The Jiang family.

The sound of a wine bottle shattering rang out.

Jiang Lin, panting heavily, glared angrily at the boy sitting opposite him: "You traitor!"

"What benefits do you think you'll gain by fawning over the Jiang family like a dog?"

"Who do you think would support you for so long besides me?"

"..."

He spoke very quickly, each sentence filled with boundless anger and hatred.

Jiang Cuo remained casually seated on the sofa, his white shirt stained with blood, his cheeks bruised, and his lips swollen with tiny beads of blood oozing out.

He mocked Zhan Cu, saying that his once handsome features had long been tormented by resentment, making him neither human nor ghost, and that he would gasp for breath even when angry.

He's like a beast.

If he didn't know that the old madman in front of him was his blood father, he probably would have thought that he had killed his father.

Noticing that Jiang Lin had stopped speaking, Jiang Cuo slowly raised his head, tilted his head and smiled: "Did you enjoy your cursing?"

Jiang Lin was enraged by the blatant mockery in his eyes: "Bastard! You don't really think that just because you stole the documents and gave them to the Jiang family, they'll treat you like their own son?"

Jiang Cuo raised an eyebrow: "With you as my father, I have absolutely no interest in recognizing another one."

"But you can only blame yourself for being too stupid. I just used a little effort and managed to break your security system."

"Jiangcuo!"

“Not bad,” Jiang Cuo smiled. “I didn’t expect you to remember your son’s name. Should I be touched? By the way…”

He sat up from the sofa, leaned towards Jiang Lin, and deliberately said, "The Jiang family has a daughter named Jiang Fei, you know her, right?"

"My name from now on will be Jiang Cuo."

"Jiang Fei's Jiang".

Jiang Lin's eyes were bloodshot with anger as he slammed his fist against Pan: "What did you say?"

"If you dare to change it, I'll beat you to death!"

"Alright, stop howling," Jiang Cuo said impatiently, slowly standing up, glancing down at the bloodstains on his body, and licking the blood from the corner of his lips. "This 'masterpiece' is your final commission."

"From now on, you can enjoy the sight of yourself covered in mud all by yourself, you old madman."

After saying that, he turned and headed upstairs.

It's been half a month already. Once the injuries on my face have healed, it's time to go back.

I wonder how well she did.

Jiang Cuo narrowed his eyes. He hoped she wouldn't have fun, otherwise he would be even more unhappy.

"...Do you really think someone like you has a chance to start over?" Jiang Lin suddenly spoke from behind, still panting heavily, his voice hoarse.

Jiang Cuo paused, then slowly turned around, raised an eyebrow, and looked eager to hear more.

Jiang Lin straightened his disheveled suit, and when he finally calmed down, he still had a bit of a wolf in sheep's clothing vibe: "You have the blood of a madman flowing in your veins. Even if you die, you will never be a normal person."

"You're already covered in mud. Even if you get ashore, you'll only disgust people!"

As he spoke, he got up, grabbed the remote, and turned off the TV: "I'm an old madman, and you think you aren't? Look how well you've done?"

Jiangcuo slowly turned around and looked at the television.

The scene playing on the screen was exactly what happened that day in the bar booth.

In the semi-public booths, not far away are the bar's waiters.

He handed Jiang Fei a glass of wine laced with a sedative, and watched as Jiang Fei, unsuspecting, dipped her glass in and gradually lost consciousness, eventually passing out.

He sat down beside her, slowly pulled her clothes down to her shoulders, and placed a kiss on her...

Then, it was interrupted.

Jiang Cuo's hands clenched unconsciously. He was the one who did it, but he never knew that seeing these scenes again would be so agonizing.

If it hadn't been interrupted, the video might have already been leaked, and the innocent Jiang Fei would have been ruined by him. She would be resentful and helpless, trapped by Zhan Huang, wounded and scarred.

Jiang Lin's strange moves were almost imperceptible, like a veiled beast. "I'm dirty, then you're not clean either."

"Destroying someone is too easy for you, isn't it?"

"Make her yours, then let everyone see her most humiliating side, obliterate her dignity, destroy and rebuild her, so that in the end she can only stay by your side like a puppet..."

"Jiang Cuo, isn't this what you planned?" Jiang Cuo stared intently at him, then suddenly laughed: "Old madman, you're really good at this."

But a loud "smack" came from the doorway.

Jiang Cuo was startled and quickly looked towards the door.

Jiang Fei was quietly watching the video on the TV screen, his back shrouded in the heavy darkness of the night. Then he looked away and turned to Jiang Cuo, his face expressionless.

Jiang Cuo felt his heart tremble violently, his fingers trembled slightly uncontrollably, and a chill ran through his entire being.

A feeling I've never had before.

That's strange.

He was never a good person to begin with. It was true that he wanted to ruin her, that he wanted to watch her fall from grace into a swamp, and that he wanted to drag her into the mire.

He has never regretted anything he has ever done.

Because without those events, he wouldn't know that he also wanted to protect someone, to keep her completely pure.

But when she discovered him, he was terrified.

Yet they don't even know what they're afraid of.

"Miss Jiang." It was Jiang Lin who took the initiative to greet Jiang Fei, bringing Jiang Cuo back to his senses.

Jiang Cuo turned to look at Jiang Lin.

He knew it at a glance.

Jiang Fei was summoned by the old madman.

He did it on purpose.

He would absolutely not watch him climb out of the mud.

The old madman and he were the same kind of people, both indulging each other's existence. They both needed a madman around them to prove their "normality".

Now that he no longer needs it, the old madman naturally won't allow it.

So they summoned Jiang Fei, made her witness the whole thing, and then dumped him in the mud again.

What about Jiang Fei?

Knowing all this, Jiang Fei will surely abandon him again.

Jiang Cuo turned his head and looked at Jiang Fei again.

Her face remained expressionless as she slowly walked into the living room.

Jiang Cuo wasn't sure if it was just his imagination, but as Jiang Fei walked forward, he saw out of the corner of his eye that the old madman took a few steps back, as if... he was afraid.

He was too preoccupied to argue, because Jiang Fei had already walked up to him.

I've always known she has fair skin, but her face looked even paler now.

He's going to be abandoned again, just like Wenjuan did back then.

Jiang Cuo gazed at her deathly pale face and thought quietly.

The next second, he felt a warmth on the back of his hand as it was held by a soft, warm palm.

Jiang Cuo stared blankly at Jiang Fei.

"You're injured, go get some medicine," Jiang Fei said calmly, leading him towards the door. Her back was slender yet straight.

Jiang Cuo was pulled by her and walked outside, staring blankly at her holding his hand.

no the same.

This is different from when Wenjuan abandoned me.

"Jiang Cuo!" Behind him, Jiang Lin, not expecting Jiang Fei's reaction, was both embarrassed and angry.

The two ignored it.

The moment the door closed, a vase was smashed against it.

Jiang Fei's expression remained indifferent; she didn't get into the car, but simply walked quietly along the roadside.

It wasn't until a car sped past and honked its horn that she realized what was happening and let go of Jiang Cuo's hand.

Jiang Cuo froze, his hand turning ice-cold: "Sister..."

"That night, you invited me to a bar. Was it to get revenge?" Jiang Fei interrupted him, asking calmly.

Jiang Cuo gazed at her, his lips moved, but he didn't speak.

“And this phone,” Jiang Fei took out the phone, “someone told me that a location tracking device was installed in the phone, is that your doing too?”

Jiang Cuo's fingers twitched slightly, then clenched into a fist.

Jiang Fei chuckled softly: "And now? Do you still want revenge, or rather... to destroy me?"

"Isn't this just right? Enough for you to finish filming the video you didn't finish?"

She took a half step back, took off her coat, and then her outer shirt, leaving only her white slip dress underneath. Her fair shoulders were bathed in a white glow in the night.

She will continue...

A car drove up, and the glaring streetlights shone directly on her, revealing her bare skin.

Jiang Cuomengzhang Ai picked up the Zhang Xi Nai Yang Zhu and draped it over her shoulders, covering her exposed skin.

Jiang Fei took a half step back, broke free from his hand, and also took off her coat.

Jiang Cuo continued to pick up the pieces, his lips pressed tightly together, and draped the cloak over her again.

Jiang Fei repeatedly tried to take off her coat, but he kept putting it on her. Finally, he gripped the coat tightly on both sides, fastening it around her shoulders, and held her close to his chest. Even when he touched her wound, he didn't let go for a second.

"Sister, you won," he said in a low, hoarse voice.

He could no longer bear to watch her get even a speck of dust on her.

Jiang Cuo's favorability rating: 95.

...

Jiang Cuo knew she didn't want to see him for the time being, so he didn't go back to the Jiang family and just watched her leave.

He was already very content that she hadn't abandoned him.

But since she didn't give up, there will never be another chance.

On the other side...

It was getting late, so Jiang Fei asked the driver to drop her off at the entrance of the villa area and then got out of the car alone, heading towards home.

However, we had just entered the villa area.

"Jiang Fei." Someone called her from the side, their voice hoarse.

Jiang Fei stopped and turned to look.

A motorcycle was parked in a dimly lit corner. Shen Fang was standing next to it, his once arrogant brows now filled with exhaustion, his eyes bloodshot. He said quietly, "I told you, I have something to say to you."

Jiang Fei thought about it and realized that there was indeed such a thing.

"Have you been waiting a long time?" she asked in a low voice.

From the moment I sent that message until now.

Shen Fang's throat tightened, and he swallowed the words. Then he walked up to her and extended his hand.

A photograph lay in his palm; it was the same one taken by the couple when the two of them went to the amusement park last time.

—His weary, drooping shoulder rested on hers, her eyes filled with tenderness.

Jiang Fei looked at the photo without saying anything; she had one too.

"I went to the shop that printed this photo back then, and I actually found it." Shen Fang smiled, his gaze lingering on the two people in Zhan Cu's palm.

At that moment, her eyes shone with a light, sparkling brightly.

But now, only tranquility remains.

“There’s no need to get it back,” Jiang Fei said calmly. “After that holiday, there’s never been any need for it again.”

Shen Fang's face turned slightly pale.

That holiday was the last beautiful memory he had left.

After that, it never happened again.

At the company, when he was tired from looking at those documents, when his stomach was cramping, or even when he had free time, he would always think about what would have happened if he hadn't let Jiang Fei get close to Song Yan.

She would still be by his side with a smile in her eyes, still care about his health as if it were her own, and still accompany him for a walk by the lake near their apartment every evening.

"If there's nothing else, I'll head home now." Jiang Fei smiled at him and started to walk past him.

“I’ve heard about what happened between you and Song Yan,” Shen Fang suddenly said.

Jiang Fei stopped in her tracks: "So, you've come to break off our engagement?"

Shen Fang didn't speak, but walked up to her, holding a brocade box in his hand, and slowly opened it.

There was a ring inside.

"Jiang Fei, let's get engaged."

This is the only important thing he wants to say today.

Jiang Fei stared at the ring for a long time, then reached out and gently stroked the exquisite diamond on it without saying a word.

Shen Fang's hands, holding the brocade box, gradually tensed up.

Whether it's Jiang Cuo or Song Yan, he doesn't care about the gossip, but he can't help but care about her.

"You want to...marry me?" Jiang Fei glanced at him and asked in return.

Chen Fang nodded.

Jiang Fei withdrew her hand from the diamond: "Give me three days, and I will give you an answer."

This time, she didn't hesitate and got up to leave.

Footsteps sounded behind him, and Shen Fang followed.

Jiang Fei frowned.

"I'll take you," Shen said softly.

Only after reaching the villa entrance and watching Jiang Fei enter did Shen Fang ride away on his motorcycle.

The moment he left, a figure slowly emerged from the dim bushes in front of the door.

His neatly pressed white shirt and black trousers exuded an air of asceticism and restraint. His expressionless face revealed slightly red eyes and a somber gaze.

Song Dynasty inkstone.

He looked calmly in the direction the ants were crawling, then glanced at the villa, and after a long while, turned and left.

...

Song Yanxiang has become a different person.

Jiang Fei noticed this as soon as she arrived at school early in the morning.

Aside from staying by her side as always, he didn't say a word to her, his coldness a stark contrast to when they first met. In class, after class, even during lunch, he simply remained quietly by her side, without uttering a sound or making any intimate gestures.

Even when Jiang Fei approached him to tease him as usual, he remained calm and deliberately avoided her touch, even though his body was tense, and said nothing.

After this happened several times, Jiang Fei lost patience and simply ignored him as well.

People around them would occasionally glance at the two of them.

Did they argue again?

This continued until school ended. Jiang Fei was too lazy to analyze the boy's awkward thoughts, so she got up to leave, intending to wait until he calmed down before talking to him.

Before she could successfully leave, Song Yan grabbed her wrist.

He was quite strong, and he dragged her all the way to the Song family's car waiting at the door. Only after she got into the car did he let go, and he returned to his indifferent and aloof state.

Jiang Fei frowned, rubbed her wrist which he was holding, and glared at him.

Song Yan kept his head down, seemingly lost in thought.

Back at the villa, the old man, as always, warmly held Jiang Fei's hand and spoke to her. Jiang Fei, in turn, sweetly flattered Mi Mei.

When the old man saw Song Yan, he mentioned, "Little Yan, Mr. Song wants you to go on a business trip on his behalf tomorrow. Don't forget to pack your things."

Is he going on a business trip tomorrow?

Jiang Fei raised an eyebrow, looked at Song Yan who was walking upstairs, and blocked his way: "Are you going on a business trip tomorrow?"

Song Yan looked at the girl in front of him but did not respond.

Jiang Fei didn't mind and asked again, "How many days?"

Song Yan remained silent, but the old man beside him replied, "It will take three days."

Three days.

Jiang Fei raised an eyebrow. What a coincidence.

Song Yan glanced at her, then walked past her and headed upstairs.

Jiang Fei watched his retreating figure, her brows furrowed. Just as she was about to speak, "Hello..." her phone rang in her pocket.

Song Yan's back stiffened.

Jiang Fei shrugged, looked away, and took out her phone.

However, before she could see who sent the message, her phone was suddenly taken away.

Jiang Fei looked up in confusion. Song Yan, who had just come upstairs, was standing in front of her, staring intently at her, his hand gripping his phone so tightly that it turned slightly white.

Jiang Fei raised her eyebrows: "Song, my phone."

Song Yan pursed his lips tightly, his Adam's apple bobbing.

The old man took out a fruit platter and said, "Feifei, come and eat some fruit..."

Before he could finish speaking, Song Yan grabbed Jiang Fei's wrist again and quickly went upstairs.

The master bedroom door slammed shut. Song Yan released Jiang Fei, looked down into her eyes, his eyes slightly red, and said hoarsely, "Is this what you wanted?"

After saying that, he pinned her against the door, cupped her face, and kissed her.

An urgent, angry kiss landed on Jiang Fei's lips, followed by a passionate entanglement of lips and teeth.

Play with him, tease him.

They also start something and then abandon it, giving up halfway.

Late at night, she was brought back by another man, the same man who was the reason she had approached him in the first place.

He knew better than anyone that if it weren't for Shen Fang, he and she would never have had any connection.

But their paths still crossed.

The closest intersection.

She is like a poppy, beautiful in appearance, but carrying an addictive poison.

He tried hard to quit guanosine.

Ignore her while she speaks.

When she approached, he suppressed his burning desire and refused.

But when he saw her casually walking away, he couldn't control himself and grabbed her to his side.

"Xiao Yan, Fei Fei, what's wrong with you?" The old man's puzzled voice came from outside the door.

Song Yan paused, opened his eyes, and immediately looked into a pair of charming eyes.

Jiang Fei didn't close her eyes; she was looking at him, and then a soft laugh escaped her throat.

Annoyed, Song Yan lowered his head and kissed him again.

Just like that dream he once had, he kept gently sucking on her sweetness, all reason and restraint vanished, and he kissed her more and more forcefully.

By the time he came to his senses, the two of them had already come to the bedside, panting heavily.

Jiang Fei stood in front of him, her rosy lips still bearing traces of lipstick.

Song Yan looked at her, his Adam's apple bobbing, as if something was about to jump out of his chest, his mind a complete mess.

Jiang Fei raised an eyebrow and chuckled, "What?"

Song Yan frowned.

Before he could react, Jiang Fei suddenly wrapped her arms around the back of his neck, stood on tiptoe, and pressed down on him forcefully.

Song Yan's hand almost instinctively reached out and touched Kong Pan's waist, and the two of them fell onto the bed together.

She lay on top of him, only lightly tasting his lips.

Deliberate teasing.

Song Yan's eyes were filled with a dark light of self-abandonment. He wrapped one arm around her waist and held the back of her head with the other, about to take the initiative to kiss her.

Jiang Fei stopped him, placing a finger in front of his lips: "Say it, you love me."

Song Yan's body stiffened, and the hand that was holding her suddenly...

like?

What kind of love is there between them?

Jiang Fei leaned down again, seemingly to kiss him, but only kissed his own fingers, and then whispered softly, "Say you love me."

Song Yan stared intently at her, his eyes shimmering, his lips stained with the vibrant red of hers, making him even more alluring.

But he kept his lips tightly pressed together and didn't say a word.

She always did this, teasing him and finding pleasure in playing with him.

It's always like this.

"Aren't you going to tell me?" Jiang Fei raised her eyes, glanced at the unprecedentedly chaotic level of goodwill above his head, and moved her body slightly.

Song Yan's body tensed up, and the next second he grabbed her waist, turning the tables and pressing her onto the bed, forcefully kissing her red lips.

"I don't love you, Jiang Fei..." A breathy murmur escaped from the kiss, "I don't love you..."

If he falls in love with the person who has been toying with him, what kind of person is he?

He murmured, "Of all the people in the world, I just... don't love you."

However, Jiang Fei heard the system's voice.

Song Yan's favorability rating: 100.

When Jiang Fei came out of Song Yan's bedroom at nine o'clock in the evening, he had already fallen into a deep sleep—thanks to the system, of course.

There was a small suitcase in the side hall downstairs, presumably something Song Yan would need for his business trip.

Jiang Fei considered his favorability rating and, in a good mood, tapped Su Pang on his suitcase: "Have a safe trip."

Then he turned around and walked out.

Just as she stepped out of the villa, she slowly took out her phone and sent a message to Shen Fang:

I've thought it over. Shall we talk?