The engagement was with the younger brother, but I've fallen for the older brother.

The following month passed by in a blur, as if the clock had been fast-forwarded.

He Nanxian indeed never reappeared.

The door to apartment 2801 in Guanlan was never lit from beginning to end. The property management said that the owner had completed the vacancy procedures and would not be returning to live there in the short term.

Si Ningyou was like a magnet, drawing away all of He Nanxian's excess energy.

He Nanxian and Si Ningyou's wedding date is set for the end of the year.

No matter how unwilling Zhou Wanqing was, she had no choice but to grit her teeth and clean up the mess for her son.

Si Yimian's assessment of this is that evil people will always be punished by evil people, and she suggests locking it up completely.

The Lighthouse Project went more smoothly than Si Yimian had anticipated.

Si Congshan personally oversaw the progress, and the legal department worked overtime to complete all internal approvals within two weeks.

On the day the Lighthouse Project completed its final legal process, Si Yimian's hand ached from signing so many documents.

On the afternoon the contract was signed, Si Congshan called her home, took out a file folder, and pushed it in front of her.

"Open it and take a look."

Si Yimian opened it, and inside was an equity transfer agreement.

"Mianmian, this is the share transfer agreement for the heirs."

"Once you sign, 15% of Chenxi's shares will officially be in your name."

"The deal with Project Lighthouse is done, and it's time to cash in the shares."

Si Yimian opened the agreement, and the figure in the equity percentage column was three percentage points higher than she had estimated.

She looked up at Si Congshan.

"Dad, did you give me too much?"

"No more than that. Your grandmother gave you the three percent that she held on her behalf."

Si Congshan placed the pen next to the agreement, the pen rolled half a circle, and stopped next to her hand.

"Chenxi will be yours from now on. While I'm still able to do it, let me help you get on your horse and see you off."

"Based on Chenxi's current market value, you are the third largest individual shareholder on the board of directors."

"From today onwards, you have a seat on the board of directors."

Si Yimian didn't stand on ceremony and signed the document as soon as she picked up the pen.

The moment her name was written, she knew that her fate in this book had been completely altered from that moment on.

Si Congshan carefully put away the agreement and handed it to his assistant to process the business registration change.

Just as Ruan Qiutang was about to speak, Si Yimian put down her pen and cleared her throat.

"Dad, Mom, there's something else I need to tell you."

Both of them looked at her at the same time.

I want to study abroad.

Ruan Qiutang's teaspoon tapped against the rim of the cup with a clinking sound.

"Study abroad? Where to?"

"United States, Boston, MIT Sloan School of Management."

Si Yimian pulled a printed admission notice from her bag and laid it flat on the table.

"MBA, two years."

Ruan Qiutang stared at the notice, her eyes wide open.

When did you apply?

Three months ago.

In fact, she started preparing the application materials for that offer on the second day after she entered the book.

When she first woke up in the original owner's body, the first thing she did was turn on the computer to check the Si family's asset structure and her own discretionary access.

After checking, she found that her account balance was less than Si Ningyou's daily allowance, and she knew that she had to walk this path by herself.

So she filled out MIT's online application system that same day and asked Huo Siyue to help her get recommendation letters.

She hadn't even waited for the results of the Lighthouse Project before she started planning her studies abroad.

Because she knew that no matter how the Si family's game ended, she had to take this step.

Only by standing at a higher place can you catch something heavier.

"Chenxi's plate is too big; he can't sit on the chair just because of blood ties."

"What I want is for the day my dad hands over the position to me, for all the senior executives to stand up and have nothing to say."

"It's not because I'm Si Congshan's daughter that they reluctantly acknowledge me."

Ruan Qiutang remained silent for a long while, her eyes slightly reddening.

"You're a girl, going to such a far place, can you take care of yourself?"

"Mom, I was able to find my way back when I was fifteen, how can I not take care of myself at twenty-three?"

"That's true."

Si Congshan remained silent for a long time, then finally looked at the admission notice over and over again before folding it and handing it back.

"Okay, since we've applied, let's go."

He paused, then added a sentence.

"I'll have the finance department open a separate account for you to cover all your expenses during your studies abroad."

Si Yimian took the notice and smiled.

"Thank you, Dad."

"but......"

Si Congshan changed the subject and looked up at her.

"Are you going there alone? Will you be able to handle the language? Will you be able to adapt to life there?"

"Dad, I got an IELTS score of 8.0."

"When bargaining over prices for groceries or takeout, they can even curse back in English."

Ruan Qiutang, who was standing next to him, burst into laughter through her tears and patted his arm.

"Your daughter is much better than you. Back when you went abroad to negotiate cooperation, you even brought a translator with you."

Si Congshan: "..."

……

After leaving the Si family home, Si Yimian immediately called Huo Siyue to share the good news.

"Yueyue, we've signed the Lighthouse contract and the shares too. Now I'm a proper little rich girl."

Huo Siyue exclaimed excitedly.

"Ahhh! My darling! You've conquered your empire!!!"

"Your throne is practically secured!"

Si Yimian was amused by her tone and burst out laughing.

"Take it easy, I haven't even warmed my seat yet."

"What are you sitting for? You've already warmed up the dragon throne just because your butt's touching it."

Huo Siyue's tone suddenly changed.

"What about your trip abroad? Have all the paperwork been completed?"

"It's all done, the visa has been issued, and the plane tickets have been booked."

Huo Siyue was silent for a while, then her voice suddenly softened.

"Did you tell He Sichen?"

Si Yimian was stumped by the question and paused for a moment.

"No."

"I knew it."

Huo Siyue let out a long sigh.

"Your mouth is like it's blessed when you're scheming against people, but it falls silent when it comes to serious emotional issues."

"You two have developed feelings for each other. If you just run away, won't he go crazy?"

"Seriously, when are you planning to tell him?"

"I haven't decided yet."

Si Yimian tightened her grip on her phone.

"The Lighthouse Project was just signed, and I just got the shares. If I say I'm leaving now, it'll seem like I'm turning my back on you after I've already done my job."

"Alright, stop worrying about it. Come over and let's talk face to face."

Huo Siyue didn't press the matter further, but instead spoke, her tone becoming light and airy again.

"My brother has a private hot spring resort in the suburbs of Beijing. He Sichen and a few others are there."

Are you coming or not?

"Come."

Si Yimian answered decisively, so decisively that Huo Siyue was taken aback.

"Then hurry up."

Si Yimian hung up the phone and had the Si family's driver take her there.

This private hot spring resort is surrounded by bamboo fences and paved with bluestone. Steam rises from between the white walls and gray tiles, making the whole garden look as if it is shrouded in clouds.

After turning past a bamboo grove, there is a viewing platform ahead, with a wooden walkway hanging on the edge of the cliff.

He Sichen and Yan Tingnan stood on the plank road, their voices carrying over the distance.

Just as Si Yimian was about to call out for help, the wind carried a complete sentence into her ears.

"So when exactly are you planning to marry that young lady from the Si family?"

She stopped in her tracks and didn't move forward.

He Sichen did not respond.

Yan Tingnan turned her head to look at him, twirling a half-full glass of whiskey in her hand.

"I'm asking you, are you mute?"

After a while, Si Yimian heard He Sichen speak slowly.

"We don't have that kind of relationship."