Just like in all domineering CEO novels, when she woke up, the hero was nowhere to be found.
Jiang Li ran her fingers through her hair. Her legs were so sore that they were almost trembling. She gritted her teeth and got out of bed. Every movement was extremely slow, like the rehabilitation after a bone fracture.
She was so focused that she didn't notice Xiao Yanzhi, who had been standing at the door for a while.
He watched the whole time as she climbed out of bed with a pained expression and slowly bent down to put on her shoes. Unable to help himself, he let out a soft laugh. "Good morning."
Xiao Yanzhi was already fully dressed. He looked energetic and refreshed, showing no sign that he had stayed up until almost dawn last night.
Remembering what had happened last night, Jiang Li's ears turned so red that they seemed about to bleed. "… Good morning."
Why was he still here?
Jiang Li was still young, and her words and actions were quite innocent. The surprise and embarrassment in her eyes were completely exposed. She was still a bit lacking in the ability to disguise her emotions.
Xiao Yanzhi told her to change her clothes quickly. He was going to take her somewhere later.
So Jiang Li nervously washed up, changed her clothes, and had a simple breakfast to fill her stomach. Then she got into the same car as last night.
The car made a series of twists and turns and finally stopped in front of an office building.
This was where Jiang Li had first met Sister Chen.
After a series of smooth signing procedures, Jiang Li finally understood that Xiao Yanzhi had hired an agent for her and given her the identity of an artist. With an agent, she had also established her own personal studio.
She asked him which entertainment company she should sign with now that she had her own studio.
Three days later, Jiang Entertainment was established.
A month later, Jiang Li received the first script of her acting career.
After that, everything went smoothly for her. Jiang Li actually achieved her dream. She really fulfilled the dream she had casually mentioned in the car that day.
She received so many endorsements that her hands became sore, filmed so many dramas that she hardly had time to sleep, and won so many awards that her hands ached.
Although Jiang Li herself didn't know how all this had been accomplished in such a short period of time, everyone with a reputation in the industry had heard about it.
It was said that the only son of the Xiao family from Shan Shang suddenly opened an entertainment company. He also made connections at the dinner table and talked about many cooperation opportunities that were of no significance to him.
When someone asked what Xiao Yanzhi was trying to achieve by doing this, since he couldn't earn much money and the company's meager profits were hardly something he would take a fancy to.
Someone quickly laughed and retorted, "What do you know? General Manager Xiao is raising a rose."
While others watered their roses with water, Xiao Yanzhi watered his with gold.
Later, when Duan Yibo heard about this, he was extremely curious. He went straight to the person involved and asked him what it was about Jiang Li that had made this iron tree bloom.
At that time, Xiao Yanzhi scoffed at the question.
What was there to like or not like?
It was just that his life was too boring and everything was too rigid. It was like a stagnant pool of water with no color.
But Jiang Li was different.
In Jiang Li, he saw the courage to fight against a tragic fate, the air of pretending to cater while actually being proud on the inside, and the occasional wildness.
It was just that a person on the cloud, upon seeing a poor worm struggling in the mud, felt a bit of pity and a touch of rebellion in his heart.
Since he could foresee the trajectory of his life from the start, he wanted to raise a living person full of infinite possibilities.
It seemed that by doing so, he could add a bit more fun to his boring life.
He said, "I just thought it was too boring and wanted to raise a flower for fun."
But how could a flower have feelings? How could a flower cry, laugh, get angry, be indignant, or be sad?
Jiang Li could.
Jiang Li could not only express all kinds of emotions but also do things that would surprise him.
For example, one day later, when General Manager Huang swaggered over to ask Xiao Yanzhi for someone and was finally driven away, Jiang Li boldly gave that person the middle finger without any hesitation.
She was so bold and proud.
This made him find her novel.
So he started taking her to more and more occasions. She was his accompanying female partner and his most proud and remarkable work.
She was the rose he had personally nurtured and the painting he had meticulously drawn stroke by stroke.
She blossomed to her heart's content in the field she was good at, winning one acting award after another. She would run up to him like a child showing off a treasure, seeking praise.
He would gently stroke her head and tell her that things would get better and better in the future.
He was immersed in it.
All the beauty came to an abrupt end at a family gathering.
Su Jialan probed him subtly, asking if there was a girl around him recently.
"A Yan, I've inquired about that girl. Her background is not good. She has a gambling father and an ungrateful mother. I heard that you've been helping her younger brother pay off his debts recently?"
"You're a man now. I understand some of your needs, but you must remember that if you get involved with a woman from such a family background, it's not just your own face that will be disgraced."
"A Yan, if Mom does anything in the future, it's all for your own good. You have a noble status. You shouldn't let such a person make our Xiao family a laughingstock in the eyes of others. Do you understand?"
"…"
Xiao Yanzhi left with a livid face.
That was the first time he had taken his anger out on Jiang Li for no reason.
At that time, Jiang Li had just finished filming for the day. As usual, she got into the nanny car that came to pick her up and was taken back to Ruiyuan.
She happily told him about every little detail on the set as usual, but the man's face remained cold.
Finally, at the breaking point, he suddenly said coldly, "Jiang Li, you should think carefully about whether your current achievements really match what I've given you."
"Why do you always talk so much?"
"Stay in your place, Jiang Li."
It was like a blow to the head.
Yes, the days had been so good recently that she had almost forgotten.
On that rainy night, in the charming back row of the car, and on that sleepless night.
She and he had a deal.
They weren't in a relationship, and it wasn't fair.
He gave money, and she gave her beauty.
That was all.
After that, Jiang Li became more and more silent.
How long had it been?
It had been so long that even Xiao Yanzhi couldn't remember. He just suddenly looked back one day and found that the little girl who would give the middle finger and stubbornly raise her head had disappeared without a trace.
She would only mechanically call him "General Manager Xiao".
Even during the rare moments of passion in bed, they were so short - lived that he felt like he was the one being served.
So he became even more extreme.
But she was gone.
He had completely lost her.
His head ached so much that it felt like his internal organs were also in pain, especially his heart, which felt like someone had stabbed a knife into it.
And in fact, there really was such a knife that had stabbed into his heart.