Chapter 92 Cinema

I accompanied her and her date to see a movie.

younger brother

When I woke up early in the morning, my vision was still a little blurry, and I stared blankly at the ceiling.

Jiang Zhao was unusually crazy and cold-blooded last night, making me cry so hard I almost couldn't breathe, tears constantly welling up in my eyes.

The oppressive feeling seeped from his fingertips into my hair.

Jiang Zhao was calm and clear-headed, with a faint smile on his lips.

He was beside my face, “Don’t cry, look at me.”

But I only had one thought in my mind.

It was really comfortable and enjoyable.

I wasn't fully conscious, but I could feel that he was definitely in control, testing my reactions to each different gesture. Compared to my appearance, Jiang Zhao was completely at ease, extremely ruthless, and practically loved me to death.

The wind outside the window started to pick up slowly. He hugged me tightly, held me close, and kissed me as he moved, until I fell asleep.

I instinctively turned my head and found myself lying in his arms. Jiang Zhao seemed to have not slept all night, but had been looking at me with such a complicated and wary gaze all night.

Does he think I would take advantage of him when he's most likely to lose his temper and launch a sneak attack?

I frowned. My sleeping position wasn't comfortable, and I knew perfectly well that he had been lying openly on this bed long ago, using his resemblance to his brother to take advantage of me and have sex with me…

"You're asleep." He lifted his eyelids slightly and spoke in a nonchalant tone.

"I'm just too tired. Besides, I don't have that much stamina." I said softly without blinking. "Do you think everyone is like you, a machine that can run for dozens of hours without rest?"

In my memory, he used more than a dozen different moves, and he practically devoured me completely.

But Jiang Zhao ignored my subtle sarcasm. He raised an eyebrow slightly and said, "Now I understand how Xie Yong felt."

What is it?

"The feeling of stealing a moment of intimacy." He sneered. "It's really great to watch you sleep in my arms every day, while your real boyfriend is completely unaware."

I simply cannot understand what Jiang Zhao finds pleasurable. He is a cold-hearted man who stands above all rules, has pitifully little compassion, and is exceptionally powerful. I thought that this kind of low-end, adrenaline-stimulating star love would be something he would utterly despise.

He seems to be enjoying it quite a bit.

Me too.

This is perhaps the only thing he and I have in common.

Jiang Zhao's gaze lingered on me, on the messy clothes and the unfinished milk.

He probably wanted to smile slightly, but the restless phone call made him immediately tilt his head back and sink into the pillow. Jiang Zhao raised his hand and pinched the bridge of his nose, his expression turning cold and arrogant again, giving off an irritating look that said "keep away."

Jiang Zhao got out of bed. His muscular back was firm, sexy, and had a clear and attractive profile. The big guy who had greeted me warmly last night was also standing tall. He whispered something to the person on the other end of the phone. Maybe it was something to do with the company. I wasn't interested. I just stared at him intently, and even had an unrealistic idea in my mind.

He is far more suitable to be a lover than Xie Yong.

Sharp, arrogant, and full of style, it is a majestic dog, most suitable for training.

Jiang Zhao hung up the phone and turned around.

He picked up his coat, shirt, and other clothes that were carelessly tossed on the sofa armrest and changed them in an orderly fashion. The tie that he had used to help me last night was left unattended on the bed. Jiang Zhao only took a few minutes to revert to his beastly self, while I remained carelessly on the bed.

"Have you had your fun this time? Can you let me go now?" I blurted out instinctively.

This statement seemed to come without any prior context, and even I don't know why I said it.

Jiang Zhao's fingers, which were fastening his cufflinks, paused. The tenderness of just over ten minutes ago seemed to vanish. A surge of anger seemed to rise in his eyes as he walked towards me. I instinctively stepped back, and Jiang Zhao reached out and grabbed my waist. I had no choice but to look up.

My feigned composure was clearly reflected in his eyes; my evasion and avoidance were all too obvious.

Jiang Zhao suddenly grabbed my chin and pinched it hard.

“…!” I stared at him.

"Impossible." He sneered, a hint of malice flashing in his eyes. "I'll make you watch as I possess you for the rest of your life."

“I don’t like you!” I yelled at him. “Would you rather watch me hate you for the rest of my life?”

"It's okay, we'll keep going until you fall in love with me." Jiang Zhao's forehead veins throbbed, his tone cold and threatening.

His fingers tightened, and I finally understood completely that he was not the kind of man who could talk to people properly. In his world, there was no such thing as prey willingly asking to escape.

But we've only met a few times. Why does he have such a strong possessive desire for me?

Jiang Zhao released me and looked down at me. A few seconds later, he picked up the half-full glass of water on the bedside table.

It's long gone cold.

He started drinking, the action so natural it seemed he'd done it for years. His mood returned to its usual indifference. He turned, instinctively picked up his cigarette, and left.

I was even more surprised. Apart from that intense and well-coordinated exercise, all I remembered from last night was my habitual craving for warm water in the middle of the night. I vaguely remembered someone feeding me some, but I never imagined that person was him.

"Jiang Zhao," I called his name.

"You should quit smoking; it's bad for your health."

I want to tame him.

To truly make this beautiful, ambitious, and always biting dog my own.

He paused, then left.

-

Not far from the apartment, Jiang Zhao's car was parked.

Unlike his younger brother Jiang Mingzhuo, he didn't dislike having a driver and assistant serve him. Rather, Jiang Fu had never liked troubling others since she was a child. From the time he met her until their marriage, he had long been accustomed to driving for her.

Some habits are not easy to change.

For example, every night he has to watch his wife struggle and suffer, but he can't fall asleep.

She either pretended to be asleep in front of him or relied on some kind of psychotropic drugs.

Seeing that she was in a daze every day and sometimes couldn't even speak clearly, Jiang Zhao had no choice but to give in.

He allowed Xie Yong to come into her home and keep her company. Even though she knew she wouldn't like anyone else, she simply felt that Xie Yong was less dangerous than him and that she could sleep better with him.

She didn't care who the man with her was, as long as it wasn't Jiang Zhao.

Her nominal husband. A man she married, and with whom she swore to be faithful to one another.

Last night, she was tired, so she snuggled up to him like a little animal and fell asleep. Jiang Zhao had one arm around her waist and the other hand gently stroking her face to make sure she wasn't pretending to be asleep. Then, he was pleasantly surprised because she really wasn't afraid of him anymore.

He thought her waist was very slender.

Jiang Zhao could easily wrap his arms around her, and he did just that, letting her press close to his neck as he kissed her, the kisses deepening gradually.

Without Jiang Mingzhuo, it was just the two of them at that moment.

Jiang Zhao will always remember those years when she played with the two brothers. Even though she was terrified, she would still habitually reach out to Jiang Mingzhuo. Between the two of them, she would always choose to be closer to the other.

It didn't matter if she didn't love him; he could always make her fall in love with him. Soon, he got what he wanted. He married her and they had an exceptionally lovely daughter. He remained in a superior position his entire life, able to freely enter her life, control her, and dispose of her... until she preferred death to being with him.

Jiang Zhao knew very well that now that she had lost all her memories, he could gently and carefully care for her and make her feel good about him. Their past was no longer an obstacle binding their relationship, and he could start over with her.

Be gentler, until she falls in love with herself too.

He tilted his head back, leaned against the driver's seat, and held a silver e-cigarette in his hand, but eventually threw it away.

Jiang Zhao dialed his assistant's number.

“It’s me. Go buy what I need. Pink lychee roses and the jewelry I ordered at the last auction. Send them all to her studio and tell her it’s from me.”

-

It took me quite a while to wash myself clean and get out of the bathroom.

Yesterday's starry night left me feeling weak all over, and I just wanted to lie in bed and rest for the whole day. But my classmates at the art studio kindly reminded me that the professor and the gallery manager would be coming in the afternoon to check on our preparations for the exhibition. So, I forced myself to get out of bed, my arms still weak and numb.

The only thing that made me feel somewhat happy was that Yu Xu sent me a message.

It was Blue, the cat I boarded at the pet store. Yu Xu was holding him and he greeted me. He also asked if I was free tonight. He bought two tickets to a movie theater that was currently showing and invited me to go to the movies with him.

"Would you be willing to pick me up from school?" I smiled and asked him.

After a while, I sent him the address.

I've been on dates with men before, but I was unusually nervous today. I spent about half an hour doing my makeup, curling my hair and tying it halfway up, changing into a knitted mini skirt that accentuated my figure and looks, wearing boots, and finally putting on my duffle coat.

In the studio, it was the first time I had ever seen a gallery owner.

She was a very beautiful woman with a gentle demeanor. Beside her was an art professor. Like the other students, I was a little afraid to breathe. Fortunately, the woman was very gentle and could always find something good about any student's painting or sculpture, praising it gently.

My attention, however, was drawn to the man outside the door.

The man was wearing a short black jacket. He was tall with long legs and a high nose. His fine hair covered his eyebrows and eyes. He had a cold demeanor and exuded a sense of high-class style. Only his profile was visible, but he looked slightly familiar to me.

He seemed uninterested in any of the works in the studio, and just stood there.

"I heard that's Gu Yu's son," the girl next to me whispered. "He's from Imperial University. I saw him at the college basketball tournament this year."

The man seemed to have overheard our conversation and turned to look at us.

Although her eyes looked cold and unapproachable, they were very bright.

I paused for a moment, hesitated, and then suddenly remembered that this was the guy I had a casual fling with at the club two months ago. But so much had happened recently that I had completely forgotten about him. However, I could tell from his expression that he hadn't forgotten me either.

"..." I awkwardly raised my hand and waved it in the boy's line of sight as a greeting.

Gu Yu noticed this action very quickly. She was nearby, looking at another classmate's oil painting. When she saw me interacting with her son, she looked up and smiled at me.

I was stunned for a moment, and the boy opposite me also frowned.

Gu Yu, dressed in a long, artistic dress, walked gracefully to my side and smiled, "Are you Xu Ya's friend?"

"We've met before..." I mumbled in response.

Gu Yu nodded, glanced at my painting, and said, "The colors are beautiful and pleasing to the eye."

"Thanks."

"Have you considered developing in my direction in the future?" Gu Yu walked towards me. She was a bit taller than me and had very fair skin. Looking at her young face, I really couldn't connect her with Xu Ya as mother and son.

She smiled and said, "Although the art exhibition is still several days away from opening, if any students are willing, they can come to my place in advance to help with the setup. I will pay everyone 2,000 yuan per day."

The pay for this part-time job was incredibly tempting, and my classmates, including myself, couldn't hide their delight.

Gu Yu glanced at Xu Ya again, her eyes full of inquiry. She nodded and looked at me again, quickly changing to a friendly expression. "Come over when you have time. I'm very interested in your work."

I nodded at her.

I watched the woman leave leisurely, while Xu Ya remained standing motionless at the door, which puzzled me.

The relationship between this mother and son is...weird.

The studio quickly returned to quiet after the noise subsided.

Some students were preparing to revise their works according to the professor's and Gu Yu's instructions, while others were planning to be lazy and go home after protecting their works. The studio was bustling with people coming and going, and I was just about to take the painting down.

Xu Ya also walked in at that moment.

I stared at him in surprise as Xu Ya's calm, almost indifferent face drew closer and closer to me.

He stood silently in front of me. At first, I didn't quite understand his intentions, but he just bowed slightly and silently helped me take the painting off the easel. He then half-squatted down to adjust the position, professionally sprayed it with varnish, put it in the frame, and wrapped it with thick cardboard and foam paper from the ground.

Seeing him skillfully and naturally do all this for me, even if I were slow to understand, I would have grasped his vague and awkward feelings.

"Thank you." I hesitated before speaking. "You wanted to see me about something?"

Xu Ya said succinctly, "It's nothing."

He looked up at me, his deep black eyes flickered, as if other emotions were hidden beneath the calm. His thick, dark eyelashes drooped gently. After a moment, he looked up and said, "I've been waiting for you ever since that night, because it seems you've forgotten me. That's why I came to find you."

"Hmm..." I felt a little embarrassed that my secret had been exposed, especially when I looked at Xu Ya's innocent eyes. I felt even more that my impulsive kiss with him was a deception, as if I had cheated a pure boy.

"Click".

The studio door was pushed open again, and Lin Jindong, wearing a long black trench coat, walked in. He raised an eyebrow at me and Xu Ya, probably not expecting Xu Ya to be here. His sharp and cold gaze lingered on me for a moment.

"It seems I'm a little late," Lin Jindong said to me in a low voice, his thin lips parting slightly.

Xu Ya remained remarkably calm, his gaze never leaving me, but Lin Jindong didn't seem to care.

“You didn’t go to see your lawyer today. I’ve been waiting for you there for ages. I have something to ask you.” Lin Jindong took out his identification and showed it to me, his tone quite businesslike. “Cooperate with me. Don’t refuse.”

Upon hearing this, Xu Ya instinctively pulled me behind him.

He frowned slightly and said to Lin Jindong, "Is this the attitude of questioning, prosecutor?"

I don't want to cause any trouble in this matter. Besides, I am indeed involved in this case. But my mother, whom I haven't seen for several years, suddenly came to see me and was even accused because of me. I desperately want to know the truth of this matter.

"...It's okay, you can ask me anything you want." I lowered my head and tidied up my art supplies.

Under Xu Ya's wary gaze, Lin Jindong spoke up, "Let's go out alone for a bit, Miss Jiang."

I obediently followed him to the corridor outside the studio.

The window there had been opened at some point, and I was dressed rather lightly. After only a short while, I felt a bit cold and instinctively raised my hands and hugged my shoulders.

Lin Jindong had a keen eye for observation.

He raised his hand and casually closed the window, as if he had done something insignificant.

My stiffness had eased, and I looked at him. "Prosecutor Lin, what do you want to ask me?"

"There are a few small questions I don't understand, so I'd like to trouble Miss Jiang to tell me."

Although the man before him was domineering and ruthless, his professional expertise as the top prosecutor in the Empire State allowed him to immediately spot the problem.

"Why would Jiang Shu be related to Taiguang Group? She and her husband are mainly engaged in medical aesthetics, which is almost completely unrelated to it."

I choked up.

Lin Jindong approached me, his sharp eyes like those of a ferocious beast ready to pounce. His skin was different from the high-and-mighty young masters I had recently met; it was a healthy and somewhat sexy wheat color, healthy and radiating a sporty feel. Along with the slightly protruding knuckles of his fingers as he held his phone, there was a subtle sense of astringency.

"I...I really don't know."

“Let me tell you, Jiang Shu claims that she worked for the Jiang family for a period of time, before Mr. Jiang and Mrs. Jiang divorced. But don’t you find it strange? If it were you, would you lend such a large sum of money to a psychologist who has no connection with you?”

Lin Jindong's question left me somewhat at a loss, but I actually understood what he wanted to say.

My mother shamefully interfered in someone else's marriage. Perhaps, she was the culprit who caused their divorce.

Lin Jindong kept implying to me that Jiang Zhao's willingness to give money to his mother was largely due to me.

I couldn't help but step back a little. Lin Jindong suddenly reached out and grabbed me when I was about a body length away from him. He pulled me sharply towards him, and my carefully styled hair, which was draped over my shoulders, instantly fell apart. Caught off guard, I almost fell into his arms.

I think Lin Jindong also enjoys being in control and watching women submit to him.

However, unlike Jiang Zhao's open and aboveboard plunder and conquest, he is likely to have sadistic tendencies hidden beneath his handsome and mature appearance as a favored son of heaven. He enjoys controlling everything and demands that his opponents submit willingly.

“My intuition tells me that this has a lot to do with you being followed.” Lin Jindong looked into my eyes and said in a low voice, “Answer me, don’t lie to me, what exactly is your relationship with Jiang Zhao?”

"..." In that instant, his powerful aggression almost made me want to tell him what Jiang Zhao had told me.

But my mental defenses quickly rebuilt after a brief collapse.

This is Jiang Zhao's purpose in forcing me to bow down. If I tell everyone, it would be tantamount to admitting my relationship with him. He would then naturally have a way to withdraw the accusation and openly appear as my "owner" to take me home.

I quickly came up with a way to break the deadlock.

"Really, I didn't know about this." I choked up, my sobs were very faint, but Xu Ya in the art studio must have heard it. He appeared in front of me and Lin Jindong almost instantly, his tall and broad shoulders shielding me, and his striking black eyes were also looking at Lin Jindong, very wary.

At that moment, my voice suddenly stopped.

I saw Yu Xu appear on the other side of the corridor. He looked at me with a slight surprise.

I think he must have seen the pitiful way I was holding one man's hand and showing weakness to another. Unlike the person he knows, I'm probably very weak and habitually take advantage of men's feelings of pity and protectiveness to do things that are useful to me.

My sudden silence made Lin Jindong and Xu Ya notice Yu Xu, this uninvited guest.

Despite being stared at by two men, Yu Xu showed no unease or nervousness. Instead, he politely smiled and said, "I'll wait for you at the door, Jiang Fu."

Lin Jindong let me off the hook for now, saying, "It seems Miss Jiang has another appointment."

I lowered my head, which was taken as tacit agreement. I walked into the art studio, picked up my bag, and seeing that neither of the two men intended to stop me, I slowly moved to the lobby of the teaching building. Yu Xu was looking up at the huge decoration, and I walked a little closer to him.

He turned his head, and I couldn't wait to analyze and study the emotions in his eyes, but Yu Xu concealed them well and gave me a reassuring smile.

"Are you done with your work?" he asked with a smile.

"Yes, the prosecutor just asked me a few questions, it's nothing."

"Are you free to go to the movies with me tonight?" Yu Xu held out his hand to me. In his arms was a beautiful bouquet of jasmine flowers, tied with a light green and yellow ribbon. Tucked in the bouquet were the tickets for the movie we were going to see tonight. I suddenly noticed that his attire was somewhat different from his usual style.

I took the flowers he gave me, smiled at him, and said, "I've been waiting for you."

-

Outside the teaching building, Jiang Zhao's assistant saw Jiang Fu.

She was already holding a small bouquet of jasmine, which looked rather pathetic compared to the huge and delicate lychee roses held by the person behind her. But the assistant's intuition told him that even if he went up to her now, Jiang Fu would not be satisfied with all of this.

He cautiously made a phone call to his boss.

"Mr. Jiang, Miss Jiang seems to have a date tonight. Should we still give her this gift?"

"Where is she going, and what is she doing?"

The assistant was somewhat surprised to hear the cold voice on the other end of the line. Did Jiang Zhao really not care at all about the identity of his love rival?

"It seems... Miss Jiang is going to the movie theater."

“Then let’s buy all the movie screenings tonight,” Jiang Zhao’s voice carried a hint of malice. “I’ll accompany her and her date to watch a movie.”

[Author's Note]

Sorry to keep you all waiting. I went back to my hometown for the National Day holiday. Yesterday I was helping my parents pack and also saw some friends, so I forgot to post the update.

I've drafted an outline for the rest of the story. Since I really don't want to rush it, including the epilogue, it should be finished by the end of this month. During this time, I'll maintain daily updates (I'll try my best, because my work schedule ended in September, and I can take a breather and rest in October, which will allow me to finish this story in one go. I've also started writing some new stories and have a lot of inspiration.)