Picking Up What Was Thrown Away

In the past, Xu Jianing really didn’t dare.

Back in school, she couldn’t compete with Wen Yuzhi’s beauty, couldn’t match her financial background, and couldn’t surpass her academic performance.

In every aspect, she fell short.

Deep down, she felt inferior, always standing behind Qin Huairen to show they were on the same side.

But now, she was no longer just “Student Xu.”

She was President Xu.

And Wen Yuzhi was merely President Wen, a puppet of the Wen family.

So Xu Jianing smiled and asked in return, “What do I have to be afraid of? Even if I explain now, I’m explaining to Renen on the other end of the phone. Your flowers had bugs—”

“Pick them up.”

Wen Yuzhi cut her off abruptly.

As Xu Jianing tried to continue, Yan Qing spoke plainly from the side.

“President Xu, those flowers were picked fresh from the Wen family garden this morning. Every single one was carefully selected and treated. Fabricating such a clumsy lie—who would believe it?”

Liars are always prepared to be exposed.

Xu Jianing smiled faintly.

“Whether you believe it or not doesn’t matter. Renen will believe me. If you don’t think so, ask her.”

She stepped forward to personally ask Qin Huairen, only to realize the phone screen wasn’t even lit.

The call hadn’t connected at all.

“You’re playing me?”

Wen Yuzhi ignored her and said calmly, “I’ll give you one chance. Pick them up. Or not?”

She had thrown the flowers.

If she picked them up, it would be a slap to her own face.

Just as she hesitated, Wen Yuzhi mentioned the March project meeting—her main focus of the year.

Grinding her teeth, Xu Jianing said, “Fine. I’ll pick them up. But I have one condition.”

Her condition was that Wen Yuzhi wouldn’t sabotage her at the meeting.

Getting her client into the group had already been extremely difficult.

She had always feared Wen Yuzhi would ruin her opportunity.

Wen Yuzhi let out a soft laugh and stepped closer, looking down at her.

“You’re not qualified to negotiate with me.”

Xu Jianing felt fury explode inside her.

Yet she could only watch as Wen Yuzhi entered the elevator and went down to the underground parking lot.

“President Xu, please.”

Yan Qing followed her upstairs to retrieve the flowers.

The cleaning lady looked troubled.

The flowers were buried deep in the trash.

Xu Jianing frowned and suggested buying an identical bouquet instead.

“Renen won’t mind.”

Yan Qing adjusted her glasses and refused.

“You didn’t even ask her. How do you know Wen Yuzhi wouldn’t agree?”

Xu Jianing’s temper flared.

“Yan Qing, don’t think you’re impressive just because you work for Wen Yuzhi. You’re only an assistant. When the Wen family falls, where will you go?”

Yan Qing simply thanked her politely and redirected the topic.

“I’m not trying to make things difficult. I just understand President Wen. She’ll only wait ten minutes.”

In the end, Xu Jianing nearly gagged as she picked through the trash.

Her eyes brimmed with tears.

She hated Wen Yuzhi.

Meanwhile, Yan Qing kept texting someone.

The petals were too damaged to save.

Clutching the incomplete bouquet tainted with unpleasant smells, Xu Jianing went down to the parking lot.

“Are you satisfied now?” she asked with red eyes.

Wen Yuzhi didn’t even glance at her.

“Throw them away.”

Xu Jianing thought she had misheard.

Before she could question her, the car window rolled up.

Yan Qing repeated calmly, “President Wen said she doesn’t want them. You can dispose of them.”

“What the hell is wrong with you?”

Xu Jianing smashed the flowers against the window.

The car door suddenly opened.

Wen Yuzhi stepped out.

Xu Jianing, furious, tried to strike her with the bouquet.

Her wrist was seized tightly.

The pain forced her to drop the flowers.

They scattered across the ground—just like her pride.

Wen Yuzhi, her injured right hand wrapped in bandages, pressed Xu Jianing’s head down to face the mess.

“You worked hard to pick them up. And I told you to throw them away. You feel wronged?”

She looked at her flushed face and said calmly,

“When you threw that bouquet earlier, you ruined the hard work of many people. And the sender’s feelings.”

“What about mine?”

Xu Jianing’s tears trembled in her eyes.

Wen Yuzhi sneered.

“You started it this morning. You brought this on yourself.”

Tears finally fell.

Wen Yuzhi gently wiped her eye with the back of her bandaged hand.

“Listen carefully.”

For most people, Wen Yuzhi gave one chance.

No second.

But because of Qin Huairen, Xu Jianing had been given repeated chances.

“This is the fourth time you’ve interfered between me and Qin Huairen. One more time, and I won’t be polite.”

She pushed Xu Jianing away.

Yan Qing steadied her and handed her tissues.

“President Xu, the flowers were innocent.”

If flowers could speak, perhaps they would say:

“Our blooming is brief. If you don’t love us, at least don’t trample us.”

Wen Yuzhi’s car drove off.

Xu Jianing crushed the fallen flowers beneath her heel, as if stepping on Wen Yuzhi herself.

After calming down in the parking lot and fixing her makeup, she received a call from Qin Huairen.

“Where are the flowers?”

Her temper flared again.

“You like them that much?”

Qin Huairen sensed something was wrong and asked gently what happened.

Tears welled up in Xu Jianing’s eyes.

“I’ll buy you another bouquet. Was it really that important?”

Then she challenged,

“I threw them away because there were bugs. Do you believe me?”

“Believe you.”

One simple word.

Xu Jianing broke down crying.

After a long silence, Qin Huairen said softly,

“Where are you? I’ll come find you.”

“That’s enough,” Xu Jianing sobbed.

“Wen Yuzhi gave you trouble, didn’t she?”

Qin Huairen knew her best friend well.

Whenever Wen Yuzhi was involved, Xu Jianing lost control.

And so, after comforting her, Qin Huairen decided to confront Wen Yuzhi.

Only then did she realize—she didn’t even have Wen Yuzhi’s contact information.

So she took a taxi straight to Huaxin Group and found Yan Qing.

Yan Qing was stunned.

“You’re here to see President Wen?”

“Just give me her contact information.”

Yan Qing hesitated and instead handed over the company landline.

After Qin Huairen left, Yan Qing reported the incident.

Wen Yuzhi replied with a long voice message.

Next time, give her the number.

Yan Qing pushed her glasses up.

“President Wen, you haven’t contacted her in years. We don’t intend harm, but precaution—”

“Enough.”

Wen Yuzhi appeared behind her.

“She went right.”

Yan Qing followed her out.

The traffic light turned yellow as Wen Yuzhi hurried across.

By the time Yan Qing caught up, she had disappeared into the maze of old city alleys.

Eventually, Yan Qing deduced where Qin Huairen would go—toward spicy restaurants she loved.

After several calls, she located her at an Anhui noodle shop.

Under a tree in the narrow alley, Qin Huairen sat on a small stool, stirring steaming noodles.

Wen Yuzhi steadied her breath.

The short walk felt like centuries.

Finally, she stood before her and said calmly,

“What a coincidence.”