Nina Grant looked at Mason Ming and nodded, "I know. What happened today was just bad luck for you."
After speaking, Nina Grant turned to Jay Kee and said, "You want an explanation, so I'll give you one. I've been holding these words in for a long time, so today I might as well make things clear to you."
Jay Kee sensed that these weren't going to be pleasant words.
But right now, he had no grounds to refuse.
The prestige of the Grant family's principal heiress was not something a mere songwriter could turn down.
Nina Grant sat down on a nearby chair, stretched out her long legs, and spoke calmly, "Jay Kee, do you feel wronged? Do you think you've been tricked?"
Jay Kee said nothing, but it was obvious that's what he meant.
Nina Grant sneered disdainfully and said, "Who do you think you are? Wronged? Do you think you deserve my sympathy?"
Jay Kee's face changed instantly, but he didn't dare say a word.
Jay Kee had always been someone who knew how to read the room.
He would never do something as foolish as fighting a losing battle.
"If it weren't for Mason Ming, I wouldn't have bothered to come here today." Nina Grant no longer restrained her aura, fully unleashing the dignity of the Grant family's principal heiress.
Just one look from her made Jay Kee feel ashamed of himself.
"Get it straight!" Nina Grant knocked on the table and looked at Jay Kee with disdain. "Who is this apartment lent to? Mason Ming! Cherry Miller lent it to Mason Ming for temporary stay, not to you, Jay Kee! Who do you think you are? You had the nerve to move in uninvited, and now you actually think you matter?"
Jay Kee's face turned deathly pale in an instant.
Nina Grant ruthlessly tore off his mask.
Indeed, this expensive apartment belonged to Cherry Miller. Cherry Miller could let whoever she wanted live here, and if she didn't want someone, they couldn't get in.
Jay Kee had shamelessly moved in without Cherry Miller's permission.
"You shamelessly live in someone else's place, eat their food, drink their drinks, and you still expect respect? Jay Kee, who do you think you are? You really think a little courtesy means you can do whatever you want? Let me tell you the truth, if it weren't for Mason Ming, you wouldn't even qualify to step into this neighborhood! You're only standing here listening to me because you're riding on Mason Ming's coattails!" When Nina Grant was domineering, she was truly domineering, giving Jay Kee no face at all.
"You still want an explanation? What makes you think you deserve one? Is Mason Ming denying you food or shelter? Did we trick you or use you?" Nina Grant lifted her chin and looked at Jay Kee arrogantly. "Young man, do you really think a bit of good looks lets you do whatever you want? There are plenty of people better looking than you. There are people with more status and looks lining up just for a chance to be seen by us—and they don't even qualify! And you dare show me attitude? Where do you get your confidence?"
"Cherry Miller is kind-hearted. She's been rejecting you from the start, and that's already giving you plenty of face! She could've ignored you completely, or even taken advantage of your feelings and just walked away without a word! What, you don't like it? She's my Chief of Staff, my right hand—she has that privilege because of me and the Grant family! Who dares say otherwise?"
"I originally thought you were a smart guy. For Mason Ming's sake, I let you move in, thinking you could help take care of him. But you got greedy—you even tried to steal my brother's girl! That's right, remember this! Cherry Miller is someone you'll never reach! She's the future mistress of the Grant family, the next lady of the house, the head of the Grant Corporation! Who do you think you are to covet her? You're so shameless, and if I put you in your place, you still dare complain?"
"I'm not someone you can push around. Just because I was kind enough to take Mason Ming in doesn't mean I'll be nice to you. Jay Kee, you're not worthy." Nina Grant's words were like knives, stabbing Jay Kee in the heart, and he couldn't even argue back.
Because everything Yina Yin said was true.
"If you dare go after my brother's girl, I'll make sure you can't survive in this city—that's just basic protocol. Cherry Miller is kind, so she won't let me do that. So instead, I mess with you a little to vent my anger. If you think that's hurt your pride, fine, I won't play around anymore. I'll contact your company and have you fired, and I'll let every entertainment company know—no one will hire you again..." Nina Grant declared proudly.
Mason Ming was sweating nervously and hurriedly said, "Miss Grant, Jay Kee already knows he was wrong. Please forgive him just this once!"
After speaking, Mason Ming anxiously pulled Jay Kee's arm and said, "Jay Kee, hurry and apologize to Miss Grant! This whole thing was our fault..."
Xiao Ji clenched his jaw, holding back for a long time.
It was only after hearing Mason Ming's words that Jay Kee snapped back to reality.
If Yina Yin really did that, he'd be blacklisted from the entire industry!
How can he even think about the future?
Jay Kee had always been adaptable. At this crucial moment, he didn't dare throw a tantrum and obediently lowered his head. "I'm sorry."
Nina Grant glanced at Jay Kee, secretly impressed.
This guy really could endure.
But the lesson couldn't end there.
"You're friends with Mason Ming, but your values are worlds apart. Mason Ming would never betray Qin Zhong, but you desperately want to latch onto the rich as a kept man. Jay Kee, do you think the world is that generous to you? Even if Cherry Miller is a wealthy heiress, do you really think she’d choose you? Are you exceptionally handsome, highly educated, or rich?" Nina Grant said with disdain, "Do you know why the upper class always marries within their circle and rarely looks down? Oh, of course you don’t. Maintaining the dignity of a social class isn’t just talk—it takes real power!"
"It's almost impossible for someone from the lower class to break into the upper class, and the upper class would never lower themselves for the lower class. Do you think all our generations of hard work should be wasted on someone like you?" Yina Yin's words grew sharper and more painful, making Xiao Ji almost unable to stand.
"I didn't—I never dreamed of marrying Miss Mi, I just..." Xiao Ji tried to defend himself.
"Ha! You wanted to be her kept man! I know! But what makes you think a Penn graduate with billions, endless resources, and top-notch status would pick a nobody like you? Even if Cherry Miller wanted a kept man, she could choose from second- or third-tier families, so why would she pick you?" Nina Grant said disdainfully, "Top-tier families have fixed slots for Chief of Staffs. Anyone who makes it to Chief of Staff is already from a wealthy family. Her future husband will never be someone like you, and even if she wanted a lover, it would be a prestigious Ivy League grad working as an executive in a family business. Which of those do you have? Do you really think top-tier families would settle for just anyone?"
Xiao Ji's face grew even paler, shaken by Yina Yin's words.
Yina Yin pulled out a stack of photos and tossed them at Xiao Ji.
The photos scattered all over the floor.
"Open your eyes and take a good look! This is my brother—the CEO of the Grant Corporation and the next head of the Grant family. In terms of looks, ability, and power, he completely crushes you in every way! He and Cherry Miller grew up together as childhood sweethearts. Do you really think someone raised with such high standards would ever choose someone as bland as you?" Nina Grant looked at Jay Kee with contempt. "Where do you get your confidence?"
"You know you can't compete in looks, so you try to play the 'gentle guy' card? That's hilarious!" Nina Grant continued to tear into Jay Kee. "Cherry Miller manages thousands of people—do you think she'd fall for your so-called gentle persona? Even our Blue Gem robots at home are gentler than you! Cherry Miller didn't want to make things ugly, so she didn't say anything harsh. What, you think she's easy to fool? That's a joke! She manages billions in assets for me—if she were that gullible, my family's fortune would've been gone ages ago!"
"To be honest, my parents adore Cherry Miller—my mom especially treats her like a daughter. Cherry Miller and I grew up together, and I've always seen her as my future sister-in-law. Now you're blatantly trying to steal her from right under my nose—don't you think I should put you in your place?"
Xiao Ji was so thoroughly scolded that he couldn't even lift his eyes, unable to say a single word in response.
Everything Nina Grant said was true.
He had gotten too arrogant.
Things had been going so smoothly for him lately that he'd lost sight of his own limits.
Nina Grant finished saying everything she needed to, then stood up, her expression cold and proud. "Just because Cherry Miller has a good temper doesn't mean I do. Let this be a lesson—don't think everyone is a fool!"
Mason Ming quickly pulled Jay Kee to apologize, "Miss Grant, Jay Kee really knows he was wrong. Please don't be angry!"
"Mason Ming, you need to be more careful too. Know who you can be friends with and who you can't. Keep it in mind." Nina Grant was still patient and friendly with Mason Ming.
"Yes, yes, I understand." Mason Ming quickly said, "This whole thing was Jay Kee's fault, we apologize! Once I've recovered, we'll move out right away and won't trouble Miss Miller anymore!"
Xiao Ji resisted and shook off his hand.
Even so, he still didn't want to leave.
Even if he had no chance with Cherry Miller, why give up such a great apartment?
Nina Grant chuckled, "Whether you move out or not doesn't matter to us—we don't need this apartment anyway. But people need to remember their place!"
With that, Nina Grant turned and left.
Leaving Mason Ming and Jay Kee staring at each other, not knowing what to say.