Chapter 4: Wishing You a Delightful Failure

“President Wen, I’ve been trying to reach you for so long, and all we manage is a cup of coffee? Your time must be incredibly precious,” Jiang Mian said, glancing toward the source of the voice. It was President Shen of Shen Technology.

Back when Jiang’s father was still alive, he had once taken Jiang Mian to Mrs. Shen’s birthday banquet. That middle-aged man treated his wife quite well.

Wen Jinhai sat down, crossing his long legs with an air of indifference. He showed no sign of apology, merely lifting his gaze to meet the man opposite him.

“President Shen, if you’re not considering selling the patent to me, then I don’t think there’s anything for us to discuss,” he said firmly. He never made deals where he would take a loss.

Jiang Mian lowered her eyes thoughtfully. She remembered that Shen Technology had developed quite well before, but in recent years, with new competitors rising, the company had begun to struggle.

The patent Wen mentioned was one they had applied for late last year, likely an attempt to breathe new life into Shen Technology by leveraging it. If they could align with the Wen Corporation, people in the industry would naturally show some respect.

But it seemed Wen’s plan wouldn’t be so simple.

Xiao Li leaned in closer and whispered to Jiang Mian, “Do you know the people over there?”

Shaking her head, Jiang Mian replied, “Not really, just seen them before.”

“I’ve seen them too,” Xiao Li said seriously. “I heard that President Wen is the ruler of the capital—he controls everything. He says no one can move east to west.”

Jiang Mian blinked in surprise and then smiled wryly, turning her head away. Xiao Li’s earnest demeanor was quite amusing.

Sighing softly, Jiang Mian reached out and lightly tapped Xiao Li’s forehead. “Have you been reading too many novels?”

Although Wen Jinhai did wield considerable influence in the capital, he was hardly a ruler of all.

Where did such wild rumors even come from?

“Let’s head back to the studio. There’s still a lot to take care of today,” Jiang Mian said firmly.

Xiao Li immediately stood up as well.

May in the capital was already growing warm. Jiang Mian raised her hand to shield her forehead from the sun and strode toward her parked car.

Her studio wasn’t in the city center but rather in an industrial park a little farther out. Though fewer people were around, the space was ample.

Jiang Mian had bought a villa here to serve as her studio—big enough to accommodate over a dozen people without trouble.

But as she stepped inside today, something felt off.

“Jian Mian...”

The receptionist’s young voice greeted her warmly upon her return.

“What’s going on?”

Jiang Mian’s eyes narrowed as she looked at the group gathered together, puzzled.

They stepped aside to reveal a table adorned with a large bouquet of golden chrysanthemums, with a greeting card nestled among the flowers.

Frowning, she stepped forward and carefully extracted the card.

“Sis, wishing you a happy failure!”

Jiang Mian sneered coldly. The tactics were exactly the same as that year!

She still remembered when Jiang Zhixuan had come into her hospital room holding a bouquet of daisies, feigning sorrow while an unmistakable smile danced in her eyes.

Back then, she even cried before outsiders, playing the victim.

“I only sent daisies because I knew you liked them. I didn’t know it was inappropriate for the hospital.”

Her pitiful act succeeded in making others forgive her inappropriate behavior.

Looking at the card now, all those memories flooded back.

She slipped the card back among the chrysanthemums.

“Just throw it away. If another Jiang shows up with a gift like this, just toss it straight away.”

With that, she headed toward the stairs to the second floor—her office and rest area.

Xiao Li watched her retreating figure, sighing with a hint of sadness. “How could Sis Mian have such a sister?”

Most people at the studio knew something about Jiang Mian’s family situation.

Since Jiang’s company was taken over by Jiangzhou Yi, their circumstances had deteriorated.

Although Jiang Mian was still struggling to hold on, Xiao Li knew all too well that orders were growing scarce.

With President Zhou canceling their latest order, it might soon be hard to pay salaries.

Jiang Mian was considered a conscientious boss, having offered wages that were among the best in the industry. Otherwise, none of them would have stayed so long.

Someone patted Xiao Li’s shoulder. “It’s been tough lately, but everyone will keep holding on!”

After sitting in her office for a while, Jiang Mian gradually regained her composure.

Her office was spacious—half filled with desks and bookshelves, the other half dominated by a large drafting table.

It was her manuscript table.

Whenever inspiration struck, she liked to sketch there.

Now, scattered half-finished drafts lay across its pristine surface.

On the floor was a half-used pencil, its tip catching the light and gleaming faintly white.

She shifted her chair back with her heel, bent down, and slipped on a spare pair of cotton slippers.

Then, she rose and approached the drafting table.

She picked up the pencil from the floor and placed it in the pen holder, then lifted a sheet of draft paper.

Relying solely on the studio and others’ orders, she might not last much longer.

She lowered her eyes. Someone had previously asked if she was willing to sell her designs.

At the time, she had refused, dreaming of one day having her own exhibition.

Now, it seemed she had been foolishly naive.

As night fell, Jiang Mian stared blankly at the finished design before her.

Spinning the pencil twice between her fingers, she dialed a number on her phone.

After a few rings, the call was answered.

“Miss Jiang, it’s rare to hear from you. What’s the matter?”

Hearing the relaxed tone, Jiang Mian was momentarily lost for words and closed her eyes briefly.

“Mr. Jiang, you once asked me if I would sell my designs.”

She left it at that, confident the person on the other end understood.

However...

“Miss Jiang, you know, you’ve made some enemies now, which makes things tricky for me.”

Her lips twitched slightly, but when she opened her eyes, they were calm.

“Others may find it difficult, but Mr. Jiang, surely you don’t?”

The Jiang family was one of the old landowners of the capital and had close ties with the Wen family. Who would dare to offend them?

The other end chuckled but remained silent.

Jiang Mian knew they were waiting for her decision.

Taking a deep breath, she pressed her palm onto her draft and finally chose to yield.

“Twenty percent below market price—that’s my best offer.”

“Alright, Miss Jiang. Remember to bring your designs. See you tomorrow.”

“Mm.”

After hanging up, the tension in her shoulders eased somewhat, though her eyes were filled with loneliness.

Jiang Zhimu looked at the darkened phone screen and chuckled softly.

Wen Jinhai glanced over, the overhead light casting shadows on his face, tinged with gloom.

“Jiang... Mian?”

That was the third time he had heard that name today.