Chapter 113: No Way Back to the Past

Jiang Yunzhu’s face turned pale. Her grip on the phone tightened again and again, and her beautiful brows drew together in a distressed frown.

“I… I understand.”

Seeing that Jiang Yunzhu was still listening to her, Chen Li let out a gentle sigh of relief, her tone growing lighter. She checked on Jiang Yunzhu, then continued, “Yunzhu, I know this must be hard for you, but if you don’t have the ability to deal with your enemies, don’t provoke them. The consequences might be more than you can bear, do you understand?”

Chen Li truly didn’t want to criticize Jiang Yunzhu. Though she didn’t know exactly what had happened, she was certain her child would never do anything wrong.

But she worried her daughter was too kind, and the consequences might be more than she could handle herself. She had no choice but to step in and warn her.

Jiang Yunzhu realized something must have happened on her mother’s end—otherwise, she wouldn’t know what was happening here.

“Mom, tell me, what’s going on over there?”

Chen Li still didn’t share the news she’d received, afraid Jiang Yunzhu would blame herself once she knew.

“It’s nothing serious. We’ll handle it.”

After hanging up, Jiang Yunzhu immediately called the secretary at her parents’ company to find out what had happened.

Only then did she realize her actions had affected not just her own company, but even her parents’ business.

That person’s reach was truly astonishing—so easily impacting those close to her.

Jiang Yunzhu clenched her teeth, her face growing darker and darker, until finally, in a burst of anger, she slammed her hand down on the table.

Her hand went numb from the force, but it didn’t calm her at all.

She still hadn’t thought of a solution when, the next day, all the rejected partnerships were suddenly restored.

Her assistant came in, cheerful, to tell her, and Jiang Yunzhu was utterly surprised.

She hadn’t even acted yet—how had it all been resolved?

One person flashed through her mind, but Jiang Yunzhu thought it couldn’t possibly be.

She wanted to call and ask, but before she could, the other party called her first.

“Yunzhu, can we meet?”

Jiang Yunzhu paused, didn’t answer, and instead asked, “Did you solve the issues at my company?”

Shen Ruizhang didn’t hide it, and replied with a soft affirmation.

“Yes.”

“Alright, you pick the place. I’ll come over.”

After hanging up, Jiang Yunzhu received the address Shen Ruizhang sent her.

After work, she went straight there.

This time, it was a quiet tea room.

The fragrance of tea filled her senses, sweeping away her heavy mood for a moment.

“What did you want to talk about?”

Shen Ruizhang gazed at Jiang Yunzhu, “Sit down, have some tea. Let’s talk slowly.”

Jiang Yunzhu wasn’t eager to chat with Shen Ruizhang, but he had indeed helped her greatly this time. Her expression flickered.

“I should thank you for what you did.”

“No need to thank me. You helped me before, settled my debts. Consider this repayment for your kindness.”

Jiang Yunzhu pressed her lips together and nodded lightly.

If it hadn’t been for Shen Ruizhang, her losses this time would have far exceeded the last, and she might even be facing bankruptcy.

After all, if all the artists left for other opportunities, her company would become an empty shell. And if no one wanted to work with her…

She was deeply indebted to him this time.

Jiang Yunzhu picked up the teacup by the table and took a sip. The bitter taste made her expression crease slightly.

Shen Ruizhang watched her face change and couldn’t help but smile.

Jiang Yunzhu lifted her gaze and glared at him.

Shen Ruizhang said softly, “Actually, there’s something else today.”

Jiang Yunzhu set down her cup and looked at him seriously.

Seeing her sit up so properly, Shen Ruizhang sighed helplessly. “There’s no need for us to be so distant.”

Jiang Yunzhu said nothing, her gaze cool. Shen Ruizhang realized he truly must have hurt her.

His expression was sorrowful for a moment, but he quickly pulled himself together.

He took a box from his pocket. When opened, it revealed a silk scarf.

Jiang Yunzhu’s gaze landed on the pale green silk.

When the scarf was unwrapped, it revealed the bracelet she’d once shattered.

Jiang Yunzhu’s eyes paused, then quickly looked away.

“What do you mean by this?”

“This is the bracelet my mother gave you, meant for the future mistress of the Shen family. So, Yunzhu, would you be willing to give me another chance?”

Her face showed no trace of emotion, her eyes calm and unshaken.

“What do you think?”

Shen Ruizhang paused, then smiled. “Yunzhu, I know you blame me, but I’ve truly changed. I just want to live well with you and protect our little family.”

Jiang Yunzhu’s hands, resting on her knees, balled into fists. After a long moment, she let out a faint laugh.

“No, I don’t want to give you another chance.”

Shen Ruizhang’s face went pale, gazing at her helplessly.

“I’ve given you so many chances, Shen Ruizhang. It’s not that I’ll always wait for you just because you want to come back. No one waits for another unconditionally. I’ve waited for years. I don’t want to keep waiting in the same place.”

Jiang Yunzhu took a deep breath and looked at the now-restored bracelet. “A broken bracelet can be repaired, but shattered feelings can’t be fixed. Give this bracelet to the right person, but that person is certainly not me.”

Shen Ruizhang’s hand tightened, and he asked in a low voice, “Is it really impossible to give me another chance?”

Jiang Yunzhu shook her head. “We can’t go back. Even if we did, wouldn’t there be knots in your heart? I certainly would.”

After parting ways with Shen Ruizhang, Jiang Yunzhu returned home.

Looking back on the past few days, her emotions were complicated. She opened her email and clicked on the evidence that had been sent to her anonymously.

Remembering her mother’s words, she silently pressed delete.

She deleted all the copies she’d saved elsewhere, one by one.

When only the evidence stored on her USB drive remained, she hovered over the delete button, unable to press it.

She bit her lip, her fingertips pale. She clearly had evidence to accuse that director of harassment, but now she had to give up the pursuit, and it left her unwilling and resentful.

But she truly lacked the power to withstand his retaliation.

Jiang Yunzhu grappled with herself for a long time, finally deleting all evidence from her computer, except for the USB drive.

She thought, maybe she wouldn’t need it now, but perhaps someday it would be useful.

He couldn’t possibly stay so arrogant forever.