Chapter 77

Chapter 77: Si Jin Nan’s Change of Heart

Si Jin Nan’s eyes widened, shock rolling through him in waves.

He knew what grandmother green was worth. He knew how rare it was.

But he never imagined the necklace carried a history like that.

His heartbeat grew louder as he turned to the woman beside him.

What kind of woman was she?

From beginning to end, Qiao Qing Yan remained calm, as if the necklace on the screen was nothing more than an ordinary accessory.

Nothing special.

Everyone had gotten her wrong.

When people believed she’d used her looks to get Yan Jing’s richest man’s attention, they’d later learned she could snap his Black-Gold Business Card in half without blinking.

When he’d thought she used that necklace as bait—calculating the Ji couple, calculating attention, calculating gain—

It turned out she might be playing a much bigger game.

And everyone else was just a piece on her board.

Their fates—light, heavy, fragile, doomed—could be moved with a fingertip.

Something in Si Jin Nan, something long numb and rotting from idleness, cracked open.

Like a stubborn shoot breaking through hard soil.

He didn’t know why it happened. He only knew he couldn’t stop it.

“Qiao Qing Yan,” he said, voice rougher than he intended. “You said before you wanted to discuss a deal with me. What deal?”

If he’d asked this before the auction, he would’ve doubted her.

Now he had a feeling this might be his turning point.

And it would be a sure win.

“You’re close with Director Liang Bian Lin,” Qiao Qing Yan said. “You should know about the variety show he’s promoting right now.”

Director Liang was a veteran in the industry. If he produced something, it exploded. A guaranteed hit.

He was also ruthless about casting. Strong backing, sky-high popularity—none of it mattered if you didn’t meet his standards. Bribes and connections meant nothing to him.

“Xu Zhong Qin has a slot in his hand,” Qiao Qing Yan continued.

Everyone at Ju Hui knew it.

Originally, that slot had been prepared for Xu Shu Jing.

This variety show would be a debut with high expectations. Since the start of the year, people had been watching it closely. Director Liang’s work was always worth waiting for.

Si Jin Nan’s eyes narrowed. “Aren’t you retired?”

He remembered her bold retirement announcement at the awards ceremony.

Qiao Qing Yan smiled. “Tell me—if we snatch something from Xu Zhong Qin, is that exciting or not?”

“And in the end, it still doesn’t fall into the hands of the person he likes…” Her smile deepened. “Wouldn’t that be even more exciting?”

Si Jin Nan frowned. “Do you have a grudge against him?”

It sounded like she was doing it just to disgust him.

Qiao Qing Yan didn’t deny it. Her smile stayed soft, but the meaning behind it was sharp.

Xu Zhong Qin believed he controlled people’s fates.

If someone shattered that self-righteous certainty…

Would he still be calm?

Si Jin Nan’s gaze held hers. “Then what do I get?”

Qiao Qing Yan rested her chin on her hand, as if considering something unimportant. “Hmm. Probably… getting back all the shares of Ju Hui.”

Si Jin Nan’s fingers curled so hard his palm ached. He forced his face not to change.

“I’m already Ju Hui’s legal representative,” he said evenly, “and a major shareholder.”

Qiao Qing Yan glanced at him, still smiling. “Then make Xu Zhong Qin get out of Ju Hui.”

The words sounded effortless coming from her—like she’d said, Let’s go eat after work.

Si Jin Nan couldn’t understand how she could say it so lightly.

“He’s from the Capital Xu family,” he warned.

“Oh.”

“The force behind him is something no one in all of Cloud City dares touch.”

“Oh.”