Chapter 235
Jaylene responded instantly: “See Sammy’s apology? Why’d he cave? Trap? Earlier he looked ready to storm back and sabotage your performance.”
Alarieka raised an eyebrow.
Jaylene nailed it.
She replied: “Relax. I made him apologize. If he backtracks, I’ve got leverage.”
Jaylene sent a shocked emoji: “Oho, you’re that good?”
Amusement glinted in Alarieka’s eyes. “Obviously.”
After sending a “good luck” sticker, Jaylene added: “Focus on competing. Won’t bother you.”
Alarieka swiped the chat away and opened Instagram. Jaylene’s post popped up first.
Jaylene: Ugh. Met some moron while street vending.
The photo showed a man’s back – tall frame drowning in a cheap, baggy suit, gripping a fried chicken leg.
Alaricka mindlessly liked it and started scrolling when a memory jolted her. Her finger froze mid-swipe.
She stared at the man’s back, eyes widening slowly.
That man… was Nie Guanyu.
Alarieka almost didn’t recognize him from behind.
She remembered: in her past life, after meeting Nie Guanyu, Jaylene got obsessed with coding. She grinded day and night, co-founded a tech startup with him – a company even Kieran viewed as a threat.
Alarieka’s grip tightened.
Nie Guanyu was brilliant but barely graduated from a no-name college. His computer skills were unmatched, yet he failed classes constantly for being hyper-specialized.
He was rigid, awkward with people.
So Jaylene let him bury himself in code and research. She handled investors and networking – her and the team.
Alarieka remembered that Jaylene wasn’t supposed to meet Nathan until years later, so how did they run into each other now?
Before she could think it through, Alarieka also recalled that Nathan and Roschelle had some connection.
And their connection was quite deep.
Nie Guanyu came from a poor family. His parents died early, and he grew up in an orphanage. After high school, he worked part-time while studying. During college, he spent most of his time working off-campus.
During high school, while working at a milk tea shop, he met Roschelle.
Among a group of students in military training uniforms, Roschelle wore a white dress that revealed her fair, slender calves. Her bright, gentle smile and unique charm made her stand out like a crane among chickens amidst the sweaty, grimy students after training.
Nie Guanyu’s eyes were glued to her, unable to look away. He stared dumbly as she walked up to him.
Nie Guanyu fell in love with Roschelle at first sight.
He kept loving her for years, even when they didn’t meet for long stretches.
But he never told anyone, not even Jaylene, with whom he’d built a business for years. It wasn’t until Kieran decided to eliminate Jaylene’s threat by acquiring her company that he revealed his feelings.
When Kieran moved to acquire Jaylene’s company, Nie Guanyu persuaded Jaylene on Kieran’s behalf for ages.
So long that Jaylene sensed something off. After investigating and pressing him, Nie Guanyu finally admitted his feelings for Roschelle, calling it a wedding gift for Roschelle.
Alarieka’s expression turned complicated.
Truth was, Jaylene’s company was already cornered by Kieran then. Most clients and resources got snatched away, so acquisition became the best exit.
Alaricka just didn’t know whether Nie Guanyu had helped or played tricks when Kieran targeted Jaylene’s company.
But since Jaylene never turned against Nie Guanyu afterward, he probably hadn’t.
Besides, Jaylene valued loyalty in friends but wouldn’t tolerate betrayal.
Alaricka set down her phone, thoughtfulness flickering in her eyes.
Given how things were unfolding this time, Jaylene and Nie Guanyu might meet sooner and start their business earlier.
Whether Nie Guanyu was trustworthy still needed careful thought.
Roschelle really made her uneasy.
Thinking this, Alarieka opened her chat with Sammy, where he’d sent her a recording.
Chapter 236