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When Jiang Mingzhuo's voice rang out, I even had a fleeting illusion that "I really escaped?"

Could Yu Xu just be a person I imagined to protect me out of fear?

Actually, I never escaped. I was under the control of those two brothers the whole time. All those messy things were just my dreams...

No, or maybe I haven't actually come out of this dream, and it's all just my hallucination?

"Speak." Seeing that I didn't move, Jiang Zhao was already on the verge of losing his temper: "You're short of men, aren't you?"

I slowly turned my head. In the darkness, Jiang Zhao's face was indistinct, his dark eyes were full of shadows, and his handsome face exuded a sense of madness suppressed to the extreme.

It's not a dream.

I know that if I just kneel down right now and tell them that Lin Jindong tricked me and that I knew nothing about it, I can obediently go back and continue living the life of a caged bird, wearing beautiful and luxurious clothes and enjoying their unique "love".

Why do I need to wake up? Wouldn't it be better to just live my whole life in a daze?

I bit my lip, tears slowly falling. At that moment, I didn't want to struggle anymore; I wanted to give in.

"Xiao Fu, your original boyfriend was harmed so badly by Ye Fenglin, and you still want to be with him?" Jiang Mingzhuo sat on the sofa not far away, his voice extremely relaxed. I could even picture him; he would definitely lend me a helping hand when Jiang Zhao "punished" me, creating the illusion that only he could protect me in this world.

He mentioned Yu Xu's name, and my resisting hands slowly stopped. I suddenly came to my senses.

I can't be afraid... I like Yu Xu, I hate them! I slowly calmed down and looked at Jiang Zhao, "You're dirty."

"What?" Jiang Zhao's face was in shadow, making it easy to tell that he was angry, and his tone was extremely nasty.

"I find you disgusting." I was calmer than I thought I would be. My voice was extremely soft, but full of disgust. "At least he doesn't have a fiancée. You do."

The lights above my head suddenly switched on the instant I finished speaking.

The entire room was as bright as day.

I turned my head and saw Jiang Mingzhuo stepping on the used balloons on the ground, the pile of stuff soiling his clean handmade leather shoes.

He showed no disgust and slowly approached, his features delicate but not effeminate, his eyelashes long, and a wicked smile playing on his lips.

Everything about Jiang Mingzhuo was fake; it was all a facade... @Unlimited great stories, all at Literary City

Seeing that I was staring blankly at my younger brother behind me, Jiang Zhao became even more dissatisfied. He pinched my cheek and said, "You dare to look down on me?"

"..." I refused to speak. Jiang Zhao stared coldly at my face, his voice chilling: "I'd like to see if you dare to complain about me being dirty if you marry me."

Jiang Zhao grabbed my hand, and I cried out in alarm, "Ah..." He was incredibly strong, and I couldn't resist. I could only let him push open the door and lift my limp body up.

"Brother, what are you going to do?" Jiang Mingzhuo frowned slightly.

Jiang Zhao's dark eyes were fixed on Jiang Mingzhuo, and the corners of his mouth slowly curled up.

The auction downstairs was completely unaffected by the power outage. The celebrities sat comfortably in their seats, while on stage, a steady stream of private collections of artworks, jewelry, and antique furniture donated to charity were brought in. They raised their paddles and bid with ease, creating a relaxed atmosphere.

The guests who can appear here are no longer just wealthy people invited by the Lin family to attend the banquet. They are top elites from all walks of life and old money families that have been rich for generations. Only they can meet and chat at such an auction.

Jiang Zhao pulled me along, with Jiang Mingzhuo following behind him, and we walked to the front row of the auction hall under everyone's gaze. Seated there were the Ye family, the Xie family, and the Lin family, the main figures of this charity gala.

All eyes turned to us. You see, although Jiang Zhao and Jiang Mingzhuo's parents were divorced, the two brothers each managed all the businesses of the Jiang and Jiang families.

After her divorce, Chiang's mother vowed never to remarry. Chiang Chao was the pampered heir of the Tai-Kuang Group, and he received rigorous training as a successor from a young age.

As he grew up, Chiang Chao became decisive and ruthless, ambitious and extremely goal-oriented. He appeared handsome and aloof on the surface, but in reality, he was ruthless and never let his personal feelings cause emotional fluctuations. The expansion of Tai Kwong Group in recent years is also inseparable from Chiang Chao's personality.

On the other hand, Jiang's father frequently cheated on his wife, yet he had no illegitimate children.

Rumor has it that Jiang's father has long suffered from oligospermia, and Jiang Mingzhuo is Jiang's mother's favorite youngest son, which is why she has such a purpose.

Although Jiang Mingzhuo stayed with her ex-husband, the family property still belonged to him, and no matter how much her father tried to cause trouble, he could do nothing about it.

Unlike his brother, Jiang Mingzhuo has a wide range of interests in artificial intelligence and aerospace investment, and even cooperates with federal security agencies. It is said that his studio has a firm grip on the entire federal population information and database.

To exaggerate a bit, the two brothers practically controlled most of the industries and resources in the entire Federation, to a degree that no one dared to underestimate or ignore.

All eyes turned to me. You see, Jiang Zhao and Jiang Mingzhuo are both very clean-living and have never had any scandals with women. For a girl like me, who isn't even considered a daughter of a wealthy family, to suddenly appear next to them is already enough to cause a huge gossip event that shakes up high society.

Jiang Zhao remained unmoved, grabbed me and pulled me to my seat, forcibly making me sit next to him.

The auction continued in this awkward situation, with no one daring to speak. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Ye Fenglin's fist clenched, as if he was about to rush forward at any moment. On the other side, Lin Jindong was beside his parents, seemingly indifferent, but I knew he was watching me.

No one dared to point fingers at Jiang Zhao.

Even though Jiang Zhao's fiancée was nearby, people acted as if they didn't see her. I believe that even if Jiang Zhao were surrounded by a dozen women right now, no one would be moved. This is the privilege that comes with being at the top of the social class.

"...The seventh exhibit is a set of personal jewelry worn by a female star from the golden age: a natural pearl and diamond necklace, as well as a set of brooches and rings. The starting bid is 2 million yuan. Let's admire its beauty first."

Many of the ladies around him were immediately impressed.

The pearls are round and lustrous, each one either perfectly round or teardrop-shaped, and set with diamond clasps specially designed for them by top jewelers. They are very understated yet beautiful, and even a layman like me can tell they are top-quality.

Soon, the girl sitting near me held up a sign.

"Ten thousand, is there anyone else who wants to take it away?" The auctioneer on the stage was elegant and spoke in a charming tone.

People nearby raised their paddles, and Xie's mother smiled and immediately raised the price to 4 million.

Jiang Zhao glanced at her, his face smiling but his eyes not, and nodded slightly.

Jiang Mingzhuo smirked, raised his paddle, and drove the price up to 5.5 million in one go. The people in the room started talking and turned to look at the two brothers, whose expressions remained unchanged.

Ms. Xie was slightly surprised, but her good manners and poise only made her purse her lips slightly. After considering it for a moment, she offered a price of 6 million.

"Raise the price."

"I know."

Jiang Zhao and Jiang Mingzhuo understood each other without saying a word. The auctioneer was surprised. "10,000 for the first time, 7 million for the second time..."

A clear sound.

"Sold for 10,000! This beautiful piece of jewelry belongs to Mr. Jiang."

Xie's mother's expression changed.

Next, whenever Xie's mother or Ye Fenglin's parents were interested in something, the brothers Jiang Zhao and Jiang Mingzhuo would buy it at a price several times higher than the auction price, as if they had agreed beforehand. During the intermission, the luxurious chandelier lights shone on the guests.

The younger generation was chatting outside, while the elders were resting.

Jiang Zhao took the initiative to get up and went to Ye's parents' side.

"Aunt Ye, I've already arranged for someone to deliver this set of gold-plated bone china plates to your home. Don't you like collecting tableware? I specially prepared this for you." Jiang Zhao's tail tip was slightly raised, making him appear indifferent. Although his tone was respectful, his condescending attitude was quite obvious.

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Upon hearing this, Madam Ye hesitated slightly. She even observed Jiang Zhao's expression and, finding that the young master was indeed not angry, politely thanked him, "Thank you, Young Master Jiang."

"You're too kind, but I have a favor to ask," Jiang Zhao said. "Tell your son to stay away from my woman, or next time it won't be as simple as a warning."

Ye's mother looked at Jiang Zhao cautiously, while Ye's father stood up readily, "Of course, Young Master Jiang, it was our Ye Zi who was too impulsive. I'll talk to him about it when I get back."

Ye's father has always been good at understanding people's thoughts and knows how to be flexible. He seems to have deep interests in the Taiguang Group and doesn't want me to offend Jiang Zhao.

After a while, Ye's father said politely, "Your Highness, please give my regards to Madam when you get back. She didn't come tonight, and I'm very worried about her health."

Jiang Zhao showed no displeasure whatsoever. His inherent sense of pride made him stand out, and he was not intimidated by these people who were almost a generation older than him.

He instructed his men to send the treasured items he had purchased to the Ye and Xie families, while the most expensive antique clock, which was worth nearly ten million, was given to the Lin family.

"Young Master Jiang, you're too kind." Mr. Lin said with a cautious smile, "Zhi'en is still chatting over there, so perhaps..."

"My engagement with her has been dissolved." Jiang Zhao said succinctly. Lin's father stared wide-eyed, looking incredulous, and even Xie's mother beside him showed a hint of surprise.

Jiang Zhao is the most legitimate heir to the Taiguang Group. From his time in the branch office during university to his current involvement in the core business of the entire conglomerate, he has long held power. Although he is a junior, these elders dare not neglect him in the slightest. His engagement seems to be just a casual remark, yet no one can disobey him.

Mr. Lin looked at him in surprise, "Young Master Jiang, is it because of our gratitude that you are dissatisfied? Or is it the banquet today..."

He couldn't continue, a hint of embarrassment on his face. You see, tonight, no matter who they met, Lin's parents seemed to keep mentioning Jiang Zhao, clearly already convinced he was their future son-in-law.

Jiang Zhaoqinggui's brows and eyes held a faint air of indifference and dominance, and his gaze was very imposing.

“It has nothing to do with her. I’m going to marry another woman.” Jiang Zhao brought me, who had been silent all along, to his side. Just a few hours ago, these upper-class people who looked at me as if I were an object to be discarded seemed to have changed their expressions towards me. Their eyes were full of inquiry and doubt, as if they were considering how to treat me.

Jiang Zhao had no intention of answering their questions.

He was only responsible for giving notifications, not for explaining anything. He was that kind of arrogant and haughty man. I was oblivious as he took my hand and led me out of the lounge. Jiang Zhao's voice was deep: "The rest is yours."

"..." I remained unmoved.

Outside in the corridor, Jiang Zhao grabbed my shoulder with his large hand, turned me around, and made me look at him.

His eyes suddenly changed, his jaw tightened, he raised his hand and pinched me, then suddenly sneered, "What, making that face, are you reluctant to part with Ye Fenglin?"

I looked towards the end of the corridor, where Jiang Mingzhuo stood alone, a bluish-white smoke slowly swirling around him. When he saw me, he immediately threw away his cigarette, as if he had been waiting for a long time, and slowly, calmly, curled his lips into a smile.

In my field of vision, Jiang Mingzhuo's expensive suit became distorted, gripping me like a death curse.

I suddenly remembered that Jiang Mingzhuo actually had little interest in cigarettes. He rarely smoked, and when he did, it meant he was in a bad mood and that someone was going to be in trouble.

I should have known from the night we first met at the luxury store... he had his eye on me all along.

My mind is eerily calm.

"Jiang Zhao, let go of Xiao Fu!"

Behind me, I heard Ye Fenglin's voice. Suddenly, I felt my breath catch in my throat. I bit my lip gently, and before I could turn around, I saw that Ye Fenglin had lost his usual composure. He strode up to Jiang Zhao and said, "What do you want to do with her? Let her go!"

"Who do you think you are?" Jiang Zhao's slightly furrowed brows revealed a domineering and possessive desire. He curled his lips into a cruel and cold smile, directly mocking Ye Fenglin: "Go back to your parents' arms and drink milk."

Ye Fenglin's face flushed red, and anger rose in his eyes. He knew that Jiang Zhao was mocking him, mocking him for not being financially independent and for having his parents pay for all the luxury goods and cars he bought with credit cards.

He was furious and reached out to hit Jiang Zhao.

Jiang Zhao remained calm, his cold eyes fixed on Ye Fenglin. He grabbed Ye Fenglin's collar and pressed down on him with his left arm and upper body weight. Ye Fenglin's hand had not fully recovered when Jiang Zhao kicked him in the abdomen. Ye Fenglin gritted his teeth to keep from making a sound of pain.

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"Wait a minute, Jiang Zhao."

Amidst the chaos, I heard Xie Yong's calm and arrogant voice, carrying a powerful chill.

Jiang Zhao glanced at him, his eyes casual yet arrogant.

They weren't far apart. Xie Yong was excessively calm, one hand in his pocket, proud and self-possessed, his aura no less imposing than Jiang Zhao's. He raised an eyebrow and said, "She stays. You can go with your brother."

"You decide?" Jiang Zhao asked.

"It's not me, and it's not you, it's her." Xie Yong stared at me intently, his usually calm eyes now filled with aggressive confidence. "Jiang Zhao, you're a gentleman, you should learn to respect a girl's opinion. If she's willing to go with you, I have nothing to say. But if she chooses to stay with me, and you try to force yourself on her in front of me, I will absolutely not allow it."