realize what suits you best. I believe you wouldn't want to pass up such generous terms, would you? Or... if there is anything else you desire, feel free to ask. As long as it is within my power, I will do my best to satisfy you."

A tightness crept up the back of Jiang Yunzhou’s neck. For a split second, she had the eerie feeling that this negotiation had been lopsided from the very start.

She let out a soft laugh and tapped the contract against the table. "With terms this good, aren't you afraid of taking a loss, Miss Xu? Forgive my skepticism, but I have never believed in free lunches."

"Of course there is no such thing as a free lunch. I am a businesswoman; my first priority is always profit. Once the Beijing market is opened, the gains I stand to make are something you can surely imagine, even if I don't say it aloud."

As she spoke, Xu Wan leaned forward, and the sweet, cloying scent of her perfume washed over Jiang Yunzhou. "Actually, this meeting was at the request of someone else. And I suspect we will have plenty of time to get to know each other better in the future."

Xu Wan’s lips, coated in a nude lipstick, parted and closed, each word feeling like a needle pricking Jiang Yunzhou’s heart.

"Who?" Jiang Yunzhou asked instinctively. An image of Shen Tingxiao flashed through her mind. In the corner of the private room, her bodyguard stood up, peering over. Jiang Yunzhou gestured that all was well, her nails digging into her palms.

"That is something you don't need to know, Miss Jiang." Xu Wan spoke slowly, pointing to the contract. "Why don't you give our partnership some serious thought?"

Jiang Yunzhou stared at the gold-embossed title on the cover, her mind flooded with memories of her intimacy with Shen Tingxiao. She couldn't help but let out a mocking laugh.

"With such generous concessions, aren't you afraid I’ll just take the deposit and run?" She purposely made the pages of the contract rustle loudly.

Xu Wan pulled a custom-made fountain pen from her handbag. The metal cap clicked as she opened it. "From what I understand, you are an honest and principled businesswoman. That young actress of yours, Sang Bai—most people would have abandoned her long ago, but you didn't. That is why I trust you are not the type to betray a partner."

She softened her voice, her eyes filled with a faint smile. "The actors who have worked with you all know you have a soft heart. Especially when filming conditions are harsh, you always find ways to make things easier for them."

Jiang Yunzhou’s knuckles turned white as she gripped the cup handle. She knew herself well, and she didn't need to guess who had told Xu Wan these things. Yet, she never expected these trivial, personal details to be used as bargaining chips by another woman.

"In that case, you wouldn't mind if I took this contract with me, would you?" Jiang Yunzhou fixed her gaze on Xu Wan.

Xu Wan nodded and smiled. "Naturally, that is your right."

"I need to have my legal team review it. If there are any developments, I will contact you." She snapped the folder shut, her blazer brushing against the table as she stood up.

Xu Wan rose as well. Sunlight hit her exquisite accessories, making them shine with a dazzling brilliance.

"Very well, I shall wait for your good news, Miss Jiang." Xu Wan suddenly leaned close to Jiang Yunzhou’s ear. Her warm breath brushed against her neck, and a faint, familiar scent of perfume invaded her senses, making Jiang Yunzhou’s heart skip a beat.

"Do you like wearing Louis perfume, Miss Xu?"

Xu Wan arched a brow, instinctively sniffing her own wrist, and laughed. "I don't usually wear perfume. I suppose it’s just something I picked up from being around someone for so long."

Shen Tingxiao... That was the perfume Shen Tingxiao always wore.

Jiang Yunzhou bit her lip, a painful tightness constricting her chest.

Xu Wan had already retreated to a safe distance, smoothing her cuffs with a radiant smile. "I hope we can have a pleasant collaboration, Miss Jiang."

Amid the sound of the wind chimes triggered by the swinging glass door, Xu Wan walked out. The coffee on the table had long since gone cold.