Chapter 91 Younger Brother

◎There's no Jiang Mingzhuo, no Xie Yong, just the two of us, husband and wife, together.◎

younger brother

Suddenly, I remembered what Lin Zhi'en said.

"Isn't Xiao Fu very good at training dogs? This is also one of your talents."

Dogs are intelligent creatures that are absolutely loyal to their owners.

Some large dogs are beautiful and sharp, but also exceptionally fierce, and before being domesticated, they were always aggressive.

But once you've spent some time taming them, they become incredibly loyal, obeying their master for life and following any command unconditionally.

Yes, dog training.

Treat them all like disobedient dogs; what I need to do is... tame them.

I slowly raised my eyes and looked at the man named Fu Yue in front of me.

It's clear that he's an elite lawyer with high standards and absolute competence.

"Attorney Fu, I have two things to tell you."

I tried my best to hide my fear and helplessness, because that wouldn't make the hunting dogs feel sorry for me, but would only make them more inclined to play with me.

His brows furrowed almost imperceptibly, but he still listened patiently to my explanation.

I adopted a pitiful and innocent look and said softly, "I have no relationship with Young Master Xie. It's been him harassing me all along. I already have a boyfriend. He said he's willing to be the other woman and won't let my boyfriend know about this."

"If anyone should be leaving, it should be Young Master Xie leaving my world. I couldn't resist him. You probably don't know what he did to me." My fingers slowly intertwined and overlapped, my tone desperate and slow. Out of the corner of my eye, I could even see the police officer next to me, her fingers clenched into a fist with pity.

Fu Yue clearly wouldn't show such obvious emotional fluctuations. "Let's move on to the second thing."

"I haven't seen my mother for many years. She abandoned me when I was still a minor and started a new family with another man, so I was unaware of everything she did."

"Understood." Fu Yue thought for a moment and said to the police officer beside him, "My client and I can be questioned now."

"Prosecutor Lin, please come in." A police officer pushed open the door, showing great respect to the person behind him. The one in the lead was Lin Jindong. He and his colleagues were used to this kind of scene, and the first thing they did upon entering the room was to focus their attention on me, the "suspect."

I spoke up at the right moment, looking at Fu Yue, "Attorney Fu, may I have you sit here with me?"

He remained silent.

"I'm scared..." I bit my lip. Even though I couldn't see it myself, I should still look beautiful and vulnerable, which would easily arouse a man's sympathy and affection.

Fu Yue got up and came to my side. I lowered my eyelashes and my breathing became noticeably faster.

“Ms. Jiang, don’t be afraid.” Lin Jindong’s colleague, a man of similar age but with a more delicate appearance, looked at me. “Currently, only your mother has been confirmed to be charged with a crime. We’re just looking for you to understand the situation.”

"That's enough," Lin Jindong interrupted his partner.

Seeing the man's boundless indulgence of me, even he couldn't stand it anymore.

Lin Jindong's gaze was very sharp, quite different from when we had met before. I wanted to seek help from a lawyer immediately, but I caught a trace of complex emotion in Lin Jindong's eyes, perhaps jealousy.

I'm going to give it a try.

So, no matter how the man tried to comfort me, I refused to speak. But when I faced Lin Jindong, I instinctively spoke up, looking at him with that dependent gaze, "Prosecutor Lin, it wasn't me, please don't do this..."

My words sound pitiful, but my trust in Lin Jindong is quite obvious.

His sharp, calm eyes were fixed on me, but his expression had softened considerably, and he hummed in agreement in a low voice.

“I am her representative, so I will answer any questions on her behalf,” the lawyer sitting next to me said, neither humble nor arrogant. “As far as I know, I will make this matter clear.”

Since Fu Yue took the initiative to speak, I swallowed back what I wanted to say.

Fu Yue: "I investigated some things before I came here, including Jiang Shu herself and her family. As far as I know... her husband was recently charged with four crimes, including medical malpractice, by the prosecution for several medical accidents. The case has not yet gone to trial, and the jury has not allowed parole."

Lin Jindong changed his posture.

His long legs, which seemed to have nowhere to go, were crossed. He habitually loosened his tie and listened to Fu Yue's methodical reasoning.

"Jiang Shu's family still has 20 million yuan in debt, not to mention the compensation for these medical incidents. This may be the reason why Jiang Shu chose to take the risk. But all of this has nothing to do with her daughter Jiang Fu. They haven't been in contact for three years."

Lin Jindong let out a very soft sneer from his nose.

His eyes were full of mockery, but he clearly didn't take Yue's explanation seriously.

His gaze was icy cold, exuding the kind of extreme pressure one feels when facing a suspect, sending chills down one's spine.

"Okay, Attorney Fu, then explain why the account opening card is in the name of Jiang Fu, not Jiang Shu."

The man sitting next to me instantly exuded a chilling aura.

Lin Jindong's colleague, who was standing nearby, felt the situation very clearly. He quickly stepped in to smooth things over, saying, "Alright, let's stop asking here for today. This girl is a college student, and what would she need so much money for? Jindong, don't scare her like that. Our goal is just to get them to cooperate with our work."

My eyelashes trembled, and I simply glanced at the man who had come to my rescue, saying, "Thank you."

My voice was weak and pitiful enough that the man smiled at me. I got up and thanked the other officers and investigators in the room. Regardless of gender, including the female investigator from the federal government, they all seemed to look at me with more sympathy.

I left only after receiving permission. I appeared calm and pitiful on the surface, but inside I was pounding with fear.

Ordinary cases are usually investigated by officers from the Economic Crimes Division of the Imperial State Police, while the prosecutor in charge of the crime determines the charges and files a lawsuit. This time, however, they even brought in federal investigators, making a huge fuss, which made me suspicious.

"Jiang Fu, wait a minute."

Behind me, the serious and aloof lawyer called out to me.

I struggled internally for a few seconds, then turned my head. Before I could speak, he advised, "Give up on Xie Yong. At least you still have me, a reliable lawyer, to help you. If you continue to harass him, be prepared to be charged."

"But... how much will your lawyer's fees cost? I can't afford it." I hesitated. "Are you sure you still want to do me a favor?"

"..." Fu Yue looked at me.

He looked older than Lin Jindong, but he didn't have that mercenary or unscrupulous air about him at all. He was cold, arrogant, and aggressive, and you could tell he was a man with the same tough methods as Lin Jindong.

This man has probably seen all sorts of tactics used by women, from young women to charming mature women.

I lowered my eyes slightly. "Besides, I don't think you can help me. You're prejudiced against me."

A few seconds later, I heard the man's cold laugh.

I looked up, and he turned to look at me intently. "You're right. I didn't want to help you in the first place because it wasn't worth it."

“However, I do want to show you how I can turn you from a suspect into a victim.” He unbuttoned his cuffs, revealing a long, slender wrist, his fingers habitually propping up his forehead as he scanned me from head to toe.

I observed the expression on his face, but for a moment, I couldn't tell what he was thinking.

"What is your relationship with Lin Jindong?" he asked.

"He's pursuing me," I explained immediately.

"Every man in the world should like you and be obsessed with you, right?" Fu Yue sneered coldly.

Me, "Does that include you?"

He said, “No, I just wanted to remind you that getting too close to the prosecutor handling the case is not a good thing, especially… he could probably use this to blackmail you.”

This surprised me. I thought Fu Yue was someone who spoke without any mercy, but he reminded me very seriously.

I hesitated for a moment, then nodded.

"Here's my contact information. Come see me tomorrow. I need to understand the case better so I can help you." He took out his phone, and after seeing that we were already friends, he adjusted his glasses and left without looking back.

Leaving the police station, it was already pitch black outside, and it looked like it was about to snow again.

Outside the door, several well-dressed people stood, looking like they had been waiting for me for a long time.

"Miss Jiang, Mrs. Xie wishes to see you."

The other party politely invited me, and the first thing I saw was a very low-key black BMW sedan. I could roughly guess the purpose of their visit.

In the back seat was the mayor's wife, whom I had seen on TV just a few days ago.

She was even more beautiful than she appeared on camera; her looks, figure, and overall demeanor were all impeccably maintained. Her black hair was styled in an updo, and she wore a white silk blouse and long skirt, exuding an intellectual, poised, and elegant air.

"Xiao Fu, is that right? I'm Xie Yong's mother." The woman spoke affectionately, but her gaze was sharp and arrogant, almost exactly the same as Xie Yong's usual way of looking at people. Both mother and son were used to using a noble demeanor to mask their inherent richness.

"Hello."

"I heard you've been dating Xie Yong for a while? What do you think of him?"

Mother Xie smiled gently at me, but it didn't make us feel any closer. She was well aware of the difference in our social status, and to her, all I needed to do was be an obedient girl.

"Compared to my ex-boyfriend, he's pretty generous." I curled my lips and described my relationship with Xie Yong in a wicked way. "However, according to him, he seems to have never been in a relationship before. No wonder his posture is always so monotonous and a bit boring."

Even after I said that, Xie's mother maintained her composure. "Xiao Fu, Xie Yong is not like you. He will follow a completely different path from you, just like his father. He can play around with girls like you, but he absolutely cannot date you."

"...What kind of girl am I?" I looked directly into Xie's mother's eyes.

My relationship with Xie Yong hasn't lasted long, but I check various social media sites every day. It's not like I imagined, where my background and past have been dug up by enthusiastic netizens. I think the Xie family's media surveillance has already bribed and persuaded all these busybodies.

Xie's mother nodded. "Xiao Fu, I actually sympathize with and support your independence as a girl. However, as a girl, you also need to protect yourself. After all, you can't be like your mother, who gave birth out of wedlock and then ruined other people's marriages in order to marry into a wealthy family."

"I just want to know how much money Aunt Xie gave me to leave him." I didn't show too much emotion, I just glanced at Aunt Xie's mother.

Seeing that she didn't speak, I deliberately asked, "Or would it be faster for me to ask Xie Yong for the money?"

Sure enough, Xie's mother lost her composure when her beloved son was mentioned, but she merely dismissed my threat. She calmed down a bit and said, "Leave him, and I'll give you 5 million from my personal account. Of course, I'll also donate to the state university in your name to ensure you can continue your studies."

I hung my head, looking as if I was calculating whether it was worth it.

Leaving Xie Yong is a good thing for me. I had long been fed up with Xie Yong's controlling nature, which was comparable to Jiang Mingzhuo's.

Judging from his mother's attitude, it's likely that Xie's parents came up with an excuse last night to lure him back to their home in the East District for temporary supervision.

Xie Yong will probably be unable to get close to me again for some time.

“Then I might be accused of this…” I said obediently, with my eyes lowered. “Aunt Xie, you have to help me too.”

The methods to persuade someone to give up are nothing more than coercion or bribery.

Threatening and coercing the other party is a terrible strategy. Sometimes it not only fails to solve the problem, but can also drive people to the brink of destruction.

Both Xie's mother and father are politicians, so how could they not see the logic behind this? She also understood what I was worried about, so she gently patted the back of my hand and said, "Of course we'll talk. Xiao Fu can't possibly be involved in fraud. Xie Yong's father and I have found the best lawyer in the Empire State for you, and we will definitely resolve this matter for you."

"Thank you." I showed her the grateful look she wanted. "I need the money you mentioned, and the donation..."

I hesitated, wanting to say something but stopping myself.

She smiled gently, pleased with my tact.

"Of course, Xiao Fu, you're about to graduate, and you will need some money to stay in the Empire State. The money will be in your account in a little while. In a few days, Auntie will introduce you to some young men who work in government departments. There are plenty of good-looking and highly educated ones. You would be more suited to be with a man like that."

Next, Xie's mother said a few more things to me in a very "thoughtful" way.

No matter what she said, I agreed with exceptional obedience, as if money had tamed me into being docile and obedient.

When I got off the bus, my bank account had already notified me that the money had been deposited into my account.

I decided to go all the way and returned to Xie Yong's apartment. That night, I moved all the luxury goods he had bought for me out of the apartment.

The puppy was also picked up by the maid and taken home.

I looked at the empty bedroom, packed the Hermès handbags into my suitcase, and left.

I dare not touch the 5 million; that's something Xie's mother can use against me.

If I disobey her, she can call the police to arrest me at any time on charges of extortion.

But these luxury items are different. Strictly speaking, they were gifts from Xie Yong, and she has no right to control them. Besides, the value of these things is negligible to the Xie family, so she turns a blind eye to them, that's all.

I contacted a secondhand luxury goods store and plan to sell all these watches, bags, and accessories, then use the money to rent a new apartment.

I had just walked downstairs, pulling my suitcase, when suddenly a car roared, startling me so much that I lost my mind.

Upon closer inspection, it was Ye Fenglin.

He sat in the sports car, wearing a high-quality white coat. His casual attire and open collar gave him a clean and noble appearance. He was tall and slender, looking as perfect as a model who had just finished a fashion show.

"Sister-in-law, where are you going? I'll take you."

He took off his sunglasses, took in my reaction, and a smile played on his lips.

“I…” I looked at him for a few seconds, “Take me to the hospital.”

"Get in the car."

I didn't think too much about why Ye Fenglin would appear here "at just the right time".

As I sat in the passenger seat, he kept looking at me. His perfume was probably a wilderness ocean scent, extremely crisp and with a strong earthy feel.

"What a pity," Ye Fenglin suddenly said. His car stopped at the intersection, and looking at the red traffic light in front of him, he smiled. "If it were me, I definitely wouldn't have broken up with my sister-in-law so quickly."

"...Then what would you do?" I asked softly, looking at his Adam's apple bobbing slightly on his neck.

Ye Fenglin turned his head and moved closer to me, his pleasant scent almost completely enveloping me. "If I were dating your sister-in-law, even if my mom made me break up with her a thousand times, I would still keep playing around. I could never find a woman as beautiful as you again."

Looking at the strikingly handsome face before me, Ye Fenglin's purpose was already self-evident.

"Since Brother Yong isn't here, I have to take good care of you for him, sister-in-law." Seeing that I didn't back away, Ye Fenglin's frivolousness became more obvious. He raised his hand and slowly approached me, revealing his arrogant and spoiled young master nature.

The image of that dog reappeared in my mind.

A well-behaved dog wagging its tail at me...

In Ye Fenglin's eyes, I saw my face slightly flushed, indeed looking very weak and vulnerable.

His finger reached out, seemingly very confident that he could take Xie Yong's place in my heart, even though in my heart, the two of them were almost indistinguishable. The difference was perhaps not in appearance, but in the size of their bodies.

"The light is green." I said gently to Ye Fenglin just as his hand was about to reach me.

He sat up straight and looked ahead again.

While Ye Fenglin was parking his car, I arrived at Jiang Mingzhuo's hospital room. The dream I had that day still haunts me.

I know that to outsiders, Jiang Mingzhuo is a perfect lover. Gentle, elegant, and strong, it would be impossible not to be moved when he was pursuing me.

However, no one knows better than me that he also likes to use his outstanding appearance to easily capture me and then firmly control me.

With Jiang Mingzhuo by my side, I just want to push everyone else away and make my world consist only of him.

In this way, all my emotions—being moved, cherishing, getting angry, shedding tears, loving, and even hating—have only one object.

Jiang Mingzhuo.

"You like him that much?"

Ye Fenglin's voice woke me from my thoughts.

I turned my head, and Ye Fenglin had that frowning look on his face again. Seeing this, I couldn't help but ask, "Do you hate hospitals that much?"

“I told you, some of the bad memories are here.” Ye Fenglin approached and looked at Jiang Mingzhuo, who was sleeping peacefully in the ward. As if to check on Jiang Mingzhuo’s condition, Ye Fenglin moved a little closer. “How stupid. Does he think that as long as he is injured, he can get away with it… Not everyone gets the treatment he deserves.”

"When will he wake up...?"

"It's hard to say. It might depend on when Brother Yong is willing to wake him up."

I immediately looked at Ye Fenglin. His deep eyes were slightly dark, and there was no smile in them.

Jiang Mingzhuo, who was in the ward, naturally couldn't hear any of this.

Really……

I felt that although he looked like he was asleep, he was not as simple as I had imagined.

If someone can pretend to be perfect and never be exposed...

All you need to do is stimulate him.

You can tell whether he was really faking it or had been in a coma the whole time.

Thinking of this, I raised my hand and wrapped it around Ye Fenglin's neck. My action was very bold, but Ye Fenglin did not feel offended at all. Instead, he familiarly wrapped his arms around my waist and pinned me against the mirrored wall outside the ward.

"Is there anything I can help you with, sister-in-law?" Ye Fenglin said patiently with a smile on his face. "I can help you with anything."

"..." I tilted my head up slightly, and Ye Fenglin smiled. He lowered his head and kissed my lips that had opened on their own initiative. His tongue invaded with an unusually strong force, and I had no choice but to raise my neck. I grabbed his shoulders and gestured for him to take me into the ward.

Ye Fenglin had no sense of shame whatsoever, or rather, he was even more eager than I was to see whether Jiang Mingzhuo would have a "reaction".

He kicked open the ward door, and we were right next to Jiang Mingzhuo's bed. Ye Fenglin put me on the sofa with his legs spread apart, and an ambiguous atmosphere filled the air.

He did everything he could to please me.

Even though Ye Fenglin was itching to act, his master remained methodical, moving quickly at first and then slowly. I felt like a lychee being slowly squeezed to extract its sweet juice. My hands had nowhere to go, and in the end, I could only grab Ye Fenglin's short hair.

Jiang Mingzhuo was still asleep, completely unaware of everything in front of him.

I should have felt fear, but the inspiration that soared to the heavens made me bite my lip. Then, after Ye Fenglin finished eating the lychees, he brought the juice to my lips.

"They're all yours, are you still going to complain, Xiao Fu?" Ye Fenglin chuckled softly.

I was breathless from his kiss, and my brain started to feel oxygen-deprived.

My vision began to blur, and Ye Fenglin noticed my distraction. He turned my head and kissed me forcefully, with a passionate kiss that was almost out of control.

"I never knew Brother Yong was eating so well." Ye Fenglin kissed my ear, his hot breath pressing against it. "You're tired of playing around, sister-in-law? You can try me. I'm even more obedient and well-behaved than him. I don't want anything, Xiao Fu..."

For a moment, the only sounds in the entire ward were the sounds of our kissing, our entwined lips, and our sucking.

Jiang Mingzhuo's heartbeat remained completely still. In the entire ward, only those cold medical instruments witnessed everything that happened between me and Ye Fenglin.

-

That night, my heart started racing.

Sitting in the sports car, I realized how crazy my actions had been. To make matters worse, Ye Fenglin kissed my fingers right in front of me.

"Are you satisfied with my performance just now?" He drove to the West End apartment complex and turned to ask me.

I looked at him, and he stared straight at me, his slightly upturned eyebrows even carrying a hint of flirtation. "Compared to Brother Yong, my service should be better, right?"

"...You're all pretty much the same." Xie Yong's service spirit was average, but his skills were good, while Ye Fenglin was the opposite.

"Then I definitely have one skill that I can beat him in?"

"What?"

Ye Fenglin whistled somewhat flippantly, and the sports car suddenly accelerated. Before I could react, he drove back to the villa in the West District and took me into his house. At first, I didn't realize his intentions until I saw orange Hermes shopping bags covering the floor and sofa.

I was stunned. Before I could react, someone gently put their arm around me from behind.

It was the same ocean-scented perfume that had been entwining with me just moments before. I turned my head slightly, and Ye Fenglin's eyes held a hint of barely suppressed laughter. "Brother Yong only gave you a few bags? These are all gifts from me. If you sell these, you could easily buy a villa in the East District."

"Why did you..." I was stunned.

"Consider this my welcoming gift to my new home, sister-in-law," Ye Fenglin said casually. "How about that? Am I more generous than Brother Yong? Rather than spending money on a rival, I'd rather spend it on you. I won't be like him, spending money on Jiang Mingzhuo every day."

I couldn't help but laugh.

Two months ago, I might have firmly refused, but I know that puppies also need rewards and praise. They might bring you their favorite bone, and as the owner, constantly refusing would only make the puppy rebel.

I did not reject Ye Fenglin's advances, but let him hold me quietly for a while.

He seemed very keen for me to stay with him, but I refused.

I took the subway back to the vicinity of my apartment, but didn't go home. I knew that someone was watching me closely from there. I sat in a fast food restaurant until after 1 a.m. before I got up, head down, and walked back in a daze.

It was so dark that I cautiously walked down to the apartment building and only dared to go upstairs after seeing that the windows were completely dark.

I didn't notice at all that an arm suddenly stretched out from the doorway, hooked around my body, and pushed the apartment door open.

The next second, I was slammed against the wall by that person's powerful force.

The tall shadow loomed down instantly, startling me. What followed was a familiar, cool fragrance and an overly sharp, aggressive tobacco scent. I immediately recognized who it was and couldn't help but look up.

Jiang Zhao's gaze naturally fell on my face, his eyes and brows revealing coldness and a "keep away" attitude.

"I've been waiting for you for a long time." He leaned closer, his shadow enveloping my entire face.

Before I could react, Jiang Zhao, like a fierce wild beast, raised his hand and grabbed my neck with a powerful grip, instantly taking away all my breath.

“You said…! You were going to treat me gently.” I struggled for a moment.

“Wasn’t I gentle enough?” the man said, tracing my neck as if examining me, or perhaps declaring and demonstrating his power. “I gave you two weeks to rekindle your romance with your lover, and it turns out he couldn’t protect you.”

His neck was firmly held. Jiang Zhao greatly enjoyed such a conquering gesture.

He lowered his eyelids and, after only a few seconds, said, "You smell different. You've been replaced."

Jiang Zhao's tone carried a strong sense of pressure, "It seems you really want Jiang Shu to stay in prison. Even after all this, you still refuse to come to me obediently."

This is the most disobedient dog.

I stared at him, and Jiang Zhao looked at me quietly as well. His eyelashes were lowered, and suddenly the world spun around me. He picked me up by the waist and easily threw me onto the sofa.

Jiang Zhao gripped my knees, his slender fingers tightening around my lower leg, then slowly moved forward. I tried to back away, but I was completely under his control.

Ignoring my wishes, Jiang Zhao forcefully dragged me into a magnificent gilded cage and locked me up tightly.

Should I be thankful that at least one of the brothers is unconscious right now? I felt a chill run down my spine, and cold sweat seeped down my back. What were my chances of taming such a mad dog?

"Xie Yong, he..."

"Do you think his father would offend me for your sake?" Jiang Zhao's dark eyes deepened.

He was the kind of man who exuded an extremely powerful and suffocating aura, especially when he was sinister and crazed. I couldn't help but ask him, "Is this how you express tenderness? You used my mother to force me to submit to you, and you're using this method to deal with your love rival..."

"You're wrong." Jiang Zhao was about to tell me.

He suddenly laughed. "He doesn't deserve to be my rival in love. The reason I kept him alive is because he's useful to you, which is why I cut off his claws and spared his life. If it weren't for you, I would have disemboweled him long ago."

I was speechless and turned my head away. Jiang Zhao suddenly grabbed my waist, his hand lightly touching the spot where the lychee juice was squeezed. He then laughed menacingly, "Having played with so many men, are you still not satisfied, or are you still hungry?"

Jiang Zhao's aggressiveness was different from Xie Yong's. Xie Yong liked to use physical contact, especially various kisses, to make me give in, but Jiang Zhao's hands just held me tightly, not letting me escape. He looked at the plump and beautiful lychees, his expression indifferent.

"So what?" I bit my lip. "If I'm not full, I'll just eat more."

"I'll only let you have your fill once, try it?" He lifted me up again, and I felt the strength of his arm muscles, which terrified me. He made me sit on his push-up, his eyes like those of a wild beast, the emotions in his pupils thick, twisted, and greedy.

That suffocating sense of oppression was like an airtight net, tightly enveloping me.

I was determined to conquer him, and with a surge of courage, I let his commanding gaze invade every inch of my body.

"Xiao Fu, I love you. Marry me," Jiang Zhao suddenly said. "Everything I've done is to make you willingly accept me."

"Including framing me?" I resisted with both hands, but I couldn't stop his fingers from tasting the lychee. His hands were frighteningly cold, leaving me with nothing but looking at him. Rather than tormenting me with such slow and deliberate methods, he might as well just make me faint...

“Stop,” I told him.

"You only need to do it with me once, and you'll willingly accept me."

"I don't want to do it with you." I couldn't move, and his hand gently soothed my back. I gritted my teeth.

Jiang Zhao, a princeling who has been the future head of a conglomerate since childhood, certainly couldn't accept such a rejection. In his view, my words were a denial of his abilities. He sneered, "Fine, I hope you can keep up the act until then."

"I thought you should know the difference between me and Jiang Mingzhuo." Jiang Zhao's cold, hard voice came from above. I looked up; his dark eyes held an extremely strong intimidating power, as if he wanted me to submit. I couldn't help but recall that night...

Why does Jiang Zhao know where my home is?

Why did I have this vague feeling that something was wrong that day...?

"Don't move, I'll be gentle."

Jiang Zhao supported my limp body, reached out, clamped my chin, and turned my face to look at him.

“I’ve wanted to be with you like this for a long time.” Jiang Zhao’s lowered eyelids drooped slightly as his gaze fell on my face. “Without Jiang Mingzhuo, without Xie Yong, just the two of us, husband and wife, do you know how long I’ve been looking forward to this day?”

-

Last night, the moment Xie Yong returned home, he realized with a start that he had been deceived by his parents.

Back home, Xie's mother wasn't sick; instead, she sat on the sofa with a serious expression, and Xie's father was equally elegant. The two seemed very cautious, entirely because another person had appeared in their living room.

The man looked much younger than Xie's father. He was sitting on the other side of the sofa, wearing a dark casual outfit.

Before him lay his mother's treasured tea set and a cup of black tea specially bought from overseas, which remained untouched. His usually neatly combed hair was now down, giving him a more casual air compared to his usual arrogance and domineering demeanor.

"Xiao Yong, it's Young Master Jiang who's here to see you." Mother Xie smiled.

Jiang Zhao also slowly got up and extended his hand to Xie Yong.

A hint of mockery flashed in Xie Yong's eyes, but his expression remained completely unchanged. "It's quite rare to see Young Master Jiang visiting our home today."

"You two have a good talk." Xie's mother seemed unaware of the undercurrents between the two men; she and Xie's father exchanged glances.

Jiang Zhao's wealth cannot be taken lightly.

The Jiang family never takes sides and always acts alone, not participating in politics. If the two young men, Xie Yong and Jiang Zhao, could join forces... Xie's parents would naturally be happy to facilitate this, so they left the living room to Jiang Zhao and Xie Yong.

"Welcome, Young Master Jiang. What, are you jealous to come up with such a pathetic trick to lure me home?" Xie Yong approached Jiang Zhao, his voice so soft that only Jiang Zhao could hear the last part of his sentence.

Jiang Zhao's gaze slowly fell on Xie Yong's face.

The man he hates the most.

He barged in and brazenly stole all of his wife's attention.

He couldn't stay with his wife to sleep; she would be terrified whenever she approached, unless their children and younger brother Jiang Mingzhuo were by her side.

The man before her had managed to put her to sleep peacefully on their very first date. Jiang Zhao couldn't tell whether she felt more jealousy or hatred.

I hate that she stole the food and didn't even bother to hide it properly.

He also resented her for daring to choose another man right in front of him.

"It seems you have memories too," Jiang Zhao said coldly, then smiled at Xie Yong. "But you're still a fool as always. Since you have memories, you should know that your greatest asset in fighting me comes from yourself. What makes a good-for-nothing like you, who still relies on your parents, think you can compete with me for Xiao Fu?"

For Xie Yong, this was undoubtedly a provocation from the victor.

He was still a rich young master who had no real power and hadn't even participated in the local elections.

Jiang Zhao is already the heir apparent who controls the conglomerate.

Xie Yong was too confident, which is why Jiang Zhao trampled him underfoot this time.

"I advise you to just admit defeat," Jiang Zhao lit a cigarette, slowly exhaled a thin mist, and then flicked the ash onto Xie Yong's shoulder.

The shirt was stained black.

Jiang Zhao casually replied, "Or, would you like to try that medicine? Thanks to you, Jiang Mingzhuo has fallen into a deep sleep and never woke up again. I'm really looking forward to seeing how it will affect you."

He maliciously pressed the cigarette against Xie Yong's shoulder, leaving an indelible mark.

"Just stay home obediently, Young Master Xie. I will invite you to be our witness on the day Xiao Fu and I get married."

[Author's Note]

Thank you all for your understanding. I feel like I've gotten through this writer's block period, and I'll try to update more during the National Day holiday and finish the story.