Twist of Fate - Chapter 33

That afternoon, Xie Jing had her company’s legal advisor draft a contract.

The next day, the moment she received it, she boarded a flight to Jinghai without delay.

Standing once again in Jinghai’s bustling, glittering CBD, Xie Jing felt as if a lifetime had passed.

Two years had gone by since she last stepped into the building where the Fang Group was headquartered.

The receptionist was no longer the same one as before. Yet even without an appointment this time, the receptionist politely informed Qin Ning’s assistant of her arrival.

The moment the assistant heard that the visitor’s surname was Xie, she immediately turned to ask the CEO whether to let the person in.

Qin Ning, who was in the middle of signing documents, raised an eyebrow. “Xie?”

“Yes,” the assistant confirmed.

Something flickered in Qin Ning’s expression. She paused mid-signature. “Go down and escort the guest up personally.”

The assistant gave her boss a surprised glance but nodded. “Yes, President Fang.”

“Wait.”

The assistant stopped in her tracks.

“Cancel all my afternoon appointments.”

“…Understood, President Fang.”

After the assistant left, Qin Ning tossed her pen aside. Her slender fingers rubbed the space between her brows as her gaze drifted toward the office window.

—

Xie Jing had thought she’d have to wait like last time—possibly for hours—before seeing Qin Ning. She’d even prepared herself to sit patiently in the reception lounge. But just as she was about to head there, a sharp-looking woman in a tailored suit walked straight toward her.

“Miss Xie?” Assistant Lin asked with a polite smile.

“Yes, that’s me,” Xie Jing responded, nodding slightly.

Assistant Lin gave her a quick, unreadable once-over. “Please come with me.”

“…Okay.”

Lin led her straight into the executive-only elevator, heading directly to the floor where the CEO’s office was located.

Down a spacious hallway, Xie Jing followed Lin’s confident strides until they reached the office door.

She hesitated for a few seconds. After so long apart, she needed a moment to brace herself before crossing that threshold.

Taking a deep breath, she finally raised her hand and knocked.

“Come in.”

Xie Jing lowered her eyes, gripped the cold door handle, and pushed the door open.

As soon as she looked up, she was caught off guard by Qin Ning’s gaze—one that hadn’t quite been withdrawn in time.

It had been two years. Qin Ning’s features were unchanged, but her entire demeanor was colder—like ice.

There was something else in her eyes, something Xie Jing couldn’t quite name.

She stepped inside slowly.

Once the assistant had quietly closed the door behind them, silence fell over the room like a thick curtain. Neither spoke. But in their quiet, locked gaze, a thousand battles were waged.

Clearing her throat, Xie Jing finally broke the awkward silence. “President Fang… Hello.”

“You need something?” Qin Ning’s eyes closed briefly. When they reopened, her gaze was distant and unfamiliar—as if she were looking at a stranger.

Xie Jing tightened her grip on the stack of documents in her arms. Her voice came out strained. “Yes.”

She tried to console herself. This reaction was normal. They were practically strangers now.

But even so, she couldn’t stop the flush of embarrassment creeping up on her.

She had been the one to walk away back then. And now she had come back, asking for help. Was this what people meant by karma?

Still, to save her company, she had no choice but to press on. “I have a tech project here—developed in-house by Xie Group. I was hoping… President Fang could take a look.”

She stepped forward and placed the documents carefully on Qin Ning’s desk.

Qin Ning reached out, her slender fingers pressing lightly on the stack—but she didn’t flip through them. Her gaze stayed fixed on Xie Jing.

Thinner.

Pale and sickly.

Still the same sheltered, naive heiress.

Entrusting her with a project worth billions—did her family even know?

Qin Ning’s expression cooled as she scoffed. “What exactly are you trying to do here?”

That question had plagued her from the moment Xie Jing walked in.

How could Xie Jing show up again after two years, acting as if nothing had happened?

Qin Ning had been trapped in the pain of their past ever since. Every night, before falling asleep, she relived that final moment they parted.

In the midst of that self-inflicted torment, she had grown a hardened shell.

She sealed off her vulnerable core with sharp, impenetrable armor. No one could get close enough to hurt her again.

And yet here Xie Jing was—returning, but only for money.

It was laughable.

The tension in the office grew heavy. In the stifling quiet, Xie Jing finally spoke. “I’m hoping President Fang will consider a partnership with our company. May I ask for your thoughts?”

“My thoughts?” Qin Ning leaned back, hands folded elegantly on the desk. Her voice cut like ice. “Not interested.”

She stared at the woman in front of her—face pale as paper, lips slightly trembling.

Xie Jing had always been strong and optimistic. Qin Ning had never seen her look this helpless.

That realization sent a fresh wave of bitterness through her.

Xie Jing’s eyes reddened slightly, and her voice trembled despite her effort to stay calm. “Qin Ning… I’m begging you. Please help Xie Group.”

Qin Ning’s voice echoed across the room, emotionless: “Oh, now you know how to beg me? When you left with Shen Xinghe, did it ever occur to you that one day you’d come crawling back?”

At the mention of Shen Xinghe, Xie Jing opened her mouth to speak—but no words came out.

Qin Ning let out a cold laugh. “So why not go to her now? Why come to me?”

“She—”

“Let me guess,” Qin Ning cut in sharply. “You feel bad for her, don’t want to spend her money, so you came to me instead—hoping I’d still have some leftover affection for my ex and help you out?”

Xie Jing faltered. “N-No, it’s not like that—”

“Oh?” Qin Ning sneered. “Then what? Don’t tell me you suddenly realized how wonderful I was and came back hoping we could get back together?”

“I never thought that—” Xie Jing blurted out.

“What, you’re so sure I’d refuse you that you didn’t even dare think about it?”

Xie Jing was speechless.

Qin Ning leaned forward slightly, her smile laced with self-mockery. “What kind of idiot do you take me for? Xie Jing, I’m not the same fool who used to fall all over you just because you said something sweet.”

“Why should I help you?”

And indeed—why should she?

Xie Jing wasn’t asking for a small favor. She needed a massive amount of money. And after what had happened between them, Qin Ning would’ve been perfectly justified just to laugh in her face.

Xie Jing’s throat tightened painfully. She swallowed several times but still couldn’t manage to say a word.

After a long pause, she finally took a step back.

She turned, reached for the door.

But before she could walk out, she heard the sharp click of high heels on the floor behind her.

“So that’s it?” Qin Ning grabbed her wrist from behind, voice low and taunting. “You came here begging for money, and a few harsh words were all it took to scare you off?”

Xie Jing tried to pull away. “Qin Ning—”

But the grip tightened.

Qin Ning’s face was twisted with frustration. “Your company’s about to collapse, and you’re still clinging to your pride like it’s worth anything?”

Xie Jing stayed silent, lips pressed into a thin line.

“When you dumped me and left with Shen Xinghe, did you forget everything you said to me back then?” Qin Ning’s voice was cold, her gaze cutting. She could see clearly how Xie Jing’s pale lips trembled.

“You said those things—and now you come back, asking for help?”

“What do you think I am? A fallback you can call up whenever it’s convenient?”

Xie Jing’s heart cracked open at those words. The past, which she had buried so deeply, suddenly surged back.

Her eyes brimmed with tears.

“Stop,” she whispered. “Please, Qin Ning… just stop.”

“Oh, you don’t want to talk anymore?” Qin Ning’s voice dropped dangerously. “Then let’s do something else.”

Without warning, she yanked Xie Jing around.

Xie Jing stumbled, now face-to-face with her.

A hand pressed against her shoulder, pinning her to the cold office door.

Pain lanced through the back of her head. Her eyes welled instantly, tears barely held in.

Qin Ning grabbed her chin—and kissed her.

She hadn’t kissed Xie Jing in… two years?

Seven hundred days and nights.

Even after the betrayal, even after Xie Jing left with another woman, even after she had broken it off—

That taste still haunted her dreams.

Their breaths tangled, and somewhere in the haze, Qin Ning heard the choked sobs breaking from Xie Jing’s throat.

Her fingers wrapped around Xie Jing’s delicate neck—fragile, slender, like it could snap under pressure.

As their lips crushed together, Qin Ning’s grip tightened, feeling the frantic pulse beneath her palm.

Xie Jing trembled violently—and finally, the tears came.

Qin Ning tasted the bitterness between them.

Xie Jing was crying. Her tears fell fast, splashing against Qin Ning’s hand—hot enough to burn.

She recoiled instantly.

Xie Jing wiped at her eyes, turned, and fled in disgrace.

But just as she opened the office door and stepped forward—

Qin Ning’s arm wrapped around her waist and yanked her back.

“Didn’t you come here for help?” Qin Ning muttered. “Well, I’ve changed my mind. You’ll get every cent you need—within a month.”

The door slammed shut behind them.

Still gripping her wrist, Qin Ning dragged her into the lounge at the back of the office.

The next second, Xie Jing was thrown onto the bed.

And Qin Ning followed.

Unyielding as ever—Xie Jing’s resistance was futile.

The crisp white shirt came off, carelessly tossed aside.

Glasses were set neatly into the bedside drawer.