She regretted it, not in the future, but now.
If she hadn't been so rational back then, if she hadn't weighed the pros and cons and had been a little more willful, Pan Jie might still be that bright and radiant woman who was like a flower.
Alas, there are no ifs...
...
That evening, Tang Ye announced his feelings to Shu Ya, and they confirmed they were together.
The next day at work, Shu Ya was like a flower, a happy smile always on her lips.
"Xiao Min, Tang Ye and I are together, we're really together."
"Ah, I'm so excited, so happy."
...
Tang Xiao Min propped her chin on her hand, boredly listening to Shu Ya's incessant chatter.
"You've said it eight times already, my ears are going to get calluses. It's only you who's blind to fancy trash like Tang Ye."
"Pah, pah, pah, how can you talk about your own brother like that? I think you're just jealous."
...
Tang Xiao Min was speechless. If she were jealous of anyone, it wouldn't be Tang Ye.
"You have no idea, I thought I didn't have a chance when Pan Jie confessed to Tang Ye back then."
"Think about it, Tang Ye used to go to great lengths for Pan Jie."
"I still feel like it's not real, like a dream."
...
Tang Xiao Min patted Shu Ya's shoulder.
"Since you've already won him over, he's your boyfriend. Have some confidence in yourself."
Even though she said that, Shu Ya still had a sense of insecurity, unable to muster any confidence.
There's a saying, isn't there? When the ex cries, the current always loses.
Besides, Pan Jie was truly beautiful, and her aura was exceptional.
Compared to her, Shu Ya knew herself that she couldn't compare.
"No matter what, I won't just hand him over."
...
One day, Pan Jie suddenly appeared at the media company.
She didn't come alone; she brought four or five assistants with her.
She went straight to Tang Ye's office.
This caused quite a stir in the company.
Upon seeing Pan Jie, Tang Ye's expression was unusually solemn.
"Why are you here?"
"My work is very busy, and I don't have time to entertain you."
Pan Jie smiled, undeterred by Tang Ye's rejection and distance.
"After I returned, I specifically analyzed your media company. It's indeed very good, and with this trend, it has a promising future."
"However, its development is very limited."
Pan Jie's serious evaluation of the media company made Tang Ye unable to discern her true intentions.
"So, what exactly do you mean by this visit? Just say it directly."
Tang Ye's tone was serious and stern, unlike his usual amiable demeanor, like a businessman weighing pros and cons, rather than the relaxed ease of friends.
This stark contrast made Pan Jie feel uncomfortable.
Since that's the case, let's talk business.
"Tang Ye, I think highly of your media company. So I want to invest in you and cooperate, to take your media company international."
"The value and profit generated by international superstars are incomparable to those of Shanghai's top stars. If you're going to do it, do it to the extreme."
Pan Jie had inherited the fortune of oil prince Leland and was now a veritable rich woman.
With her as a major financial backer, it would only be a matter of time before the media company went international.
This was a great opportunity. As long as she seized it tightly, the nature of the media company would undergo a qualitative leap.
Facing such immense temptation, it would be impossible for Tang Ye not to be moved.
However, it was clear that Pan Jie's true motive was not just business.
Without much thought, Tang Ye refused.
"Thank you for your kind offer, but I am not a person with great ambitions. I am already very content with operating the media company to its current scale."
Pan Jie frowned. She couldn't believe that Tang Ye would remain indifferent to such a great opportunity.
Moreover, he refused so decisively.
Could it be that he was still bothered by the incident at the hotel?
It must be.
"Tang Ye, I did hurt you before. I apologize. I had no choice at the time, which is why I resorted to that tactic."
"But that's all in the past. I'm back now, and I will make it up to you. No one can stop me this time."
"I hope you'll seriously consider the cooperation. I genuinely support you. Take your time to think about it; you don't have to reject me so quickly."
"I won't disturb your work. I'll leave now."
Before Tang Ye could say anything, Pan Jie left in a hurry.
She was afraid that if she stayed any longer, she would hear a rejection, which was not what she wanted to hear.
Shu Ya happened to walk in with coffee, and the two met unexpectedly at the door.
Pan Jie glanced at Shu Ya and said nothing.
As she passed Shu Ya, Shu Ya suddenly grabbed her.
"Can you stop coming to see him? He's with me now. Your arrival will only make him feel troubled."
"Can't you see that he's moved on from you?"
It was just a first love, who hasn't had a youthful phase of impulsive and reckless passion?
But after the impulse fades, one will eventually understand what is truly suitable.
"I'm here to see him for work. What are you panicking about?" Pan Jie said.
"What's yours, no one can snatch away. What's not yours, you can't keep even if you try. What do you say?"
So, this was a declaration of war!
Pan Jie left.
Shu Ya walked into the office as if nothing had happened, calm and composed.
Tang Ye didn't mention Pan Jie's visit, and Shu Ya didn't ask. It was as if there was an unspoken understanding, and neither brought it up.
Time would tell who was right and who would truly have the last laugh.
...
In the blink of an eye, the Tang family was about to welcome a new life.
After a long ten-month pregnancy, Wang Na's due date finally arrived in the early hours of this night.
Knock, knock, knock!!!
"Mom, Nana's water broke, she's going to give birth."
Tang Yu frantically knocked on Zhang Mei Yu's door. He had never disturbed her sleep before.
Wang Na's water broke, and she trembled with fear.
Tang Yu was also terrified and didn't know what to do. At this critical moment, his first thought was his mother.
Zhang Mei Yu came out in her pajamas, not seeming very anxious.
After all, she had given birth to five children, and her experience made her calm at this moment.
"Her water just broke, why are you panicking?"
"Go wake Xiao Min to help you pack things, then call the hospital to let them know we're ready to come."
"Mom, maybe we should call an ambulance," Tang Yu said worriedly.
"It will take time for an ambulance to arrive, it's faster if we go ourselves. Hurry up and wake people up."
Tang Xiao Min was woken up and became alert upon hearing that Wang Na was about to give birth.
The items had already been prepared and packed into two suitcases, just waiting for this moment.
In the car, Wang Na screamed in pain, which was quite frightening.
Tang Xiao Min, who had never seen anything like this, was also quite scared.
"Hold on, don't give birth in the car. I don't know how to deliver babies."