Chapter 71: The Two Brothers Appear
"It's been a long time, let's get a divorce."
Christmas
I worked at the store for over two years. Some men confessed their feelings to me, while others asked if I would be their mistress. The most outrageous one was a man who came to the department store with roses in his sports car and demanded that I agree to date him.
This is the first time I've ever encountered a man who proposes to me so forcefully and coldly.
Actually, I know very well that when faced with a man from this class, I have no choice but to pray that he is a gentleman and will not bother me after being rejected.
Fortunately, most of the men I met would mysteriously disappear after expressing their passionate pursuit of me.
I haven't even seen many of those men in the store since.
I've run into a few people on the street occasionally, but they avoid me like the plague, as if I were some terrible monster.
This made me feel relieved, but at the same time, I had a vague feeling that something was strange.
Is it good or bad? Asking me that in this way...
The man in front of me seemed to have given me a choice, but I knew that I had no choice or room to resist at all.
“You don’t even know my name, yet you’re telling me all this… Sir, please don’t be joking.”
My body kept leaning back, even pressing against the sofa, my long eyelashes blinking frantically, concealing the tension and fear beneath.
His gaze fell, glancing at my suit jacket. "Jiang Fu." He looked at the name on the nameplate, raising an eyebrow.
“I don’t know your name, sir,” I said, looking at his sharp, imposing face. “Besides, don’t you think your request is a bit too abrupt? Do you propose to every woman you’ve only met once?”
Upon hearing this, he released his hand. I was relieved for only a second before I saw his expression suddenly become profound, his eyes cold yet sharp.
"I'm not interested in other women."
A deep, sharp male voice suddenly rang in my ears. I was stunned and stared at him, speechless for a long time.
"I...I have someone I like, your younger brother, Jiang Mingzhuo." I bit my lip and explained to him. In order to dissuade him from his idea, I had to bring up his younger brother, hoping that he would give up.
really.
He squinted at me, his gaze turning cold, but he didn't seem surprised.
I tried my best to appear completely at ease.
After a short while, he lazily spoke up: "It's him? It's alright, he doesn't mind."
I was completely stunned. I stared at him, my lips trembling. "He's your brother. You...you want to steal him away?"
“It’s not robbery,” Jiang Zhao said with a faint, enigmatic smile. His demeanor was always cold and noble, and even when he smiled, it carried an aggressive and oppressive quality.
“You were always mine. And call me by my name. Jiang Zhao.”
Faced with such a shameless man, I couldn't utter a single word. I tried to find an excuse, "Mr. Jiang, there are other guests waiting for me, I have to go over there."
As soon as I finished speaking, I moved away from him, but his muscular arm went across my waist and blocked my way.
I immediately turned to look at him. His features were already sharp and handsome, and as he slowly moved closer to me, his masculine aura grew stronger. I stood there, desperately trying to figure out how to make him back off. "I... I'm dating several guys at the same time. You're not my type..."
Suddenly he spoke up: "It's alright."
His voice was low and strong, and he said in my ear, "I can accept anyone, whoever you like."
My face instantly turned bright red, and my mouth was heaving violently. I simply couldn't imagine that such a handsome and aloof man would say something so crazy. What did he mean by "anything is acceptable"? Did he like open marriage?
No, that's insane.
I thought he was joking, but his overly dark and deep eyes didn't seem like he was making fun of me at all.
"Xiao Fu!" Lu Qixi hurried upstairs, seemingly oblivious to the awkward silence between me and the man in front of me. She cheerfully called out to me, "Mr. Jiang is waiting for you downstairs, do you want to..."
Jiang Zhao looked over with some displeasure, and his arrogant and condescending demeanor startled Lu Qixi.
She stammered, "Xiao Fu, I..."
"I'm coming right away." I forced a smile, then turned to look at Jiang Zhao. "I won't be with you. I'll take what you said tonight as you being drunk, sir. Merry Christmas in advance."
That's terrifying.
My high heels made a rapid sound on the steps, and I sped up, almost as if I were running away. I almost missed a step on the last few steps, but luckily the man who had reached the middle of the first and second floors reached out in time and pulled me into his arms, preventing me from falling to the ground.
I looked up and saw Jiang Mingzhuo's narrow eyes with upturned corners and thin lips curved at the corners, exuding a gentle aura.
"Don't be afraid, Xiao Fu." He helped me up, his hands gripping my shoulders tightly. The firm strength made me feel as if he were my support.
I gently rested my head on his shoulder, "Your brother..."
Before I could finish speaking, I heard footsteps passing by. Jiang Zhao from upstairs came down and saw me in Jiang Mingzhuo's arms. I buried myself in Jiang Mingzhuo's chest. I noticed that Jiang Mingzhuo smiled and hugged me.
“You’re faster than I expected,” Jiang Mingzhuo said to his brother, his tone not exactly friendly.
The man did not respond. When I belatedly looked up, Jiang Zhao was no longer there, and even Lu Qixi had returned to the first floor at some point.
There were no other guests at the moment, only Jiang Mingzhuo smiling at me with deep affection in his eyes, even his movements as he touched my hair were gentle and careful.
"I'm sorry, I scared you." Jiang Mingzhuo said to me apologetically, "It seems my brother knows about my relationship with you... He's always liked to take everything from me since we were little, including the girls I care about."
I breathed softly, looking at him. Jiang Mingzhuo was still gentle. "It's my fault for not protecting you well, making you so scared."
"No..." I took a deep breath and shook my head at him. "I'm fine. What brings you here?"
“I came to pick you up and ran into your friend. She said you seemed to be being harassed by a man upstairs. I was worried about you, so I came in to check on you.” His tone softened even more. “Xiao Fu, don’t be afraid. Just rely on me. I will always take care of you.”
Unbeknownst to me, the man's fingers were stroking my shoulder. He repeatedly emphasized that he could protect me, urging me to rely on him completely.
His embrace was warm and forceful, as if I could escape all my troubles simply by being in his arms.
The watch under the man's cuff was pressed against my waist, cold and icy, giving me a strange shiver.
He held me in his arms, causing my feet, which were wearing high heels, to slightly lift off the ground.
We were in the stairwell, and I couldn't lean against the wall, which made me feel extremely insecure. I could only rely on him for support; if I tried to escape his embrace, I would immediately fall to the ground in a sorry state.
"Mingzhuo, I feel much better, thank you." I struggled slightly.
A hug is supposed to be a comforting gesture, but this controlling posture makes me feel inexplicably uneasy.
He tightened his arms and his chest trembled slightly. I knew he was smiling. He continued to promise me, "Xiao Fu, I know you've always been a very independent girl, but even if I pick you up and drop you off every day, you'll still run into trouble when I can't see you, especially in the store. Every day, men with ill intentions approach you, and I can't protect you all the time."
"Xiao Fu, after tonight, quit this job, okay? I'll help you find a safer one. If you'd like, I can help you open an art gallery."
His voice was soft, sounding like he was trying to comfort me, but it was undeniable, as if he was certain that my job would run into trouble.
My mind was a bit of a mess, but I knew I couldn't give myself completely to Jiang Mingzhuo, nor could I be like a bird that can't live without its master, kept in a gilded cage by his side all the time.
"No need, Mingzhuo." I reached out and hugged him tightly, and he stiffened.
"I know you're worried about me and want what's best for me, but I've been doing this part-time job for a long time. I'll take good care of myself, so don't worry. You're so gentle; you're spoiling me." I thanked him as gently as possible, looking up at him.
I thought he would be happy. But instead of a smile, Jiang Mingzhuo's handsome face seemed to freeze.
I gently bit my lip, and Jiang Mingzhuo's thin lips curved into a faint smile, exuding languor and elegance. "Okay, I'll listen to you. I'll wait for you outside."
"Okay, I'm almost off work," I said, gently wriggling out of his embrace.
That evening, I still invited Lu Qixi to ride home with me. After dropping her off, Jiang Mingzhuo didn't say much on the way. I opened my bag and searched through it several times, finally confirming one thing: the lipstick I had just bought was missing.
That's strange. I clearly put it in my bag this morning. Could someone have taken it?
The man next to me saw me struggling to find something while holding the lunchbox, a smile playing on his lips. He took the box from my hand and asked, "What's this?"
"I made a banana cake, which I originally wanted to give to you, but it was a bit late this morning and the cake got cold, so I ate some of it for lunch." As soon as I finished speaking, Jiang Mingzhuo opened the lunchbox. The cake, which had originally looked quite good, had become incredibly soft after a day, but he didn't seem to care at all and picked up a piece.
"It's delicious," he praised softly.
"..." I blinked, and he seemed a little dazed.
Is it really that bad? I couldn't help but reach out and try it myself. The banana was sweet, and the cake tasted pretty refreshing. Before I could even say anything, Jiang Mingzhuo suddenly reached out and hugged my waist. I tensed up and looked up at him.
His palm was on my waist, and my heart pounded. I shrank back, but Jiang Mingzhuo's fingers gripped my neck, preventing me from escaping. With his other hand, he lifted the back of the sofa.
The back seat has a lot of space.
Jiang Mingzhuo paused for a moment. I met his unfathomable eyes. It would be a lie to say I wasn't nervous, but when I smelled the silvery mountain spring scent on him and felt the burning heat of his palm against my waist, I remembered those dreams again. My body was also screaming that maybe... I need a man.
I stopped struggling.
Seeing this, Jiang Mingzhuo used his large hands to apply a little force and let me sit on his lap. I looked down at him from above. He bent one long leg and squinted his eyes slightly. At this moment, the light inside the car was dim, and he and his brother were so similar that I could hardly tell them apart.
His eyes, in particular, held a certain pressure. As I looked at him, my gaze moved down to his nose and thin lips. Jiang Mingzhuo loosened his tie, revealing his collar and shamelessly displaying his overly sexy Adam's apple and collarbone.
“This is the first gift I’ve ever received from you,” Jiang Mingzhuo’s voice came through.
“That doesn’t count as a gift…” I said in a low voice. Almost instantly, he leaned forward and pressed his hand against my neck. I instinctively raised my hand to support myself on his shoulder. His thin lips landed on my lips, and after a while, they moved to my neck.
I started trembling as I recalled that dream.
Jiang Mingzhuo chuckled softly, very gently. He put his big hand around my waist, pried open my lips, and thrust his long tongue straight in. He wasn't too forceful or domineering, and he was even considerate of my feelings. His kissing skills were really amazing, and I couldn't resist at all. Before long, I went from sitting on top of him to being pinned down in the car seat by him.
I hadn't changed out of my high heels. I was leaning against his strong, slender waist. His fingers were nimble as he opened my shirt, revealing my plump, soft nipples. He was making a suggestive, almost suggestive gesture, while his other hand skillfully caressed the small fruit. The stimulating sound of water made my eyelashes and body tremble. My shirt slipped off one shoulder.
You have to keep your toes taut just to keep your toes from slipping off the high heels.
"...No, we're not wearing a condom." I suddenly opened my eyes, raised my hand to press against Jiang Mingzhuo's lips, stopping him from doing anything further.
You have to keep your toes taut just to keep your toes from slipping off the high heels.
He opened his eyes, pressed his lips to mine, and smiled. "Don't be afraid. Marry me, and if you get pregnant, give birth to the baby. I promise she will be the happiest child in the world."
"No..." My ears burned slightly as I listened. Fortunately, the partition between the cars had already been raised, so the driver in the front seat couldn't hear our intimate conversation. My face flushed. I didn't want to resolve this matter in the car by myself.
Jiang Mingzhuo looked at me, hooked his fingertips on the thin shoulder strap, and pulled my shoulder back. My softness pressed against his hard chest, and my whole face turned red. Jiang Mingzhuo buttoned up my shirt, put on my high heels, and gently tucked my slightly messy hair behind my ears.
"Xiao Fu is so beautiful, and she smells wonderfully of jasmine..." Jiang Mingzhuo continued kissing my neck, reluctant to let go. "I can't live without you, Xiao Fu. Let's be together forever, okay?"
Hearing the same tone from Jiang Zhao, my body suddenly trembled. Jiang Mingzhuo noticed the subtle change in my body, simply holding me tighter and not continuing.
The car stopped in front of the apartment building. As usual, I went inside the apartment before the car drove away. But unlike usual, a pure black Cullinan was parked on the street sometime during the day. A little while later, that car also left.
When I got home, I felt a little annoyed by my impulsiveness. When I saw myself in the mirror, I was startled. My eyes were brimming with tears, my lips were cherry-colored from being kissed, and there were traces of Jiang Mingzhuo's pecks on my neck. I exuded a natural and alluring charm.
"..." I quickly splashed water on my face, obediently removed my makeup, took a shower, and went back to bed.
I had another dream tonight.
Unlike the inescapable dreams of the past, today's dream was eerily peaceful. I only saw myself being thrown onto the bed by a man, who was gripping my shoulders. My eyelashes trembled as I struggled to lift my head.
In that instant, I was stunned. Because in my dream, Jiang Zhao's face appeared so clearly.
Mature, assertive, with a chilling coldness in his eyes that instilled fear in me.
"How far have things progressed between you and him? Did he touch you?" He reached out and gripped my neck. "And you, have you fallen for him too? How many times have you met him behind my back? How many times have you slept together? When did you two start dating?"
My mind was a mess, and I didn't even have time to figure out who the "other man" in his words was. My eyes darted around nervously. This was clearly a bedroom, and it was more luxurious than I had ever seen in my life. On the wall hung a photo of me wearing a light pink wedding dress, a flower crown, and holding a man's hand. I looked delicate and beautiful.
This dream was so real; I could see even the smallest details clearly.
"Don't do this..." I tried desperately to regain control in the dream, but the "me" who was being controlled in the dream seemed to be the real protagonist. She struggled and said, "Let me go."
She seems to be "me", yet she also seems not to be "me".
She appeared even more delicate, beautiful, and vulnerable, yet frighteningly calm, unmoved by her husband's anger.
"Speak," he said in a deep voice, lifting my chin more forcefully with his fingers, the wedding ring on his ring finger gleaming.
I had no idea who he was talking about, but in this dream, "I," or "she," faced with this powerful and aloof man, could only lower my eyelashes and softly apologize, "I'm sorry..."
"You admit it." Jiang Zhao released her instead, looking down at her. "How long have you been having an affair with Xie Yong?"
"It's been a long time, let's get a divorce." She said calmly.
Jiang Zhao looked at her, his deep voice carrying a hint of ruthlessness, "It's okay, he deliberately seduced you, I don't blame you. Xiao Fu, you're sick, be good and take your medicine and get your injections, you'll get better."
Her eyes remained expressionless as she silently looked up at her husband. Jiang Zhao pressed down on her waist with one hand and ruthlessly lifted her skirt.
"Ah!" We both screamed at the same time. Unlike her helpless struggle, I woke up, covered in sweat, my body trembling uncontrollably.
[Author's Note]
In the third playthrough, I think everyone can see that Jiang Mingzhuo is still slowly controlling her, but he's chosen a relatively gentle and tender method. Because she has amnesia and knows nothing, Jiang Mingzhuo wants to continue reinforcing the concept that "only he can protect her," making her resistant and afraid of any man, thus bringing her back to his side. So, he always appears perfectly as a "protector" beside Xiao Fu whenever other men appear.
In this playthrough, Xiaofu needs to regain her memories, and her dreams are key. Therefore, she will be more proactive with men this time. Because she has lost her memories, she treats herself as an equal in her interactions with the Celestial Dragons (in the first two playthroughs, she had to submit to Yuu). In the early stages of the third playthrough, she won't take a fast-paced, chaotic, or intense approach. Each man will appear one by one, but after trying them all, she feels none are suitable, yet each seems to subtly satisfy her. So, even after regaining her memories, she will have the upper hand and tamed all these men. Of course, Xiaofu will ultimately choose the one she likes best.
In the initial draft of this chapter, Jiang Zhao was completely different—gentle, patient, a good listener, and even wiping away Xiao Fu's tears. After finishing the draft, I realized this made him seem like Lin Jindong. In reality, seeing her cry only made Jiang Zhao want to sit with her more; he soothed her tears rather than wiped them away. While such a powerful person can change, their fundamental character cannot be drastically altered. This is where the good and bad in each person's life, as I mentioned earlier, come in. Although Jiang Zhao isn't a great person, he listens to Xiao Fu and makes her happy. In the dream, Xiao Fu has lost her memories and feels no fear. Jiang Zhao even stirred up her inner desires, so Xiao Fu thought, "Hey, it might be worth a try..."
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