Even after Chapter 277, it will be the same for a lifetime.
At dinner time, Jiang Shiyuan and Su Xier accompanied their grandmother for a simple yet heartwarming meal.
The three women chatted and laughed, enjoying themselves immensely.
"Xi'er, when you get back, tell President Shen that you don't need to send so much food and health supplements anymore. I'm just an old woman with only one mouth, and I really can't eat that much. It's such a waste to leave it there."
Grandma gently held her granddaughter's hand, "I know that President Shen's family is wealthy and powerful, so this little bit won't make a difference. But it's too much of a waste for this old woman, and I just can't bear it."
After all, Mr. Shen saved my life. I am extremely grateful and have no way to repay him. How could I possibly accept anything from him?
Upon hearing this, Su Xi'er was utterly astonished and gripped her grandmother's hand tightly:
"Grandma, what did you say? Does President Shen come to visit you often?"
“He comes two or three times a month to talk to me and chat. Although Mr. Shen comes from a noble family, he is not pretentious at all and is approachable. He is clearly a well-mannered and well-educated young man.”
Su Xier's breathing became heavy, and her heart pounded.
Shen Zhantang never mentioned this matter to her, not even a single word.
When Shen Zhantang was mentioned, Grandma's face lit up with a smile, she couldn't stop smiling. "Xi'er, you used to say that you were working with President Shen. I was worried that since you were working for such a big shot and you owed him a favor, he might be strict with you or bully you."
Now it seems Grandma was overthinking it; Mr. Shen is such a good person. Even after Grandma is gone, with Mr. Shen protecting you, Grandma will be at peace. With Mr. Shen by your side, no one will ever bully my precious Xi'er again.”
Su Xier's eyes welled up with tears. "Grandma, please don't say that. You will live to be a hundred years old."
Jiang Shiyuan also comforted her gently, "Grandma, don't worry, I will protect Xi'er. Xi'er is such a good girl, she will definitely have a safe and smooth future. But if she encounters any difficulties, I will definitely protect her from the wind and rain."
"Yes, yes! Men are all unreliable, sisters are my eternal support." Su Xier put her arm around Jiang Shiyuan's shoulder and laughed carefree.
Grandma shook her head. "Xi'er, A-Yuan has always been good to you. Grandma has seen it all over the years. But A-Yuan is married now, with a husband and children. If you ever have any trouble in the future, you can't keep bothering them. Even if their families don't say it, they'll still have their doubts."
"Xi'er, why don't you... stay by President Shen's side?"
Su Xier's throat tightened, "Grandma..."
“You know our family situation. Your damned parents are far away in Fengcheng. They don’t know you’re living a good life now, and I’ve kept it a secret for you all these years. If they ever find out, they’ll swarm over like locusts, crawl all over you, and suck your blood.”
Grandma sighed sadly, "After thinking it over, I feel that it's never safe for you to be with other people. Only by staying with President Shen can you truly be safe, and no one will dare to bully you anymore."
Thinking of Xi'er's family background, Jiang Shiyuan felt a lump in her throat and a mix of emotions.
Xi'er was born in a remote mountain village. Although she was the eldest daughter in her family, her father and grandmother were deeply influenced by the feudal dregs of the village's preference for sons over daughters. They beat and scolded her from a young age, which also affected her mother. When her father was in a bad mood, he would beat her mother when he got home. Sometimes he would hit her with a bottle, leaving her with a bloody head.
At that time, her mother, who had only one child, desperately protected her. Otherwise, she would have died at the hands of her father countless times.
But the mother's protection came to an abrupt end the year her younger brother was born.
Because of the addition of a son to the family, Su's father and grandmother were overjoyed, and their attitude towards Su's mother softened considerably. The only one who suffered even more was Su Xi'er.
She does housework every day, washing her family's clothes in the freezing cold backyard. Her fair and soft hands are soaked in the icy water, and gradually she develops frostbite, which almost ulcerates, but no one helps her.
The father beat and scolded him, the younger brother bullied him, and the mother stood by and did nothing.
Later, she was even deprived of her right to go to school and kept at home to take care of her younger brother, acting as a free babysitter.
If she hadn't fallen seriously ill, received a critical condition notice from the doctor, and her father hadn't abandoned her completely out of fear of medical expenses, she would never have been able to escape that ruthless village.
Fortunately, her maternal grandmother adopted her and did everything she could to raise her. Otherwise, Xi'er's life would have been completely hopeless.
But Grandma was old and frail, and had a serious heart condition. She was worried about her most beloved granddaughter and wanted to find someone for her to rely on, which Grandma understood.
But is Shen Zhantang truly Xi'er's ideal man?
"Grandma, I understand what you're thinking."
Su Xier smiled faintly, her eyes devoid of emotion, "But Mr. Shen and I are just superior and subordinate, now and in the future, for life."
He visits you often, which shows he's a kind person who respects the elderly and cares for the young, but that's all he's shown me.
After leaving her grandmother's house, Jiang Shiyuan drove Su Xier back to Tanhu Villa.
"Xi'er, judging from what you said to your grandmother, are you determined to sever ties with Shen Zhantang?"
"I'm going to cut ties with him sooner or later."
Su Xier rolled down the car window to get some fresh air. The morning sickness was making her feel a little uncomfortable, and her bright face was pale. "Chairman Shen and Mrs. Shen have been urging him to get married for the past two years. They have been introducing him to the daughters of wealthy and noble families in Beijing. They are all beautiful, delicate, and from well-off families."
I know he's met each and every one of them. Although none of them worked out, at this rate, I think he'll soon meet his future wife.
Hearing her soft voice, Jiang Shiyuan felt a pang of sadness for no apparent reason.
After so many years of being together day and night, how could Xi'er not have feelings for Shen Zhantang?
To this day, Shen Zhantang refuses to give her a formal title, denies their relationship, and still treats her only as a human shield.
Can you really entrust your life to a man like this?
Upon closer reflection, all the good things he did for her seemed more like compensation.
“When he gets a real girlfriend, my situation will be very awkward. Rather than being treated like a mistress and beaten to a pulp, I'm wise enough to leave Shen Zhantang first.”
Su Xier tugged at her lips, her smile weak and feeble. "And I think that by then, Shen Zhantang won't force me to stay anymore, and I'll be completely free again."
In their beginning, she had no dignity.
When she left, she hoped to leave with dignity.
Suddenly, the cell phone rang.
Su Xier felt a pang of anxiety whenever she didn't see a caller, because she had set a special ringtone for Shen Zhantang.
Jiang Shiyuan noticed a slight change in her expression and realized something, so he focused on driving and kept his eyes on the road ahead.
"President Shen." Within three calls, Su Xier answered, her voice barely lower than before.
"Su Qi'er, where are you?"
From the other end came Shen Zhantang's extremely imposing voice, completely in an interrogative tone, "Sneaking around like that, you wouldn't be with some stray dog behind my back, would you?"
Su Xier lowered her eyes and said softly, "I'm with Ayuan right now, does President Shen want to confirm?"
Shen Zhantang sneered, "Listen to this."
"President Shen, are you relieved now?"
Jiang Shiyuan raised her voice, her red lips curving into a mocking smile, "You keep such a close eye on Xi'er, there's probably not even a male mosquito around her, let alone a male dog."
"Weren't you the only male dog beside her the whole time?"
"..." It was so quiet over there that it was almost oppressive. Shen Zhantang was probably getting increasingly flushed.
Su Xier pursed her lips, suppressing a smile. "President Shen, is there anything I can help you with?"
"Did you go to the First Affiliated Hospital of Beijing today?" Shen Zhantang changed the subject.
Su Xier felt a chill run down her spine and clenched her fingers tightly.
She knew that if Shen Zhantang asked, it meant that she had been seen by Shen's people. If she lied to cover it up, it would only make the man more suspicious.
So she pretended to be calm and said, "Yes, I went to the hospital."
Shen Zhantang asked in a deep voice, "What are you going to the hospital for?"
“A-Yuan isn’t feeling well, so I’m going to take her to the hospital.” Su Xi’er’s voice was low and flat, revealing no flaws.
It seems they've become so adept at lying.
“Su Qier, tell me the truth.”
Shen Zhantang's voice was cold and hard, suppressed, and devoid of any concern. "If you lie to me, you'll bear the consequences."
"If you don't believe me, go check it out."
Su Xier's expression was cold. "Since you don't believe anything I say, then go and verify it yourself."
Shen Zhantang paused for a moment, then his tone became nonchalant again, "Go back to Tanhu before ten o'clock, and don't stay out there too long. If you don't listen, I'll discipline you properly when I get back."
Before Su Xier could respond, the call was disconnected.
This utterly disrespectful attitude instantly reminded Jiang Shiyuan of that man.
Xie Jinghuai was the same way; otherwise, how could they be considered brothers?
Su Xier cursed under her breath: You stupid idiot.
"Xi'er, let him investigate. What if he actually goes?"
Jiang Shiyuan couldn't help but worry, "It would be so easy for Shen Zhantang to find out the real reason you went to the hospital."
"No, he's just saying it; he doesn't actually have the time or inclination for it."
Su Xier gripped her phone tightly, rested her head against the car window, and closed her eyes wearily. "I've been with him for so many years, I know him too well."
Every time I get injured, I go to the hospital to treat my wounds alone. Sometimes he'll ask about it, and when I say it's nothing, he won't ask any more questions.
Jiang Shiyuan gripped the steering wheel tightly, his knuckles turning white.
So, Shen Zhantang probably doesn't care. If he did care, he wouldn't be so dismissive; instead, he would be extremely anxious and paranoid.
*
The next day.
Jiang Shiyuan spent the morning either working or waiting for Xiong Lin's call.
It wasn't until after 1 p.m. that she finally received a call from General Manager Xiong's secretary:
"Mr. Jiang, Mr. Xiong has arrived at Xinghui Golf Course. You can come over now. However, Mr. Xiong's schedule is quite tight, so please hurry and don't keep him waiting too long."
"I understand, thanks for reminding me."
After hanging up the phone, Jiang Shiyuan put on her coat and immediately instructed Yin Meng to prepare the car, and they set off for Xinghui Golf Course.
Upon arrival, the two were about to enter when they were stopped by security guards.
"Distinguished guests, we are a highly private high-end club. Entry requires a membership card."
Jiang Shiyuan remained calm. "Mr. Xiong from Yuanhang Capital has arranged to meet with me to discuss cooperation. He's inside right now."
“Mr. Xiong from Yuanhang is indeed inside, but we did not receive any notification that he was going to meet with guests.”
The security guard looked at Jiang Shiyuan with suspicion, "If President Xiong had made an appointment with you, he would definitely have sent you a temporary invitation or informed us. It's impossible that he wouldn't have told us."
Why don't you give Mr. Xiong a call and ask? If he lets us know, we'll let them through immediately.
Upon hearing this, Jiang Shiyuan's beautiful eyes darkened, sensing that something was amiss.
Yin Meng also sensed something was amiss. "President Jiang, this is very strange. Xiong Lin knew you were coming, but he didn't inform you. Isn't he deliberately turning you away?"
"It seems he's trying to intimidate me."
Jiang Shiyuan coldly said, "What he meant was that if I can't even get past this hurdle, then I'm not qualified to talk to him."
"Fuck! This is unsportsmanlike conduct!"
Yin Meng was annoyed. "President Jiang, what do we do now?"
Jiang Shiyuan didn't rush to answer, but went to the front desk and found the duty manager.
"How can I become a StarHub member?"
The manager, who had seen countless people, sized up Jiang Shiyuan. Seeing that she was neither a female celebrity nor a well-known entrepreneur, his attitude inevitably became somewhat arrogant.
"Madam, our Star Club is a renowned platinum golf club, ranking among the top 100 private golf clubs in the country."
Seeing the manager looking down on her, Yin Meng snorted coldly, "So what? You're not opening for business? To be honest, it's a place for people to have fun, not a government gate."
The manager rolled his eyes inwardly. "We at StarHub aren't just any Tom, Dick, or Harry can get in. Our membership fee starts at five million a year, and that's just the entry threshold, not including subsequent service fees."
Furthermore, we operate on a waiting list system; new members are only admitted when someone withdraws. Many business owners wait two or three years for a membership opportunity.
Yin Meng was stunned!
Wait two or three years? Just to play golf? Is there a gold mine underground here?
Jiang Shiyuan paused, then asked calmly, "If I don't want to wait, what's the way to get in?"
The manager looked at her like she was a fool, but out of professional obligation, he told her anyway:
"There are only two ways. One is through a referral from a Diamond member, but there are only a handful of Diamond members at StarHub, and they are all business tycoons and financial giants. If you had that kind of connection, you wouldn't be asking me how to get in now, would you?"
Jiang Shiyuan ignored his sarcasm, "What about the second one?"
"If you have one of the 500 black gold cards available worldwide, you can become a member."
"oh."
The manager, too lazy to deal with Jiang Shiyuan, was about to lower his head to work when he heard a "smack"—
He looked up in surprise, and the next second, his eyes widened in shock:
"This, this is..."
"A black gold card with only 500 cards produced worldwide."
Jiang Shiyuan smiled slightly, her beautiful eyes curving upwards, exuding a powerful aura that made people afraid to look directly at her. "May I go in now?"
Yin Meng was also stunned. She never expected that the seemingly unassuming CEO Jiang had such a powerful move hidden away!
"Wait, wait a minute, let me check!"
The manager nervously picked up the black gold card with both hands and quickly entered the card number into the system.
A few seconds later, he stared blankly at the screen, his voice trembling and stammering:
"You, you and Mr. Xie of the Xie Group..."
"What do you think our relationship is?"
Jiang Shiyuan spoke coldly, clearly disgusted by the question, "I have his supplementary card, I can't possibly be his daughter."
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