Chapter 110: His Guilty Conscience

“Shut up.”

Jiang Jinhui lost his temper.

Jiang Xiaoxiao was genuinely dull-witted, despite the family’s efforts over the years to nurture her.

Yet she had achieved nothing.

Her management skills were poor, and although she showed some talent in design, she was worlds apart from Jiang Ciyou.

With the market declining and e-commerce cutting into their business, their brick-and-mortar industry only grew more difficult.

Jiang Jinhui already felt overwhelmed.

Without Jiang Ciyou, the Jiang family might really go bankrupt one day.

Jiang Xiaoxiao was extremely unwilling to be scolded.

Suddenly, she said, “But Dad, I’ve already registered for the competition in the company’s name.”

Jiang Jinhui felt his vision darken, nearly fainting.

“What did you say?”

Unfazed, Jiang Xiaoxiao steeled herself and told the truth.

“I signed up yesterday, and the organizing committee has approved my application. So this year, I, Jiang Xiaoxiao, will represent Qingben Jiaren in the Paris Fashion Design Competition.”

She shot a triumphant glance at Jiang Ciyou. “Jiang Ciyou, don’t think you’re the only one who can win awards. I can too. This time, I’m going to show the world my design talent and creativity.”

Jiang Jinhui was so furious he almost spat blood.

“Jiang Xiaoxiao, you’re going to drive me mad.”

The Paris Fashion Design Competition wasn’t open to just anyone.

Usually, famous brands sent their own designers, and each brand had only one spot.

Qingben Jiaren had only one slot, so if Jiang Xiaoxiao took it, Jiang Ciyou wouldn’t have the chance to register.

Jiang Ciyou, however, spoke calmly: “Designers who have previously won the Gold Award can register under their personal studios. If the company needs me, I can register through my studio. Of course, if I win, the design will belong to Qingben Jiaren.”

Jiang Jinhui revived.

“Alright, alright, that’s settled. You go to the competition, and when you give your acceptance speech, be sure to say the design is from Qingben Jiaren.”

If Jiang Ciyou went, Jiang Jinhui had nothing to worry about.

After all, she had participated many times, won international awards, including the top Gold Award.

Her face was well-known in the design world.

With her status, whenever she appeared, investors and executives from other luxury brands would associate her with Qingben Jiaren.

She was a walking advertisement.

Jiang Xiaoxiao broke down: “Dad, don’t be fooled by her. She’s not so kind. She just wants twenty percent of the company’s shares. Dad, you absolutely can’t agree to that.”

Jiang Ciyou smiled and continued: “That’s right. My condition for going to the competition is twenty percent of the company’s shares. Without any benefit, why would I work so hard?”

Jiang Jinhui’s mood was like a roller coaster.

But by then, he had accepted reality.

Jiang Ciyou was determined to go to Paris, and he hoped she would return to the family.

After all, after so many years of emotion, she was only angry for the moment.

Jiang Jinhui said, “Tomorrow, come to the company and sign the share agreement.”

Jiang Xiaoxiao angrily threw down her bowl. “No! The Jiang family’s shares must never be given to her. The Jiang family has me, not her!”

“Dad, how can you do this to me? You said everything in the Jiang family belongs to me. Jiang Ciyou is just a dog we raised in the Jiang family. I am your blood daughter.”

Jiang Jinhui’s chest ached with anger. “Jiang Xiaoxiao, know your limits. If you were as excellent as your sister, I’d be happy to hand the company over to you. But look at yourself—how can you compare to Ciyou? What future can you bring to the Jiang family? Besides causing trouble, what else can you do?”

Jiang Xiaoxiao trembled with rage.

She instinctively looked to Yao Shulan. “Mom, don’t you think so too? You said I have talent, I just haven’t had as good an environment as Jiang Ciyou. You said I’m a promising talent and that one day the Jiang family could trust me with the company.”

“Mom, say something.”

Yao Shulan had long been disappointed in this daughter.

She also found out that this daughter was a liar.

All the guilt that had piled up since leaving the courthouse collapsed that day.

Yao Shulan didn’t even look at her.

With a cold face, she said, “This family is decided by your father. I have no opinion.”

Jiang Xiaoxiao felt as if a bucket of cold water had been poured over her.

Even Yao Shulan wavered now.

They had all been deceived by Jiang Ciyou.

Jiang Xiaoxiao was unwilling, fiercely so.

Her fury nearly clouded her mind. “Jiang Ciyou, I want to make a bet. If I win the award this time, you return the shares and never covet a single share of the Jiang family again.”

Jiang Ciyou replied calmly, “And if you lose?”

Gritting her teeth, Jiang Xiaoxiao said, “Then I will transfer all my shares to you.”

She flicked her hair, smiling brightly at her. “Alright, it’s a deal.”

Feng Yuping laughed happily. “Good, good. Then the Yan family will witness this today. Old Jiang, if you go back on your word, we’ll stand up for Xiao You.”

Jiang Jinhui sighed deeply.

Jiang Xiaoxiao was simply reckless.

Her chances of beating Jiang Ciyou were slim to none.

But on the other hand, having the company in Jiang Ciyou’s hands might not be a bad thing.

After all, Jiang Ciyou was the daughter he had raised from scratch.

He knew her strength.

If Jiang Ciyou really took over, the company might grow several times bigger under her.

As for Jiang Xiaoxiao, she could get some shares later and quietly enjoy the company dividends.

Better than seeing the fruit of his lifelong hard work destroyed by her.

Jiang Jinhui said, “It’s decided then. Whoever wins the competition gets twenty percent of the other’s shares.”

After leaving the Grand Hyatt, Jiang Ciyou went to the parking lot to get her car.

She happened to see Yan Feng smoking by her vehicle.

Yan Feng had never smoked before.

He quickly saw Jiang Ciyou and hurriedly tossed the cigarette butt into a nearby trash can.

Jiang Ciyou walked over, ignored him, unlocked the car, and was about to get in.

“Xiao You, can we talk for a moment?”

Jiang Ciyou had already opened the driver’s door.

She rested one arm on the door, looking relaxed and nonchalant.

“Sure, what do you want to say? I’m all ears.”

“I know that Summer Ling and I have hurt you a lot, but you have to understand, I was deceived by Summer Ling.”

Jiang Ciyou seemed indifferent. “The past is past. No need to keep dredging it up.”

“You don’t blame me anymore?”

“Can you forgive me?”

Jiang Ciyou said, “This matter is closed. We owe each other nothing. I don’t blame you, nor is there anything to forgive.”

Seeing her completely let go, Yan Feng felt terrible inside.

If Jiang Ciyou had truly let go, it meant there was no chance between them anymore.

He would rather have her hold some resentment.

At least then she would think of him from time to time.

“Then since we owe each other nothing, can we be friends again?”

Yan Feng eagerly explained, “I don’t have any other intentions. I just want to be ordinary friends, maybe grab a meal sometimes, that’s all.”

Jiang Ciyou responded, “You want to be friends after I forced you to give up your first child?”

Mentioning that child, a flicker of guilt crossed Yan Feng’s eyes…