Chapter 1579

Xia Ruya had returned from Harbor City to Capital city one year ago for the purpose of developing the Li Corporation in China. Although Xia Ruya was in Country M for the past year, she had been managing Li Corporation’s expansion efforts all this while. The Li Corporation was doing very well in Country Z. It was one of Harbor City’s wealthiest corporations, on top of which the government always had very generous policies towards Harbor City.

But most importantly, Mr. Z had given her a lot of help.

On her return to Capital city, managing Li Corporation’s expansion in China remained her most important task. It was also one of Xia Ruya’s biggest leverages against Wen Xinya.

Xia Ruya kept a low profile since returning to Capital city. She did not meet with anyone.

She also didn’t check out the entertainment city project, as that project was just too complicated. Even Mr. Z’s control over that project had taken a major plunge after he stopped supporting Ning Shuqian. As someone who had just stepped back into this market and was completely new to that project, Xia Ruya didn’t think she would do any better than Ning Shuqian.

After much consideration, she decided it was best for her to meet with Shuqian first.

“Ruya, where have you been for the past year? You didn’t even try and contact me.” Ning Shuqian was very agitated the moment she saw Xia Ruya. She surveyed her from head to toe and asked with much concern, “Have you been well the past year? It looks like your plastic surgery was a success. You look exactly the same as before.”

Ning Shuqian used to have a lovely countenance, but her looks were now marred by age. Her hair was now more dry and coarse, while the corners of her eyes were starting to droop and were etched with deep crow’s feet. Her skin had turned sallow and was not as firm as before, with obvious wrinkles here and there.

She looked like a haggard old woman in her mid-forties. The term “yellow-faced hag” fitted her perfectly.

A quick flash of surprise crossed Xia Ruya’s eyes. She was completely turned off by Ning Shuqian’s appearance, but she still smiled at her. “Aunt Ning, I have spent the past year in Country M for the plastic surgery, so I…”

Xia Ruya’s words drifted off as her expression turned dark and grave.

Xia Ruya had always despised Ning Shuqian and only kept up appearances with her as she still had her uses. She hated Ning Shuqian even more now that she knew she had been disfigured after the car accident. Every time Xia Ruya looked at Ning Shuqian, she would be reminded of how wretched she had been right after the crash. It made her feel like impulsively wiping Ning Shuqian off the face of this earth.

Especially when Ning Shuqian examined her with pitying eyes and talked about her “plastic surgery”, Xia Ruya just felt like digging out her eyeballs and cutting off her tongue.

Even though the plastic surgery was successful and she no longer looked like how she did after the accident.

That ugly, hideous and demon-like face!

Ning Shuqian knew what Xia Ruya was thinking, so she held her hand comfortingly. “Aunt Ning knows your pain and of course I don’t blame you. It’s good that you have come out from under the shadow of your disfigurement from the crash. I am really happy for you.”

Ning Shuqian had been having a hard time over the past year. Zhang Hui was spiraling out of control, keeping mistresses, gambling and even getting into drugs. His expenses kept rising and he was demanding more and more money from her. There was not much money left in her personal funds, and she had no choice but to get some money from Wen Haowen. Wen Haowen was already very displeased with her and his temper had worsened, such that he frequently abused her now.

Due to all those messy affairs, she had been unable to devote her full attention to the entertainment city project. Over the past year, that person had not contacted her much, and when he did, he had been very chilly towards her. It gave her feel a rising sense of threat and danger.

She knew “that person” held Xia Ruya in high regard, and so she was extra solicitous towards her.

“Aunt Ning, what happened is already in the past and I don’t wish to speak about it anymore. Please don’t mention it again.” Xia Ruya’s eyes were black with malevolence, while her voice was sharp with a warning.

It was like the words “disfigurement from the crash” had uncovered the demon she had buried deep within. An involuntary shiver spread throughout her body, as those dreadfully terrifying images flashed across her mind.

Those were the images that had plagued her with nightmares over the past year. Every time, she would be plunged into such a deep pit of fear and despair that she would go berserk. They were her very worse nightmares!

As a result, there was a span of time when she didn’t dare to sleep and had to see a psychiatrist over a three-month period.

“Alright now, Aunt Ning won’t mention it again.” Under Xia Ruya’s harsh glare, Ning Shuqian swallowed the rest of her words until her gaze finally softened. That spine-chilling aura Xia Ruya emitted also gradually faded.

How did Xia Ruya come to possess such a frightening gaze?

A gentle smile bloomed across Xia Ruya’s face. “Aunt Ning, I asked you out today to understand more about the Wen Corporation’s entertainment city project.”

Perhaps it was because of her plastic surgery, but Ning Shuqian felt Xia Ruya’s face was very fake and her smile extremely false. It made her heart jump and her expression underwent a major shift. “You… what do you mean?”

That person had always kept her in charge of the entertainment city project. Although she was worried about the fact that he had not contacted her much the past year, there remained a spark of hope in her. After all, he still had to rely on her for the entertainment city project and so would not ditch her that easily.

However, Xia Ruya’s words had her sliver of hope dangling over the edge of a dangerous precipice.

Did that person hand the entertainment city project over to Xia Ruya?

Then what about her?

Had she been abandoned?

Ning Shuqian was in a state of extreme panic.

Xia Ruya noticed Ning Shuqian’s frenzy and her eyes flashed. She reached out and held Ning Shuqian’s hand. “Aunt Ning, don’t worry. Mr. Z still needs you for the entertainment city project. But this project has been dragged on for so long. It has been delayed for nearly half a year. Mr. Z is worried his plan will be affected and so wants me to help you. It’s not my main assignment.”

Mr. Z was very unsatisfied with Ning Shuqian’s performance but intended to just snub her for the time being. He didn’t say that he had no more use for her. As a result, Xia Ruya still had to soothe Ning Shuqian’s mind. Moreover, she was completely ignorant about the entertainment city project and there were still many things she would have to rely on Ning Shuqian for.

Ning Shuqian subconsciously breathed a sigh of relief, but she was still somewhat worried. “Ruya, is it really true? You aren’t lying to me?”

Ning Shuqian knew very well what would happen if she was really abandoned. As a result, she couldn’t help feeling ill-at-ease.

Xia Ruya assured her. “Don’t let your mind run wild. The fact that I invited you out today is the best proof.”