Chapter 211: Old Ji Sees the Lawyer's Letter

Jiang Lai: "I don't want to."

This time she left without looking back.

It's not that she doesn't want to, but that she can't do it.

Ping'an heard her voice from Shen Xun's phone, which only made her trust President Shen more, believing that only through Shen Xun could she reach her.

Secretary Guan followed closely, without commenting on the matter, and asked, "Do we go back to Nanshan Villa?"

Jiang Lai: "First, let's get a cake that has only cream and no arsenic."

Secretary Guan's face lit up; just as the two stepped out of the hotel's revolving entrance, Assistant Zhou was already waiting for them under a black umbrella, and a car was parked at the hotel doorway, only two meters away.

Snowflakes fell one after another onto the large black umbrella.

Jiang Lai bent down, got into the car, reached out the window, and caught a snowflake.

The snowflake slowly melted in her hand.

It's really snowing.

The snow kept getting heavier.

The car's heating was ample; it wasn't cold at all.

Jiang Lai closed the car window, and Secretary Guan beside her asked, "Is today really your birthday?"

She felt President Shen's remark, "Today is my wife's birthday," was overly abrupt.

"My ID doesn't say today; I just celebrate my birthday on the first day of snow each year," Jiang Lai finished, and Butler Deng's call came through.

The voice of the matron came through the phone.

"Jiang Lai, are you free tomorrow? It's been a long time since we ate together; you've been busy lately, right?"

"I'm free." Jiang Lai has indeed been busy lately; Ke Zhongyu has helped her a lot, and she can only push harder on the Three-Region Project, while the matters of Shen Xun and Lin Shutong still hinder her.

She originally thought she could sue and close the case immediately, but Shen Xun, half a month earlier, had sent Qiao Chuan to find Ping'an, making her a frontline at the crucial moment.

Jiang Lai felt a sudden heaviness in her chest.

"Matron, I'll accompany you for lunch tomorrow, but I have an urgent matter in the afternoon, sorry." She lowered her eyes slightly; she had to rush back to G Province tomorrow.

Jiang Lai posted the dessert shop's name in the group chat, Assistant Zhou opened the navigation, and the car was already on the road.

The matron seemed to sense her fatigue and asked, "What has happened recently? Is Shen Xun bothering you?"

Jiang Lai didn't deny it, giving a soft "mm."

The matron instantly became angry, scolded the person harshly over the phone, then said pleasantly, "Tomorrow at noon the kitchen will make you the dishes you like."

"Okay." A warm feeling passed through Jiang Lai's heart; she suddenly recalled that for three consecutive years, on the second day after snow in A City, the matron would invite her over for a meal.

Her eyes flickered: "Matron, do you know that a snowy day is my birthday?"

The matron smiled and teased, "Why are you so slow to react in everyday life and matters of the heart?"

"Matron, how did you know?"

"Lao Cui said it; he reached that conclusion late, just the year before he left, saying he had seen for two consecutive years that on the first snowy day you bought yourself those small, triangle‑cut mousse cakes, quietly, and the key is you don't like sweets."

"He also said that next year, when he catches you buying a cake for yourself again, after you finish your birthday, he'll invite you to his house the next day for a good meal."

Unfortunately, before Jiang Lai's birthday the next year, Lao Cui passed away.

She just kept the matter in her heart.

Jiang Lai felt an indescribable emotion in her heart, which turned into a sentence: "Matron, I'll go over first thing tomorrow morning."

"Okay."

After hanging up, the car stopped a moment later, and Assistant Zhou got out to fetch the cake from the shop.

She kept a four‑inch blueberry mousse cake for herself—she could eat more of its sweet‑sour flavor—while the strawberry cream cake was, of course, for Secretary Guan, and Assistant Zhou received a mille‑feuille.

Assistant Zhou expressed special thanks and reminded Secretary Guan, "Eat it, but don't show off, and definitely don't post it on social media."

Secretary Guan understood instantly.

When a man gets jealous, it has nothing to do with women, especially since this man is also their direct superior.

Secretary Guan's residence wasn't far from here; Jiang Lai first had Assistant Zhou take Secretary Guan back, then bring her to Nanshan Villa.

The reception, expected to finish at nine, ended before eight‑thirty; Assistant Zhou didn't get the people to Nanshan Villa until just after nine, so he said, "President Ke's plane lands at ten; I'll go to the airport to pick up President Ke."

Jiang Lai looked at Assistant Zhou for a while, seemed to have something to say, and after a long pause only managed four words: "Take care."

Assistant Zhou smiled and drove away.

Jiang Lai watched the departing car, then looked up at the sky; the snow was huge, swirling across the heavens, already forming a thin layer on the ground.

Jiang Lai had the bodyguard lead Da De and Xiao Mu inside to sit; at this moment Shen Xun was still at the fame‑and‑fortune arena, too busy to come, and the other Shen family members were even less likely to show up with flattery.

Mo Yi saw Jiang Lai holding the cake and exclaimed, "Miss Jiang, today is your birthday! Wait a moment, I'll add a few more dishes!"

"Mo Yi, if we don't finish it it'll be wasteful."

"Don't worry, there's the Young Master."

"Then remember to set aside his portion." Can't let anyone eat leftovers.

Mo Yi ran into the kitchen, then suddenly came out holding a knife, "Miss Jiang, may I call the Miss over? The more people celebrating your birthday, the merrier!"

Jiang Lai nodded, "Okay, I'll call her."

Mo Yi: "No need, Miss Jiang, you should rest quickly; I'm already dialing."

The call connected quickly.

On the other end, Chongying's voice sounded weak: "Mo Yi, why are you calling me so late at night? The old man had me take people for an experiment, saying it was training, but actually he's just lazy! I'm exhausted."

"Miss, how long until you're done?"

"Almost done, about ten minutes."

"Miss, when you're finished, come to Nanshan Villa; today is Miss Jiang's birthday."

"What!" Chongying's voice cut through the phone, "I'm coming, I'm coming; whoever wants to do this experiment can do it, I'm not joining any more, my paper has already been accepted! That damn old man is squeezing me."

Jiang Lai, hearing this, smiled silently.

……

Shen Xun saw Soren get into the car, and then got into the car himself; Qiao Chuan was still working overtime at the company, so he could only drive himself.

The engine had just started when Lin Shutong's phone rang.

One after another, as if something life‑threatening was happening.

Shen Xun hadn't intended to answer, but seeing one call after another was annoying, so he swiped to answer.

"A‑Xun, Jiang Lai sent me a lawyer's letter," Lin Shutong's voice sounded nervous and scared, "and it was sent to my grandfather; tonight my grandfather opened it, and he personally sent someone to fetch me over there, A‑Xun… wasn't this money the investment you gave me?"

"I'm not worried about myself; if this gets big and ends up in court, it will affect your career and future!" they said, righteous indignation filling them.

Shen Xun frowned; what he heard sounded somewhat strange.

"A‑Xun, even if you don't consider me, consider your own future and our unborn child," Lin Shutong said softly, "this matter must not be blown up."

Shen Xun found it increasingly strange as he listened.

He replied to her: "Jiang Lai also sent me a lawyer's letter; the letter demands full repayment within ten days, and today there are only three days left until the tenth day."

Today is almost over; actually only two days remain.

Hearing this, Lin Shutong was stunned.

Jiang Lai is sick!

Sending a lawyer's letter says negotiation is possible, yet they don't give them time to negotiate?

If it's going to the courtroom, why make such a fuss!

The car slowed to a stop.

The driver ahead turned back: "Miss Lin, we've arrived; Ji Lao is already waiting for you in the Shufang."

Lin Shutong snapped back to reality.

She knew why Jiang Lai had staged this.

Looking at the Ji Family villa's gate, thinking of her grandfather, Lin Shutong felt an unfamiliar fear for the first time, no longer the confidence of having someone behind her.