My Manor

The roar of the plane echoed through the Imperial Capital Airport as it touched down on the runway. In the arrival hall, two women stood anxiously at the pick-up area, scanning the crowd. Their presence did not go unnoticed. Passersby stole glances at them, their striking beauty drawing attention from both men and women alike.

The men admired them for their tall, elegant figures, long legs, and professional OL attire that accentuated their allure. If not for the icy demeanor they exuded, many would have attempted to strike up a conversation. Even so, a few confident individuals still tried their luck, strutting past them, flexing their masculinity, and attempting to score their contact information.

The women in the vicinity, however, had a different perspective. Some regarded them with jealousy, silently cursing them as vixens, while others couldn't help but covet their outfits, accessories, and designer handbags. To the gold-diggers among them, the combined value of these items easily exceeded a million yuan—an amount worth envying.

Amidst the mixture of admiration and resentment, the long-awaited plane finally landed. The two women grew visibly more anxious, their eyes fixed on the exit as they waited for their expected guests to arrive.

Yet, as always, some people overestimated their own charm. Despite the evident cold aura surrounding the two women, there were still a few who thought they had a chance.

"Hey, beautiful ladies, add me on WeChat." A flirtatious voice suddenly broke the tense atmosphere. A man with a slick, confident expression stepped in front of them, blocking their view.

"Get lost." The leading woman's expression darkened as she spoke sternly, dismissing him without a second thought.

"Come on, no need to be so cold. Just trying to make friends." The man smirked, clearly unfazed by the rejection. It was evident he was used to flirting with women and wasn't about to back down so easily.

"I'll say it again—leave." The woman's patience was wearing thin. Her frown deepened, and her tone grew sharper, but the man remained indifferent, still attempting to charm his way in.

"You've got quite the temper, huh? But I like that. Let me introduce myself—I'm Dong Shanhe. My father is Dong XX from XX Province. Sound familiar? He's the richest man in our area and a member of the National People's Congress. He just returned from a business trip, and I'm here to pick him up. If you want, I can introduce you to him. Of course, in exchange, you'll have to accompany me for a night out." His grin widened, confident that his status would impress them.

However, rather than admiration, his words only made the two women's expressions turn even colder. Just their luck—they had encountered yet another self-important fool.

Before they could respond, the people they had been waiting for finally emerged from the exit. To their surprise, four women accompanied the person they were expecting.

The arrivals were none other than Jiang Hai and his group, while the two women waiting were Qi Li and her assistant. The moment Qi Li spotted Jiang Hai, she waved eagerly, but to her dismay, he acted as though he hadn't seen her and exited through another passageway instead.

Qi Li's expression turned speechless. Instinctively, she stepped forward to chase after him, but her path was blocked once more by the persistent man.

"Move!" This time, her voice carried not just impatience but also a sharp edge of anger.

"Not until you add me on WeChat," the man replied smugly, convinced that he had the upper hand.

He had, however, gravely underestimated Qi Li.

Without hesitation, she delivered a swift kick to his calf. Caught off guard, he stumbled to the side, clutching his leg in pain. Without sparing him another glance, Qi Li grabbed her assistant and hurried after Jiang Hai, finally intercepting him at the exit.

"Huff... Jiang Hai! You saw me just now, didn't you? And yet you still walked away?" Qi Li demanded breathlessly.

Jiang Hai glanced at her, his expression unreadable. "Oh, I saw you. But weren't you busy talking to that guy? Who is he? Your new boyfriend?" he asked flatly.

Qi Li nearly choked on air. "Jiang Hai, I only have you as my husband! Whether you believe it or not—ugh, never mind. Let's just go back, alright?" She was exasperated. Why was this man so unbelievably stubborn?

She reached for his arm, trying to pull him along, but Jiang Hai didn't budge.

"Oh, we've already booked a hotel. The hotel's car should be outside," he stated coolly.

Qi Li's breath hitched. "Do we really have to be like this?" she asked, her voice quieter now, her gaze serious.

Jiang Hai met her eyes without hesitation. "As far as I'm concerned, there's nothing between us—except maybe a business partnership."

Qi Li clenched her fists. "Fine. Call it whatever you want. You don't want to come home with me? Then go to the hotel. But don't think you can take down An Changwu on your own. You still need my help." Her tone was firm, determined.

Jiang Hai scoffed. "Right. Let my dear wife help her first love at a critical moment? Wouldn't that be the height of stupidity?" With that, he turned and walked away, leaving Qi Li standing there, speechless for the first time.

"Boss Qi... what do we do now?" her assistant asked hesitantly, feeling indignant on Qi Li's behalf.

Qi Li exhaled sharply, swallowing her frustration. "We follow him." Without another word, she led her assistant outside and into the car arranged by the Peninsula Hotel, trailing after Jiang Hai as they headed into the city.

The Peninsula Hotel, located near the royal palace, was a prestigious Hong Kong-based chain. Jiang Hai had booked four suites—one for himself, one for Darlene and Marianne, one for Azarina, and one for Penelope Dalle.

After checking in, he invited the women out for dinner before retreating to his suite for a much-needed shower. But just as he was about to undress, a knock sounded at his door. When he opened it, he was met with an unexpected sight—Qi Li.

"Why are you here?" Jiang Hai asked, momentarily taken aback.

Qi Li didn't hesitate. "I don't care what you think—I need to make something clear." She pushed past him into the room, shutting the door behind her. "Yes, I dated An Changwu before, but nothing ever happened between us. You know what happened when we returned to China. We're enemies now—I despise him. What happened to you this time is because of me, and I take full responsibility. But regardless of our past, we have a common enemy. We should be working together, not at odds like this." Her voice was firm, her frustration palpable.

Jiang Hai leaned against the wall, arms crossed. "You've got it all wrong. First, I'm not mad at you. You said it yourself—we're just partners now, right? Second, I don't care about your past with An Changwu. I only know that if he comes for me, I'll deal with him myself. And most importantly, I don't trust you to be on my side, not when you were once so close to him." His tone was calm, yet unwavering.

Qi Li's patience snapped. "Why are you so stubborn?! Yes, I left you in Bingcheng. That was my mistake, and I know it! I even went to Boston to find you. You've had countless women outside—did I ever say a word? I've been cleaning up your mess here in the capital. Do you even think about me? Why do I have to suffer this humiliation? For you! Not for your damned beef!"

Her voice cracked, her emotions spilling over at last.

(To be continued.)