This time, it was in the hotel's most luxurious private room, where Ilante and Pan Jie were enjoying a lavish dinner.
One had to admit, this oil prince was indeed wealthy. This meal alone was estimated to cost several hundred, and the bottle of red wine was worth millions.
"Pan Jie, the food is good," Tang Xiaomin said faintly.
Pan Jie's expression had been grim the entire time, and at this moment, she seemed to be burning with rage.
"This is not what I wanted. Can't you see that?"
How could Tang Xiaomin not see Pan Jie's disgust?
But so what? What did it have to do with her?
The only reason she came here was to prevent Ms. Zhang from losing another son.
Ilante's expression wasn't much better. Puffing on a cigar, he said, "If you have something to say, finish it quickly."
The implication was clear: he didn't want Tang Xiaomin to interrupt their meal.
So, Tang Xiaomin got straight to the point. "Pan Jie, while you're enjoying this feast, Tang Ye is lying in the intensive care unit, his life in the balance. This is all your doing."
"What!"
Pan Jie's face immediately turned serious, and she stood up.
However, a man who looked like a bodyguard quickly pressed her shoulder, forcing her back into her seat.
Her predicament was like that of a puppet on strings.
"How is Tang Ye? Is it serious?"
"Yes, it's very serious. The doctors are doing everything they can to save him," Tang Xiaomin said, intentionally exaggerating the severity.
Hearing this, Pan Jie's eyes reddened, and she was filled with self-reproach.
"It's all my fault. I harmed him."
"Xiaomin, you must get the doctors to save him. If anything happens to him, I'll be a sinner."
If only she had known this day would come, why had she acted this way in the first place?
People always do irrational things for their own selfish desires, only to shed tears of regret afterward.
Were these not crocodile tears?
Tang Xiaomin hadn't come all this way to listen to Pan Jie's laments.
"Pan Jie, I hope you can explain your relationship with Tang Ye clearly in front of Ilante, and then make Tang Ye give up his lingering feelings. It would be better for everyone this way."
Pan Jie had struggled hard to reach this point.
If she explained now, not only would her efforts be in vain, but Tang Ye would have suffered for nothing.
Seeing Pan Jie hesitate, Tang Xiaomin said sternly, "You're unwilling to explain, are you going to watch Tang Ye die because of you?"
"I..."
Pan Jie hesitated.
Just moments ago, Ilante had warned her that if there was a next time, he would not let it slide.
Her inner kindness finally triumphed over her selfish desires.
Pan Jie looked at Tang Xiaomin with pleading eyes, as if begging for her help.
However, Tang Xiaomin remained expressionless, showing no intention of responding.
Despair crept onto Pan Jie's face. She slowly began to explain.
"Ilante, Tang Ye was deliberately brought here to act. He came in just a few minutes before you. This was all my idea. Please don't take it out on innocent people."
"Hmph."
Ilante let out a meaningful cold snort and remained silent, continuing to puff on his cigar pensively.
Tang Xiaomin said calmly, "Mr. Ilante, I believe you have already investigated the circumstances before I arrived. Therefore, please do not target my brother in the future."
Although she didn't know how this woman had managed to temporarily become the CEO of Xianfu Group,
Ilante was wary of Xianfu Group and had to give her some face.
"Ms. Tang, you jest. Since it's been explained, let's consider this matter closed."
Honestly, if someone had beaten Tang Xiaomin up, she wouldn't have let it go so easily.
As for Tang Ye... when you wander the martial world, you're bound to get hurt. This is normal.
"Pan Jie, call Tang Ye," Tang Xiaomin said.
Pan Jie's face was drained of color. She looked like a soulless zombie.
Her struggles and resistance had come to an end at this moment.
She took out her phone and sent a voice message to Tang Ye in front of Tang Xiaomin and Ilante.
"Tang Ye, I'm sorry. I used you and caused you such serious injuries. I feel very regretful. Actually, even if I didn't marry Ilante, I wouldn't have ended up with you. I have no romantic feelings for you whatsoever, and there's a vast difference between us. You're just a celebrity trying to make a living in Shanghai's entertainment industry, your life's achievement being working for capital. Someone as heartless as me isn't worth you clinging to. Forget about me."
Pan Jie made her final farewell and handed her phone to Ilante on the spot.
A satisfied curve finally appeared on Ilante's lips.
Tang Xiaomin's objective achieved, she turned to leave.
At this moment, Pan Jie suddenly called out from behind her.
"Xiaomin, do you consider me a friend?"
Friendship, what a wonderful relationship.
In this life, Tang Xiaomin had made several good friends.
As for Pan Jie, she had approached Tang Xiaomin with ulterior motives from the beginning. With such a friend, she felt she could be stabbed in the back at any moment.
"Do you want to know my true thoughts?" Tang Xiaomin asked.
"Yes, I want to know."
Tang Xiaomin smiled enigmatically, then leaned close to Pan Jie's ear and whispered something. She quickly turned and left, not lingering any longer.
Pan Jie watched Tang Xiaomin's retreating figure, a storm brewing in her heart, unable to calm down for a long time.
Ilante, thinking Pan Jie was still unwilling to give up, warned her.
"We'll head back after dinner. You'd better not have any foolish thoughts."
Pan Jie slowly sat back down, saying nothing, and leisurely sipped her wine.
At this moment, she looked as if she had found peace.
"I know. You don't need to keep reminding me."
The words Tang Xiaomin had told her echoed in her mind: Ilante's complexion was dark, and his lifespan was short.
Her intuition told her that although Tang Xiaomin didn't want to bother with her, she wouldn't lie to her.
If that was the case, all she had to do was wait, endure, and she would get the outcome she desired.
Her family had sacrificed her marriage for a business alliance.
Then she should at least get something to compensate for her losses.
...
At the hospital, after Tang Ye woke up and received Pan Jie's cruel message, he was stunned.
"Impossible. Pan Jie isn't that kind of vain person. How could she think I'm not good enough for her?"
"No, she must have had a difficult situation, or was forced. I need to go find her and get a clear explanation."
Tang Ye excitedly tried to get out of bed, but Tang Xiaomin pressed him down.
"Don't bother. Ilante's private jet departed three hours ago and is already thousands of kilometers away."
"Moreover, her message was very clear. Even if she didn't marry Ilante, she wouldn't be with you, because your current standing simply doesn't match hers."
"A simp, chasing until there's nothing left. Tang Ye, wake up."