Chapter Seventy-Six: The Stubborn King Has a Successor
As Jiang followed Ming Sheng out of the building, he took a deep breath of the crisp early winter evening air, feeling the pent-up frustration in his chest finally dissipate somewhat. He glanced at the time, turned the steering wheel, and headed in another direction.
The flower baskets at the store entrance haven't all been taken down yet, but the excitement has already passed.
Just as Jiang Sui reached the door and took out his phone to call Luo Yan, Xu Jingfei strode over in her high heels: "Oh, President Jiang is here? Here to pick up Luo Yan?"
"Yes, hello Auntie."
"Good, very good!"
Xu Jingfei chuckled and pulled Jiang Sui into the store, saying, "Perfect timing! Let's use this as an advertising billboard!"
Jiang Sui: "?"
Before he could react, Xu Jingfei pressed him down onto the most conspicuous sofa in the reception area, pulled out a Polaroid camera, snapped a picture of him, and then proudly pasted the photo on the "Customer Satisfaction Wall" next to him.
"Look! The real-life version of the 'King of Gu' and the living version of the 'Walking Hormones'!"
Xu Jingfei enthusiastically promoted her product to several potential clients who were having consultations, saying, "This guy doesn't need a facial, but his girlfriend found a boyfriend like this after getting skin treatments at our shop. Go for it, ladies!"
Luo Yan came out and saw this scene. She quickly stepped forward to block Jiang Sui: "Ms. Xu, can you stop making a fuss? Jiang Sui is not a commodity. What kind of behavior is it to leave her here like this?"
Several young girls passing by were indeed attracted, their eyes lingering on Jiang Sui for a moment before they covered their mouths and giggled. Some even came up to ask questions. Seeing that she had an effect, Xu Jingfei beamed and picked up the product brochure, continuing her eloquent speech.
Jiang Sui felt like a mascot and closed his eyes helplessly.
Luo Yan looked at him apologetically: "Ms. Xu is in a good mood today, so please... just bear with it."
After closing the shop at night, Xu Jingfei shut the door, turned around and took out two bottles of red wine, slamming them onto the coffee table.
"President Jiang, we didn't get to drink enough last time, so let's continue today! To celebrate the opening of my new store, and also to wish you..." She glanced meaningfully at Luo Yan, "...successfully passed the 'cooling-off period'?"
"no!"
Luo Yan quickly stepped forward to stop her. Last time, Jiang Sui had no choice but to pretend to be drunk, but this time she couldn't let Xu Jingfei do whatever she wanted again.
"I'll drink with you, stop bothering Jiang Sui!"
"You?" Xu Jingfei looked her up and down. "You can't even handle one drink, don't make things worse!"
"I don't care, Jiang Sui won't drink it!" Luo Yan stood in front of her, like a cat protecting its cub.
Jiang Sui recalled how Luo Yan had kissed and hugged him and even pounced on him that night in Qingxi, and then denied everything afterwards. If she were to drink with Xu Jingfei, he would ultimately be the one to bear all the consequences.
Thinking of this, he calmly picked up the bottle opener: "Auntie's opening is a great occasion, she should have a few drinks. As for Luo Yan... we need to keep someone sober, right?"
Xu Jingfei smiled enigmatically: "Alright, President Jiang has the final say!"
Xu Jinglan sat with her legs crossed, cracking sunflower seeds. She had a feeling that this scene would be packed with substance.
After exchanging toasts, the two bottles of red wine were quickly emptied.
As Xu Jingfei got into high spirits after drinking, her cheeks flushed, she pointed at Jiang Sui and began to "lecture" him.
"I'm telling you... Luo Yan is my biological daughter..."
"Who said I was adopted? No need to emphasize that, right?" Seeing Xu Jingfei start talking nonsense again, Luo Yan just wanted to end the drinking party as soon as possible and reached out to snatch the wine bottle from her hand.
"Don't interrupt me!"
Xu Jingfei swung her hand, almost slapping Luo Yan across the face.
"She... is a bit stubborn, always arguing, and her bad temper is hard to tell who she got from, she's more stubborn than a donkey..."
"You never miss an opportunity to belittle me, do you?" Luo Yan couldn't help but roll her eyes.
"But!" Xu Jingfei shouted, slamming her hand on the table. "She's my daughter! If you dare treat her badly... I'll smash your car first... then have Luo Muyang kick you out of Feiyang... I know... a lot of people! I'll make sure you can't stay in Yu'an!" She then turned to Luo Yan, her eyes reddening, her voice lowering, "Yan Yan... I'm sorry..."
Luo Yan was stunned: "Why are you apologizing to me?"
"You look... like Luo Muyang... you fucking look alike!"
Xu Jingfei let out two muffled laughs, followed by a hiccup. She leaned on the table, clutching the bottle, her eyes glazed over.
“When I look at you, I’m reminded of myself back then…so young, before I’d even started anything, and…actually…I was…afraid of not being able to raise you properly, of not knowing how to be a mother…”
As she spoke, she grabbed a wine glass haphazardly and took another swig. "On another note... there are some things... I, as your mother... should have taught you a long time ago... not to go too far! Don't be like your father and me... if you're going to learn anything, learn something good, understand?"
Luo Yan felt a mix of emotions.
This queen, who usually acts all high and mighty, was now drunk and incoherent, saying things she had never said to her in over twenty years. Suddenly, I felt like laughing, but also a little heartbroken.
When stubbornness reaches its peak, even love is disguised as disdain.
Finally, Xu Jingfei managed to get herself drunk and pass out.
Xu Jinglan then stood up unhurriedly, took out her phone and made a call, "It's getting late, you guys go back first, I'll ask Luo Muyang to pick her up."
Luo Yan looked at Xu Jingfei, who was lying on the sofa and still muttering to herself: "When it comes to being stubborn, Ms. Xu is definitely a master."
Jiang Sui looked at her: "The king has a successor."
Luo Yan: "..."
It was already late at night when I got home.
Luo Yan dried her hair and came out, picked up Jiang Xiaosui, stroked her, and leaned on Jiang Xiaosui's shoulder.
How much longer will this busy period last?
Jiang Sui pulled over a wool blanket and wrapped Luo Yan and herself together, rubbing her arms.
"Don't get cold, go to sleep first."
"The heating is on, so it's not cold."
Luo Yan hesitated for a moment, then asked, "You went to Mingsheng today? Are you alright?"
“Hmm.” Jiang Sui said calmly, “He’s still not giving up and wants me to go back… By the way, I saw Wu Yuzhou when I went there.”
"Huh?" Luo Yan sat up straight, somewhat worried. "He knows your identity. Will he team up with your father to make things difficult for you?"
Jiang Sui smiled calmly: "I heard that Zhengwang's other two partners lost Feiyang's contract because of what Wu Yuzhou caused, so they wanted to break up the partnership and remove Wu Yuzhou from Zhengwang. He is now at his wit's end, so it's not surprising that he wants to climb up to Mingsheng. However, my dad probably won't believe him easily."
Luo Yan was still worried: "Be careful, your dad can stir up so much trouble without making a sound, I'm scared..."
Jiang Sui looked at her worried face, smiled, and changed the subject: "Instead of worrying about that, let's talk about when you're going to fulfill your promise to me in Qingxi?"
Luo Yan didn't react for a moment: "What is it?"
"A certain comrade promised to wear that dress for me," Jiang Sui reminded him, a mischievous smile in his eyes. "Now, not only have they gone back on their word, but they've also unilaterally extended the 'cooling-off period.' Shouldn't we settle this score?"
Luo Yan blushed and quickly denied it: "I didn't! Where's the evidence? Who heard me?"
"I heard it." Jiang Sui leaned closer to her, lowered his voice, and his warm breath brushed against her earlobe. "Not only did I hear it, but I also remember certain sensations very clearly. Do you need me to help you recall the details of that night?"
"I was drunk, so whatever I said or did doesn't count! Besides, our 'cooling-off period' isn't over yet, so all such requests are rejected!"
"Settle the interest first, so you don't have too many accounts to keep track of later."
"..."
Luo Yan snorted, flipped over and straddled his lap, wrapped her arms around his neck, and chuckled.
"Comrade Jiang Sui, if anyone should collect interest, it should be me."
"How does Comrade Naluoyan plan to accept it?"
Jiang Sui looked up at her, a playful smile in his eyes: "Want to try this position on the sofa?"
"Be serious!"
Luo Yan's heart raced as he flirted with her, but she tried her best to maintain a serious demeanor.
Who is that beautiful woman in the photo in your phone's photo album?
"My mother."
"..."
When Luo Yan saw it, her first thought was that it was some female celebrity she didn't recognize, and she felt a little jealous. She didn't even think about it that way.
"I thought..."
Jiang Sui smiled and hugged her tightly, "What did you think? Are you jealous of your mother-in-law?"
Luo Yan was a little embarrassed and annoyed: "Stop grinning! Let me ask you again, were you having a great time being surrounded by so many beautiful women at Ms. Xu's place today?"
"Only you can make me feel good..."
Jiang Sui gently nibbled at her bright red earlobe and stroked her neck. "You changed your shower gel? It smells so good..."
This man is a source of trouble! This is intolerable!
Luo Yan turned his face and sealed his lips with a kiss, her tongue teasing his lips. The man's body quickly became hot.
"I'm not drunk today..."
"I'm drunk..."
Jiang Sui closed the laptop with one hand, quickly tore open her pajamas, and pulled the wool blanket over her. The warm and soft touch slid over her bare skin, making her feel numb all over. Her ambition to stand up instantly melted into a puddle of water.
...
When Luo Yan woke up, she found that her head was still resting on Jiang Sui's arm.
She snuggled closer to him, listening to his steady, strong heartbeat, and a lingering worry silently crept into her heart again.
He must be under a lot of pressure lately, but he acted nonchalantly in front of her.
She says she's stubborn, but isn't he just as stubborn?
Luo Yan quietly leaned over and lightly kissed the corner of his tightly pursed lips.
"Jiang Sui, I love you."
She paused unconsciously, her face flushed, and she quickly shrank back under the covers, repeatedly reassuring herself: He's asleep, he didn't hear me...
At this moment, Jiang Sui suddenly turned over and pulled her into his arms.
Luo Yan froze for a moment. He wasn't asleep? Then what she said...
For a long time, Jiang Sui remained silent and did not open her eyes, as if her actions just now were merely instinctive.
Luo Yan felt a little disappointed.
This is the only time I'll say something cheesy. Who told him to sleep so soundly? This is my last chance!
She closed her eyes with relief, found a more comfortable position in his arms, and fell into a deep sleep.
Jiang Sui slowly opened her eyes and looked out at the dark sky through the gap in the curtains.
Soon, a heavy snowfall will arrive.
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