Heartthrob, Your Image is Crumbling!

Chapter 469: Goading Tactic

After their meal, Jiang Xinyi accompanied Zhou Yuwen to the auditorium. The two walked hand in hand. When the others saw this, they were a bit surprised, though not completely shocked. After all, the news had been broadcasting their story every day recently.At this hour, the auditorium was rather quiet. A few boys dressed in robes stood on the stage, likely rehearsing a comedic crosstalk routine.

Zheng Yanyan and her group were nowhere to be seen.

However, Su Qing was still there, diligently rehearsing her performance. Today, she was dressed in a coffee-colored tight suspender skirt over a white shirt, with slouch socks pulled up over her delicate pink calves.

The moment Zhou Yuwen and Jiang Xinyi appeared, Su Qing noticed them. Yet, she said nothing. She merely cast a brief glance before turning her head back to discuss the details of the program with Shen Yu.

Seeing Su Qing ignore her, Jiang Xinyi thought to herself with a coquettish pout, 'Hmph.'

"So, are you going back to the company first?" Zhou Yuwen asked.

"Mhm." Jiang Xinyi had indeed made a massive concession. It was obvious that Zhou Yuwen and Su Qing were going to spend time together here, but she did not fuss over it. She simply threw her arms around him and whined affectionately, "Hurry up and come over after your rehearsal."

Zhou Yuwen gave a sound of agreement, reminding her to finish up the financial accounts for the past few days.

"Of course I will!"

Jiang Xinyi had wanted to show off her affection in front of Su Qing. However, when a girl six years older acted all clingy with a younger boy, it inevitably looked a bit strange to onlookers.

Su Qing asked Shen Yu if she was listening.

"Ah?" Shen Yu uttered, having clearly been absent-minded just a moment ago.

But then again, Su Qing was acting genuinely strange right now.

After sharing a hug, Jiang Xinyi took her leave. Zhou Yuwen walked over to greet Shen Yu and asked when it would be his turn to rehearse.

"Oh, there are three acts ahead of you. Right, Su Qing?" Shen Yu replied.

Su Qing was currently facing away from Zhou Yuwen.

Even upon hearing Shen Yu's question, she did not turn around. Instead, she simply walked away without a word.

This left Shen Yu in an awkward position, and she offered Zhou Yuwen an apologetic smile.

Zhou Yuwen shook his head, assuring her that it was fine.

As for Jiang Xinyi, her mood had skyrocketed ever since she managed to reconcile with Zhou Yuwen. She comforted herself with the thought, 'I shouldn't keep Zhou Yuwen on such a tight leash. Mother is right; my family is my greatest support.'

'Moreover, I am not ugly by any means. Why should I care so much about the other women around him?'

'Since Zhou Yuwen told me to trust him...'

'Then I ought to trust my own judgment.'

Stepping out of the auditorium, Jiang Xinyi wore an expression brimming with confidence.

When she reappeared at the company, everyone in the office froze in surprise for a moment.

The company had already relocated to the Baidu Building. Just the first-floor office space alone covered three to five hundred square meters. It housed not only the female university students from various colleges and universities doing part-time modeling work, but also the administrative and finance staff from several other branches. This included Chen Wan from the Planning Company, Qu Jing from the Cultural Media Company, and the chief secretary, Tao Tian.

There were also Zheng Yanyan and Lu Lin, who had come over to exercise.

After all, the current company environment was phenomenal. It featured a leisure area, a fully equipped fitness zone, and a gaming lounge for the employees. Especially for the Cultural Media Company, which was transitioning toward internet livestreaming, cultivating beautiful female streamers was a core strategy. Naturally, setting aside an area for fitness and body-shaping was a must.

Zheng Yanyan absolutely adored this place. She came here not just to train, but also to snap photos and check in on social media.

After all, this was her hubby's property.

The office building boasted a modern design, segmented entirely by transparent glass partitions. Because of this, Jiang Xinyi was spotted by quite a few people the moment she walked in.

"Sister, you're back!" The first to greet her was undoubtedly Tang Xinrou, her face lighting up with pleasant surprise.

Truth be told, Tang Xinrou had undergone a massive transformation. Back when they met at the banquet, she had been a wealthy daughter returning from studying abroad, presenting the perfect image of a well-behaved girl.

Now, she had morphed into a low-key, diligent junior employee.

With long black hair, round glasses, and a slightly oversized black suit that draped over her frame, she looked remarkably capable, perfectly blending into her role as an inconspicuous workplace rookie.

Tang Xinrou's cheerful greeting drew the attention of quite a few people.

Zheng Yanyan, who was running on a treadmill alongside Lu Lin in the gym, turned her head at the sound.

Both Zheng Yanyan and Lu Lin were dressed in sports bras paired with gray yoga pants.

Zheng Yanyan wore a pink sports bra, while Lu Lin opted for blue. The two of them were tall and slender, their long thighs beautifully highlighted by the tight fabric of their yoga pants.

Spotting Jiang Xinyi through the glass, Zheng Yanyan flashed a look of mild disgust and whispered to Lu Lin, "Why is she here? Didn't she break up with hubby?"

"Even if they broke up, she still has a job here, alright? She didn't resign."

Lu Lin's logical response immediately brought Zheng Yanyan back to reality.

Zheng Yanyan muttered a complaint about her being a buzzkill.

As Tang Xinrou rushed over to welcome her, Jiang Xinyi felt a bit out of her element seeing so many unfamiliar faces populating the office. She quietly asked Tang Xinrou why there were suddenly so many people around.

Tang Xinrou explained that Zhou Yuwen had moved the Cultural Media Company into this building as well, which meant all the students doing part-time work would be dropping by.

"What do you have in your hand?" Jiang Xinyi asked, her curiosity piqued by the document Tang Xinrou was holding.

"Oh, it's the application for the Shared Bicycle Project parking locations."

Handing the document over, Tang Xinrou watched as Jiang Xinyi flipped through the pages. Jiang Xinyi mentioned that she had already discussed this with Zhou Yuwen; the shared bicycles were going to be deployed not only across colleges and universities but throughout the entire city.

A bright smile broke out on Tang Xinrou's face. "If that happens, it'll be incredibly convenient for everyone! That's such a brilliant idea. You are so amazing, Sister!"

The two continued their communication, talking and laughing as they ventured deeper into the office.

Tao Tian was dressed in a sleek, hip-hugging long skirt. Given her stunning figure, she looked a cut above the rest, even when standing next to Jiang Xinyi. Serving as the chief secretary, she handled matters with flawless tact. Seeing Jiang Xinyi approach, she stood up and greeted her with a warm smile. "President Jiang, you've arrived?"

"What did you just call me?" Caught off guard, Jiang Xinyi felt a bit unaccustomed to the title.

Tao Tian smiled gracefully. "Your position in the company is Chief Financial Officer. If I don't call you President Jiang, what else should I call you?"

This was the first time anyone had addressed her as President Jiang.

The title...

felt incredibly subtle.

Jiang Xinyi's eyebrows twitched slightly, though she remained silent.

Tao Tian continued, "By the way, do you know where your office is located? Allow me to show you the way."

"No need."

Jiang Xinyi informed Tao Tian that she had been here once before.

With that, she headed straight for her office.

The offices for the various executives were private spaces separated by partitions, but they featured impressively large windows.

Upon entering, Jiang Xinyi immediately drew back the curtains, making a silent statement that she was open and aboveboard, with absolutely nothing to hide.

The company had expanded significantly, but there were still very few people she could truly trust by her side.

In truth, Jiang Xinyi quite liked Tao Tian, but Tao Tian's current allegiance remained a mystery. Jiang Xinyi had no intention of keeping a ticking time bomb close to her.

Tang Xinrou, on the other hand, was entirely devoted to her.

Sitting at her desk, Jiang Xinyi instructed Tang Xinrou to brief her on everything that had recently transpired within the company.

Tang Xinrou provided a concise summary, covering the profit margins of the various branches, the fact that Su Qing had withdrawn from the company, and that the Planning Company had been handed over to Chen Wan, the president of their school's Student Union.

Her administrative capabilities were quite strong, too.

"Su Qing withdrew? What is that supposed to mean?" Jiang Xinyi was taken aback by the news.

"What, didn't you know, Sister? Su Qing is apparently going abroad to study."

Jiang Xinyi froze for a second. She genuinely hadn't heard a whisper of this.

It came as quite a surprise.

The two women stayed in the office, chatting away for over an hour.

Meanwhile, Zheng Yanyan and Lu Lin pressed on with their workout in the gym, transitioning from the treadmills to the spinning bikes.

The sight of the two girls sweating it out in their yoga pants was undeniably pleasing to the eye. Eventually, Lu Lin suggested, "Why don't we head out first?"

Zheng Yanyan firmly rejected the idea. "Why should we leave?"

"It's not like this is her company. I'm working out at my hubby's company, why should I be afraid of her?" Zheng Yanyan declared, grabbing the towel around her neck to wipe the sweat from her forehead.

As Zheng Yanyan lifted her chin to look at Jiang Xinyi, she found that Jiang Xinyi was already looking right back at her.

Their eyes met through the glass.

Jiang Xinyi's gaze was relatively neutral, but Zheng Yanyan's eyes brimmed with blatant provocation.

This immediately rubbed Jiang Xinyi the wrong way. These were Zhou Yuwen's two ex-girlfriends. Now that Su Qing was out of the picture, Zheng Yanyan was still shamelessly parading around right in front of her.

She could choose to ignore it.

But what exactly was the meaning behind that glare?

Once they finished their session, Zheng Yanyan and Lu Lin headed to the showers in the back. They washed up, changed into fresh clothes, and walked out talking and laughing together.

By this time, they were fully prepared to leave, black gym bags in hand.

Coincidentally, Jiang Xinyi was in the middle of a discussion with Chen Wan and Tao Tian, seemingly going over the company's future plans.

Noticing the two girls walking past, Jiang Xinyi casually remarked, "The company is completely different from how it used to be. From now on, operations will gradually get on track. As for random, idle individuals, it's best not to let them wander around the office aimlessly."

Zheng Yanyan and Lu Lin were just about to step through the door, but the moment those words reached Zheng Yanyan's ears, her brows knitted together sharply.

She immediately spun around, ready to give Jiang Xinyi a piece of her mind.

Lu Lin tried to hold her back, but her grip simply slipped.

Marching right up to her, Zheng Yanyan demanded, "Let me ask you, who exactly are you talking about!"

Jiang Xinyi merely spared her a passing glance. "I wasn't talking about you. I'm having a meeting with them, so don't overthink it. I know you're an artist signed to the company, so it's entirely unobjectionable for you to come here to work out."

Compared to Zheng Yanyan, Jiang Xinyi was definitely far more calculated.

Zheng Yanyan felt as if she had just thrown a punch into a pile of cotton. It was suffocating. She glared fiercely at Jiang Xinyi, yet found herself entirely at a loss for words.

Jiang Xinyi calmly asked if Zheng Yanyan needed anything else.

"If there's nothing else, you can head back first. I still need to continue my meeting with them," Jiang Xinyi said dismissively.

Standing in the background, Lu Lin felt incredibly helpless. She had wanted to pull Zheng Yanyan away before any of this started.

Zheng Yanyan was simply too impulsive.

Stepping up beside her, Lu Lin gently tugged at Zheng Yanyan's hand and urged, "Let's go."

At this moment, a faint, victorious smile inevitably curled at the corner of Jiang Xinyi's mouth.

She felt that this was exactly how things should be.

She was the one grasping the most critical position of power.

Zhou Yuwen would surely understand who could truly provide him with the support he needed.

Realizing she was thoroughly outmatched in a war of words, Zheng Yanyan scowled.

She let out a haughty, coquettish whine of pure disdain.

"Hmph, whatever! I don't need to waste my breath arguing with an old virgin!"

With that parting shot, Zheng Yanyan spun on her heel to leave.

"Pfft!"

That insult was far too vicious. Tang Xinrou was the first to accidentally let out a laugh, while Chen Wan, Qu Jing, and Tao Tian all wore intensely awkward, peculiar expressions.

Those words had brutally struck a nerve, exposing a deeply sensitive flaw.

Jiang Xinyi was only twenty-five; strictly speaking, she was far from being an old virgin.

However, she had indeed been completely untouched by Zhou Yuwen just the night before, and Zheng Yanyan had been a direct witness to that fact. Because of this, Zheng Yanyan wore a look of utter triumph as she delivered the blow.

Jiang Xinyi's face instantly drained of color, cycling between pale and a sickly green.

"Halt!" Jiang Xinyi snapped, calling out to stop Zheng Yanyan in her tracks.

Zheng Yanyan paused and shot back, "What? Got something else to say?"

"Who were you just talking about!"

Zheng Yanyan laughed brightly. "I never said it was you, so why are you getting so worked up? Out of everyone standing here, you're the last person it could possibly be. After all, you've been in two relationships, whereas I have only ever had Zhou Yuwen as my boyfriend."

Jiang Xinyi's expression darkened even further. Gritting her teeth, she retorted, "Yes, I have had two boyfriends, but I conduct my relationships properly! I didn't engage in anything overly indulgent. I am not some casual, easy woman."

"Right, and that's exactly why Zhou Yuwen broke up with you."

"You!"

The sheer audacity of the remark left Jiang Xinyi choking on her words. Zheng Yanyan, however, continued her smug tirade. "But it doesn't matter anyway. You might not be casual, but I certainly am! Next time Zhou Yuwen has some needs, he can just come straight to me. After all, my doors are always open for him."

"..."

The bystanders standing nearby felt second-hand embarrassment washing over them.

Jiang Xinyi ground her teeth together so hard they nearly chipped.

Finally, she forced out through lowered breath, "Shameless."

Zheng Yanyan fired back, boldly declaring that being shameless was miles better than being an old virgin.

"You've dated two whole boyfriends and you're still a virgin? Who would ever believe that! Don't make people die of laughter. It's no wonder Zhou Yuwen dumped you."

"Zhou Yuwen and I have already reconciled!"

"Oh, well, even if you reconciled, you'll just break up again! You won't even let him touch you. No, wait, that's not it—he doesn't even want to touch you! You literally delivered yourself to his doorstep dead drunk last night, and then what? Then Zhou Yuwen left with me and Linlin, without even staying behind with you. Do you know why?"

Jiang Xinyi's lips parted slightly; a part of her was desperately dying to know the answer.

Zheng Yanyan happily supplied it for her. "That's because Zhou Yuwen doesn't like you!"

"When Zhou Yuwen and I were dating, he wished he could ride me eight times a day. What about you?"

Jiang Xinyi's face instantly burned a scorching, furious red.

Even Lu Lin, who had been trying her hardest to drag Zheng Yanyan away, was left completely speechless by the sheer vulgarity of the boast. She gave Zheng Yanyan's arm a hard yank, but even she couldn't suppress a quiet snicker.

The rest of the crowd stood there, their expressions a chaotic mix of shock and amusement.

Yet, Zheng Yanyan wasn't finished. She kept right on talking, even demanding that everyone present judge the situation for themselves.

Considering that almost everyone in the room was involved with Zhou Yuwen in one way or another, Zheng Yanyan felt no shame whatsoever. She loudly declared that there was no such thing as a boy and a girl in a romantic relationship where the boy had absolutely zero physical interest in the girl.

"There's only one possible explanation: the boy simply doesn't like the girl."

"Then why would he still be with her if he doesn't like her?"

"Because of some external factors, obviously!"

"Like the girl's family using their power to bully others."

"Or her family strong-arming him into the relationship."

"Or just aggressively throwing money at him if he refuses."

"Honestly, if I hadn't seen it with my own eyes, I would have never believed it."

Zheng Yanyan hummed, loudly airing all of her built-up dissatisfaction. Liu Jing throwing stacks of money at Su Qing to force her out had indeed been a profoundly repulsive move.

"Nonsense!" Jiang Xinyi spat out, her teeth grinding together in pure fury. "How do you know Zhou Yuwen doesn't like me?!"

"Does that even need proving?" Zheng Yanyan shot back.

"Don't you already know it clearly in your own heart?"