《The Substitute Bride and the Cripple》


 Chapter 1 - The Substitute Bride

    <h4>Chapter 1: The Substitute Bride</h4>


    <h4></h4>


    Standing in front of the mirror in an ill-fitting wedding gown, Tang Qiu studied her reflection and felt the corner of her lips twist into a wry smile.


    ¡°Sign this contract.¡±


    Tang Qiu caught the document that Feng Guo¡¯an tossed at her. Her eyes traveled to the bottom of the page, where her husband-to-be¡¯s signature stared back at her:?<i>Jiang Shaocheng.?</i>The handwriting was neat, as though in fine print, but the pen had been gripped with enough force for the ink to have bled through the other side of the paper.


    ¡°You¡¯ll be well taken care of as his wife. But¡­ ¡± warned Feng Guo¡¯an, ¡°¡­ you¡¯d better behave.¡± An edge crept into his voice, like the hints of a dark cloud looming over the horizon. ¡°Think about what will happen to your grandmother if you ruin everything.¡±


    It should have been Feng Lu in her ce, Tang Qiu thought. But Feng Lu hadn¡¯t wanted to marry a man on the verge of death¨Cwhy would she? She had fled just a few hours before her wedding. But to tell the groom¡¯s family the truth would be nothing short of insulting, even humiliating, which was why Feng Guo¡¯an had¨Crather callously¨Cthreatened Tang Qiu with her grandmother¡¯s life to coerce her into taking Feng Lu¡¯s ce.


    And so, to protect her grandmother, Tang Qiu found herself dressed in a wedding gown that had belonged to another woman; the bride-to-be of the sickly eldest son of the Jiang family.


    Feng Guo¡¯an might insist that it was a privilege to be in her shoes, but Tang Qiu knew better. If she were truly all that lucky, why would Feng Lu have run away in the first ce?


    ¡°You¡¯re right,¡± Tang Qiu replied, her voice smooth and clear. ¡°Thank you for your reminder. If not, the small matter of my bing the young mistress of the Jiang family would have slipped my mindpletely. Although¡­ correct me if I¡¯m wrong, but my new status would make it incredibly easy to punish those who try to hurt me, wouldn¡¯t it?¡±


    Feng Guo¡¯an¡¯s expression changed instantly.


    Tang Qiu raised her head to look him in the eye, all demure and innocent. ¡°So don¡¯t hurt my grandmother. She¡¯s the only family I have left, after all. If something happened to her, I can¡¯t imagine what I¡¯d be capable of.¡±


    ¡°You¡­¡± Feng Guo¡¯an seethed. He opened his mouth, as if to hurl more verbal abuse at her. But at that moment, the staff came to inform them that it was time for the bride to take her ce. mping down on his fury, Feng Guo¡¯an smoothed his expression over and brusquely escorted her into full view of the guests.


    Slowly, Tang Qiu made her way to the center. The veil hid her face from the sea of guests around her, but it failed to block their whispers and snickers.


    ¡°Who would have thought that even a sickly whelp like Jiang Shaocheng would find himself a bride?¡±


    ¡°I hear that he¡¯s practically on his deathbed and he¡¯s only marrying the Fengs¡¯ daughter to improve his luck and prolong his life.¡±


    ¡°The Fengs? Their brazen hussy of a daughter? I heard she was throwing herself at a man she met at a party not long ago. Young Master Jiang must be begging to be cuckolded.¡±


    ¡°Speaking of which, the bride¡¯s a little on the skinny side, isn¡¯t she? She can barely hold up that gown of hers, if you catch my meaning.¡±


    With each step, Tang Qiu ignored the murmurs of the throng, her gaze fixed on the man in the wheelchair in front of her. A mask covered the bottom half of his face, but his eyebrows were set in two gentle lines. Sporadically, he would let out a cough or two, his fists clenching in a valiant attempt to control himself and avoid disrupting the wedding, but he only seeded in making himself cough harder.


    It went on for so long that Tang Qiu couldn¡¯t help but wonder if he would even survive the wedding.?<i>I would enter a bride and leave a widow,?</i>she thought humorlessly.


    Feng Guo¡¯an must have been afraid that the wretched, pitiful noises tearing from her husband-to-be¡¯s chest were the result of some kind of infectious disease; after cing Tang Qiu¡¯s hand into Jiang Shaocheng¡¯s, he wasted no time in covering his nose and hurrying off.


    The pastor began reciting the ceremonial vows. He asked Tang Qiu, ¡°Do you agree to take this man as your husband, for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health, from this day till yourst day?¡±


    Did she really have a choice, when she had already signed the marriage contract? She rolled her eyes behind the veil. ¡°I do.¡±


    The pastor repeated the question to the groom, who responded with several violent coughs before mustering the strength to say, ¡°I do.¡±


    ¡°Then I pronounce you both husband and wife. You may now kiss the bride.¡±


    No sooner than he had uttered the words did a look of mortification spread across the pastor¡¯s face. If simply swearing his vows had been such an impossible feat, surely this wheelchair-ridden man wasn¡¯t capable of sharing a kiss with his bride. He was about to rescind what he had said when Tang Qiu bent down and lifted her veil over her husband¡¯s head, shielding them both from view.


    It was said that two became one beneath a wedding veil. Tang Qiu had been prepared for this moment ever since she donned her gown. She might have been forced into this position by Feng Guo¡¯an to ward off the Jiang family¡¯s outrage, but she needed the power of the Jiang family name to keep her grandmother safe. The longer her husband lived, the better.


    Tang Qiu pulled down his mask, revealing the lower half of his face, which was decorated in a pattern of hideous scars. The sight was repulsive¨Chorrifying, even¨Cbut Tang Qiu pretended not to notice. ¡°The ceremony ispleted. The contract has been signed,¡± she said, keeping her face neutral. ¡°We are husband and wife now. What you cannot do alone, I can help you with.¡±


    Without the mask to conceal his visage, she could see Jiang Shaocheng¡¯s features creasing in a slight frown, presumably at not being given the chance to speak. But then he took in her words, and she caught the hints of a glimmer in his eye.

 Chapter 2 - My Name is Feng Lu

    <h4>Chapter 2: My Name is Feng Lu</h4>


    <h4><strong>Trantor: </strong>As Studios <strong> Editor: </strong>As Studios</h4>


    On the surface, Tang Qiu was calm, but her palms were sticky with sweat. She had never been this close to a man before, and now she would have to be the one to lean in, to press her lips to his; someone who was essentially a stranger¡­


    Best get it over with quickly.


    Summoning her will, Tang Qiu shut her eyes and nted a kiss on his thin lips, before pulling his mask back in ce and getting to her feet.


    Jiang Shaocheng was startled by her brisk, businesslike actions. His gaze narrowed, simmering with unreadable depths. Had this woman really just kissed him so boldly?


    As Tang Qiu rose, her veil swept off his head, but her scent, faint though it was, lingered. He let his eyes slide down. On the inside, however, he was filled with a new, burning certainty.


    This woman was not Feng Lu.


    Jiang Shaocheng was in poor health, and no activities followed the wedding ceremony. His butler, Uncle Wang, helped push his wheelchair to bring him home to his mansion.


    Tang Qiu and Jiang Shaocheng sat together in the backseat of his car. The sun streamed through the windows, illuminating the side of Jiang Shaocheng¡¯s face. His eyshes were long and thick, and the slope of his nose was high and straight. The burns had ruined half his features, but from where they now sat shrouded in the shadows, the unmarked half of his face was wless¨Ca work of perfection, gilded by the sun¡¯s rays.


    It was as though he were half an angel, and half a demon.


    Without warning, her husband turned his head to her. Tang Qiu didn¡¯t have time to avert her gaze. Their eyes met, and she felt a twinge of embarrassment at having been caught staring.


    Jiang Shaocheng reached out a hand and grazed the spotless white fabric of her veil. ¡°Aren¡¯t you going to take this off?¡± he reminded her, chuckling.


    There had been rumors that Jiang Shaocheng¡¯s wounds had made him irritable, with an erratic temper. It seemed they weren¡¯t true after all.


    Tilting her head towards him, Tang Qiu asked tentatively, ¡°Will you help me?¡±


    She had only been half-expecting him to agree, but, with a hint of yfulness, he brushed the veil back from her face, then lingered to tuck her slightly ruffled locks of hair behind her ear. Despite the cold sensation of his touch, Tang Qiu noted how gentle his actions were.?<i>His temper is much better than I imagined,?</i>she mused<i>. Maybe being his wife won¡¯t be so bad after all.?</i>


    ¡°What¡¯s your name?¡± he asked unexpectedly.


    ¡°Me?¡± Tang Qiuughed, trying to cover up her surprise. ¡°I¡¯m Feng Lu, you know that.¡±


    Jiang Shaocheng fixed her with a piercing, intent look, like a physical weight in her chest was pinning her to her seat. But in the next instant, there was only gentleness in his eyes, and she wondered if that fleeting sense of suffocation had been her imagination.


    With a shake of her head, Tang Qiu took his hand in hers. ¡°Alright. Allow me to properly introduce myself, then. My name is Tang Qiu, your newwfully wedded wife.¡±


    ¡°Tang? You¡¯re not from the Feng family?¡±


    Tang Qiu shook her head again. ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter who I am. All you need to know is that Feng Lu didn¡¯t want to marry you. But I do.¡±


    Jiang Shaocheng nodded, then leaned back in his seat. His brows furrowed, as if from weariness.


    Tang Qiu stared at him in silent disbelief. That was it? Wasn¡¯t he acting¡­ a little too calm?


    She eyed Jiang Shaocheng for a while longer, but his exhaustion must have been contagious; after a while, she felt her eyelids drooping. She decided to follow suit, allowing herself to drift to sleep in the backseat of the car.


    ...


    After they had alighted from the car and he was pushing Jiang Shaocheng to his chambers, Uncle Wang asked, ¡°Young Master, do you want me to send this woman back home? As a warning to the Fengs?¡±


    The Feng family had truly gone too far, picking some woman off the streets to y the role of the bride during the wedding today. How could they let such disrespect for Young Master Jiang slide?


    Jiang Shaocheng¡¯s eyes were gentle, without a hint of anger, and his voice held no weight to it; he appeared extremely frail. ¡°Never mind that. Sometimes, mistakes are not necessarily bad things.¡±


    Uncle Wang protested, ¡°But you¡¯re¡­¡±


    Jiang Shaocheng lifted a hand, and Uncle Wang fell silent. Tang Qiu was right. It didn¡¯t matter which family his wife came from¨Conly that she had married him out of her free will. ¡°Let me see the marriage contract.¡± After confirming that Tang Qiu had indeed signed the contract, Jiang Shaocheng returned it to Uncle Wang. ¡°Take this and prepare the marriage certificate.¡±


    Uncle Wang was shocked. ¡°Young Master, we don¡¯t even know who this woman is or where she came from. Do you really want her for a wife?¡± The marriage certificate was much more than just a piece of paper. If this woman harbored any secret schemes, she could walk away with half the young master¡¯s fortune anytime she wished¨Chundreds of millions of dors, at that!


    Uncle Wang was about to insist that his young master rethink his decision when there was a knock on the door. Warily, he opened the door, only to find Tang Qiu standing there. The young woman¡¯s gown was too loose for her shape, but her features were delicate, fine, pretty, and behind her rosebud lips, her teeth were pearly white.


    So?<i>this?</i>was why his young master was refusing to send back his bride?


    <i>The little temptress.?</i>Uncle Wang was unable to prevent a sh of disdain across his face. ¡°The young master needs to rest. You¡­¡±

 Chapter 3 - Will You Teach Me?

    <h4>Chapter 3: Will You Teach Me?</h4>


    <h4><strong>Trantor: </strong>As Studios <strong> Editor: </strong>As Studios</h4>


    Before the butler could finish, a feeble voice traveled from inside the bedroom, punctuated by a cough. ¡°Is that you, Tang Qiu? Come in.¡±


    Tang Qiu arched one brow at the butler, who had no choice but to step aside and let her in.


    Jiang Shaocheng¡¯s bedroom was sparsely furnished, a stark canvas of ck and white that was almost stifling to look upon. He was still in his wheelchair. He coughed several times before turning his gaze to Tang Qiu in an unspoken question.


    ¡°I¡¯ve never been anyone¡¯s wife before,¡± she exined. ¡°I thought I¡¯d¡­e and ask what duties are required of me.¡±


    The words were poised to leave Jiang Shaocheng¡¯s tongue, to assure her that nothing was needed of her, but then he changed his mind. ¡°The room is a little warm. If you don¡¯t mind¡­ you could help me change my clothes.¡± He was still dressed in his formal suit from the wedding.


    Tang Qiu nodded, moving to unbutton his suit with deft fingers. As she was removing his jacket, their eyes met. She didn¡¯t resist, allowing him to observe her. Once his jacket was off, Tang Qiu reached out to unbutton his shirt, but he stopped her, saying, ¡°I can manage this on my own.¡±


    Tang Qiu didn¡¯t argue. ¡°Okay. You might have a harder time with your pants, though, so let me help you with them.¡±


    Jiang Shaocheng didn¡¯t respond.


    Despite her initial assertiveness, Tang Qiu soon found herself struggling with the task. She had never had cause to unfasten a man¡¯s belt before, and after several failed attempts, she was forced to ask for help. ¡°Could you show me how to do this?¡±


    Wordlessly, Jiang Shaocheng took hold of her soft, small hands and guided them to the hidden buckle at the side of his belt. With a click, the belt came undone.


    ¡°A hidden buckle,¡± Tang Qiu murmured, fascination ying across her face. ¡°I see.¡± Briskly, without giving him a chance to refuse, she pulled down his pants.


    Jiang Shaocheng had been prepared to tell her to let the butler assist him instead. He fell silent, feeling the chilly air caress his lower body. While removing his pants, Tang Qiu could not help her skin grazing his. Her fingertips were warm and soft, brushing across his legs like the kiss of a feather. Her eyes traveled the length of his legs¨Cslender, well-muscled, and full of strength.


    Jiang Shaocheng found himself helpless but to sit under her unconcealed scrutiny. He ced both hands on his knees in a futile attempt at modesty. ¡°Thank you. Please ask Uncle Wang toe in.¡±


    <i>He doesn¡¯t need my help anymore?</i>?Tang Qiu was about to insist that she was just as capable of assisting him, when he interjected, seemingly anticipating her response, ¡°Forgive me. I¡¯d like to preserve a little dignity.¡± His gaze dropped to his bare legs, and for the first time, beneath his gentle and cid demeanor, she glimpsed a flicker of forlornness.


    ¡°Apologies,¡± she blurted out. ¡°I didn¡¯t think of it that way.¡± Helping him remove his pants was vastly different from helping him wear them; no doubt a man of Jiang Shaocheng¡¯s status would be conscious of being reduced to such a vulnerable state in front of others.


    Uncle Wang entered. His eyes widened when he caught sight of Jiang Shaocheng¡¯s exposed legs. ¡°Young Master! How could that woman have been so bold? What was she thinking? Did she force you?¡±


    Jiang Shaocheng¡¯s dark eyes flickered his way. He rose from the wheelchair, crossing the room in a few sure-footed strides to pull on a pair of trousers. Standing tall and upright in front of the full-length mirror, he took off his mask, and the false skin beneath it peeled away, revealing the cold, hard edges of his jawline¨Cand a startlingly handsome face; a divine work of art, immactely sculpted.


    His gentle facade faded. When he spoke, his voice was full of coldmand. ¡°Go find out everything you can about Tang Qiu.¡±


    His wife had imed she had married him of her own ord. But what secrets did she hide? What circumstances had pushed her into making that choice?


    ...


    There were plenty of servants in the mansion, enough that Tang Qiu need not lift a finger to perform any task herself if she so desired. Still, as a gesture of goodwill, she donned an apron and decided to personally make breakfast for her husband.


    After she finished preparing the meal, she was about to go upstairs to call Jiang Shaocheng for breakfast when she heard the sound of the door opening. A man in a red suit walked in.


    He caught sight of Tang Qiu, and surprise shed in his gaze. ¡°Are you a new cook? You¡¯re a pretty one.¡± He closed the distance between them, taking her chin between his fingers and leering at her.


    Tang Qiu pulled away, her expression darkening as she retreated backwards. ¡°Who are you? Don¡¯t touch me.¡±


    A smirk stretched across the man¡¯s face. ¡°Why, I¡¯m the second eldest son of the Jiang family, Jiang Ming. Don¡¯t tell me you didn¡¯t recognize me?¡±


    ¡°The second eldest son of the Jiangs,¡± Tang Qiu echoed with mockery, keeping her distance from him. ¡°You think that gives you the right to paw me whenever you like? Stay away from me, or you¡¯ll regret it.¡±

 Chapter 4 - See If I Don’t Kill You First

    <h4>Chapter 4: See If I Don¡¯t Kill You First</h4>


    <h4><strong>Trantor: </strong>As Studios <strong> Editor: </strong>As Studios</h4>


    ¡°The little minx bites back. I like that.¡± Jiang Ming ran his tongue over his lips and slowly cornered Tang Qiu against the wall. ¡°Why not give me a chance? You¡¯ll find I¡¯m a far better catch than my washed out weakling of an older brother. I could give you a house, a car, a fancy designer bag, and, of course, lots of pleasure¡­¡±


    Uncle Wang witnessed the scene from the corner of the stairwell on the second storey. In a low voice, he asked, ¡°Young Master, shall I do something?¡±


    Jiang Shaocheng nced at Jiang Ming¡¯s hands groping Tang Qiu¡¯s hips. A glint entered his mild, gentle gaze. ¡°Look again.¡±


    Beneath them, Tang Qiu took in the sight of Jiang Ming¡¯s body trapping hers. With finality, she said, ¡°For the sake of your older brother, I¡¯m warning you onest time: get away from me.¡±


    Paying her threat no mind, Jiang Ming gripped her chin again, savoring the texture of her soft porcin skin. He had had his fun with countless daughters of noble families, but never one like Tang Qiu, whose doelike appearance belied her feisty temper. He allowed himself to contemte what she would be like between the sheets. ¡°Isn¡¯t a life with me better than one in the kitchen, pretty thing? The work here gets all dirty and tiring,e with me, and I¡¯ll¨C¡±


    Without hesitation, Tang Qiu kneed him between the legs, cutting him off.


    Jiang Ming let out a howl of pain, doubling over and staggering back. ¡°How dare you¡­¡± he seethed. ¡°I¡¯ll kill you, you little slut!¡±


    Tang Qiu whirled around and snatched up a knife lying on the chopping board, pointing it at Jiang Ming. Despite her small frame, in that moment, her ferocity was unmatched. ¡°Try it. See if I don¡¯t kill you first.¡±


    Watching from upstairs, Uncle Wang thoughtlessly clenched his thighs together. Tang Qiu could clearly knee a man where it hurt with a vicious amount of force. ¡°Young Master, look how wild this woman is. She incapacitated Jiang Ming just like that!¡±


    Jiang Shaocheng was shocked that Tang Qiu was bold enough to attack his brother, but¡­ ¡°Get me downstairs.¡± If Jiang Ming had dared toy a hand on his wife, he deserved whatever he got.


    Uncle Wang raced to push him towards the elevator. Before Jiang Ming had even recovered from the attack to his groin, Tang Qiu was already advancing on him, pressing her knife to his throat. He nearly vomited blood right there and then.


    In that instant, he heard the noise of a wheelchair approaching from behind him, and he knew it could be no one but his feeble wretch of an older brother. His pride would not let him disy such weakness before that worthless creature, so he bit back the pain and straightened himself to his full height. ¡°Your servant girl is out of hand, brother. She dared to raise a hand against me. You¡¯d best teach her a lesson.¡±


    At the sound of the wheelchair, Tang Qiu had put away her knife. When she heard Jiang Ming¡¯s usations, however, she hurled it down on the chopping board with a violent tter. ¡°<i>I¡¯m</i>?out of hand?<i>?Your</i>?hands were all over me within seconds of us meeting! I¡¯d say you got off lightly, you sick bastard.¡±


    ¡°You¡­¡± Jiang Ming could scarcely believe the audacity of this servant girl.


    ¡°Come here.¡± Jiang Shaocheng beckoned to Tang Qiu, who hesitated before walking to his side. He looked at his brother with concern. ¡°Where did she hurt you, brother? Are you alright?¡±


    The question made Jiang Ming choke. How was he supposed to tell his brother that this tiny girl had kneed him in a man¡¯s most¡­ vulnerable area? Would he still have any dignity left to spare? ¡°It¡¯s nothing.¡± He forced himself to lie. ¡°But the fact remains that she dared to attack me. You ought to put her in her ce, brother. If it¡¯s any trouble, I¡¯ll dly assist you.¡±


    It was clear from Jiang Ming¡¯s manner of speech that he held a certain disdain for his older brother. That must mean that there was little love between them both¡­ Tang Qiu considered this for a moment. The stubborn set of her features suddenly melted into distress as she tugged on Jiang Shaocheng¡¯s arm, her chin jutting out. ¡°He started it, husband. He spoke to me like I was some kind of pet, offering to buy me expensive gifts, and even grabbed my chin with his filthy hands.¡±


    Hearing Tang Qiu call him ¡®dear¡¯ in that soft, sweet voice of hers gave Jiang Shaocheng pause. He raised his hand in a gentle caress over her chin, as though to remove any imprints that Jiang Ming had left on her skin.


    ¡°I know.¡±


    Jiang Ming¡¯s eyes bulged out of his head when he heard her refer to his brother as her husband. ¡°What did you say? How shameless can you get, woman? My brother is a married man!¡±


    Jiang Shaocheng took Tang Qiu¡¯s hand in his, and after a cough, he said in a hoarse voice, ¡°Brother, she is my new wife.¡±


    Jiang Ming was doubly taken aback. How could this be? When he had heard from his father that his brother was to be married, he had deliberately suggested the ugly, unruly Feng Lu for a bride.

 Chapter 5 - What Proof Do You Have?

    <h4>Chapter 5: What Proof Do You Have?</h4>


    <h4><strong>Trantor: </strong>As Studios <strong> Editor: </strong>As Studios</h4>


    Feng Lu was plump, which had displeased the old man, but Jiang Ming had assured him that her heavy figure was a symbol of good luck; plus, she was less likely to attract trouble that way, so they could feel safe leaving her around Jiang Shaocheng. It had been the only thing able to convince his father. But this woman, with her slender figure and pretty face, was not Feng Lu!


    ¡°You must be joking, brother. I personally helped pick out your bride; do you think I wouldn¡¯t recognize her? I know Feng Lu¡¯s no real looker, but that doesn¡¯t mean you can go about cheating on her, on the first day of your marriage nheless.¡±


    Feng Lu had been Jiang Ming¡¯s choice of bride for his brother? Tang Qiu hid her scorn for this man¡¯s petty malice. And yet¡­ why wasn¡¯t Jiang Shaocheng denying the usation? It would do them both no good for word to spread about her husband cheating on his wife as a newlywed.


    Tang Qiu bent down so she was eye level with Jiang Shaocheng. ¡°What should we do? He doesn¡¯t believe that we¡¯re married.¡±


    With half his features obscured by the mask, all she could see was his eyes. Their dark depths were guileless and innocent.


    Tang Qiu¡¯s thoughts raced silently.?<i>What should I do??</i>She could brandish the marriage certificate as proof. But she didn¡¯t believe that her husband was incapable ofing up with such a simple solution; the wounds to his face and legs hadn¡¯t affected his mind. Did this mean that he wanted her to?<i>demonstrate</i>?the evidence of their marriage instead?


    Only¡­ how was she supposed to do that?


    Jiang Shaocheng studied the flicker of emotions across her face with some enjoyment, watching her oscite between being nonplussed and bewildered. This little wife of his was an interesting one, he noted silently.


    Right then, a gleam of inspiration lit up Tang Qiu¡¯s eyes. She pulled down Jiang Shaocheng¡¯s mask and kissed him on the lips. ¡°Is this proof enough?¡±


    Jiang Shaocheng stared at her, slightly dazed. He had nned to present Tang Qiu with a challenge and let her take charge of finding a solution, but he hadn¡¯t expected her to be quite so straightforward. Her soft lips pressed against his, and just like that, they were gone, leaving him with no time to even react to their vor. ¡°It is,¡± he said, helpless to argue.


    Jiang Ming took in the sight of both of them, then the hideous burn scars littering his brother¡¯s face. Disgusted, he lifted a hand to shield his eyes. ¡°That doesn¡¯t seem right, brother. Can a mere kiss prove that this woman is your wife? If I take her to bed, does that mean I can start calling her my daughter-inw?¡±


    In the blink of an eye, Jiang Shaocheng¡¯s expression darkened, his gentle gaze turning dangerous. ¡°What did you say, Jiang Ming?¡±


    Uncle Wang had served Jiang Shaocheng for many years, and he knew his master was truly enraged. He retrieved the knife Tang Qiu had discarded on the chopping board and seized Jiang Ming¡¯s arm. ¡°You dare to disrespect my young master¡¯s wife?¡± he growled. ¡°Are you that eager to lose this arm of yours?¡±


    Jiang Ming nced at the knife, glinting in the light, and sneered, ¡°I was just joking, brother, don¡¯t take it so seriously.¡± He pulled himself free of Uncle Wang¡¯s grasp, taking care not to make any sudden movements, mindful of the danger he was in. ¡°I was merely curious when you had a change of bride,¡± he continued, as though exining himself.


    At the mention of her being a substitute bride, something shed in Tang Qiu¡¯s eyes. Feeling her tense up, Jiang Shaocheng patted her hand reassuringly. ¡°You and our father were the ones in charge of nning the wedding. Now that you¡¯re telling me I married a different bride than the one you chose, what do you expect me to say?¡±


    ¡°Well¡­¡± Jiang Ming sputtered. The wedding had been arranged by him, that much was true, but he didn¡¯t know where this new bride hade from! Unless it was the Fengs behind this trickery¡­


    Jiang Shaocheng added, ¡°I married whoever I underwent the marriage rites with, and so Tang Qiu is my wife, and your sister-inw.¡±


    Tang Qiu looked at him in surprise. Did this mean he had epted her?


    Jiang Ming was on the verge of exploding in rage. He had wanted to find an ugly, overweight shrew for Jiang Shaocheng¡¯s wife as an insult to that sickly bastard. Instead, his elder brother had gained such a beautiful woman out of the bargain!


    ¡°In that case, my congrattions, brother,¡± he gritted out. ¡°But don¡¯t forget: your wife still needs to return to visit her parents after the wedding. Since you¡¯re in poor health, making it inconvenient to travel, why don¡¯t I apany my sister-inw instead?¡±


    He was going to send this woman back to the Feng family and demand how exactly she hade to rece Feng Lu as a bride!


    Uncle Wang could haveughed out loud at Jiang Ming. How little must he value his life, to infringe on his brother¡¯s authority as a husband like that? He was practicallyying his own head on the executioner¡¯s block.


    Hearing Jiang Ming¡¯s offer, Tang Qiu objected fiercely, ¡°There¡¯s no need to trouble yourself, Second Young Master. If it¡¯s inconvenient for Shaocheng to travel, I can go back myself.¡±

 Chapter 6 - I’m Already Such A Hassle

    <h4>Chapter 6: I¡¯m Already Such A Hassle</h4>


    <h4><strong>Trantor: </strong>As Studios <strong> Editor: </strong>As Studios</h4>


    Jiang Ming eyed Tang Qiu with a gleam in his eyes. He truly relished this woman¡¯s feisty spirit¨Cespecially with the added knowledge that she belonged to his brother.


    ¡°Sis-inw, if you go back alone, people will whisper that the Jiang family have treated you unkindly and wronged you.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s fine. I don¡¯t care.¡±


    ¡°I will apany Qiu when she returns home,¡± Jiang Shaocheng said. ¡°You don¡¯t need to worry about anything, brother.¡±


    No sooner had Jiang Shaocheng finished speaking than he suddenly broke down into yet another coughing fit. Tang Qiu patted his back anxiously. Seeing as how he was coughing violently enough to hurl up his lungs, Jiang Ming quickly pinched his nose. ¡°Don¡¯t tax yourself, brother. All that repeated movement in and out of the car might cause you to end up in the hospital. If you need to make another visit to the ICU, who knows if you¡¯ll make it out alive.¡±


    Jiang Ming was essentially wishing misfortune upon his brother. A shadow fell across Tang Qiu¡¯s face. ¡°Aren¡¯t you getting a little too worked up about this? Since when are our affairs as a couple your business?¡±


    Seeing Tang Qiu¡¯s temper re to the surface, Jiang Shaocheng stroked her head in amusement. ¡°It¡¯s alright. He cane with us if he wants.¡± Since her husband didn¡¯t seem to mind, Tang Qiu swallowed the rest of her protests and stayed quiet.


    Tang Qiu went upstairs to prepare for their return to the Fengs¡¯ household, putting on a breezy, pleated skirt and some light makeup. She looked elegant, as lovely as a fairye to life. Jiang Ming glimpsed Tang Qiu¡¯s pretty face and her fair, shapely legs peeking out from beneath her skirt. His eyes burned with jealousy. What a waste of such beauty on a worthless piece of trash like his brother!


    In the car, Tang Qiu exined to Jiang Shaocheng, ¡°I¡¯m not on the best terms with the Fangs. I¡¯m Fang Guo¡¯an¡¯s illegitimate daughter, but he took me in on the basis of our blood ties. So if you¡¯d rather not waste your time with futile endeavors, we don¡¯t need to go.¡±


    Jiang Shaocheng knew all this from his investigations into Tang Qiu¡¯s pastst night. He was also aware that Fang Guo¡¯an¡¯s wife, Chen Man, held Tang Qiu in contempt, and didn¡¯t acknowledge her as her husband¡¯s child, iming instead that she was the daughter of a distant rtive. But it was tradition to return home to the bride¡¯s home after the wedding, and the Jiangs were not a family to make light of such things.


    When they arrived at the Fengs¡¯ house, they found the door locked. Jiang Ming knocked on the door, and a servant opened it. ¡°Where are your masters?¡± he asked.


    Eying Jiang Ming¡¯s expensive clothes, the servant responded cautiously, ¡°Sir is at work. Madam went shopping. The young mistress is in school. No one is at home now.¡±


    Jiang Ming kicked the wall angrily. ¡°Are your masters out of their minds? Do they know what day it is today? Call Feng Guo¡¯an and let him know that the two young masters of the Jiang family are here. Tell him to get over here now!¡±


    The Feng estate paled inparison to the Jiangs¡¯; had it not been for Jiang Ming¡¯s scheme to make use of Feng Lu to humiliate his pathetic older brother, he would never have deigned to even speak to them. Upon hearing that it was Young Master Jiang in front of him, the servant nodded fearfully and scurried to make the call.


    Tang Qiu pushed Jiang Shaocheng¡¯s wheelchair into the mansion. She had never had good rtions with the Feng family; she might as well have been invisible to them. She couldn¡¯t find it in her to be surprised at their behavior today. ¡°I want to bring back all my belongings from this ce,¡± she told him.


    He nodded. ¡°I¡¯ll help you.¡±


    Tang Qiu hesitated. Jiang Shaocheng covered his mouth and coughed. ¡°I apologize. That was thoughtless of me. I¡¯m already such a hassle. I¡¯d only cause more trouble for you, I know.¡±


    He had misunderstood her. Tang Qiu quickly exined, ¡°No, it¡¯s just that my room is in the basement. I barely get any sunlight there all year round. It¡¯s not the most pleasant of environments. I¡¯m afraid you won¡¯t be used to it.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not some porcin doll.¡±


    Hearing that they were going to Tang Qiu¡¯s bedroom, Jiang Ming trailed behind them on their heels, before he felt that something was wrong. ¡°Wait, sis-inw. Didn¡¯t you say you were bringing us to your bedroom? Why are we going to the basement?¡±


    ¡°My room?<i>is</i>?in the basement.¡±


    As she spoke, they had already reached the basement. Tang Qiu pushed the door open. The room was wide and spacious, cluttered with a variety of junk. Tucked all the way at the back behind a curtain was a small corner with a single bed, a worn desk, and a flimsy clothes rack.


    Jiang Ming¡¯s eyes widened in disbelief. This was where the Fangs kept such a beautiful girl? Not only was there not a trace of sunlight here, but it was ufortably humid, and it was so stuffy that the air seemed to stick to one¡¯s skin. How could anyone be forced to sleep here? Tang Qiu must have been worth less than dirt to the Fang family!


    Tang Qiu had few belongings, so she was done packing in no time. Noticing that Jiang Ming was studying their surroundings in shock, she shrugged and said, ¡°Okay, I¡¯m done. Staring won¡¯t make this ce any prettier. Let¡¯s get out of here.¡±


    Jiang Shaocheng¡¯s expression was more contained than his brother¡¯s. The thin, t line of his mouth was the only sign of the storm lurking beneath his reserved demeanor.

 Chapter 7 - Hold On A While

    <h4>Chapter 7: Hold On A While</h4>


    <h4><strong>Trantor: </strong>As Studios <strong> Editor: </strong>As Studios</h4>


    They returned to the living room. ording to Tang Qiu, their business was done and they could go. She didn¡¯t matter to the Fengs, and she didn¡¯t care that the rules mandated that she must return home to them. If it were possible, she would have been content never to see them again in this lifetime.


    But when she voiced her thoughts, she was met with an uncharacteristically insistent reply from Jiang Shaocheng: ¡°We will wait.¡±


    If he had been ignorant to the kind of life Tang Qiu had endured in the Feng family, he might have been willing to let things slide. But having witnessed it with his own two eyes, he couldn¡¯t just sit there and do nothing.


    Twenty minutester, Fang Guo¡¯an arrived, flustered and in a hurry. Having Jiang Ming in his house filled him with equal parts excitement and nervousness. When the second young master of the Jiang family had first approached his family looking for prospective partners¨Candter settling on Feng Lu¨CFang Guo¡¯an had assumed he was finding a bride for himself. Only afterwards had he discovered that it was the elder brother Feng Lu was due to marry.


    It was said that the eldest son of the Jiangs was frail and sick, with a disfigured face and broken legs, ill-favored by his family. The Fengs hadn¡¯t expected them to abide by the rule of letting Tang Qiu return home after the marriage.


    Jiang Ming¡¯s patience had all but whittled away during those twenty minutes of being forced to wait. ¡°Fang Guo¡¯an, you¡¯re truly something. We agreed that Feng Lu would marry my brother, but you deceived us and broke our bargain by swapping her out for Tang Qiu. Do you take the Jiang family for fools?¡±


    Fang Guo¡¯an removed his hat, willing his legs not to tremble in fear.?<i>They</i>?would have to be fools not to take the Jiangs seriously. The Jiang family was the most powerful in their circle of elites; the Fangs were as small and insignificant as antspared to them. But Feng Lu had refused to marry a man sickly unto the point of death, and Feng Guo¡¯an had been reluctant to ship his pretty younger daughter off to meet such a fate, however, leaving him with his bastard child.


    He thought that everything would be resolved after Tang Qiu had married that weak, listless man. He certainly hadn¡¯t expected that the second young master of the Jiangs woulde back to settle the score after the wedding.


    Feng Guo¡¯an was racking his brains trying to figure out how to exin the situation to cate Jiang Ming, when his second daughter Feng Yao spoke up. ¡°Second Young Master, it wasn¡¯t that my elder sister refused to marry your brother. It was Tang Qiu. She cried and cajoled and pleaded with my sister, saying that she had loved Young Master Jiang in secret for ages, and how badly she wanted to marry him. My sister, naive fool that she was, actually bought into her nonsense and left the country, so that Tang Qiu could take her ce on the wedding day. My father was left with no choice in the matter.¡±


    Jiang Ming swore. Were these people incapable of speaking up? If they had just?<i>said</i>?something, he could have simply picked some woman off the streets to rece Feng Lu¨Canything but letting a beauty like Tang Qiu fall into the feeble trembling hands of his brother!


    Tang Qiu was on the verge of refuting the distorted picture of events Fang Yao had painted, when Jiang Shaocheng suddenly took hold of her hand, quieting her. ¡°Hold on a while. Don¡¯t worry.¡±


    Jiang Shaocheng¡¯s gentleness was oddlyforting; Tang Qiu felt her anger slowly fade away. Her eyes drifted to their intertwined hands. Her husband¡¯s hand felt icy, perhaps due to his poor health. Without thinking, she grasped him back, trying to provide him with her own warmth. In truth, it was no rarity for Feng Yao to twist the facts and use them against her. She had been incensed at being wronged the first few times, of course, but eventually she had gotten used to it.


    Latching onto Feng Yao¡¯s story, Feng Guo¡¯an said to Jiang Ming, ¡°My deepest apologies, Second Young Master. Tang Qiu was raised amongst our family, and she is close to both her sisters. We must have spoiled her too much, the silly girl, for her to make such a foolish mistake. Tang Qiu is still young and ignorant. If she has done something to enrage you both, allow me to beg for forgiveness on her behalf.¡±


    Fang Yao suddenly stood and said indignantly, ¡°Dad, Tang Qiu is twenty. She¡¯s not a child anymore. You keep letting her get away with little things, just because you raised her, and what do you get in exchange for your softheartedness? She tricked her sister into going overseas, all so she could don her wedding gown and make use of her identity to marry Young Master Jiang. Was she thinking about our family then? Did she even care that we would be the ones to suffer for her mistake if she was found out?¡±


    Chen Man wiped a single tear from her eye. ¡°That¡¯s enough, Yaoyao. It¡¯s all my fault. I took pity on Tang Qiu for being an orphan amongst our family and was too indulgent with her. How could I have known that she would grow to be so bold andnd us all in such a fiasco?¡±


    Tang Qiu listened to their fabricated sob story,plete with snot and tears, each sentence punctuated with choked weeping. If she didn¡¯t know better, she could almost find herself being moved by their performance.


    Jiang Ming, however, couldn¡¯t care less what they had to say. He only had one request: ¡°Since we got the wrong bride, I¡¯m giving you a day¡¯s time to find Feng Lu and bring her back.¡±


    Only then would the beautiful Tang Qiu belong to him.

 Chapter 8 - You Kissed Me; That Makes You Mine

    <h4>Chapter 8: You Kissed Me; That Makes You Mine</h4>


    <h4><strong>Trantor: </strong>As Studios <strong> Editor: </strong>As Studios</h4>


    <i>Bring Feng Lu back??</i>Tang Qiu couldn¡¯t help stealing a nervous nce towards Jiang Shaocheng, but he remained as unmoved and silent as ever.


    She felt a wry, bitterugh bubble to her lips. She had fooled herself into thinking that Jiang Shaocheng had approved of her. Like a delusional, lovesick fool, she had even been truly fond of him, wanting to be his dutiful wife¡­


    It wasn¡¯t that she had truly wanted to marry Jiang Shaocheng. But the Fengs would never let this slide¡­ to say nothing of what they would do to her grandmother¡­ The thought sent a pang of pain through her heart, and she felt her eyes prick with tears.


    Upon hearing Jiang Ming¡¯s pronouncement, the Feng family¡¯s faces fell. To wed Feng Lu to that sickly cripple, with his pasty, disfigured face¡­ Feng Lu herself would never agree, but even all of Chen Man¡¯s love for her daughter couldn¡¯tpel her to allow Feng Lu toe back and face such a match.


    ¡°That doesn¡¯t seem quite appropriate, Second Young Master,¡± she objected. ¡°No matter how you put it, Tang Qiu already went through the rites with your brother. And after the¡­ consummation of the marriagest night, she essentially belongs to him. If you were to send her back to us, what kind of future would she have?¡±


    <i>Can¡¯t you see the weakling can¡¯t even get up from his wheelchair??</i>Jiang Ming wanted to scoff. Like he would even be capable of the act, with such useless legs!


    ¡°I¡¯m telling you: if you don¡¯t get Feng Lu back, I¡¯ll see to it that your whole family ends up bankrupt. This is what you get for daring to make fools of the Jiang family!¡± If the second son of the Jiangs wanted to ruin a smallpany like the Fengs¡¯, all it would take was a few words.


    Feng Guo¡¯an¡¯s face paled, and he hurriedly stuttered out, ¡°Second Young Master, please¡­ please don¡¯t. I¡¯ll find Feng Lu and bring her back this instant.¡±


    ¡°Bring her back?¡± a furious Chen Man wailed. ¡°Are you nning to send my daughter to her death?¡±


    ¡°Do you want to send our<i>?family?</i>to our deaths?¡± Fang Guo¡¯an shot back. ¡°What are we going to survive on, without thepany?¡±


    Of course Chen Man didn¡¯t want to see thepany go bankrupt. She burst into tears of rage.


    Feng Yao was still calcting a n in her head. ¡°Second Young Master, perhaps¡­¡±


    Between sips of tea, Jiang Shaocheng nced at Feng Yao from the corner of his eye. ¡°You don¡¯t want your sister toe back? That¡¯s fine. Are you nning to take her ce?¡±


    ¡°No!¡± Feng Yao darted behind her mother in fear.


    Jiang Shaocheng coughed once, then twice. He fixed his cold gaze on Fang Guo¡¯an. ¡°We don¡¯t have to make the switch if you¡¯re unwilling. But I have conditions.¡±


    Fang Guo¡¯an felt a chill shoot down his spine, and couldn¡¯t repress a shiver. Since when was this sick weakling capable of wielding such a threatening, murderous demeanor? ¡°What conditions? Name anything you like, Young Master. As long as it is within my power, you shall have it!¡±


    Jiang Shaocheng had brought his brother here not as a spectator, but as a tool. The Fengs held him in contempt due to his physical frailty, but they looked at Jiang Ming with fear. If even Jiang Ming was backed into a corner with no options, however, the Fengs wouldn¡¯t be able to leverage him to negotiate a way out.


    ¡°A bride should have a dowry. Isn¡¯t that right?¡±


    Feng Guo¡¯an felt a sense of dread creeping up in him, but he made himself nod. ¡°It is, Young Master.¡±


    ¡°In that case, I want you to return the ten million dors the Jiangs gave you in exchange for your daughter¡¯s hand¡­ and pay an additional ten million for my wife¡¯s dowry!¡±


    Fang Guo¡¯an was struck with horror. Ten million was a hefty sum as it was, but twenty?<i>?</i>He inwardly cursed Tang Qiu for being an investment that had only sucked his money down the drain.


    Tang Qiu was no less surprised.<i>?Twenty million??</i>Was she hallucinating?


    Jiang Shaocheng finished his sentence with a cough. ¡°No?¡± he asked. ¡°He Lei, get awyer. Tell them the Fang family cheated us!¡±


    ¡°Right away, Young Master!¡±


    ¡°No! Don¡¯t! We¡¯ll give you the money!¡± Chen Man bawled and battered her husband with her fists. ¡°My daughter is worth more than all the money in the world! Say yes, Fang Guo¡¯an, or I¡¯ll never let you off!¡±


    For his daughter, Fang Guo¡¯an had no choice but to give in. ¡°I¡¯ll pay.¡±


    The Fengs¡¯pany was small, but they had several hundred million worth of assets. Still, coughing up a sum of money this huge was enough to make them want to vomit blood.


    Fang Guo¡¯an signed a check for twenty million dors and passed it to He Lei, reluctant to let go. He Lei pulled the paper from him anyway and ced it in Tang Qiu¡¯s hand. She stared at the check, unblinking. Had Fang Guo¡¯an really just forked over such a gigantic amount? ¡°Is this really for me?¡± She nced at Jiang Shaocheng, unclear of his intent.


    ¡°You¡¯re my wife now,¡± Jiang Shaocheng said coolly. ¡°That makes you the young mistress of the Jiangs. It¡¯s just a check. There will be more stuff toe in the future.¡±


    Tang Qiu gripped the check and lowered her eyes. ¡°You don¡¯t want Feng Lu back?¡±


    Jiang Shaocheng looked back at her nkly. Was this why she had bowed her head and stayed quiet just now? He hadn¡¯t stopped his brother from demanding that Feng Lue back, not simply to intimidate the Fengs, but also to ensure that they would acquiesce to hand over their money. ¡°You kissed me at the wedding. That makes you mine.¡±


    Tang Qiu stared at him, her eyes shining. ¡°You mean¡­ I¡¯m really your wife?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    She didn¡¯t have to go back to the Fengs, and she could stop worrying about her grandmother. Tang Qiu felt a heavy burden lift from her heart. Come what may, this man had saved her from the Feng family, and for that, she was deeply grateful to him.

 Chapter 9 - I Am Your Wife

    <h4>Chapter 9: I Am Your Wife</h4>


    <h4><strong>Trantor: </strong>As Studios <strong> Editor: </strong>As Studios</h4>


    Jiang Shaocheng coughed twice and spared a nce at Fang Guo¡¯an. ¡°You know better than anyone why Feng Lu left the country, and why you let Tang Qiu marry me in her ce. I believe you owe my wife an apology.¡±


    An?<i>apology?</i>?Wasn¡¯t twenty million dors enough?


    ¡°The little slut chose to be a social climber of her own ord.¡± Chen Man¡¯s face was full of venom. ¡°And now you expect us to apologize to her?¡±


    Jiang Shaocheng coughed, and He Lei backhanded Chen Man across the face. ¡°This is your warning, Mrs Fang, for daring to nder the young mistress of the Jiangs!¡± As he spoke, he snatched up the knife lying by the fruit bowl; its de held a cold glint, like it was prepared to embed itself in her throat in less than a heartbeat. Chen Man shut her mouth, too terrified to speak.


    Taking advantage of the Fengs¡¯ silence, He Lei continued, ¡°Do you think we didn¡¯t look into how one bride ended up getting swapped for another? Feng Lu left two hours before the wedding, and Miss Feng Yao even sent her off. You nned for our young mistress to marry our young master. What nonsense, to im that she coerced Feng Lu into letting her take her ce! Now, to cover up your actions, you still have the audacity to tarnish the young mistress¡¯ good name!¡±


    When he was finished speaking, He Lei drove the knife into the sofa, tearing a gash in its surface. The Fengs flinched at the noise and trembled in fear.


    ¡°Apologize!¡±


    Feng Guo¡¯an nearly copsed to his knees. Cold sweat beaded across his forehead. Chen Man was the first to give in, bowing her head as she broke down. ¡°We¡¯re sorry¡­ so very sorry, Young Master Jiang. We were wrong to frame Tang Qiu. We¡¯ll never do it again!¡±


    Jiang Shaocheng coughed repeatedly. ¡°My wife is the one who deserves your apologies. It¡¯s her forgiveness that you need!¡±


    ¡°It was our fault, Tang Qiu. Forgive us.¡± Chen Man forced the words out.


    The absurdity of the situation was not lost on Tang Qiu. The Fengs had always treated her as a servant to be ordered about. Never had she thought that they would one day grovel for her mercy.


    Jiang Shaocheng took note of Tang Qiu¡¯s silence.?<i>She must have been bullied horribly by them in the past,</i>?he thought, feeling a slight ache in his heart. He ran a hand through her tresses, like she was a tiny, childlike critter in his arms. ¡°I told you, you¡¯re mine now, and I won¡¯t let anyone hurt you. If you feel wronged, I¡¯ll get them to apologize on their knees.¡±


    Tang Qiu felt delight stir in her heart at seeing the Fengs brought low. She had been beaten and berated by them since she was a child,beled a lowly creature who was only fit to live in the dark and spend her life being trampled beneath their feet. Now, this man whom she had only been married to for a day was offering to have them beg for her forgiveness on their knees. She felt a pinch of gratitude.


    ¡°Kneeling won¡¯t be necessary, lest it affect my own luck. But they were wrong about one thing, though.¡±


    ¡°About what?¡± asked Jiang Shaocheng.


    ¡°Since they addressed you as ¡®Young Master¡¯, it¡¯s only right that they call me ¡®Young Mistress¡¯. After all, I am your wife.¡± Tang Qiu sent a faint smile his way. It was like seeing a flower in bloom, its fragrance deep and rejuvenating, carrying a warmth that seemed to melt into his bones.


    ¡°You¡¯re right. They misspoke!¡± Jiang Shaocheng nced at He Lei, who nodded and brandished the fruit knife at the three of them.


    ¡°Was the young mistress unclear?¡±


    The Fengs were loath to submit, but they had no other choice. ¡°Forgive us, Young Mistress. We beg your forgiveness.¡±


    ¡°I ept your apology, but that doesn¡¯t mean I forgive you. Consider it my generosity that I¡¯m choosing not to kick up a fuss about the matter.¡± Everything the Fengs had done to her over the years was still fresh in Tang Qiu¡¯s mind. How could she possibly forgive them?


    The Fengs looked incensed and humiliated that Tang Qiu had refused to forgive them. Had Jiang Shaocheng not been present, they would have likely beaten her to death, but with him around, they could only grit their teeth and remain with their heads bowed.


    Jiang Shaocheng ran a cool gaze over the Fengs. ¡°Tang Qiu is my wife. I trust that you all know how you should and shouldn¡¯t treat her from now on.¡±


    The Fengs breathed a sigh of relief and nodded their acquiescence, but secretly, resentment burned in each of their hearts. After all, this sick man would die soon; how long could he protect her? Once he was gone, it would be the little bitch¡¯s turn to suffer!


    Watching from the sidelines, Jiang Ming was still unsatisfied. He strode after his brother in a temper as He Lei pushed his wheelchair out.


    ¡°Brother, we should swap her with Feng Lu.¡±


    Jiang Shaocheng had been about to board the car. He coughed and told Tang Qiu to get in the car first. She nodded and obeyed. He closed the car door before looking Jiang Ming in the eye. ¡°Enough is enough.¡±


    Jiang Ming took in the sight of his sickly brother and pasted a well-meaning expression on his face. ¡°I¡¯m doing this for your good, brother. By letting them stick you with this new bride, they¡¯re insulting you. You¡­¡±


    ¡°For my good?¡± A cough. ¡°You chose a fat, ugly, bad-tempered woman who hooks up with other men, and you tell me it was for my good? I¡¯m not dead yet, Jiang Ming. Until then, my affairs are my own to manage!¡±


    Jiang Ming fought a shudder at the darkness in Jiang Shaocheng¡¯s voice, like a demone to demand his life. He felt a strange sense of unease. Since when did his weakling brother possess such an intimidating, imposing manner?


    Whatever. He was still a worthless piece of trash. This wasn¡¯t over!

 Chapter 10 - Uncultured and Without Empathy

    <h4>Chapter 10: Uncultured and Without Empathy</h4>


    <h4><strong>Trantor: </strong>As Studios <strong> Editor: </strong>As Studios</h4>


    When Tang Qiu was in the car, a frown spread across her face at Jiang Ming¡¯s undisguised contempt for his brother. It seemed the rumors were true. Jiang Shaocheng¡¯s father had little love for his son due to his poor health. Otherwise, how could Jiang Ming be so insolent towards his older brother?


    It must have been hard for Jiang Shaocheng, to be held in such disdain by his father, and having to suffer the derision of his younger brother. Tang Qiu was reminded of the indifference of her own father and her mistreatment at the hands of her stepmother and half-sisters. But she wasn¡¯t someone important. True, she couldn¡¯t knock the Feng family down a peg the way the Jiangs could, but she had, in her own way, managed to irk them in retaliation. Jiang Shaocheng, however, was different¡­


    When her husband got into the car, Tang Qiu took his hand in hers, dwarfing her smaller one, and said with seriousness, ¡°For as long as I am your wife, I will do my best to treat you right.¡±


    He coughed twice. ¡°How do you intend to go about doing that?¡±


    Tang Qiu contemted the question for a few seconds. ¡°I¡¯ll prepare your meals for you.¡±


    ¡°You know how to cook?¡±


    Maybe such acts of service were beneath his attention, she thought, self-conscious all of a sudden. She nodded, adding, ¡°That is, if you don¡¯t mind.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not opposed to it.¡± If she was willing to cook for him, he was looking forward to it.


    The corner of Tang Qiu¡¯s mouth curved upwards. ¡°Can we drop by the supermarket?¡± she asked He Lei. ¡°I¡¯d like to buy some groceries.¡±


    Instead of responding, He Lei nced at Jiang Shaocheng, who coughed a few times before saying, ¡°Are you deaf, He Lei? My wife asked you to bring us to the supermarket.¡±


    His eyes glinted with a cold warning, and a shudder shot through He Lei. ¡°Right away, Young Mistress,¡± he said quickly.


    When they arrived, Tang Qiu got out of the car. Jiang Shaocheng made to follow her. He had never been to a supermarket before, though, and He Lei urged, ¡°The supermarket is crowded, Young Master. It may be cumbersome to navigate your wheelchair amongst so many people.¡±


    All he got in return was an icy stare. ¡°Help me down. I will apany my wife,¡± Jiang Shaocheng ordered, and He Lei had no choice but to oblige.


    Tang Qiu said with concern, ¡°It won¡¯t take long. Best you don¡¯t follow.¡±


    Jiang Shaocheng sped her hand. ¡°Which husband doesn¡¯t go grocery shopping with his wife? I want to live out my days normally with you.¡± This woman was willing to cook for him, and he wanted to do something for her in return.


    Tang Qiu¡¯s heart softened at his words, and she made no more protests. She pushed his wheelchair into the supermarket. ¡°What do you like to eat?¡± she asked.


    As she spoke, she deliberately squatted down so she was eye level with him, and Jiang Shaocheng felt a smile tugging at his lips. Perhaps he was hungry for a different kind of dish after all. If only he could¡­


    ¡°It¡¯s up to you. I¡¯m not picky.¡±


    Tang Qiu nodded. With his illness, surely he was forced to abstain from many foods, but he must be keeping them to himself out of worry that she wouldn¡¯t be up to the task.


    Jiang Shaocheng was truly a kindhearted man. They had barely known each other for a day, yet he had made his anger on her behalf known to the Fengs in their home. No doubt, there was an image she had to maintain as part of the Jiang family now, but still she found herself grateful for everything she had gained by marrying him. ¡°I¡¯ll cook bone broth then; it¡¯ll make your legs stronger.¡± She wasted no time in leaving to find some pork ribs.


    When she saw the price of the ribs, her brow furrowed. So expensive? But she bought a pound of ribs anyway, ignoring the way her wallet cried out.


    Noting her reluctance, Jiang Shaocheng reminded her with a small smile, ¡°The money from earlier belongs to you. It¡¯s yours to spend.¡±


    Tang Qiu disagreed; perhaps she was simply too used to living in hardship. ¡°Better to save for a rainy day. The money from the betrothal and dowry belongs to us both. I can¡¯t just spend it as I please.¡±


    Her rationale was a straightforward one: Jiang Shaocheng was ill, and his father couldn¡¯t be counted on to care for him, which meant they needed money for his medical expenses. And if her grandmother fell sick, it wouldn¡¯t be cheap either. For patients like them, not having enough money to cover the necessary treatment might well be a path to an early grave. Jiang Shaocheng couldn¡¯t work; it would fall on her to support the family in the future. She was still a student now, which meant that every cent of the money had to be spent prudently.


    A strange feeling settled in Jiang Shaocheng¡¯s heart at her serious manner, and he found himself even more eager to spend the rest of his life with her.


    Tang Qiu was upied with choosing fruits when a child ran up to the wheelchair, studying it with curiosity. They caught sight of Jiang Shaocheng¡¯s scars, and burst into frightened tears.


    The child¡¯s grandmother ran up to them in a panic. While trying tofort the child, she took one look at Jiang Shaocheng and shouted, ¡°What are you doing out here with a face like that? You scared my grandchild to tears!¡±


    Attracted by her loud, shrill voice and the child¡¯s weeping, people¡¯s heads begin to turn. Soon enough, everyone was staring at them.


    ¡°That man looks terrifying, Emma. No wonder the child cried; even I¡¯m scared to look at him!¡±


    ¡°What on earth happened to his face¡­¡±


    ¡°The poor child¡¯s going to have nightmares. The nerve of this person, to stick his ce in public instead of back home where it belongs.¡±


    Jiang Shaocheng¡¯s face had turned as ck as thunder, his gaze swimming with something dangerous. He Lei had gone pale. He was about to speak when a woman¡¯s voice sounded, beating him to it.


    ¡°You deserve those nightmares if you¡¯re this ckhearted! Uncultured people like you whock empathy would be better off just staying at home!¡±

 Chapter 11 - Of Course We Should Sleep Together

    <h4>Chapter 11: Of Course We Should Sleep Together</h4>


    <h4><strong>Trantor: </strong>As Studios <strong> Editor: </strong>As Studios</h4>


    Tang Qiu¡¯s livid re sent the crowd dispersing. These people simply hadn¡¯t been taught proper manners. She made no apologies for yelling at them, not when they deserved every ounce of her fury.


    The bad-tempered grandmother from earlier looked as if she wanted to continue arguing, but a stare from Jiang Shaocheng intimidated her into silence, and she scurried off with the child in her arms.


    With the crowd gone, Tang Qiu knelt by Jiang Shaocheng¡¯s side. ¡°Don¡¯t pay them any mind,¡± she saidfortingly. ¡°Those ignorant people are good for spewing nonsense and nothing else.¡±


    Jiang Shaocheng cupped her head with one hand. ¡°You¡¯re really not bothered by my scars?¡±


    Tang Qiu¡¯s brow pinched together. She didn¡¯t like the way he spoke about himself. ¡°They don¡¯t bother me,¡± she insisted. ¡°I¡¯m a bastard, and you¡¯re a young master, but you don¡¯t look down on me for it, do you?¡±


    He looked doubtful, so she lifted her head and kissed him. She wouldn¡¯t allow him to feel inferior because of his scars; she was an illegitimate child, and thought no worse of herself for it. What was so unnatural about that anyway? But she didn¡¯t know what would be the right thing to say, and so she had resorted to such a move to prove her sincerity.


    Jiang Shaocheng stared back at her, slightly dazed, before saying, ¡°I don¡¯t look down on you. And I trust you when you say that you don¡¯t despise my scars.¡±


    Tang Qiu smiled brightly. He Lei trailed after them, looking nkly at his young master. No wonder this woman was such a treasure to him. Not only was she unafraid of his scars, she even possessed the courage to kiss him.


    Back in the mansion, Jiang Shaocheng watched Tang Qiu¡¯s figure from the sofa, his eyes softening. But when he turned to face He Lei, his gaze was hard and cold.


    ¡°Next time, you will obey her, same as you would me. Have I made myself clear?¡±


    Caught off-guard, He Lei nodded his head vigorously. He didn¡¯t dare rouse the young master¡¯s wrath. He knew the kinds of torture Jiang Shaocheng inflicted on people¨Ceven if no one else did.


    Tang Qiu prepared four dishes and one broth. Jiang Shaocheng swallowed an experimental mouthful, and his eyes lit up, clearly enjoying the taste.


    ¡°How is it?¡±


    Jiang Shaocheng raised his gaze to see Tang Qiu staring at him, a gleam in her wide, expectant eyes. ¡°You¡¯re an excellent cook,¡± he replied with a soft curve of his mouth.


    Tang Qiu blushed at his praise. She ced more food onto his te. ¡°I¡¯m d to hear that. You can have it any time you like in the future.¡±


    He Lei was standing to the side, observing them. His eyebrows lifted. The young master was obsessed with cleanliness! He was on edge, wondering how to deal with the young master¡¯s inevitable temper, when Jiang Shaocheng picked up the food Tang Qiu had put on his te and ate it, like nothing was wrong. He blinked in confusion.


    Jiang Shaocheng continued to sample her cooking, making note of how her smile never left her face. She was pure of heart, if a little naive at times.


    Tang Qiu had waited a long time to say this, and now her opportunity was finally here. Injecting what she hoped was a cajoling tone into her voice, she asked, ¡°I¡¯m still a student, dear. I have ss tomorrow. May I attend?¡±


    Jiang Shaocheng had reviewed the information he had uncovered about her, and he knew she was a second year student in the medical faculty of A University¨Cthe most prestigious university in the country. ¡°Of course. But I have one request.¡±


    Tang Qiu heaved a sigh of relief at his agreement. ¡°What is it?¡±


    ¡°Can you live with me instead of on campus?¡±


    She nodded instantly. She had promised him she would take care of him; she hadn¡¯t been nning to continue staying on campus anyway.


    ¡°What about you?¡± Jiang Shaocheng asked with a raised brow. ¡°Feel free to tell me any requests you have.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t have any!¡±


    Stroking her head, Jiang Shaocheng said, ¡°Don¡¯t be in a rush to answer. Take some time to think about what you need before getting back to me.¡±


    ¡°Okay.¡± She was already grateful that he had allowed her to continue with her studies. She would study hard, and who knows, she might even be able to help heal him in the future!


    Later at night, Jiang Shaocheng finished showering. He spared a nce at the master bedroom, then pushed his wheelchair over to the guest bedroom, where he knocked on the door.


    Tang Qiu opened the door while drying her tresses, looking adorable in a pair of panda-themed pajamas. ¡°Yes?¡±


    ¡°Would you rathere to the master bedroom, or have mee over here?¡±


    Tang Qiu didn¡¯t respond. She eyed him, trying to decipher his meaning.


    ¡°We are married. We should sleep together.¡±


    ¡°Oh?¡± Tang Qiu¡¯s mind went temporarily nk. The thought had never urred to her.


    ¡°You would prefer not to sleep with me?¡±


    Jiang Shaocheng¡¯s gaze dropped to the floor. Tang Qiu couldn¡¯t bear the sight of his disappointment. He was a cripple. He could hardly have sex with her, even if he wanted. Besides, she had promised to take care of him. Sleeping with him was no big deal, was it?


    She moved to push his wheelchair. ¡°No, you misunderstood me. It doesn¡¯t matter, let¡¯s go to the master bedroom.¡±


    When they reached his chambers, Tang Qiu took in their surroundings. The room possessed a subtle aura of power; starkly furnished in ck and white, and utterly spotless, ifcking any touch of human warmth.


    ¡°Qiu,e here.¡±

 Chapter 12 - Drained Half the Life From Him

    <h4>Chapter 12: Drained Half the Life From Him</h4>


    <h4><strong>Trantor: </strong>As Studios <strong> Editor: </strong>As Studios</h4>


    Jiang Shaocheng took the towel from Tang Qiu and beckoned her to squat down so he could help dry her hair. Embarrassed, Tang Qiu made to rise, but Jiang Shaocheng pressed her shoulders down gently. ¡°You helped me make dinner, and there is little else I can do for you. Surely you don¡¯t mind?¡±


    He must have wanted to do something for her, to prove that he was good for something. She couldn¡¯t bear to bring his spirits down, so she didn¡¯t resist as she let him wipe her hair dry.


    Jiang Shaocheng hid a smile. Her hair was fine and soft, just like the rest of her; bending in his hands as easily as she bent to his lies. Tang Qiu began to enjoy his treatment, rxing into it. ¡°Have you done this for someone before, dear?¡± she asked.


    Hearing that word from her lips made Jiang Shaocheng¡¯s heart melt even more. ¡°Only you,¡± he replied.


    ¡°Coincidentally, you¡¯re also the first person to help me dry my hair. When I was younger, I used to be so jealous of Feng Lu and Feng Yao. They had people to help them wash and dry their hair, responding to their every beck and call.¡±


    Hearing the hint of envy in her voice, Jiang Shaocheng paused. ¡°I¡¯ll help you wash and dry your hair in the future. I¡¯ll do everything I can to take care of you.¡±


    Tang Qiu lifted her head to look him in the eye. ¡°You will?¡±


    ¡°I will,¡± he promised.


    She beamed, like a kittenying its small head in hisp. ¡°Then I¡¯ll do the same for you. I¡¯ll do my best to look after you!¡± She would treat him as he treated her, with tenderness and kindness.


    As the two prepared for bed, Jiang Shaocheng sat on the bed and deliberately asked, ¡°Qiu, can you help me, please?¡±


    His legs must be troubling him. Tang Qiu nodded without hesitation, crossing the room and supporting his arm over her shoulders. She had wanted him to lean on her so he could get onto the bed, but she misjudged his weight, and they fell on the bed in one heap.


    Tang Qiu flushed bright red. Earlier, in order to avoid being crushed by him, she had ducked without meaning to, only to end up on her back with his body over hers. This close, their chests rose and fell to amon tempo, and she blushed even harder.


    Fortunately, Jiang Shaocheng was the first to break the awkwardness. He shifted his arm so he was lying on his side, and Tang Qiu promptly turned her attention to rearranging the nkets. After her eyes had fluttered shut, Jiang Shaocheng found himself smothering a slight smile. The night passed between them both in silence.


    Before falling asleep, Tang Qiu had made a note not to identally jostle Jiang Shaocheng; he was sick, and she needed to be careful around him. That didn¡¯t stop her from her bleary, shocked discovery the next morning, that somehow, she had huddled up in his arms during the night. He didn¡¯t seem to notice, so she hurriedly disentangled herself and fled.


    After breakfast, Tang Qiu readied herself to leave for school. Jiang Shaocheng ordered He Lei to drive her there, to which she dismissed with a wave of her hand, ¡°I¡¯ll take the train. It¡¯s convenient, and besides, He Lei needs to attend to you.¡±


    ¡°Let him drive you. I¡¯ll be fine here,¡± Jiang Shaocheng assured her, gripping her hand. He was a little reluctant to see her go, after spending an entire night hugging her soft, supple body to his chest. At his insistence, Tang Qiu found herself unable to refuse him.


    While sending Tang Qiu to school, He Lei eyed her maidenly silhouette in the backseat and thought to himself,?<i>The young master has been truly taken by her.?</i>In order to gain her sympathy, he was shamelessly ying the part of a weak, debilitating man.


    Tang Qiu entered the ssroom. A young woman waved to her instantly. It was her close friend, Xie Qingqing. Tang Qiu strolled over and took a seat beside her.


    ¡°Qiu, what¡¯s wrong? You were absent for a few days. I called you a few times but you didn¡¯t pick up,¡± Xie Qingqing asked with concern.


    Tang Qiu saw no reason to hide the truth from her friend, so she said quietly, ¡°Nothing happened. I got married, that¡¯s all.¡±


    Xie Qingqing nodded. Then her eyes widened. ¡°Wait,?<i>married? You??</i>We hang out all the time and I¡¯ve never seen you with a boyfriend.¡±


    Tang Qiu thought of her husband, shy all of a sudden. ¡°It was veryst minute. I married the young master of the Jiang family, Jiang Shaocheng.¡±


    ¡°Tang Qiu! Be serious with me!¡± Xie Qingqing¡¯s eyes were practically bulging out of her head. ¡°Everyone knows Young Master Jiang is a cripple who can barely walk; the ident practically drained half his life from him. He relies on medication now, but he won¡¯t live past half a year more, so he¡¯s unstable, a lunatic, a¨C¡±


    With a sigh, Tang Qiu exined the situation involving Feng Lu. Xie Qinqing brought her fist down on the table in rage. ¡°The Fengs are too much, to ship you off to meet such a fate!¡±


    Fearing that someone would hear, Tang Qiu rushed to mp a hand over her mouth. ¡°Quiet,¡± she hissed. ¡°You know nothing about the Fengs. Besides, I don¡¯t regret marrying Jiang Shaocheng. He might be in poor shape, but he¡¯s a good person, nothing like what the rumors say.¡±


    ¡°You idiot,¡± Xie Qingqing hissed back. ¡°He won¡¯t live long in that condition. What will happen to you then, as his widow? If the Fengs are capable of treating you like that, then after Jiang Shaocheng is¡­ is gone, what do you think they¡¯ll do to you?¡±


    The thought that her husband had only half a year left to live made Tang Qiu¡¯s heart ache. She clenched her fist, a look of resolution entering her eyes. ¡°I¡¯ll find a way to heal him!¡±

 Chapter 13 - Lucky in Love This Year

    <h4>Chapter 13: Lucky in Love This Year</h4>


    <h4><strong>Trantor: </strong>As Studios <strong> Editor: </strong>As Studios</h4>


    Xie Qingqing eyed her strangely. ¡°You seem to really care for him. Qiu, don¡¯t tell me you actually have feelings for him?¡±


    Tang Qiu met her friend¡¯s gaze. ¡°When the Fengs mistreated me, he trusted my word instead of doubting it, and defended me. I¡¯m deeply grateful to him, Qingqing. He¡¯s suffering too, you know. Maybe it¡¯s because he reminds me of myself that I can empathize with him. I want to help him, whatever it takes.¡±


    Xie Qingqing exhaled through her nostrils. ¡°It might not be too bad of a bargain. You may have drawn the short end of the stick, but you¡¯re his wife now. When he¡¯s gone, you¡¯re sure to receive a huge amount of money!¡± She shed Tang Qiu a wink. ¡°Have you both done it yet?¡±


    ¡°Done what?¡± Tang Qiu asked, all innocence.


    ¡°I guess not. A pity that Young Master Jiang isn¡¯t up to it. The wedding is over and done with, so you can¡¯t have fun with other men, and you might end up living the sad life of a widow¡­ such a shame.¡±


    ¡°What are you talking about?¡± Tang Qiu snapped, her face contorted in fury.


    Xie Qingqing smiled and nudged her. ¡°What are you so shy about? Which woman doesn¡¯t have¡­ needs? You¡¯re the young mistress of the Jiangs now. It¡¯s too risky even if you wanted to go pick up a few pretty boys to warm your bed. Just wait a little longer, till he¡¯s gone¡­¡±


    Unable to tolerate the embarrassment any further, Tang Qiu covered her ears to block out her friend¡¯s teasing.


    After ss ended, Tang Qiu prepared to leave for the library. The materials there could enhance her learning, maybe even teach her how to help Jiang Shaocheng¡¯s legs recover.


    ¡°Tang Qiu, I didn¡¯t see you around for the past few days. Is everything alright?¡± A gentle voice asked from behind her. She turned to face a man in a blue checkered shirt and ck pants.


    Xie Qingqing snorted under her breath. ¡°It seems you¡¯re lucky in love this year. Look at you, getting approached by the handsomest boy in school.¡±


    Tang Qiu shot her a warning look, then returned her gaze to the man in front of her, with his gentle demeanor. ¡°Good morning, Senior. It was a private matter, nothing more.¡±


    ¡°If you¡¯re having any trouble, please do let me know.¡± Ning Mufan approached her. The light cascaded over his tall, dashing figure; he was sure to strike a pleasing sight no matter the angle.


    ¡°Thank you, Senior.¡±


    The corner of Ning Mufan¡¯s lips lifted. ¡°Are you headed to the library?¡±


    Xie Qingqing nodded instantly. ¡°What a coincidence, I¡¯m headed there too. Why don¡¯t you join me?¡± Ning Mufan asked, his eyes on Tang Qiu.


    Tang Qiu had no way of refusing; the library didn¡¯t belong to her, after all. Xie Qingqing tugged on her arm and whispered, ¡°Take the chance to snag him. When your husband is dead, you can start afresh with this hunk of a man. No need to thank me for giving you this opportunity; that¡¯s what good friends do!¡±


    Tang Qiu¡¯s brow pinched in displeasure. She didn¡¯t like how casually her friend referred to Jiang Shaocheng¡¯s death. ¡°Qingqing, he¡¯s my husband. No matter what, you shouldn¡¯t speak of him like that. Besides, I don¡¯t feel that way towards our senior.¡±


    ¡°Okay, I know! But I¡¯m just speaking facts here. Like it or not, you and Jiang Shaocheng simply don¡¯t have any future together. Plus, Ning Mufan is one of a kind. Just take it as though you¡¯re making friends with him.¡± Xie Qingqing clearly didn¡¯t think a man like Jiang Shaocheng was worthy of her close friend, let alone a better match for her than the man in front of them, who was more conventionally attractive in every way.


    There was no winning with her, so Tang Qiu kept silent and promptly made her way to the library. She would find a way to save Jiang Shaocheng and help him live. As for what happened afterwards¡­ there was no telling, was there?


    Inside the library, Tang Qiu scoured the shelves for books and was about to reach for one on tiptoe, when a hand stretched out and took it for her. She turned to see Ning Mufan directly behind her, nearly knocking into him. She retreated a step so that her back was pressed against the bookshelf. Instead of moving away, however, Ning Mufan closed the distance between them, one hand ced on either side of her head. He leaned in with bated breath.


    ¡°Thank you, Senior!¡±


    Tang Qiu took the book from him and rushed off. She still needed to look for more books to better understand the different treatment methods. If Western techniques didn¡¯t work, she would try traditional medicine. Naturally, she was so lost in thought that she didn¡¯t notice Ning Mufan¡¯s crestfallen expression.


    ¡°Tang Qiu, that book¡¯s level of difficulty is a little advanced. If you want to learn about traditional medicine, you should try to glean the basics from this book,¡± Ning Mufan suggested in a crisp, clear voice, holding out a second book with a smile.


    Tang Qiu edged to the side, keeping her distance from him. She had indeed been looking for that book. ¡°Thank you.¡±


    Ning Mufan passed her the book, sensing her reservations about him and frowning slightly. He sat down next to Tang Qiu. ¡°I¡¯ve read all these books. If you don¡¯t understand anything, you can ask me. I¡¯d love to hear the opinion of our top student here.¡±


    At his words, Tang Qiu came alert; when it came to her areas of interest, she was nothing short of earnest. Xie Qingqing sat opposite both of them, observing silently. Tang Qiu, naive darling that she was, didn¡¯t even spare a nce at the fine, handsome man beside her. Ning Mufan¡¯s eyes, on the other hand, lingered on her, and his manner constantly betrayed little signs of doting.


    She pursed her lips. This man was most definitely interested in her dearest friend Qiu. She whipped out her phone, taking pictures to capture the evidence.

 Chapter 14 - Conservative Choice of Clothes

    <h4>Chapter 14: Conservative Choice of Clothes</h4>


    <h4><strong>Trantor: </strong>As Studios <strong> Editor: </strong>As Studios</h4>


    Tang Qiu received a call from He Lei saying he was outside the school waiting for her. She said goodbye to Ning Mufan, smiling, and ran out.


    Xie Qingqing stared questioningly at her as she hurried off. ¡°What¡¯s the matter, Tang Qiu?¡±


    ¡°My husband¡¯s aide is here to pick me!¡± she called over her shoulder.


    Xie Qingqing watched her leave with a smile stered over her face, and gave a resigned sigh. Tang Qiu was beautiful, but when it came to matters involving love, shecked awareness. It made no matter that she was oblivious to Ning Mufan¡¯s feelings towards her, but her heart must have been moved by the state of the young master she married. Still, that man wouldn¡¯t be around for much longer, and who knew what would happen after he left¡­


    Tang Qiu was in too much of a rush to notice her friend¡¯s troubled expression. She dashed off happily to the school gate, quickening her footsteps when she saw He Lei wave to her. He graciously helped her open the door, extending a courteous gesture to her. As Tang Qiu was climbing in, she was met with the sight of a man in the seat beside her.


    Jiang Shaocheng was dressed neatly in a suit, and despite his injured legs, habit made him sit upright. His family held little love for him, it was true, but his birth had bestowed a refined breeding upon him that ran deep in his bones. For all the ridicule that his crippled legs and facial scars earned him, his graceful manner remained intact; a part of him.


    Tang Qiu had had no feelings for him when they first married, but now, there was no reason that she shouldn¡¯t be amiable and get along with him. ¡°Why are you here, dear?¡±


    Jiang Shaocheng muffled a cough behind his hand. ¡°I¡¯m taking you somewhere. Come on in.¡±


    Tang Qiu arched a brow. Jiang Shaocheng¡¯s secretiveness only deepened her curiosity. When the car approached a shopping mall, she asked, ¡°You want to buy something?¡±


    Jiang Shaocheng nodded. Last night, as he was hugging her to sleep, he discovered that her pajamas were covered with lint. The clothes she had brought over from the Fengs, too, were old and frayed. As her husband, it was only natural that he make it a priority to rectify that.


    In the mall, Tang Qiu trailed after them, taking in the rows of stunning dresses with a sparkle in her eyes. After all, which woman wouldn¡¯t be delighted by pretty clothes?


    Jiang Shaocheng pushed his wheelchair to her side. ¡°Choose whatever you like.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s okay, I have enough clothes.¡± Tang Qiu had her reservations; it was obvious that these clothes would be far from cheap.


    Aware of what weighed on her mind, Jiang Shaocheng took her hand in his. ¡°He Lei has inquired and found out that there¡¯s a 10% discount ongoing today. Don¡¯t be afraid to get what you like.¡±


    Tang Qiu¡¯s eyes lit up at his words. A discount? It was too good to be true.


    To the side, He Lei¡¯s mouth twitched. The young master would say anything to coddle his wife¡¯s feelings, it seemed. But his smile never wavered. ¡°It¡¯s true, Young Mistress. Please, go ahead.¡±


    Tang Qiu surveyed the racks of clothes, which appeared to be fashionable and of good quality, not to mention designed with apparent thoughtfulness. But there was one problem: none of the clothes here had price tags. ¡°Why don¡¯t any of the clothes have price tags?¡± she asked one of the service staff suspiciously. She had grown up poor; she couldn¡¯t feel at ease buying things without knowing how expensive they were.


    The staff member¡¯s gaze flickered to the man in the wheelchair, lingering on the scars on the lower half of his face, and felt her heart skip a beat. ¡°Because of the event today, of course. In order not to affect our brand image, all the price tags have been removed. Don¡¯t worry, with the 10% discount, everything is reasonably priced.¡±


    Tang Qiu had grown up in hardship; everytime she shopped, the first thing she would look out for would be the price of the items,paring them carefully before making a choice. But now, she didn¡¯t know how expensive anything was, and if the original price of these clothes was in the thousands, then they wouldn¡¯t be cheap, even with the discount¡­


    Feeling somewhat put on the spot, the staff member nced at the man in the wheelchair again. Today, they had suddenly received a call requesting that they remove all the price tags on their women¡¯s clothing. So this man had nned to bring his wife shopping, and had wanted her to find the prices agreeable rather than fretting over them.


    ¡°You should try them on, Miss. They¡¯re excellent choices.¡±


    Tang Qiu¡¯s gaze drifted to a few dresses, but still she hesitated, not moving.


    Jiang Shaocheng saw the conflict in her crystalline eyes. He couldn¡¯t help how his voice softened as he said, ¡°Don¡¯t worry. It costs nothing to try on the clothes, and their price can be negotiatedter.¡±


    The crease between Tang Qiu¡¯s brows disappeared at his words. Finally, she selected a few pieces of clothing. When she was finished trying them on, she felt rather shy. It had been a long time since she had worn new clothes. Her pale yellow dress brought out the fairness of herplexion; its V-neck suited her, as did the pinched waist and flowery patterns on the outer tulleyer of the skirt.


    ¡°How is it?¡± she asked Jiang Shaocheng, blushing, eyes shining as she awaited his opinion.


    ¡°It¡¯s gorgeous.¡± Jiang Shaocheng studied her slender waist. Although he had held her slim frame in his arms justst night, the way the dress hugged the curves of her body was truly alluring. ¡°Try on a few more.¡±


    Tang Qiuughed giddily, unable to contain her joy, then headed off to the fitting room with the clothes he helped her pick.


    Jiang Shaocheng¡¯s fashion sense was actually not bad, but the clothes he chose for her all had one thing inmon: they were on the conservative side!

 Chapter 15 - Let Me Borrow Your Luck, Dear

    <h4>Chapter 15: Let Me Borrow Your Luck, Dear</h4>


    <h4><strong>Trantor: </strong>As Studios <strong> Editor: </strong>As Studios</h4>


    Tang Qiu tried on countless dresses, all of which she thought looked lovely. ¡°The clothes you picked for me are very nice too. Which ones do you think I should get?¡± she asked, frowning in contemtion.


    Jiang Shaocheng handed her a pair of shoes, brushing off her question. ¡°There are many more for you to try. There¡¯s no hurry to decide. In the meantime, see how you like these shoes.¡±


    Everything had been nned to amodate Tang Qiu, down to the barest detail, and she was clearly taken in by the act. True, it didn¡¯t hurt to try on a few more outfits¨Cespecially since she had never in her life worn so many gorgeous dresses in a day before. From the sidelines, the staff member saw Jiang Shaocheng gesture, silently instructing her to wrap up everything Tang Qiu had tried on.


    Prior to today, Tang Qiu had never bought shoes more expensive than 5o yuan, but the ones that Jiang Shaocheng presented her with came in all shapes and sizes. Since he had been good enough to bring her out shopping today, she didn¡¯t stand on ceremony, and with a rare flourish, said, ¡°I don¡¯t need to try them. I¡¯ll get them.¡± She could afford a few pairs of clothes and shoes, with how much money she had obtained from the Fengs.


    ¡°There¡¯s a lucky draw ongoing today, Miss, with even more discounts for the top prize,¡± the staff member said with a smile. ¡°Would you like to participate?¡±


    ¡°Another discount? Is this some kind of trap for the customers?¡± When it came to money, Tang Qiu always erred on the side of caution.


    The corner of the staff member¡¯s lips twitched. She was about to exin herself, but Jiang Shaocheng¡¯s rich, deep voice beat her to it. ¡°Qiu, don¡¯t worry. This is all part of a strategy to promote their business. Haven¡¯t you noticed there¡¯s no one here? The shop must be trying their best to sell off their products.¡±


    The young master was spewing nonsense again. Sure, it was part of a business strategy, He Lei thought sardonically, and not because he had ordered that the store would only be serving Tang Qiu today. Jiang Shaocheng would truly say anything just to keep his wife happy.


    ¡°I suppose you¡¯re right.¡± Tang Qiu, too, had noticed that the shop was conspicuously absent of customers. The staff member brought her a box. She was about to draw her lot when she paused and turned to face Jiang Shaocheng with a mischievous grin. ¡°Do me a favor, dear, and stick out your hand.¡±


    Jiang Shaocheng looked puzzled, but he obliged. Tang Qiu grasped his hand and rubbed it against hers. ¡°My luck has never been the best, so I thought I could borrow some of yours.¡±


    <i>She¡¯s serious about this.?</i>Jiang Shaocheng gripped her hand back. ¡°That¡¯s not how luck works.¡±


    ¡°How does it work, then?¡± Tang Qiu stared at him curiously, unblinking.


    ¡°Well, when ites to borrowing luck, you must undergo a special ritual. For example, a kiss.¡±


    A blush spread over Tang Qiu¡¯s face. She lowered her eyes, still kneeling in front of Jiang Shaocheng, too bashful to meet his gaze. This was proof that he was toying with her!


    ¡°Do you want to borrow my luck or not, Qiu?¡± Jiang Shaocheng leaned down so his face was level with her ear. When she didn¡¯t move, he lifted her chin with one hand and kissed her.


    ¡°My luck is all yours.¡±


    Tang Qiu stared at him stupidly. He had just kissed her. And she hadn¡¯t hated it, not in the least¨Cin fact, she felt her heart fluttering, her head swimming, like fireworks were going off in her mind.


    ¡°Go on,¡± he encouraged, his voice low, sending pleasure shooting down her spine.


    Tang Qiu recovered her senses and got to her feet for the lucky draw. She drew a number card from the lucky draw and opened it, only to find that she had won first prize!


    ¡°Congrattions, Miss,¡± the staff member eximed. ¡°In addition to the 10% of all your items today, you also get a buy-one-get-one-free deal!¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re a lucky man indeed, dear!¡±


    ¡°These dual promotions are a rare opportunity. You should make use of it and get a few more things.¡±


    Tang Qiu couldn¡¯t refuse such a tantalizing deal. In the end, her shopping amounted to 50 bags worth¡­ a total of 200 yuan! She had been prepared for her wallet to bleed when she paid; now she stared at the staff member in disbelief as they calcted the price of her items. ¡°Surely there¡¯s some mistake? All this for only 200 yuan?¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s no mistake,¡± the staff member replied, smiling somewhat derisively. ¡°Not with both the deals from today!¡±


    Tang Qiu had been certain there was an error, but she still couldn¡¯t contain her surprise. Who knew that those clothes, without their price tags, would have ended up being so cheap?


    Distaste flooded through the staff member. Each of these branded, luxury goods cost more than 10000 yuan each; even with the twin promotions, there was no way they would be only 200 yuan in total. But after she had calcted the original sum, her boss had imed it was too much and ordered her to round down the price, again and again, till it amounted to 200 yuan.


    Tang Qiu paid for the items happily. She turned around, bags in hand, and knelt down in front of Jiang Shaocheng¡¯s wheelchair. ¡°Since there¡¯s such a good deal today, we should buy a few more things. Why don¡¯t I choose some clothes for you?¡±


    ¡°Couple outfits?¡± Jiang Shaocheng asked with a raised brow.


    Tang Qiu flushed. She had only felt guilty about buying so many items for herself, and none for him. ¡°I meant regr clothes.¡±


    Jiang Shaocheng nodded, patting the top of her head. ¡°Alright, regr couple outfits.¡± Tang Qiu was speechless.


    Standing to one side, He Lei felt his scalp tingle. They had only nned to buy the women¡¯s clothing today, so the price tags on the men¡¯s clothes hadn¡¯t been trimmed off yet. ¡°Young Mistress, you must be tired after trying on so many clothes,¡± he interjected. ¡°Why don¡¯t you go enjoy a cup of coffee and rest for a bit, before picking out clothes for the young master?¡±


    Tang Qiu wasn¡¯t tired, but then she thought of Jiang Shaocheng¡¯s illness, and agreed. ¡°Let¡¯s go somewhere to rest, dear.¡±


    ¡°Okay.¡± Jiang Shaocheng nced at He Lei, who took the hint and went off to deal with the men¡¯s clothing in the store.


    As Tang Qiu pushed him to the beverage store, several pairs of eyes turned their way and looked Jiang Shaocheng up and down. She felt a twinge of pain at his cold, detached expression. Being looked at strangely by so many people mustn¡¯t be easy for him.


    She reached out, taking hisrger hand in hers, determination swelling in her heart. One way or another, she had to find a way to heal him.

 Chapter 16 - Get Lost, Unless You Want to be Disfigured

    <h4>Chapter 16: <i>Get Lost, Unless You Want to be Disfigured</i></h4>


    <h4><strong>Trantor: </strong>As Studios <strong> Editor: </strong>As Studios</h4>


    Tang Qiu suddenly intertwined her fingers with Jiang Shaocheng¡¯s and stared at him intently. ¡°What is it?¡± he asked, puzzled.


    ¡°Thank you for bringing me good luck,¡± she said, beaming. ¡°Even as a child, it felt like misfortune perpetually came my way. But ever since meeting you, I feel blessed.¡±


    Jiang Shaocheng¡¯s heart melted slightly. ¡°You¡¯re my wife. What¡¯s mine is yours, including my luck.¡± His words¨Calong with that kiss earlier¨Cmade Tang Qiu¡¯s face grow warm.


    ¡°My, my, it¡¯s really you, Tang Qiu.¡±


    A woman¡¯s haughty voice reached their ears. She strutted up to Tang Qiu like a predator closing in on its prey. Tang Qiu frowned at the familiar voice, before turning and registering who it belonged to: Chen Man¡¯s daughter, Huamei. Huamei frequently visited the Fengs; once, Tang Qiu had even thought of her as her own cousin.


    ¡°Who¡¯s that ugly freak next to you, Tang Qiu? Is he a cripple? You know, with the wheelchair and all.¡± Derision dripped from Huamei¡¯s every word. Her brows pinched together in revulsion when she saw the pattern of scars on Jiang Shaocheng¡¯s face.


    Rage flooded Tang Qiu. ¡°You don¡¯t know what you¡¯re talking about, Huamei. No one asked for your opinion.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s a fact that he¡¯s ugly. Can¡¯t I speak the truth? Is he your boyfriend?¡± She made a?<i>tsk</i>?noise. ¡°You¡¯ve got some screwed up tastes, Tang Qiu, if you went and found yourself a ghastly cripple like him.¡±


    Tang Qiu¡¯s marriage was not widely-known¨Cnaturally, since the Fengs were too afraid to publicize news of it¨Cso Huamei didn¡¯t know that the man in the wheelchair before her was actually Jiang Shaocheng. In the past, the Feng sisters took great pleasure in bullying Tang Qiu, and Huamei had been no different, viewing her as no more than an insect beneath her sole. The hideous cripple beside Tang Qiu was just another tool for Huamei to have fun tormenting her.


    Tang Qiu¡¯s hands balled into fists. ¡°I suggest that you run back to whichever hole you crawled out from. I¡¯m in no mood to deal with you right now.¡±


    Huamei¡¯s mouth twisted into a contemptuous sneer. Tang Qiu had been nothing more than a servant of the Fengs. Now, just because she had found herself some gruesome cripple, she had be audacious enough to start running her mouth. ¡°You¡¯re a little slut who was born to yet another shameless slut. Your whore of a mother seduced my uncle, and now you¡¯ve run off to y arm candy to such a hideous man. How much is he paying you?¡±


    ¡°Honestly,¡± she continued, ¡°I came to give you a reminder, for your own good: my family has too much dignity to stoop as low as you. It¡¯s a shame, you know, that you learnt nothing of value, only how to follow in your bitch mother¡¯s footsteps.¡±


    At the mention of her mother, fury burned through Tang Qiu, flushing her face. Her knuckles turned white, trembling with rage, and for one instant murder shed in her eyes. She had left the Fengs¡¯ household; she didn¡¯t have to thread on eggshells around them anymore. No¨Cshe could retaliate freely.


    ¡°Huamei, you regrly steal Feng Lu¡¯s jewelry, and when Feng Lu can¡¯t find them, you allow me to be maligned and beaten. For my own good, you say? Who¡¯s the shameless one here?¡±


    Huamei¡¯s sneer slipped, giving way to embarrassment, before taking on a caustic, bitter edge. ¡°What proof do you have? You liar¨Cyou were clearly the one brazen enough to steal, and now you¡¯re ming me? The Fengs were too kind to you. They should have beaten you to death long ago!¡±


    Before Tang Qiu could retort, the man in the wheelchair grabbed her hand. ¡°This woman used to beat you?¡±


    Briefly stunned, Tang Qiu¡¯s eyes drifted to Huamei, whose face was written all over with unabashed mockery. She nodded. It was true¨CHuamei would steal Feng Lu¡¯s jewelry, then point fingers at her, leaving the Feng family to punish Tang Qiu.


    Jiang Shaocheng felt a stab of pain in his heart. He gripped her hand. ¡°Qiu, it¡¯s a public ce, let¡¯s not make a scene.¡±


    Huamei had dared toy a hand on his wife, and he would not let her off for it. But it would do no good to create a bloodbath in the mall¨Cor have Tang Qiu bear witness and be frightened.


    Mistaking his words for disapproval, Tang Qiu said, ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I overreacted. I won¡¯t quarrel with her anymore.¡± Back then, she had swallowed all her retorts, too, rather than argue with the Fengs and earn herself a beating.


    ¡°Afraid I¡¯ll air all your dirtyundry?¡± Huamei asked, smug at her sudden speechlessness.


    Jiang Shaocheng turned a deadly stare of ice onto Huamei, and a shiver trickled down her spine. She tore her eyes away, not daring to meet his gaze, wondering silently how it was that this cripple could project such a terrifying demeanor.


    But a cripple was still a cripple. ¡°That pretty face of yours is a useful tool, Tang Qiu,¡± she said, scoffing coldly. ¡°But one day, you¡¯ll have no more youthfulness to squander.¡±


    To the man in the wheelchair, she said, ¡°If Tang Qiu is willing to endure yourpany for money, she must have done the same with other men in the past. Take it as my kind advice: you¡¯re pathetic enough as it is, so don¡¯t go about aggravating your condition and catching some incurable disease. Although, I must say, you¡¯re pretty lucky to have a woman willing to tolerate you at all, let alone one who doesn¡¯t care what illness you have.¡±


    Jiang Shaocheng held her gaze in frosty silence. Right then, the coffee Tang Qiu had ordered arrived, and he picked it up, pouring the scalding liquid over Huamei¡¯s face. She howled out loud, her hands flying to her face.


    Jiang Shaocheng¡¯s voice was as cold as a harsh winter. ¡°Get lost¡­¡± he said, ¡°¡­ unless you want me to disfigure your face.¡±

 Chapter 17 - Imbued in Her Heart

    <h4>Chapter 17: Imbued in Her Heart</h4>


    <h4><strong>Trantor: </strong>As Studios <strong> Editor: </strong>As Studios</h4>


    In a stricken rage, Huamei clutched her face and ran off to find some ice cubes.


    Jiang Shaocheng turned to see his little wife staring at him with wide, nk eyes. He exhaled, wondering if he had frightened her. The wheelchair hindered his mobility, otherwise, that woman would have gotten off lightly with mere disfigurement.


    ¡°I was teaching her a lesson. Did I scare you?¡±


    Returning to her senses, Tang Qiu¡¯s lips curved upwards. ¡°Scared? You startled me, that¡¯s all. You moved so fast¨CI didn¡¯t even see iting!¡± It was amazing, how he had moved so deftly. If she could only be half as agile as him, she wouldn¡¯t have had to suffer all those years of bullying!


    Jiang Shaocheng reached out and stroked her head. ¡°Next time, if anyone dares to mistreat you, you must tell me. You¡¯re my wife. It¡¯s my responsibility to protect you.¡±


    Tang Qiu kept her face neutral, but inside, it was as though fireworks had gone off in her heart. Her own parents had never said such a thing to her, but he¨Cthis man whom she had only been married to for a few days¨Cwas promising to protect her? He might have been sickly, with only half his lifespan left to him, but a deep well of gratitude blossomed within her. She took his hand, her manner serious. ¡°I understand.¡±


    Right then, He Lei arrived, and they went to the men¡¯s clothing section in the store from earlier. Tang Qiu helped her husband pick out some casual clothes. When she showed them to him, he couldn¡¯t help teasing, ¡°Qiu, these clothes look very simr to yours. Are they meant to be our couple outfits?¡±


    Tang Qiu was momentarily stunned. Turning her attention away from him, she held out the clothes to the service staff and said, ¡°I want all these. How much are they?¡±


    Recalling her previous instructions, the staff member calcted the price of the clothing and found herself speechless, but she stered a bright smile onto her face. ¡°Miss, since you won first prize in our lucky draw, you get 10% off these clothes, plus a buy-one-get-one-free deal.¡±


    ¡°If it¡¯s so cheap, I¡¯ll get a few more items.¡± Tang Qiu squatted down in front of Jiang Shaocheng. ¡°Dear, the quality and style of the clothes here are not bad. Why don¡¯t I get you some more?¡±


    ¡°Sure, it¡¯s up to you,¡± he replied fondly.


    In the end, it only cost 300 yuan to buy 15 sets of clothes. Tang Qiu handed the money over quickly and easily.


    After they finally left, the staff member felt the tension that had been brewing in them dissipate. Their boss had called and ordered them to entertain those customers to the very best of their ability, and if they failed, they would not only be penalized, but fired. In front of Tang Qiu, the service staff had deliberately been all smiles, giving her whatever she desired.


    ¡°Manager, who was that woman, and why did the boss make such arrangements?¡±


    The store manager looked up from her calctions to re at them. ¡°I don¡¯t know who that woman was, but I heard that the man in the wheelchair is one of the higher-ups in headquarters. With how respectfully he treated that woman, she must be from no ordinary background, whatever it is.¡±


    Understanding dawned on several of the staff. Someone must have wanted to keep that woman happy, to force them to put on such a performance.


    Back in the mansion, Tang Qiu looked at the sight of the overflowing wardrobe and felt her heart swell with something inexplicable. She ran downstairs, her footsteps sounding to a joyful tempo. She was going to cook dinner for her husband, to repay her husband¡¯s efforts in taking her out shopping.


    ¡°Qiu, do you need any help?¡±


    Tang Qiu was about to say no when she recalled that he was ill; it must be lonely to have to sit in his wheelchair all day. It wouldn¡¯t hurt to let him help her out in small ways, to be mindful of his feelings and prevent him from feeling inferior. ¡°You can help me peel the onions,¡± she said, lifting her brows at him.


    Jiang Shaocheng couldn¡¯t help his mouth curling upwards at her tone; one she might use to speak soothingly to a child. ¡°Alright, I will.¡±


    In between her tasks, Tang Qiu would asionally nce his way, as though afraid he would hurt himself. In half an hour, they were done and dinner was ready.


    ¡°This is the first meal we made together, dear. Hurry up and try it, it¡¯s sure to taste wonderful.¡±


    Jiang Shaocheng took a bite. It was delicious indeed, but then again, he had always known she was a skilled cook. She had only said that they made the meal together to please him; he had done no more than chop the garlic and peel the onions.


    As they ate, Tang Qiu kept chattering away, ¡°I¡¯ll make soup for you tomorrow, with some herbs to nourish your qi and blood, and we¡¯ll save some money for your treatment in the future. Oh, and tomorrow morning I¡¯ll take you out for a walk¡­¡±


    Jiang Shaocheng listened in silence, nodding from time to time. He watched her lips move, and was faced with the sudden urge to kiss her. And he was a decisive man of action; when had it ever been in his character to deny himself the pleasure of what he desired? Without hesitation, he cupped the back of her neck and kissed her.


    ¡°Oh.¡± Tang Qiu made a dazed sound of surprise, her vision blocked by his hands over her eyes. In the darkness, the scent of fresh, cool pines on him was even more heady and intense.


    ¡°Qiu, we¡¯re married. Kissing isn¡¯t anything unusual, is it?¡± He wanted to nudge his way into her heart, just a little, the way she had his.


    He would wait for her to growfortable with him, to fall in love with him¡­ and only then could he reveal all his secrets to her.


    He didn¡¯t want to let her go.


    ¡°It isn¡¯t,¡± Tang Qiu echoed. She sucked in a few breaths. No feelings might exist between them, and they were no regr couple, but they were married nheless. If she were to refuse some of his requests, she feared that it would wound him into thinking that she disliked him.


    When Jiang Shaocheng heard her reply, he couldn¡¯t hide the interest that flickered across his dark eyes.

 Chapter 18 - Give Me Some of Your Air

    <h4>Chapter 18: Give Me Some of Your Air</h4>


    <h4><strong>Trantor: </strong>As Studios <strong> Editor: </strong>As Studios</h4>


    After dinner, Jiang Shaocheng was looking over some documents in the study when a knock on the door interrupted him. It was He Lei.


    ¡°Young Master, your father is asking when you will bring the young mistress back to your old house.¡±


    Jiang Shaocheng didn¡¯t look up, opening another file, like He Lei didn¡¯t exist.


    Cold sweat beaded across He Lei¡¯s brow. ¡°Young Master?¡± he mustered the courage to ask again.


    ¡°Just say my condition worsened, that I coughed up blood and couldn¡¯t leave home.¡±


    Ufortably, He Lei said, ¡°But Sir didn¡¯t seem happy when he spoke about the young mistress. He said he didn¡¯t know what Jiang Ming was thinking.¡±


    At the mention of Tang Qiu, Jiang Shaocheng raised his head. His dark gaze was piercing. ¡°We¡¯ll go during the weekend.¡± The trip was inevitable, and there were some scores that needed to be settled.


    He Lei heaved a sigh of relief. If the young master had refused to bring Tang Qiu home, he didn¡¯t know what kind of nder his younger brother would stir up.


    Recalling the task he had been assigned this afternoon, he passed Jiang Shaocheng a file of information. ¡°Here is the information on the Hua family. After Huamei¡¯s aunt, Chen Man, married Fang Guo¡¯an, Huamei¡¯s parents went to work in the Fengs¡¯pany. Huamei is a second year student in university, and she has a boyfriend, a young man of unkind and conceited character.¡± In high school, Huamei and Feng Lu were in the same ss as the young mistress. ording to his investigations, they often bullied her, and once, the young mistress was even forced to miss her examination because of them¡­


    ¡°Understood. See that she gets a taste of her own medicine, for what she did to Qiu.¡±


    He didn¡¯t so much as raise his voice, but his cool tone sent an icy shiver rolling over He Lei. ¡°Right away, Young Master.¡±


    When He Lei had gone, Jiang Shaocheng stared at theputer screen, pondering for a while, before typing in the search bar:?<i>100 Ways to Make a Girl Fall in Love With Me</i>


    The next morning, Tang Qiu woke up once again in Jiang Shaocheng¡¯s arms. She smacked a palm to her forehead in frustration, and made to extricate herself carefully. Only, even that slight movement from her made Jiang Shaocheng shift and drape his arm over her waist, trapping her in his embrace.


    His pajamas were loose, giving her a glimpse of his toned chest. She studied it, momentarily transfixed. Lying in his arms, listening to his heartbeat, and inhaling his musky, masculine scent, Tang Qiu felt a warm flush rising in her cheeks, the pitter-patter of her heart like the galloping of an antelope.


    He still hadn¡¯t awoken, so she said softly, ¡°Wake up, dear. Let¡¯s go for a walk and get some exercise.¡± His legs might be injured, but he could still work his arms, and it would strengthen his heart, too.


    Jiang Shaocheng frowned faintly, only half-awake, and hugged her even tighter, drifting back into the muzzy cocoon of sleep.


    Feeling his warm breath, Tang Qiu blushed even deeper. A strange feeling was stirring in her core, like an itch yearning to be scratched, sending fire pooling through her body. Her breath hitched and she squirmed. ¡°Dear, if you don¡¯t get up, I will.¡± She might justbust, if he didn¡¯t move soon!


    Her squirming must have awoken him, because he slowly opened his eyes. ¡°Good morning, Qiu.¡±


    Tang Qiu¡¯s face was bright red. She looked away from him shyly, unable to meet his gaze. ¡°Good¡­ good morning.¡±


    ¡°While I was half-asleep, I heard you say you wanted to go out for some exercise?¡±


    She nodded in a fluster. ¡°Yes, I wanted to bring you for a walk. It¡¯s good to get some fresh air.¡±


    He caressed her cheek, nting a light kiss on her cheek. ¡°Oh? I find the air here quite fresh, actually,¡± he teased. ¡°I¡¯ve lent you my luck, Qiu, now it¡¯s your turn to give me some of your air.¡±


    ¡°How can I possibly do that¡­?¡± She felt foolish, like her mind wasn¡¯tprehending something.


    ¡°I¡¯ll show you.¡±


    Jiang Shaocheng forcibly covered her mouth, robbing her of air. His frenzied actions almost shocked all coherent thought from her. But he had woken up to her squirming in his arms, only for her to suggest going for a walk, of all things. He was bound to be¡­ a little annoyed.


    Later, as they were eating breakfast, the warmth still hadn¡¯t left Tang Qiu¡¯s face. She was red as an apple. She stole a nce at Jiang Shaocheng, and nearly buried her face in her bowl out of nervousness when she felt the weight of his stare on her.


    ¡°Are you angry, Qiu?¡±


    Stupidly, she shook her head. She wasn¡¯t angry¨Conly confused at herself, at how being kissed by a man she had only known for a few days made her body go weak. But she had never had a boyfriend before, and she didn¡¯t know how to get along with men, let alone her husband. But whatever they were doing now¨Cwaking up together, being able to greet him good morning¨Cshe couldn¡¯t find it in her heart to reject.


    ¡°No.¡±


    Her head was still bowed, Jiang Shaocheng observed. Come to think of it, his little wife had all but fled the bed earlier. He must have scared her.


    ¡°Qiu,¡± he began, ¡°I can sometimes be in a bad mood when I wake up or when I¡¯m disturbed, due to my health. Did I hurt you, with how thoughtlessly I acted?¡±


    Hearing him use his health as a justification caused all thoughts to vanish from Tang Qiu¡¯s mind. ¡°I was the thoughtless one,¡± she apologized, the words spilling from her mouth. ¡°Your body should only exert itself in moderation, I was too hasty¡­¡±

 Chapter 19 - In the Arms of a Man

    <h4>Chapter 19: In the Arms of a Man</h4>


    <h4><strong>Trantor: </strong>As Studios <strong> Editor: </strong>As Studios</h4>


    Jiang Shaocheng mused to himself that there were far more straightforward ways for him, a cripple, to get some exercise in the bedroom. He could think of countless ways to make her break a sweat, all without ever taking a step out of the house.


    ¡°I know all you want is to look after me. We could set an rm, and I¡¯ll be able to wake up naturally after getting used to it.¡±


    Tang Qiu¡¯s shyness dissolved at his upbeat response, and her mind drifted to what kind of treatment would be suitable in helping him recover effectively.


    After breakfast, Jiang Shaocheng pushed his wheelchair over to her. ¡°Qiu, can you help me choose an outfit that matches yours today?¡±


    Tang Qiu agreed, her heart giving a tiny flutter at the mental image of them in their couple outfits. ¡°Let me help you change your clothes, dear.¡± She was his wife, and she wanted to take a go at helping him with these little tasks. Plus, she wanted to take a good look at his injured legs; otherwise, how would she know how to heal him?


    ¡°You really want to help me?¡± Jiang Shaocheng¡¯s brows lifted in surprise. She had practically shied away from him earlier. Was she no longer afraid?


    ¡°Of course. I¡¯m your wife, such simple tasks are no problem at all!¡±


    <i>She must be trying to reassure herself.?</i>He had no reason to refuse her, not with how adorable she was.


    Tang Qiu took in a breath and helped him take off his pants, but only managed it halfway before he reached out and took her hand. ¡°Let He Lei do it. You need to go to ss.¡± Her cool hands had been tracing the bare skin of his legs; like any normal man, it was impossible to stifle his body¡¯s natural response.


    ¡°I can do it,¡± she insisted, only for him to purse his lips and lower his head.


    His wounded legs meant that he couldn¡¯t even have sex with her; his pride must be rather fragile. If she persisted in having her way, it might hurt his feelings.


    ¡°I¡¯ll get He Lei,¡± she acquiesced.


    When she left, Jiang Shaocheng allowed himself to exhale and rx. The self-control which he had always prided himself on had failed him entirely in front of her; instead, he had nearly given in to every primal instinct inside him. He had been the one toying with her at first, teasing those little reactions out of her like ripples across ake in spring, except he had fallen prey to his own trap. He couldn¡¯t help giving a wry smile.


    When He Lei pushed Jiang Shaocheng¡¯s wheelchair downstairs, Tang Qiu studied their matching-colored outfits. A smile broke out across her face as she ran up to him and smoothed his shirt. ¡°You look especially lively and handsome dressed like this, dear,¡± she remarked in admiration.


    Jiang Shaocheng raised a brow, gratified by herpliments. ¡°You look particrly beautiful too, Qiu.¡±


    She turned bashful at his words. Her heart had been racing an awful lottely¡­


    When they reached A University, Jiang Shaocheng rolled down the car window and watched Tang Qiu prepare to hurry off. Without thinking, he said aloud, ¡°Do I get a goodbye kiss, Qiu, since I won¡¯t get to see you for the whole day?¡±


    Tang Qiu pursed her lips and turned her back on him without replying.


    ¡°You don¡¯t want to kiss me? I understand¡­ I¡¯m crippled and disfigured. If any of your ssmates saw us, you would hear no end to it¡­¡±


    She couldn¡¯t stand the self-reproach in that pitiful tone of his, so she turned back, taking his face in her hands and giving him a quick kiss on the cheek. ¡°I¡¯ve never been put off by you, and I could care less what others think.¡± She was just shy¡­


    Jiang Shaocheng was satisfied, but he pretended not to be. ¡°Qiu, a kiss shared between husband and wife is on the lips, not the cheek.¡±


    In the driver¡¯s seat, He Lei¡¯s mouth twitched uncontrobly. Where was his young master¡¯s resistance to feminine wiles? He had lost all sense of shame trying to coax a kiss from her. But the pretty, naive girl didn¡¯t realize she was being toyed with by a man whose kind demeanor only concealed the darkness lurking beneath, so, like a fool, she lowered her head and nted a kiss on his lips¨Cone He Lei pretended not to see.


    When they broke the kiss, Jiang Shaocheng cupped her cheeks and pressed his lips to hers again. ¡°A return gift,¡± he remarked without a hint of shyness. Only then did he allow Tang Qiu to leave.


    He breathed in her lingering scent and adjusted his tie. ¡°How do I look, He Lei?¡± he asked. He Lei responded with a stream of gushing praise, making his mouth curve in gratification. ¡°Don¡¯t get too envious. My wife picked this specially for me.¡±


    He Lei didn¡¯t respond, only thought that his young master was no different from a regr person after all, with various emotions and desires.


    ¡°Oh, and don¡¯t arrange any meetings for me after my wife has ended ss,¡± Jiang Shaocheng ordered. ¡°I want to be by her side.¡±


    ¡°Of course¡­ Young Master.¡± He Lei hid his surprise that a 30 year old man would put his work on hold and choose to spend his valuable time with a young girl like her. Just to what lengths would he go for the young mistress??<i>What if she doesn¡¯t return his feelings??</i>The longer He Lei dwelled on the question, the more it sent fear welling up in him, and he pushed it aside.


    That evening, Jiang Shaocheng came to pick Tang Qiu up. He was in high spirits¡­ until he saw her in the arms of another man.

 Chapter 20 - Who’s Going to Regret What?

    <h4>Chapter 20: Who¡¯s Going to Regret What?</h4>


    <h4><strong>Trantor: </strong>As Studios <strong> Editor: </strong>As Studios</h4>


    After ss, Tang Qiu went to the staffroom for duty. To earn some money to cover her living expenses, she worked diligently as an assistant for Professor Sun.


    Professor Sun was nearing eighty, and anyone else in his shoes would have wanted to retire and travel the world with his wife, but he wasn¡¯t willing to relinquish teaching just yet. He was a renowned lecturer on traditional medicine, and despite his age, he was still fit and healthy, alternating between his duties as a doctor and mentoring graduate students¨Cand no small number of them either.


    Tang Qiu had yet to graduate, but she had always been desperate to prove herself to Professor Sun, hoping that he would give her a chance.


    ¡°Can I help you, Professor?¡±


    Professor Sun had his reading sses on and was studying the contents of a book. He didn¡¯t raise his head. ¡°Can¡¯t you see for yourself? Come in, girl, don¡¯t just stand there like a fool.¡±


    Tang Qiu had hoped to be able to learn from him today, but she didn¡¯t dare to voice it out. Instead, she scurried to clean up the office. Professor Sun was severe and harsh with his students; he didn¡¯t suffer fools, especially those who thought to waste his time. She had been his assistant for more than 6 months, and in that time, he had made one thing perfectly clear to her:?<i>Keep your mouth shut and make yourself useful.?</i>


    ¡°How is your English, girl?¡± Professor Sun asked suddenly, cing down his book.


    Tang Qiu practically shot to her feet. ¡°Passable.¡±


    Professor Sun wasn¡¯t a man to tolerate ambiguous replies like that, so he tossed two documents at her. ¡°Are you up to it? If so, trante them for me within the next 2 weeks.¡±


    Tang Qiu scanned the documents. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Professor, I¡¯ll do my best to get it done!¡±


    Professor Sun lowered his head to his work once more. ¡°If you really can¡¯t make sense of it, go ask your seniors,¡± he said, almost as an afterthought. ¡°And if you still can¡¯t do it then, give the documents back to me as soon as possible so you don¡¯t waste my time.¡± The seniors he was referring to were all his students.


    ¡°I understand. If I have any questions, I¡¯ll rify them as best I can.¡± This was her chance to prove herself to Professor Sun. She had to get this task done!


    She took a seat and looked over the documents carefully, and her eyes started twitching uncontrobly.


    <i>Male unitary system¡­ How to improve a man¡¯s sexual performance¡­?</i>The words were like a p to her face. But then again, she thought silently, she was studying medicine; why would there be any distinction between male and female patients?


    ¡°Your senior Ning Mufan was capable of helping me trante documents when he was my assistant in his first year,¡± Professor Sun said. Her slightly ill expression, as if she were regretting her choices, hadn¡¯t escaped his notice. ¡°Your senior Qian Hongwei helped me out in theboratory in his second year. And your senior Song Siyue is currently learning to writeb reports from me. You¡¯re a second year student now. Perhaps you¡¯d like to back out?¡±


    ¡°Not at all,¡± Tang Qiu gritted out, shaking her head.


    Professor Sun snorted coldly. ¡°If you can¡¯t do it, just tell me. If I gave this to Song Siyue, she would definitely take less than 2 weeks.¡±


    Despite his cutting words, Tang Qiu knew that Professor Sun meant well at heart. If he was willing to give her a chance at all, she had to cherish it.


    After tidying up Professor Sun¡¯s office, she carried her bag to the library to study the materials there.


    ¡°Ouch!¡±


    In Tang Qiu¡¯s haste, a woman had knocked into her. She retreated back two paces, only to hear a woman crying out in a familiar voice.?<i>Feng Yao.?</i>


    ¡°Are you blind, Tang Qiu? You knocked into her on purpose!¡± the woman beside Feng Yao shouted.


    ¡°She knocked into me first,¡± Tang Qiu said, rubbing her shoulder. ¡°If anyone is blind, it¡¯s her.¡±


    ¡°How can you say that, Tang Qiu?¡± Feng Yao asked. ¡°I didn¡¯t knock into you¡­ it was you¡­ you bumped into me first¡­¡±


    The grieved expression on Feng Yao¡¯s face, coupled with her pitiful disy, made Tang Qiu nauseous. She eyed both women with disdain and turned on her heel, not wanting to waste her time with them.


    ¡°How can you be so self-righteous when you knocked into her? It must be because you didn¡¯t have a mother to teach you any manners, you little wretch!¡±


    Tang Qiu halted in her footsteps and leveled a cold re at the woman who had spoken. ¡°Oh, I¡¯m a little wretch, am I? And what about you? Are you any better?¡±


    ¡°You?<i>bitch</i>¡­¡± the woman seethed. ¡°It was obviously your fault, but you¡¯re still so unreasonable. Are you looking for trouble?¡±


    Feng Yao moved to restrain her furious friend. ¡°Forget it, Yuqi. That¡¯s just the way she is, I¡¯ve long grown used to it¡­¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re too softhearted, Feng Yao, tolerating her like this.¡± Tan Yuqi was livid. ¡°If she were one of my servants, I would have had her beaten long ago. She even dared to talk back, the worthless creature, as if she isn¡¯t dependent on your pity for a roof over her head. If she¡¯s going to leech off you like that, you need to take her in hand. You¡¯re my friend; I refuse to let this slide!¡±


    Enraged, she looked at Tang Qiu and demanded, ¡°Don¡¯t even think of leaving without an apology. Or you¡¯ll be sorry!¡±


    Tang Qiu took in Feng Yao¡¯s performance with silent contempt. ¡°I didn¡¯t knock into anyone. There¡¯s nothing to apologize for.¡±


    ¡°How dare you defy me and bully my friend?¡± Tan Yuqi shouted, her words burning with venom. ¡°You¡¯re going to regret it!¡±


    ¡°Who¡¯s going to regret what?¡±

 Chapter 21 - Maybe We Should Check the CCTV

    <h4>Chapter 21: Maybe We Should Check the CCTV</h4>


    <h4><strong>Trantor: </strong>As Studios <strong> Editor: </strong>As Studios</h4>


    Laughter echoed down the corridor, drawing nearer, coupled with the sound of a ball bouncing up and down. Two tall men walked up from behind Tang Qiu.


    The one holding a ball slung his free arm around Tang Qiu¡¯s shoulders. ¡°I heard someone threatening my junior,¡± he said, grinning. ¡°What¡¯s all that about? What is ourwful societying to? Don¡¯t be afraid, though. I¡¯m here.¡±


    Tang Qiu stood there helplessly with his arm around her for an instant. It was just like Qian Hongwei to be so thoughtlessly casual, so full of ease, no matter the situation. She pushed away from him. ¡°I¡¯m not afraid, Senior.¡±


    Qian Hongwei didn¡¯t look the slightest bit bothered at being shoved away. His height made it easy for him to lean an elbow on her shoulder. ¡°There¡¯s some people here who look like they¡¯re itching to beat up our little junior,¡± he said cheerfully. ¡°Aren¡¯t you going to give a damn, Mufan?¡±


    Ning Mufan fixed his gaze on Tan Yuqi and Feng Yao. ¡°What happened?¡±


    Feng Yao looked him up and down¨Chis casual style of dressing, his gentle demeanor, his soft, pleasant voice¨Cwhile thinking of how he rarely ever spoke to her. Her heart gave a small flutter. ¡°It¡¯s nothing,¡± she said demurely. ¡°We were just having some fun with Tang Qiu.¡±


    Jealousy surged through Tan Yuqi at the sight of Qian Hongwei standing next to Tang Qiu. Her face twisted in savage fury. The nerve of that whore, to try and steal the man she liked.


    ¡°Stop doing this injustice to yourself, Feng Yao. We were confronting Tang Qiu about her scheming intentions. She knocked into Feng Yao first without apologizing. She¡¯s an ill-mannered bastard with no parents, and she¡¯s lived off the Fengs for years, but is bullying Feng Yao behind their backs!¡±


    Ning Mufan and Tan Yuqi¡¯s mothers were bosom friends. Naturally, this made them siblings of a sort. Ning Mufan and Qian Hongwei¡¯s foreheads both creased in exasperation at Tan Yuqi¡¯s antics.


    Tang Qiu¡¯s eyes prickled with tears at the mention of her having no parents. She wasn¡¯t a bastard¨Cshe?<i>wasn¡¯t</i>; her parents just wouldn¡¯t acknowledge her as their own.


    ¡°Like I said, I didn¡¯t knock into Feng Yao. You said I bullied her. What proof do you have?¡±


    ¡°I saw you bang into her with my own two eyes! What other proof do I need?¡± Tan Yuqi¡¯s re dripped with loathing. To Ning Mufan, she said, ¡°Brother, Senior Hongwei, this woman is a two-faced liar. Don¡¯t you believe her.¡±


    Ning Mufan¡¯s brows were still pinched together, but he kept his tone mild as he replied, ¡°Don¡¯t speak so freely about things without any evidence, Yuqi. Plus, Feng Yao said you were just having fun earlier. Let¡¯s not make things any worse, shall we?¡±


    Qian Hongwei swept the hair from his eyes and drawled, ¡°Since no one can seem to make up their minds, maybe we should check the CCTV for proof.¡±


    ¡°Yes, let¡¯s do that! I¡¯ll show you all Tang Qiu¡¯s true colors!¡± Tan Yuqi¡¯s face had turned smug.


    Inwardly, Feng Yao began to panic.


    Earlier, Tan Yuqi had been upied with her phone, so she didn¡¯t see that it was actually her who had bumped into Tang Qiu. She had pretended to be aggrieved, knowing that was all it would take for her friend to jump to her defense. Tan Yuqi was like a sister to Ning Mufan; with the Ning family backing her, bullying Tang Qiu in school was as good as child¡¯s y. Only¨Cshe hadn¡¯t expected the two men to appear, let alone suggest checking the CCTVs.


    ¡°There¡¯s no need for that, Yuqi. The seniors have better things to do. We should go.¡±


    But Tan Yuqi had finally found an opportunity to expose Tang Qiu and let Qian Hongwei see through her lies. How could she let it go?


    ¡°You¡¯re too?<i>nice</i>, Feng Yao. If you let her get away with this, who knows what she¡¯ll do to you next time?¡±


    Looking ill, Feng Yao was scrambling for an excuse when Tang Qiu interjected, ¡°Go ahead and check the cameras. Afterwards, I believe you two will owe me an apology. Stay away from me in the future, got it?¡±


    ¡°You shameless thing.¡± Tan Yuqi¡¯s fist clenched, resisting the urge to tear Tang Qiu¡¯s pretty face to shreds. ¡°I¡¯ll be waiting.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t forget, there are two seniors here as witnesses. I hope you don¡¯t regret it,¡± Tang Qiu said, smiling coldly.


    Qian Hongwei raised both his palms, as if in support. ¡°Of course. Don¡¯t tell me I don¡¯t know my junior well enough?¡±


    Ning Mufan nced at Tan Yuqi and Feng Yao, heaved a resigned sigh, and trailed after Qian Hongwei. Feng Yao was stung by the look in his eyes. She had tried to worm her way out of the conversation, but Tan Yuqi stood in her way every time! Anger unfurled in her silently. Tan Yuqi had tried to help, but the idiot had only ended up stirring more trouble for her.


    In the control room, Ning Mufan exined the situation to the workers and requested to see the footage captured in the corner of the library. The video clearly showed that Feng Yao had purposely bumped into Tang Qiu, yet cried out like the other woman had knocked into her first. And Tan Yuqi, whose eyes had been glued to her phone, hadn¡¯t borne witness to the incident at all¨Cunlike what she had imed.


    Tan Yuqi¡¯s eyes flickered to Qian Hongwei in mortification, before resting on Feng Yao in fury. Why hadn¡¯t she?<i>said</i>?something earlier?


    Feng Yao stered on an innocent expression and exined, ¡°Yuqi, you know I¡¯m short-sighted, I couldn¡¯t see clearly, I¡­¡± Secretly, she meant:?<i>This is all your fault, you meddling busybody.?</i>


    ¡°<i>My</i>?fault?¡± Tan Yuqi yelled. ¡°<i>Me</i>, a meddling busybody?¡± She was boiling with rage at having made a fool of herself in front of Qian Hongwei; the words were in her mouth before Feng Yao had even spoken them.


    A tear rolled down Feng Yao¡¯s face, as if in terror. ¡°How can you think of me like that, Yuqi? I never said that¡­ I never¡­¡±

 Chapter 22 - Is He Better Than Me?

    <h4>Chapter 22: Is He Better Than Me?</h4>


    <h4><strong>Trantor: </strong>As Studios <strong> Editor: </strong>As Studios</h4>


    Tired of Feng Yao and her dramatics, Tang Qiu said frostily, ¡°I think you two owe me an apology. And stop with those crocodile tears.¡±


    ¡°Agreed,¡± Qian Hongwei added. ¡°Me and Mufan can testify to that.¡±


    Tan Yuqi felt painnce through her heart at seeing the man she adored helping another woman threaten her. When she didn¡¯t move, Ning Mufan adjusted his ck-rimmed sses and said, ¡°You should apologize after making a mistake, Yuqi.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m practically your little sister!¡± Tan Yuqi cried out, enraged. ¡°How can you side with them over me?¡± She leveled a hateful re at Tang Qiu. There was no way in hell she was apologizing.


    Unmoved, Tang Qiu turned to Feng Yao. ¡°You won¡¯t apologize either, I suppose?¡±


    Feng Yao nced at Ning Mufan, weighing her options and deciding on a retreat. ¡°You walked too fast,¡± she said, voice quivering pitifully. ¡°Otherwise, I wouldn¡¯t have knocked into you. It¡¯s all my fault¡­ I¡¯m so sorry, Tang Qiu.¡±


    Tang Qiu smirked at watching the other woman swallow her pride. ¡°Just remember to stay out of my way next time.¡±


    She made them both sound like dogs. ¡°Watch yourself, Tang Qiu,¡± Feng Yao gritted out, scowling.


    ¡°You agreed to it before we watched the security footage.¡±


    ¡°That was between you and Yuqi. It had nothing to do with me.¡±


    ¡°What happened to being good friends with Yuqi?¡± Tang Qiu taunted coldly. ¡°She was trying to have your back, and now you¡¯re calling her a troublemaker, is that it?¡±


    ¡°What are you talking about? I never said that!¡± Hatred swelled in Feng Yao¡¯s heart. She hadn¡¯t anticipated that Tang Qiu would go so far as to drive a rift between her and Tan Yuqi. No matter what, she couldn¡¯t let here between them both now. ¡°Fine. I promise.¡±


    ¡°Heard that?¡± Tang Qiu asked Tan Yuqi. ¡°And you two had better remember it.¡±


    ¡°You¡­¡± Tan Yuqi was furious enough to seize the little bitch by the throat and throttle her to death.


    ¡°Remember your manners, Yuqi,¡± Ning Mufan cut her off. ¡°Is this how Auntie raised you?¡±


    ¡°Brother¡­¡± Tan Yuqi¡¯s hands balled into fists, boiling with murderous hatred.


    ¡°<i>Brother¡­</i>¡± Qian Hongwei mimicked. ¡°You two messed with our junior and tried to frame her. You think you can lean on the Ning family and act all high and mighty in front of us? Fat chance.¡±


    Tan Yuqi¡¯s eyes went red. To be so mercilessly ridiculed by Qian Hongwei, the man of her dreams¡­ If he wasn¡¯t around, she would have lunged at Tang Qiu and made her beg for mercy. Having had her fair share of humiliation in one day, she threw a resentful re at Tang Qiu and left.


    ¡°Yuqi! Yuqi!¡± Feng Yao called, running after her.


    As they left the control room, Tang Qiu thanked the two seniors for their help. ¡°Or else Tan Yuqi would have never let me hear the end of this,¡± she added. That woman had an explosively fiery temper; she would have hounded Tang Qiu for an apology, acting out on her own ord even if Feng Yao had urged her topromise. She hadn¡¯t expected Qian Hongwei and Ning Mufan to appear, or for thetter¨Cwho was like an elder brother to Tan Yuqi¨Cto speak up for her.


    ¡°You¡¯re Professor Sun¡¯s assistant. That makes you our junior. What were we supposed to do when we saw you getting bullied, idiot?¡± Qian Hongwei yfully flicked her head. Tang Qiu smoothened her hair, which proved to be useless, since he immediately moved to ruffle it.


    ¡°Still, thank you both.¡±


    Qian Hongwei threw his arm around her and teased, ¡°If you really want to thank us,e watch one of my games.¡±


    Ning Mufan¡¯s eyes narrowed at his gesture. He wedged his way between them and said, ¡°Tang Qiu isn¡¯t familiar with sports. She¡¯ll get bored. Why not ask her to help cover your duty?¡± The two seniors were students of Professor Sun, as well as assistants in his office.


    Eager to avoid having to be a spectator to one of their basketball matches, Tang Qiu responded brightly, ¡°That settles it. I¡¯ll stand in for you both during one of your slots.¡±


    Qian Hongwei sensed that Ning Mufan was trying to separate him and Tang Qiu. He raised a brow at his friend. ¡°Okay then. Anyway, I¡¯m meeting someone for a game of basketball, so I¡¯ll be off.¡±


    After he had left, Ning Mufan asked Tang Qiu abruptly, ¡°What do you think of Qian Hongwei?¡±


    Tang Qiu¡¯s gaze swiveled to him suspiciously. ¡°Him? He¡¯s fine.¡± The third-year was tall and well-built, all boldness and swaggering demeanor; he sometimes teased her, but he was a good guy at heart, always sticking up for her when she was in trouble.


    ¡°Fine,¡± Ning Mufan echoed. He had noticed her staring after Qian Hongwei earlier, and couldn¡¯t help pressing, ¡°But is he better than me?¡±


    Tang Qiu eyed him.?<i>Who knew my senior had this childish side to him??</i>

 Chapter 23 - Not Very Amusing

    <h4>Chapter 23: Not Very Amusing</h4>


    <h4><strong>Trantor: </strong>As Studios <strong> Editor: </strong>As Studios</h4>


    ¡°You¡¯re a great guy too, Senior. You¡¯re kind and gentle, and you always look out for me. You¡¯ve helped me a lot in my learning.¡±


    Her praise made Ning Mufan perk up. Just then, Tang Qiu¡¯s phone rang. When she saw who it was, the corner of her mouth lifted. Ning Mufan wondered who it was who had gotten her grinning like a child.


    ¡°I¡¯ll be off, Senior. Thanks again. I¡¯ll treat you and Senior Hongwei to bubble tea next time.¡± A meal would be too expensive; she still had to save up for Jiang Shaocheng¡¯s treatment.


    ¡°I was just about to leave too. We can go together.¡± Secretly, he wanted to know who she was meeting, and had made her so happy.


    Back in the mansion, Jiang Shaocheng was in his study. He held a pen between his long, shapely fingers, buried up to his nose in various documents. His brow was creased, his handsome features painted over with exhaustion. He was massaging his temples when he heard a knock on the door from He Lei.


    ¡°Young Master, I¡¯m about to go pick up the young mistress. Are youing?¡±


    Jiang Shaocheng tossed aside the document he had been holding and asked coolly, ¡°What do you think?¡± As he stood, He Lei noted that the tall, lean lines of his body were entuated by his youthful and casual style of clothing, giving his overall appearance some character.


    In response to his young master¡¯s question, he thought:?<i>If I didn¡¯t allow him toe, I¡¯d be lucky not to get beaten by him</i>.


    When they arrived at the university, He Lei pulled over, and Jiang Shaocheng called Tang Qiu. ¡°Have you finished ss? I¡¯m outside the school.¡±


    ¡°Mhm.¡± The sound of her sweet voice made his heart melt.


    ¡°No need to rush. I¡¯ll be here.¡± Jiang Shaocheng ended the call and adjusted his tie, gazing expectantly at the school gate.


    It was a few minutes before Tang Qiu emerged, although she had never once left his mind. Only¨Cshe was apanied by a man. Whatever they had been talking about had left his wife smiling cheerily.


    The man reached out to embrace her, and Jiang Shaocheng¡¯s face turned ck as thunder, his eyes going cold as ice.


    In the driver¡¯s seat, He Lei practically felt the temperature in the car drop by several degrees. He nced out of the window and saw what Jiang Shaocheng was looking at. He turned back, his scalp tingling uneasily. ¡°I¡¯ll go see what¡¯s going on now, Young Master.¡±


    ¡°Go. And while you¡¯re at it, get that man¡¯s hands off my wife.¡± Right now, he was pretending to be unable to walk, so he couldn¡¯t get out of the car. Had it been up to him, he would have smacked that man¡¯s hands away, then beaten him into crippled submission.


    He Lei climbed out of the war, wincing inwardly as he strode towards Tang Qiu. As he drew nearer, he heard her say, ¡°Thank you for catching me, Senior. If not, I would have fallen over.¡±


    As they were walking to the school gate, Tang Qiu and Ning Mufan had been looking over the documents that Professor Sun asked her to trante, to see if he could help her. She had been too fixated on a few parts she couldn¡¯t decipher, forgetting her bearings and nearly tripping, but Ning Mufan had reached out and steadied her.


    Ning Mufan could almost feel his palms tingling with her scent. Keeping his face neutral, he asked, ¡°Are you alright?¡±


    ¡°I am.¡± Tang Qiu kept the documents away. ¡°When I¡¯m done, can you help me look over them? My trantion might not be the most urate for technical terms.¡±


    ¡°Of course.¡± Ning Mufan nodded. That gentle, polished smile of his was like a breeze in springtime. Tang Qiu had heard Xie Qingqing constantly rave about how handsome he was, but now she saw for the first time how attractive her mild-mannered senior really was.


    ¡°This way, Young Mistress.¡±


    He Lei had been watching them chat happily with a mounting sense of dread, Tang Qiu looking up at the other man with bright, starry eyes. He could feel a cold gaze boring into his back, as piercing as arrows with murderous intent.


    When Tang Qiu noticed He Lei and the car behind him, she shoved the documents into her bag and said goodbye to Ning Mufan with a smile.


    The way this stranger had just addressed Tang Qiu suggested she was someone¡¯s wife. Ning Mufan¡¯s eyes turned icy. ¡°Young Mistress? Who is he, Tang Qiu, and why is he calling you his young mistress?¡±


    ¡°Because she is the wife of my young master,¡± He Lei responded, without waiting for her to speak.


    ¡°<i>Wife??</i>What kind of joke is this?¡± The words were like a lightning strike, leaving Ning Mufan dazed and unable to think. ¡°How can this be, Tang Qiu? When did you get married?¡±


    Tang Qiu lowered her head awkwardly. ¡°I¡¯ve been married for a while now,¡± she said in a low voice. ¡°It was a private matter, so I didn¡¯t bring it up.¡±


    Ning Mufan gaped at her, unblinking, trying to decipher her expression. But he could tell from the sheepish look on her face that she wasn¡¯t lying.


    <i>She¡¯s telling the truth. She¡¯s married.?</i>As a sophomore, and so young, nheless.


    Still in denial, Ning Mufan¡¯s smile didn¡¯t reach his eyes. ¡°Whatever joke this is, it¡¯s not very amusing, Tang Qiu.¡±

 Chapter 24 - No Medicine Compares to You

    <h4>Chapter 24: No Medicine Compares to You</h4>


    <h4><strong>Trantor: </strong>As Studios <strong> Editor: </strong>As Studios</h4>


    ¡°Why would I joke about something so important? I¡¯m really married, Senior. He Lei is my husband¡¯s aide.¡±


    Her words were like needles piercing into his ears; sharp, burrowing into his heart with a raw, throbbing pain.


    The girl he liked was?<i>married.</i>?And the most hrious part was that he had still been waiting for her to realize his feelings, like a naive fool. He almostughed out loud. If she wasn¡¯t joking, then it must have been the heavens toying with his feelings.


    ¡°Are you okay, Senior?¡± Tang Qiu asked, confused at his sudden brittleness of his smile.


    ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡± Ning Mufan tried unsessfully to smooth over his expression. ¡°I¡­ I have something on. I¡¯ll leave first.¡±


    He looked so ill that Tang Qiu worried he might be sick, but before she could open her mouth, he had already gone.


    He Lei was astute enough to tell from Ning Mufan¡¯s face that he liked Tang Qiu. The news of her marriage must have been a blow to him. ¡°Young Mistress, the young master is waiting for you.¡± Tang Qiu was still gazing after the young man¡¯s figure in the distance. If she kept this up, he thought, the young master would implode from fury back in the car.


    And when the young master was enraged, neither of them would want to be around him.


    Tang Qiu retracted her gaze. ¡°Okay, I¡¯ming. Let¡¯s go.¡±


    When they climbed into the car, Tang Qiu shed a cheery smile at Jiang Shaocheng, before noticing the grave expression on his face.


    ¡°Are you feeling unwell today, dear?¡±


    The image of that man with his arms around Tang Qiu was still swimming in Jiang Shaocheng¡¯s mind. He stared at He Lei, eyes narrowed in cold venom. He had ordered He Lei to take that man¡¯s hands off his wife, but his aide had failed to do so.


    He Lei could feel ice burning into the back of his neck. He didn¡¯t need to look back to know how terrifying his young master¡¯s gaze was. He hadn¡¯t meant to disobey his young master¨Cbut that man that Tang Qiu had called ¡®Senior¡¯ hadn¡¯t meant to take advantage of her, and he hadn¡¯t made a fuss about the news of her marriage either; on the contrary, he had acted sensibly and left. It was normal for Tang Qiu to have friends in school, and he didn¡¯t want to cause trouble for the young mistress. But his young master wouldn¡¯t listen, and so he could only continue driving and await his inevitable punishment.


    ¡°Dear?¡±


    Jiang Shaocheng didn¡¯t respond. His face was still as grim and dark as thunder. Worried, Tang Qiu extended a hand and felt his forehead; it didn¡¯t feel any hotter than usual.


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Which part of you is unwell?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m fine¡­¡± Jiang Shaocheng heaved with several painful-sounding coughs. He grasped her hand and embraced her, insisting once more that he was alright.


    Goosebumps broke out over He Lei¡¯s skin as he watched his young master don his disy of fragility again, to deceive his little wife.


    ¡°You don¡¯t sound fine. You keep coughing. If you¡¯re unwell, we should go to the doctor. Your health is still poor; you need medicine.¡±


    ¡°No medicine canpare to you.¡± His arms tightened around her. No one was taking his wife from him!


    Sensing that he was concealing his sickness to avoid having to see a doctor, Tang Qiu said angrily, ¡°Dear, if you¡¯re sick, you must get it treated. How can I be a substitute for medicine? This is no joking matter.¡±


    ¡°If you don¡¯t believe me, give me a kiss and try it,¡± he said with a straight face.


    ¡°I¡¯m serious,¡± Tang Qiu insisted, filled with questions and concern all at once. ¡°Stop it. Let¡¯s go to the doctor.¡±


    ¡°Why? Are you thinking of kissing that man instead?¡±


    He left her no time to respond to his cold, scathing words. His hand snaked around her neck and pulled her in close as he forced his lips on hers, suffocating her. Breathless and weak in the knees, Tang Qiu could only bat uselessly at his firm chest. Just as she was beginning to feel smothered by the kiss, he broke away and released her.


    He exhaled a warm breath, belying the ice in his voice. ¡°Remember, Tang Qiu: I am your husband. You¡¯re not allowed to kiss anyone but me. And only I am allowed to kiss you!¡±


    Gasping, Tang Qiu took a moment to calm her nerves and regain her senses. His warning left her stunned. ¡°What¡¯s the matter with you, dear?¡± She didn¡¯t understand how her husband, who had always been gentle and considerate towards her, had suddenly transformed into someonepletely different.


    He Lei watched them. The young master was finally going to let his mask fall away and reveal his true colors; the icy, brooding paranoia simmering beneath the surface. If Tang Qiu couldn¡¯t bear it and the two of them shed, it would only lead to disaster¨Cscreaming, ruinous disaster.


    Jiang Shaocheng forced down his emotions, like the sheathing of a cold, sharp de. ¡°I missed you,¡± he said, pinching her cheek.


    A smile broke out over Tang Qiu¡¯s face. She cupped his cheek. ¡°I missed you too, dear.¡±


    At her soft voice, the ferocity in him melted away. But still his tone was harsh when he asked, ¡°Then why won¡¯t you kiss me?¡±

 Chapter 25 - Better Prospects, A Better Home

    <h4>Chapter 25: Better Prospects, A Better Home</h4>


    <h4><strong>Trantor: </strong>As Studios <strong> Editor: </strong>As Studios</h4>


    Tang Qiu¡¯s face turned red. Flustered into helplessness, she exined once again, ¡°I was just worried about your illness. I didn¡¯t refuse to kiss you¡­¡±


    If she had truly refused him, he would haveshed out in fury long ago. ¡°Then kiss me now.¡±


    He was being unfair; he had already forced a kiss on her earlier. But she couldn¡¯t withstand the weight of his gaze on her, bright and burning, so she gave him a peck on the cheek, the barest brush of lips across skin.


    Jiang Shaocheng was unmoved. ¡°I¡¯ve told you that a proper kiss between husband and wife is exchanged on the lips.¡±


    Torn between crying andughing, Tang Qiu could only lean in obediently and nt a kiss on his lips. ¡°Can we go to the hospital now?¡±


    The corner of Jiang Shaocheng¡¯s lips quirked. ¡°I¡¯m fine now. There¡¯s no need for that.¡±


    ¡°Really?¡±


    ¡°Absolutely.¡±


    Augh nearly bubbled to Tang Qiu¡¯s lips. But that dark cloud looming over his features had dissipated, so she swallowed the remnants of her irritation.


    Back in the mansion, Tang Qiu went to make dinner, and He Lei pushed Jiang Shaocheng¡¯s wheelchair into the study.


    The instant the door closed, Jiang Shaocheng said coldly, ¡°Aren¡¯t you really something, He Lei.¡±


    He Lei lowered his head, frightened at the icy sarcasm in his master¡¯s voice. ¡°Deepest apologies, Young Master. The young mistress was around, and I thought that resorting to force would scare her.¡±


    At the mention of Tang Qiu, Jiang Shaocheng¡¯s features softened just slightly.


    ¡°And here I thought you were thinking of finding a new job.¡± He Lei was so wronged by the usation that he nearly copsed to his knees and begged for forgiveness on the spot. ¡°There won¡¯t be a year-end bonus for you this year. And if this happens again, you can start looking around for better job prospects.¡±


    He Lei was taken aback. He had served Jiang Shaocheng for many years, but this was the first time that his young master had all but told him to get lost. He was truly furious, then.


    ¡°There won¡¯t be a next time, Young Master, I promise. I¡¯ll go look into who that man was right away.¡±


    He left, leaving Jiang Shaocheng to sit alone in contemtion for a while. Afterwards, he pushed his wheelchair downstairs to look for Tang Qiu.


    ¡°Can I help you with anything?¡± With his gentle, warm demeanor, no one would have expected him to be the same man from earlier in the study, full of deadly rage that burned hotter than the fires of hell.


    ¡°What a timely arrival.¡± Tang Qiu passed him some chopsticks, smiling. ¡°Try this and see how you like it.¡±


    Jiang Shaocheng took in the three dishes, two bowls, and the pair of chopsticks before him, before settling on her beaming face. This life they shared was routine and ordinary, but there was something special about it too¨Cthe domestic quality of sharing a roof over their heads, eating their meals together, as the seasons shifted and changed around them.


    ¡°What are you staring at me for? Go on and eat.¡±


    ¡°Because your beauty is a feast for the eyes,¡± he said, eyebrows lifted.


    Tang Qiu blushed. Her husband could be such a tease sometimes.


    After they were done eating, Tang Qiu wasted no time in taking out her school materials to study at the dinner table. Jiang Shaocheng gave a small frown. ¡°The table is oily, Qiu. Use my study room instead.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve cleaned it already. Go on up first.¡± Tang Qiu didn¡¯t lift her head to look at him as she scribbled. Jiang Shaocheng was displeased. He nced at her phone, which she had ced by her. The screen disyed the words:?<i>Erection (A Male Physiological Response). Factors affecting duration¡­?</i>


    Jiang Shaocheng¡¯s breath hitched. He stared intently at his wife¡¯s face; fair and white as pearls. Was this¡­ targeted at him?


    ¡°What on earth are you looking at this for?¡±


    ¡°My professor gave me these documents. I have to trante them within two weeks.¡± She still hadn¡¯t lifted her head, engrossed in her work as she was. ¡°They¡¯re allmon medical cases and are worth studying.¡±


    ¡°You don¡¯t need to go to that trouble, actually. You can just ask me.¡± Only then did Tang Qiu raise her head to look at him. Jiang Shaocheng flicked her lightly on the forehead. ¡°You forgot that I lived abroad for quite some time?¡±


    Tang Qiu¡¯s eyes lit up with surprise and delight. ¡°You¡¯re right! It¡¯ll be faster, too.¡±


    He stroked her head. ¡°There¡¯s aputer in my study. I trust it¡¯ll be faster than your mobile?¡±


    Tang Qiu was used to manually converting hardcopies of writing into softcopies; she wasn¡¯t about to turn him down. It was her first time entering the study, which was furnished in minimalist fashion and packed with books.


    Obediently, Tang Qiu sat down and resumed her focus on her work. When she encountered something she couldn¡¯t make sense of, she rified her doubts with Jiang Shaocheng, who had an answer ready every time. ¡°You¡¯re so knowledgeable, dear,¡± she said without reservation.


    ¡°I¡¯m capable of putting that knowledge into practice, too. Want to try?¡±


    She stared up at him with wide, glittering eyes, fire blooming in her heart. Their eyes locked in the dim light, and the rest of the world fell away. His hand caressed her cheek, and he lowered his head slowly. Their lips were but a breath away when the noise of a phone ringing interrupted them abruptly.


    Startled back into reality, Tang Qiu broke away, red-faced, and answered her phone.


    ¡°Qiu, you idiot. Why did you tell our senior about your marriage? I know you hate it when I nag at you, but I¡¯m just telling the truth. After that sick husband of yours dies, you¡¯ll still be untouched, so what¡¯s stopping you from being with our senior? You¡¯ll have better prospects, a better home to return to¡­¡±


    In her haste, Tang Qiu had identally pressed the speaker. Xie Qingqing¡¯s voice red out, her incessant chatter reaching Jiang Shaocheng¡¯s ears.

 Chapter 26 - Not Allowed To Behave Like This With Other Men

    <h4>Chapter 26: Not Allowed To Behave Like This With Other Men</h4>


    <h4><strong>Trantor: </strong>As Studios <strong> Editor: </strong>As Studios</h4>


    Shocked at her friend¡¯s words, Tang Qiu cast an apologetic nce at Jiang Shaocheng before shutting off the speaker. ¡°You¡¯ve told me all this before, Qingqing. He¡¯s my husband. Stop talking about him like that.¡±


    She was still refusing to see reason. ¡°Stop caring so much about that man. It¡¯s not like he has much time left anyway. Won¡¯t you at least try to listen? Senior Ning Mufan is everything a girl could want. You¡¯re going to break my heart if you keep this up, you know.¡±


    Tang Qiu knew her friend only meant the best for her. Otherwise, she would have hung up long ago. But these words would only wound Jiang Shaocheng if he heard them. ¡°Me and Ning Mufan are just fellow students of Professor Sun. We know each other in passing, nothing more. So please, stop getting the wrong idea about us.¡±


    Tang Qiu was acutely aware of her position. Ning Mufan was the young master of the Ning family, born into wealth and nobility. There was simply too stark a divide between their backgrounds. She harbored no illusions that she would have been able to marry him, even if she hadn¡¯t already been married.


    On the other end of the phone, Xie Qingqing longed to scream at Tang Qiu and knock some sense into that thick head of hers. ¡°I can safely swear that Ning Mufan treats you differently, and it has nothing to do with Professor Sun.¡± Otherwise, why would he have taken the time to call her and verify that Tang Qiu was married? His tone had been so full of disbelief, so full of denial, that it had to be a cover for his underlying feelings. If he didn¡¯t like Tang Qiu, her name wasn¡¯t Xie Qingqing.


    ¡°Maybe it was just his first time seeing someone get married as a sophomore. I¡¯m busy now, Qingqing. I¡¯ll talk to youter. Bye.¡±


    Xie Qingqing was left to listen to the beeping dial tone of the phone in her hand, speechless.


    Tang Qiu hung up and met her husband¡¯s dark, brooding gaze. A pang of guilt shot through her. ¡°That was my best friend. She¡¯s been worrying about me ever since we got married. She didn¡¯t mean any harm, though. Don¡¯t take her seriously. It¡¯s hard to talk about these things over the phone¡­ I¡¯ll exin things to her some other time, so she¡¯ll stop saying stuff like that.¡± There was a pause. ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡±


    Jiang Shaocheng must have been deeply hurt, because he let out a pained groan, then started coughing. rmed, Tang Qiu apologized once more, but he said, ¡°You don¡¯t¡­ don¡¯t need to apologize.¡± His words were punctuated by more coughs. ¡°She¡¯s not wrong, anyway. I know about all my health problems¡­ I¡¯d only hold you back. You should make ns¡­ to give yourself a better future.¡±


    His coughing grew even more vigorous. Tang Qiu was stricken. Earlier, he hadn¡¯t coughed even once when helping her trante the materials; he must be truly aggrieved to be suddenly struck by a coughing fit like this.


    ¡°It¡¯s not like that at all, dear. The only ns I have are for you to undergo treatment and have a speedy recovery.¡±


    He met her gaze. ¡°You wish for me to recover quickly?¡±


    ¡°Of course!¡± No one had ever been half as kind to her as him. She wished with all her heart that he would go on to live a long and fruitful life.


    Jiang Shaocheng¡¯s coughing ceased. He beckoned to her, and she obediently knelt in front of him, lifting her head to gaze up at him. ¡°You really don¡¯t mind me being ill, Qiu?¡±


    She shook her head. She was a medical student; plus, she had general knowledge to back her up. His legs had likely suffered a nerve injury, which is why he couldn¡¯t engage in intercourse. And his frequent coughs were probably the result of his past ident with the fire having inflicted damage onto his lungs. What was there to be afraid of?


    Jiang Shaocheng stroked her hair. ¡°Then you¡¯ll have to kiss me to prove it, Qiu.¡±


    A look of helplessness shed in Tang Qiu¡¯s eyes. Everytime he was unhappy, he would demand a kiss, like a child. But she smiled and raised her head to kiss him on the lips. ¡°I wasn¡¯t lying to you. I remember how kindly you¡¯ve treated me, and I treasure it greatly.¡±


    ¡°So this is only because of how kindly I¡¯ve treated you?¡± Something flickered in Jiang Shaocheng¡¯s gaze. If other men were nice to her, would she respond to them in the same way? The thought made his face darken.


    ¡°You¡¯re not allowed to behave like this with other men, understand? Only me.¡±


    His demeanor had suddenly shifted, bing chilly, his voice cold enough to make her shiver. Tang Qiu was caught between bewilderment and a rising sense of danger. She made to flee, but Jiang Shaocheng suddenly seized her in an embrace, trapping her. She stared at him, at a loss.


    ¡°What¡¯s the matter with you, dear?¡±


    Her soft voice made the tension in Jiang Shaocheng¡¯s muscles dissolve. He mped down on the urge for violence inside of him, lowering his head to nt aforting kiss on her lips. ¡°I¡¯m sorry if I frightened you.¡±


    Tang Qiu angled her head up at him. ¡°Why were you angry all of a sudden, dear?¡±


    Jiang Shaocheng met her gaze. ¡°I wasn¡¯t angry. But you have to promise me that you¡¯ll never leave me.¡±


    ¡°I promise.¡±


    Jiang Shaocheng¡¯s icy manner dissipated. It was like he had be a different person entirely. ¡°Go continue with your work. I¡¯ll be with you here.¡±


    Tang Qiu was perplexed, but she had her schoolwork toplete, so she pushed her doubts to the back of her mind and thought no more of them.


    Meanwhile, Jiang Shaocheng pushed his wheelchair aside and took out his mobile phone to contact He Lei.


    <i>The man who was with the young mistress today is called Ning Mufan</i>, He Lei¡¯s text read.?<i>He¡¯s the son of the Ning Group and a third-year medical student with excellent grades. He and the young mistress are both assistants to the same professor, and sometimes cross paths.?</i>


    Jiang Shaocheng replied,?<i>Find a reason to get him out of this country.?</i>

 Chapter 27 - Remarkable Restraint

    <h4>Chapter 27: Remarkable Restraint</h4>


    <h4><strong>Trantor: </strong>As Studios <strong> Editor: </strong>As Studios</h4>


    After sending the message, Jiang Shaocheng nced sideways at Tang Qiu. She was truly a beauty, and a spirited one at that. It was no surprise that she would have some admirers in university, but if anyone dared to try and take his woman from him, they were as good as courting trouble.


    Tang Qiu had been studying the documents intently. Out of the blue, she eximed, ¡°It turns out that a man¡¯s privates are full of nerves, making it incredibly easy to get an erection. How fascinating¡­¡±


    Jiang Shaocheng was speechless.


    Tang Qiu was examining the information purely through the lens of a medical student, with nothing indecent in mind, which is why didn¡¯t give her words a second thought. But then she noticed the way her husband was staring at her, and was faced with the sudden urge to bite her tongue off. Her husband couldn¡¯t engage in intercourse, so this must be a sensitive topic for him. She must have wounded his pride with what she had said.


    Sheughed awkwardly, trying to break the tension. ¡°Are you thirsty, dear?¡± she asked, her tone more sugar-sweet than usual. ¡°Shall I get some water for you?¡±


    Jiang Shaocheng did indeed find himself nursing a thirst.


    The girl was right. There were many things that could provoke a physical response from a man. For example, a mere sentence from his wife could send fire surging through his loins.


    ¡°Come here, Qiu.¡±


    He fixed his gaze on her, and Tang Qiu was paralyzed by embarrassment. ¡°Is something the matter?¡± he asked.


    She still wouldn¡¯te. On the contrary, she looked as though she¡¯d rather flee. Something stirred in the dark depths of his eyes. ¡°I¡¯m thirsty,¡± he said. ¡°I¡¯d like some water.¡±


    Tang Qiu nodded, shot to her feet, and dashed out of the room. She re-entered with a cup of water in hand. While she was passing it to Jiang Shaocheng, it fell and shattered on the carpet, sshing him with water. Tang Qiu let out a cry of rm and hurried to help dry his sleeves. In her haste, she didn¡¯t realize that her husband had deliberately let the cup slip from his grasp. She had poured hot water for him; while it was nowhere near boiling, the temperature was still enough to mildly scald him.


    ¡°Did I injure you? I¡¯m sorry¡­ I¡¯m so sorry¡­¡±


    He had been the one to let go of the cup to begin with. Jiang Shaocheng let himself fall back into the guise of a weak, frail cripple. ¡°It¡¯s all my fault. Isn¡¯t it? I didn¡¯t have enough strength, and¡­¡±


    ¡°I should have put the cup on the table earlier, since I knew you were¡­¡± She cut herself off. ¡°It¡¯s my fault.¡±


    Guilt flooded Tang Qiu. The hot water had spilled directly onto his legs, but he hadn¡¯t even flinched. He had truly lost all sensation in his legs, including the ability to feel pain.


    Jiang Shaocheng noticed her eyes growing red. ¡°Why are you crying, Qiu?¡± he asked, with a sudden tinge of guilt.


    ¡°You really couldn¡¯t feel anything in your legs, dear? Even though the water was so hot?¡±


    ¡°I did, actually, but just a little.¡± Jiang Shaocheng hated seeing her cry. He wrapped his arms around her, enveloping his little wife in his embrace. Besides, she was careful by nature, and the water had been warm at most, nowhere near as hot as she had imed.


    ¡°Really?¡±


    ¡°Really,¡± he assured her. ¡°I¡¯m fine. Help me back to the bedroom so I can change my clothes.¡±


    ¡°Change clothes? Oh. Yes. Of course.¡±


    Tang Qiu dried her eyes and pushed his wheelchair back to their bedroom. She searched for a fresh pair of clothes for him. When she turned around, she was startled to see that he had already unbuttoned his shirt, lending her a clear view of his bare chest. She stared, stunned, for two whole seconds, before whirling back round.


    Jiang Shaocheng set aside his damp pajamas. ¡°Qiu?¡±


    ¡°Yes? Oh.¡± Tang Qiu hurriedly thrust the new set of clothes at him.


    ¡°I can¡¯t reach it.¡± Jiang Shaocheng stretched out his hand in a helpless bid to close the distance between them.


    Tang Qiu stepped forward two paces, only to be caught off-guard when Jiang Shaocheng grabbed her and pulled her onto hisp. Her eyes widened in shock.


    ¡°Jiang Shaocheng, you¡­¡±


    ¡°Call me ¡®dear¡¯.¡±


    She was so close to him that she could feel the warmth radiating from his skin. He had been so frail before. How did he have the strength to pull her towards him? Briefly, she imagined that he could lift her clean off the ground, but that was just absurd.


    ¡°Let me up, dear. I must be very heavy.¡±


    Jiang Shaocheng¡¯s lips curved. He slid an arm around her slender waist. ¡°I¡¯m quite content to have you sit on me.¡±


    ¡°You need to put on some clothes,¡± Tang Qiu urged worriedly. ¡°Or you might catch a cold.¡±


    ¡°Sure. Help me put them on, then.¡±


    Tang Qiu stared at him. Just when she thought he couldn¡¯t get more childish, he did; nothing at all like a thirty-year-old man. But he was ill, so she could only amodate him, coddling him like she would a child.


    Seated on hisp, she helped to dress him. He obediently stretched out his arms, and his masculine musk swept over her; a strong, heady scent. All the while, she could hear the pattern of his breathing, a steady rhythm beside her ear.


    She felt herself begin to itch. The sensation enveloped her, like a, spreading from her ears, to her neck, making her heart race.


    ¡°Qiu, your ears are red. And your face is flushed,¡± he said in a low voice, his lips close enough to brush her ear. ¡°Are you unwell?¡±


    <i>What¡¯s wrong with me?</i>?Her head was swimming, and something was stirring in her veins¨Ca strange, foreign excitement she couldn¡¯t quite ce.


    <i>Maybe I really am ill after all.?</i>


    ¡°No. I¡¯m fine¡­¡±


    Jiang Shaocheng thought that he had done a remarkable job restraining himself, until he heard her soft, sweet voice. It was like a tantalizing fruit, dangling before him, but also somehow a plea forfort.


    In that moment, though, with his bare skin pressed against hers, he felt only lust.

 Chapter 28 - Want Him To Kiss Me

    <h4>Chapter 28: Want Him To Kiss Me</h4>


    <h4><strong>Trantor: </strong>As Studios <strong> Editor: </strong>As Studios</h4>


    Breathing in her scent, Jiang Shaocheng was taken aback by how his self-control had practically crumbled before him. If he didn¡¯t do something, she would surely notice his body¡¯s reaction. ¡°Let me do it myself,¡± he said, his voice rough.


    Tang Qiu immediately got to her feet. Her heart was still thundering against her chest, and her breaths came hot and heavy.


    When he tried to pull on his pants, it seemed like his legs were giving him trouble, so she extended a hand to help him. He eyed her, and she said solemnly, ¡°I said I would take care of you, and I mean it.¡± She still remembered what it was like to look after her grandmother in the hospital. It didn¡¯t make her current situation easy by any means, but it did make it?<i>easier</i>.


    ¡°Dear, don¡¯t feel bashful or humiliated. I¡¯m your wife. This is nothing unusual,¡± she added, thinking that he was trying to preserve his dignity.


    Her voice was soft, but her actions were firm as she helped him pull on his pants. Jiang Shaocheng stared at her, his eyes smoldering.


    ¡°I¡¯m going to go back to tranting those documents, dear. If you¡¯re tired, go to bed first.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll stay up with you.¡± For some reason, a warmth was blossoming in his heart, and he found it impossible to take his eyes off her.


    After some time, Jiang Shaocheng lifted his eyes to her, only to see that she had fallen asleep at the table. He was dumbfounded for a moment. ¡°Wake up, Qiu. Let¡¯s go to the bedroom.¡±


    She was deep in sleep, and didn¡¯t stir. Jiang Shaocheng had no choice but to carry her back to their bedroom. He pinched her nose with mock-disapproval. ¡°You didn¡¯t wash your face, kitten.¡± He was particr about cleanliness, but he decided to let it slide; she was his wife, after all. He dutifully dipped a towel in water and helped her wipe her face and hands, then stripped off her socks and cleaned her feet.


    Tang Qiu felt a ticklish sensation and batted away his hands sleepily. ¡°Go away,¡± she mumbled. ¡°Want my husband¡­ Want him to kiss me¡­¡±


    Jiang Shaocheng¡¯s ears perked up, straining to hear her muffled words. ¡°Want my husband to kiss me¡­¡± she murmured. ¡°Want to be in his arms¡­ want him to pick me up¡­¡±


    Jiang Shaocheng stared at his wife¡¯s fair face, heat flooding his cheeks, utterly flummoxed.


    The next morning, Tang Qiu awoke and hastily made her way to the toilet. When she stumbled upon Jiang Shaocheng sitting on the toilet bowl, she shrieked and rushed to shield her eyes, mortified. ¡°Why¡­ why are you here?¡±


    Helplessly, Jiang Shaocheng raised an eyebrow at her. ¡°Is there somewhere else I should be using the toilet, my darling wife?¡± he asked tly.


    Tang Qiu had no reply to that, so she scurried out of the bathroom. She was suddenly struck by a memory ofst night¡¯s dream. She had been nestled in her husband¡¯s arms, embracing and touching him without reservation, and¡­ begging for him to kiss her.


    Tang Qiu ruffled her hair, embarrassment flooding her. She had had a dream about her husband¡­ and a suggestive one, at that!


    Her husband¡¯s legs were crippled. He had proved that much when he hadn¡¯t so much as reacted to having hot water spilled on him. He wasn¡¯t capable of¡­ doing it. She had to ept that reality, having married him already.


    She tidied herself up and returned to their bedroom to see that Jiang Shaocheng had already washed up and was seated in the wheelchair, smiling at her. ¡°What happened?¡± he asked. ¡°Your hair¡¯s a mess.¡±


    Tang Qiu scratched her head thoughtlessly. ¡°Nothing happened. I just got out of bed, that¡¯s normal.¡±


    Jiang Shaocheng nodded solemnly. ¡°And here I thought you were getting all flustered because you remembered how wantonly you behaved towards mest night. Seeing as how your face is so red.¡±


    Tang Qiu had been about to go take a shower. His words made her stop in her tracks and bury her face in her hands. She wanted to crawl beneath the earth and nevere out.?<i>It wasn¡¯t a dream??</i>


    Her husband was studying her like he would a particrly interesting theater performance. She met his gaze and said inplete seriousness, ¡°That wasn¡¯t me. It was my twin sister. We look exactly alike. But it wasn¡¯t me!¡±


    ¡°I see.¡± Jiang Shaocheng nodded along in earnest. ¡°You must be the elder twin, then. You two really do look alike. She was so demanding though, trying to kiss me, clinging onto me, I couldn¡¯t get rid of her.¡±


    Tang Qiu was about to lose her mind. She couldn¡¯t keep a straight face anymore, so she pretended not to hear him. Changing the subject, she asked, ¡°Didn¡¯t I fall asleep in the studyst night, dear? How did I end up in the bedroom?¡±


    Jiang Shaocheng was left floundering for a second. Good question, he admitted, before coughing several times. ¡°You went back yourself, and immediately flopped onto the bed, refusing to go shower. Don¡¯t you remember?¡±


    ¡°I went back myself?¡±


    Jiang Shaocheng took a moment to rack his brain. ¡°You fell asleep at the desk. You probably sleepwalked back to the bedroom.¡±


    ¡°Sleepwalked?¡± She was perplexed. Never before had she known herself to sleepwalk.


    Jiang Shaocheng could see that she didn¡¯t quite believe him, but he didn¡¯t want to reveal that he wasn¡¯t crippled just yet. ¡°Maybe you were sleepwalking when you hugged and kissed me too,¡± he added.


    Tang Qiu nodded instantly. ¡°That¡¯s right. I was sleepwalking, otherwise I wouldn¡¯t have thrown myself at you like that.¡± She clenched a fist over her heart, as if to stamp out her lingering guilt.


    Between them both, only Jiang Shaocheng knew the truth of the matter, but he said nothing.


    In school, once Tang Qiu had sat down in the ssroom, Xie Qingqing seized her by the arm.


    ¡°Qiu, my poor Qiu, what were you thinking? You walked right into the living hell that the Fengsid out for you, and now that you have a chance to escape, you won¡¯t even take it?¡±

 Chapter 29 - He is My Future

    <h4>Chapter 29: He is My Future</h4>


    <h4><strong>Trantor: </strong>As Studios <strong> Editor: </strong>As Studios</h4>


    Irritation crossed Tang Qiu¡¯s face. ¡°You know, my husband heard everything you said yesterday. Haven¡¯t I told you before not to speak ill of him? He¡¯s not a ¡®living hell¡¯ that I was thrown into!¡±


    Xie Qingqing was taken aback. Had she gotten her friend into trouble? ¡°He heard everything? Was he angry at you?¡±


    ¡°No,¡± Tang Qiu insisted. ¡°He¡¯s very good-tempered.¡±


    Xie Qingqing blew out an exasperated breath. ¡°What use is that? He¡¯s a cripple. He can¡¯t give you, or any woman happiness. Why waste your youth on him? He may be rich, but the way his illness keeps dragging out, it¡¯s impossible to tell when he¡¯ll be gone. Aren¡¯t you the slightest bit concerned about your future?¡±


    Tang Qiu looked her friend in the eye. ¡°I¡¯m grateful to him. I¡¯m willing to spend the rest of my life taking care of him. You¡¯re my friend, Qingqing, and I¡¯m asking you to trust me. Even if you don¡¯t like my husband, for my sake, you should at least try and respect him. This is my choice, and I won¡¯t regret it. So stop trying to set me up with Ning Mufan.¡±


    Xie Qingqing couldn¡¯t help rolling her eyes, but she dropped the subject. ¡°By the way, I heard someone talking behind your back yesterday. They said you married a rich man for his money, and were still shameless enough to try and hook up with Ning Mufan.¡±


    Tang Qiu¡¯s face darkened. Some people really would do anything for attention¡­


    ¡°Rx. I¡¯ve already taught that troublemaker a lesson. But they said they weren¡¯t the ones who started the rumor. I don¡¯t know who it is who hates you so much. It¡¯s like they can¡¯t stand for you to have a moment of peace.¡±


    Instantly, Feng Yao and Tan Yuqi¡¯s names came to mind. Augh burst out of Tang Qiu. ¡°Never mind about them. I have to finish the assignment that Professor Sun gave me.¡± She was too busy to waste time worrying about such childish things.


    After ss, Tang Qiu quickly made her way to the library and continued studying the materials inside. While doing her research, she came across some cases that were simr to her husband¡¯s, and promptly took notes. At that moment, someone knocked on the table to get her attention.


    She lifted her head. It was Ning Mufan.


    ¡°I have to talk to you. Come out for a while.¡±


    Tang Qiu was reluctant to disrupt her research. ¡°Can¡¯t we talk here, Senior? I¡¯m busy.¡±


    Ning Mufan stared at her, then the materials she had been engrossed with. His face fell. ¡°It¡¯s a serious matter. It¡¯s close to dinnertime anyway. We can discuss it over a meal.¡±


    Tang Qiu stole a nce at the time and found herself unable to argue. She nodded. Judging from her senior¡¯s expression, it must be something important indeed.


    They sat down in a nearby restaurant. Tang Qiu scanned the prices on the menu, and silently retracted her gaze. ¡°Let¡¯s split the bill,¡± she muttered under her breath, which earned augh from Ning Mufan.


    ¡°Split the bill? I¡¯m treating you to dinner. Does everything need to be so cleanly divided between us?¡±


    <i>Yes,?</i>she thought.<i>?I need to establish clear boundaries with you.?</i>When it came to money, it was always better to make sure things were settled clearly and evenly. You could repay someone with cash, but not necessarily with favor, and she didn¡¯t think she and Ning Mufan were on those terms yet. ¡°Senior, even family and close friends split the bill between them. Best that we make sure each of us pays our fair share.¡±


    Ning Mufan inhaled through his nose. She could be truly stubborn when she wanted to be. ¡°Sure,¡± he made himself say. ¡°We¡¯ll split the bill.¡± The young master of the Ning family had just taken the initiative to ask a girl out for the first time, and she wouldn¡¯t even let him treat her. It was frustrating, to say the least.


    ¡°So, what did you want to talk to me about, Senior?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve spoken to Xie Qingqing, and I know you didn¡¯t get married of your own ord. The Fengs forced you into it. If you want a divorce, I can help you.¡±


    <i>Why does everyone want me to get a divorce??</i>Her husband treated her so well; she had nothing toin about. ¡°Thank you, but no thank you. I¡¯m quite alright.¡±


    Ning Mufan was certain that the smile on her face was fake. She had been forced by the Feng family to marry a sick, disfigured cripple. Which woman would be happy with such an arrangement? The more he thought about it, the more distressed he became. The woman of his heart¨Cthe one whose hand he yearned to reach out and take in his own¨Cbeing mistreated like this. He had to swallow down the anger that rose in him.


    ¡°You don¡¯t need to put on a brave front. If you feel mistreated in any way, you can be honest with me.¡±


    Tang Qiu looked baffled. ¡°But I don¡¯t feel mistreated!¡±


    ¡°How is that possible, after being forced to marry a man like that? I know you want to be strong. But you won¡¯t have a future if you choose to stay married to him, Qiu.¡±


    He was worried about her, she knew. She was left momentarily speechless. Ning Mufan was gentle and easygoing, but sometimes, his disposition revealed traces of his status as a young master from a wealthy family, and it simply came off too strong for her. There was a distance she always felt by his side, a chasm between them that she could never quite bridge.


    Only, now, he was speaking about her future with her. Back then, Feng Guo¡¯an had used her grandmother to threaten her, leaving her with no choice but to obey him. Fortunately, Jiang Shaocheng hade to her rescue and taken care of her. In some way, she had beaten the odds. She hade out on top of a situation no one would have expected her to.


    ¡°Everyone¡¯s definition of a future is different, Senior. I think I¡¯m happy with what mine looks like right now.¡±

 Chapter 30 - Why So Clingy?

    <h4>Chapter 30: Why So Clingy?</h4>


    <h4><strong>Trantor: </strong>As Studios <strong> Editor: </strong>As Studios</h4>


    Ning Mufan¡¯s brow pinched together. He pushed back his sses and mped down on his rising temper, trying to make her see reason. ¡°You¡¯re still young, Qiu. There are some things you don¡¯t understand right now. You can¡¯t have a child with that cripple. He can¡¯t give you a normal life. Don¡¯t you see? A woman¡¯s life is iplete without children. If you give all that up to spend the rest of your life looking after him, you¡¯ll regret it.¡±


    Tang Qiu¡¯s smile stiffened.?<i>A woman¡¯s life is iplete without children.?</i>If so, why did her mother abandon her?


    ¡°My husband has been nothing but kind to me, Senior. Thank you for your concern, but I don¡¯t want to divorce him.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re giving in just because he was kind to you?¡± No matter how he thought about it, Ning Mufan just couldn¡¯t understand. That man wasn¡¯t just ugly, he was crippled. Whatever his character, he simply wasn¡¯t the kind of man anyone would want to spend their life with. She must be repressing her true sentiments. ¡°Qiu, trust me, please. I just want to help you.¡±


    The more Tang Qiu listened to him, the stronger the itch along her scalp grew. Her senior, whom she didn¡¯t even know all that well, was advising her to get a divorce. He meant well, so she didn¡¯t want to put him in a difficult position, but the way he was so quick to jump to conclusions about Jiang Shaocheng didn¡¯t sit well with her. All traces of humor fell from her face.


    ¡°I¡¯m not hiding anything, nor am I saying this because I¡¯m being forced into a spot. I know my husband isn¡¯t good-looking, and he¡¯s been confined to a wheelchair because of his injuries, but we get along well. I¡¯m an adult. I can decide what¡¯s good or bad for me. I¡¯m content with my current situation. You¡¯re not me, Senior. How do you know that my life right now isn¡¯t what I envision my future to be? When ites to marriage, isn¡¯t the important thing to find someone that you genuinely like, and spend the rest of your days with them?¡±


    Ning Mufan¡¯s hands curled into fists. ¡°I¡­ I admit, you do have a point. But there are other things to consider as well. He¡¯s a cripple who can¡¯t take care of himself. How is he going to make a living to support the family? At his most fundamental, he doesn¡¯t have what it takes to provide you with financial stability. If anything happens to you in the future, he can do nothing but watch helplessly from a wheelchair. Not to mention, you¡¯ll still need to pour your time and energy into looking after him! You have so much potential, Qiu. Or do you really think that Professor Sun chose you for his assistant to clean up theb after him?¡±


    He continued, ¡°Maybe that really was what you thought. But Professor Sun asked you to trante those documents. Surely you can tell he has high hopes for you. Stop letting a cripple hold you back from what your life could be!¡±


    Tang Qiu took a deep breath. ¡°I¡¯ve thought about everything you¡¯ve just said before,¡± she said evenly. ¡°I can work and earn enough to support us both in the future. And I¡¯ll continue to study hard, so I can help heal him.¡±


    Ning Mufan had participated in debate tournaments before. Normally, he was good at getting his point across. But now he was left speechless. ¡°Tang Qiu¡­¡±


    ¡°The food is here. Let¡¯s eat, Senior.¡± She was thankful, even happy that someone cared enough to look out for her, but his good intentions were just putting her in a spot. She finished her food in a few bites and left after saying goodbye, without waiting to hear what Ning Mufan had to say.


    Ning Mufan watched her figure grow smaller in the distance and clenched his fist in frustration. If he had just told her about how he felt earlier, she might not be married to that man. Even now, a part of him refused to take this lying down.


    After school that evening, Tang Qiu saw He Lei waving to her. She dashed over, only to find that Jiang Shaocheng wasn¡¯t with him. She couldn¡¯t hide the sh of disappointment in her eyes.


    ¡°Why didn¡¯t my husbande? Is he busy? Or unwell?¡±


    He Lei watched her crestfallen expression. Earlier, he had informed the young master that he would be picking up the young mistress, but Jiang Shaocheng had dismissed him with a wave of his hand and said that he wouldn¡¯t being. He Lei had been puzzled then, especially after his young master had added something else about creating a sense of anticipation.


    ¡°The young master didn¡¯te because he¡¯s prepared a gift for you at home.¡±


    Tang Qiu breathed a sigh of relief at hearing that her husband was alright. A gift, though? She couldn¡¯t hold back her eagerness. ¡°What kind of gift is it?¡±


    ¡°You¡¯ll know once we get back, Young Mistress.¡± Secretly he thought,?<i>She¡¯s sure to like it.?</i>


    Jiang Shaocheng was waiting for them at the entrance of the mansion. ¡°We haven¡¯t seen each other for more than eight hours, Qiu,¡± he greeted. ¡°Did you miss me?¡±


    Tang Qiu ran up to him, blushing, and leaned down to kiss him on the lips. ¡°I did.¡± He did say before that she needed to prove her affection for him with her actions.


    Deeply satisfied, Jiang Shaocheng inquired, ¡°Why so clingy all of a sudden, Qiu?¡±


    Tang Qiu nearly choked. ¡°I thought you told me I had to show you how sincere I was.¡±


    ¡°Sure. And who was it that kept fondling me while sleepwalking, trying to take off my clothes and touch me?¡±


    Tang Qiu buried her face in her hands, trying to conceal her embarrassment. ¡°I was sleepwalking. That doesn¡¯t count!¡±


    He smiled, hooked her by the waist, and kissed her again.

 Chapter 31 - His, Now and Forever

    <h4>Chapter 31: His, Now and Forever</h4>


    <h4><strong>Trantor: </strong>As Studios <strong> Editor: </strong>As Studios</h4>


    Tang Qiu came back to her senses, searching for a way to one-up him. ¡°Now you¡¯re the one clinging onto me, dear!¡± she said, smiling.


    Jiang Shaocheng nodded dismissively. ¡°Kissing my wife isn¡¯t clinginess. It¡¯s a natural part of intimacy.¡±


    Tang Qiu was dumbstruck. ¡°Why is it considered intimacy when you kiss me, and clinginess when I kiss you?¡±


    Her husband¡¯s face was still as cool as ever. ¡°Ah, you¡¯ve caught me. I just wanted more of you to myself. Clever girl.¡±


    Now he was just making fun of her. Tang Qiu steeled her expression and rose from hisp. ¡°He Lei said you had a gift for me. Where is it?¡±


    Jiang Shaocheng took her hand, and, like a magician performing a trick, a ne appeared in his palm. It glittered as it caught the light, resplendent and sparkling.


    Tang Qiu had never received a gift like this. ¡°It¡¯s beautiful!¡± she eximed, ted.


    ¡°Let me put it on you.¡±


    When he sped the ne around her neck, Tang Qiu heard a?<i>ding</i>?noise. She wasn¡¯t familiar with luxury goods, but surely no jewelry sp would produce a sound like that?


    ¡°What¡¯s that noise?¡±


    ¡°The sp of the ne is held together by a maically locked button. If it¡¯s forcibly unfastened, the ne will be damaged and lose its value.¡± Jiang Shaocheng¡¯s eyes simmered darkly as he exined the mechanism to her. One thing he had failed to mention was that in order to remove the ne, one would require his fingerprint.


    From this day onwards, she would be his¨Cnow, and forever.


    ¡°Does it look nice?¡± Tang Qiu asked, blissfully unaware of his intentions.


    Jiang Shaocheng ran his cool fingers over the ne, trailing across her corbone, the smooth, fair column of her neck¡­ ¡°Of course it does.¡± He brushed his lips against the tip of her ear, resisting the near-primal urge that bubbled up inside him.


    ¡°It must have been very expensive.¡±


    He shook his head. ¡°A few hundred yuan, no more. I hope you don¡¯t dislike it.¡±


    ¡°Not at all! I love it.¡± In truth, Tang Qiu did think it was a little expensive; after all, it was still a few hundred yuan for a small piece of jewelry. But that thought was soon reced with delight when she remembered her husband¡¯s sweet intentions.


    ¡°If you like it, Qiu, you ought to repay the favor.¡± Jiang Shaocheng¡¯s gaze stirred with unreadable depths. ¡°Isn¡¯t that right?¡±


    ¡°But I¡¯m not prepared now. Give me some time, okay?¡±


    Before she could finish, Jiang Shaocheng took hold of her hand. ¡°There¡¯s no need to wait. You have something you can give me right now, Qiu. It just depends on whether you want to.¡±


    ¡°What do you want?¡± Tang Qiu asked earnestly. ¡°If I have it, it¡¯s yours.¡±


    Jiang Shaocheng didn¡¯t respond. Instead, he curved his arm around her waist and pulled her onto hisp, drawing her into a kiss so deep and long that Tang Qiu felt like her soul was being sucked from her. She remarked silently that his lung capacity was nothing like that of an ill person. Although,e to think about it, maybe he waspensating, since he couldn¡¯t pleasure her with his lower body. Had he been practicing?


    During dinner, He Lei noticed that Tang Qiu¡¯s lips were pink and swollen. Her cheeks, too, were flushed, and there was a charming little sparkle to her eyes that hadn¡¯t been there before.


    He looked at his young master in surprise.?<i>He¡¯s not going to keep his facade as a cripple up for much longer¡­?</i>He was concerned, though. His young master hadn¡¯t been with a woman before; should He Lei help him prepare the necessary tools, just as a reminder?


    After dinner, Tang Qiu went to the study and asked to use Jiang Shaocheng¡¯sptop, only for him to shake his head no. She pouted, tugging at him like a spoiled child. ¡°It won¡¯t take long. I won¡¯t hold you up, I promise.¡±


    Jiang Shaocheng smiled indulgently. He turned his wheelchair towards the sofa, picked up a small box, and silently gestured for Tang Qiu to open it.


    Curiously, Tang Qiu opened the box. Her eyes lit up at the sight of the sleek silverptop staring back at her. ¡°Is this for me?¡± she asked, like a child receiving a boxful of candy.<i>?</i>


    ¡°Of course,¡± her husband replied with a nod.


    ¡°Thank you, dear! But this had to be very expensive, right?¡±


    She wouldn¡¯t put theptop down. She clearly loved the gift, yet she still wouldn¡¯t stop worrying about how much it had cost. Keeping his expression neutral, he lied, ¡°No, it wasn¡¯t. This was my oldptop. I just fixed it up.¡±


    ¡°Fixed it up? You¡¯re so capable, dear!¡± Tang Qiu gushed. Her thoughts drifted back to Ning Mufan. He had imed her husband wouldn¡¯t be able to make money to support them, but he hadn¡¯t known Jiang Shaocheng well enough. When he had recovered, he could set up a shop to modifyputers and help them earn a living. The longer she dwelled on it, the more conviction burned in her heart.?<i>I must study hard and heal him one day.?</i>Wasting no time, she switched on theptop, and was soon engrossed in tranting the documents Professor Sun had given her.


    She didn¡¯t say another word to her husband for the rest of the night. Jiang Shaocheng couldn¡¯t help feeling that he had shot himself in the foot somehow.


    One weekter, Tang Qiu finished tranting the documents, ahead of the deadline Professor Sun had given her. As she was preparing to submit them, however, she decided to take the opportunity to ask him about what treatments would be right for Jiang Shaocheng¡¯s injury. But before that, she had to find out just how badly crippled Jiang Shaocheng¡¯s legs were; what exactly was preventing him from having sex, what medicine he took on a regr basis¡­

 Chapter 32 - Hope of Recovery

    <h4>Chapter 32: Hope of Recovery</h4>


    <h4><strong>Trantor: </strong>As Studios <strong> Editor: </strong>As Studios</h4>


    After breakfast, Tang Qiu took some time to sort out her thoughts. Treading cautiously, she asked, ¡°What sort of medicine do you normally eat, dear? Can you show me?¡±


    In all honesty, she had never seen him take his medicine before. He was likely self-conscious about it, which is why he kept his medication concealed from her, but if she was going to help him, she had to start by understanding the root cause of the issue.


    Jiang Shaocheng gave two awkward coughs. He had long stopped bothering to take his medicine. He hadn¡¯t anticipated that he would end up with such a lovely, adorable wife; the matter had long slipped his mind. ¡°I¡¯ve finished all of it.¡±


    ¡°Then I¡¯ll get you some more. What¡¯s the medicine called?¡± Tang Qiu prepared to make a note of it on her phone.


    ¡°Ask He Lei. He¡¯s the one who helps me obtain the medicine.¡±


    ¡°Okay.¡± Tang Qiu promptly left and went downstairs to look for He Lei.


    When he heard her question, He Lei was stunned for a few whole seconds.?<i>The young master? Medicine??</i>His frailness was just a farce; what medicine did he need? ¡°The young master¡¯s medicine is produced overseas,¡± he said, scrambling for an excuse. ¡°It can¡¯t be bought here.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s fine. Just let me know the name, and the specifics of my husband¡¯s condition. I n to ask my professor about it. He¡¯s a renowned practitioner of medicine; he might be able to help us find a cure.¡±


    He Lei met Tang Qiu¡¯s expectant gaze, at a loss for words. His gaze drifted to the upper storey, where Jiang Shaocheng watched them, unsmiling.?<i>Is this some kind of show to him??</i>¡°The medicine¡­¡± He whipped out his phone and searched for the names of several medicines, skimming over them and reciting a list of ingredients at random. ¡°The doctor modifies the medicine ording to the young master¡¯s condition,¡± he added, after a moment¡¯s consideration. ¡°So I¡¯m not quite sure what exactly he needs for his next dose.¡±


    ¡°Does he also take medicine to aid in that area?¡±


    ¡°That area?¡± He Lei echoed, confused.


    Tang Qiu coughed politely, a flush rising to her cheeks.?<i>I am a medical student,?</i>she reminded herself, before exining, ¡°His ability to perform in bed has beenpromised, hasn¡¯t it? What medicine does he take to aid him?¡±


    He Lei nearly choked. Did this mean that when she and the young master got intimate, he hadn¡¯t shown¡­ any reaction at all? Maybe he really did need something to aid him after all. He rapidly listed a few medicines off the top of his head, thinking,?<i>I should get some props for the young master.?</i>Just to remind him not to get too caught up in the act. He wasn¡¯t?<i>really</i>?a cripple. He was more than capable of using his manhood¨Cas he should!


    Later, He Lei dug up some medical certificates and reports and showed them to Tang Qiu, who pulled out her phone and snapped pictures of them. His eyes widened. She was being so meticulous. Was she nning to research the young master¡¯s condition in secret?


    After Tang Qiu was done taking the pictures, she headed off to school. Ill at ease, He Lei stressed that no one could be privy to the details of the young master¡¯s condition except her. Otherwise, it could put him in a vulnerable position. Tang Qiu noddedpliantly. He might not be held in high regard, but her husband was still the young master of the Jiang family, and subject to no small amount of scrutiny.


    Tang Qiu submitted the tranted documents to a pleasantly surprised Professor Sun. She hadpleted the task better than he had expected, and ahead of schedule, too.


    He seemed satisfied enough, so Tang Qiu dared to venture, ¡°Professor Sun, I have a friend who¡¯s been sick for a long time. I was wondering if I could ask you about his chances of recovery.¡±


    ¡°Please, go ahead,¡± Professor Sun said magnanimously. He was clearly in a good mood.


    Tang Qiu wasted no time in showing him the medical information she had obtained from He Lei, and recounting the list of Jiang Shaocheng¡¯s medicine.


    Professor Sun specialized in traditional medicine, with a wealth of experience and exposure at his disposal. He also had his own unique methods ofbating illnesses which were known to be tricky or difficult to pinpoint. ¡°His condition isn¡¯t serious,¡± he replied when she was done. ¡°As long as he gets the right treatment and is in reasonably good health, it won¡¯t take long for him to recover.¡±


    ¡°Really?¡± It was almost too good to be true.


    ¡°You doubt my word?¡± Professor Sun¡¯s displeasure was evident.


    ¡°No! I¡¯m just happy for my friend,¡± Tang Qiu exined quickly, in an attempt to cate his temper. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Professor.¡±


    Professor Sun snorted coldly, his easygoing manner gone. ¡°Asking me for help without so much as offering me a cup of tea? Don¡¯t you understand the rules of courtesy at all?¡±


    Tang Qiu rushed to pour him a cup of tea. Only then did Professor Sun continue. ¡°What is your friend like normally?¡± he asked slowly. ¡°What medicine has he taken before?¡±


    ¡°He can¡¯t move his legs. He didn¡¯t even react to having hot water poured on them. And he¡­ he is incapable of engaging in intercourse. He can¡¯t muster a substantial erection.¡± She passed him the list of medicine she had gotten from He Lei. ¡°This is the medication he¡¯s been given.¡±


    Professor Sun ran his eyes over the list. ¡°What nonsense is this?¡± he asked sharply. ¡°The condition you described can¡¯t be cured by taking medicine. With injuries that severe, he can only be nursed back to recovery. He needs to undergo acupuncture and therapy, with his family by his side to support him and give him hope to boost his spirits. Only then can he properly recover and return to full health¡­¡±


    Tang Qiu nodded, silently absorbing everything he threw at her. He Lei had told her Jiang Shaocheng¡¯s medicine was administered by doctors from overseas, adjusting it ording to his condition. Likely, he had needed them in the past, but not anymore.


    Besides, hadn¡¯t Professor Sun said there was hope for her husband? She would continue to stay by his side and devote herself to learning about acupuncture¨Call so she could heal him one day.

 Chapter 33 - Soup Attack

    <h4>Chapter 33: Soup Attack</h4>


    <h4><strong>Trantor: </strong>As Studios <strong> Editor: </strong>As Studios</h4>


    Tang Qiu left Professor Sun¡¯s office in rtively good spirits and made her way to the cafeteria. While she was queuing, she felt people¡¯s eyes boring into her, the whispersing from every direction in an endless stream.


    ¡°That¡¯s her. The one who sold her body for money. What a disgrace to our school!¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t be so quick to dismiss her. She¡¯s just a student¨Ca top student in the medical faculty, to be sure¨Cbut still a student. She used to wear clothes that looked like rags she bought off the street. Now, just look at her designer clothes. They¡¯re limited edition, mind you, worth tens of thousands of dors!¡±


    ¡°Stop being such a nerd. It¡¯s sickening, that¡¯s what it is. What¡¯s she doing here anyway, all dressed up in those expensive clothes? Is she trying to show off?¡±


    Tang Qiu stifled augh. She was shameless because she was wearing a dress she bought?<i>on discount</i>? Were those people alright? She ignored them, turning to scour the room for a seat.


    While she was eating, out of nowhere, a woman rushed up to her and upended half a bottle of Coke into her bowl.


    ¡°The nerve of you to show your face here, little slut. To think that filth like you exists in this world!¡±


    Tang Qiu pushed back her seat and stood, raking a cold gaze over the crowd around her. During her meal, she had heard a group of students sniggering at her, but she hadn¡¯t bothered with them. There wouldn¡¯t have been a point in rebutting whatever rumors they were cooking up; people would talk and spread nonsense as they pleased. But now that they were right in front of her, she couldn¡¯t just sit back and do nothing.


    She thought back on the texts Xie Qingqing had sent her before she hade down to the cafeteria. Someone had dug up her old pictures topare with her now and imed that she had hooked up with a rich man to get her hands on those branded, luxury goods¨Call because of two outfits which she had gotten on discount. It left her speechless. It was so illogical, so unbelievable. What was wrong with these people, to go to such contemptible lengths?


    ¡°Who are you, and why did you pour Coke into my food? You clearly need help. You should go see a doctor. Like or hate them, you¡¯ll end up with brain damage if you don¡¯t get treated in time, which is a far worse alternative.¡±


    As she spoke, Tang Qiu subjected the woman before her to a moment of cold scrutiny. Her hair fell in curls around her face, and dainty makeup caked her features. Her dolled-up appearance did nothing to add to her beauty, though¨Cnot with her inner ugliness bleeding through like that.


    She didn¡¯t recognize this woman.


    The woman¡¯s temper red at hearing Tang Qiu talk back to her. ¡°There¡¯s nothing wrong with me!¡± Her voice rose to a furious shriek. ¡°I poured Coke into your food because I just can¡¯t stand the sight of disgusting creatures like you. Here¡¯s a word of advice: get out of this school, before you make me vomit the next time I see you. You¡¯re so revolting, I can¡¯t help myself!¡±


    She continued raving, ¡°You sold your body to hook up with an old man, fine, whatever. But to make advances towards Ning Mufan? How shameless can you get? What makes you think you¡¯re good enough for the young master of the Ning family? You¡¯re a disgrace to A University!¡±


    Tang Qiuughed frostily. ¡°Did your stic surgery go wrong and damage your brain instead? Which one of you saw me hook up with an old man, then throw myself at Ning Mufan? Here¡¯s<i>?my</i>?advice: apologize now, and I might just forget your immature behavior today.¡±


    ¡°You¨C¡± The woman¡¯s eyes bulged in rage. ¡°<i>Me</i>, apologize to?<i>you</i>? Dream on! I¡¯m warning you: if you don¡¯t stay away from Ning Mufan, I¡¯ll destroy that little slut¡¯s face of yours.¡±


    All around them, people had their phones out and were recording the scene. Several female students were pointing and whispering at Tang Qiu.


    In response, Tang Qiu rolled up her sleeves and tied back her hair. ¡°What¡¯s your name?¡± she asked the woman, smiling. ¡°You¡¯re from¡­ which faculty again?¡±


    ¡°None of your business!¡± the woman barked, spitting the words like acid. ¡°Why? Are you looking for a fight?¡± She wasn¡¯t afraid, not in the slightest. Tang Qiu wouldn¡¯t touch her in front of so many people, and that gold-digging whore was a nobody, with no family name or background to boast about. What was there to be scared of?


    Fury boiled beneath Tang Qiu¡¯s smile. She had been eating her meal in peace, and this woman hade out of nowhere to harass her.


    Without another word, she grabbed her te and overturned it all over the other woman, drenching her with soup from head to toe.


    The crowd basked in the woman¡¯s humiliation, ted at this esction of events. ¡°Tang Qiu!¡± she howled, cursing madly. ¡°I¡¯m going to kill you!¡±


    ¡°Niu Caijie! Stop!¡±


    A man¡¯s voice cut over them both. He seized Niu Caijie¡¯s wrist and forced her back. The woman cried out in pain. She hadn¡¯t evene close to touching Tang Qiu.


    The man rushed up to Tang Qiu and grabbed her hand, running his gaze over her. He breathed a sigh of relief when he saw that she wasn¡¯t hurt. Good thing he hade in time.


    ¡°I¡¯m fine, Senior¡­¡± Niu Caijie hadn¡¯t hurt her, but Ning Mufan was, with how tightly he was squeezing her hand in his worry. She shook off his grasp hastily and stepped back from him.


    Ning Mufan seemed toe to the same realization, because he dropped his hand and adjusted his sses before swiveling around to face the crazed woman. ¡°Apologize to her, Niu Caijie!¡±


    ¡°Why should I? Look closely, Ning Mufan! You¡¯ve been deceived by this woman¡¯s looks!¡± Niu Caijie¡¯s eyes were beginning to go red from anger and humiliation. She was standing here, covered in soup, in front of Ning Mufan¨Cthe man of every female student¡¯s dreams. It was one thing to be cast off by him, but now he was even standing up for that bitch Tang Qiu.

 Chapter 34 - The Slap

    <h4>Chapter 34: The p</h4>


    <h4><strong>Trantor: </strong>As Studios <strong> Editor: </strong>As Studios</h4>


    Ning Mufan only sneered back at her. ¡°Are you finished, Niu Caijie? Who do you think you are, talking about Tang Qiu like that?¡±


    Niu Caijie¡¯s face was contorted. She wanted to cry from frustration, but no tears woulde, so she resorted to ring at Ning Mufan in shame and indignation. ¡°How can you say that about me? She¡¯s the shameless one. She sold her body to a rich man, then still tried to get lucky with you! It¡¯s uneptable. She¡¯s a whore who spreads her legs for money! What did I say wrong?¡±


    Tang Qiu listened to Niu Caijie malign her with every word. It seemed like dumping soup on her hadn¡¯t been enough to get her point across.


    To hell with the moral high ground. She stepped forward and pped Niu Caijie across the face.


    A wave of silence fell over the crowd. It was one thing for Tang Qiu to hurl the contents of her te at Niu Caijie, and another to physically strike her.


    ¡°You don¡¯t seem to be thinking clearly, so this is a wakeup call for you. Do you take me for a pushover?¡±


    Niu Caijie clutched her cheek. Her face was burning red, and she was still soaked in soup. Eyes watched her from every direction, including the dreamy Ning Mufan, who was staring at her coldly. It was thest straw for her. She lunged at Tang Qiu, heedless of the consequences.


    In the blink of an eye, Ning Mufan had shoved her away, shielding Tang Qiu behind him.


    ¡°Stop this, Niu Caijie!¡±


    Niu Caijie was about to lose her mind. Every fiber in her body was on edge, leaving her an unstable wreck full of rage. ¡°I¡¯m your ssmate, Ning Mufan. She pped me, and you¡¯re protecting her? Are you under some kind of spell?¡±


    ¡°This has nothing to do with him.¡± Tang Qiu spoke before he could. ¡°Niu Caijie, you ndered me and tarnished my good name. If you can¡¯t prove any of your allegations, then you owe me an apology. Or this p will be just the beginning of everything I will do to you.¡± She pushed Ning Mufan aside, not wanting to drag her senior into this.


    ¡°Evidence?¡± Niu Caijie mocked. ¡°You want me to take some sickening photo of you and whatever vulgar man you hooked up with in bed?¡±


    ¡°So you don¡¯t have any evidence at all!¡± Ning Mufan snapped harshly. ¡°You¡¯re just trying to frame Tang Qiu. Apologize now!¡±


    His words were like a knife to Niu Caijie¡¯s heart. Here was the man she had feelings for, forcing her to apologize to that bitch Tang Qiu. She dug her heels in even deeper. ¡°She?<i>pped?</i>me. Why should I apologize? She should be the one to apologize to me!¡±


    Just then, the noise of a bouncing ball sounded out. Before anyone could react, a basketball sailed through the air and directly into Niu Caijie.


    The sheer force of the attack caught her off guard. Niu Caijie fell t to the ground. Clutching her throbbing arm, she leveled a hateful re in the direction the ball hade from.


    To everyone¡¯s surprise, it was the star of the basketball court and medical student, Qian Hongwei. Dressed in sports attire, he walked over and retrieved his basketball. ¡°Didn¡¯t you see my balling your way?¡± he drawled, looking at Niu Caijie. ¡°You could have at least ducked.¡±


    Fury twisted Niu Caijie¡¯s face, flooding her vision red. It was obvious he had deliberately thrown the ball at her. Meanwhile, Tang Qiu stifled augh. It was just like Senior Qian Hongwei to lose his temper, then somehow brush off all responsibility.


    ¡°You haven¡¯t gone mute, have you?¡± Qian Hongwei made an exaggerated noise of disapproval. ¡°I don¡¯t know what¡¯s up with this ball either. When it sees someone it can¡¯t stand, it can¡¯t help but want to teach them a lesson. I couldn¡¯t stop it in time. But no hard feelings, right?¡±


    ¡°Cut the crap, Qian Hongwei,¡± Niu Caijie gritted out. ¡°You did that on purpose!¡± Even he was protecting Tang Qiu¨Cyou almost had to respect the bitch, really, getting Ning Mufan to speak up for her?<i>and?</i>Qian Hongwei to leap to her defense. She could hardly bear it any longer.


    Qian Hongwei leaned on Tang Qiu¡¯s shoulder. His words were unhurried, but injected with scorn. ¡°All Tang Qiu did was get a change of outfit, and you¡¯re calling her a whore. What about you? If you buy a couple of new clothes, does it mean you paid for them with your body?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve got the money to buy new clothes!¡± Niu Caijie bit back, torn between rage and shame. ¡°How can youpare me to her?¡±


    ¡°Where¡¯s your proof?¡± Qian Hongwei eyed her tauntingly. ¡°ording to your logic, the fact that I don¡¯t have any scandalous photos of you in bed isn¡¯t enough to prove that you¡¯ve really got the means to cover the cost of your clothes, so¡­¡±


    Niu Caijie was fuming to the point of speechlessness, but she kept listening.


    ¡°You said that Tang Qiu sold herself for money. In that case, answer me this: between me and Ning Mufan, who¡¯s richer?¡±


    Niu Caijie¡¯s gaze shed red. The Nings and the Qians were neck to neck amongst the most elite families. How could they bepared?


    ¡°Aren¡¯t you two rtively on par?¡±


    Qian Hongwei lifted a brow. ¡°Which one of us is more popr with girls, then?¡±


    Niu Caijie couldn¡¯t decipher his intentions. Her gaze flickered between the proper Ning Mufan, with his regal bearing, and Qian Hongwei¡¯s bold, dashing figure. How could she choose between them? ¡°You¡¯re both very attractive,¡± she admitted. She met Tang Qiu¡¯s gaze then, and the sh of embarrassment she felt only deepened her resentment.


    Qian Hongwei scoffed coldly. ¡°You say Ning Mufan and I are both rich and attractive. In that case, if Tang Qiu is the gold-digger you im she is, why didn¡¯t she offer herself to us? Why didn¡¯t she overstep any boundaries, instead being content with our senior-junior rtionship?¡±

 Chapter 35 - The Senior’s Girlfriend

    <h4>Chapter 35: The Senior¡¯s Girlfriend</h4>


    <h4><strong>Trantor: </strong>As Studios <strong> Editor: </strong>As Studios</h4>


    Upon hearing Qian Hongwei¡¯s words, several female students began whispering amongst themselves.


    ¡°Qian Hongwei is so handsome¡­ Is he implying that he wouldn¡¯t mind if Tang Qiu crossed any lines between them?¡±


    ¡°Why would Qian Hongwei bother speaking up for Tang Qiu? There must be something between them. Look, he¡¯s even got his arm around her. Oh, how I wish I were in her shoes!¡±


    Niu Caijie¡¯s eyes were fixed on how Qian Hongwei¡¯s arm rested on Tang Qiu¡¯s shoulders. Wasn¡¯t this a sign that they had had a fling before?


    ¡°She went out for a meal with Ning Mufan. She was trying to hook up with him!¡±


    Qian Hongweiughed like he had heard a particrly hrious joke. ¡°In that case, since Ning Mufan and I often eat together, we must be dating!¡±


    Niu Caijie clenched her jaw and bit back her anger, helpless to think of a retort.


    ¡°Besides, they weren¡¯t together because Tang Qiu was trying to hook up with him. It was a date.¡±


    ¡°A date?¡±


    Tang Qiu¡¯s astonished gaze swiveled to Qian Hongwei.?<i>What is he saying??</i>She and Ning Mufan weren¡¯t dating, and he knew it!


    ¡°I¡¯m trying to clear your name,¡± he told her quietly. ¡°Just y along, will you?¡±


    ¡°But I¨C¡±


    ¡°I know there¡¯s nothing between you and him. I¡¯m doing this so Niu Caijie will back off. Trust me.¡±


    Tang Qiu exhaled a breath of resignation and removed his arm from her shoulders. He didn¡¯t resist, instead exchanging a nce with Ning Mufan. The other senior looked equally surprised at his words, but it was clear he understood when he announced, ¡°Me and Tang Qiu are dating.¡±


    An uproar rose from the crowd. Ning Mufan, dating a girl in school?


    Niu Caijie was stunned. She must have heard something wrong. There was no way that Ning Mufan could be in love with that whore Tang Qiu! ¡°I don¡¯t believe it!¡± she burst out.


    ¡°I couldn¡¯t care less what you believe,¡± Qian Hongwei scoffed. ¡°Tang Qiu is Ning Mufan¡¯s girlfriend. She didn¡¯t hook up with anyone outside of school. Niu Caijie, you ought to apologize for ndering her!¡±


    <i>Tang Qiu is Ning Mufan¡¯s girlfriend.</i>?Hearing him say those words outright made Niu Caijie¡¯s temples throb, like her skull was about to implode.?<i>Tang Qiu?</i>?That bitch had snatched Ning Mufan from her?


    ¡°How could you possibly be attracted to a woman like Tang Qiu, Ning Mufan? What¡¯s so good about her?¡±


    Ning Mufan met her stare evenly. ¡°Everything.¡± His voice carried over them. ¡°Apologize now!¡±


    Niu Caijie broke down sobbing. ¡°You¡¯re dating that slut¡­ that slut who sshed soup on me and pped me. Why should I apologize? You two are ganging up on me!¡±


    Ning Mufan¡¯s mouth twitched. Had she forgotten that she had been the one to harass Tang Qiu first? She could ruin both their reputations with those careless words!


    Qian Hongwei didn¡¯t have the patience for Niu Caijie¡¯s bawling. ¡°Ning Mufan will be around to protect Tang Qiu in the future. Don¡¯t underestimate him just because he looks gentle, Niu Caijie. You willfully insulted and ndered Tang Qiu. We¡¯re more than capable of using a little leverage to get you kicked out of school!¡±


    ¡°You think I¡¯m scared of getting kicked out?¡± Niu Caijie shrieked in tears. ¡°I hate you, Ning Mufan!¡± She ran out of the cafeteria, still weeping, like she had suffered some huge grievance.


    The crowd, who had been soaking up themotion, now stared at Tang Qiu with hostility in their eyes, as if yearning to tear her apart. How could<i>?she</i>?be Ning Mufan¡¯s girlfriend?


    Tang Qiu simply stood there, silently musing,?<i>I just wanted to eat lunch, damn it.?</i>


    ¡°What are the lot of you still doing here? Looking for a beating?¡± Qian Hongwei patted his basketball, as if in reminder.


    A group of girls were watching them, but none of them moved, too afraid of going head to head with Qian Hongwei. Only Niu Caijie would be stupid enough to stir trouble with Tang Qiu¨Cwho was apparently now Ning Mufan¡¯s girlfriend¨Cin front of him. Ning Mufan was gentle by nature, but his family name alone meant that he was not someone to be messed with.


    The crowd began to disperse. Tang Qiu, too, tried to make an escape, but Qian Hongwei seized the back of her cor and held her in ce. She turned around helplessly.


    ¡°Do you have some words of wisdom for me, Senior?¡±


    Qian Hongweiughed, the noise almost indignant. ¡°I just saved your ass again. Don¡¯t you have anything to say?¡±


    ¡°Thank you, Seniors!¡± Tang Qiu bent in a near-reverent bow.


    Ning Mufan couldn¡¯t helpughing at her earnestness. ¡°There¡¯s no need to be so polite, Qiu!¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s right,¡± Qian Hongwei said. ¡°After all, you¡¯re now my junior¡¯s girlfriend.¡±


    Tang Qiu¡¯s face fell. ¡°Stop fooling around, Senior¡­¡±


    ¡°It was just a joke. I haven¡¯t eaten yet. Care to treat me to dinner?¡± Qian Hongwei waggled his eyebrows at her.


    Unconsciously, Tang Qiu¡¯s hand drifted to her pocket.?<i>Looks like I have to spend money again¡­?</i>But Qian Hongwei and Ning Mufan?<i>had</i>e to her rescue¨Cas much as she disagreed with how they had done it. Before she could speak, though, Qian Hongwei beat her to it.


    ¡°I¡¯ll treat,¡± he offered, noticing her slightly pained expression. Grinning, he rapped his knuckles on her head. ¡°What¡¯s with that look on your face? It¡¯s like you think I¡¯m trying to leech away all your money.¡± As he spoke, he whipped out his credit card, which was more than enough to cover the cost of three bowls of rice with braised pork.


    ¡°Senior, it¡¯s fine, let me¡­¡± Tang Qiu felt somewhat sheepish; a part of her couldn¡¯t bear to spend so much money, but it wasn¡¯t as though she had a choice.


    ¡°Oh, shut up.¡± Qian Hongwei brushed her off almost disdainfully. ¡°Leave the spending to the men,¡± he said, and Tang Qiu acquiesced, falling silent.

 Chapter 36 - Dating Someone in School

    <h4>Chapter 36: Dating Someone in School</h4>


    <h4><strong>Trantor: </strong>As Studios <strong> Editor: </strong>As Studios</h4>


    As they took their seats, Qian Hongwei eyed them both, then looked at Tang Qiu and asked out of the blue, ¡°Do you have anyone you¡¯re interested in?¡±


    Tang Qiu nearly spat out her food in surprise, but she managed to stayposed enough to shake her head.


    Qian Hongwei raised his eyebrows, a wicked curve ying with the corners of his mouth.


    ¡°What?¡± Tang Qiu retorted bluntly. ¡°Is there a problem?¡±


    ¡°Not at all. I just feel sad for some people, that¡¯s all.¡± Qian Hongwei cast a meaningful nce at Ning Mufan, who noticed his friend staring and instantly felt his appetite leave him. ¡°I told them you were dating Ning Mufan partly out of consideration for your prospects too.¡±


    ¡°What prospects?¡± Tang Qiu asked, confused.


    ¡°If the rumors got out of hand, people would start taking them for the truth,¡± he exined. ¡°It would affect your reputation. If word got out to the teachers and they got the wrong idea about you, they might choose not to grant you a schrship. What would you do then?¡±


    Tang Qiu¡¯s fists clenched at his mention of the schrship. ¡°Thank you for looking out for me, Senior. But there¡¯s nothing between Ning Mufan and I, and I don¡¯t want to drag him into this¡­¡±


    ¡°Drag him?¡± Qian Hongwei echoed, grinning. ¡°I¡¯d say he¡¯s perfectly happy to be ¡®dragged into¡¯ all this.¡±


    Tang Qiu¡¯s eyes widened, as if in shock. Ning Mufan¡¯s gaze simmered. He hadn¡¯t thought Qian Hongwei was capable of screwing someone over like this. ¡°Your senior just likes to joke around,¡± he said hastily, trying to salvage the situation. ¡°Aren¡¯t you well aware of that by now?¡±


    Qian Hongwei threw an arm around him in a brotherly gesture. ¡°Why so bashful?¡± he asked with a smirk. ¡°If you like someone, you ought to tell them.¡±


    Ning Mufan shoved him away, red-faced. Tang Qiuughed awkwardly.


    ¡°Okay, okay, I¡¯ll stop.¡± Qian Hongwei¡¯s smile never left his face. ¡°True, I said you two were a couple. But couples can break up. You could do so now, if you want. Just remember to make it clear to everyone.¡±


    Tang Qiu nodded in understanding. ¡°But this will mean sacrificing Senior Ning Mufan¡¯s reputation. I¨C¡±


    ¡°Ning Mufan is magnanimous by nature. It may be a sacrifice, but not a huge one. Besides, those girls were bothering him too. You¡¯re helping him out by pretending to be his girlfriend. Isn¡¯t that right, junior?¡± Qian Hongwei nudged him with his elbow and gave him a look.


    Ning Mufan nodded in implicit agreement. ¡°So you don¡¯t need to feel guilty, Tang Qiu.¡±


    Despite her relief, Tang Qiu couldn¡¯t shake the feeling that something was not quite right.


    They finished eating, and Tang Qiu left before them both. Still carrying his basketball, Qian Hongwei shed a grin at Ning Mufan, as though expecting some kind of credit. ¡°Looks like you¡¯ve got to work hard now, to upgrade her from being your fake girlfriend to your real one.¡±


    Ning Mufan returned his gaze, perplexed. ¡°Why are you helping me?¡±


    ¡°You shouldn¡¯t let good things fall into the hands of other people,¡± Qian Hongwei replied matter-of-factly.


    Ning Mufan remembered that Tang Qiu was married, and faltered. ¡°But¡­¡±


    Qian Hongwei cut him off, putting an end to his hesitation. ¡°No buts. If you like her, go after her. You¡¯ll regret it if you don¡¯t make good use of this golden opportunity. I¡¯m rooting for you. Just remember to buy me a drink in the future.¡±


    <i>She did say that there¡¯s no one she¡¯s interested in,?</i>Ning Mufan reflected. Maybe he did stand a chance. Looks like that man wasn¡¯t such a good match for her after all. They were only pretending to be a couple now, but who knew what they would evolve into in the future?


    ¡°Thank you, Senior. I¡¯ll do my best.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s more like it!¡± Qian Hongwei drummed his fingers on his basketball, a hint of calction swimming in his gaze.


    If Jiang Shaocheng knew that his wife was dating someone in school, would his rage drive him over the edge to his death right then and there?


    On the other end of the cafeteria, Niu Caijie ran out in tears, still reeling from the humiliation Tang Qiu had inflicted upon her. She had to make that woman pay¡­ make her grovel and beg for mercy¡­


    ¡°Do you hate Tang Qiu, Niu Caijie?¡±


    Niu Caijie turned and saw a woman she didn¡¯t recognize staring back at her. ¡°Who are you?¡±


    ¡°You can say I¡¯m Tang Qiu¡¯s younger sister of sorts. But that doesn¡¯t matter. What matters is that I despise her.¡±


    ¡°You despise her? Why?¡±


    Feng Yao¡¯s face twisted into a cold sneer. ¡°Because she¡¯s?<i>shameless</i>. She¡¯s having a fling with Ning Mufan despite being married!¡±


    Niu Caijie gaped at the other woman. ¡°Tang Qiu is married? Isn¡¯t she Ning Mufan¡¯s girlfriend?¡±


    Feng Yao snorted. ¡°She stole my sister¡¯s fiance. She got married a long time ago. That woman has no sense of shame. She¡¯s someone¡¯s wife, but she still goes around seducing people, and mistreating them, too¡­¡±


    ¡°Your sister? That means Tang Qiu stole her own sister¡¯s fiance! And now she¡¯s dating Ning Mufan! That slut¡­¡± Niu Caijie¡¯s fists clenched, as if she could crush Tang Qiu¡¯s face just like that.


    ¡°What¡¯s your name? Tell me more about Tang Qiu.¡± This woman was far easier to manipte than Tan Yuqi. Feng Yao¡¯s gaze was intent with calction, but she kept her distance; the other woman reeked of soup.


    Back then, she had wanted to make use of Tan Yuqi to humiliate Tang Qiu, but Ning Mufan and Qian Hongwei had shown up, and she had only seeded in making a bad impression on Ning Mufan. But she wasn¡¯t about to give up and let Tang Qiu get her hands on Ning Mufan. If she couldn¡¯t have him, neither could Tang Qiu!

 Chapter 37 - Boost Your Spirits

    <h4>Chapter 37: Boost Your Spirits</h4>


    <h4><strong>Trantor: </strong>As Studios <strong> Editor: </strong>As Studios</h4>


    Tang Qiu was feeling troubled after that fiasco in the cafeteria, so she went searching for Xie Qingqing. The two of them sat down together on the schoolwn to chat.


    ¡°Even Ning Mufan himself said that you were his girlfriend. How assertive of you!¡±


    Tang Qiu rolled her eyes. ¡°Don¡¯t be an idiot. It was Qian Hongwei¡¯s idea. Plus, it¡¯s not like we¡¯re dating for real. They did it to put an end to the rumors, which could affect my chances of getting a schrship if the teachers heard them and got a bad impression of me.¡±


    Xie Qingqing found it hard to believe the situation was as simple as that. Surely someone as sharp as Qian Hongwei would have picked up on Ning Mufan¡¯s feelings for Tang Qiu? He must be looking for an excuse to set them up. She had never felt that Tang Qiu had any kind of future with Jiang Shaocheng. Were it not because the present situation necessitated it, Xie Qingqing would still have doubts about whether Ning Mufan was worthy of her closest friend, but he was a better match than Jiang Shaocheng in every aspect: disposition, learnedness, and background. Most importantly, he liked Tang Qiu.


    ¡°Since the two seniors are doing you a favor, there¡¯s no need toe out so quickly,¡± she advised. ¡°Wait till you¡¯ve gotten the schrship before announcing your breakup with Ning Mufan.¡± They could afford to let the matter y out longer, she thought.


    Tang Qiu¡¯s brow creased. ¡°I¡¯m afraid of causing trouble for Ning Mufan. And I¡¯m married, too. I don¡¯t think this is a good idea.¡±


    Xie Qingqing rolled her eyes again, unable to help herself. ¡°Your husband is cooped up at home all day trying to recover. How will he know about this, if you keep it to yourself? You think too inly sometimes, Qiu. On asion, it pays to be flexible. The seniors are helping you out, and you want to break things off? What will the two of them think?¡±


    Tang Qiu pondered her words for a while, trying and failing toe up with a better solution. She felt a stab of resentment at whoever had started the rumor to begin with. ¡°I wonder which troublemaker started spreading those rumors about me¡­¡±


    Xie Qingqing, too, thought that those rumors were sickening. Worse, they tarnished Tang Qiu¡¯s good name. ¡°I¡¯ll help you look into it. If I can¡¯t find out, I¡¯ll ask Ning Mufan for help. He¡¯s sure to have greater connections and resources than us both.¡±


    Tang Qiu nodded, but inwardly she still wished she could uncover the truth herself. If Ning Mufan helped her, she would owe him yet another favor, and she disliked bothering him unless she had to. The situation was still fresh in her mind when she returned to the mansion, leaving her in a bad mood.


    Jiang Shaocheng saw her staring idly at her food and asked, ¡°Qiu?¡±


    Tang Qiu lifted her head, looking blur. ¡°Yes?¡±


    ¡°Get some of the food.¡±


    Tang Qiu hurried to serve him the dishes on the table. Jiang Shaocheng shook his head. ¡°I meant for yourself, Qiu. What¡¯s wrong? Is something bothering you?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s nothing.¡± Tang Qiu breathed a sigh. ¡°Just thinking about all the stuff I need to trante.¡± It mustn¡¯t be easy for her husband, coping with and trying to recover from his illness; she wasn¡¯t about to add her troubles to his burden.


    Jiang Shaocheng stared at her intently, and her gaze flickered away. She was lying. ¡°Qiu¡­¡± he began tentatively, ¡°I may be ill, but I¡¯m older than you and have seen more of the world and its people. Tell me what¡¯s on your mind. I may be able to lessen some of your troubles.¡±


    Tang Qiu set down her chopsticks and lowered her head in contemtion. ¡°I don¡¯t understand,¡± she admitted dejectedly. ¡°Why do they all keep bullying me? What did I do wrong?¡± It had been like that ever since she was a child. Whenever the Feng sisters were in a bad mood, they would take it out on her, and even the servants in the Feng household had been allowed to mistreat her as they pleased. Unable to repress her emotions any longer, her eyes stung with tears.


    She hadn¡¯t even known who Niu Caijie was. All that, just because she had a meal with Ning Mufan? He was her senior. Was even that small act considered a crime now?


    Jiang Shaocheng¡¯s brow furrowed, putting down his chopsticks and pulling her to him. He reached out to wipe her tears away. ¡°Because they were born with only half a brain. They¡¯re just jealous of someone like you, with a perfectly functional mind. You have both brains and beauty. How can those imbecilespare to you?¡±


    Tang Qiu had been downcast, but his words made her snort inughter. She quickly dried her eyes with a piece of tissue. Still, the tears kept flowing.


    Jiang Shaocheng cupped her face, forcing her to meet his gaze. ¡°My beautiful wife. Don¡¯t waste your time and energy on halfwits like them.¡±


    Tang Qiu stared at him in a daze. His voice was so soft¡­ and sweet¡­ Jiang Shaocheng brushed her lips, his voice turning hypnotic. ¡°If you¡¯re still upset, try kissing me. Let me lift your spirits. Don¡¯t believe me? Just try it. I promise it works.¡±


    Tang Qiuughed under her breath. He was just seizing the opportunity to steal a kiss. ¡°I¡¯m fine. You don¡¯t have to¡­¡±


    Her words fell away with a murmur of surprise as he took hold of her chin without waiting for a response. His lips found hers. ¡°Why so shy, Qiu?¡± he whispered. ¡°Looks like I have no choice but to boost your spirits whether you like it or not.¡±

 Chapter 38 - Visiting the Jiang Family

    <h4>Chapter 38: Visiting the Jiang Family</h4>


    <h4><strong>Trantor: </strong>As Studios <strong> Editor: </strong>As Studios</h4>


    Tang Qiu recalled what Professor Sun had said and perked up even more. ¡°By the way, dear,¡± she began excitedly, ¡°Professor Sun told me that as long as you keep your mood up and actively cooperate with the treatment process, there¡¯s a good chance you may be able to stand again in the future.¡±


    Part of the reason Jiang Shaocheng had instructed He Lei to show her his past medical reports was to uncover what she meant to do with the information. It seemed his little wife was trying to help him recover as soon as possible. She had been in tears just a moment before; now she was smiling from ear to ear. She really was a child at heart.


    ¡°I have to keep my mood up?¡± he asked, to which she nodded. Teasingly, he said, ¡°Well, I¡¯m happiest when you kiss me.¡±


    Tang Qiu lowered her head, blushing. ¡°I thought I kissed you earlier¡­¡±


    ¡°Oh.¡± Jiang Shaocheng¡¯s chin dropped, clearly dejected.


    Seeing his response, Tang Qiu nted a kiss on his lips. ¡°How¡¯s that?¡±


    ¡°Not good enough¡­¡±


    Heat flooded Tang Qiu¡¯s cheeks. She kissed him again. ¡°How about now?¡±


    Jiang Shaocheng cupped her face, smiling tenderly. ¡°I want you to kiss me like this every day, Qiu. I¡¯ll be sure to always be happy then. What about you? What brings you joy?¡±


    Tang Qiu pondered the question for a few seconds. ¡°Plenty of things. Making sure my grandmother gets to stay in the best possible nursing home¡­ You being able to stand again¡­ Excelling in my studies¡­ Bing a valuable member of society¡­¡±


    It was the first time Jiang Shaocheng had heard her mention her grandmother. ¡°The money you got from the Fengs is more than enough to send your grandmother to the best nursing home you can find.¡±


    A pang of sorrownced through Tang Qiu at the thought of her grandmother. ¡°We¡¯ve been talking for a while. You must be thirsty. I¡¯ll get you some water.¡±


    Jiang Shaocheng watched her hurry off. His eyes narrowed. She was clearly keeping something from him. But what could possibly warrant such secretiveness?


    The next morning, Jiang Shaocheng came downstairs and was greeted with the sight of his little wife with an apron tied around her waist, her lips moving as she mumbled to herself. ¡°You¡¯re up, dear,¡± she said when she saw him. ¡°Breakfast is ready.¡±


    She helped him push his wheelchair to the dining table. Jiang Shaocheng studied her. Her smile was radiant enough to rival the sun streaming in from the windows. ¡°If I could have a good morning kiss¡­¡± he said, ¡°¡­ it would certainly improve my appetite.¡±


    Tang Qiu eyed her husband. What was with him, this man in his thirties, always pestering her for kisses? Begrudgingly, she gave him a peck on the lips. ¡°Will this do?¡±


    ¡°If you¡¯re going to put it that way, no.¡±


    Tang Qiu pouted and fell silent. When he caught sight of her expression, Jiang Shaocheng¡¯s mouth ttened into a thin line. He began eating without another word.


    After they were done with breakfast, Jiang Shaocheng was quiet for a while before speaking up. ¡°Qiu, it¡¯s the weekend tomorrow, so we have to make a trip to the family home.¡±


    ¡°The family home?¡± Tang Qiu repeated slowly. ¡°You mean your parents¡¯ home?¡±


    ¡°Are you afraid?¡±


    ¡°No. A little nervous, that¡¯s all.¡± The panic was evident on her face.


    Jiang Shaocheng took her hand. ¡°You married?<i>me</i>. They don¡¯t matter.¡±


    ¡°But they¡¯re your?<i>family</i>.¡±


    He scoffed. ¡°Do you think Jiang Ming deserves to be called my family?¡±


    Tang Qiu thought of her husband¡¯s brother and felt her anxiety settle. Jiang Shaocheng¡¯s family had despised him ever since he had gotten into a car ident; it was why Jiang Ming had grown bold enough to push around his older brother like that. But she was his wife now, and she would protect him. She wouldn¡¯t let anyone mistreat him, including his own family!


    ¡°Do I have to do anything to prepare?¡±


    ¡°No. Just apany me on the day itself.¡± The visit was only perfunctory anyway, and he wouldn¡¯t allow them to intimidate her or put her in a spot of any sort.


    The days flew by and the weekend arrived. Jiang Shaocheng watched as Tang Qiu helped him don an indigo suit and a pair of sses, choosing their outfits with a critical eye, muttering all the while that she wanted his family to see just how fortunate, how blessed they were together¡­


    Jiang Shaocheng was left somewhat speechless, but he didn¡¯t argue. He, too, wanted those people to see for themselves what a wonderful little wife they had bestowed upon him.


    She was still engrossed in her tasks. Without warning, he reached out and grabbed her. ¡°You¡¯ve been so busy helping me prepare for the visit for the past few days, Qiu.¡± His gaze was intent and earnest. ¡°You must be worried that my family will mistreat me somehow. Does this mean you have feelings for me?¡±


    Tang Qiu froze, floundering as she realized his meaning.


    ¡°We¡¯re husband and wife, Qiu.¡± Jiang Shaocheng¡¯s voice turned gentle, coaxing. ¡°It would bepletely normal. I¡¯m grateful that you don¡¯t despise me for being a cripple. And I like you too¡­ very much¡­¡±


    Tang Qiu was at a loss. She managed a nod and ran off to find a change of clothes for herself, eager to avoid his question.


    <i>We got married as strangers. How can there possibly be feelings between us??</i>The question reyed in her head.<i>?</i>She hadn¡¯t been able to bring herself to refute him, not when confronted with the warm intensity in his gaze. But her answer wasn¡¯t something she could take lightly either¡­ especially since she didn¡¯t want to lie to him¡­

 Chapter 39 - Sample the Kitchen Skills of My Sister-in-Law

    <h4>Chapter 39: Sample the Kitchen Skills of My Sister-in-Law</h4>


    <h4><strong>Trantor: </strong>As Studios <strong> Editor: </strong>As Studios</h4>


    After getting dressed, Tang Qiu found herself unable to look Jiang Shaocheng in the eye. It had never crossed her mind to see him in a romantic light ever since marrying him; she was grateful to him, undoubtedly, and she had a duty as his wife. But she didn¡¯t feel that way towards him¡­ Right? She had never loved anyone before. She didn¡¯t know what it was supposed to feel like.


    ¡°Let¡¯s go, Qiu.¡± Jiang Shaocheng made his way to her side and took her hand, as if nothing was wrong between them.


    Looking at their inteced hands, Tang Qiu¡¯s heart began racing even more furiously. She hurriedly pulled away. Jiang Shaocheng frowned, fixing her with a stare. Was she avoiding him?


    It urred to Tang Qiu that she may have overreacted. She made haste in helping him push his wheelchair out. All the while, Jiang Shaocheng could sense the distance his little wife kept from him; there was a tinge of cold to her aura that hadn¡¯t been there before.


    When they arrived at the Jiang family home, Tang Qiu took in the wide, sprawling courtyard. There was a stark yet imposing quality to the architecture of the house, which was surrounded by greenery, a view of rolling hills and running streams. There was no question that a wealthy family lived here.


    He Lei helped Jiang Shaocheng down from the car. He could feel the ice in Jiang Shaocheng¡¯s demeanor radiating from him in waves, and couldn¡¯t repress a shudder. He had wanted to ask the young master if everything was alright, but one look at him was enough to make He Lei think better of it. He wasn¡¯t equipped to handle the young master anyway; best that he leave the task to Tang Qiu.


    Tang Qiu saw He Lei silently indicate that she should help push Jiang Shaocheng¡¯s wheelchair. She walked briskly up to them. A shadow hung over her husband¡¯s face, and she wondered silently if it was because they had arrived at his family home.


    The instant they disembarked, the four guards at the entrance of the house approached them.


    ¡°Apologies, Young Master. We have to inspect you first. Rules are rules.¡±


    He Lei sneered at them. The young master had juste home, and they wanted to inspect him? It was all he could do not to strike them across the face. ¡°By what right do you presume to inspect the young master yourselves?¡±


    The guards moved to block their way. ¡°If you refuse, none of you can enter.¡±


    ¡°You¡­¡±


    ¡°He Lei!¡± Jiang Shaocheng let out a cough. Feebly, he said, ¡°It¡¯s okay. Let them.¡±


    He Lei was still furious, but he had no choice but to mp down on his temper. Tang Qiu, too, was incensed. ¡°Do they always treat you like this?¡±


    To be inspected like some kind of criminal after returning home? It was too much!


    After they were finished with He Lei, they stepped towards Jiang Shaocheng, but Tang Qiu raised a hand, stopping them in their tracks.


    ¡°He Lei is one of our staff. You¡¯ve already inspected him. But I am the young mistress of the Jiang family. Laying a hand on me without my permission is akin to viting me!¡±


    The guards regarded her with undisguised contempt. The young master couldn¡¯t even walk without help. Who did his wife think she was? Even if they forced themselves on her, what could one man¨Cand a cripple¨Cdo to stop them?


    ¡°Please cooperate with us, Young Mistress!¡± The guard¡¯s tone invited no argument. Without waiting for a reply, he stretched out a hand to search her body.


    Jiang Shaocheng gave a brief cough. Immediately, He Lei brandished a dagger and stabbed the guard who had dared to touch Tang Qiu.


    It had all happened in a sh.


    Tang Qiu¡¯s eyes widened. She grabbed Jiang Shaocheng¡¯s wheelchair and retreated back a few steps. Meanwhile, the other three guards were left reeling, shocked that He Lei would be so bold as to resort to violence in the Jiang household. They reached for their weapons, ready to retaliate, before a man¡¯s voice halted them.


    ¡°What¡¯s going on? What¡¯s all themotion about?¡±


    ¡°Second Young Master¡­¡± the guards cried out in unison, with the exception of the one who was groaning in pain on the ground.


    Jiang Mingughed. He didn¡¯t even spare a nce at the wounded man. ¡°Brother! What are you still doing outside? Come on in.¡±


    ¡°That was our n all along,¡± Tang Qiu called back, sarcasm dripping from her voice. ¡°Who knew that we would be stopped by these guard dogs here? It¡¯s about time you showed up, Second Young Master!¡±


    Tang Qiu¡¯s temper, when contrasted with her delicate beauty, only endeared her further to Jiang Ming. He made a show of chastising the guard curled up on the ground. ¡°What¡¯s the matter with you? My elder brotheres home, and you refuse to let him into the house?¡±


    The three guards rushed to help the injured man up and lowered their heads in apology.


    ¡°Come in, brother.¡± Warm hospitality oozed from Jiang Ming.


    Jiang Shaocheng coughed. He looked at his brother¨Cbraving the chill to wee them in, his voice thick with kindness. ¡°What else would I do, aftering all this way? The only problem is that some people must get their fill of bloodshed before they¡¯re satisfied. It seems I have no choice but to assist them in the matter.¡±


    Jiang Ming¡¯s smile turned forced. He stared at the man in the wheelchair before him, wondering if he was truly as severely ill as he appeared to be.


    Tang Qiu pushed the wheelchair into the house, giving an aloof snort as she passed Jiang Ming. He clenched his jaw. One day, he swore, he would see that woman broken before him¡­


    There was a maid in the living room when they entered. She let out a cry of rm when she saw Jiang Shaocheng¡¯s burn scars, turning tail and fleeing.


    Tang Qiu scoffed. Turning to Jiang Ming, she said, ¡°What arge and important family the Jiangs are. I¡¯ve never seen a servant behave like this before. How enlightening.¡±


    Her sarcasm was not lost on Jiang Ming. Heughed good-naturedly. ¡°Don¡¯t mind her, sis-inw. She¡¯s new and has yet to abide by the rules. You, on the other hand, sound like you know your courtesies. In that case, go make me a cup of tea. Let me sample the kitchen skills of my sister-inw¡­¡±

 Chapter 40 - Cuckolded

    <h4>Chapter 40: Cuckolded</h4>


    <h4><strong>Trantor: </strong>As Studios <strong> Editor: </strong>As Studios</h4>


    As he spoke, Jiang Ming leered at her openly, as if trying to strip her with his gaze alone.


    Jiang Shaocheng looked up. ¡°He Lei, didn¡¯t you hear that? The Second Young Master wants a cup of tea.¡± He Lei obeyed, pouring a cup of hot water and walking up to Jiang Ming.


    ¡°Please, help yourself, Second Young Master. Shall I feed you, or will you manage on your own?¡±


    Jiang Ming frowned at the sight of He Lei crossing the room briskly towards him. ¡°Get lost! I didn¡¯t ask?<i>you</i>?for tea.¡±


    He Lei smiled coldly. The young master was clearly displeased; he had been intending to knock into Jiang Ming as a means of getting back at him. ¡°I thought you wanted tea, Second Young Master. Why have you changed your mind?¡± He grabbed Jiang Ming by the neck in an attempt to pour the hot water down his throat.


    ¡°Get off me! This is the Jiang household! How dare a servant like youy your hands on me?¡±


    Jiang Ming possessed some knowledge of how to fight, but he simply wasn¡¯t a match for He Lei, and he couldn¡¯t pry off the other man¡¯s hands. Recognizing the danger he was in, he resorted to leveraging their current situation. ¡°You¡¯re in the Jiang family house now, not Jiang Shaocheng¡¯s home. Careful, He Lei, about how you choose to act here!¡±


    ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter where we are. You don¡¯t have the right to order my young mistress to wait on you like that.?<i>You?</i>should be careful about how you act too, Second Young Master!¡± With that, He Lei emptied the entire cup of hot water into Jiang Ming¡¯s open mouth.


    Jiang Ming howled aloud from the scalding pain. At that moment, a roar resounded from the second storey.


    ¡°Insolent creature!¡±


    A teacup came hurling down from above, headed for He Lei. Moving swiftly, He Lei released Jiang Ming and dodged the attack. The teacup shattered with a shrill, harsh noise.


    Without meaning to, Tang Qiu¡¯s hands moved to cover her ears. Jiang Shaocheng took her hand, patting her back reassuringly. ¡°Don¡¯t be afraid.¡±


    Tang Qiu nced at the teacup. If it had hit He Lei, it might have cracked his skull. Whoever threw it must be fuming. She lifted her eyes to the second storey, where a man in his sixties was standing. His dark hair was streaked with white, and his stare was as cold as ice, as if he were gazing upon a bitter enemy.


    ¡°It¡¯s been so long since you came home, and you¡¯re making trouble the moment you step into the house. Has your sickness rotted your brain? He¡¯s your brother. Are you trying to murder him?¡±


    Fury red in Tang Qiu at the old man¡¯s ungracious reprimand. What about how his younger son treated others? There was no way Jiang Ming could have been oblivious to the incident with the guards when they first arrived.


    ustomed to his father¡¯s attitude towards him, Jiang Shaocheng coughed and replied, ¡°With the state I¡¯m in, it makes no matter if my brain is rotted or not. There¡¯s nothing redeeming about my physical condition anymore, but I still asionally take it upon myself to help others cleanse their brains.¡±


    Jiang Ming shielded his face with his hands. ¡°Dad, I was just having some fun with that woman, and he tried to scald me to death!¡± His voice was hoarse. ¡°He showed absolutely no regard for you, his father!¡±


    Their father eyed Jiang Ming. His face and neck were flushed from the attack. He couldn¡¯t even defend himself, only whine andin. How shameful!


    The elderly man took a seat and fixed Tang Qiu with his gaze. ¡°What¡¯s your name?¡±


    Tang Qiu lifted a brow at his unconcealed disdain. ¡°Are you talking to me?¡± she asked tly.


    Her father-inw snorted coldly. ¡°Are there any other outsiders here besides you?¡±


    It had been obvious ever since they arrived that Jiang Shaocheng¡¯s family had little love for him. Naturally, they were reluctant to acknowledge his wife. But when she thought of her husband, in his ailing state, having to endure family like them, it brought a tinge of sorrow to her heart.


    ¡°My name is Tang Qiu. I¡¯m Jiang Shaocheng¡¯s wife.¡±


    The old man¡¯s sharp eyes bored into her. ¡°The woman Jiang Ming found to be his brother¡¯s bride was named Feng Lu. Who are you?¡±


    Had hee to settle scores with her? Tang Qiu wanted to reply that she had been a substitute bride to rece her sister Feng Lu, but she worried that it would cause her husband to lose face. Who would want their wife to admit publicly that she had been forced to marry him?


    Tang Qiu lowered her head and nced at Jiang Shaocheng. ¡°I¡¯m Feng Lu¡¯s¡­ cousin. I liked my cousin¡¯s fiance very much, but she didn¡¯t want to marry him. So I decided to take her ce.¡±


    The old man cast a mocking look at the burn scars on his son¡¯s face. ¡°What was there to like about him?¡±


    ¡°His gentleness. His attentiveness. The way he treats me with kindness.¡± Tang Qiu spoke without thinking, but her face was serious. ¡°Everything about him.¡± She added, ¡°Besides, it isn¡¯t always clear what it¡¯s like to have feelings for someone.¡±


    <i>So she does like me.?</i>A smile tugged at Jiang Shaocheng¡¯s lips. She had just been shy earlier this morning, then¡­


    Jiang Ming couldn¡¯t hold back any longer. ¡°Such pretty words, Tang Qiu,¡± he mocked, voice rough. ¡°What about your boyfriend from school, though? You have the nerve to say you like my brother after cuckolding him?¡±


    ¡°I did nothing of the sort!¡± Tang Qiu bit back, enraged.


    Jiang Shaocheng¡¯s brow creased. He stared at Jiang Ming with daggers in his eyes. It seemed that his brother hadn¡¯t learnt his lesson yet. ¡°You ought to have evidence before using someone.¡±


    Jiang Ming looked smug. ¡°I know the truth is hard to bear, brother. But I heard it from the Ning family¡¯s son, Ning Mufan, himself! He said that Tang Qiu was his girlfriend! If I didn¡¯t have proof, do you think I¡¯d dare to say such a thing in front of my elder brother?¡±


    Jiang Shaocheng returned his brother¡¯s gaze, ice swimming in the depths of his dark eyes.

 Chapter 41 - Will He Believe Me?

    <h4>Chapter 41: Will He Believe Me?</h4>


    Jiang Ming felt a chill creep down the nape of his neck. This is the Jiang household, he reminded himself, where that cripple couldn¡¯t throw his weight about as he pleased. Emboldened, he asked, ¡°What are you ring at me for, brother? It was Young Master Ning who said that Tang Qiu was his girlfriend, not me. Everyone in their school knows about it; just ask them. Tang Qiu was right there, but she didn¡¯t contradict him.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s not true!¡± Tang Qiushed out. ¡°I¡¯m not dating my senior!¡±?<i>How does he even know what happened??</i>Enough to use it as a weapon against her? But she couldn¡¯t let this spill into a misunderstanding between her and her husband. ¡°We¡¯re just normal ssmates, I swear.¡±


    ¡°Normal ssmates?¡± Jiang Ming echoed with derision. ¡°Why so stubborn? It¡¯s not as though you haven¡¯t alreadye clean to the whole school.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s not true. The situation was¡­plicated. I can¡¯t exin now, but¡­¡± Sweat beaded Tang Qiu¡¯s forehead. ¡°I was never dating him! Stop trying to nder me!¡±


    ¡°You don¡¯t have to exin yourself, Tang Qiu. No one would me you for despising my brother, hideous and crippled as he is. Plus his¡­ inability to satisfy you in other ways. We¡¯re all adults here, aren¡¯t we? It¡¯s only natural you would want to find a better man. But first, you have to divorce my brother properly. You can¡¯t just go about cuckolding him; it would be humiliating. And a disgrace to the Jiang family, too¡­¡±


    Sarcasm dripped from his every word. Anger flooded Tang Qiu¡¯s face in a tidal wave of red. She bowed her head and stole a nce at Jiang Shaocheng. The venom in his stare felt like it had frozen her blood in her veins¨Ca stinging gust of cold air that brought tears to her eyes.?<i>He suspects me too</i>, she thought with a stab of pain. And who could me him? She had brought this on herself. In order to make the bullying stop, she had taken the easy way out, and¨Cas Qian Hongwei had said¨Cit was toote to go back now. With a deep breath, she knelt before Jiang Shaocheng. ¡°Dear, I promise you, I never once thought of betraying you. Nor would I ever. I swear it.¡±


    A strange smile appeared on Jiang Shaocheng¡¯s face. ¡°You mean with your heart or your body?¡±


    The blood drained from Tang Qiu¡¯s face. Had she not been craning her neck to look up at him, her tears would have fallen from her eyes. She bit down hard on her lip, willing thest of her strength not to flee from her.


    Jiang Shaocheng stroked her head. ¡°Tang Qiu, if you run into any trouble in the future, you must tell me at once. Don¡¯t wait for me to find out from other people. Is that clear?¡±


    ¡°I¡­¡± Tang Qiu¡¯s words evaporated from her. Did he want her to tell her about how she had been harassed and humiliated in school? Was that it? But Ning Mufan and Qian Hongwei had only been trying to help her, and besides¡­ the situation wasplicated enough. There wouldn¡¯t be a point in telling him and hindering his recovery. But then she thought of how Jiang Ming had used this matter against her and her husband, and her protests bled from her.


    Her eyes dropped. ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± she murmured.


    ¡°What are you sorry for? For keeping the truth from me, or for dating that man behind my back?¡±


    The words were soft, but they were a punch to her chest. Tang Qiu clenched her teeth, forcing a scream back down her throat. ¡°This is all a misunderstanding. There¡¯s nothing¨Cnothing¨Cbetween me and Senior Ning Mufan.¡±


    Whoever this senior was, she certainly sounded close to him. Jiang Shaocheng smothered a coldugh in his heart¨Calong with his jealousy. He was the young master of the Jiang family; no matter how much he cared that she was involved with another man, he couldn¡¯t show it. More importantly, she was his wife. If she had been bullied, it meant he had failed as a husband. ¡°I know. I trust that you wouldn¡¯t betray me like that.¡±


    Tang Qiu barely choked back a sob. She seized his hand with a teary smile. ¡°Just as long as you believe me.¡±


    Jiang Ming barked out augh. ¡°Allow me to show you the truth, then.¡± With a click, a video started ying. It was of the time in the cafeteria when Ning Mufan had announced that Tang Qiu was his girlfriend. The two of them stood in the center of a noisy crowd, clear as day. After Ning Mufan had referred to her as his girlfriend, Tang Qiu had stayed silent, doing nothing to refute him.


    He eyed the faces of everyone watching. ¡°Were you thinking of my brother when you were sucking up to another man, Tang Qiu?¡± His voice was thick with pleasure. ¡°Is this what you meant when you said you ¡®liked him¡¯?¡±

 Chapter 42 - Over My Dead Body

    <h4>Chapter 42: Over My Dead Body</h4>


    ¡°I¡­¡± Tang Qiu¡¯s mind was a nk te. She grappled for words and found none. It was impossible to deny that it had been her in the video. Distantly, she registered that the hand in hers had gone ck, and that the ice radiating from Jiang Shaocheng had settled into a dense, cold weight.


    Her father-inw¨CJiang Hanchen¨Cwho had been silent all this while, turned to Jiang Shaocheng. ¡°What are you keeping a woman like her around for? Get a divorce as soon as possible. I¡¯ll find another bride for you. The Jiang family will not stand for such humiliation.¡±


    ¡°No!¡± Tang Qiu burst out. ¡°I don¡¯t¡­ I don¡¯t want a divorce. Someone was ndering me. My senior was trying to help me, so he¨C¡±


    ¡°Offered to be your boyfriend?¡± Jiang Ming interjected. ¡°That¡¯s one I¡¯ve never heard before. Do you take us for children, Tang Qiu?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not lying!¡± she shouted. Her tears were perilously close to falling.


    ¡°That¡¯s right. You¡¯re not. Because you two aren¡¯t in an official rtionship. You¡¯re?<i>lovers</i>. That¡¯s why he came to your rescue,¡± Jiang Ming asserted triumphantly. It was all too obvious. Why would Ning Mufan, a young master from a wealthy family, go out of his way to help Tang Qiu? Not to mention, at one point, even he had taken a fancy to Tang Qiu¡¯s looks¡­


    Tang Qiu¡¯s head was spinning. Every defense she tried to mount just kept ying into Jiang Ming¡¯s web of lies; ensnaring her further, dragging her into a pit where thebel ¡®adulteress¡¯ bled in bright red.


    Jiang Ming cast a pitying look at Jiang Shaocheng. ¡°It seems you¡¯ve found yourself a fickle wife, brother. She got lonely, so she went to findfort in another man¡¯s arms. Why bother yourself with her? Sending her back to the Fengs will only further tarnish your reputation.¡±


    Tang Qiu stared up at her husband with wide, pleading eyes.


    ¡°Reputation?¡± Jiang Shaocheng cut himself off with several coughs. ¡°What reputation? If I had one, I lost it long ago. Tang Qiu is my wife. I trust her. There must be some misunderstanding. I¡¯ll get He Lei to investigate.¡±


    Ever since the ident, he had been named a cripple; sickly, horrific, hideous, with only a fraction of his days left to him. But not her. She kissed his scarred face, helped him wear his pants over his useless legs¨Call without a hint of fear or loathing.?<i>And she said she liked me.</i>?If she had meant what she said, he would get rid of that man, to ensure he was the only one left in her heart. He had never been kind; if he was being despicable, he didn¡¯t feel it.


    Why was he being so¡­ tolerant? ¡°Even so, brother,¡± Jiang Ming pressed, ¡°you can¡¯t just think of yourself. Our family¡¯s reputation is at stake too. What if news of Tang Qiu¡¯s affair gets out? Everyone will know in no time. What will happen then? Right, Dad?¡± He looked expectantly at the old man; his father prized the Jiang family name above all else.


    Their father grunted and ordered, ¡°Divorce her!¡±


    ¡°Over my dead body.¡± Jiang Shaocheng¡¯s tone was hard with finality. His gaze locked with his father¡¯s, and the air turned searing cold.


    ¡°You¡­¡± Jiang Hanchen felt his son¡¯s mockery, as acutely as if it had been driven into him with a knife. ¡°You wretch!¡± His hand crashed down on the table, sending the teacups flying and shattering into pieces. His son was taunting him with the memory of his mother¨Cof Jiang Hanchen¡¯s own marriage. ¡°Your wife is having an affair, and you¡¯re going to do nothing?¡±


    ¡°Of course not.¡± Jiang Shaocheng shook his head. ¡°But you two chose her for my bride, remember? So is it my fault?¡±


    Jiang Hanchen could have choked on his fury. He shot a re at Jiang Ming. ¡°We can¡¯t let this woman be a stain on our family¡¯s reputation,¡± he dered. ¡°If you won¡¯t divorce her, force her to drop out of school and stay at home, so she won¡¯t go around spreading her legs!¡±


    Anxiety creased Tang Qiu¡¯s brow. No¡­ she couldn¡¯t drop out. She turned to her husband, silently begging him,?<i>Don¡¯t say yes. Please. Please.?</i>A voice inside her whispered that from now on, her life would be inextricably tied to the Jiangs.


    Jiang Ming¨Cpredictably¨Cjust couldn¡¯t leave well enough alone. ¡°Why go to so much trouble, brother? You¡¯re crippled; your lower body is practically useless. You can¡¯t satisfy her, you know that. Even if you lock her up at home, it doesn¡¯t mean she can¡¯t find ways to cozy up with men. Like your chauffeur. Your guards. Hell, that aide of yours who¡¯s alwayspping at your heels. I¡¯m not saying they¡¯d take her up on it. But isn¡¯t the thought a disgusting one? She¡¯ll make you a cuckold; it¡¯s only a matter of time. Trust me. Get a divorce, and I¡¯ll find you another wife¨Csomeone more docile whom you can keep on a leash.¡±


    ¡°Shut your mouth!¡± Tang Qiu¡¯s knuckles had turned white in her rage.


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Did I strike a nerve?¡±

 Chapter 43 - Leaving the Jiang Family

    <h4>Chapter 43: Leaving the Jiang Family</h4>


    ¡°You don¡¯t want to drop out because you can¡¯t bear to part with Ning Mufan, right? Young Master Ning is handsome and strong. He¡¯s an important figure in his family¡­ a far better man than my brother¡­¡±


    Jiang Hanchen had heard enough. He stared at Tang Qiu with loathing, as if she were something vile and unspeakably offensive. ¡°Get that slut out of my sight,¡± hemanded.


    The butler wasted no time in calling the guards. When the two guards arrived, they cast fearful nces at Jiang Shaocheng. If they threw Tang Qiu out, would he order his aide to attack them? Earlier, He Lei had stabbed one of them without so much as blinking an eye. Still, they had no choice but to obey.


    When they stepped towards Tang Qiu, however, He Lei blocked their paths, halting them.


    ¡°The Young Mistress didn¡¯t say you coulde near her.¡± His face betrayed nothing. ¡°You¡¯re not looking for trouble, are you?¡±


    The guards froze. Jiang Ming shot to his feet. ¡°My father gave a direct order.¡± His voice rose, riding on a wave of fury. ¡°You¡¯re nothing more than my brother¡¯spdog, He Lei. Who are you to contradict him?¡±


    He Lei didn¡¯t blink. ¡°Call me apdog all you like. Like you said, I serve your brother. I won¡¯t let anyoney a hand on the young mistress without his permission.¡± Even if Tang Qiu was indeed having an affair, it was Jiang Shaocheng¡¯s right to discipline her and no one else¡¯s. If anyone presumed to teach his wife a lesson, it would be an insult¨Ccontemptuous, provocative. And He Lei wouldn¡¯t just stand there and let it happen.


    They were interrupted by a cough from Jiang Shaocheng. He fixed his brother with his gaze; two dark pools, like the cold depths of an ocean at night. ¡°If my wife isn¡¯t wee here, I¡¯m leaving with her.¡± He made to roll his wheelchair out, and Tang Qiu¨Ctouched by his gesture of protection¨Churried to help push him.


    ¡°Cease this nonsense!¡± Jiang Hanchen bellowed. ¡°This is your home, Jiang Shaocheng. Where do you think you¡¯re going?¡±


    Jiang Shaocheng¡¯s back was turned to his father, but mockery swam in his eyes. ¡°My home, you say. Then why is it that I had to be searched in order to enter my own home? My wife and I are part of this family. Yet you call her an outsider and degrade her. Tell me: do you really think this ce is my home?¡±


    Jiang Hanchen was stunned. His elder son had always been mild-mannered, even as a boy; he had been obedient and intelligent. He had had high hopes for Jiang Shaocheng. He had given him a prestigious education, all to prepare him for one day inheriting the Jiang family business. However, a car ident when Jiang Shaocheng was eighteen had turned that dream into ash. Disappointed with Jiang Shaocheng¡¯s failure to live up to his expectations, Jiang Hanchen had effectively ignored him since then, turning cold, curt, dismissive to the son he once looked upon with such pride.


    Some time ago, Jiang Ming had told him that his elder brother was back in the country, and that his health had deteriorated, to the point of near-death. As Jiang Shaocheng¡¯s younger brother, he wanted to find a bride for him¨Ca perfect picture to paint just before he died, especially since the joyous asion might lend him relief from his illness in his final days. But a few dayster, Jiang Ming hade back iming his brother¡¯s bride had been reced by a scheming woman.


    He just hadn¡¯t expected that she would be a whore as well, a blemish on the Jiangs¡¯ reputation.


    ¡°You dare defy me? For her?¡± Fury broiled in Jiang Hanchen, wreathing his face in dark shadow.


    Jiang Shaocheng looked back over his shoulder icily. ¡°I¡¯m merely stating the truth. I will have no other woman but Tang Qiu. If you won¡¯t treat her with respect, there¡¯s no point in me staying. When I die, she¡¯ll take care of it. You won¡¯t have to lift a finger over my dead body.¡±


    ¡°You wretch¡­ What is this woman worth, that you should cling on to her? You¨C¡±


    ¡°She¡¯s worth it if I say so.¡± Jiang Shaocheng beckoned for Tang Qiu to push the wheelchair. She nced at Jiang Hanchen and hastily obeyed.


    ¡°Do you know what your leaving here means?¡± Jiang Hanchen¡¯s roar chased them as they left. ¡°Do you really want to sever ties with me over her?¡±


    Him, and the possessions of the Jiang family, was what his father meant. Jiang Shaocheng didn¡¯t even look back.


    His son had just walked out without hesitation.


    Blinded by rage, Jiang Hanchen hurled a teacup to the floor. It shattered at Jiang Ming¡¯s feet, and he leapt back, startled. He hadn¡¯t expected that Jiang Shaocheng would cut ties with his family over Tang Qiu. How could a cripple like him survive without the aid of the Jiangs? It was as good as courting death. But this surprise¨Cif you could call it that¨Cwas a wee one.


    The butler was frightened too, but he dared notment on what he had just witnessed. ¡°Calm down, master,¡± he said in a mollifying tone. ¡°It¡¯s not worth it to ruin your health. He was probably trying to test that woman, to see if she would still stay with him even if he wasn¡¯t the young master of the Jiang family.¡±

 Chapter 44 - All Men Require Persuasion

    <h4>Chapter 44: All Men Require Persuasion</h4>


    ¡°He¡¯s changed.¡± Jiang Hanchen was appalled that his son would defy him so tantly. ¡°He¡¯s never dared to disrespect me like this before¡­¡±


    The butler remained silent. His master had already all but sided with his younger son by demanding that the Young Master get a divorce. It wasn¡¯t his ce toment, but it seemed a bit much¨Chow easy did they think it would be to find a woman willing to be Jiang Shaocheng¡¯s wife, scarred and crippled as he was? He stole a resigned nce at Jiang Ming. It wasn¡¯t unusual for rivalry to exist between brothers in wealthy families, but Jiang Ming¡¯s vendetta against his elder brother¨Cwho was already in a pitiful state¨Cwent beyond petty spite, bordering on malice.


    Jiang Hanchen ordered, ¡°Cut off all his finances!¡±


    Delight shot through Jiang Ming. His older brother had made a habit of throwing his weight around in the past.<i>?What are you going to do now, cripple?</i>?he thought, taking care to conceal his pleasure. He weighed his words before speaking.


    ¡°Are you sure, Dad? How will he live, without us to support him?¡±


    ¡°He only has himself to me. Do you know how much money I spent on him, trying to find the best doctors? And still, the ungrateful wretch insists upon defying me¨Cfor a woman, of all things. No¨Che¡¯s gone too far. He can fend for himself from now on¡­ unless hees back and begs for forgiveness!¡± In Jiang Hanchen¡¯s mind, his son was in the wrong¨Cas a cripple, he ought to be more discerning, especially since that woman Tang Qiu was clearly making use of him. The longer he dwelled on his son¡¯s softheartedness, the more it incensed him.


    ¡°Find someone to keep an eye on that woman,¡± he ordered the butler. ¡°And have them deal with her, if she continues to act like a whore when her husband isn¡¯t watching.¡±


    ¡°Right away, master.¡± Jiang Hanchen¡¯s voice had lost some of its edge, a fact that didn¡¯t escape the butler¡¯s attention. Just as he expected, his master wouldn¡¯t truly leave his son in the lurch¨Cespecially since the ident wasn¡¯t Jiang Shaocheng¡¯s fault to begin with¡­


    When the butler had left, Jiang Hanchen regarded his younger son with contempt. ¡°This is all your fault,¡± he said coldly. ¡°Whether or not you chose that woman, it was your actions that brought this on us. You ought to reflect upon yourself. If you can¡¯t even get this small thing done right, how can you be capable of handling more important matters in the future?¡±


    The sudden admonishment caught Jiang Ming unawares. He dropped his chin, muttering an apology.


    ¡°Next time, stay out of your brother¡¯s affairs. If you persist with your ipetence in thepany, even I won¡¯t be able to convince the board of directors to keep you around.¡±


    Jiang Hanchen¡¯s tone left no room for argument. It was such a shame¨Chis eldest son was talented, but crippled, and his second son Jiang Ming was too dimwitted to amount to anything other than a failure, despite having all his limbs intact. His only remaining hope was his fourth son, who was currently studying abroad: Jiang Xianchi.


    Outside the mansion, Tang Qiu dared to nce at her husband. His face was a stone mask; cold and hard. When she tried to speak, he said, ¡°We¡¯ll talk about this at home.¡±


    Tang Qiu¡¯s breath caught. The ice in his voice was a block in her chest the entire ride back, bleeding into cold, creeping anxiety. When they disembarked from the car, she moved to push his wheelchair, but he didn¡¯t wait for her to help him.


    Tang Qiu let her hand drop. Her husband was angry¨Ctruly angry with her. Even He Lei couldn¡¯t resist uttering a prayer on her behalf. When he saw her standing there foolishly, however, he knew he couldn¡¯t just abandon her to his young master¡¯s wrath. ¡°Tell him what happened, Young Mistress,¡± he advised softly. ¡°Exin everything clearly, and hide nothing from him.¡±


    ¡°I told you, I never¨C¡±


    ¡°I know, but it¡¯s the young master you need to convince, not me.¡± He Lei took in a deep breath. ¡°Think about it this way: if you found out that another woman was calling your husband her boyfriend¨Cno matter the reason¨Chow would you feel?¡±


    Tang Qiu let his words take root in her imagination. ¡°Not¡­ good, I guess,¡± she admitted.


    ¡°Exactly. So you understand why the young master is angry. Remember tomunicate with him properly. All men require a little¡­ persuasion.¡± He ended his sentence with a wink.


    ¡°Persuasion?¡± Tang Qiu frowned.


    The awkwardness of the moment wasn¡¯t lost on He Lei, but he gestured to his lips, pantomiming a kiss. ¡°Isn¡¯t that how you used to do it? It¡¯s the same thing, just with a little more enthusiasm. Use your tongue, then remove his clothes¡­¡±


    ¡°Remove¡­ his¡­?¡± Heat rushed to Tang Qiu¡¯s face, and she opened her mouth to stop him from taking things any further.


    ¡°What are you both talking about?¡±

 Chapter 45 - Truly Terrifying

    <h4>Chapter 45: Truly Terrifying</h4>


    ¡°Nothing.¡± He Lei shook his head. ¡°I asked the young mistress what she wanted to eat today. I was just about to head off.¡±


    Tang Qiu reinforced his words with a nod. ¡°What do you want to eat, dear?¡±


    ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter,¡± Jiang Shaocheng said coldly. How did she expect him to have an appetite, with the fury broiling inside him? His little wife was really something¨Cdating Ning Mufan behind his back, and now exchanging whispers with his aide in secret.


    ¡°I¡¯ll make you a few different dishes, then,¡± she said appeasingly. ¡°I¡¯ll give you a list of groceries, He Lei.¡± The aide obliged.


    Jiang Shaocheng stifled an icyugh.?<i>Making alliances, now, are we??</i>He wheeled himself into the house without saying a word.


    Only after he had gone did He Lei rx. ¡°If you don¡¯t¡­ persuade him like I told you, Young Mistress, it won¡¯t bode well for either of us in the future.¡± He had served Jiang Shaocheng for many years and he knew that if his young master¡¯s fury wasn¡¯t mollified, it could well simmer for years on end¨Cuntil it came back to bite whichever poor soul had incurred his wrath.


    ¡°I¡¯ll try.¡± Tang Qiu couldn¡¯t keep the dread from her voice.


    ¡°You have to,¡± he insisted, in a manner that somehow managed to be encouraging. ¡°You enraged him, now you need to take responsibility.¡±


    Tang Qiu exhaled in resignation. Every footstep that carried her into the house felt like it was weighed down by lead. She approached her husband, sitting on the sofa, as she would a tiger. ¡°Do you want some fruits, dear?¡± she asked cautiously. I can get some for you.¡±


    Jiang Shaocheng lifted his gaze to her. ¡°Tell me: what exactly is your rtionship with Ning Mufan?¡±


    Tang Qiu forced herself not to look away. ¡°I was being bullied by someone in school,¡± she exined. ¡°She poured coke into my food and even used me of sleeping around for money. Ning Mufan said I was his girlfriend to protect my reputation. We were¡­ we were afraid that if we allowed that woman to nder me, my teachers would hear of it and refuse to give me a schrship¡­¡±


    ¡°How much is that schrship worth?¡±


    ¡°Five thousand yuan.¡± Tang Qiu¡¯s voice grew quieter, the full extent of her guilt sinking down on her.


    ¡°So you let him im that you were his girlfriend, all for a little money?¡± Jiang Shaocheng¡¯s anger boiled to the surface; he nearly abandoned his charade right then just so he could stand up and spank her. How could she be so foolish? Selling herself for that pathetic sum?


    ¡°I was wrong!¡±


    ¡°Oh?¡± He quivered with the effort of restraining his rage. ¡°How so?¡±


    ¡°I let him call himself my boyfriend,¡± she mumbled.


    ¡°That¡¯s it?¡± he shouted. Her words grated against his ears, a reminder that that man had dared to im his wife for his own.


    Tang Qiu shriveled up in terror. It was a habit that had been beaten into her in the Feng household¨Cmaking herself smaller, as if to shield her from a wrath she had no hope of defending herself against. ¡°I was wrong,¡± she echoed. ¡°I shouldn¡¯t have used my senior to protect me. I¡¯ll stay away from him in the future. I¡¯m sorry. I¡¯m really sorry.¡±


    Jiang Shaocheng watched her cringe away from him. His jaw clenched. Look at her, acting all delicate, when she was clearly bold enough to go behind his back. ¡°Come here,¡± hemanded.


    ¡°I¡­¡± Tang Qiu flinched back even further, seeing that her ploy had been discovered. Heart racing, she recalled what He Lei had said. She had to find a way to catch him off-guard with a kiss. But how?


    ¡°You¡¯re my wife, Qiu.¡± Jiang Shaocheng made himself take even breaths. ¡°That means you have to keep your distance from other men. Do you understand?¡±


    ¡°Yes. I understand.¡± She clenched her fists, wing up every shred of courage in her¨Conly for it to whittle away when she met his eyes.


    Her fear of him only deepened Jiang Shaocheng¡¯s anger. ¡°Get Ning Mufan on the phone and tell him you¡¯re someone¡¯s wife,¡± he demanded.


    Tang Qiu didn¡¯t move. ¡°He already knows I¡¯m married.¡± She risked a nce at him. ¡°He¡­ he wanted me to get a divorce.¡±


    ¡°A divorce?¡± The fury in his voice¨Clike the crack of a whip¨Csent a shiver down her spine. Her husband was truly terrifying when he was angry. If she were to take off her clothes, would he throw her out, heedless?


    ¡°I refused. I told him no.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not your decision to make alone. Didn¡¯t you hear what I said to my family earlier?¡± His temples pulsed.


    ¡°Well¡­¡± The conversation had been so heated, she didn¡¯t know which part of it he was referring to.


    Her husband¡¯s hand snaked out, yanking her onto hisp. ¡°Don¡¯t you remember what I said when they told me to divorce you?¡± His grip tightened around her waist. ¡°¡®Over my dead body¡¯.¡±


    Tang Qiu was startled by his strength¨Cbut even more so by his words. Her hand flew to her mouth.

 Chapter 46 - Just Kiss Me

    <h4>Chapter 46: Just Kiss Me</h4>


    ¡°Don¡¯t talk like that, dear. I won¡¯t divorce you, I promise.¡± She was frightened that his words woulde true.


    ¡°You know what my health is like, Qiu. I don¡¯t have much time left.¡±


    His indifference upset her. ¡°That¡¯s not true,¡± she argued. ¡°My teacher, Professor Sun, is a renowned doctor. I¡¯ve shown him your medical records; he said that your condition isn¡¯t serious. He said you have a chance of recovery.¡±


    ¡°You think I want to die?¡± He held her in ce with his stare. ¡°Qiu, do you really not want to divorce me?¡±


    ¡°Of course. I¡­¡± His lips seized hers, drowning her words. Robbed of breath, she tapped him on his shoulder pleadingly. Only then did he break away.


    ¡°If you want to remain my wife, that means you¡¯re mine¨Cyour body?<i>and</i>?your heart.¡± He gripped her chin, forcing her to look at him. ¡°Kiss me. Don¡¯t think of anything else. Just kiss me.¡±


    His voice was low, bewitching her with dark promise. Her skin felt too hot, too tight all of a sudden. Obediently, her eyes slipped shut as she pressed her lips to his. His breathing hitched, and her heart seemed determined to pound its way out of her chest. Without thinking, her arms wrapped around his neck.


    ¡°Do you hate this, Qiu?¡±


    They were barely a breath apart, making it impossible for her to see his expression. Their proximity was like wine¨Cintoxicating, heady, seeping past her skin to surge through her veins.


    ¡°No.¡±


    He kissed her again before she could continue¨Cthe barest brush of his lips, the warmth of his breath grazing her face. ¡°What about this?¡±


    She managed a shake of her head.


    ¡°You like me.¡± His voice was rough. ¡°You know that, don¡¯t you, Qiu?¡±


    ¡°I do?¡±


    ¡°Have you ever been in love?¡±


    Again, Tang Qiu shook her head. All she had wanted was to study hard so she could leave the Feng household¨Cnot a rtionship.


    Augh escaped Jiang Shaocheng. ¡°You said you didn¡¯t want to divorce me,¡± he said. ¡°But not out of duty¨Cyou want to be my wife because you fell for me. You like it when I hug and kiss you. And you kissed me back. That means you have feelings for me.¡±


    ¡°Oh.¡± She was stunned; he seemed to understand her better than herself. Initially, staying by his side had been a matter of responsibility and self-interest. But now, all she yearned was to kiss him again. No, she didn¡¯t hate this¨Cfar from it, if the excitement churning in her was any indication. ¡°So this is what liking someone feels like.¡±


    Jiang Shaocheng¡¯s fingers skimmed over her heart. ¡°From now on, I don¡¯t want you yearning for any other man but me. No one, understand? Otherwise, you¡¯ll be betraying me.¡±


    ¡°I would never betray you. Ning Mufa¨C¡± His name dissolved on her lips as he kissed her again. Jiang Shaocheng was beginning to loathe that name.


    ¡°Loyaltyes from the heart. I¡¯ll go for treatment so I can live longer, but you¡­ you have to stay true to our marriage.¡±


    ¡°And I¡¯ll study hard, so I can help heal you.¡± His temper seemed to have cooled, so she asked carefully, ¡°Does this mean I can continue to go school, dear?¡±


    ¡°Of course. If you want to.¡± Jiang Shaocheng didn¡¯t mention that he had already decided to get rid of Ning Mufan. That man had sealed his fate the moment he desired to covet what was rightfully Jiang Shaocheng¡¯s.


    Oblivious, Tang Qiu smiled and kissed him, the burden in her chest lifted. ¡°Thank you.¡±


    Jiang Shaocheng embraced her. ¡°When I recover,¡± he murmured against her lips, ¡°can we have a baby?¡±


    A baby? That meant they would have to¡­ Tang Qiu blushed. ¡°¡­ Maybe after I graduate?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s up to you.¡± He wasn¡¯t actually in a hurry to have a child either. He had just needed to send a subtle message that he still possessed the ability to function as any normal man would.


    Now that the issue had been resolved, Tang Qiu¡¯s mind drifted to their visit earlier. ¡°What are we going to do about your father and brother? They clearly won¡¯t listen to us.¡±


    ¡°Who cares?¡± he replied, scoffing.


    Tang Qiu knew what it was like to be despised by your own father. Her heart ached for him as she said, ¡°I¡¯ll treat you with all the kindness I can in the future.¡±

 Chapter 47 - Dreamy in Love

    <h4>Chapter 47: Dreamy in Love</h4>


    When He Lei came back from buying the groceries, he went prying as to what the situation was like now. The atmosphere seemed peaceful enough, untinged by a foreboding cold. Emboldened, he treaded towards the noiseing from the kitchen. He had thought it was his young master helping his wife to wash the vegetables; instead, he was greeted by the sight of them chatting happily together. He exhaled in relief. The whole time he was out, he had been fretting over whether his young master had flown into a violent rage.


    ¡°I¡¯ve bought the groceries you requested, Young Mistress.¡±


    Tang Qiu epted the bag with thanks. Behind her, Jiang Shaocheng lifted a brow at him from his wheelchair. He Lei¡¯s heart skipped a beat, and he all but fled from the kitchen.


    Today¡¯s meal was a satisfying one, with a variety of dishes. After Tang Qiu had retired to their room, Jiang Shaocheng had He Lei follow him to the study.


    ¡°I told you to get rid of Ning Mufan. Why haven¡¯t you brought me any news?¡±


    A chill raced down He Lei¡¯s spine. ¡°I¡¯ve already informed the Ning family to send him overseas, but he refused¡­¡±


    ¡°He said my wife was his girlfriend. What did you find out about it?¡±


    ¡°Someone was ndering the young mistress on the school¡¯s social media page. A woman named Niu Caijie has been Ning Mufan¡¯s longtime admirer, and resented Tang Qiu for being his junior.¡± He Lei took out his tablet. ¡°The post has been deleted, which means whoever uploaded it didn¡¯t want their identity to be found out. They must have used some kind of special technology to remove it. When themotion happened, though, it was Qian Hongwei who said the young mistress was dating Ning Mufan.¡±


    ¡°Who?¡± Jiang Shaocheng¡¯s brows furrowed.


    He Lei coughed awkwardly. ¡°Qian Hongwei is the son of Second Young Master Qian, remember? His aunt is Jiang Ming¡¯s mother¡­ which makes him Jiang Ming¡¯s¡­¡±


    Jiang Shaocheng could haveughed. So his brother was trying to trick him into a divorce by using Qian Hongwei to set a trap for him. And his wife, the naive girl, thought it had been nothing but a misunderstanding. ¡°Since Jiang Ming cares so much about his reputation, see to it that he eats his fill of humiliation somehow,¡± he said.


    ¡°I will,¡± He Lei assured him with a nod.


    ¡°How do you think I should make Ning Mufan stay away from my wife?¡±


    ¡°It¡­ it might not be possible to force him to stay away, but I¡¯ll try. You should remind the young mistress to be wary of people¡¯s intentions, so she¡¯ll avoid him of her own ord.¡± He Lei didn¡¯t know if it was the answer his young master wanted, but it was his honest one. It wasn¡¯t as if Tang Qiu could resolve matters of the heart by avoiding Ning Mufan¨Cno, she had to dig the issue up by the roots.


    ¡°I did. She said she doesn¡¯t want to divorce me. She even admitted that she likes me.¡± Jiang Shaocheng unconsciously thumbed his lips, as if savoring the imprint of her mouth on his. She was certainly far more delicious than any meal she could make.


    The corner of He Lei¡¯s mouth quirked. His young master had been furious just a few hours ago; now he was smiling dreamily. Whatever rtionship he and Tang Qiu had, it wasn¡¯t anything ordinary.


    ¡°I¡¯ll make sure something happens to Ning Mufan so he¡¯ll stay away from the young mistress.¡±


    ***


    Later that night, while Tang Qiu got ready for bed, Jiang Shaocheng was reading a book on Marxism¨Ca ponderous read, but he seemed engrossed in it. Her husband was so clever, she remarked.


    ¡°It¡¯ste. We should sleep.¡±


    Jiang Shaocheng agreed; he had been waiting for her to say that. His book on Marxism actually hid another, smaller tome inside, titled ¡®How to Control Your Woman¡¯. He carefully put it away before pushing his wheelchair towards Tang Qiu.


    ¡°Qiu, now that it¡¯s our first night aftering to a¡­ mutual understanding, wouldn¡¯t it be a pity to go to sleep so soon?¡±


    ¡°What do you have in mind? Come, I¡¯ll help you onto the bed.¡±


    He obliged. He was capable of supporting himself with his arms, but if Tang Qiu was offering to help him, he wasn¡¯t going to turn her down. She bent slightly beneath his weight, and he suppressed a smile, taking advantage of her imbnce to pull her onto the bed with him. ¡°Did I hurt you, Qiu?¡± he asked with mock-concern.


    He was lying on top of her¨Crather heavily¨Cbut Tang Qiu said nothing. ¡°I can¡¯t move my legs,¡± he said regretfully. ¡°What should we do?¡±


    ¡°Ask He Lei to help.¡± Tang Qiu¡¯s nose scrunched up in exertion as she tried, and failed, to push him off.


    ¡°He¡¯s asleep.¡± This close, her husband¡¯s eyes were dark with intensity. ¡°Why don¡¯t you kiss me and give me a boost of strength?¡±


    Tang Qiu eyed him skeptically. ¡°With a kiss?¡±


    ¡°Just try it,¡± he said without a trace of humor.

 Chapter 48 - Waiting for You

    <h4>Chapter 48: Waiting for You</h4>


    Tang Qiu had her doubts, but she lifted her head and kissed him. Satisfied, Jiang Shaocheng bolstered himself up with his arms and shifted away. He rxed, but didn¡¯t entirely relinquish his hold on her. He had been single for so long, he was bound to be a little clingy now that he had someone to love.


    ¡°Dear¡­¡± Tang Qiu¡¯s voice trailed into a plea. He was truly heavy.


    Reluctantly, Jiang Shaocheng released her and settled for pulling her into his embrace instead. ¡°Qiu¡­¡± he sighed. ¡°When will you be mine¡­ in all ways?¡±


    Tang Qiu¡¯s pulse fluttered rapidly. What he was referring to simply wasn¡¯t possible now. ¡°As long as youply with the treatment, you¡¯ll be back to normal one day,¡± she assured him.


    ¡°And then? Will you be willing to give yourself over to me?¡±


    ¡°¡­ As long as you recover first,¡± she replied, hoping it could encourage him.


    Fire swelled in Jiang Shaocheng, sending his loins alight with anticipation. He kissed her forehead before throwing the sheets over them. The weather was cool despite it being summer, and he didn¡¯t want her gaze wandering to his lower body.


    Tang Qiu helped tuck him in. ¡°I¡¯ll never leave you, dear,¡± she promised, smiling.


    Jiang Shaocheng wrapped his arms around her and whispered, ¡°Goodnight, Qiu.¡± Silly, precious girl. If only she could stay with him forever, with her warmth to ward off the chill of his loneliness.


    Tang Qiu made no reply. Within moments she was asleep, so quickly it made Jiang Shaocheng envious. He kissed her forehead and left the room, only to be greeted by He Lei.


    ¡°Young Master, your father has cut off your financial resources.¡±


    Jiang Shaocheng smiled sardonically. ¡°Let him.¡±


    It should have begun long ago, this tussle between father and son, seeing who woulde out on top. He would make Jiang Hanchen pay, he swore. One day, he would.


    ¡°What should we do now?¡±


    ¡°Send a message to Ke Liuyi.¡± She was one of Jiang Shaocheng¡¯s physicians. ¡°Tell her my condition has improved, and toe treat me.¡±


    ***


    Tang Qiu awoke to a pair of eyes gazing tenderly at her. ¡°Good morning, dear,¡± she greeted.


    ¡°You know what would make my day? A good morning kiss.¡± Jiang Shaocheng leaned in.


    Shyly, Tang Qiu buried her face in the nket, but it only made his scent stronger; crisp and fresh as pine trees. His pajama shirt hung open, giving her a glimpse of his muscles¨Cfirm, hard, painted with sunlight. She couldn¡¯t resist reaching out to stroke them.


    ¡°What are you doing, Qiu?¡± he asked hoarsely. She was treading on dangerous territory. His desire was always strong in the morning¨Ceven more so now, with her fingers tracing his skin.


    ¡°Nothing.¡± Tang Qiu retracted her hand like his flesh had turned white-hot. Without meeting his eyes, she threw back the sheets and scurried out of bed.


    Jiang Shaocheng grinned. Rays of dawn were streaming in from the window. Although she had left his arms, her warmth remained, lending himfort even in her absence.


    It was the weekend, so Tang Qiu had no sses, and they went for a walk after breakfast. ¡°Let¡¯s go to the supermarket so I can pick up some groceries. I want to buy some flowers, too¡­¡± She continued to prattle on about the most trivial of things, leaving him with no room to speak.


    Her figure grew smaller and smaller in the distance, oblivious to his absence. Jiang Shaocheng choked back augh. He Lei moved to intervene, but a look from Jiang Shaocheng halted him.


    <i>Let¡¯s see when the foolish girl realizes that I¡¯ve been left behind.?</i>


    Tang Qiu was contemting what ingredients to buy and what to make for lunch when she was struck by the realization that her husband was gone. Her head swiveled around, confused, to the sight of a man in a wheelchair sitting quietly amongst the crowd. She hurried back to him.


    ¡°Why didn¡¯t you call me, dear?¡±


    ¡°I was waiting for you to help push me.¡±


    ¡°What if someone had knocked into you while I was gone? This won¡¯t do. I¡¯d better hold your hand from now on.¡±


    Jiang Shaocheng had been hoping she¡¯d say that. He let himself imagine what it would be like if she didn¡¯t go to school, instead staying at home all day, where he could gaze at her anytime he pleased. Yearning and paranoia mixed in his heart, threatening to bubble to the surface. Had it been up to him, he would have locked her up in the house, but he knew all too well that he couldn¡¯t act so rashly if he wanted her to remain by his side. Otherwise, he¡¯d just frighten her off.


    It was almost noon when they returned to the mansion, only to find the door open¨Cand a woman in a white dress, waiting for them.

 Chapter 49 - Not Part of the Plan

    <h4>Chapter 49: Not Part of the n</h4>


    ¡°Do we have a guest?¡± Tang Qiu asked.


    Before Jiang Shaocheng could introduce her, the woman approached them and said, ¡°My name is Ke Liuyi. I¡¯m Shaocheng¡¯s personal doctor. How should I address you?¡±


    ¡°My name is Tang Qiu. I¡¯m his wife. Nice to meet you, Doctor Ke.¡± Tang Qiu remained reserved. She could sense the woman¡¯s hostility; subtle, but undeniable. She might not be the most aware when it came to matters of the heart, but she had grown ustomed¨Cand therefore attuned to people¡¯s disdain for her.


    ¡°Nice to meet you too, Ms Tang.¡± Liu Keyi brushed her off and pushed Jiang Shaocheng inside without waiting for a reply.?<i>She didn¡¯t call me Mrs Jiang</i>, Tang Qiu noted.


    ¡°You¡¯re still frail,¡± she heard the woman say. ¡°How can you ce so many groceries on your legs? Plus, supermarkets are crawling with bacteria, and of all the times to go out, you chose the hottest time of the day. Why can¡¯t you pay a little more attention to your health?¡±


    Jiang Shaocheng didn¡¯t respond. When they reached the living room, he realized Tang Qiu hadn¡¯t followed them in. ¡°Qiu?¡± he called. Only then did she walk briskly up to him.


    ¡°Yes, dear?¡±


    Sweat glistened on her temples. Jiang Shaocheng used his handkerchief to wipe it away. ¡°Are you feeling warm?¡±


    ¡°No, I¡¯m fine. I just sweat easily. What about you? Should I get you some water?¡± She didn¡¯t wait for him to reply¨Cwith his health, it was almost a given that he would be more physically delicate than her.


    Jiang Shaocheng took a sip of water and offered the cup to her. ¡°It¡¯s okay,¡± she said, slightly taken aback. But her husband insisted, so she had no choice but to empty the cup of water. Satisfied, Jiang Shaocheng took out his handkerchief and dried her mouth for her.


    Ke Liuyi observed the exchange wordlessly¨Cthem sharing the same cup, him helping her wipe her mouth. Something shed across her eyes, there and then gone.


    ¡°You must be thirsty too, Dr Ke.¡± Tang Qiu extended a cup of water to her.


    Ke Liuyi thanked her politely without epting the drink. ¡°When do we start your treatment?¡± she asked Jiang Shaocheng.


    ¡°Now.¡± He had something to discuss with her. ¡°Let¡¯s go to my study.¡±


    Tang Qiu wanted to protest that she should be by his side, but they were already gone, leaving her somewhat crestfallen.?<i>I¡¯m the mistress of this house</i>, she reminded herself.?<i>It¡¯s my responsibility to entertain guests properly.</i>


    ***


    ¡°Have me undergo rehabilitation treatment as soon as possible. No one can know about it. And someone will definitely keep an eye on the medicine you prescribe for me, so be careful, too.¡±


    Ke Liuyi knew, just as well as he did, that he had already recovered from his illness. ¡°Of course.¡± She smiled and nodded. ¡°I just didn¡¯t think you¡¯d get married and settle down, Shaocheng.¡± She had been helping him hide the truth all these years; it was no surprise that they had evolved into friends, even as doctor and patient. Naturally, their rtionship was a unique one.


    ¡°Qiu is mywfully wedded wife.¡± His lips twitched at the mention of her. ¡°Where else would she be, if not by my side?¡±


    She had only been teasing him; she wasn¡¯t prepared for that response. ¡°I have three kinds of treatment that might work for your legs,¡± she suggested, stering her smile to her face.


    ¡°The faster the better,¡± he replied dismissively.


    ¡°Why the urgency? Has your n been set in stone yet?¡±


    Jiang Shaocheng had only returned to uncover the identity of whoever it was that had framed him for the car ident, then retrieve his belongings and announce his recovery. Only¨Che hadn¡¯t anticipated meeting Tang Qiu.


    ¡°Don¡¯t forget: your responsibility, first and foremost, is to treat my illness.¡±


    ¡°I know that,¡± she chuckled. ¡°Just don¡¯t forget what you promised me, either.¡±


    ¡°I wouldn¡¯t ask you toe back if I thought I couldn¡¯t help you.¡± He pushed his wheelchair downstairs. When she saw he was headed towards the kitchen, she hurried up to him.


    ¡°The kitchen is full of grease and smoke. Best not go there.¡±


    Brushing her off, he said, ¡°I¡¯ve been preparing meals alongside my wife all this while.¡±


    Ke Liuyi couldn¡¯t hide her surprise. This man¨Cwho was nothing short of an aristocratic prince in her eyes¨Cwas helping that woman wash vegetables for their meals, like amon servant.?<i>That Tang Qiu is a resourceful one</i>, she thought.


    With a smile, she entered the kitchen. ¡°Let me help too, Ms Tang.¡±

 Chapter 50 - Baited with a Smile

    <h4>Chapter 50: Baited with a Smile</h4>


    ¡°You¡¯re a guest, Doctor Ke.¡± Tang Qiu smiled politely. ¡°It wouldn¡¯t be right.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll be staying here for a while from today onwards.¡± Ke Liuyi matched her smile. ¡°I hope you don¡¯t mind.¡±


    ¡°Not at all.¡± Tang Qiu was sincere. ¡°Thank you for helping my husband with his recovery.¡±


    Jiang Shaocheng wanted to be alone with his wife, so he told Ke Liuyi, ¡°Why don¡¯t you go rest in the living room?¡±


    Ke Liuyi sighed. ¡°If you wish. I suppose I have no choice but to sit around and wait for lunch, then.¡±


    ***


    The three of them sat down to lunch, and Ke Liuyi watched as Tang Qiu helped pick out dishes for her husband. She was about to interject that Jiang Shaocheng only ate food he chose himself when he opened his mouth and let Tang Qiu feed him¨Cfrom her own pair of chopsticks, too!


    Was this the same man she had known? He had been so wary of others who tried to get close to him¨Ceven she, as his doctor, had found him to be intimidatingly brooding at times¡­


    ¡°Is the food not to your liking, Doctor Ke?¡±


    Ke Liuyi shook her head, smiling magnanimously. ¡°You¡¯re an excellent cook, Ms Tang. I¡¯m just tired from my flight, that¡¯s all. Shaocheng is lucky to have you around.¡±


    Her praise made Tang Qiu glow. When they were done, Ke Liuyi even insisted on helping to wash the dishes. Tang Qiu was about to object; this wasn¡¯t her house and she shouldn¡¯t have to clean up after them. But Jiang Shaocheng stopped her. ¡°You must be tired. Let her do it.¡±


    ¡°She¡¯s a guest¡­¡± Tang Qiu protested, mindful of her manners.


    ¡°Like she said, she¡¯ll be staying here a while. It¡¯s only natural she should help out a little.¡±


    Tang Qiu couldn¡¯t argue with him, but neither did he force her to leave. When Ke Liuyi emerged from the kitchen, a te of fruits awaited her on the table. ¡°You¡¯re too kind, Ms Tang,¡± she said, sitting. ¡°I¡¯ve known Shaocheng for many years. You don¡¯t have to treat me like an outsider.¡±


    Tang Qiu had no choice but to agree. She didn¡¯t see a point in offending the woman who was helping to treat her husband.


    ¡°That reminds me: I thought I should mention, Shaocheng¡¯s treatment involves acupuncture, so we can¡¯t afford any distractions during the process.¡±


    As a medical student, Tang Qiu was aware of this. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I understand.¡±


    Later in the afternoon, Ke Liuyi brought Jiang Shaocheng to the training room. For the next two hours, Tang Qiu sat in the living room, waiting anxiously. Finally, the door opened.


    ¡°How¡¯s my husband? Can I see him?¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s doing well, Ms Tang,¡± Ke Liuyi assured her. ¡°Go ahead.¡±


    He was covered with sweat from head-to-toe. ¡°Are you okay?¡± she asked, helping dry him with a towel. ¡°It must have been exhausting.¡±


    ¡°It was¡­¡± Jiang Shaocheng couldn¡¯t resist the opportunity, ¡°¡­ but you know how to boost my strength.¡±


    Ke Liuyi was still standing in the doorway. Tang Qiu couldn¡¯t help feeling bashful. Would it hurt to exercise a little restraint when people were around? Clearly, his answer was yes.


    She gave him a quick kiss, just to pacify him.


    ***


    The next morning, Tang Qiu went downstairs to make breakfast, but Ke Liuyi had beaten her to him. ¡°Wait a while,¡± she said. ¡°Breakfast will be done soon.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry to trouble you, Doctor Ke.¡±


    Ke Liuyi dismissed her words with the wave of a hand. ¡°Oh, this? I used to make Shaocheng¡¯s breakfast for him. This is nothing new.¡±


    ¡°You did?¡±


    ¡°Of course. I¡¯m his personal doctor, didn¡¯t you know that?¡± Ke Liuyi studied Tang Qiu closely for hints of jealousy.


    But Tang Qiu wasn¡¯t a woman to pay attention to such things. ¡°In that case, thank you for thinking of my husband¡¯s diet too.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s only right that I should.¡± The smile that shed across Ke Liuyi¡¯s face was bait¨Ca trap¨Cbut Tang Qiu didn¡¯t know that. ¡°I heard you¡¯re a medical student, Ms Tang. It mustn¡¯t be easy, so do keep up the hard work.¡±


    ¡°I will,¡± she replied, brimming with confidence.


    After they were done with breakfast, Jiang Shaocheng prepared to apany Tang Qiu to school, but Ke Liuyi suggested that he remain at home for the treatment.


    Naturally, Tang Qiu agreed. ¡°He Lei can send me. You should focus on your recovery!¡±

 Chapter 51 - Who Are You Calling Stupid?

    <h4>Chapter 51: Who Are You Calling Stupid?</h4>


    For once, Jiang Shaocheng found he couldn¡¯t argue. ¡°So you¡¯re going to leave just like that?¡± he asked Tang Qiu.


    This was her cue to give him a goodbye kiss¨Ca practice that she secretly enjoyed, and that warmed her heart. But Ke Liuyi was right there, same as yesterday. Shyly, she gave him a pat on the shoulder, like they were brothers instead of husband and wife.


    ¡°You can do it!¡± she said encouragingly, and fled. Jiang Shaocheng stifled a disbelievingugh.


    Ke Liuyi¡¯s fists clenched when she saw the smile tugging at his lips. ¡°Ms Tang is such a darling,¡± shemented.


    ¡°She is,¡± he echoed, eyes uncharacteristically soft. ¡°But you should refer to Qiu as Mrs Jiang instead.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t you despise that surname?¡± She raised a yful brow. ¡°Or should I call her Mrs Shaocheng?¡±


    Jiang Shaocheng gave it a moment¡¯s contemtion. ¡°I don¡¯t mind that either.¡±


    Ke Liuyi was throbbing with rage, but her smile never wavered. ¡°Shaocheng, I¡¯ll be living with you both for some time. I think it¡¯s best if I act a little more casual around her. I don¡¯t want your wife to have to stand on ceremony, keeping her distance and all.¡±


    Tang Qiu held doctors in high regard, so it wasn¡¯t out of the ordinary for her to treat Ke Liuyi with more respect than was strictly necessary. ¡°Sure,¡± he said. ¡°She¡¯s young, but incredibly hardworking. Do look out for her too.¡±


    ¡°I will,¡± she promised, her demeanor betraying nothing.


    ***


    In school, Tang Qiu sent Ning Mufan a text after ss asking to meet up. She intended to call off the charade of them being a couple¨Cotherwise, it would only further infuriate her husband. They had arranged to meet outside the school library. As Tang Qiu drew closer, she saw a woman standing beside Ning Mufan.


    Niu Caijie.


    Before she could open her mouth, Niu Caijie bowed her head and said, ¡°I owe you an apology, Tang Qiu. I was too hasty thest time we met. I¡¯m sorry.¡±


    <i>Are you??</i>Tang Qiu thought. ¡°If you really want to apologize, you should do so through a letter.¡±


    Niu Caijie¡¯s eyes were still trained on the ground. Loathing shed across her gaze. She bit down hard on her lip.<i>?Let¡¯s see if you¡¯ll still be so high-and-mightyter, you bitch.</i>


    ¡°Didn¡¯t you hear what Tang Qiu said?¡± Ning Mufan¡¯s voice came from behind her, cold as ice.


    ¡°Yes,¡± she said quickly. ¡°I¡¯ll do it. I¡¯ll write you a letter.¡± She was willing to grovel, if it meant she could redeem herself in Ning Mufan¡¯s eyes.


    ¡°Don¡¯t repeat this foolishness,¡± he warned, before adding, ¡°You should leave.¡±


    ¡°I won¡¯t.¡± Niu Caijie turned her back on them to hide the glint of angry tears in her eyes as she retreated.


    The encounter felt off to Tang Qiu, but she had more important things to ponder than Niu Caijie¡¯s intentions. She got straight to the point.


    ¡°The fake rtionship between us ends here. If anyone asks, just say we were joking.¡±


    His brows creased. ¡°Because of that crippled husband of yours?¡±


    ¡°It has nothing to do with him. I¡¯m married. It¡¯s only natural that I shouldn¡¯t be involved with anyone else.¡± She attempted to ease the tension between them with a smile. ¡°Qian Hongwei was only trying to help me, but I should have given the matter more consideration. I¡¯m sorry for the trouble I¡¯ve caused you.¡± She bent in a bow.


    Ning Mufan took hold of her shoulders. ¡°You don¡¯t have to apologize, Qiu. Actually, I have something to ask you too.¡±


    ¡°What is it?¡±


    ¡°The man you married¨Che¡¯s the crippled young master of the Jiang family? Jiang Shaocheng?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡± How had he known? She had never told him who her husband was. ¡°Did you find out from Qingqing?¡±


    ¡°Never mind how I found out.¡± Ning Mufan couldn¡¯t resist pressing her. ¡°Tang Qiu, don¡¯t you know Jiang Shaocheng doesn¡¯t have much longer to live? You won¡¯t even get any money or assets out of the marriage, because of his strained rtionship with his family.¡±


    She stared at him in disbelief. ¡°You think I married him for money?¡±


    ¡°No, I just¨C¡± Frustration and sympathy twisted through him. If only she wasn¡¯t so stubborn. ¡°I just don¡¯t think he deserves you.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m his wife. Whether you think he deserves me or not doesn¡¯t matter.¡± She turned on her heel. ¡°I¡¯ve said my piece. I¡¯m leaving.¡±


    Ning Mufan caught her wrist. ¡°Tang Qiu¡­¡± he murmured, the wordsden with weariness, ¡°¡­ how can you be so stupid?¡±


    ¡°Stupid? Who are you calling stupid?¡±

 Chapter 52 - You Want My Husband To Die?

    <h4>Chapter 52: You Want My Husband To Die?</h4>


    ¡°Everyone knows I like you.¡± His gaze burned bright. ¡°Everyone but you. What would you call that, if not stupid?¡±


    Tang Qiu¡¯s brows pinched together. ¡°Is this some kind of a dare?¡±


    He fought the urge to facepalm. ¡°You mean you really can¡¯t tell?¡±


    ¡°Tell what?¡± Tang Qiu surveyed their surroundings. ¡°Wherever your friends are, they cane out now.¡±


    Ning Mufan couldn¡¯t swallow theugh that burst from his chest. He gripped her chin, forcing her to meet his gaze. ¡°This isn¡¯t a joke, Tang Qiu.?<i>I like you</i>.¡±


    ¡°Why?¡± In her confusion, she spoke without thinking. ¡°We don¡¯t even know each other well.¡±


    She made him want to spit blood. He breathed deeply, mustering his courage. ¡°You caught my eye ever since I first saw you in Professor Sun¡¯s ss. I¡¯ve been attracted to you for years. I really like you, Tang Qiu. Won¡¯t you give me a chance?¡±


    ¡°No,¡± she blurted out. ¡°I¡¯m married.¡± How had he liked her since their first meeting? She had been cordial with him all these years, nothing more. If she liked him, wouldn¡¯t she have wanted to feel his embraces and taste his kisses¨Cjust like with her husband?


    Ning Mufan fell silent, anger simmering helplessly. ¡°Did someone force you to marry him?¡± he finally asked.


    A shadow darkened her face. ¡°Even if they did, it¡¯s all in the past.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m willing to wait for you.¡±


    ¡°Wait?¡±


    ¡°When Jiang Shaocheng sumbs to his illness, I¡¯ll help you leave the Jiang family and be my girlfriend.¡±


    She gaped at him. ¡°You?<i>want</i>?my husband to die?¡±


    ¡°I¨C¡±


    ¡°Save it. My husband won¡¯t die. He¡¯ll recover¨Che will!¡±


    Ning Mufan scoffed, his aristocratic features turning cold. ¡°Stop dreaming. How many years has Jiang Shaocheng been undergoing treatment? If he could recover, he would¡¯ve long ago! How delusional can you get¨Cjust because you studied medicine for a few years? That cripple¡¯s father despises him, and now he¡¯s cut off all his son¡¯s financial resources. Tell me: do you think he can survive without the aid of his family? Would you really rather stay with him than give me a chance?¡±


    Tang Qiu was shocked. She hadn¡¯t known that Jiang Shaocheng¡¯s family had severed all?<i>financial?</i>ties with him, too. This was all her fault. If she hadn¡¯t gotten into trouble, her husband wouldn¡¯t have fallen out with his father over her¨Cand he would still have money for his treatment. She bit her lip, warding off her rising anxiety.


    ¡°Are you listening to me?¡± Ning Mufan demanded.


    ¡°Yes. Thank you for informing me. I have some money to spare for my husband¡¯s treatment.¡±


    It was as if she hadn¡¯t even heard his confession. He clenched his teeth. ¡°Jiang Shaocheng is disabled. Do you know how expensive that treatment is? Or his daily expenses? Did that man put a spell on you, Tang Qiu, for you to go this far for him?¡± Everyone knew Tang Qiu hated spending money unnecessarily. But now, she was willing to fork out her savings for that cripple. Jealousy swarmed Ning Mufan¡¯s vision in a haze of bright red.


    ¡°My husband doesn¡¯t live an expensive lifestyle. It¡¯s just his medical expenses, but I¡­ I can afford them.¡± She still had to ask Doctor Ke about the fees for Jiang Shaocheng¡¯s treatment; it wouldn¡¯t do to leech off her services without paying her her due. Maybe she could find a part-time job. She could help earn money, save up for her husband¡¯s treatment¡­


    It was impossible to get through to her. Ning Mufan changed tactics, grappling for a middle ground. ¡°If you¡¯re short of money, I can help you.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s alright. Thank you for offering, Senior. I¡¯ll think of something myself.¡± Jiang Shaocheng had been incensed about her pretending to be Ning Mufan¡¯s girlfriend; if she went so far as to borrow money from him, it would surely enrage him further.


    Ning Mufan inhaled, trying to steady himself. ¡°What about the schrship?¡± he asked softly. ¡°If wee clean, aren¡¯t you afraid the rumors will spread and affect your chances?¡±


    Of course she was. She needed the money. Ning Mufan pounced on her hesitation, smiling gently at her. ¡°You need to think about it carefully, Tang Qiu. I¨C¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve thought about it,¡± she interrupted. ¡°I won¡¯t betray my husband. My conscience is clear. Let people say what they want.¡±

 Chapter 53 - I’ll Take Care Of You

    <h4>Chapter 53: I¡¯ll Take Care Of You</h4>


    Ning Mufan stared at the foolish, foolish woman in front of him.?<i>How did I ever fall for her?</i>?He had been full of heartache after finding out she was married, unwilling to relinquish her so easily. But he had been deluding himself¨Cthat cripple was the only one who mattered to her.


    ¡°I respect your decision,¡± he managed to say. ¡°But we¡¯re still friends, right?¡±


    Tang Qiu nodded, smiling. ¡°Weren¡¯t we always?¡± Then she added, ¡°As for what you said earlier, I¡¯ll take it as a prank. Don¡¯t bring it up again, okay?¡±


    A prank? Ning Mufan mped down on the fury that rolled within him. However, he could only nod back, with her bright-eyed and beaming at him.


    Not far off, a few onlookers were watching the scene y out with intensity. They whipped out their phones to take pictures and record the interaction.


    ***


    Jiang Hanchen looked through the photos of Tang Qiu with Ning Mufan and said without a trace of emotion, ¡°We can¡¯t let him keep this woman around.¡±


    The butler nodded. Jiang Hanchen was grateful for his silence. He didn¡¯t want to let Tang Qiu¡¯s name pass his lips¨Cthat bastard-born lowlife. She wasn¡¯t worthy of his time.


    ***


    After school, Tang Qiu found Jiang Shaocheng waiting for her in the car and perked up. ¡°Why aren¡¯t you undergoing your rehab at home, dear?¡±


    ¡°Why?¡± He arched a brow at her. ¡°Were you hoping I wouldn¡¯t show up?¡±


    ¡°Never!¡± She always looked forward to when she could see him again after school.


    Look at her, smiling so thoughtlessly. The photo He Lei had shown him dangled before his eyes. He took his hand in hers, as if it would fend off the imprint of another man¡¯s hands on his wife. After all, beasts hated nothing more than when other creatures encroached upon their territory.


    ¡°Did anything unusual happen in school today?¡±


    ¡°No¡­ What about you? Did the rehab tire you out?¡±


    ¡°Not at all.¡± It had only been a few hours of exercise, what was there to be tired about? It was the mental image of her in another man¡¯s arms that weighed down on him. She was still so young. If he wasn¡¯t careful, someone would snatch her from him.


    ¡°Are you sure there isn¡¯t anything you want to tell me, Qiu?¡±


    Tang Qiu recalled Ning Mufan¡¯s words about Jiang Shaocheng¡¯s family cutting him off financially, and felt a pinch of sorrow. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, dear,¡± she said.


    Jiang Shaocheng¡¯s heart sank.?<i>Why is she apologizing?</i>?he wondered, his expression turning feral. Was it because of her lingering feelings for Ning Mufan?


    ¡°For what?¡±


    His voice was so cold that it made Tang Qiu flinch. In the driver¡¯s seat, ice crawled down He Lei¡¯s neck.?<i>Looks like the young master is angry again¡­</i>


    ¡°I didn¡¯t know I had caused such trouble for you. If only I hadn¡¯t gotten myself into a mess, you wouldn¡¯t have fallen out with your father, and he wouldn¡¯t have cut off your financial resources.¡± With her head bowed, Tang Qiu passed him an envelope from her bag. ¡°This is the money that the Fengs gave me. It¡¯s all yours. You need it for your treatment and living expenses. Just wait¨Csoon, I¡¯ll graduate and find a job to support us both.¡±


    Jiang Shaocheng stared at her. ¡°Silly girl. I don¡¯t need your money. I have my own.¡±


    ¡°We¡¯re married. There¡¯s no need to feel ashamed. What¡¯s mine is yours.¡±


    The storm cloud hanging over Jiang Shaocheng¡¯s features cleared, and he repressed a faint smile. Money, money, money¡­ That was what it always was with her. It was a pity she wasn¡¯t so unreserved in offering other parts of herself to him.


    ¡°I don¡¯t want your money. I want your kisses.¡±


    ¡°What?¡± It was such an abrupt change of subject.


    ¡°Didn¡¯t you say what¡¯s yours is mine?¡± Jiang Shaocheng deliberately skirted over the issue of money, but for once, Tang Qiu surprised him by kissing him before he could continue. A smile broke out over his face.


    The tension in the car had dissipated. The young mistress¡¯ effect on Jiang Shaocheng couldn¡¯t be understated, He Lei thought, even if she wasn¡¯t too bright about other matters. One day, the girl would drive her husband over the edge¡­


    Jiang Shaocheng had cheered up so swiftly that it puzzled Tang Qiu.?<i>All that from a kiss?</i>?Not that she wasining. ¡°I¡¯ll keep the money, then, but I¡¯ll also take care of you.¡±


    ¡°Yes. You do that.¡±


    He Lei frowned slightly. Wasn¡¯t the young master worried? Tang Qiu went on to say that they should exercise prudence in their spending now that they had no one to rely on but themselves, and Jiang Shaocheng nodded along with her.?<i>If she asked for his life now</i>, He Lei mused,?<i>he might not even have the heart to refuse.?</i>

 Chapter 54 - Shocking News

    <h4>Chapter 54: Shocking News</h4>


    ¡°How much is your sry?¡± Tang Qiu asked He Lei. ¡°You¡¯re my husband¡¯s butler, aide, and even his chauffeur.¡±


    Flustered, He Lei replied, ¡°¡­ 200,000 yuan a year, Young Mistress.¡±


    That was a lie. 200,000 yuan was a fraction of what he had.


    ¡°Thank you for helping to look after my husband. I don¡¯t know what I¡¯d do without you.¡± Tang Qiu was grateful for his kindness. Nowadays, a housekeeper¡¯s sry was about 30 to 50 thousand a month. He Lei juggled several responsibilities at once, but he only earned 10,000 yuan on a monthly basis.


    ¡°I¡¯m merely doing my duty, Young Mistress,¡± was all he said.


    ***


    That night, Tang Qiu showed Jiang Shaocheng a notebook of sums. ¡°These are the daily expenses I calcted. Am I missing anything?¡±


    He hadn¡¯t expected that she would be still dwelling on the matter. She had tallied everything down to how much their meals would cost. Did they have to live hand to mouth like this? She was so concerned about spending money, it was almost adorable.


    ¡°Let¡¯s not think about this now, Qiu. We have to sleep.¡±


    ¡°You go to bed first, dear. I want to make sure the amount is correct.¡±


    The notebook was snatched from her hands and tossed aside. Her husband pulled her towards him. ¡°You¡¯d rather spend time gazing at those sums than me?¡±


    Augh spilled from Tang Qiu¡¯s lips, yfulness bubbling up in her. ¡°Haven¡¯t I done that enough already?¡±


    Jiang Shaocheng¡¯s arm tightened around her waist. To have her so tantalizingly close, unable to savor every inch of her body¡­ ¡°Looking isn¡¯t enough,¡± he said roughly. ¡°Far from it.¡±


    His embrace had suddenly be a steel cage. ¡°What do you want, then?¡±


    Jiang Shaocheng threw the covers over both of them. ¡°The doctor said I¡¯ll recover faster if I¡¯m in a good mood,¡± he whispered. His lips grazed her ear, sending an itch through her body that bloomed into a slow fire. ¡°You want that for me, don¡¯t you, Qiu?¡±


    Perplexed, Tang Qiu searched his face for signs of humor and found none. ¡°Be a good girl,¡± he murmured, ¡°and I¡¯ll tell you what¡¯s the best way to please a man.¡±


    ¡°The best¡­?¡± She trailed off into a soft moan as he imed her lips with his¨Cagain and again.


    Herst thought before being pulled down into theforting throes of sleep was,?<i>My husband really has no restraint.?</i>


    ***


    Tang Qiu was awoken by her phone ringing. She answered groggily, only to sit upright the next instant. ¡°You¡¯re kidding, right?¡± she gasped.


    ¡°Why would I be joking?¡± came Xie Qingqing¡¯s impassioned voice on the other end. ¡°Everyone is about to find out the truth!¡±


    ***


    The morning sun gilded Jiang Shaocheng¡¯s gorgeously sculpted features¨Cwhich, for once, weren¡¯t hidden by his mask of false skin¨Cas he awaited He Lei¡¯s report.


    ¡°Last night, I found someone to stir trouble for Ning Mufan to elerate his leaving the country. But¡­ he went on to sleep with Niu Caijie. Niu Caijie¡¯s family background appears prestigious, but in reality, they¡¯re on the verge of bankruptcy. She¡¯s been selling her body in secret to pay off her debts. It¡¯s no secret in the industry that she¡¯s a loose woman. She¡¯s probably set her sights on Ning Mufan for a while. He won¡¯t be able to get away with what he¡¯s done.¡±


    He Lei was filled with an unexpected pang of sympathy for the woman. But Jiang Shaocheng only said coldly, ¡°What better way to bring someone to their knees? She mistreated my wife. She had iting.¡±


    He Lei nodded. The pride before the fall, as they called it¡­


    Jiang Shaocheng donned his mask. It was thin, easy to slip on, and almost impossible to tell it was fake, unless you were looking with a practiced eye. ¡°By the way, until I announce my recovery, don¡¯t let Qiu find out about my wealth.¡±


    Why? He Lei questioned inwardly. It wasn¡¯t as if being rich was anything shameful¡­


    Jiang Shaocheng recalled how meticulously his wife had nned their future together the night before. A touch of warmth flickered in his eyes. ¡°I¡¯m afraid she won¡¯t want me anymore if she finds out the truth,¡± he admitted.


    He Lei wanted to point out that it would likely aplish the opposite, but he held his tongue.


    ***


    When Tang Qiu arrived in ss, Xie Qingqing pulled her to the back of the room. ¡°Don¡¯t be upset,¡± she saidfortingly. ¡°I¡¯m sure Ning Mufan wouldn¡¯t do something like that. There must be a misunderstanding!¡±

 Chapter 55 - Catfight

    <h4>Chapter 55: Catfight</h4>


    Tang Qiu shook her head, fending off an incredulousugh. ¡°I¡¯m not upset. It¡¯s just¡­ shocking they¡¯re together, that¡¯s all.¡±


    Over the phone, Xie Qingqing had revealed that Ning Mufan had gotten into a fight at a barst night. Afterwards, photos of him and Niu Caijie in bed together had been leaked on her social media. Despite her friend¡¯s worry, she truly wasn¡¯t upset. She recalled the events of the previous day.?<i>He confessed to me, and went to sleep with Niu Caijie right afterwards.?</i>It had all been a sham, then, leaving her flustered over nothing.


    ¡°You don¡¯t have feelings for him at all?¡±


    ¡°Of course not!¡±


    ¡°Oh.¡± A pity, Xie Qingqing privately mused. ¡°I was hoping you could escape from your sickly husband and find yourself a better man. I just didn¡¯t expect that Ning Mufan would¡­ Well, in any case, that crazy bitch Niu Caijie got lucky with him!¡±


    ¡°My husband will recover,¡± Tang Qiu insisted. ¡°Even Professor Sun said so. Besides, he¡¯s undergoing treatment now.¡± At the mention of her husband, her lips curved into a smile, but she didn¡¯t notice. She and Ning Mufan had always been from two separate worlds; his confession had filled her with nothing more than a detached sort of surprise. He had his life, she had her own, and she had better things to do than engage in gossip about what he did with his.


    Last night, Jiang Shaocheng had kissed her till she was breathless¨Cthen turned his back to her without warning. Dazed as she was, she had only managed to ask, ¡°What¡¯s wrong, dear?¡± He had insisted he was fine, but Tang Qiu wondered if he had been withdrawing from her in shame. His wife had been right next to him, yet he couldn¡¯t¡­


    With her medical knowledge, it wasn¡¯t hard to imagine that a man without the ability to perform would view it as a weakness, a failure on the part of his masculinity.


    ***


    Tang Qiu and Xie Qingqing were eating together in the canteen when Niu Caijie approached them, her expression smug. ¡°I have news for you, Tang Qiu.¡±


    Tang Qiu grabbed her friend¡¯s arm, intending to move to another table, but Niu Caijie seized her wrist. ¡°I slept with Ning Mufan,¡± she dered. ¡°You¡¯re not jealous, are you? He was so strong, so vigorous¡­ I couldn¡¯t get enough of him.¡±


    Her words only left Tang Qiu irked and disgusted. Xie Qingqing, on the other hand, didn¡¯t bother with restraint. ¡°What¡¯s there to be jealous of? Why don¡¯t you show us a video too, if you¡¯re so proud of what you did?¡± She ran a critical eye up and down Niu Caijie¡¯s body. ¡°On second thought, forget I asked. There¡¯s not much of you to grab, and your face looks like someone threw up on it. I don¡¯t want to lose my appetite.¡±


    Niu Caijie pped her across the face.


    ¡°I know what you¡¯re really thinking, you bitch.¡± Her face was contorted with rage. ¡°You¡¯re just jealous because you like Ning Mufan, right? Listen: you¡¯re not good enough for him. I¡¯ve already slept with him, there¡¯s no use pining after him. Good luck finding a man willing to use your body in the future.¡±


    ¡°You¡­¡± Xie Qingqing clutched her cheek. ¡°How dare you? I¡¯ll kill you!¡±


    She lunged forward.


    Tang Qiu was startled. Then she was pouncing on Niu Caijie like they were wildcats, tearing at her hair, kicking out, limbs iling blindly. It was one thing to bully her¨Cand another to hit her best friend. Niu Caijie fell backwards with a howl of pain. Her hair was ruffled, and scratches littered her face and neck. ¡°You¡¯ll pay for this!¡± she screamed, stabbing a finger at both of them.


    ¡°What are you so proud of?¡± Xie Qingqing yelled back. ¡°You slept with him, that¡¯s all. Do you think that automatically makes him yours? We all know about your family situation; he probably used you as he would a gutter whore. You both sicken me. You want to fight? Bring it on!¡±


    A misunderstanding. The idea was so ludicrous. What misunderstanding could there be, unless Niu Caijie had forced herself on Ning Mufan? And she had wanted her best friend to end up with him, like an idiot. She met Tang Qiu¡¯s gaze. They didn¡¯t want to escte things¨Cbut neither would Niu Caijie let the matter rest.


    Xie Qingqing hoisted Niu Caijie up by the arm and shoved her against the wall. Her cheek was still stinging, so her handshed out and pped Niu Caijie across the face.


    ¡°Weren¡¯t you just bragging about being Ning Mufan¡¯s woman? Where is he now? Call for your hero¡­ see if hees to save you!¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± A male voice sounded from behind them.

 Chapter 56 - The Young Mistress Got Into A Fight

    <h4>Chapter 56: The Young Mistress Got Into A Fight</h4>


    It was a professor who had just finished teaching ss.


    A gleam entered Niu Caijie¡¯s eyes. ¡°Help me, professor!¡± she wailed. ¡°They¡¯re bullying me!¡±


    ***


    Jiang Shaocheng was in the midst of a meeting in his study when He Lei entered.


    Whatever news he had, it was urgent.


    Jiang Shaocheng called the meeting to a halt and dismissed everyone. ¡°What happened?¡± he demanded.


    ¡°The young mistress got into a fight in school.¡±


    He froze. ¡°Is she hurt?¡±


    ¡°No.¡± He Lei struggled tomunicate the truth. ¡°She¡­ she started it, I think. A professor stopped them and brought them to his office. It¡¯ll be a ck mark on her student record; they might refuse to award her a schrship.¡±


    Jiang Shaocheng stormed out. He Lei chased after him. ¡°Your wheelchair, Young Master. I know you¡¯re worried about the young mistress, but don¡¯t forget, you¡¯re still pretending to be disabled.¡±


    Jiang Shaocheng had masqueraded as a cripple for more than a decade; he was used to the act. But now, that wheelchair was nothing but a burden, and he loathed it more than ever.


    ***


    Wails echoed in the staffroom, the high-pitched whine of a dying animal.


    Xie Qingqing winced, her hands flying to her ears. She nudged Tang Qiu, as if to say,?<i>Can you believe this?</i>


    To say Tang Qiu was annoyed was a gross understatement. She had been interrupted during her meal, so she had to endure Niu Caijie¡¯s crocodile tears on an empty stomach¨Cwhich might have been a blessing in disguise, since the other woman¡¯s performance was nothing short of nauseating.


    ¡°I was just talking to them, and they attacked me,¡± Niu Caijie bawled. ¡°If you hadn¡¯t arrived in time, I would have been beaten to death!¡±


    Xie Qingqing had had enough. ¡°How shameless can you get, Niu Caijie?¡± she demanded, gesturing to her still-red cheek. ¡°Why don¡¯t you tell the professor about how you hit me first? Who do you think you are, that I shouldn¡¯t fight back when you started it?¡±


    ¡°I didn¡¯t.¡± Niu Caijie let her lip tremble. ¡°Stop ndering me. Lying only makes yourself look worse, Xie Qingqing. Why would I attack you?¡±


    Xie Qingqing raised her hand, only for Tang Qiu to grab her wrist. ¡°Save it,¡± she said. ¡°You¡¯ll just dirty your hand.¡±


    Xie Qingqing¡¯s head sviweled to Niu Caijie. ¡°Don¡¯t think you can twist the truth just because the professor¡¯s around. I¡¯m not as forgiving as Tang Qiu¨CI won¡¯t let this slide.¡±


    ¡°Look at her, professor,¡± Niu Caijie whimpered, looking at him like an abused puppy. ¡°Threatening me like that¡­ she¡¯s scaring me.¡±


    The professor was in his forties; his wife had died before her time, and his instincts led him to protect the frightened girl quivering before him. ¡°You¡¯re a bold one, threatening a fellow student,¡± he barked at Xie Qingqing. ¡°Apologize now!¡±


    ¡°Apologize?¡± Xie Qingqing shot back. ¡°She hit me first!¡±


    ¡°What kind of attitude is that? I saw you and Tang Qiu bullying Niu Caijie with my own eyes. If you continue to argue, I¡¯ll have you charged with a major offense. Is that what you want?¡±


    Tang Qiu leapt in before Xie Qingqing could open her mouth. A major offense would be a blemish on her friend¡¯s student record¨Cover Niu Caijie, of all people. ¡°It¡¯s not worth it,¡± she whispered. ¡°We¡¯ve already had our revenge by beating her up. They¡¯re just words. We don¡¯t have to mean them.¡±


    The fury in Xie Qingqing rescinded slightly, like a wave withdrawing from the sand. She didn¡¯t care what happened to her¨Cbut Tang Qiu needed that schrship. She stared at Niu Caijie, her gaze alight with hatred. ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± she gritted out.


    Tang Qiu echoed her sentiments without sincerity. ¡°Can we leave now?¡±


    Their words briefly soothed Niu Caijie¡¯s wounded ego, before she remembered how they had humiliated her. ¡°If you¡¯re truly sorry, you ought to cover my medical fees. You married a rich man, Tang Qiu¨Cthat shouldn¡¯t be too hard for you, right?¡±


    A handprint still marked her cheek, along with scratch marks. The professor nodded. ¡°You both attacked her. You ought to pay for her fees.¡±


    Tension gripped Tang Qiu¡¯s body. It was one thing to swallow her pride and apologize, but for Niu Caijie to exploit the situation for money¨Cthat was too much.


    ¡°Watch yourself, Niu Caijie,¡± she warned.


    Niu Caijie buried her face in her hands and resumed her sobbing. ¡°You hit me, but you won¡¯tpensate me?¡± Her finances had been tighttely; she wasn¡¯t about to let the opportunity to extort their money slide¨Cespecially with the professor backing her.


    A harshugh tore from Xie Qingqing. ¡°Do you need to get your brain checked?¡±

 Chapter 57 - Don’t Get Into Fights You Can’t Win

    <h4>Chapter 57: Don¡¯t Get Into Fights You Can¡¯t Win</h4>


    Niu Caijie¡¯s lips twisted in a smirk. ¡°Whatever you say. Both of you still have topensate me. Remember this, Xie Qingqing, the next time you think of raising a hand to me.¡±


    Xie Qingqing turned to Tang Qiu, suddenly¨Ceerily¨Ccalm. ¡°Stay out of the way.¡±


    ¡°Why?¡±


    ¡°Because I¡¯m going to kill this shameless woman, and I don¡¯t want you to be covered in blood.¡±


    <i>Trust me</i>, Tang Qiu wanted to say,?<i>if murder wasn¡¯t a crime, I¡¯d help you.?</i>


    As if on cue, tears began streaming down Niu Caijie¡¯s face. ¡°Will they attack me once I leave, Professor? What if I have nightmares about them? I don¡¯t have the money for a psychiatrist¡­¡±


    The professor fixed the two of them with a scathing look. ¡°You hit her, then threaten her. Your arrogance is too much. Refuse topensate her, and you¡¯ll be expelled.¡±


    ¡°Expelled?¡± Niu Caijie echoed, pouncing on the professor¡¯s support for her. She arched a taunting brow at Tang Qiu. ¡°There¡¯s no need for that, Professor. What would happen to them? Their lives would be ruined¡­¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re too softhearted, Niu Caijie,¡± he lectured her. ¡°It¡¯s only right that theypensate you¨Cotherwise, they might get ideas about bullying you in the future.¡±


    ¡°Since she¡¯s so magnanimous¡­¡± A male voice rang out from the doorway, ¡°¡­ why is she demanding money from my wife?¡± The words were even, but they struck true, like an arrow sailing through the air and finding its target in their hearts.


    Everyone¡¯s eyes darted to the source of the voice.


    It was a man seated in a wheelchair. His lower visage was concealed by a mask, but his eyes were searing cold. Even wheelchair-ridden, he carried himself with all the contempt and power of an emperor looking down on his subjects.


    ¡°Dear?¡± Tang Qiu blurted out. She pushed back her seat and crossed the room, squatting down in front of him. ¡°What are you doing here? Where¡¯s He Lei?¡±


    Jiang Shaocheng stroked her head. ¡°My wife is being mistreated. How could I note?¡± Her money was meant for his treatment¨Che wouldn¡¯t let anyone take it from her.


    ¡°It¡¯s nothing,¡± she insisted helplessly. ¡°I can handle it.¡±


    ¡°Even so, I can¡¯t just leave you like this.¡±


    She had no choice but to push him in. The professor studied the neer: a cripple, hiding who-knows-what under his mask. ¡°Tang Qiu beat up and threatened a fellow student,¡± he dered. ¡°She deserves to be punished¨Cregardless of whoever you are.¡±


    ¡°And have you found out why Tang Qiu attacked her in the first ce? There¡¯s a winner and loser in every fight¨Cwhy should the loser receive money? It¡¯s called survival of the fittest. Or aren¡¯t you smart enough to understand that, Professor?¡±


    He spoke so unflinchingly, Xie Qingqing nearly apuded him. A sickly cripple he may be, but even from the wheelchair, he projected a dominance that made him seem twice as physically imposing.<i>?Not bad.?</i>¡°Exactly,¡± she echoed. ¡°You shouldn¡¯t get into fights you can¡¯t win. What¡¯s the point of crying now? Shameless thing.¡±


    ¡°You ganged up on me!¡± Niu Caijie screeched.


    ¡°I witnessed Tang Qiu and Xie Qingqing bullying Niu Caijie.¡± The professor was disgusted by Jiang Shaocheng¡¯s words. ¡°We are an institution that takes pride in our learning. No matter the reason, such disgraceful behavior will not be tolerated. Who are you, anyway, to barge in like this?¡±


    Jiang Shaocheng looked at Tang Qiu expectantly. She couldn¡¯t bear for them to treat him like this, so she said coldly, ¡°He¡¯s my husband, Jiang Shaocheng. You didn¡¯t even try and find out why we were fighting, Professor. You just assumed it was our fault. How is that fair? We were willing to let it go, but topensate her? No. We can¡¯t, and we won¡¯t.¡±


    ¡°You attacked me. I?<i>deserve</i>?to bepensated!¡± Niu Caijie studied the man in the wheelchair. She recalled what Feng Yao had said, that Tang Qiu had married a rich man. Indeed, the cripple¡¯s suit was an expensive one, as was the watch disyed on his wrist. Already, her head was swimming with calctions of how much money she could extort from him.


    ¡°Compensated for a p?¡± Jiang Shaocheng sneered. ¡°Are you certain?¡±


    ¡°Of course. Why? Are you going to pay up?¡±


    ¡°No!¡± Tang Qiu grabbed his hand. ¡°We didn¡¯t do anything wrong¨Cif she hadn¡¯t hit Qingqing first, I wouldn¡¯t have attacked her. Even Qingqing¡¯s own parents have never pped her like that. What right did Niu Caijie have?¡±


    ¡°I know.¡± He met her gaze. ¡°I won¡¯t waste my money on her.¡±


    Tang Qiu nodded in understanding. Xie Qingqing¡¯s eyes wandered to their intertwined hands. They seemed¡­fortable together. There was a synergy, a trust, almost, that could have passed forpatibility. She shook off the thought. ¡°Tang Qiu¡¯s right. We won¡¯t pay her a cent.¡±

 Chapter 58 - Rightful Compensation

    <h4>Chapter 58: Rightful Compensation</h4>


    ¡°I didn¡¯t attack you,¡± Niu Caijie insisted, falling back into her performance of sniveling vulnerability. ¡°You¡¯re the ones who bullied me unreasonably. Professor, please¡­ I¡¯m so scared.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t be afraid,¡± the professor assured her. ¡°I won¡¯t let them get away with hurting you.¡± He leveled a withering re at Tang Qiu. ¡°Bargaining is useless. Refuse topensate her again, and I¡¯ll have you expelled¨CI promise.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m looking for Professor Zhao Guohao.¡± A deep, masculine voice traveled into the office from outside the door, followed by its owner.


    The principal.


    ¡°Principal Pang,¡± Zhao Guohao greeted, startled. ¡°What can I do for you?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not here for you,¡± the principal replied, his bespectacled gaze tinged with the barest hint of dry contempt. ¡°I¡¯m here to witness how exactly you dispense justice¨Cif you can call it that.¡±


    Zhao Guohao¡¯s eyes dropped. It was true he hadn¡¯t taken care to investigate the reason behind the fight in the cafeteria. But he had seen the two girls beating Niu Caijie up, and she was so delicate; she couldn¡¯t possibly hurt a fly. They had even threatened her in his presence. Wasn¡¯t that evidence enough that they were in the wrong? ¡°Why do you say that, Principal Pang?¡±


    The principal¡¯s name was Pang Cunshen. His eyes flickered to the man in the wheelchair, then Niu Caijie. ¡°You¡¯ll have to ask her,¡± he said coldly.


    Niu Caijie didn¡¯t understand why she had been targeted, so she resorted to weeping again. ¡°I don¡¯t know what you¡¯re talking about,¡± she whimpered. ¡°You¡¯re frightening me.¡±


    ¡°You weren¡¯t too frightened to hit a fellow student earlier.¡± Principal Pang¡¯s gaze glinted like the tip of a dagger. He had encountered all kinds of pupils before, but never one as outrageously barefaced as Niu Caijie.


    ¡°I didn¡¯t. How can you frame me like that, Principal Pang? They were bullying me!¡±


    ¡°Answer me this, Niu Caijie: did you start the fight?¡± The principal¡¯s tone was harsh with ice and steel.


    He was utterly unmoved by her teary-eyed pleas. A bolt of fear¨Creal this time¨Cshot down Niu Caijie¡¯s spine. ¡°Help me, professor,¡± she begged,tching onto her only source of support in the room.


    The professor said nothing. It hadn¡¯t escaped his attention that she had failed to answer the principal¡¯s question. For the first time, a bud of doubt blossomed in his heart.


    ¡°You leave me no choice, then.¡± The principal turned to the doorway. ¡°You cane in now.¡±


    Three students walked into the office. Dread sank in Niu Caijie¡¯s chest like a physical weight.


    ¡°Tell me what happened.¡±


    One of the students replied, ¡°After school, we happened to see Niu Caijie bothering Tang Qiu. The three of them quarreled for a bit before Niu Caijie pped Xie Qingqing, who defended herself, backed by Tang Qiu. They were just teaching her a lesson when the professor came by.¡±


    Cold sweat broke out over Professor Zhao¡¯s forehead. He had been fooled by Niu Caijie¡¯s doll-like appearance.


    Niu Caijie¡¯s face turned a bloodless white. She hadn¡¯t expected the principal to personally investigate the matter¨Cor call upon witnesses. ¡°No!¡± she burst out, sumbing to her panic. ¡°They¡¯re lying. They¡¯re helping Tang Qiu to frame me!¡± As long as she didn¡¯t admit her guilt, they couldn¡¯t touch her. At most, she would rescind her demands forpensation.


    ¡°I knew you would deny it.¡± Everyone¡¯s heads spun to Jiang Shaocheng, seated in his wheelchair. ¡°So I went to obtain video evidence.¡±


    This was He Lei¡¯s cue. He entered the office with his phone in hand, disying a video of the incident in the cafeteria. Had Niu Caijie known she was being recorded, she might have stayed her hand. Earlier, He Lei had been busy looking for footage of the scuffle and finding the principal¨Call necessary measures to force Niu Caijie to cease her lies, lest she push the me to Tang Qiu.


    The principal spoke first. ¡°Are you going to deny your guilt, Niu Caijie? Again?¡±


    Even beneath her makeup, Niu Caijie had gone ghastly pale. With nowhere left to run, she could only sob and beg for mercy. ¡°They insulted me first. I was so angry, I wasn¡¯t thinking¡­¡±


    ¡°You were the one who started it,¡± Xie Qingqing interjected, a little too hastily. ¡°Why would we insult you for no reason?¡±


    Wordlessly, Niu Caijie continued to let her tears flow. It was the men she needed to convince¨Cas long as they didn¡¯t pursue the matter, nothing would happen to her.


    Unfortunately, she was dealing with Jiang Shaocheng.


    ¡°Earlier, she said that she should bepensated for being attacked,¡± Jiang Shaocheng said calmly. ¡°In that case, she shouldpensate them fornding the first blow. How much do you think is appropriate?¡±

 Chapter 59 - Contribution to Society

    <h4>Chapter 59: Contribution to Society</h4>


    Professor Zhao leapt on his words. ¡°That¡¯s right. She shouldpensate them. A hundred yuan should do it, as long as she apologizes, too.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s too much,¡± Niu Caijie spat.


    ¡°Fine. Then I guess you¡¯ll just be expelled,¡± Xie Qingqing sneered.


    Niu Caijie might have lunged at Xie Qingqing and torn her eyes out, if Tang Qiu¡¯s voice hadn¡¯t stopped her in her tracks. ¡°You demanded the same from us earlier,¡± she said. ¡°Consider this us returning the favor. Don¡¯t bother crying¨Cjust take it as your meager contribution to society.¡±


    This time, Niu Caijie¡¯s tears were born of rage. She couldn¡¯t bear to part with her money¨Cbut neither could she afford to be expelled. She had no choice but to take out her phone and transfer the designated sum to them. To everyone¡¯s surprise, Xie Qingqing immediately gave the money to Principal Pang, requesting that it be used as a donation to the school. He praised her, and even gave her additional credits.


    Fury stole Niu Caijie¡¯s breath. With hatred pouring from her heart, she turned to leave, but He Lei blocked her way. ¡°You¡¯ve already taken my money,¡± she hissed. ¡°What more do you want?¡±


    ¡°You owe them an apology. Money alone can¡¯tpensate for your actions. This is an educational institution¨Cmorals and character are what matter. Wouldn¡¯t you agree, Professor Zhao?¡±


    The professor had been trying to fade into the background. He nodded awkwardly.


    ¡°Wise sentiments for someone who used Tang Qiu of being at fault without clearly investigating the incident.¡±


    Professor Zhao had been tricked¨Cmanipted¨Cby Niu Caijie. Indignation swelled in his chest, spilling into fury. But his pride wouldn¡¯t let him admit to a student that he had been wrong, so he ordered, ¡°Apologize now, Niu Caijie.¡±


    ¡°Marypensation isn¡¯t enough,¡± the principal added. ¡°As our student, we want you to learn from your mistakes.¡±


    Helpless to retort, Niu Caijie was about to grit out an apology when again, Tang Qiu spoke over her. ¡°That reminds me: you were supposed to write me an apology letter. You can add this to your list of wrongdoings. The principal and professor can bear witness; if I don¡¯t receive that letter, you¡¯ll be punished. Isn¡¯t that right, Professor Zhao?¡±


    Professor Zhao nodded; he knew he deserved to shoulder some of the me. ¡°Do as she says, Niu Caijie. Remember, we still have the authority to expel you.¡±


    ¡°I will,¡± Niu Caijie seethed. All these people, piling on support for Tang Qiu. It was so easy for her, that bitch. She faced He Lei. ¡°Heard that? Now get out of the way.¡±


    He Lei waited for Jiang Shaocheng¡¯s nod of approval before obeying.


    When she was gone, the principal asked, smiling, ¡°Mr Jiang, it¡¯s lunchtime. Would you be willing to have a meal with us?¡±.


    Jiang Shaocheng waved his hand. ¡°I have to return home for my dose of medicine. Thank you for resolving the matter.¡±


    ¡°Whatever happens in the school is my responsibility.¡± Principal Pang shot a meaningful look at Professor Zhao, whose head bowed in fear.


    He didn¡¯t recognize the man in the wheelchair, but for Principal Pang to treat him with such respect, he must surely be someone important. Though that did little to distract from his anger at being lied to by Niu Caijie.


    ¡°Professor Zhao acted thoughtlessly,¡± the professor continued, his eyes never straying from him. ¡°I apologize on his behalf.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re too polite.¡± Jiang Shaocheng coughed. ¡°It¡¯s alright¨Cas long as it doesn¡¯t happen again.¡±


    Picking up on the subtle warning, the principal nodded, then red at Zhao Guohao.


    Avoidance was no longer an option. Zhao Guohao stepped forward and addressed Tang Qiu and Xie Qingqing. ¡°It was my fault for not uncovering the truth properly,¡± he admitted. ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s fine,¡± Xie Qingqing said with a fake smile. ¡°Far be it from us to hold a grudge against you, Professor. Just keep an eye on Niu Caijie so she doesn¡¯t go around pping people, okay?¡±


    ¡°I will.¡± Zhao Guohao¡¯s lips twitched awkwardly. ¡°Do let me know if she causes trouble for you again.¡±


    Jiang Shaocheng¡¯s patience for such trivialities was running out; he gave Tang Qiu¡¯s hand a tug. She understood. ¡°My husband is tired,¡± she said. ¡°We¡¯ll make a move first.¡±


    With that, she pushed him out of the room. Only when they were gone did some of the tension leave Principal Pang and Professor Zhao. That is, until Professor Zhao found out the identity of the crippled man: the young master of the Jiangs. Regardless of his rtionship with his family, he wasn¡¯t someone to be trifled with. He found himself looking at Tang Qiu through a new lens.

 Chapter 60 - Truly Not Tempted?

    <h4>Chapter 60: Truly Not Tempted?</h4>


    Tang Qiu remained unaware of the professor and principal¡¯s heightened scrutiny of her. ¡°Shall I treat you to a meal with your friend?¡± her husband asked as they left the school.


    ¡°I thought you had to go back and take your medicine.¡±


    ¡°I just wanted to get out of there. I don¡¯t even need medicine anymore.¡±


    To Xie Qingqing, he said, ¡°Are you free? You should get your injury treated too, shouldn¡¯t you?¡±


    Xie Qingqing blinked in surprise. She hadn¡¯t forgotten how this man had all bute to their rescue earlier; without him, she and Tang Qiu would still be in hot water. Luckily, she wasn¡¯t vain, so she touched the handprint on her face and said, ¡°It¡¯s nothing. And yes, I¡¯m free¨Cwhatever you choose to eat will be fine.¡±


    ¡°How about beef noodles?¡± Tang Qiu suggested.


    Xie Qingqing gaped. ¡°How stingy of you, Tang Qiu. Your husband agreed to treat us, and you choose beef noodles?¡±


    ¡°Take it or leave it.¡±


    ¡°Fine.¡±


    Jiang Shaocheng knew his wife was thrifty by nature, but now wasn¡¯t the time. ¡°I can afford it, Qiu,¡± he whispered to her.


    ¡°We were going to eat beef noodles anyway,¡± she replied quietly.


    He said nothing, choosing to leave it at that. He had offered to treat them partly to change Xie Qingqing¡¯s opinion of him, so she would stop badmouthing him to Tang Qiu. They arrived at the noodle shop and bought a few boiled eggs, which Tang Qiu rubbed gently over her friend¡¯s face. The red handprint faded, slowly but surely.


    Throughout their conversation, Xie Qingqing studied Jiang Shaocheng. She was just pondering the reason for his mask when he removed it¨Cand she understood. She managed to mp down on her cry of rm in the nick of time. In her difort, her gaze darted to Tang Qiu.


    When the food arrived, Jiang Shaocheng gave all his beef to Tang Qiu, the affection in his gesture unmistakeable. With a smile, he said to Xie Qingqing, ¡°Don¡¯t stand on ceremony.¡±


    ¡°Around her? Of course not.¡± She lowered her head and dug into her noodles, trying to spare herself the sight of him. Even still, she had to admit that the man¨Cscars or not¨Ctreated Tang Qiu well, which was more than she had expected from a member of the Jiang family. No wonder Tang Qiu thought he was a decent man.


    After they were done, Tang Qiu still had sses in the afternoon, so she sent her husband off as he boarded his car. ¡°Stay strong, dear. You¡¯ll recover in no time.¡±


    ¡°If you want to encourage me, actions speak louder than words.¡±


    Tang Qiu eyed Xie Qingqing in the background, and he switched tactics. ¡°Never mind, then. We¡¯ll save it for tonight.¡±


    A memory of his kissesst night¨Cdeep and long¨Cbrought a blush to Tang Qiu¡¯s cheeks. ¡°You should get going.¡±


    ¡°Is that a yes?¡± He wasn¡¯t about to dy his pleasure without the promise of itter.


    Left with no choice, Tang Qiu nodded. Jiang Shaocheng grasped her hand, taking advantage of her distraction to slip a listening device in her pocket. ¡°Call me if you need anything.¡±


    Oblivious, Tang Qiu smiled and waved as he left.


    He Lei had witnessed the interaction; it surprised him. Did he still not trust Tang Qiu? But then he thought of how the young master couldn¡¯t enjoy his wife¡¯s body as a normal man would, and his possessiveness made a degree of sense.


    His young master had already donned a set of earphones. Confused, He Lei asked, ¡°If you suspect the young mistress so much, why let her leave the house at all?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not her I suspect. I just want to hear what Xie Qingqing has to say.¡±


    ¡°Oh?¡±


    ¡°Xie Qingqing is my wife¡¯s close friend.¡± Jiang Shaocheng cast an icy look his way. ¡°They¡¯ll definitely speak about me¡­ and whatever she says will surely influence my wife in some way.¡±


    He Lei was a little taken aback. Since when did his young master care about the opinions of others? Had his rtionship with Tang Qiu somehow chipped away his confidence?


    ***


    Back in school, Xie Qingqing couldn¡¯t restrain herself any longer. ¡°What¡¯s wrong with your taste?¡± she asked bluntly, looking Tang Qiu in the eye. ¡°How can you be so happy married to that hideous man?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s my choice to be married to him.¡± Tang Qiu red at her. ¡°So what if he¡¯s ugly? It¡¯s not like it¡¯ll kill me¡­ besides, it¡¯s just his scars. He got them from an ident. I still feel sorry for him.¡±


    ¡°What about Ning Mufan? He¡¯s so handsome; you don¡¯t have feelings for him at all?¡±


    Listening in secret, Jiang Shaocheng went on edge in anticipation of her response. Discounting everything else, Ning Mufan was, admittedly, rather good looking. Was Tang Qiu truly not tempted by him in the slightest?

 Chapter 61 - Do You Feel Anything?

    <h4>Chapter 61: Do You Feel Anything?</h4>


    Tang Qiuughed. ¡°So what if he¡¯s handsome? There are many attractive people in this world; can I possibly fall for them all?¡±


    ¡°But he likes you. Have you seen the way he looks at you? You can¡¯t have not noticed.¡±


    ¡°Drop it. Do you think I could be happy with someone like him? He slept with another woman right after he confessed to me. If this is what his feelings are worth, I don¡¯t want him. My husband isn¡¯t good-looking, but I trust that he would never cheat on me¨Cand that¡¯s enough.¡±


    It wasn¡¯t that Xie Qingqing thought Ning Mufan¡¯s character was anything to boast about¡ªhe had, after all, been willing to sleep with someone like Niu Caijie¨Cbut as a prospective partner, he was still leaps and bounds better than Jiang Shaocheng. ¡°How are you so certain?¡±


    ¡°Because my husband is disabled,¡± Tang Qiu replied instantly. ¡°There¡¯s nothing for me to worry about.¡±


    ¡°Right. I forgot. Poor girl. You¡¯re stuck with a husband who can¡¯t please you. Listen to me, Tang Qiu: a couple¡¯s rtionship, when deprived of intimacy, can¡¯t possibly blossom. As time goes by, you¡¯ll start feeling emptier and emptier¡­¡±


    Jiang Shaocheng¡¯s jaw tightened. Just wait. He would show Tang Qiu what ¡®intimacy¡¯ was¨Cin due time.


    ***


    In the afternoon, Tang Qiu returned home, eager to see her husband¨Conly to find him chatting andughing with another woman. Her heart skipped a beat, and her smile dropped. She stood at the door, watching them in silence.


    ¡°You¡¯re back, Qiu,¡± Jiang Shaocheng called. ¡°Ke Liuyi made some pastries,e try them.¡±


    Her husband used to wait for her at the door when she came home. The sight of him enjoying pastries with another woman birthed a niggling feeling in Tang Qiu¡¯s gut.


    She took a bite of the pastry he offered her, and a spark entered her eyes despite herself. ¡°I didn¡¯t know you were such a skilled baker too,¡± she told Ke Liuyi. Her praise was genuine; such treats had been a rarity in the past, and the tasty dessert helped soothe her slightly.


    ¡°Thank Shaocheng,¡± Ke Liuyi said, never blinking. ¡°Back then, he didn¡¯t have much appetite. As his doctor, I had to find a way to coax him to eat.¡±


    Tang Qiu barely heard her words as she polished off the pastry and reached for another one. Jiang Shaocheng stopped her. ¡°I asked you to try the pastries, not keep devouring them. You shouldn¡¯t eat too many snacks before dinner.¡±


    Tang Qiu¡¯s hand dropped reluctantly. ¡°I¡¯ll go prepare dinner, then.¡±


    She hadn¡¯t risen to the bait. Ke Liuyi extinguished her temper before it could spring to life, like the errant spark of a me. ¡°I¡¯ve already made dinner, Mrs Shaocheng,¡± she replied with an affable smile.


    ¡°¡­ Oh. In that case, thank you.¡± Tang Qiu still didn¡¯t think it was right for Ke Liuyi to trouble herself, but she let it slide for now. ¡°Do call me Qiu instead, Doctor Ke. ¡®Mrs Shaocheng¡¯ sounds a little strange.¡±


    ¡°As you wish.¡± Ke Liuyi pretended to cast a helpless smile at Jiang Shaocheng.?<i>Look, this woman doesn¡¯t want to be referred to as your wife. Still think she¡¯s good enough for you??</i>¡°You don¡¯t have to be so polite around me, Qiu. I just hope you don¡¯t despise my cooking.¡±


    ¡°Of course not.¡± In fact, the aroma wafting from the table full of dishes was incredibly appetizing.


    ¡°I¡¯ve also already prepared the cutlery and cleaned up the kitchen. Why don¡¯t you take a seat, Qiu?¡±


    Before Tang Qiu could respond, Jiang Shaocheng pulled her towards a chair. ¡°Just rx,¡± he said. ¡°She had the time on her hands, anyway.¡±


    His remark made Liu Keyi¡¯s heart bleed, a small but swift trickle.?<i>I¡¯m doing all this for you</i>, she thought.


    Not that Jiang Shaocheng would have cared, even if he knew.


    After dinner, Tang Qiu consulted a diagram of human anatomy in her textbook and asked, ¡°Dear, how are your legs now?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m starting to feel a little sensation in them.¡±


    Tang Qiu¡¯s eyes lit up. Abandoning her book, she squatted beside his wheelchair and pinched his legs. ¡°How about this? Do you feel anything?¡±


    He stared at her, words failing him.

 Chapter 62 - Your Kisses Have A Healing Effect

    <h4>Chapter 62: Your Kisses Have A Healing Effect</h4>


    He wasn¡¯t really crippled, so yes, he could feel her touch¨Cincluding her soft palms against his thighs.


    ¡°A little.¡± He kept his voice indifferent.


    ¡°Really? That¡¯s great.¡± Tang Qiu was ted; she hadn¡¯t been mistaken about her husband¡¯s chances of recovery after all. In her excitement, her grip tightened.


    Jiang Shaocheng couldn¡¯t take it anymore. He pulled her up so she met his gaze. ¡°Are you done reading? I believe you owe me something.¡± He gestured to his lips.


    She had promised him a kiss in the afternoon¨Cand it was just the two of them now. She was about to oblige when there was a knock on the door.


    It was Ke Liuyi, draped in a red nightgown with a ss of milk in hand.


    Jiang Shaocheng¡¯s eyes narrowed at the interruption.


    ¡°For Shaocheng,¡± Ke Liuyi exined. ¡°To help him sleep.¡±


    When Tang Qiu nodded and stretched her hand out, she withdrew the ss. ¡°I¡¯ll do it myself.¡± She brushed past Tang Qiu, giving the other woman a whiff of her scent¨Cfragrant and feminine.


    Ke Liuyi ced the milk on Jiang Shaocheng¡¯s desk. ¡°Remember to finish it,¡± she reminded, and he nodded perfunctorily. With an easy smile, she added, ¡°Rx. I¡¯ll be on my way.¡± She knew her limits, and wasn¡¯t about to risk being on the receiving end of his annoyance.


    After the door was shut and they were alone, Tang Qiu asked, ¡°Did you smell that? Her scent is so nice.¡±


    ¡°No,¡± was all he said.


    Tang Qiu frowned, wondering if there was something wrong with his sense of smell, but then he continued, ¡°We weren¡¯t done yet, Qiu.¡±


    Jiang Shaocheng paid no mind to other women; the only scent he noticed belonged to Tang Qiu¨Csince it drove him wild in her proximity.


    Tang Qiu¡¯s face heated again. ¡°Drink your milk and sleep,¡± she urged.


    Before she could escape, he took hold of her hand. ¡°Only if you share it with me.¡±


    She couldn¡¯t refuse him, so she said, ¡°You first. A sip for me will do.¡±


    Still, he insisted that she drink first. She had just lifted the cup to her mouth when he cupped her by the neck and kissed her. Her eyes widened as the vor of the milk passed between their lips.


    He released her with a smile. ¡°Delicious.¡±


    Tang Qiu swiped the back of her hand across her mouth, an angry flush rising to her face. ¡°You shameless¨C¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re my wife. I¡¯m just having fun with you. Next time, I¡¯ll feed you.¡± He eyed the milk staining the corner of her mouth like a predator to its prey. He took a swallow of milk, then seized her hand and forced his lips on hers.


    Tang Qiu was unable to resist. When the ss of milk was empty, Jiang Shaocheng ran his tongue over his lips with a hungry look. She stared at him. Something wasn¡¯t right¨Cher husband seemed to have grown stronger. And¡­


    ¡°Dear, I noticed you don¡¯t cough when you¡¯re around me.¡±


    When Jiang Shaocheng was around others, he would periodically punctuate his sentences with coughs; however, this aspect of his performance had entirely slipped his mind with her. A gleam entered his eyes as they settled on her rosy mouth.


    ¡°Your kisses must be helping to cure me, then.¡±


    ¡°My kisses?¡± Tang Qiu had yet to graduate, but she was a medical student¡ªand no fool.


    ¡°Kisses have a healing effect. Go check it out if you don¡¯t believe me.¡±


    His words lingered in Tang Qiu¡¯s mind¨Calong with her doubts¨Ctill the next day in the library. Ning Mufan was there too. She turned to leave, but he ran up to her and engulfed her in an embrace. ¡°I know you loved me deep down, Qiu,¡± he said. ¡°I love you, too¡­¡±


    She was taken back to that morning, when she had bumped into Qian Hongwei outside Professor Sun¡¯s office.


    ***


    Qian Hongwei was easygoing by nature, and getting along with him was almost effortless. It caught her off-guard when he said, ¡°I hear you¡¯re a married woman.¡±

 Chapter 63 - A Slap in the Library

    <h4>Chapter 63: A p in the Library</h4>


    News of her husband¡¯s visit to the school¨Cand her marriage¨Cmust have spread. Niu Caijie had been there to bear witness, so there was no point denying it.


    ¡°Didn¡¯t think you¡¯d go for a cripple.¡± He ced a hand on her shoulder. ¡°You can do better.¡±


    She didn¡¯t want to get into all the details involving the Fengs regarding her marriage, so she simply brushed his hand off. ¡°I like him,¡± she argued. ¡°And he¡¯s not crippled, only injured; he¡¯ll recover sooner orter. Also, please stop touching me so casually.¡±


    ¡°Why? We¡¯re close, and that¡¯s how I usually interact with people. But wait¨Cyou said your husband would recover?¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s undergoing treatment.¡± In her excitement, she couldn¡¯t help adding, ¡°Justst night, he said he felt some sensation in his legs.¡±


    Qian Hongwei narrowed his eyes. ¡°So you think he¡¯ll recover soon?¡± he asked, to which she nodded.


    If Tang Qiu was paying attention, she would have noticed the shadow that fell over Qian Hongwei¡¯s face. If Jiang Shaocheng recovered, it would threaten his younger brother¡¯s standing. Jiang Ming was one of the pirs of the Qian family; their position would bepromised too. What¡¯s more, if Jiang Shaocheng got better, it would be even harder to force him to divorce Tang Qiu.


    ***


    Later that day, Qian Hongwei ced a friendly hand on Tang Qiu¡¯s shoulder, heedless of her previous words. ¡°I¡¯ll treat you to lunch.¡±


    She shoved his hand away. ¡°I should be treating you, after all those times you¡¯ve helped me¡­¡±


    He chuckled. ¡°So you don¡¯t hate me after all. Don¡¯t tell me you¡¯re fond of me?¡±


    ¡°I didn¡¯t catch that. What did you say?¡±


    ¡°Nothing.¡±


    After they were done eating, Tang Qiu went off to the library. When she was out of hearing range, Qian Hongwei took out his phone and called Ning Mufan.


    ¡°She¡¯s in the library. Take the chance to clear up your mess. I heard she got into a fight with Niu Caijie. I¡¯m no detective, but I¡¯m cing bets it¡¯s because you slept with her.¡±


    ¡°Nothing happened between me and Niu Caijie!¡± came Ning Mufan¡¯s aggrieved reply. ¡°I was drunk out of my mind, what was I supposed to do?¡±


    Qian Hongwei¡¯s eyes turned hard. He had set Tang Qiu up with Ning Mufan so Jiang Shaocheng would divorce her; he hadn¡¯t expected Ning Mufan to be stupid enough to be snared by Niu Caijie. His face smoothed over into a smile. ¡°Hey, it¡¯s not me you need to convince. Qiu has a soft heart, just talk to her nicely, and she¡¯ll listen¡­¡±


    When they hung up, Qian Hongwei took a moment to ponder what Tang Qiu saw in Jiang Shaocheng that Ning Mufancked. But he was certain he could force her to divorce her husband somehow¨Cand snatch her from Ning Mufan. It had been no easy feat to push the woman he liked into another man¡¯s arms, but it had been a necessary evil. And a temporary one, since one way or another, Tang Qiu would be his.


    ***


    Tang Qiu was shocked by Ning Mufan¡¯s unexpected appearance, and his words. Is he insane? What was he doing, hugging her in public like this?


    It didn¡¯t matter. Her handshed out and pped him across the face.


    Ning Mufan let out a cry of surprise. He reeled back, bbergasted. He was the young master of the Ning family; people had fawned over him since he was a child, never daring to raise a hand to him. Even if he liked Tang Qiu, he couldn¡¯t let this slide¨Cit was a direct insult, a blow to his pride.


    Tang Qiu shoved him away. ¡°I don¡¯t know what you¡¯re thinking, but listen up: I don¡¯t like you. I never have, and I never will. If this is about Niu Caijie, we fought because she provoked me and Qingqing first, and even hit Qingqing. If you don¡¯t believe me, you can check the security cameras. And for thest time, I¡¯m married. Please, respect that!¡±


    She turned and left him standing there.


    A woman in the corner was recording the scene. Her mouth had been hanging open since Tang Qiu pped Ning Mufan; now it twisted into a smirk.?<i>You¡¯ll pay, Tang Qiu</i>, she thought,?<i>for daring to hit the man I like.?</i>

 Chapter 64 - Quite The Actor

    <h4>Chapter 64: Quite The Actor</h4>


    <h4></h4>


    With knees like jelly, He Lei showed Jiang Shaocheng a video. The chopsticks Jiang Shaocheng had been holding snapped.


    A tremor of fear rolled through He Lei.?<i>I knew this would happen</i>, he thought wearily. Why couldn¡¯t the young mistress just behave herself? What did she stand to gain by embracing another man¨Cand angering her husband?


    ¡°Take me to her school,¡± Jiang Shaochengmanded, and He Lei rushed to obey.


    Ke Liuyi was disgusted that Jiang Shaocheng was going to school to find Tang Qiu¨Cagain¨Cbut she kept her expression pleasant. ¡°Qiu hasn¡¯t finished sses yet, has she? Why are you going to pick her up now?¡±


    He Lei shot her a warning look. Ke Liuyi was tempted to fan the mes of Jiang Shaocheng¡¯s anger, but she restrained herself, if only so he wouldn¡¯t take his temper out on her.


    It didn¡¯t stop her from resenting Tang Qiu even more, though.


    Jiang Shaocheng pinpointed Tang Qiu¡¯s location at a cafe near to her school. He Lei prayed that she would be alone, or at least not with another man. Or else¡­


    As it turned out, his prayers were unanswered.


    ***


    Twenty minutes ago, Jiang Hanchen¡¯s butler found Tang Qiu and sat her down at the cafe. Even wary, Tang Qiu knew she couldn¡¯t refuse¨Cnot with the guards tailing him.


    Once they sat down, the butler said, ¡°Let¡¯s not waste time. I have ten million yuan here with me. It¡¯s yours¨Cas long as you leave Young Master Jiang. I¡¯m sure you¡¯re aware of your status as an illegitimate child. You¡¯re not worthy of our young master¨Cespecially since you¡¯re having an affair. The Jiang family doesn¡¯t want to keep you around. My master sent me here to request that you initiate a divorce.¡±


    Tang Qiu¡¯s fists balled together. She didn¡¯t even look at the check¨Cmoney was important to her, but not at the expense of all else. ¡°I told you, I wasn¡¯t having an affair; it was just a misunderstanding. I won¡¯t divorce him.¡±


    ¡°Twenty million yuan, then. I hope that satisfies you. You don¡¯t want to make my master angry.¡± The butler¡¯s expression was stony with hostility; this woman was truly difficult.


    ¡°You don¡¯t need to worry about me,¡± Tang Qiu shot back. ¡°I¡¯m Jiang Shaocheng¡¯s wife¨Cthe only reason I¡¯d get a divorce is if he wants it. Go back and tell your master that he¡¯s not going to win his son back like this. In fact, why not give the money to my husband? Why waste it on me?¡±


    From a distance, He Lei watched¨Cimpressed by Tang Qiu¨Cas his young master¡¯s expression smoothed over. He breathed a sigh, just as Jiang Shaocheng turned his wheelchair around and pushed himself away.


    The butler struggled to summon words past the chokehold of his fury. ¡°I didn¡¯t expect you to be so bold,¡± he said, stabbing a finger at Tang Qiu. ¡°But I should warn you: my master¡¯s wrath isn¡¯t something you want to incur.¡±


    ¡°And what of my wrath?¡±


    The butler¡¯s head whirled around¨Cand bowed. ¡°Young Master,¡± he greeted, his tone deferential.


    Jiang Shaocheng recognized him; he was called Uncle Yuan. ¡°If you¡¯re going to call me ¡®Young Master¡¯, then maybe you should treat my wife with the appropriate courtesy,¡± he said icily.


    ¡°Young Master¡­ your father is doing this for your sake. He¨C¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t care whether he did it for me, or his reputation. Now get out.¡±


    Uncle Yuan opened his mouth but said nothing; he knew the rtionship between father and son wouldn¡¯t be so easily mended. With the money in hand, he retreated from the cafe.


    It was a surprise to see her husband, but a wee one. ¡°Why are you here?¡± Tang Qiu asked.


    Her smile soothed Jiang Shaocheng slightly, but then her jacket caught his eye,plete with another man¡¯s invisible pawprints. The thought burned like acid. ¡°I missed you,¡± he said simply.


    How clingy. ¡°I¡¯ll be home soon.¡±


    ¡°As long as you¡¯re out of my sight, I can¡¯t possibly be at peace.¡± His words wereced with an underlying meaning.


    His young master was quite the actor, He Lei remarked silently. But Jiang Shaocheng¡¯s next words caught him off-guard.


    ¡°Since you¡¯re here, let¡¯s have a drink together.¡±


    <i>You¡¯re still pretending to be ill</i>, He Lei nearly said.?<i>What happened to being careful?</i>?Still, a look from Jiang Shaocheng was all it took to send him scurrying to buy them both coffee.


    When the coffee arrived, Jiang Shaocheng made sure it wasn¡¯t too hot before passing it to Tang Qiu. His hand trembled, and the coffee sshed onto her jacket, leaving a stain.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Qiu.¡± He let frustration fall over his face. ¡°Why don¡¯t we go buy some new clothes for you?¡±

 Chapter 65 - Weren’t You Tempted?

    <h4>Chapter 65: Weren¡¯t You Tempted?</h4>


    Tang Qiu studied the clothing Jiang Shaocheng had picked out for her without even checking the price. Conscious of their budget, she whispered, ¡°Let¡¯s go to a smaller shop. This is a big mall; the clothes here must be expensive.¡±


    A nce from Jiang Shaocheng was all it took for He Lei to understand. ¡°The clothes are all on discount, Young Mistress,¡± he said.


    Tang Qiu wasn¡¯t familiar with luxury goods, so she couldn¡¯t see past their lies. ¡°I didn¡¯t expect you to be so meticulous about clothing, He Lei, being a man and all.¡±


    ¡°Just doing my duty,¡± he replied pleasantly, leaving to pay for the clothes as she changed.


    When Tang Qiu emerged from the dressing room, she said to her husband, ¡°You¡¯re so good at helping me choose clothes, dear. They¡¯re all so nice.¡±


    ¡°Only because you can pull off anything,¡± he said, taking her hand in his.


    Tang Qiu¡¯s cheeks turned pink. She leaned forward and caught him unawares with a shy kiss.


    Instantly, desirepped at Jiang Shaocheng like the tongues of a me. He wanted more.


    Her husband still hadn¡¯t reacted to the kiss, Tang Qiu noted, observing him in secret. And here she¡¯d thought he would enjoy it.


    ¡°Squat down, Qiu.¡±


    Puzzled, she obeyed. But she didn¡¯t have the time to think, because in the next second his lips were on hers. Although the sensation was familiar by now, his kisses never failed to make her heart race, leaving her flustered and helpless.


    Jiang Shaocheng pulled away and tapped her. ¡°Qiu.¡±


    ¡°Huh? Oh.¡± She quickly stood and collected herself. When she looked in the mirror to smooth her clothes, her cheeks were flushed with heat.


    The other customers watched her kiss Jiang Shaocheng¨Ca scarred, disabled man¨Cwith undisguised contempt. He must be very rich, they mused unkindly. Some people really would do anything for money.


    Not that Tang Qiu cared what people thought of her.


    After changing, she went to collect her old clothes, but He Lei said, ¡°I¡¯ll help you wash this at home, Young Mistress.¡±


    Tang Qiu relented. ¡°By the way, He Lei, do you remember where you got the cup you bought for mest time? Qingqing likes it very much; I was wondering if you could help buy one for her too.¡±


    ¡°I¡­ I don¡¯t remember,¡± He Lei said awkwardly. ¡°I was with the young master. It could have been a clearance sale for all I know.¡± The cup she was referring to was custom-made and had her name engraved on it. Jiang Shaocheng was afraid that Tang Qiu would refuse the gift, so he had asked He Lei to im that it had been cheap.


    ¡°That¡¯s a pity.¡±


    His fingers still intertwined with hers, Jiang Shaocheng asked, ¡°Aren¡¯t you the slightest bit tempted by the money Uncle Yuan offered you?¡±


    Tang Qiu sucked in a long breath. ¡°Yes,¡± she admitted. ¡°Extremely. Twenty million yuan would be more than enough for your treatment. I wanted to lie just so I would get the money¡­ but I didn¡¯t think you would want me to.¡±


    Her response brought a pleased smile to Jiang Shaocheng¡¯s lips. ¡°You¡¯re right. Remember: never betray me for money.¡±


    Tang Qiu raised a brow. ¡°What kind of person do you think I am? Money is important to me, but not more than my principles.¡±


    Jiang Shaocheng cupped her cheek, his heart softening. To him, she was priceless. He decided not to mention anything about him storming down to find her earlier¨Cit must have been Ning Mufan making advances, nothing more.


    ***


    Tang Qiu still had sses, so Jiang Shaocheng went back home with He Lei. As soon as they reached the mansion, he asked He Lei to throw away her coffee-stained jacket.


    Naturally, He Lei obeyed. ¡°Show the video to the head of the Ning family,¡± Jiang Shaocheng ordered. ¡°His grandson dared toy his hands on my wife. If he won¡¯t do anything about it, I will. I hope he doesn¡¯t regret it then.¡±


    He Lei nodded, sensing his young master¡¯s fury simmering beneath the surface.


    ¡°Also, find out who sent you that video. They must be someone close to her, for them to be spying on Qiu and knowing to contact you. Get rid of them, before they cause any trouble.¡±


    ¡°I will.¡±


    ¡°And buy another set of clothes and jewelry. Make sure it costs more than twenty million yuan.¡±


    He Lei agreed. His young master was so unreserved with his spending, unlike his wife, who kept track of every cent. If she knew about this, she would be horrified.


    ***


    After sending off her husband, Tang Qiu bumped into Qian Hongwei again, to her chagrin. ¡°Was that man earlier your husband?¡± he questioned. ¡°You have strange taste in¡­ whatever he is.¡±


    He had been tailing Tang Qiu; the sight of her kissing Jiang Shaocheng had pierced him with hate.

 Chapter 66 - Many Good Qualities

    <h4>Chapter 66: Many Good Qualities</h4>


    Tang Qiu couldn¡¯t restrain herself from smiling at the thought of her husband. ¡°Strange or not, I like him. He¡¯s my husband. I know you think he¡¯s nothing more than an ugly cripple, but I couldn¡¯t ask for a better man. It¡¯s not true that appearance doesn¡¯t matter to me, just that other things are more important. He makes me happy. It¡¯s as simple as that.¡±


    Growing up in the Feng household, she hadcked love and friendship, and been perpetually mistreated. She had never dared to assert her own needs; her husband was more than enough for her¨Cespecially since she was still hopeful about his recovery.


    ¡°Then I guess you¡¯re just easy to please,¡± Qian Hongwei said snidely. She nodded blithely, and he glimpsed what it was like to be in Ning Mufan¡¯s shoes.


    ***


    When Qian Hongwei met up with Ning Mufanter, he saw that his face was red.


    ¡°What happened?¡±


    Ning Mufan raised a self-conscious hand to his face. ¡°I was scratched by a cat.¡±


    A likely story. Tang Qiu must have pped him¨Cwhich, to be fair, was shockinging from a delicate girl like her.


    Qian Hongwei arched a brow. ¡°Are you going to go on chasing the kitten in question, then?¡± he asked knowingly.


    Ning Mufan should have known he couldn¡¯t hide the truth from Qian Hongwei; there was no point denying it. He frowned wordlessly.


    His hesitation sparked a flicker of contempt from Qian Hongwei. ¡°If I recall¡­¡± he said, ¡°¡­ you were the one who refused to ask her out like a man from the start. That girl is dense as a block, but it¡¯s not like you don¡¯t havepetition. You really want to give up and risk someone snatching her up?¡±


    ¡°No.¡± Ning Mufan wasn¡¯t about to admit defeat so readily. ¡°I was just¡­ thinking. She¡¯s a married woman; is there even a point in fighting for her?¡±


    ¡°You¡¯ll only know once you try,¡± Qian Hongwei replied smoothly. He was urging Ning Mufan to pursue Tang Qiu because he wasn¡¯t in a position to risk angering the Jiang family. But Ning Mufan was the favored grandson of the head of the Ning family¨Cjust the right tool to force Tang Qiu to divorce her husband.


    ......


    ¡°I¡¯m not giving up.¡± Nor would Ning Mufan relinquish his feelings for her.


    Relieved, Qian Hongwei patted him on the shoulder and assured Ning Mufan that he would help him.


    ***


    After school, Xie Qingqing couldn¡¯t help eying Tang Qiu¡¯s new, beautiful clothes. ¡°Your outfit didn¡¯te cheap, did it?¡±


    ¡°It did, actually,¡± Tang Qiu dered. ¡°My husband bought it for me. By the way, I asked He Lei about the cup you wanted. He said they just picked it up from a random store; I doubt they have any left in stock.¡±


    Xie Qingqing didn¡¯t mind; her remark had been a passing one. When they reached the school gate, He Lei waved to them. ¡°Let him give you a lift,¡± Tang Qiu said to her friend.


    ¡°There¡¯s no need.¡± Xie Qingqing brushed off the offer, bashful. ¡°My house isn¡¯t on the way.¡±


    He Lei overheard Tang Qiu¡¯s words as he walked over. With a gracious smile, he said, ¡°It¡¯s no trouble, Ms Xie. Do allow me.¡±


    When he put it that way, there was no point standing on ceremony. Xie Qingqing followed Tang Qiu into the car. As they drove, He Lei kept up a steady stream of conversation with Xie Qingqing, hoping to set her at ease.


    After dropping Xie Qingqing off, Tang Qiu received a text from her friend:?<i>Your husband¡¯s chauffeur is quite handsome.</i>


    Tang Qiu stole a nce at He Lei and replied,?<i>Yes, he is. He¡¯s an all-rounder. He helps us with the housework too. We¡¯re lucky, it helps us to save money.?</i>


    Xie Qingqing responded,?<i>Are you going to keep hyping him up, or do you have ns to set us up?</i>


    <i>I¡¯m just proving my husband has great taste in aides</i>, Tang Qiu texted back.?<i>One of his many good qualities.?</i>


    <i>Shut up</i>, came her friend¡¯s reply.


    When they arrived at the mansion, Tang Qiu took a closer look at He Lei. He really was rather attractive.


    ¡°Is something wrong, Young Mistress?¡±


    With augh, Tang Qiu replied, ¡°Someone told me that they think you¡¯re handsome. I must say, they¡¯re right.¡±


    He Lei lifted his head and saw his young master sitting at the doorstep with a brooding expression. The young mistress must be trying to get him killed. Instead of replying, he greeted, ¡°Young Master.¡±


    Tang Qiu ran up to her husband with a smile. Jiang Shaocheng eyed He Lei coldly, a warning lurking in his gaze. His eyes turned warm as he turned to Tang Qiu. ¡°Come on in,¡± he said, patting her head. He shut the door as she pushed him in.


    He Lei stared at the closed door nkly. All that, because the young mistress hadplimented him? His young master was too petty.

 Chapter 67 - Reminded Of Me

    <h4>Chapter 67: Reminded Of Me</h4>


    When she entered the living room, Tang Qiu saw that Ke Liuyi had already prepared dinner. She couldn¡¯t help but praise, ¡°You¡¯re both beautiful and a talented cook, Doctor Ke. Your future husband is a lucky man.¡±


    Ke Liuyi nced at Jiang Shaocheng and smiled. ¡°Qiu sure has a sense of humor. I don¡¯t even have a boyfriend yet.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re so outstanding; it won¡¯t be hard for you to find one. I believe you¡¯ll meet a match worthy of you in the future,¡± Tang Qiu said with sincerity.


    <i>I¡¯ve already met him</i>, Ke Liuyi thought.?<i>You just took him from me.</i>


    ¡°Let¡¯s eat, Qiu,¡± Jiang Shaocheng said.


    Tang Qiu nodded and sat down to eat. Since Ke Liuyi had been thoughtful enough to set the table, she didn¡¯t need to do anything.


    After the meal, she hurried to help, but Jiang Shaocheng stopped her. ¡°Let Doctor Ke do it. You just focus on taking care of your studies. Let¡¯s go upstairs.¡±


    ¡°Alright.¡± Tang Qiu thanked the other woman for her trouble before pushing her husband upstairs.


    Indignation swelled in Ke Liuyi¡¯s chest, overflowing into anger. She did her duties in the kitchen and cooked for Jiang Shaocheng because she wanted to prove she was worthy of being his wife¨Cnot for him to treat her as a servant. In that split second of rage, her arm nearly swept out and sent the cutlery crashing to the floor. The only thing that held her back was that Jiang Shaocheng had allowed her to stay in his house, by his side¨Cand that meant he must care about her somehow.


    When she finished cleaning up the kitchen, she turned around and saw He Lei inviting a dozen people into the house. They were like a small army, loaded with all kinds of jewelry, clothes, shoes, and even skincare products¡­


    They had to be gifts for a woman. Could it be a surprise Jiang Shaocheng had prepared for her? The corners of Ke Liuyi¡¯s mouth curled up as she approached the group. ¡°Set the items down,¡± she instructed. ¡°I want to inspect them.¡±


    They didn¡¯t move, instead looking to He Lei. Only when he nodded did they obey and leave.


    Ke Liuyi examined the abundance of items. Which women wouldn¡¯t enjoy being showered with jewelry and new clothes, let alone from the man of their heart? Excitement raced in her. ¡°Who picked these out?¡± she asked.


    ......


    ¡°The young master, of course.¡± It had taken Jiang Shaocheng the better part of an afternoon, all while putting his work on hold. At that point, He Lei had known it would be useless to try and talk any amount of sense into him.


    Unable to contain her smile any longer, Ke Liuyimented, ¡°He has good taste.¡±


    ¡°He does,¡± He Lei agreed. He selected a watch and ced it on her wrist. ¡°This is a ssic model, worth two million yuan. Not only is it an attractive design, its value is likely to increase in the future. The young master has one of his own. It¡¯s an investment of sorts¨Cafter all, the young master is not a man to suffer losses.¡±


    ¡°It is beautiful.¡± The watch¡¯s mechanism resembled a constetion of stars. Jiang Shaocheng had such a watch too? Didn¡¯t that make this a couple¡¯s set of jewelry?


    Just then, Jiang Shaocheng came downstairs with Tang Qiu, who scanned the items piled on the sofa and table. Thinking Ke Liuyi had bought them all, she asked, ¡°Shall I help you organize your things, Doctor Ke?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s alright.¡± Ke Liuyi¡¯s smile was warm, but her eyes were filled with a serpent¡¯s delight.


    He Lei lifted Ke Liuyi¡¯s wrist so Tang Qiu could see it. ¡°Do you like this watch, Young Mistress?¡±


    Tang Qiu smiled and nodded. ¡°It¡¯s lovely.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯ll look better on you,¡± He Lei said ingratiatingly. ¡°Please try it on, Young Mistress.¡±


    ¡°But¡­ isn¡¯t the watch¡­¡±?<i>Mine??</i>Ke Liuyi stared at He Lei, flummoxed.


    He Lei didn¡¯t spare her a nce. He removed the watch from Ke Liuyi¡¯s wrist and handed it to Tang Qiu. ¡°This watch was bought on sale, Young Mistress. It cost less than a hundred yuan. The young master said that you don¡¯t have a watch of your own, so he bought one for you.¡±


    Ke Liuyi gaped in disbelief. Wasn¡¯t that watch worth two million yuan?


    On her part, Tang Qiu was no less surprised. ¡°But that watch belongs to Doctor Ke.¡±


    ¡°Says who? She was just helping you try it on to see how it looks.¡± He Lei offered the watch to Jiang Shaocheng like a supplicant paying tribute. ¡°Why don¡¯t you help the young mistress wear it, Young Master?¡± There was a silent plea in his eyes:?<i>Don¡¯t be angry, Young Master. I harbor no intentions towards the young mistress.</i>


    Jiang Shaocheng epted the watch and helped Tang Qiu don it. The tinum looked stunning against her fair skin and around her slender wrist. Just as he had expected. ¡°It¡¯s yours, Qiu.¡±


    Tang Qiu thought it was gorgeous too, but her instincts made her say, ¡°I have a phone. I don¡¯t need a watch to tell time. You shouldn¡¯t spend money on my behalf.¡±


    ¡°Okay, I understand.¡± Jiang Shaocheng pinched her cheeks. ¡°Nevertheless, it¡¯s yours. I gave it to you so that you¡¯ll be reminded of me whenever you look at it.¡±

 Chapter 68 - Have A Few Babies

    <h4>Chapter 68: Have A Few Babies</h4>


    Tang Qiu nodded and smiled, still admiring the watch. ¡°Thank you,¡± she said in eptance.


    Like a salesman trying to win over a client, He Lei continued, ¡°These clothes and essories were all bought on discount, Young Mistress. They¡¯re even cheaper than the watch. The young master wanted me to buy some of them for you.¡±


    Tang Qiu frowned, still wary of spending money recklessly. ¡°I don¡¯t usually wear things like this,¡± she admitted. ¡°How much were the discounted prices?¡±


    Sensing her difort, He Lei quickly assured her, ¡°Less than a hundred yuan. Young Mistress, if you don¡¯t have some jewelry to go with your clothes when you go out with your husband, people willugh and point fingers at him for being unable to pamper you with gifts.¡±


    So the items had been affordable. Tang Qiu exhaled in relief. She couldn¡¯t deny that the jewels, sparkling in the light, were stunning.


    Ke Liuyi was at a loss for words. A hundred yuan? Those jewels were worth more than a million yuan! She had been delusional earlier¨Cthese presents were for Tang Qiu, not her, and Jiang Shaocheng was keeping her in the dark about their cost to ward off his wife¡¯s concerns about money. A tremor of rage seized her body.?<i>What makes you so good, Tang Qiu, to have Jiang Shaocheng fawn over you like this? ¡°Read more on newn0vel / org¡±</i>


    Oblivious in her excitement, Tang Qiu reached for the clothes, but Jiang Shaocheng gripped her wrist. ¡°Let me help you wear these earrings, Qiu. I¡¯m sure they¡¯ll look gorgeous on you. Let Doctor Ke help to clear the things.¡± He turned to Ke Liuyi. ¡°That is, if that¡¯s okay with you.¡±


    ¡°Of course,¡± Ke Liuyi uttered through a kind smile and clenched teeth.


    A little bashful, Tang Qiu studied the earrings her husband was holding, with their flowery design and multicolored petals. ¡°They¡¯re beautiful,¡± she remarked. ¡°What are they made of?¡±


    Diamonds¨Cglittering in shades of pink, blue and yellow. ¡°It¡¯s probably ss,¡± he said with a slight smile. ¡°Who cares? As long as they look good on you.¡±


    Tang Qiu couldn¡¯t see a reason to argue, so she let him help her put the earrings on. She gazed at her reflection in the mirror. ¡°This feels unfamiliar,¡± she said. ¡°But they¡¯re so pretty.¡±


    As the saying went: clothes made the man. With Tang Qiu¡¯s dainty-featured beauty, she was naturally eye-catching.


    Her delight was contagious. Jiang Shaocheng smiled. ¡°Come, let me see.¡±


    ......


    Tang Qiu knelt in front of him to give him a closer look. ¡°I don¡¯t normally like spending money, but¨C¡± He cut her off with a kiss. Heat visibly rushed to her cheeks, but for once, her desire overshadowed her shyness. Her eyes slipped shut, and she moved to pull him closer.


    Ke Liuyi, who was busy making trips up and down the stairs, caught sight of them.?<i>That shameless little minx.</i>?Jealousy twisted her insides like a knife. She made to approach them, but He Lei blocked her.


    ¡°Don¡¯t disturb them, Doctor Ke. Don¡¯t you have tasks toplete?¡±


    A sneer shed in Ke Liuyi¡¯s eyes for a second before her gaze turned gentle. ¡°How did Ms Tang convince her husband to buy all this for her?¡± she asked, as if they were sharing a jest.


    He Lei shrugged. ¡°In the young master¡¯s words, what is he earning money for, if not to pamper his wife? Why would he deprive her of what he can afford?¡± He took care to keep his volume down. ¡°He originally restricted his budget to twenty million yuan, but he didn¡¯t quite stop there¡­ I¡¯m not sure how much he spent in the end.¡±


    ¡°How generous of him.¡± One corner of Ke Liuyi¡¯s smile turned mocking.


    ¡°He is. He¡¯s usually more conservative about spending, but not when ites to her. Heavens, I¡¯ve never seen a man splurge so much before.¡± If this was what love made people do, it was scary.


    Ke Liuyi¡¯s breaths were turning shallow with fury. Eager to push the image of them kissing from her mind, she turned and walked away.


    As Tang Qiu was trying on the rest of the jewelry, Jiang Shaocheng said quietly out of the blue, ¡°Qiu, you can¡¯t leave me just because others treat you better in the future. Understand?¡±


    Tang Qiu red at him. ¡°You¡¯re spouting nonsense again. Do you think I¡¯m choosing to stay with you for a couple of presents?¡±


    Jiang Shaocheng cupped her face, as if to soothe away the anger creasing her features. ¡°Definitely not. I know how much you like me. When I recover, can we have a few babies together? Can we?¡±


    At the notion, Tang Qiu broke her gaze and dropped her chin in embarrassment. ¡°It¡¯s not like it¡¯s my decision alone.¡±


    <i>Was that a yes??</i>Jiang Shaocheng ran his eyes over her rosy lips. How he wished he could pin her to the bed and get to the task this instant.

 Chapter 69 - Fake Or Real Deal?

    <h4>Chapter 69: Fake Or Real Deal?</h4>


    Tang Qiu went to school in her new clothes the next day. Xie Qingqing¡¯s eyes widened when she caught sight of her. ¡°Did you get rich overnight? What¡¯s your secret?¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t be an idiot,¡± Tang Qiu snorted.


    ¡°Look at your earrings! Your watch¡­ your coat. What other exnation can there be? There¡¯s no way they were cheap.¡± Xie Qingqing was almost salivating.


    ¡°Don¡¯t be dramatic,¡± Tang Qiu replied, amused. ¡°They were bought on discount. My husband helped pick them out. Aren¡¯t they nice? Andfortable, too!¡± Even crippled and ill, her husband took truly excellent care of her.


    ¡°I must say, his taste isn¡¯t bad.¡± Xie Qingqing eyed the essories skeptically. Were they just a high-quality faux of the original? They looked just like the real thing.


    As they were talking, they bumped into a woman. It was Feng Yao¨Cdressed in an outfit identical to Tang Qiu¡¯s!


    Tang Qiu didn¡¯t mind; it wasn¡¯t out of the ordinary that they should have picked out the same clothes in the mall.


    Unfortunately, Feng Yao wasn¡¯t of the same mind. ¡°How much did you spend on this high-quality ripoff?¡± she asked Tang Qiu.


    ¡°Not much. And they¡¯re not a ripoff; I got them on sale at the mall.¡± Tang Qiu¡¯s expression was calm, but she silently searched for a way to escape the conversation.


    Feng Yao looked her up and down. Did this mean her outfit consisted of authentic goods? Her coat was from a new high-end brand: the QZL family. Every piece of QZL¡¯s clothing was unique; only one of its kind existed, which made every item incredibly exclusive, not to mention expensive. Feng Yao had to practically bleed her wallet dry to obtain the clothes she was wearing. Tang Qiu¡¯s outfit had to be a fake. Feng Yao had heard that Jiang Shaocheng had lost his ie; he couldn¡¯t possibly have the means to spoil her so extravagantly.


    ¡°There¡¯s no need to feel ashamed, Tang Qiu. You¡¯re already wearing these clothes in broad daylight.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re right,¡± Xie Qingqing taunted. ¡°There¡¯s nothing to be ashamed of¨Cwhich is more than be said for others who dare to show their ugly faces in public.¡±


    The silver tones of Tang Qiu¡¯s coat entuated her porcin skin, and it hugged her shapely figure, emphasizing her daintiness. Feng Yao, on the other hand, had no curves to boast of, and the yellowish tan of her skin shed awfully with her coat.


    ......


    ¡°I didn¡¯t say Tang Qiu was ugly,¡± Feng Yao gritted out, obviously sensing Xie Qingqing¡¯s sarcasm but missing its meaning. ¡°I was just giving her a friendly reminder that if she doesn¡¯t have the money to buy branded goods, she shouldn¡¯t buy fake ones with questionable quality. It¡¯ll just make it even more embarrassing to run into someone wearing the real thing.¡±


    Tang Qiu shook her head calmly. ¡°I¡¯m not embarrassed. They¡¯re only clothes.¡±


    Feng Yao couldn¡¯t be bothered to y along with her. ¡°That¡¯s true,¡± she sneered. ¡°You¡¯ve always been vain, but that¡¯s not my problem, is it?¡±


    At her words, the students in the vicinity eyed Tang Qiu and began to whisper amongst themselves.


    ¡°She didn¡¯t have the money to buy branded clothes, so she wore a high-quality imitation. She doesn¡¯t even feel embarrassed after bumping into the real thing. How can someone be so thick-skinned?¡±


    ¡°Ah, she can¡¯t help it. We can¡¯t undo our upbringing. Look at how she went to seduce her senior¡­¡±


    ¡°Well, she got what she wanted. She¡¯s Ning Mufan¡¯s girlfriend, don¡¯t you know? But Ning Mufan slept with Niu Caijie, so their rtionship doesn¡¯t really count for much. She was probably just something for him to toy with.¡±


    Xie Qingqing¡¯s temper mounted when she heard them gossiping, but Tang Qiu stopped her before she could intervene.


    ¡°It¡¯s true that I don¡¯t have the money to buy branded goods, but I¡¯m not wearing fake goods, either. Let them say what they want. It¡¯s not worth getting worked up over.¡±


    But Xie Qingqing was too furious to listen. ¡°Take off your coat and show them what ¡®the real thing¡¯ is!¡±


    ¡°Huh?¡± What was there to show? She wasn¡¯t even wearing the authentic branded goods.


    Her friend red at her, and Tang Qiu acquiesced.


    Xie Qingqing pointed at Feng Yao and demanded, ¡°You said that Tang Qiu¡¯s clothes were fake. Take off your coat, then, if you think yours is the real deal.¡±


    Feng Yaoughed, shrugging off her coat. ¡°If you insist. I just hope Tang Qiu won¡¯t feel too embarrassed.¡±


    Xie Qingqing whipped out her phone and video-called the customer service staff of QZL, iming they had been sold faux goods and threatening to sue them. When they requested to see the item, Xie Qingqing showed them Feng Yao¡¯s coat.


    After examining the coat, the QZL staff responded, ¡°Apologies, ma¡¯am. This item wasn¡¯t sold by us. It¡¯s a fake.¡±


    Feng Yao¡¯s face turned red with anger. ¡°That¡¯s impossible! My friend bought this coat overseas. How can it be fake?¡±

 Chapter 70 - Daily Dose of Strength

    <h4>Chapter 70: Daily Dose of Strength</h4>


    The customer service officer exined, ¡°Ourpany clothes are easy to recognize because of their unique markings. Ourbel is never on the back of the cor, but on the inside of the pockets, so as to not chafe against the nape of the wearer¡¯s neck. Ma¡¯am, this coat of yours is a poor-quality defective good, not even a high-quality imitation.¡±


    ¡°But¡­¡± Feng Yao sputtered, face contorted.


    ¡°Hear that? Now move aside. How about this coat? Is it real?¡± Xie Qingqing lifted Tang Qiu¡¯s coat to the camera.


    ¡°It is, ma¡¯am. It¡¯s currently our top-trending item, but there¡¯s only one of it in the world. It¡¯s worth 1111000 yuan. You¡¯re lucky to have it.¡±


    ¡°Thank you for your help. I take back what I said about suing you!¡± Xie Qingqing hung up the video call and raised a brow at Feng Yao. ¡°What are you still hanging around here for? You mocked Tang Qiu for wearing authentic goods, dressed in those inferior goods of yours? Qiu might not want to argue with you, but I won¡¯t let you off so easily.¡±


    The truth of Feng Yao¡¯s malice and vanity began to settle over the crowd.


    ¡°Is the Feng family¡¯s business going bankrupt? Why else would Feng Yao be wearing inferior goods?¡±


    ¡°Maybe she¡¯s trying to make up for not being pretty enough. Still, she didn¡¯t have to kick up a fuss andpare her fake clothes with the original. She must be crazy.¡±


    Understanding dawned on Feng Yao: she had been cheated. When she saw everyone staring and pointing at her, she hurled her faux coat on the ground in a rage. That bitch Tang Qiu had humiliated her¨Cand she wouldn¡¯t forget it.


    Tang Qiu slipped her coat back on. Meanwhile, Feng Yao scooped her faux coat up and fled¨Cif only so she could toss it into a trash can on her way out. What a waste. Fake or not, that coat was a perfectly functional piece of clothing, and that spoilt girl threw it away just like that.


    Xie Qingqing must have picked up on what she was thinking, because she pulled Tang Qiu away before she could retrieve the faux coat. ¡°Aren¡¯t you curious how your husband could afford this coat?¡± she asked.


    ¡°Not really,¡± Tang Qiu said dismissively. ¡°Who would buy such an expensive coat? The store must have held a promotion to sell it off. My husband¡¯s aide has many connections. He bought this from a friend in the fashion industry.¡± She was such a prudent spender that it didn¡¯t ur to her that some people would indeed be more than willing to splurge on a designer coat.


    Xie Qingqing wasn¡¯t half as thrifty as Tang Qiu. Although her family wasn¡¯t as rich as the Fengs, they were still amongst the upper-middle-ss. ¡°QZL is a luxury brand. Have you ever seen their goods mass-produced? I assure you, many people would be willing to buy their clothes, expensive or not¨Cand you¡¯d be insane to think otherwise. If your husband can afford that coat, he isn¡¯t just rich, he has connections. I doubt he had to drain his bank ount just to get his hands on it; he¡¯s the young master of the Jiang family, after all.¡±


    Hearing her talk about money had Tang Qiu itching in difort. Despite herself, her heart melted slightly. When she got back, she had to express her gratitude with a few more kisses than usual. ¡°I told you, my husband treats me very well,¡± she said.


    Xie Qingqing was speechless. Her friend truly operated on a different wavelength from her.


    Most of the onlookers had dispersed, but some curious spectators lingered. ¡°So it¡¯s true,¡± one of them said to Tang Qiu. ¡°You married a rich man¡¯s son.¡±


    ¡°Weren¡¯t there rumors about you and Ning Mufan? Why did you suddenly marry someone else?¡±


    ¡°They say your husband is an elderly man who needs a wheelchair. Are they telling the truth?¡±


    Their disdain for her husband made Tang Qiu¡¯s brows furrow in displeasure. ¡°Ning Mufan and I were never a couple, and my husband isn¡¯t an old man. And, for your information, he¡¯s very kind to me. Now, if you¡¯ll excuse me, I have to go to ss.¡±


    The crowd watched her retreat with contempt and resumed their discussion.


    ¡°She didn¡¯t dare to answer us directly, so it must be true: her husband is an old cripple. He couldn¡¯t find a proper wife, so he had to settle for her. She thinks she¡¯s so high-and-mighty, strutting around to show off that branded coat of hers.¡±


    ¡°Exactly. That slut got jilted because Ning Mufan lost interest in her, so she ran off to an old man.¡±


    ***


    When Tang Qiu sat down in ss, she texted her husband, saying that the clothes he bought were veryfortable.


    His reply was prompt:?<i>I¡¯ll buy more for you next time!</i>


    There¡¯s no need, she responded. I have enough. Stay strong for your rehab training today, okay, dear?


    Unknown to her, her husband was seated in his study, his handsome features uncovered by his usual false-skin mask. His dark eyes turned gentle as he stared down at his phone. Her kisses and hugs were what gave him strength every day.

 Chapter 71 - Future Benefits

    <h4>Chapter 71: Future Benefits</h4>


    From Jiang Shaocheng¡¯s smile, He Lei knew he was texting Tang Qiu; only she could bring such an unguarded look to his face.


    After Jiang Shaocheng put down his phone, He Lei said, ¡°Young Master, Ning Mufan has been locked up by the head of the Ning family and won¡¯t be going to school for a while. I¡¯ll also remind him to send his grandson out of the country as soon as possible.¡±


    Jiang Shaocheng scoffed. ¡°If they don¡¯t, that¡¯s fine too¨Cso long as they don¡¯t mind if Ning Mufan loses his arms. They would do well to have a cripple around the house¨Ca real one.¡±


    He Lei lowered his head, not daring to speak.


    ¡°What about my family? How are things with them?¡±


    ¡°The old master hasn¡¯t done anything since his butler returned, but I doubt he¡¯ll let the young mistress off so easily, if his temper is any indication. Jiang Ming is upied with thepany¡¯s matters. As for Qian Hongwei¡­ he looks harmless, but I went to investigate, and there¡¯s more to him than meets the eye.¡±


    ¡°Get someone to keep an eye on him. Whoever dares to touch my wife will be crippled!¡±


    ¡°Yes, Young Master.¡±


    Jiang Shaocheng nced at his phone, and his gaze softened. ¡°I miss her already,¡± he admitted. ¡°What do you think I should do?¡±


    It had only been two hours since hest saw her. Wasn¡¯t he tired of her presence yet? He Lei had the good sense not to say that, though, so he only asked tentatively, ¡°Why don¡¯t I get someone to photograph her in secret?¡±


    Jiang Shaocheng took a moment to contemte the idea. ¡°Alright. Go ahead.¡±


    He Lei suppressed a wry smile. His young master never showed this side of him to anyone else. Work matters no longer concerned him, only his wife. Love was a troublesome affair indeed.


    ***


    ......


    In the ssroom, Tang Qiu put down her phone and prepared for her lesson.


    ¡°Was that your husband?¡± Xie Qingqing teased.


    Tang Qiu smiled shyly and nodded.


    Xie Qingqing sighed. Her friend was in love. ¡°I¡¯ve got to give it to you. You actually fell for a man who looks so¡­ unique. Not to mention one who can¡¯t get it up. Science dictates that intimacy is a vital part of a rtionship; you must be determined to prove them wrong at every turn.¡±


    ¡°My husband is crippled.¡± Tang Qiu found herself repeating the same exnation. ¡°He¡¯s simply not capable of¡­ that at the moment. On a rted note, I found out that kissing can help speed up a patient¡¯s recovery. It¡¯s backed up by science. That means I need to kiss my husband more in the future.¡±


    ¡°Please stop.¡± Xie Qingqing grimaced. ¡°Your husband¡¯s face scares me.¡±


    ¡°His scars may not be attractive, but the rest of his face is,¡± Tang Qiu protested. ¡°It¡¯s your problem if you can¡¯t appreciate it.¡±


    ¡°Okay, okay,¡± Xie Qingqing conceded. ¡°You¡¯re right, it¡¯s my own problem. By the way, you said that your husband has been undergoing rehabilitation training recently. Shouldn¡¯t he do something about his other problem too?¡±


    It brought a blush to Tang Qiu¡¯s cheeks. Her husband had said that he wanted to have a baby with her. That meant that he should be making progress with his¡­ issue. Right?


    When she didn¡¯t reply, Xie Qingqing added, ¡°This concerns your future satisfaction. You should take it seriously. I heard that the Traditional Medicine Club is having a ss on acupuncture massages. You can go check it out.¡±


    ¡°I know. I¡¯ve already made ns to attend.¡±


    Behind the two of them, a woman was filming Tang Qiu.


    ***


    Jiang Shaocheng was eavesdropping on her conversation with Xie Qingqing on the other end of the video link. His eyes instinctively dropped to his lower body as he imagined her soft, small hands on him. What would a massage feel like down there? He sincerely hoped she would be able to make it for that ss, to reap the future benefits of her newfound knowledge.


    ***


    After Tang Qiu¡¯s ss, she seeked out the Traditional Medicine Club. The club had many areas of interest: massages, setting bones back in ce, pressure points, gua sha treatment and acupuncture. It was almost a health center in its own right. Members of the club used their study of the aforementioned techniques to aid in their scientific research. Many of them were graduates who had studied traditional medicine, and had written research papers which were published in scientific journals across the world. Naturally, the club was an exclusive one; in order to even be considered for entry, one had to be personally approved by the club president, or rmended by Professor Sun.


    Tang Qiu thought that it would be best to seek Professor Sun¡¯s help, so she looked him up at his office. After cleaning his office, she was about to present her petition nervously when he pointed at a pile of books and said, ¡°Finish reading them in a month.¡±


    The books were all thick, written by professional practitioners of medicine. It was a daunting task.

 Chapter 72 - A Favor To Ask

    <h4>Chapter 72: A Favor To Ask</h4>


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Professor Sun fiddled with the medicine in his hand and nced at Tang Qiu.


    ¡°Nothing!¡± Tang Qiu swallowed. She didn¡¯t dare disobey Professor Sun.


    ¡°After you take the book, read it thoroughly. If you can¡¯t finish it, the money you earned from working and studying this month will be deducted,¡± Professor Sun said casually.


    ¡°No, I can read it all!¡± Tang Qiu assured him, rmed. Other penalties she could handle, but not having her earnings deducted.


    Professor Sun snorted. Tang Qiu sat to one corner, reading, anxiety gnawing at her.


    After a while, Qian Hongwei came in to talk about the data produced by the Traditional Medicine Club. He had written two papers for Professor Sun to take a look at.


    When Tang Qiu heard about the Traditional Medicine Club, her eyes immediately lit up and she pricked up her ears to listen carefully. So, Qian Hongwei was the club president? she thought eagerly. This ced him in a whole new light in her eyes.


    Qian Hongwei noticed Tang Qiu¡¯s gaze and coughed lightly. He felt a little strange. She had never looked at him with such intensity before, and he had to stop himself from letting her attention go to his head, with Professor Sun in the room. He listened attentively to Professor Sun¡¯sments before exiting the room with newfound resolution.


    Tang Qiu was disappointed when she saw him leave. She had missed her chance. She looked at the time again, hoping the rest of her duty would pass by quickly.


    ¡°What are you looking at? Are you interested in him?¡± Professor Sun had long noticed Tang Qiu¡¯s gaze; her face was an open book.


    ¡°No.¡± Tang Qiu quickly dismissed the notion with a wave.


    Professor Sun nced away. ¡°Don¡¯t be shy. Far be it from me to get in the way of two young people dating. There¡¯s no need for you to keep secrets from me.¡± It was obvious that Qian Hongwei had feelings for her too, from the way he had looked at her. If the affection was mutual, why skirt around it?


    ¡°I¡¯m not hiding. Professor Sun, I¡­¡± Tang Qiu was a little embarrassed and hesitated. Should she tell Professor Sun about her marriage? But before she could finish¡­


    Professor Sun interrupted her. ¡°You don¡¯t have to exin anything to me. I¡¯m not interested. Anyway, you have to finish these books. If you don¡¯t study hard when you¡¯re dating, you¡¯ll be wasting your time!¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll finish it,¡± Tang Qiu promised, lowering her head.


    Professor Sun couldn¡¯t repress a smile. He had seen all this y out before. He could tell that Ning Mufan and Qian Hongwei¨Ctwo of his top students¨Cliked Tang Qiu. Her academics were not bad, but she seemed overly focused on studying; too dense to be aware of such emotional nuances. It was hard to say who would win the pretty girl¡¯s heart in the end.


    ***


    After her shift ended, Tang Qiu quickly packed her things and went to look for Qian Hongwei. At the end of the corridor, she saw a tall, straight-backed man standing by the window. Rays of sunlight bathed his face, highlighting its youthful lines. Tang Qiu quickened her pace and walked up to him. ¡°Senior, I have a favor to ask of you.¡±


    Qian Hongwei looked at Tang Qiu smiling brightly, as though it were a result of the sunlight. He couldn¡¯t help but inch closer to her, their proximity filling him with a steadily growing warmth. ¡°Go ahead. What is it?¡±


    ¡°I want to attend the Traditional Medicine Club to learn some skills,¡± she said, eyes sparkling.


    ¡°We¡¯ll be opening up sses in six months. There¡¯s no hurry to learn now,¡± Qian Hongwei replied, puzzled.


    Tang Qiu exined, ¡°I want to learn it now because I want to help my husband with his treatment. I don¡¯t want to wait for half a year.¡±


    Qian Hongwei¡¯s expression darkened when he heard her mention Jiang Shaocheng.


    ¡°Senior, please do me this favor. I¡¯ll work very hard. I¡¯ll even help you out with some odd jobs if you need,¡± Tang Qiu begged, sping her hands together.


    Qian Hongwei was helpless. It was rare for her to ask him for help of her own ord. How could he refuse? He clenched his fists. ¡°Alright, there¡¯s an event at the club this afternoon. I¡¯ll take you there.¡±


    ¡°Thank you!¡± Tang Qiu bowed gratefully.


    ¡°Must you be so formal with me?¡± Qian Hongwei didn¡¯t know whether tough or cry¨Cit was almost painful, how sincerely she had bowed. But nothing irked him more than her asking him for help to cure her husband. Just then, he thought of something and his lips curled into a sardonic smile. If she wanted to help Jiang Shaocheng recover, he would make sure she achieved just the opposite.?<i>Sorry, Tang Qiu</i>, he silently thought in advance.


    He took her bag for her. ¡°Do you make a habit of carrying stones around? It¡¯s so heavy.¡±


    ¡°I can manage,¡± she replied, avoiding the hand he extended to her. ¡°Inside are all the books Professor Sun gave me to read.¡±


    ¡°So many?¡± he asked, displeased. ¡°Professor Sun is too hard on you.¡±

 Chapter 73 - Unspeakable

    <h4>Chapter 73: Unspeakable</h4>


    ¡°It¡¯s a little tough, but if I put my mind to it, I¡¯ll reap many valuable benefits.¡± Tang Qiuforted herself, but when she thought of those books, she wanted to cry. Really, there were so many¡­


    When the two of them arrived at the club, Qian Hongwei introduced her to a few members of the club. Tang Qiu was amazed. All of them were top students with honors. There were also a few young doctors who were already working in the hospital!


    Qian Hongwei asked her, ¡°What do you want to learn?¡±


    Tang Qiu exined Jiang Shaocheng¡¯s situation. ¡°Do you have any alternative methods of treatment to suggest?¡±


    Qian Hongwei¡¯s eyes shed. ¡°Of course. You won¡¯t go wrong with acupressure. All you¡¯ll need is to find a few key acupuncture points and some herbs.¡±


    Tang Qiu felt that this technique was feasible to try, so Qian Hongwei began to exin the acupuncture points to her using a human anatomy diagram. She listened attentively and even took notes, so she did not see the coldness in Qian Hongwei¡¯s eyes. Afterwards, he handed her a box of essential oil and told her to try it out on her own.


    Tang Qiu nodded seriously, thinking of the massage she would give her husband. Then she picked up her heavy school bag and left.


    When she was gone, a male student walked to Qian Hongwei¡¯s side and asked the president in a low voice, ¡°There seems to be something wrong with the acupuncture points you mentioned just now. If she ces pressure on the wrong spots, not only will the patient not recover, their condition might worsen.¡±


    Qian Hongwei narrowed his cold eyes and stared at the man who had dared question him. ¡°You¡¯re mistaken,¡± he said with a smile. ¡°I modified the technique ording to the needs of the patient.¡±


    ¡°Ah, I see. But that girl is really pretty, especially when she smiles. Is she your girlfriend, President?¡± the student asked with augh.


    Qian Hongwei¡¯s eyes shed and his lips curled up. ¡°Of course.¡± Not now¨Cbut she would be.


    ***


    Tang Qiu returned home and set her heavy bag down with a thump. She rubbed her shoulders and turned around to see Jiang Shaocheng. ¡°I¡¯m home, dear,¡± she greeted with a smile.


    ¡°I can see that, Qiu,¡± he replied, smiling back.


    Tang Qiu cupped his face and kissed him on the lips. ¡°I have a surprise for you tonight, dear!¡± She nced at the empty kitchen. Did Ke Liuyi not make dinner today? Guilt rolled through her. Ke Liuyi was a doctor; it wasn¡¯t fair to keep expecting her to cook their meals. She promptly rolled up her sleeves and went to the kitchen to make dinner.


    Jiang Shaocheng pushed his wheelchair in. Back then, he hadn¡¯t known his way around the kitchen, but after helping her out, he had learnt how to wash and cut vegetables, and even familiarized himself with the various cooking utensils. After he was done washing the vegetables, he immediately requested a reward, and his reward was¨Cnaturally¨Ca kiss from her.


    Not that Tang Qiu wasn¡¯t happy to oblige him. Her smile, sweet and adorable, set him itching and on edge. His mind was full of embarrassingly vivid fantasies, some of which took ce in the kitchen.


    Just then, Ke Liuyi walked in and saw the two of them flirting in the kitchen. Rage rose likeva in her stomach, threatening to erupt as a pool of blood on the floor. It just wasn¡¯t right. Tang Qiu must have yed some tricks on him, for a noble man like Jiang Shaocheng to endure the grease and smoke of the kitchen to help her in her cooking.


    Tang Qiu was an efficient worker; in half an hour, she had prepared three dishes and a soup. She called Ke Liuyi and He Lei over for dinner.


    But Jiang Shaocheng said, ¡°They¡¯ve already had dinner. Come, let¡¯s eat.¡±


    ¡°He Lei, Doctor Ke, you¡¯ve both eaten?¡± Tang Qiu asked, puzzled.


    Ke Liuyi hadn¡¯t had dinner yet, but He Lei answered for her. ¡°Yes, Young Mistress. We ate together earlier. Do enjoy your meal. Call us if you need anything.¡±


    Ke Liuyi red at him. She hadn¡¯t eaten, so why would he say otherwise?


    He Lei shot her a look, warning her not to air her grievances in front of them. Helplessly, Ke Liuyi bit back her anger and let him lead her out.


    ***


    When they reached the courtyard, He Lei made sure that Tang Qiu hadn¡¯t followed them before informing her, ¡°Doctor Ke, you¡¯re still new here, so you might not understand how things work. In the future, whenever the young mistress makes dinner, you¡¯re not to eat with them. The young master doesn¡¯t like it when others eat the food his wife prepared.¡±


    Ke Liuyi burst into an outragedugh. ¡°I¡¯ve eaten her food before. Why didn¡¯t he get angry then?¡±


    ¡°That was when you first arrived. The young mistress wanted to be a good host, so the young master kept quiet about it. The second time, the young mistress was just being polite. But the young master won¡¯t let there be a third time.¡±


    ¡°But they ate the meals I cooked too,¡± she protested, indignant.


    ¡°It¡¯s different when it¡¯s his wife doing the cooking. Besides, you helped out of your own ord; why would the young master stop the young mistress from trying your food? Also, try to avoid the kitchen in the future, so you won¡¯t intrude on their, ah, time alone.¡±


    ¡°Time alone?¡± she echoed, fighting to keep her voice level.

 Chapter 74 - Shooting Himself In the Foot

    <h4>Chapter 74: Shooting Himself In the Foot</h4>


    He Lei hid augh. ¡°I can tell you¡¯ve never been in a rtionship before. Some call it flirting. Others call it forey. It¡¯s just how the two of them do things¨Cespecially since the young master likes his wife¡¯s cooking very much.¡± He looked at her sympathetically. ¡°You might not have noticed these small details, but when you live with the young master, you have to observe his emotions. There are some things he keeps silent about, but that doesn¡¯t mean he agrees with them.¡±


    Ke Liuyi sneered. She had wanted to y the role of a dutiful wife and make her presence known to Jiang Shaocheng, only for him to dismiss her and treat her as an eyesore. Her heart was perilously close to being shattered by the man she had had a crush on for several years. She refused to take this lying down. ¡°What tricks did Ms Tang employ to make your young master think so highly of her?¡±


    He Lei pondered the question for a few seconds. ¡°What do you think, with that simple mind of hers? She¡¯s an open book¡ªshe looks weak on the surface, but sometimes she fights back, because she still hasn¡¯t learnt her lesson after being bullied by the Feng family all those years. She¡¯s a silly, naive girl, but her tastes are bolder than you would expect¨Cshe isn¡¯t afraid to kiss the young master, even with his scars.¡±


    Silly? Naive? Bolder than expected? Is that what Jiang Shaocheng found so desirable about her? She doubted Tang Qiu was half as simpleminded as she let others believe. Ke Liuyi rolled her eyes in anger. ¡°So, why didn¡¯t your young master expose his identity earlier and tell her that he¡¯s actually not crippled?¡±


    ¡°The young master said that she would abandon him if she knew the truth. I can¡¯t figure out what he was thinking. Handsome, healthy, and rich¨Chow could any woman bear to leave him? Wouldn¡¯t you agree, Doctor Ke?¡±


    Of course she did. But Jiang Shaocheng simply refused to give her a chance. She looked through the window at the couple eating together inside, feeling fury rise up like bile. If Jiang Shaocheng had found a better woman than her, she would have given him her blessing. But what was so good about Tang Qiu? Ke Liuyi wasn¡¯t about to just give up just like that!


    ***


    In the mansion, Tang Qiu and Jiang Shaocheng finished eating. Her husband followed her when she got up to wash the dishes and clean up the kitchen. ¡°It¡¯s okay, dear. I¡¯ll do it.¡±


    ¡°I should clean up after myself too. Unless you think I¡¯m getting in your way, Qiu?¡±


    ¡°Never,¡± she assured him, seeing his face fall. ¡°I just don¡¯t want you to get your clothes dirty.¡±


    ¡°So be it.¡± He couldn¡¯t resist adding, ¡°You can help me change into new clothes.¡±


    Tang Qiu couldn¡¯t argue with him, so she could only let him assist her. Cleaning up was, admittedly, less of a chore with his help. When they were done, she prepared to go upstairs to read.


    Jiang Shaocheng eyed the thick stack of books she was carrying. When he found out that Professor Sun had assigned her to read all of them, he patted her head sympathetically. ¡°Sounds like aborious task.¡±


    Tang Qiu stared at the heavy pile of books. She had her doubts too, but she had already promised Professor Sun that she would finish them all. ¡°I¡¯ll do my best. Dear, you have to supervise me. If I fall asleep, you have to wake me up!¡±


    Jiang Shaocheng looked at her serious expression and smiled. ¡°If you want my help, you have to pay me first.¡±


    Tang Qiu pounced on him without hesitation and kissed him. Jiang Shaocheng hugged her and could not bear to let go.


    ¡°Dear, I need to start my reading.¡±


    Jiang Shaocheng agreed, but didn¡¯t release her yet. He lowered his head and took his time to kiss her forehead before letting go.


    Professional books were very boring. After reading for more than an hour, Tang Qiu felt sleepy. She propped up her eyelids, only to feel them drooping not longter.


    ¡°Qiu, get up and drink some water,¡± Jiang Shaocheng reminded her.


    Tang Qiu quickly obeyed. She was earnest about her studies, but Professor Sun¡¯s assignment was more than a little taxing. She scratched her head and drank some water before pouring a second cup for her husband.


    ¡°Not easy, is it?¡±


    Tang Qiu nodded. ¡°The content itself is manageable, but there isn¡¯t an autopsy avable for reference. I have to imagine the anatomy myself. It¡¯s a little troublesome.¡±


    Anatomy?


    Jiang Shaocheng deliberated and pointed at himself. ¡°Why don¡¯t I be your research subject? You can use parts of my body for reference.¡±


    Tang Qiu¡¯s eyes lit up. ¡°You¡¯ll have to take off your clothes.¡±


    ¡°Would you mind that?¡± he asked, smiling.


    ¡°Of course not,¡± she said without a trace of humor. ¡°You¡¯re devoting yourself to the study of medicine!¡±


    He nodded, matching her seriousness. ¡°Help me take them off, then.¡±


    Tang Qiu immediately helped him take off his jacket and shirt. The light shone down on his muscles, entuating their sculpted, well-defined lines. Tang Qiu¡¯s face turned red. Just by looking at him, she felt that something was wrong. Her husband was ill¨Chow could he be so muscr? It didn¡¯t make sense. ¡°Dear, you cough just from being out in the wind. How did you manage to train your muscles?¡±


    Jiang Shaocheng was caught off guard by her question. Had he shot himself in the foot?

 Chapter 75 - So Big and Hard

    <h4>Chapter 75: So Big and Hard</h4>


    Jiang Shaocheng was about to exin himself when Tang Qiu said, ¡°You¡¯re really self-reliant, dear. You still force yourself to train even though it¡¯s difficult. You¡¯re amazing.¡±


    He nodded in agreement.


    ¡°It must be very challenging when you exercise.¡± Tang Qiu felt heartache and pride.


    Jiang Shaocheng didn¡¯t know what to say, so he kept nodding.


    Tang Qiu smiled and patted the muscles on his arm. She couldn¡¯t help but sigh. ¡°So big,¡± she remarked. ¡°And hard¡­¡±


    He stared at her silently.


    Her words were making his imagination run wild.


    Tang Qiu didn¡¯t think too much about it. ¡°The twelve meridians are divided into the yin and yang meridians.¡± She listed them as she trailed her fingers down his chest, alternating between the two. ¡°The heart. The stomach. The lungs. Therge intestine. The pericardium¡­¡±


    Her gentle, soft fingers sent sparks dancing across his skin, making him itch with heat. Jiang Shaocheng grabbed her hand. ¡°Don¡¯t touch me like that, Qiu,¡± he said hoarsely.


    ¡°Huh?¡± Tang Qiu looked confused. She didn¡¯t touch him¡­


    Jiang Shaocheng coughed, afraid that he wouldn¡¯t be able to stifle himself any longer. When he said nothing, Tang Qiu followed his gaze to the sensitive spot between his legs. When had she slid her finger down there? she thought in rm. ¡°I won¡¯t touch you there anymore. Not that I was touching you to begin with. I¡¯ll just look¡­ wait, no, I shouldn¡¯t be looking there¡­¡±


    Jiang Shaocheng smiled and said, ¡°Just continue. Don¡¯t hinder your studies.¡±


    Tang Qiu quickly lowered her head to take notes as she read. Jiang Shaocheng couldn¡¯t take his eyes off her. His wife was incredibly attractive when she got all serious like that.


    Tang Qiu went to pick up another book. When she was rummaging through her bag, she saw the essential oil that Qian Hongwei had given her. She turned to look at her husband, who was putting on his clothes. ¡°Wait a moment, dear. I have a surprise for you, remember?¡±


    ¡°What surprise?¡± he asked in anticipation.


    ¡°Go lie down on the sofa. I¡¯ll take off your pants.¡± Tang Qiu looked excited.


    Jiang Shaocheng was confused, but he stared at the essential oil in her hand and smiled. He turned his wheelchair andy down on the sofa, watching as Tang Qiu unbuttoned his pants and dripped the essential oil onto his leg. Her hand inched up his thigh. ¡°This is to help promote cirction in your leg. I¡¯ve checked; this oil will be good for you. Just take note, it might be a little hotter.¡±


    Under her firm grip, sweat broke out on Jiang Shaocheng¡¯s forehead.


    ¡°How do you feel? Do you feel anything?¡± Tang Qiu asked.


    ¡°Yes,¡± he said tensely. A lot of things, actually.


    Tang Qiu was ted; that meant the technique was working. ¡°I just learned this treatment today and I¡¯m still testing it out, so I have to be gentle. Wait for me to familiarize myself with it. It¡¯ll definitely be more effective then. Is itfortable?¡±


    ¡°¡­ Yes.¡± Fighting the fire stirring in his loins, Jiang Shaocheng threw theforter over his body to hide its natural response to her.


    It was terrifying, howpletely he gave himself over to the pain and pleasure. After almost half an hour, Tang Qiu stopped and washed his hands for him. ¡°I¡¯ll keep this up in the future. If you feel ufortable, you have to tell me. I¡¯m just a beginner; I¡¯m sure I did something wrong along the way.¡±


    Jiang Shaocheng pulled her into his arms. ¡°I think you¡¯ve had enough practice, Qiu. Now it¡¯s my turn.¡±


    Tang Qiu looked at him in confusion. ¡°What do you want to practice?¡±


    Jiang Shaocheng smiled and lowered his head to kiss her¨Canswering with his actions.


    ¡°Oh¡­¡± Tang Qiu understood. Her husband wanted to practice kissing! Not that she wasining.


    A few minutester, Jiang Shaocheng finally let go of her. ¡°Silly Qiu. You have to breathe through your nose.¡±


    Tang Qiu red at him. ¡°Then don¡¯t kiss me. Every time you kiss me, I can¡¯t breathe¡­¡±


    Jiang Shaocheng yfully tapped her nose. ¡°That¡¯s why we have to practice.¡± Without waiting for her answer, he forced his lips on hers.


    Tang Qiu was helpless. Her lips were numb when Jiang Shaocheng finally let her go. She retreated to the bedroom, burying her face in her hands. Her chest was rising and falling, trembling with the struggle to contain her pounding heart. When she came out of the shower and saw that her husband was ready for bed, she turned her back to him angrily.


    Jiang Shaocheng knew that she was still shy, but he didn¡¯tment on it. He waited for her to crawl onto the bed before pulling her into his arms. ¡°Are you avoiding me?¡±


    ¡°No,¡± she said stubbornly.


    Jiang Shaocheng could onlyugh, making her blush harder. She covered his mouth with her hand. ¡°Stop that.¡±


    ¡°Why? I¡¯m happy, Qiu.¡± He took her hand and kissed it.


    ¡°What are you happy about?¡± Tang Qiu tried to pull away but failed, so she let him be.


    Jiang Shaocheng leaned in so their foreheads touched. ¡°Because my wife is so cute.¡±

 Chapter 76 - Don’t You Want Me Anymore?

    <h4>Chapter 76: Don¡¯t You Want Me Anymore?</h4>


    Tang Qiu¡¯s heart was pounding. She covered his mouth again. ¡°Go to sleep.¡±


    Jiang Shaocheng kept silent, but he kissed her forehead before closing his eyes.


    Except Tang Qiu¡¯s pulse was still racing. She let her eyes wander over his jaw, tilted towards the side of his chest where his heart rested. She was happy, too, to be married to a man who doted on her. He wasn¡¯t handsome, or healthy, but he was trying to heal, and so far, his treatment was going well. He was hers¨Cas long as he was alive, he was hers. She was a lucky woman indeed.


    In the middle of the night, Jiang Shaocheng was woken up by the heat. He lifted the nket and looked at the woman in his arms, then got out of bed and went straight to the bathroom. Whenever he hugged her to sleep, he would be a little restless, his body¡¯s reaction felt off. The areas where Tang Qiu had rubbed the essential oil felt like they were on fire. He frowned. Was this the result of his wife¡¯s treatment? If so, the effects were certainly pronounced. He had to take a cold shower for more than ten minutes before he recovered. He returned to his room, not daring to hug Tang Qiu again. However, his wife was in a daze, as if she were looking for him. She rolled over to his side of the bed.


    Seeing that she was about to fall, Jiang Shaocheng rushed over and caught her. Her eyes flitted open, still heavy with sleep. His heart skipped a beat. He was standing by the bed now; would she find him out?


    ¡°Dear?¡± Her voice was high-pitched from grogginess¨Csoft, sweet, seductive. He tried to let go, but she wrapped her arms around his neck, her lips jutting out in a pout. ¡°Kiss me, dear.¡±


    Jiang Shaocheng kissed her, but she clung onto him. He couldn¡¯t just stand up. If she woke up, his disguise would fall apart. He could only coax her until she released him of her own ord.


    Tang Qiu might have been dreaming, because she smiled with her eyes still shut. ¡°Dear, your muscles are so hard and big.¡±


    This woman must have been sent by the heavens to punish him for his deception! Jiang Shaocheng grabbed her hand as she reached out for him, letting loose a deep breath. When Tang Qiu failed to touch him, she pouted again, as if on the verge of tears. ¡°Dear, don¡¯t you want me anymore?¡±


    Jiang Shaocheng¡¯s heart softened and he hugged her tightly. ¡°How could I not want my Qiu?¡±


    She hugged him even tighter¨Cperhaps desperate for assurance¨Cbut Jiang Shaocheng¡¯s temperature rose again. He couldn¡¯t take it anymore. He put her down without mercy and prepared to get up to take a cold shower.


    But her voice called out to him again. ¡°Dear?¡±


    Jiang Shaocheng turned around and saw Tang Qiu rubbing her eyes, properly awake now. He sighed softly and walked to the bed to give her a light kiss. ¡°I can¡¯t sleep. I¡¯m going to do some rehabilitation training.¡±


    ......


    Tang Qiu nced at the clock. ¡°It¡¯s 2am. That¡¯s too early. You should sleep a little longer.¡±


    Jiang Shaocheng wanted to go back to sleep too, but he couldn¡¯t. He put his hands on the wheelchair and tried to sit down, but Tang Qiu stopped him. ¡°Dear, rehabilitation training is important, but you need your rest, too.¡± She pushed him down, using her body to keep him there. ¡°Be good and go to sleep. Your health is poor. You need to sleep for at least eight hours.¡±


    ¡°I really can¡¯t sleep, Qiu. Get up, quickly.¡± Jiang Shaocheng thought he might explode from the heat. But she remained oblivious and continued to lie on him. He was truly afraid he might be exposed this time.


    ¡°It¡¯s still early. I¡¯ll sleep with you.¡± Tang Qiu got off him and tucked him in. She patted him gently, as if coaxing a child. ¡°Sleep, dear¡­¡±


    It was thest straw. He rolled over so his arms were caging her. ¡°I¡­ I can¡¯t take this anymore, Qiu.¡±


    ¡°What¡­?¡± She made a noise of protest; he was too strong for her to break free.


    A knock startled them both.


    The haze of lust evaporated from Jiang Shaocheng¡¯s vision, pulling him back to his senses. He looked down at the woman beneath him, biting his tongue as he finally let go of her. ¡°Be good and go to sleep, Qiu. I have business to attend to. I¡¯ll be out a while.¡±


    Tang Qiu stared at the ceiling in a daze, not knowing what to do. Her sickly husband had be a predator¨Cprimal, starving, determined to devour her. He had practically ripped her clothes, and his hands were possessive on her soft flesh. She was hopelessly stunned and confused.


    She pulled the covers up to her chin, but they carried his scent, making it even harder for her to breathe. She pushed the nket aside and sat up. Why was her husband so strange tonight?

 Chapter 77 - Nightmarish Awakening

    <h4>Chapter 77: Nightmarish Awakening</h4>


    Outside their room, Jiang Shaocheng pushed the wheelchair downstairs quickly and went to the fridge to get ice. After a while, he felt his body return to a normal temperature.


    ¡°Young Master, what¡¯s wrong?¡± He Lei asked when he saw where he had ced the ice block. Had his young master be so used to pretending to be ill that that act was beyond him now?


    Jiang Shaocheng did not answer. Instead, he asked, ¡°Why were you looking for me?¡±


    ¡°We¡¯ve found the driver responsible for the ident. Also, there¡¯s an emergency at thepany. They need you there.¡±


    Jiang Shaocheng calmed down and went to the guest room to change his clothes. He looked upstairs and left without saying anything.


    ***


    The next day, Tang Qiu woke up. The spot next to her was still empty. She quickly got up, washed up, and went downstairs to look for him. However, there was no sign of Jiang Shaocheng in the entire mansion. She couldn¡¯t get through to him on the phone either. Tang Qiu was worried. When she saw Ke Liuyi, she immediately asked, ¡°Doctor Ke, do you know where my husband went? He went out suddenlyst night and didn¡¯te back.¡±


    Then it must be about work, Ke Liuyi thought. But she stered a worried look on her face. ¡°Shaocheng took ill without warning. He has to go abroad for treatment. It was toost minute, so he didn¡¯t say goodbye to you.¡±


    ¡°Go abroad for treatment?¡± Tang Qiu was even more worried. Last night, she had even foolishly waited for him toe back to bed. If only he had said he wasn¡¯t feeling well, she could have gone with him!


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry. It¡¯ll be fine.¡±


    Tang Qiu eyed her. ¡°If my husband needs treatment, Doctor Ke, why aren¡¯t you with him?¡±


    A flicker danced across Ke Liuyi¡¯s gaze, and she nearly choked in her haste to exin herself. ¡°He Lei didn¡¯t call me because he was rushing to get an air ticket. But it also means that Shaocheng¡¯s condition isn¡¯t too serious, so he didn¡¯t have to bring me along.¡±


    Tang Qiu was relieved to hear that his husband¡¯s condition wasn¡¯t critical, but she was still very worried. She ate breakfast listlessly, scarcely tasting her food.


    ......


    Ke Liuyi took pleasure in her low spirits. ¡°I told you Shaocheng would be fine, Qiu. Why are you still so worried? Are you afraid that he¡¯ll fool around with other women when he¡¯s gone?¡±


    Tang Qiu nced at her and said dully, ¡°What¡¯s there to be afraid of? He can¡¯t do that with a woman at all. You¡¯re his private doctor; you should know that.¡±


    The corner of Ke Liuyi¡¯s mouth twitched. Jiang Shaocheng was in good health; of course he was capable of the act.?<i>He just wasn¡¯t interested in you, you idiot.</i>


    ***


    When Tang Qiu went to ss, she kept staring at her phone, hoping that Jiang Shaocheng would reply her. However, a day passed by, and there was still no news from him.


    Xie Qingqing couldn¡¯t help but ask, ¡°Why are you staring at your phone, Qiu?¡±


    ¡°My husband went abroad for treatment. I¡¯m worried about him, and he¡¯s not responding to my texts.¡±


    ¡°Maybe he doesn¡¯t have time to look at his phone,¡± Xie Qingqing saidfortingly.


    Tang Qiu was a little dejected. ¡°If only I hadn¡¯t gone back to sleepst night. I can¡¯t even focus on studying now.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t overthink it,¡± Xie Qingqing assured her, hearing the self-reproach in her friend¡¯s voice. ¡°With his health, I doubt it¡¯s anything out of the ordinary for him to need a hospital.¡±


    Tang Qiu met her gaze. ¡°I miss him very much.¡±


    Xie Qingqing shook off the goosebumps that broke out over her skin. ¡°Then hurry up and book an air ticket so you can fly over and see him. It¡¯s the weekend tomorrow; don¡¯t tell me you don¡¯t know how to take a ne?¡±


    Tang Qiu smiled. Xie Qingqing was right¨Cshe could go and find him! She quickly took out her phone to book a ticket, but realized that she didn¡¯t know which country her husband was in. Only Ke Liuyi did.


    When she asked Ke Liuyi about her husband¡¯s whereabouts, the other woman¡¯s lips took on a calcting curve. ¡°He¡¯s in a hospital in N Country. I¡¯ll send you the exact address when you arrive.¡±?<i>But you might not have ess to the inte then¡­</i>


    Tang Qiu quickly booked a ne ticket. After school, she boarded the ne to N Country. She was extremely excited at the thought of meeting Jiang Shaocheng. She might even be able to give him a surprise. However, she was in for a rude¨Cor rather, nightmarish¨Cawakening.


    When Tang Qiu arrived in Country N, she didn¡¯t know if it was a problem with the inte, but she couldn¡¯t reach Ke Liuyi through call or text. She had no choice but to go to thergest hospital in Country N¨Cher husband probably wouldn¡¯t be in a small or less established one, in his condition.


    Still awaiting Ke Liuyi¡¯s call, Tang Qiu embarked on a search for her husband. She couldn¡¯t find any patient called ¡®Jiang Shaocheng¡¯, even after visiting several hospitals. She tried to contact him, but the call didn¡¯t get through. The time difference between the two countries meant that the sky was already dark in N Country, so she decided to take a quick rest at the hotel she had booked before continuing to look for Jiang Shaocheng. Maybe the cold weather was disrupting her phone signal.


    She didn¡¯t expect to run into a thief on her way back.

 Chapter 78 - Eloped with Another Man

    <h4>Chapter 78: Eloped with Another Man</h4>


    When she wasn¡¯t paying attention, a young boy grabbed Tang Qiu¡¯s bag and ran away. Reacting on instincts honed from childhood, Tang Qiu chased after him. Seeing that she was about to catch up, the boy shed a knife at her. Tang Qiu didn¡¯t have time to dodge and his de opened a gash on her arm. She cried out in pain and wanted to chase after him again, but he was long gone.


    She looked at the cut on her arm, which was about five centimeters long, and examined it. Fortunately, she hadn¡¯t broken any bones. She took a tissue from her pocket to use as a temporary bandage. Then she squatted on the ground, her legs weak. It was dark all around. She didn¡¯t dare make a sound, and there was no one to call for help. A cold wind blew, making her shiver. Where is my husband? she wondered. After a moment, she braced herself against a wall and stood up. She couldn¡¯t stay here, or she would freeze to death.


    The darkness robbed her of her sense of direction. She didn¡¯t know how long she had been walking, but she was so tired that she curled up in a corner of a garage she stumbled upon and slept.


    ***


    In Y Country, Jiang Shaocheng finally finished dealing with thepany¡¯s matters. He opened his phone and saw that Tang Qiu had sent him several texts. His eyes instantly softened. He had left too suddenlyst night. He had thought he could rush back home in a day, but he had been upied untilte at night.


    Jiang Shaocheng was used to being alone and not reporting his activities or whereabouts to anyone. But he was filled with a sudden sense of reproach. He was a married man now, and his wife was worried about him. In the future, he wouldmunicate more clearly with her so she wouldn¡¯t be concerned for him. He called Tang Qiu, but her phone was switched off. He was puzzled. Was she angry? Feeling a little frustrated, he called Ke Liuyi to inquire after his wife.


    ¡°I¡¯ve been trying to reach you,¡± Ke Liuyi said when she picked up. ¡°Qiu wasn¡¯t in the best mood this morning. She went out and isn¡¯t home yet. It¡¯s sote. Is it safe for a girl like her to be out alone?¡±


    ¡°Did she pick up when you called her?¡± Jiang Shaocheng looked instantly anxious.


    ¡°No.¡± Ke Liuyi sounded worried, but she was secretly overjoyed. Tang Qiu had gone to N Country, with no address to go to. She must be panicking. Ke Liuyi wondered what would happen to her¡­


    Jiang Shaocheng hung up, his expression troubled. He called He Lei over and ordered him to find out where his wife was.


    After asking around Tang Qiu¡¯s school, He Lei found out that Tang Qiu and Xie Qingqing left together after school, and got in contact with a puzzled Xie Qingqing. ¡°She booked a flight to N Country yesterday. She should have reached a long time ago!¡±


    He Lei¡¯s scalp tingled. ¡°Are you sure she went to N Country?¡±


    ¡°What do you mean?¡± Xie Qingqing felt that something was wrong.


    ......


    He Lei did not exin. He hung up the phone and quickly conveyed the news to Jiang Shaocheng. ¡°Young Master, the young mistress went to N Country. Which¡­ which is also where Ning Mufan was sent by his familyst night.¡±


    It was a blow to Jiang Shaocheng¡¯s stomach, knocking the air out of him.


    Had his wife had run off with another man?


    He Lei saw how terrifying his young master¡¯s expression had be. If Tang Qiu had really eloped with another man while her husband was gone, it was as good as a death sentence for her. ¡°Young Master, where are you going?¡±


    ¡°Where do you think?¡± Jiang Shaocheng gritted his teeth. She was married to him. If she had eloped with another man, he wouldn¡¯t let her off!


    He Lei quickly chased after him. It seemed like the young master was about to catch up to them and their affair.


    ***


    In N Country, Tang Qiu was sleeping on the street when she was woken up by a gentle female voice. ¡°Little girl? Wake up. Are you okay?¡±


    Tang Qiu opened her eyes and saw a middle-aged couple staring at her curiously. She wanted to stand up, but after squatting all night, her legs were numb and almost buckled beneath her.


    ¡°Are you okay?¡± the middle-aged woman echoed.


    They appeared to be natives of her home country. Gratitude flooded Tang Qiu. ¡°I¡¯m fine, but my wallet and phone were stolen. I¡¯m thirsty and hungry.¡±


    They both felt sorry for her, so the middle-aged woman gave her the breakfast she¡¯d bought for herself and asked how she could help Tang Qiu.


    Between bites of bread, Tang Qiu exined that she wanted to go to the hospital to look for her husband, who was there for treatment. The only problem was that she didn¡¯t know which hospital it was. She couldn¡¯t contact anyone now, but she was certain the hospital would be an established and well-reputed one.


    The middle-aged couple replied that they could help her, since they were on their way to the hospital for a checkup¨Ca big one in the heart of the city. They could go and check if her husband was there.


    Tang Qiu nearly broke down into sobbing thanks. She hadn¡¯t thought to meet such kindhearted people while she was out of her country and alone. She got into their car, and the middle-aged man introduced himself as Yang Da, and his wife as Duan Qingman. Coincidentally, they were both migrants from the same country, and had settled down in N Country in their youth.


    When they arrived at the hospital, Yang Da and his wife prepared to go for their checkup. Tang Qiu bowed and thanked them after leaving her contact details with them, making a note to extend her gratitude to them after finding her husband. Duan Qingman also told Tang Qiu that she and her husband were wee as guests anytime. Tang Qiu smiled as they walked into the hospital. She hadn¡¯t expected to bump into a pale-faced Ning Mufan.

 Chapter 79 - ’m Looking For My Husband

    <h4>Chapter 79: I¡¯m Looking For My Husband</h4>


    ¡°Senior, why are you here?¡±


    Ning Mufan¡¯s skin was ashen, and he looked haggard. When he heard Tang Qiu¡¯s voice, he thought it was an illusion¡­ until he looked up and saw her walking towards him, illuminated by the light, a bright smile on her face.


    ¡°Qiu¡­¡± Ning Mufan was about to ask her why she was here, but he saw blood on her sleeve and quickly walked up to her. ¡°You¡¯re injured. I¡¯ll take you to treat your wound.¡±


    Tang Qiu looked down at the wound on her arm. It had already scabbed over, but when she raised her arm, it still hurt a little. She turned to say goodbye to Duan Qingman, who smiled and said, ¡°Her husband is really young and handsome¡­¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s not¡­¡± Tang Qiu wanted to exin, but Duan Qingman had already turned around and left.


    When Ning Mufan heard that she had mistaken him for Tang Qiu¡¯s husband, he was delighted. Qiu must have feelings for him. Otherwise, why would she chase after him with an aggrieved heart, even getting herself injured in the process?


    ¡°My wound isn¡¯t serious.¡± Tang Qiu was a medical student; she knew her injury was nothing to fret over. ¡°I¡¯m looking for my husband.¡±


    ¡°Your husband¡­¡± Ning Mufan almost asked if he was the husband her heart yearned for. He smiled and looked at her tenderly. He had been beaten by his grandfather for his disobedience and had injured his back, so he was here to see a doctor. So he was the husband she was referring to. ¡°Haven¡¯t you already found him?¡±


    ¡°No. I searched several hospitalsst night, all to no avail.¡± Tang Qiu felt a lingering trace of fear when she thought of what had happenedst night.


    Ning Mufan felt his heart ache with regret at her troubled tone. He had gone home to his mansion to restst night, and only came down to see a doctor today. If he had arrived earlier, he might have bumped into her and saved her all that trouble. ¡°It¡¯s been hard on you, Qiu. I¡¯ll take you to rest after you¡¯ve treated your wound.¡±


    ¡°No thank you, Senior. I want to find my husband first.¡± Tang Qiu went to the front desk to ask if there was a patient named Jiang Shaocheng.


    When Ning Mufan heard her utter Jiang Shaocheng¡¯s name, he looked at her with heartache. So she had onlye to look for that cripple Jiang Shaocheng. He nearly turned around and left, but when he saw her face etched with worry,plete with her injured arm, his heart softened. ¡°I¡¯ll help you look for him, Qiu.¡±


    The two of them looked around and checked the hospital records, but they found no trace of Jiang Shaocheng.


    ......


    Ning Mufanforted her with the suggestion that her husband wasn¡¯t in this hospital. He would take her to treat her wound and then go to his ce to rest for a while. Otherwise, even if she found her husband, she would be in no position to take care of him if she was unwell herself.


    Tang Qiu felt depressed, but there was nothing else she could do. Her wound needed treating, and she was frightened, not to mention nursing a cold and a growing fever. She couldn¡¯t persist in a futile search that yielded no signs of her husband.


    Ning Mufan had her lean on him. ¡°Let¡¯s go to my vi, Qiu. You¡¯re not in a good state now. If anything happens to you, at least I¡¯ll be around to help you.¡±


    Tang Qiu didn¡¯t have any identification on her, nor her wallet and phone. She didn¡¯t have the means to stay in a hotel, so she could only nod in acquiescence. When they arrived at the Ning family mansion, Tang Qiu took a shower, changed her clothes, and ate lunch. Her head was dizzy, making her ufortable. Shey on the sofa for a short rest.


    ¡°Don¡¯t sleep here, Qiu. I¡¯ll help you to the bedroom.¡±


    With effort, Tang Qiu sat up and tugged at his arm. ¡°It¡¯s a good thing I met you, Senior. Otherwise, I would be at my wit¡¯s end. Last time when we met in the library¨CI¡­ I was too impulsive. I¡¯m sorry¡­¡± No matter the circumstances, she shouldn¡¯t have hit him.


    Ning Mufan chuckled. ¡°It must be fate that we met. Let¡¯s go. You need to rest. It¡¯s all in the past¨CI was wrong, anyway, acting so rashly and scaring you.¡±


    He covered her with a nket and murmured softly, ¡°Sleep well. I¡¯ll be right here. Don¡¯t be afraid.¡±


    Tang Qiu was a little embarrassed. ¡°Sorry to trouble you. Senior. Please, don¡¯t let me keep you from your work. I sleep quite soundly.¡±


    Ning Mufan wanted to stay by her side, but he couldn¡¯t tell her that. He nodded. ¡°I¡¯ll leave when you¡¯re asleep.¡±


    Tang Qiu closed her eyes and drifted into sleep.


    Ning Mufan knelt by the bed and watched her sleep peacefully. He smiled and wished that time would stop so he could savor this moment. He reached out to caress her forehead¡­


    And was interrupted by a loud bang on the door downstairs.

 Chapter 80 - Sleeping In His Bed

    <h1 ss="dib mb0 fw700 fs24 lh1.5">Chapter 80: Sleeping In His Bed</h1>


    Ning Mufan frowned. When he went downstairs, the servant told him fearfully, ¡°Two people broke in, Young Master. I¡¯ve already called the police.¡±


    Ning Mufan looked at the two people downstairs and saw a man wearing a mask and a cleanly-pressed suit. Behind him was He Lei, one of Jiang Shaocheng¡¯spdogs. ¡°Don¡¯t you know you¡¯re trespassing on private property? This isn¡¯t the Jiang household. How dare you barge into my house in your master¡¯s absence? Do the Jiangs have no regard for thew?¡±


    ¡°Bold of you to say that when you kidnapped our young mistress,¡± He Lei shot back.


    The masked man lost his patience and strode upstairs. Ning Mufan blocked him, and received a punch to his face. His hand flew to his mouth and came away bloody. His eyes turned cold. ¡°Who are you?¡± he demanded. ¡°If Jiang Shaocheng wants his wife, let hime get her himself!¡±


    The masked man sneered and fixed Ning Mufan with an icy, dark stare. He went straight to the guest room to find his wife. When he saw her sleeping on the bed, Jiang Shaocheng felt as if his heart had been stabbed. She hade here¨Cheedless of the consequences¨Cto see Ning Mufan and sleep in his bed? He clenched his fists and lifted the nket, intending to carry her off.


    ¡°Put her down. You can¡¯t take her away without her consent!¡± Ning Mufan rushed into the room and grabbed his arm to stop him from picking up Tang Qiu.


    Jiang Shaocheng¡¯s visage contorted in anger behind his mask. He set Tang Qiu down and seized Ning Mufan by the throat, intending to choke him to death. Tang Qiu was his¨C and Ning Mufan was less than nothing.


    ¡°Let¡­ go¡­¡± Ning Mufan wheezed out, face turning red. He hadn¡¯t expected that this man would be out for his death.


    Themotion finally woke Tang Qiu up. She opened her eyes and saw a masked man trying to strangle Ning Mufan. Instantly alert, she screamed hoarsely, ¡°Who are you? Let go of him!¡±


    Instead of letting go, the masked man tightened his grip. Ning Mufan¡¯s face had gone purple. In a moment of desperation, she picked up the bedsidemp and hurled it at the masked man.


    Themp shattered and crashed to the ground.


    The man whirled around. Tang Qiu flinched back at his murderous, dark gaze. ¡°Let him go! Murder is a crime. Why can¡¯t you talk things over calmly?¡±


    The man stared at her, his eyes hurt and angry. He released Ning Mufan and closed in on her.


    Tang Qiu retreated in fear. ¡°W-what are you doing? Who are you?¡± Her heels hit the bed, and she fell back. The masked man loomed above her like a predator, his cold eyes boring into her. ¡°Go away!¡± she cried out.


    ¡°Why?¡± the man asked darkly. ¡°So you can keep other men close?¡±


    Ning Mufan had finally recovered enough to stand. He staggered towards Jiang Shaocheng. ¡°Leave her alone. If you have a problem, take it out with me. She¡¯s just a woman!¡±


    Jiang Shaocheng raised his arm. Ning Mufan managed to dodge his first punch, but not his second. He crumpled to the ground, blood flowing from the corner of his mouth.


    Tang Qiu lunged forward, but her injured arm slowed her, and the masked man seized her wrist before she could attack him. She panicked and bit down hard on his arm, but the man didn¡¯t even frown¨Che just stared at her coldly.


    ¡°Let go, Young Mistress!¡± He Lei ran into the room. ¡°That¡¯s the young master¡¯s¡­ bodyguard!¡±


    Tang Qiu rxed when she heard that the masked assant worked for her husband. She looked at the blood staining his shirt and licked her lips awkwardly. ¡°I didn¡¯t know you were here on my husband¡¯s behalf. Why didn¡¯t you say something earlier? I¡¯m sorry¡­¡±


    ¡°And I didn¡¯t know you still remembered that you have a husband,¡± the man sneered.


    His sarcasm made her unhappy. ¡°Of course I remember that I have a husband. But how can you hurt innocent people, even as his bodyguard?¡± Tang Qiu shook him off and wanted to help Ning Mufan up, but couldn¡¯t escape the man¡¯s vice grip. ¡°Let me go!¡± she cried.


    ¡°You¡¯reing with me!¡± Let go? He had left her alone for a day, and she took that as an invitation to elope with another man. Jiang Shaocheng wasn¡¯t letting her out of his sight.


    ¡°Just because you¡¯re my husband¡¯s bodyguard doesn¡¯t mean you can be so unreasonable,¡± Tang Qiu retorted angrily. ¡°Why did you beat up Ning Mufan? And why aren¡¯t you letting me go?¡±


    Jiang Shaocheng couldn¡¯t bear to let her gaze linger on another man anymore. He pulled her to leave, but Tang Qiu stayed bolted to the floor, looking at the injured Ning Mufan. ¡°I¡¯m not going anywhere. If you want to leave, you can do so alone!¡±


    Jiang Shaocheng barked out a furiousugh. ¡°So you want to stay with him?¡±

 Chapter 81 - Still in Pain from Last Night

    <h1>Chapter 81: Still in Pain from Last Night</h1>


    ¡°Young Mistress, just go with him. I¡¯ll handle things here,¡± He Lei interrupted, seeing the two of them argue. His scalp was about to explode.


    ¡°But my senior was injured¡­¡± Tang Qiu med herself; Ning Mufan had beenpletely innocent.


    ¡°I can stay behind to make sure he¡¯s okay, Young Mistress. The young master¡¯s bodyguard is anxious to leave too¡­ Your husband is waiting for you¡­¡± He Lei urged.


    Only when Tang Qiu heard that her husband was waiting for her did she move to follow the masked man. However, he gripped her too hard. She frowned and said, ¡°Let go, you¡¯re hurting me!¡±


    Jiang Shaocheng, who was wearing a mask, didn¡¯t know that she was injured. She was wearing a coat that didn¡¯t belong to her; he would have ripped it from her shoulders if it wasn¡¯t inappropriate. He just wanted to take her away quickly. However, her resistance just made him even angrier. He tightened his grip.


    Seeing the two of them leave, He Lei retracted his gaze and stared coldly at Ning Mufan. ¡°Young Master Ning, I remember issuing you a reminder to stay away from my young madam. I assume your ears are still functional enough to understand simple instructions?¡±


    Ning Mufan stood up straight, clutching his neck. He sneered disdainfully. ¡°You¡¯re just Jiang Shaocheng¡¯spdog. What right do you have to order me around? Tang Qiu is his wife¡ªnot his belonging. Why can¡¯t she have friends of her own? I really feel sorry for her.¡±


    ¡°A friend whom you also want to sleep with? Young Master Ning, I understand if you like my young mistress, but your interest in her is still uneptable. Her husband is not someone to be trifled with. Don¡¯t test my young master¡¯s patience again and again. You won¡¯t be able to withstand the consequences,¡± He Lei mocked.


    Ning Mufan clenched his fists. Maybe his feelings for Tang Qiu were born of the superficialities of youth¡ªbut he wasn¡¯t about to give her up. ¡°Jiang Shaocheng is just a cripple who doesn¡¯t have long to live. He can¡¯t give her happiness at all. Do you really expect me to believe that you care about her?¡±


    He Lei looked at him coolly. ¡°That¡¯s a discussion for after my young master¡¯s death. As for you¡ªyou have no right to be near her. Even as a friend, you should know your limits. You¡¯ll pay dearly for what you¡¯ve done!¡± He turned and left.


    Tang Qiu followed the masked man to a hotel. Her arm hurt terribly, but no matter what she said, the man refused to listen.


    ¡°Tang Qiu, who gave you the guts toe here and find another man?¡± the man roared.


    Tang Qiu shook off his hand and frowned angrily when she saw the red mark on her wrist. He was just her husband¡¯s bodyguard. Who was he to scold her? ¡°You have no right to question me, and I don¡¯t owe you an answer!¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re avoiding my question. Do you really have feelings for Ning Mufan?¡± Jiang Shaocheng was about to lose his mind from rage.


    ¡°Whether I have feelings for him or not has nothing to do with you. I want to see my husband!¡± Tang Qiu said coldly.


    ¡°You¡­¡± Fury swarmed Jiang Shaocheng¡¯s vision, bathing the world in red.


    ¡°Stop arguing. The young mistress wants to see her husband. Let the young master talk to her.¡± He Lei pulled Jiang Shaocheng back and reminded him that he was still wearing a mask.


    Jiang Shaocheng took a few deep breaths. The image of his wife sleeping in another man¡¯s bed continued to taunt him, blinding him with fury. He turned and mmed the door behind him. Tang Qiu and He Lei were shocked.


    What terrible anger!


    He Lei coughed lightly and advised, ¡°When you see the young masterter, talk to him properly. Even if some things can¡¯t be exined clearly, try not to be angry with him.¡± Then he went out.


    Her husband¡¯s health was poor. Why would she be angry with him?


    After a while, the door opened and Jiang Shaocheng wheeled himself in.


    Tang Qiu¡¯s eyes lit up when she saw him. She ran to him and squatted down. ¡°Dear, I missed you so much.¡±


    ¡°You missed me?¡± Jiang Shaocheng stared at her coldly. For a moment, he really couldn¡¯t tell if she was lying. Had the years shaped her into a remarkable actress, or did she truly possess that much mental fortitude? She had just eloped with another man and been caught by him. Now she was offering him sweet nothings in ce of an exnation?


    Jiang Shaocheng reached out to touch her beautiful face. He yearned to tear off her two-faced mask and make her confess the truth. When she had said that she liked him, were those just lies meant to win his favor? ¡°Did anything happenst night that you want to tell me about?¡± He wanted to ask exactly what had transpired between Ning Mufan and her, but he couldn¡¯t bear to utter that man¡¯s name¡ªand he wasn¡¯t sure he wanted to hear her answer.


    Tang Qiu¡¯s thoughts traveled to that encounter in the darkst night, and all her grievances came spilling out. ¡°So many things. I¡¯m still in pain. That man, he¡­¡± She couldn¡¯t wait to rant about all the awful things that had happened. However, a roar interrupted her before she could continue.


    ¡°Shut up, Tang Qiu!¡±

 Chapter 82

    <h1 ss="dib mb0 fw700 fs24 lh1.5">Chapter 82: You Want Me To Get Lost?</h1>


    At her husband¡¯s shout, Tang Qiu stared at him in nk shock. He had called her by her full name¨Cand with such hatred. Was he angry because she had suddenlye to him without his permission? ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I¡­ I just¡­¡±


    ¡°Shut up. Get out!¡± Thest thing Jiang Shaocheng wanted right now was an apology. What he wanted was sincerity and honesty. What he wanted was her love¡­ but now everything just seemed like a cruel joke. And what had he been thinking? Why would a cripple be blessed with a marriage that had seemingly fallen into hisp¨Cwith a woman who was true to him?


    ¡°You want me to get lost?¡± All of Tang Qiu¡¯s words¨Cwhether of frustration or affection¨Cevaporated. She opened her mouth, but nothing came out. She hade here because she had sincerely missed him, and now he was throwing her efforts back in her face. It wasughable. She gritted her teeth, stood, and left. The moment the door closed behind her, her tears began to flow.


    She¡¯de to this strange ce, all alone, because her heart had yearned and worried for him. Her purse had been stolen, her arm had been shed, and she¡¯d spent the night in fear. And when she finally found him, he¡¯d told her to get lost? Did that mean he didn¡¯t want her anymore? Or that he wanted to divorce her once they returned?


    Augh nearly broke past her lips. What did you expect? a voice in her head taunted. She had been fighting for scraps of survival in the Feng family. She was a bastard child, a disgrace in the eyes of the Jiang family. And she had been foolish enough to believe that Jiang Shaocheng was different¨Cfoolish enough to fantasize about a future with him. She tasted the bitter salt of her tears, and wiped them away with her sleeve. It aggravated the wound on her arm. She rolled up her sleeve. Her bandages were stained red from how tightly the bodyguard had been gripping her. The pain had faded into numbness¨Cbut nothing couldpare to the stab of grief in her heart.


    She had no money or identification on her now. Tang Qiu was suddenly at a loss. Where could she go?


    ¡°Why did youe out, Young Mistress? How did the conversation with the young master go?¡±


    Tang Qiu tried to calm herself down. ¡°He Lei, can you do me a favor?¡±


    ¡°What is it?¡± He Lei¡¯s manner was cold.


    ¡°Can you help me book a flight back? I¡¯ll pay you back when I return,¡± Tang Qiu said, treading cautiously.


    ¡°Okay¡­¡± He Lei frowned. He didn¡¯t understand what Tang Qiu was thinking. The young master was going crazy from anger, and she wanted to go back now? What good would it do to pay him back? Did this woman even have a heart? The ne tickets were easy to book, and He Lei was quick toplete the task.


    Tang Qiu lowered her head. ¡°Thank you. Can¡­ Can you lend me some more money?¡±


    He Lei took out his wallet and shoved a wad of money at her, frustrated. What was he, a charity? ¡°Did you tell the young master that you¡¯re flying back?¡±


    Tang Qiu held back her tears as she took the money from him. ¡°He asked me to leave.¡± She walked away before He Lei could ask any further questions.


    He Lei thought for a moment, then turned to knock on the door. The smell of smoke hit him once he entered the room. It was dim, and a lone figure held a lit cigarette in his hand. His face was heavy with loneliness and sorrow.


    He Lei sighed inwardly. It was rare for the young master to let any woman into his life. But Tang Qiu hadn¡¯t cherished him, and had actually eloped with another man. His young master must be furious. ¡°Perhaps it¡¯s because you¡¯re wearing a human skin mask and pretending to be crippled, Young Master. Maybe the young mistress couldn¡¯t stand it and chose a better-looking man¡­¡±


    ¡°So she¡¯s been putting on an act in front of me all this time?¡± A woman who chose to betray him because of his ugly appearance wasn¡¯t worth his time. The most unfair part, though, was how long she had sustained performance. He wouldn¡¯t let her off. ¡°Send a message to Old Master Ning and ask him if he wants his grandson, or Lu Ning.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Young Master.¡± He Lei knew that Ning Mufan had no way of escaping his young master¡¯s wrath, but he could tell that the young master still couldn¡¯t bear to relinquish Tang Qiu. It was obvious that she had genuinely captured his heart.


    At this moment, He Lei¡¯s phone suddenly rang. Seeing that it was Xie Qingqing, He Lei quickly went out and closed the door before answering.


    ¡°Mr He, have you found Qiu yet? Was your young master surprised to see her? Is he still unwell? He went overseas for treatment in the middle of the night. Qiu was worried all day and couldn¡¯t focus in ss.¡± Xie Qingqing hadn¡¯t wanted to call him, but He Lei had hung up on her so abruptly thest time, and she was anxious after being unable to contact Tang Qiu.


    He Lei¡¯s eyes widened in surprise. ¡°You¡¯re saying Tang Qiu came to N Country to look for my young master?¡±


    ¡°What else? She¡¯s so thrifty, would she have gone there for a holiday? Don¡¯t tell me you didn¡¯t see her?¡±


    He Lei swallowed, feeling a tinge of fear. Had they misunderstood Tang Qiu?

 Chapter 83

    <h1 ss="dib mb0 fw700 fs24 lh1.5">Chapter 83: This is Bad</h1>


    Xie Qingqing trembled in rage at He Lei¡¯s tone. She had to bite back several curses.


    ¡°Qiu said you were very smart. I told her she was too simpleminded¨Cwith your low sry, how brainy can you be? You should be happy Qiu chose your young master at all, in that condition of his. She was worried about her husband and asked someone where he was. I haven¡¯t been able to contact her since she boarded that ne. I¡¯m still worried about her¨Cshe flew to such a remote ce just to surprise Jiang Shaocheng, without caring about the price of the air ticket. I don¡¯t understand. When did either of us lie to you? Does your question mean something happened to Qiu? Listen up: if she¡¯s hurt, I don¡¯t care how badly she¡¯s pining for that husband of hers¨CI¡¯ll make sure she leaves him!¡±


    After being reprimanded by Xie Qingqing, He Lei unconsciously rubbed his ears and asked, ¡°Do either of you know if Ning Mufan is in N Country?¡±


    ¡°How would we know? He isn¡¯t important enough for the school to announce his whereabouts. Where¡¯s Qiu? Why are you suddenly bringing up Ning Mufan?¡± Xie Qingqing though that there must be something wrong with He Lei¡¯s brain.


    ¡°This is bad.¡± He Lei quickly hung up.


    Huh? Xie Qingqing longed to reach through the phone and throttle He Lei. Hanging up before she was done talking? She wanted to know where Tang Qiu was!


    But He Lei couldn¡¯t care less about Xie Qingqing now. He turned around and pushed open the door. ¡°Young Master, the young mistress came to N Country not for Ning Mufan, but to find you!¡±


    Jiang Shaocheng turned to look at him. ¡°Looking for me?¡± Heughed coldly and threw his unfinished cigarette into the ashtray. ¡°I wasn¡¯t even in N Country. Why would she be looking for me here?¡±


    He Lei had also found the notion ridiculous at first, but Xie Qingqing¡¯s words had made him realize that someone had told Tang Qiu her husband was in N Country. Something wasn¡¯t right, regardless of who that person was. ¡°I¡¯ll call Ning Mufan and verify it with him.¡± He dug up Ning Mufan¡¯s contact information and called him.


    ¡°Ning Mufan, did my young mistresse to N Country N with you?¡±


    Ning Mufan was so angry that he almost burst outughing. ¡°Wasn¡¯t humiliating me enough? Did you call me just to mock me? You¡¯re too much!¡±


    He Lei was anxious. ¡°How did youe to meet my young mistress?¡± he pressed.


    ¡°I bumped into her at the hospital this morning. She had been searching for her husband in various hospitals sincest night, but found no traces of him. Why? Is it because Jiang Shaocheng is about to die of his illness, but is too much of a coward to let everyone know?¡± Ning Mufan retorted.


    Jiang Shaocheng¡¯s expression changed. He stood up and walked over to He Lei.


    He Lei quickly asked, ¡°Are you saying that the young mistress came to look for my young master, and that meeting you was a coincidence?¡±


    ¡°What else?¡± Ning Mufan sneered. ¡°If she hade for me, why would she be searching for that cripple? She was robbedst night. Her identification and money were stolen, and her arm was injured. I don¡¯t know how she survived the night. Her wound has already been infected. When I saw her, she couldn¡¯t even stand upright, but she was still looking for Jiang Shaocheng in the hospital!¡± He exhaled deeply. ¡°Take her to the hospital. Don¡¯t dismiss her injury. It isn¡¯t serious, but she might get tetanus after ignoring her wound for a whole night!¡± His concern for Tang Qiu eclipsed his hatred for Jiang Shaocheng.


    Jiang Shaocheng recalled that when he grabbed Tang Qiu¡¯s wrist, she kept crying out in pain. So she had been injured. He felt guilty and rushed out.


    Before He Lei could hang up, he heard a bang. His young master, who was pretending to be a cripple, had run out.


    It was enough to give him a headache. The young master was about to expose himself. He Lei made to chase after him, only to see Jiang Shaocheng running back. ¡°Where is she?¡± he demanded.


    ¡°I¡­ I helped her book a flight back home. I¡­ I¡¯ll check if she¡¯s received the tickets yet.¡± He Lei¡¯s head was throbbing with fear.


    Jiang Shaocheng gritted his teeth. ¡°You booked a ticket for her? Do you want to die?¡±


    He Lei didn¡¯t dare to speak.


    Jiang Shaocheng took out his phone to check her location. The ne he had given her had a GPS built into it.


    ¡°Young Master, if you¡¯re not pretending to be a cripple, you should at least wear a mask.¡± He Lei chased after him.


    Jiang Shaocheng hadn¡¯t driven far when he saw Tang Qiu sitting on a bench by the street, herplexion pallid. His heart ached. He had been so angry that he had wrongly used her before getting his facts right. For a moment, he didn¡¯t know how to face her.


    He saw her cough and turn pale. Then she swayed and fell sideways onto the bench.

 Chapter 84 - You Want to Kill Me?

    <h4>Chapter 84: You Want to Kill Me?</h4>


    ¡°Qiu!¡± Jiang Shaocheng¡¯s expression changed, and he rushed over without hesitation.


    When Tang Qiu woke up again, it was in an unfamiliar environment. She sat up in fear. The sudden movement sent a jolt of pain through her arm, and she cried out.


    ¡°Did you have a nightmare, Qiu?¡±


    Tang Qiu looked up nkly at the familiar voice and saw Jiang Shaocheng sitting in a wheelchair. Emotions flooded her: surprise, joy, anger, and heartbreak.


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong, Qiu?¡± Jiang Shaocheng saw that her eyes were red and his heart ached. He pushed his wheelchair closer to the bed. ¡°Are you in pain?¡±


    ¡°W-Why am I here? Where am I? I left just now. I didn¡¯t mean toe back and bother you¡­¡± Tang Qiu exined herself before he could interrogate her further. She truly didn¡¯t have the strength to listen to his cruel words anymore. She had been so dizzy, she couldn¡¯t walk anymore, so she had found a bench to sit on for a while¡­ and ended up fainting.


    ¡°We¡¯re at the hospital. Your wound is infected. You have a fever.¡± Jiang Shaocheng ced his hand on her forehead, which was still a little warmer than usual. He wanted to kiss her forehead, but Tang Qiu flinched back. Regret twisted in his heart for not controlling his emotions earlier.


    <sub></sub>


    ¡°Qiu, I¡¯m sorry¡­¡±


    Tang Qiu looked at him in a daze. ¡°It¡¯s okay. I want to go back home. If you want a divorce when we return, I won¡¯t stop you.¡±


    ¡°I told you, only death can do us part.¡± Jiang Shaocheng¡¯s tone became heavier. Even in his rage, he had never once thought of getting a divorce.


    Tang Qiu looked at him in disbelief. ¡°So you want to kill me? You can¡¯t ignore thew, even if we¡¯re overseas! I was worried about you and wanted to surprise you, that¡¯s all. I can understand if you told me to get lost. And I did¨Cit¡¯s you who brought me back. What right do you have to want me dead?¡±


    Jiang Shaocheng suddenly felt helpless. How could he ever have believed that Tang Qiu would elope with someone else, when even now, all she could think of was him? ¡°I meant that I won¡¯t divorce you. I didn¡¯t get my facts right. I misunderstood you. I was angry, so I spoke without thinking. You¡­¡± He stopped himself, seeing that Tang Qiu was enraged enough to pick up themp beside her and hurl it at him. He put his arm around her, kissed her lips, and patted her back tofort her.


    ¡°Let me go¡­¡± This time, Tang Qiu wasn¡¯t shy¨Cshe was furious. He couldn¡¯t win her back with words, so he was forcing a kiss onto her? Was that any way to apologize?


    Right then, the doctor came in to take Tang Qiu¡¯s temperature, and they broke apart. Tang Qiu turned her head away from him, but she still cooperated with the doctor¡¯s treatment; she still needed medicine, even if her fever wasn¡¯t as high as before. The kiss he had forcefully nted on her had changed the atmosphere between them. After the doctor left, Jiang Shaocheng continued to apologize. In Tang Qiu¡¯s mind, misunderstandings were normal.


    But she didn¡¯t know just how shocked people would be if they saw Jiang Shaocheng like this¨Ca domineering, paranoid man, swallowing his pride to apologize in humility.


    In the evening, Jiang Shaocheng fed her dinner. Only then did she feel a little more energetic and stop looking for a weapon to defend herself with. ¡°You¡¯re ill. Stop paying so much attention to me.¡± Although she was still angry from today¡¯s events, she hadn¡¯t forgotten that Jiang Shaocheng hade to N Country for treatment.


    Jiang Shaocheng¨Cwho was faking his illness¨Cchuckled. ¡°It¡¯s my responsibility to take care of you. I wronged you earlier. Let me make it up to you. Otherwise, I¡¯ll feel terrible and won¡¯t be able to recover from my illness¡­¡± He couldn¡¯t get more shameless in coaxing his wife, even if he tried.


    ¡°But is your condition better? I heard from Doctor Ke that you came here for treatment. I wanted to give you a surprise. After getting off the ne, for some reason, I didn¡¯t receive the address she said she would send me. I couldn¡¯t get through to your phone either. I could only look for you at different hospitals. I didn¡¯t expect someone to steal my bag¡­¡± The past two days had been a momentous catastrophe of one misfortune after the other.


    ¡°Ke Liuyi said I was in N Country? And she told you she would tell you where to go after you reached¡­¡± Jiang Shaocheng narrowed his eyes, but his expression didn¡¯t change. ¡°I¡¯ll get your identification and wallet back for you. My condition is nothing to worry about; I was just here for a checkup.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Doctor Ke told me. You suddenly disappeared, so I could only find out which country you were in from her. I was in too much of a hurry¡­ she said that I should contact her when I reached¡­¡± Changing the subject, she asked, ¡°How was your checkup?¡±


    ¡°It went well. Not only will my legs recover soon, but¡­ I can also have a baby with you.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s good!¡± Naturally, Tang Qiu was happy for him.


    Jiang Shaocheng¡¯s lips curved up. ¡°Are you referring to my legs recovering, or the baby?¡±


    Tang Qiu fell silent for a few seconds and blushed. She avoided his gaze as she replied, ¡°All of it.¡±


    Jiang Shaocheng looked at her cute, doll-like appearance and couldn¡¯t resist leaning in for another kiss. Tang Qiu quickly covered his mouth. ¡°Again? I don¡¯t want to kiss you for the next few days¡­¡±

 Chapter 85 - Rivals in Love

    <h4>Chapter 85: Rivals in Love</h4>


    Guilt surged through Jiang Shaocheng when he remembered what she had been through, made even worse by her telling him not to kiss her. He put his arms around her and kissed her again, heedless of her words. He was so afraid of losing her, it was the only way he could be reassured of her presence. He was especially terrified that she would leave him because of his bad temper. ¡°I can only get better if you kiss me, Qiu. You can¡¯t abandon me.¡±


    ¡°No, I meant¡­ I¡¯m still sick¡­¡± Tang Qiu thought about her husband¡¯s health; what if she passed her virus to him? She just hadn¡¯t expected Jiang Shaocheng to kiss her so eagerly¨Cso desperately. She sighed and patted himfortingly.


    It was as good as a silent invitation to Jiang Shaocheng. Gratification rolled through him. How he wished he could im her right now, and tell her how much he loved her.


    When night came, the two of them slept in the hospital bed together. Tang Qiu leaned into her husband¡¯s arms and discussed when she could be discharged.


    Jiang Shaocheng had no choice but to go along with what she wanted; she would be discharged after her fever subsided.


    ¡°By the way, it¡¯s fortunate that I met Ning Mufan, or I wouldn¡¯t have known what to do. But your bodyguard hit him and even scolded me. That bodyguard of yours has a bad temper!¡±


    Jiang Shaocheng cleared his throat awkwardly. ¡°How dare he?¡±


    Tang Qiu huffed. ¡°A bodyguard like him might be intimidating, but he¡¯s too rude and unreasonable. It will affect your reputation. You have to control him.¡±


    <sub></sub>


    Embarrassed, Jiang Shaocheng pulled her into his embrace and nodded repeatedly. ¡°You¡¯re right. I¡¯ll deduct his sry.¡±


    ¡°Also, dear, I¨C¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s not talk anymore, Qiu. We should sleep.¡± Jiang Shaocheng was worried that she wouldin about him again, so he lowered his head and kissed her silent.


    Tang Qiu stopped talking, but he kissed her again. Her eyes widened, and she grabbed his arm nervously.


    Maybe he couldn¡¯t have all of her¨Cjust a taste, enough to whet his appetite but not satisfy it. All it did was make him even hungrier for her. This incident had made Jiang Shaocheng realize that as long as this woman upied his heart, he wouldn¡¯t be able to think rationally¨Cor even bear to let her go.


    ¡°It tickles.¡± Tang Qiuughed and squirmed in his arms. Jiang Shaocheng let go and kissed her lips again. ¡°You¡¯re mine, Qiu. There can be no one else in your heart but me.¡±


    Hearing his solemn tone, Tang Qiu looked at him suspiciously¨Coblivious to how desperately her husband yearned to make her his. ¡°What¡¯s wrong with you, dear?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m very happy about the surprise you gave me, Qiu.¡± It was her first time out of the country, and she must have been terrified of her unfamiliar surroundings. Still, she had done it for him, without even looking back. He was genuinely surprised and gratified that she cared about him too, but the thought of her injuries made his heart ache even more.


    Tang Qiu smiled. ¡°I¡¯m just happy to be with you.¡±


    Jiang Shaocheng tightened his arms around her, wishing their bodies could be joined in the union they were meant for.


    ***


    Tang Qiu was generally in good health, and her infected wound recovered smoothly. Her fever had broken, too, so Jiang Shaocheng brought her out of the hospital.


    After being discharged, Tang Qiu suggested that he should thank Ning Mufan and apologize to him for the incident with his bodyguard.


    He Lei, who was walking behind, felt his legs almost give way when he heard Tang Qiu¡¯s words.


    Why did Tang Qiu mention Ning Mufan in front of the young master?


    Jiang Shaocheng looked at Tang Qiu¡¯s clear eyes, which were filled with sincerity. He restrained his anger. ¡°Alright. Just this once.¡± Some things were better conveyed in person, anyway.


    He Lei looked at him in surprise. Since when had his young master be so¡­ magnanimous?


    Jiang Shaocheng didn¡¯t want her to contact Ning Mufan again, so he took her phone and called him.


    He Lei overheard what his young master said to Ning Mufan, and the corners of his mouth twitched. He knew it. The young master¡¯s ability to nurse a grudge over his wife was remarkable. How could he be so benevolent all of a sudden?


    This meal was destined to be a battle between rivals!


    ***


    When Tang Qiu and Jiang Shaocheng arrived, Ning Mufan was waiting for them.


    Jiang Shaocheng grabbed Tang Qiu¡¯s wrist and ignored Ning Mufan. He poured Tang Qiu a ss of water.


    Tang Qiu smiled. She reached for Ning Mufan¡¯s cup and asked Jiang Shaocheng to pour him some water too.


    Jiang Shaocheng gritted his teeth, but he refused to let his demeanor waver in front of his love rival.

 Chapter 86 - This Man is Your Husband?

    <h4>Chapter 86: This Man is Your Husband?</h4>


    Tang Qiu said, ¡°Senior, my husband¡¯s bodyguard was too impulsive when he attacked you. My husband is here to apologize to you.¡±


    Ning Mufan took the cup and looked at Jiang Shaocheng with disdain in his eyes. ¡°For Qiu¡¯s sake, I¡¯ll ept the tea¨Cand your apology¨Cand not kick up a fuss.¡± He took a swallow of the tea.


    Jiang Shaocheng¡¯s lips curled up slightly. ¡°You¡¯re very understanding, Mr Ning. I should also thank you for taking care of my wife.¡± He picked up the teapot and refilled Ning Mufan¡¯s cup.


    Ning Mufan chuckled and didn¡¯t take the teacup this time. ¡°Qiu is my junior, and we have the same professor. It¡¯s only right that I take care of her. On your part, Mr Jiang, I believe you could do better than those simpleminded bodyguards you have. You should teach them to use their brains instead of resorting to brute force.¡±


    Jiang Shaocheng smiled faintly. ¡°You¡¯re young, Mr Ning, but principled. No wonder your grandfather sent you here to develop your talents. You will definitely achieve great things in the future.¡±


    Tang Qiu listened to them verbally spar, happy that they were¨Csupposedly¨Cmaking peace with one another.


    However, He Lei could sense that the two of them were at loggerheads; it was a battlefield without smoke, nothing more.


    When Ning Mufan heard him mention his grandfather, he was furious, but he couldn¡¯t show it in front of Tang Qiu. He picked up the teacup and drank a mouthful of tea, then refilled his cup. ¡°You¡¯re here for treatment, aren¡¯t you, Mr Jiang? How is iting? Since you¡¯re estranged from your father, are you facing any financial difficulties? If so, please let me know. I¡¯d be happy to help.¡±


    Was that meant to hit a raw spot? He Lei sneered. For all that his young mastercked, money was most definitely not one of them.


    Jiang Shaocheng¡¯s expression didn¡¯t change. ¡°Thank you. The doctor said that I¡¯m recovering very well, and that my legs will heal quickly, too. As for the money, you¡¯re still a student, Mr Ning. Your daily expenses are covered by your family. How can I ask you for help?¡±


    He Lei recalled what his young master used to be like at the negotiation table; even professional negotiators and psychologists had had to admit defeat to him. How could a young master who relied on his family name for survival win against Jiang Shaocheng?


    Ning Mufan sensed his mockery and suppressed his anger. Instead of replying, he lowered his head to take another sip of tea.


    Not long after, the waiter came in to serve the dishes, breaking the awkward atmosphere. Tang Qiu asked why Ning Mufan came to N Country and found out that he was here as an exchange student. As Ning Mufan spoke, he looked at Jiang Shaocheng meaningfully. It was Jiang Shaocheng¡¯s fault that he was here! He didn¡¯t know how this cripple had convinced his grandfather to send him overseas, but since he had seeded, he must have had some significant leverage over the Ning family.


    ......


    After lunch, Tang Qiu got up and went to the bathroom. Only the two men were left in the private room.


    ¡°Jiang Shaocheng, what did you do to make my grandfather send me overseas?¡± Ning Mufan asked bluntly.


    ¡°What does your grandfather sending you abroad for your future have to do with me?¡± Jiang Shaocheng said innocently.


    ¡°Other than you, who else¡­¡± His refusal to admit what he had done incensed Ning Mufan.


    ¡°It had nothing to do with me. This is my reminder to you: Tang Qiu is married. From now on, you will have nothing to do with her.¡± Jiang Shaocheng warned coldly.


    Ning Mufan wanted to say that an invalid like him couldn¡¯t give Tang Qiu happiness at all, but when he thought about how Jiang Shaocheng might recover from his illness, no words emerged from his mouth. He could argue all he liked, but the other man was right: Tang Qiu was already married.


    When Tang Qiu returned, the meal was over.


    Ning Mufan couldn¡¯t bear to look at Tang Qiu as she left. His face carried all the mncholy of a love that had been extinguished before being given the chance to catch ame. He couldn¡¯t even rationalize his heartache. He sneered at himself. He med himself for being too proud to tell her that he had missed her¡­


    After leaving the restaurant, Tang Qiu told Jiang Shaocheng that she wanted to visit a middle-aged couple who had helped her. When Jiang Shaocheng heard this, he instructed He Lei to buy some tonics for them.


    ***


    When the three of them arrived at Duan Qingman¡¯s house, Tang Qiu went to knock on the door. Duan Qingman came out and weed them with a smile.


    ¡°Ms Duan, my husband and I came to thank you for your help.¡±


    ¡°Your husband? Where¡¯s that young man from earlier?¡± Duan Qingman¡¯s eyes searched the vicinity for him.


    Jiang Shaocheng guessed that the young man Duan Qingman was talking about was Ning Mufan, and his face darkened.

 Chapter 87 - Sorrow Captured in a Painting

    <h4>Chapter 87: Sorrow Captured in a Painting</h4>


    ¡°No, that gentleman is just a friend of mine. This is my husband,¡± Tang Qiu exined.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry. Earlier, I thought your husband was very handsome. I didn¡¯t expect him to be¡­ uh¡­ such a fine man.¡± Duan Qingman saw Jiang Shaocheng in his wheelchair and wanted to offer him some polite praise, but when she noticed his scarred face, her eyes darted away, unable to lie outright. To relieve the awkwardness, she invited them to tea.


    Tang Qiu looked at her husband with a silent question, and he nodded. ¡°In that case, sorry for the trouble.¡±


    He Lei followed her in and did a rough survey of Duan Qingman¡¯s house. His gazended on a family photo. There was a man in the photo who happened to be the business partner his young master was looking for!


    Excitement stirred in He Lei. He had called his young master out in the middle of the night because there were someplications regarding a business coboration. They had tried to resolve the problem for an entire day, to no avail. Who would have thought they would stumble upon this golden opportunity? Tang Qiu was really a lucky star, to be able to help her husband in such extraordinary circumstances.


    Duan Qingman and Yang Da were kind and enthusiastic. They invited Tang Qiu to admire the garden they had nurtured. With a smile, He Lei approached the couple and asked if they would be willing to take some photos, seeing as how it had been a rare providence for them to meet. They agreed and posed for some photos with Tang Qiu, which He Lei sorted out and posted on social media.


    Over tea, Jiang Shaocheng expressed his gratitude for how they had helped his wife. He offered them several tickets to visit an art exhibition, as well as an invitation to dinner afterwards.


    Tang Qiu looked at Jiang Shaocheng in surprise. An art exhibition?


    The couple were both artists; an art exhibition was, naturally, right up their alley. Over the afternoon, they grew to realize that Jiang Shaocheng was knowledgeable and eloquent, despite being a cripple, and their attitudes towards him shifted.


    ***


    After leaving Duan Qingman¡¯s house, Tang Qiu asked curiously, ¡°Dear, why do you suddenly want to visit an art exhibition?¡±


    Jiang Shaocheng couldn¡¯t tell her that it was due to business reasons, so he lied. ¡°They helped you, so we should express our gratitude. And it doesn¡¯t hurt to make a few more friends.¡±


    Her husband¡¯s crippled legs impeded his mobility, but that didn¡¯t stop him from being warm and friendly. How could Tang Qiu object? ¡°By the way, dear, how much are we spending today? Let me see.¡±


    ......


    He Lei felt his scalp tingle when he noticed the young master¡¯s gaze on him; today¡¯s expenses hadn¡¯t been inconsiderable. They quickly changed the topic. Jiang Shaocheng said that he was feeling unwell, and Tang Qiu¡¯s financial worries evaporated instantly.


    ***


    The next day, Jiang Shaocheng and Tang Qiu went with Duan Qingman and her husband to the art exhibition. Tang Qiu was astounded by the magnificent collection of works¨Cand even more so by their prices. There was no way she could afford them.


    ¡°Do you like this painting, Qiu?¡± Jiang Shaocheng noted that she had stopped to study a particr artwork.


    Tang Qiu waved her hand. ¡°I was trying to analyze the artistic value of the painting, but I couldn¡¯te up with anything. Maybe I justck sensitivity to art. I¡¯m so unrefined!¡±


    Jiang Shaocheng wanted tough, but he contained himself and exined, ¡°The artistry of a painting isn¡¯t found in surface visuals, but its cultural and historical value. If you like it, let¡¯s buy it.¡±


    ¡°No, I don¡¯t!¡± Tang Qiu halted him, rmed. ¡°Dear, we should save our money. You have to treat your illness, and I¡¯m still a student. We don¡¯t have any other sources of ie. If we run out of savings, our future together is going to be full of hardship.¡±


    He Lei secretly checked the stock market on his phone. The value of thepany that the young master had invested in had increased again¨Ccausing his ie to rise significantly by the hour.


    Jiang Shaocheng listened to her lecture and coughed lightly. ¡°Alright. We¡¯ll be thrifty and not buy things on a whim.¡±


    At this moment, a few people in charge of the art exhibition came over, recognizing Jiang Shaocheng and wanting to greet him. Jiang Shaocheng sent them a silent warning with his gaze not to approach him. They were a little confused, but when they saw He Lei behind his young master, waving them off, they understood and walked away.


    He Lei watched them leave, and sighed in relief after ensuring that Tang Qiu had remained oblivious. In truth, the art exhibition had long ended, but when Jiang Shaocheng was chatting with Duan Qingman and her husband, he heard them mention that they hadn¡¯t been able to purchase tickets. In his regret, he had specially requested that the exhibition be extended.


    While walking around, Tang Qiu stopped in front of another artwork. For once, it wasn¡¯t the price that caught her attention. ¡°Why does this painting make me feel an indescribable sense of grief? Whoever painted this seems to have been struggling inside. Was he full of sorrow over something?¡±

 Chapter 88 - Sold

    <h4>Chapter 88: Sold</h4>


    <h4><strong>Trantor: </strong>As Studios <strong> Editor: </strong>As Studios</h4>


    Jiang Shaocheng nced at the artist¡¯s name and was surprised; it was a friend of his. ¡°What makes you say that?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know much about art, but art oftenmunicates emotion through its presentation. When I look at the painting, something flickers in my heart, and I want to smile¡­ tough¡­ to cry¡­ Am I making sense, dear?¡± Tang Qiu was torn, unable to express her thoughts clearly.


    Jiang Shaocheng held her hand. ¡°And that feeling resonates with you. That¡¯s why you were touched. Right, Qiu?¡±


    Tang Qiu was stunned. She wanted to question why she had been struck by such strange emotions, but if she had never experienced them, how could they be so easily¨Cand vividly¨Ctriggered by a simple painting? She changed the topic. ¡°The artist is really impressive, to demonstrate such a high level of mastery.¡±


    ¡°Qiu, you don¡¯t have to hide your emotions from me. If you¡¯re happy, you canugh. If not, you can be sad. Be honest with me.¡± Jiang Shaocheng gazed at her.


    Tang Qiu smiled and nodded. ¡°Ms Duan and Mr Yang should be done by now. Let¡¯s go.¡±


    It would take some time for her to open her heart and ept him. Jiang Shaocheng turned to look at He Lei and pointed at the painting, asking him to buy it.


    He Lei stepped closer. A simple painting was worth more than 30 million yuan? The corners of his mouth twitched. However, if the young mistress wanted something, then her husband had the means to purchase it¨Cno questions asked.


    The couple were still deeply gratified that they had been able to attend the exhibition, and discussed it endlessly over dinner. Tang Qiu listened in silence, punctuated only by a few exmations. Today had been such a happy one, Duan Qingman suggested that they take a photo, so she could post it on social media tomemorate their fateful meeting.


    He Lei couldn¡¯t have asked for more. He snapped the photos quickly. As long as the couple took the initiative to introduce their son to the young master, the probability of thetter¡¯s business coboration working out would increase by 80%.


    After sending the couple off, Tang Qiu returned to the hotel, thinking about the few days¡¯ worth of sses she had missed and how she ought to hurry back. The only problem was that she didn¡¯t know if she could recover the bag that had been stolen from her. ¡°I¡¯ve been away for a few days¡­ I don¡¯t think I can catch up on all those books Professor Sun assigned me¡­¡±


    Jiang Shaocheng couldn¡¯t leave yet; he still had business to attend to. He caressed her face andforted her. ¡°Don¡¯t be anxious. I¡¯ve already gotten someone to look for your bag. Losing money is one thing, but we need to get back your identification. Give it a few more days.¡±


    ¡°That would be the best case scenario.¡± An unlikely one, but it would be incredibly troublesome if she lost her identification overseas.


    ¡°Young Madam, look what I found for you.¡± He Lei brought over a painting and handed it to Tang Qiu.


    ¡°Isn¡¯t this the painting we saw at the art exhibition? Did you buy it?¡± Tang Qiu was shocked.


    ¡°No. The painter is a friend of mine,¡± He Lei exined. ¡°I was chatting with him, and he decided to give the painting to you. He also said he wanted to have a meal with you and the young master, to make your acquaintances.¡±


    ¡°He gave away a piece of artwork worth tens of millions, just like that?¡± Tang Qiu was stunned, but she was also a little curious about the artist behind the painting. ¡°Alright. We can get to know him over a meal.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll text him to update him, then.¡± He Lei nced at Jiang Shaocheng and waited for his nod of approval before leaving.


    Tang Qiu held the painting and turned to Jiang Shaocheng. ¡°The painting is mine after the artist gave it to me, right? Does that mean I can do whatever I want with it?¡±


    ¡°Of course,¡± he said with a nod.


    ¡°Then I¡¯ll sell it. How much do you think is appropriate?¡±


    Jiang Shaocheng almost choked. He coughed. ¡°I thought you liked this painting, Qiu. Why are you selling it?¡±


    ¡°I do, but I don¡¯t know how to appreciate the art for what it¡¯s worth. There¡¯s no point in collecting this painting. I might as well sell it to someone who knows how to appreciate it, so that its value can be maximized,¡± she said seriously.


    ¡°You¡¯re¡­ you¡¯re right!¡± Jiang Shaocheng nodded. He didn¡¯t need the money; she could do as she pleased.


    ¡°Where do you think we can sell it, to reap a high amount of profit?¡±


    ¡°The auction house. Let He Lei contact them. He knows what to do.¡±


    Tang Qiu sighed. ¡°I should have chosen to study finance. It would be so lucrative!¡±


    Jiang Shaocheng chuckled and rubbed her head. ¡°If you pick up finance, Qiu, I¡¯ll ce all my assets in your hands and let you run our business for the rest of our lives.¡±

 Chapter 89 - It’s Rusty, Can It Still be Used?

    <h4>Chapter 89: It¡¯s Rusty, Can It Still be Used?</h4>


    <h4><strong>Trantor: </strong>As Studios <strong> Editor: </strong>As Studios</h4>


    They arranged to have dinner with the artist in a mansion so luxurious it could have passed for a pce.


    Tang Qiu walked in and heard lively music. She saw many people wearing masks and looked at He Lei in confusion.


    He Lei was also confused. Yin Shi didn¡¯t say that they were here for a masquerade party¨Conly a meal. It was obvious that they had been tricked by him. He went to find three masks for them.


    ¡°Hey, hey¡­ you guys are here!¡± A man approached them, wearing a vampire mask and a smile. ¡°I didn¡¯t believe it when I heard that you were married.¡±


    He ced his hands on Jiang Shaocheng¡¯s wheelchair and looked at Tang Qiu, who was wearing a cat mask. With a faint smirk, he whispered, ¡°Your little kitten has a good figure. Why are you hiding her even after the wedding? Afraid someone will snatch her away?¡±


    ¡°Me? Afraid?¡± Jiang Shaocheng replied calmly. ¡°You couldn¡¯t snatch her away even if you tried.¡±


    Yin Shi raised his eyebrows at the other man¡¯s assured tone, lending a devilish nt to his upturned, narrow eyes. ¡°Tsk. You make me curious as to just how cute your kitten is.¡±


    He turned around and greeted Tang Qiu. ¡°Nice to meet you. I¡¯m Yin Shi. I heard that you like my work. It¡¯s an honor to make your acquaintance.¡±


    Tang Qiu met his gaze and smiled. ¡°Nice to meet you too, Mr Yin!¡±


    ¡°He Lei, Shaocheng, and I are all friends. You don¡¯t have to be so polite. This way, please.¡± Yin Shi¡¯s grin turned casual.


    Tang Qiu nodded with a smile and followed him into the main hall. There were five or six people sitting there, men and women alike, all wearing masks. She wasn¡¯t used to such crowded gatherings, so she sat down beside Jiang Shaocheng.


    Yin Shi smiled and asked, ¡°Shaocheng, I heard that you stand to recover from your illness. Do we have your wife to thank?¡±


    The others chuckled at the underlying meaning to Yin Shi¡¯s question. Many of them knew about Jiang Shaocheng¡¯s disguise. Yin Shi was hinting at how he had to put his bedroom activities on hold, since he was pretending to be crippled.


    Tang Qiu didn¡¯t understand why they wereughing and looked at her husband in confusion. The teasing wasn¡¯t lost on Jiang Shaocheng. ¡°You¡¯re just jealous because I¡¯m married. I¡¯ll be magnanimous and refrain from arguing with you.¡±


    Yin Shi sneered and chided Jiang Shaocheng for being a hypocrite, before standing to call for some refreshments. Tang Qiu listened to the diverse exchange ofnguages around them and said to Jiang Shaocheng curiously, ¡°Mr Yin is quite popr, to have friends from all over the world.¡±


    Jiang Shaocheng nced around indifferently. The noise was making him frustrated. ¡°He met them all at the exhibition, so I don¡¯t think this counts as being popr.¡± If he had known that Yin Shi would be hosting such a tedious gathering, he wouldn¡¯t have brought Tang Qiu here at all.


    Hearing his unfriendly tone, Tang Qiu was puzzled. ¡°Do you know Yin Shi well?¡±


    ¡°No.¡±


    ¡°Oh.¡± Her husband was probably ufortable in this lively atmosphere, but it would be rude of them to leave after being extended a courteous invitation by Yin Shi. ¡°Why don¡¯t we go out for a walk and admire the flowers?¡±


    ¡°Okay.¡± Jiang Shaocheng nodded.


    Tang Qiu got up and pushed him to the garden. He Lei, who was standing at the back, saw them leaving and was about to follow when he was stopped by Yin Shu.


    ¡°Your young master still hasn¡¯t abandoned his charade after getting a wife? Does he still know how to fight after not being in battle for decades?¡±


    His insinuation was hardly subtle. He Lei wanted to retort, but an idea struck him. He stered a look of doubt on his face. ¡°It¡¯s hard to say. I intend to get some props and films for my young master to watch and learn.¡±


    Yin Shi was amused. ¡°Your young master is given to cold abstinence, and not much else. I¡¯ve always wondered if ice runs in his veins in ce of blood. He wants to live a married life after the wedding, so he¡¯s sharpening his spear at thest minute. It¡¯ll only hurt his pride if his skills aren¡¯t up to standard, so you need to pay extra attention to this matter. If all else fails, I can give him a lesson.¡±


    The sheer audacity made He Lei facepalm.


    Yin Shi ced his arm on his shoulder and asked curiously, ¡°What does your young mistress look like, to be able to tempt Jiang Shaocheng?¡±


    ¡°My young mistress is indeed attractive, but I think what makes her so special is that her mind just operates differently from everyone else¡¯s. She¡¯s even willing to kiss my young master when he has his human skin mask on. I admire her mental fortitude,¡± He Lei said with admiration.


    Yin Shi clicked his tongue, his curiosity heightened. ¡°Why don¡¯t I do him a favor tonight¡­ for his pleasure?¡±


    ¡°I doubt that¡¯s a good idea,¡± He Lei replied skeptically.


    ¡°It won¡¯t be anything that hurts your young master. I have a few things lying around here that can let him remember what it was like to be a groom again.¡±


    ¡°Mr Yin, if you have any ill intentions, I advise you to stop now. You know how terrifying my young master is when he¡¯s angry.¡± The thought alone made He Lei shudder.


    Yin Shi pursed his lips. ¡°I¡¯m helping him. Why should he be angry?¡±

 Chapter 90

    <h1 ss="dib mb0 fw700 fs24 lh1.5">Chapter 90: You¡¯re Very Strange, Dear</h1>


    <h2 ss="subtitle fw400"><strong>Trantor:</strong>As Studios<strong>Editor:</strong>As Studios</h2>


    He Lei shot Yin Shi a warning look. If anything happened, his young master¡¯s anger would be too much for the other man to bear.


    But Yin Shi didn¡¯t care. He wanted to see Jiang Shaocheng lose control of his emotions¨Cand how entertaining that would be.


    ***


    In the garden, Tang Qiu stopped and suddenly said with an air of mystery, ¡°Dear, I want to give you something.¡± She rushed off towards the bushes.


    Puzzled, Jiang Shaocheng looked at her worriedly. ¡°Qiu, don¡¯t run around like that. There are mosquitoes here.¡± !!


    Heedless, Tang Qiu emerged after a while with something hidden in her palms. ¡°Dear, look what I have!¡±


    Jiang Shaocheng watched curiously as her palm slowly opened, revealing a few fireflies. She smiled brightly at him, and he couldn¡¯t tear his gaze away for a moment. ¡°Fireflies! Do you know what their light is for, Qiu?¡±


    Tang Qiu looked up at a shooting star that raced across the sky. ¡°Some people say the way fireflies glow represents hope. My hope is for your legs to recover as soon as possible. What about you? What do you think the purpose is?¡±


    Jiang Shaocheng smiled. ¡°Scientifically speaking, it¡¯s a form of courtship. Is this a confession, Qiu?¡±


    Tang Qiu coughed, embarrassed. ¡°I¡­ I didn¡¯t know that.¡± A blush filled her cheeks, but she couldn¡¯t bear to release the fireflies either.


    ¡°Qiu, there¡¯s another reason why fireflies glow.¡± Jiang Shaocheng held her wrist and pried her hands open to set the fireflies free. ¡°It¡¯s a warning that they¡¯re poisonous and you shouldn¡¯te near them!¡±


    ¡°Poisonous?¡± Tang Qiu had wanted to chase after the fireflies, now she stared at him in shock.


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    Tang Qiu¡¯s expression changed and she quickly wiped her hands. ¡°I didn¡¯t know that¡­¡±


    ¡°Haven¡¯t you heard that many beautiful flowers are poisonous, Qiu? Like roses¨Ctheir thorns can prick people.¡±


    Tang Qiu nodded earnestly before another thought came to mind. ¡°The more beautiful something is, the more problems it causes. You¡¯re not handsome, but you treat me very well. I like you¡­ not all the other two-faced men in the world.¡±


    Jiang Shaocheng paused. If he showed her the truth beneath his mask, wouldn¡¯t that make him two-faced, too? Should he try to salvage the situation?


    They walked around for a while more. Jiang Shaocheng picked a budding red rose, plucked off the thorns, and handed it to Tang Qiu.


    Tang Qiu breathed in its fragrance and smiled as she tucked the rose behind her ear. ¡°How does it look?¡±


    Jiang Shaocheng pulled her onto hisp and lowered his head to whisper in her ear, ¡°It¡¯s too dark for me to see clearly. I have to take a closer look to know if it looks good.¡±


    Tang Qiu turned and looked around. There were trees blocking them from view, so she didn¡¯t move from hisp. She drew nearer to him so he could get a clearer glimpse of the flower, only to be met with a kiss. What could be more romantic than sharing an embrace and a kiss with the man of her heart, surrounded by the sweet scent of flowers? ¡°Can you see more clearly now, dear?¡±


    Jiang Shaocheng curled his lips and said, voice low, ¡°No. You have to get closer.¡±


    Tang Qiu yed along, taking the initiative to tilt her head and kiss him. ¡°I will,¡± she said yfully. ¡°You don¡¯t mind, do you, dear?¡± She was so unpractised with kissing that Jiang Shaocheng¡¯s breathing became strained. He cupped the back of her neck, taking the lead once more. Tang Qiu was caged in his arms for a long time, letting him kiss her into equal parts intoxication and submission. She leaned into his arms, blushing and panting heavily.


    ¡°Am I very heavy when I sit on you like this, dear?¡±


    ¡°Yes. Very heavy.¡± Jiang Shaocheng nodded.


    Afraid that she would crush his legs, Tang Qiu hurriedly tried to get up, but Jiang Shaocheng¡¯s arm around her waist prevented her from moving.


    ¡°My entire world is on myp now, Qiu. Don¡¯t you think it would be heavy?¡± His forehead grazed hers, their eyes locking.


    Tang Qiu stared at him nkly. ¡°Where did you learn to talk like that?¡±


    ¡°Do I need to learn words like these? Theye naturally when I see you.¡± Jiang Shaocheng would never tell her, but he had indeed picked up such phrases as a way to deepen their rtionship. And why not, if he could make her happy by asionally uttering a few sweet nothings?


    No woman waspletely immune to such tender words, and Tang Qiu, who was experiencing love for the first time, was no exception. She smiled and said, ¡°You¡¯re very strange, dear.¡±


    Instantly, Jiang Shaocheng was rmed. Strange? What did she mean?

 Chapter 91

    <h1 ss="dib mb0 fw700 fs24 lh1.5">Chapter 91: Such Hasty Progress?</h1>


    <h2 ss="subtitle fw400"><strong>Trantor:</strong>As Studios<strong>Editor:</strong>As Studios</h2>


    Had she uncovered some thread of the truth? ¡°Strange?¡± Jiang Shaocheng echoed cautiously. ¡°How so?¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re so strange, it¡¯s iprehensible.¡± Tang Qiu smiled at him.


    Speechless, Jiang Shaocheng held her face and kissed her again.


    ***


    By the time they returned to the main hall, the liveliness in the atmosphere had reached its peak,plete with singing and dancing. !!


    ¡°You¡¯re finally back. Come try some homemade fruit juice.¡± Yin Shi came over to greet them.


    Jiang Shaocheng was in a good mood, so he didn¡¯t refuse. Tang Qiu thanked him gratefully and surveyed the crowd, who looked like they were enjoying themselves.


    Noticing her curiosity, Yin Shi pointed to the throng of people and said, ¡°They¡¯re all my friends who have made a name for themselves as artists. This is a good chance to get to know them. If you have any artists you like, I¡¯ll introduce you to them.¡±


    Tang Qiu quickly waved him off. ¡°Thank you, but it¡¯s okay. I know nothing about art.¡±


    Amused, Yin Shi said, ¡°You¡¯re very blunt, Mrs Jiang.¡± He nced at the teacup in her hand.


    ¡°Shaocheng, you prefer quiet environments, so I prepared a separate movie theater for you both upstairs. Want to take a look?¡±


    Tang Qiu was curious about the private movie theater. She nced at Jiang Shaocheng and pushed him upstairs when he nodded.


    ¡°The aircon remote is on the table, along with some food. I¡¯ll be off.¡± As Yin Shi left, he even patted Jiang Shaocheng on the shoulder. Jiang Shaocheng turned to look at him with narrowed eyes, suspecting some trouble.


    When Yin Shi closed the door, the room suddenly fell into darkness. Shocked, Tang Qiu grabbed Jiang Shaocheng¡¯s hand. ¡°Why is it so dark?¡±


    ¡°We¡¯re watching a movie,¡± he told herfortingly. ¡°Of course it¡¯ll be dark. We¡¯ll be fine.¡± Yin Shi liked to y games, but he wasn¡¯t malicious¨Cas Jiang Shaocheng well knew.


    Tang Qiu sat down and took off her mask as a beautiful romance film began to y. ¡°The atmosphere here is perfectly suited to watching a movie,¡± she said quietly. ¡°It¡¯s so luxurious, it must be very expensive.¡±


    ¡°Do you like it, Qiu?¡±


    ¡°I do.¡± Tang Qiu covered her mouth and giggled, helping herself to the snacks as she watched the movie.


    Jiang Shaocheng mused that if she liked it, he could build a room just like this in his own mansion.


    ¡°Dear, I¡¯m a little warm. How about you?¡± Tang Qiu tugged at her clothes, sweat beading on her forehead from the heat.


    Jiang Shaocheng switched on the aircon. He reached out to touch her cheek and found it burning. ¡°So hot? Is your fever acting up again?¡±


    Tang Qiu smiled and sipped her drink. ¡°No, I just feel warm. By the way, this drink tastes like roses. His homemade fruit juice has such a unique vor.¡±


    Roses? Jiang Shaocheng immediately picked up the drink and sniffed it. His face darkened. ¡°Qiu, are you feeling unwell?¡±


    ¡°No.¡± Tang Qiu held his hand. She couldn¡¯t help feeling quizzical as she stared at the screen. It was a beautiful love story, so why were the male and female leads taking each other¡¯s clothes off as they spoke? She was so shocked that she dropped the packet of snacks she was holding. Why were they making such hasty progress? It had only been a few minutes, but the two of them had already stripped naked, and now they were¡­


    Jiang Shaocheng¡¯s attention was fixed on her, but the out-of-ce noises made him turn back to the screen. The film¡¯s sound effects were ster, amplifying the passionate moans of the couple.


    Tang Qiu stole an embarrassed nce at her husband. She cleared her throat, cheeks red. ¡°Maybe we should¡­ watch another movie?¡±


    Jiang Shaocheng agreed, feeling a little warm himself. He tried, and failed to find the aircon remote. Frowning, he turned his wheelchair and tried to open the door, but it was locked.


    ¡°Yin Shi¨C¡± He took out his phone to call He Lei, but he realized that there was no inte connection in the room! The movie was still ying, even if he wasn¡¯t watching¨Cand its audio left little to the imagination.


    Tang Qiu wanted to cover her ears, but a fire was surging through her body. She took off her coat and felt a little cooler. ¡°Dear¡­¡± Her voice filled Jiang Shaocheng¡¯s ears¨Chelpless and uneasy¨Cand with it a numbing sensation.


    Jiang Shaocheng quickly returned to her side. Seeing that she had taken off her coat, he looked away. ¡°Qiu, put on your clothes. I¡¯ll get you out of here.¡± However, his voice was drowned out by a cry of pleasure from the woman on-screen.


    Tang Qiu felt even worse and couldn¡¯t help but tremble as she grabbed his hand. ¡°Dear¡­ I¡­ I¡¯m so hot¡­ It feels ufortable¡­¡±

 Chapter 92

    <h1 ss="dib mb0 fw700 fs24 lh1.5">Chapter 92: Nonexistent Self-Control</h1>


    <h2 ss="subtitle fw400"><strong>Trantor:</strong>As Studios<strong>Editor:</strong>As Studios</h2>


    Jiang Shaocheng wanted to pull his hand away and cover her with his coat, but Tang Qiu¡¯s soft and delicate voice almost made him copse.


    He turned around and roared, ¡°Yin Shi, turn off the movie!¡± No one responded. He clenched his fists. When he got out, he was going to pound Yin Shi into the ground.


    ¡°Dear¡­ I want a kiss¡­¡± Tang Qiu embraced him and tried to nt her lips on him.


    ¡°Get a hold on yourself, Qiu. Not here¡­¡± Jiang Shaocheng felt deeply ufortable himself.


    ¡°I see no reason why not.¡± Tang Qiu smiled foolishly, her eyes zed. She had obviously lost her mind. Her husband had said no, and she took it as an invitation. !!


    Jiang Shaocheng took a deep breath, took off his jacket, and tied her hands together. He covered her eyes and rose from his wheelchair to find a way to open the door. The movie was still ying in the background, flushing him with heat. Tang Qiu squirmed, rolling off the sofa onto the ground.


    Worried that she was injured, Jiang Shaocheng quickly turned around and picked her up. ¡°Are you okay, Qiu?¡±


    Tang Qiu whined and snuggled into his arms. Jiang Shaocheng immediately flinched back and kept his distance from her, but his avoidance only seemed to fuel her. He was trapped. Without meaning to, he stared at her lush red lips. ¡°Qiu¡­¡±


    ¡°Dear¡­¡± Her soft voice sparked an even fiercer itch in him than the movie had.


    Unable to contain himself, Jiang Shaocheng lowered his head and kissed her. But when their lips touched, it set his instincts and desire alight, and it was as if a beast had been released from its cage¡­


    ***


    Outside, He Lei stared at the door of the theater. The room was soundproofed, so he couldn¡¯t hear anything. ¡°Will the young master be¡­ okay?¡±


    Yin Shi chuckled. ¡°He¡¯s pretending to be a cripple. What can he do? Even if something really happens, it¡¯s your young mistress whom you should be worried about. He should be able to manage, with a film to guide him.¡±


    ¡°But¡­ the young mistress¡­¡± He Lei was still worried.


    ¡°Rx. I spiked her drink. She won¡¯t remember a thing tomorrow, so she can¡¯t expose your young master for pretending to be disabled,¡± Yin Shi said confidently.


    He Lei swallowed and faced him. ¡°I think you might be in danger. If your life is threatened, don¡¯t say I didn¡¯t warn you.¡±


    Yin Shi shrugged nonchntly. ¡°I¡¯ve done nothing to be ashamed of. In fact, he should be thanking me!¡±


    Suddenly, the hallway lights shed. A few of them shattered and went dim.


    ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± Yin Shi took out his phone to check the electricitywork of his mansion and found that there was a short circuit in the movie theater. ¡°Is Jiang Shaocheng possessed? He actually smashed my big screen!¡±


    He Lei pinched the space between his eyebrows. Only his young master could do such a thing! ¡°Hurry up and open the door, before he tears down the room.¡±


    Yin Shi rolled his eyes. ¡°Why didn¡¯t your young master just take the chance to get intimate with the woman he loves? He didn¡¯t have to break my things! I bet he couldn¡¯t get it up. No wonder the film was useless and he became so violent.¡±


    He Lei chose not to grace him with a reply.


    Yin Shi found the key and opened the door. Jiang Shaocheng was sitting on the sofa with Tang Qiu in his arms. He leveled a vicious re at the other man, and Yin Shi flinched back in fear.


    He Lei hurried over and asked, ¡°Young Master, are you alright?¡±


    ¡°Get a room for her to rest. Yin Shi, bring the damn antidote!¡± Jiang Shaocheng¡¯s tone turned even more terrifying.


    Yin Shi chuckled. ¡°You¡¯re the only antidote for each other.¡±


    Jiang Shaocheng stared at him icily. Yin Shi felt a chill on the back of his neck and quickly said, ¡°She should be fine after a cold shower.¡±


    ¡°My wife¡¯s wound was infected a few days ago, and you want her to take a cold shower? Yin Shi, just how badly do you want to die?¡± Jiang Shaocheng¡¯s eyes were murderous.


    How was Yin Shi supposed to know that Tang Qiu was still injured? ¡°Then there¡¯s nothing we can do.¡± As soon as the words were out he felt a chill descend upon him. His fingers grazed his neck, as if expecting to find a noose circling his throat.


    ***


    When they reached the guest room, Jiang Shaocheng took Tang Qiu to the bathroom and sshed cold water on her face to cool her down.


    She still wasn¡¯t herself, clinging to his neck and groping for kisses. Unable to push her away, Jiang Shaocheng fell into the water with her, until they were soaked and pressed against one another. Ufortable, Tang Qiu tried to remove her clothes, but Jiang Shaocheng seized her wrist and kissed her again to distract her.


    After a long time, Tang Qiu stilled. She closed her eyes and drifted to sleep in his arms. Jiang Shaocheng carried her out to dry her off, but when he caught sight of the water beading her skin, he rubbed his brow. Whatever illusions he had harbored about his self-control had been shattered¡­

 Chapter 93

    <h1 ss="dib mb0 fw700 fs24 lh1.5">Chapter 93: Finally Home</h1>


    <h2 ss="subtitle fw400"><strong>Trantor:</strong>As Studios<strong>Editor:</strong>As Studios</h2>


    The next day, Tang Qiu opened her eyes and got out of bed to wash up. When she saw the red marks on her body, she was puzzled. Had she been bitten by a mosquito? She turned around and saw Jiang Shaocheng pushing his wheelchair in. She smiled and ran to him.


    ¡°Dear, why did I spend the night here?¡±


    Jiang Shaochengbed his fingers through her hair. ¡°Do you remember what happenedst night?¡±


    ¡°We went to the garden to catch fireflies¡­ Then something happened¡­¡± Tang Qiu was puzzled.


    ¡°Nothing happened.¡± He thought of the previous night¡¯s events with faint regret¡­ then pulled her into hisp, sped the back of her neck, and lowered his mouth to hers. !!


    Tang Qiu didn¡¯t dodge, letting him kiss her for a long while before he took a deep breath and let go.


    ***


    Tang Qiu arrived on the ground floor and wheeled her husband to the dining table. ¡°Where¡¯s Mr Yin?¡±


    He Lei coughed lightly. Yin Shi was afraid that the young master would teach him a lesson today, so he had fledst night.


    Jiang Shaocheng said, ¡°He had business to attend to, so he left. He told us not to stand on ceremony and to stay here for a few more days.¡±


    ¡°That doesn¡¯t sound like a good idea.¡± Tang Qiu was uneasy. After all, this was someone else¡¯s mansion¨Cand Jiang Shaocheng had said before that he wasn¡¯t familiar with that gentleman.


    ¡°It won¡¯t be any trouble,¡± He Lei interjected, trying to persuade her. ¡°Yin Shi wanted me to tell you that he¡¯s already given me the key to this ce.¡±


    ¡°Okay, then.¡± Tang Qiu chose to make herself at home. After breakfast, they went to the garden, and returned there in the afternoon to enjoy a cup of tea. It was almost too rxing.


    ***


    At night, Jiang Shaocheng and He Lei went out to settle work matters. Duan Qingman¡¯s son had seen the photos of them with his parents, and wanted to discuss business with them. After liaising with him, Jiang Shaocheng signed the business deal and passed the document to He Lei to handle the follow-up work.


    He Lei was carrying a file of documents. ¡°Jiang Ming is going to be furious that we stole his client.¡± They had gone to great lengths to secure this partnership because it involved an important client of the Jiang family.


    ¡°This is just the beginning,¡± Jiang Shaocheng sneered. ¡°I don¡¯t want anything to do with my family, but if I can¡¯t have something, neither can they.¡±


    ***


    When they returned to Yin Shi¡¯s mansion, Jiang Shaocheng was sitting in a wheelchair again. Tang Qiu looked behind him curiously. ¡°Didn¡¯t your masked bodyguard go with you?¡±


    He Lei eyed Jiang Shaocheng, anticipating what performance he would give.


    Jiang Shaocheng coughed lightly. ¡°I¡¯ve assigned him to other duties as a punishment for being so rude to you that other time.¡±


    ¡°He could use the discipline,¡± Tang Qiu agreed, and looked away. Seeing that she didn¡¯t intend to pursue the matter, Jiang Shaocheng and He Lei both sighed in relief. A single lie begot a hundred more; it would take a while to sieve out the threads of truth in a web of deception.


    The next day, He Lei reported that Tang Qiu¡¯s identification had been recovered, and that they could return home. Tang Qiu clutched her bag, barely repressing tears of joy. Losing her identification had been so very, very troublesome.


    As He Lei booked the air tickets, he wondered how the young mistress had ended up in N Country to begin with. There would be a score to settle with someone once they got home.


    ***


    When they finally returned to Jiang Shaocheng¡¯s mansion, Tang Qiu pushed his wheelchair in and greeted Ke Liuyi.


    Ke Liuyi, who was preparing to wee Jiang Shaocheng at the door, saw Tang Qiu and her expression changed. Why was she back¨Cat Jiang Shaocheng¡¯s side, nheless?


    ¡°Doctor Ke,¡± Tang Qiu called out.


    Ke Liuyi quickly recovered herposure. ¡°You must be tired. Come in and get some rest.¡±


    ¡°I have something to ask you, Doctor Ke.¡± Jiang Shaocheng looked up.


    ¡°What is it?¡± Despite her guilt, Ke Liuyi forced herself to smile gently.


    ¡°Did you tell Qiu that I was in N Country?¡±


    ¡°It was just a guess. Nothing bad happened, right? I tried contacting Qiu after she left, but couldn¡¯t get through to her at all.¡± Ke Liuyi met his gaze innocently.


    Jiang Shaocheng shook his head indifferently and didn¡¯t ask any further questions. He held Tang Qiu¡¯s hand and said, ¡°Go upstairs and rest first. Let He Lei prepare lunch.¡±


    Tang Qiu thought of the books Professor Sun had assigned her to read and didn¡¯t argue, deciding to seize the time to study.


    The tenderness with which their eyes met pointed to a new level of intimacy in their rtionship. Ke Liuyi gritted her teeth. When she had received Tang Qiu¡¯s messages, she had deliberately ignored them, then pinpointed the other woman¡¯s location and arranged for a man to steal her bag and identification. How had Jiang Shaocheng found her?


    After Tang Qiu went upstairs, Jiang Shaocheng turned to look at Ke Liuyi. ¡°Doctor Ke, you deliberately misled Qiu and tricked her into going to N Country.¡±


    Ke Liuyi¡¯s expression was contorted. She leapt to defend herself, aggrieved. ¡°Why would I do that, Shaocheng? That day, Qiu asked me why you left all of a sudden. I didn¡¯t contact you because I was worried you were busy, so I conjured a reason to pacify her. I didn¡¯t expect her to make good on her word and leave to find you. That¡¯s why I didn¡¯t give her an exact location. If I¡¯ve hurt Qiu with my mistake, I apologize.¡±


    He still didn¡¯t believe her, so she let tears of anguish flow. ¡°Qiu is your wife, Shaocheng. I need your help to get the shares of the Ke Group. I could never bring myself to harm her. I don¡¯t know if she¡¯s ufortable with my presence here, or if I said something wrong, but I would never try and hurt her¡­¡±

 Chapter 94

    <h1 ss="dib mb0 fw700 fs24 lh1.5">Chapter 94: Your Grandmother is Missing</h1>


    <h2 ss="subtitle fw400"><strong>Trantor:</strong>As Studios<strong>Editor:</strong>As Studios</h2>


    Jiang Shaocheng¡¯s piercing gaze sent a chill down Ke Liuyi¡¯s spine. She clenched her fists in panic and suppressed her emotions. She was beginning to feel her self-control slip away when he said, ¡°You made a mistake. I don¡¯t want a repeat of this incident to hurt my wife again. Do you understand, Doctor Ke?¡±


    ¡°It won¡¯t happen again, Shaocheng.¡± Ke Liuyi let out a shaky breath.


    Jiang Shaocheng turned his wheelchair and went upstairs. He Lei quickly followed to help push the wheelchair. When they reached the study on the second floor, He Lei said curiously, ¡°Young Master, something is obviously wrong.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t you think I know that?¡± Jiang Shaocheng scoffed.


    He Lei frowned. ¡°Then we shouldn¡¯t keep Ke Liuyi around.¡± !!


    Jiang Shaocheng smiled sardonically. ¡°But she knows my secret. It¡¯ll be some time before we can get rid of her.¡±


    ***


    The next day, Tang Qiu went to ss. Although Xie Qingqing had eventually been able to get into contact with her friend, she had still been very anxious. When they met, Tang Qiu told her what had happened, and Xie Qingqing broke out in a cold sweat, grateful that she hade back safely.


    After ss, the two of them went to the canteen to eat¨Cwhere they bumped into Feng Yao and Tan Yuqi. Thetter woman rolled her eyes at Tang Qiu and left in a huff.


    Feng Yao, on the other hand, said to Tang Qiu mockingly, ¡°It¡¯s been a while. I have something to tell you. You haven¡¯t gone to see your grandmother in a long time, have you? She might well be dead already. You should keep an eye on her. Or her filthy corpse might already be rotting by the time you go to collect it¡­¡± Her lips curled into a provocative smile before she caught up with Tan Yuqi, resuming herdylike image.


    Feng Yao¡¯s words were like thorns piercing into Tang Qiu¡¯s heart. They stayed buried there for the entire day, stealing her focus.


    ¡°Why don¡¯t I apany you to visit your grandmother?¡± Xie Qingqing offered, trying tofort her.


    ¡°It¡¯s okay.¡± If something had happened to her grandmother, the nursing home nurse would have informed her.


    Tang Qiu forced herself to calm down and study when she heard her phone vibrate. It was a call from a nurse in the nursing home, who hadn¡¯t contacted her for a prolonged period. She was silent for a moment before answering the call.


    ¡°I have bad news, Ms Tang. Your grandmother is missing. We¡¯ve been looking for her for a long time, but we couldn¡¯t find her.¡±


    Tang Qiu went rigid. ¡°I¡¯ll go over now!¡±


    Xie Qingqing was worried. ¡°Qiu, don¡¯t be hasty.¡±


    ¡°She wouldn¡¯t just leave for no reason. What Feng Yao said this afternoon must have something to do with my grandmother¡¯s sudden disappearance!¡± Tang Qiu was beginning to panic.


    ***


    When Tang Qiu saw Feng Yao at the school gate, she rushed forward. ¡°Do you know where my grandmother is?¡±


    ¡°Are you stupid? What does your grandmother have to do with me?¡± Feng Yao snorted.


    ¡°You must know! Otherwise, you wouldn¡¯t have said those words to me at noon. Feng Yao, just what do you want?¡± Tang Qiu shouted.


    Indignant, Feng Yao adopted a persona of helplessness. ¡°What are you using me of, Tang Qiu? I know you, but I don¡¯t know your grandmother. I should be asking you what you want! You lived in my house, and my family worked hard to raise you even if you aren¡¯t grateful for it. But you stole my sister¡¯s fiance for money, and now you¡¯re suddenly using me of being behind your grandmother¡¯s disappearance? Tang Qiu, you¡¯re really too much!¡±


    The students streaming by stopped to watch the show when they heard Feng Yao.


    Tang Qiu felt their scrutiny weighing down on her, and suppressed her anger. ¡°Quit acting, you disgust me. We both know the truth. Tell me: where is my grandmother?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve never even met your grandmother! Stop maligning me, Tang Qiu.¡± Feng Yao sounded like she was on the verge of tears.


    ¡°How shameless can you get, Tang Qiu?¡± one of the students burst out. ¡°You lived in Feng Yao¡¯s house and even snatched away her sister¡¯s fiance. Aren¡¯t you wicked!¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t you have a house of your own? Why should you leech off the Fengs? It¡¯s one thing not to know how to repay their hospitality, and another to nder them like this. It¡¯s your own grandmother who¡¯s missing, so you should go find her. What has it got to do with Feng Yao?¡±


    ¡°People like you who think they¡¯re always right because they¡¯re good-looking and have good grades sicken me!¡±


    The crowd¡¯s remarks became more and more malicious, till Xie Qingqing couldn¡¯t stand it anymore. ¡°You think you understand the full situation just by listening to scraps of the conversation? I think you¡¯re a bunch of crazy know-nothings!¡±


    Someone immediately retorted, ¡°You¡¯re no better, hanging around Tang Qiu like that!¡±


    Xie Qingqing wanted to argue, but Tang Qiu grabbed her arm. She looked at Feng Yao, who was still acting like she had been grievously wronged. ¡°You wouldn¡¯t have said those things to me for no reason today. So tell me: what do you want now? I¡¯m warning you, if anything happens to her, your family won¡¯t have anything to threaten me with anymore. This is thest leverage you have over me, so use it carefully.¡±


    ¡°I really don¡¯t know where your grandmother is.¡± Feng Yao injected indignation into her voice. ¡°But if you really think that the Feng family has treated you well, then leave the man who should have been my sister¡¯s.¡± She had heard that Jiang Shaocheng was likely to recover from his illness. If so, wouldn¡¯t it elevate Tang Qiu¡¯s status? She had to make sure they got a divorce!

 Chapter 95

    <h1 ss="dib mb0 fw700 fs24 lh1.5">Chapter 95: You Should Have Drowned Me</h1>


    <h2 ss="subtitle fw400"><strong>Trantor:</strong>As Studios<strong>Editor:</strong>As Studios</h2>


    Tang Qiu sneered and left with Xie Qingqing, ignoring the gossip of everyone around them.


    Feng Yao watched them walk away, her lips twisting into a mocking smile. Tang Qiu was nothing more than a worthless creature who had lived off scraps of the Feng family¡¯s generosity. She had been sent away to rece Feng Lu¨Chow could she possibly be living a grander lifestyle than them? Envy churned in her gut at Tang Qiu¡¯s branded clothes, diamond earrings, and expensive ne. It should have been Feng Yao¡¯s sister in her ce!


    ***


    When they walked out of the school gate, Xie Qingqing noted that Tang Qiu¡¯s expression was troubled. She must be worrying about her grandmother. Before she could speak, an elderly female voice pierced the air. ¡°Tang Qiu!¡±


    Tang Qiu whirled around, confused. Her eyes widened in surprise at the source of the voice: a white-haired, hunchbacked old woman with a face that the years had taken a toll on. Her clouded eyes stared at Tang Qiu, unblinking. !!


    ¡°What are you doing out here? You¡ª¡±


    A p rang out.


    Xie Qingqing gaped as the elderly woman hit Tang Qiu across the face. She had long known that Tang Qiu had a tense rtionship with her grandmother¨Cbut not this tense!


    Tang Qiu ran a tongue over her teeth, her hand flying to her face. ¡°What did you hear this time? Why did you hit me?¡±


    ¡°No one told me anything! Did I teach you to be self-centered? Or to steal other people¡¯s husbands? Are you nning to be like your mother and ruin your life for a man?¡± The olddy¡¯s face was ferocious.


    ¡°You believed what that family told you¡­ without even asking me what had happened¡­¡± Tang Qiu¡¯s heart ached.


    ¡°That¡¯s enough. I don¡¯t want to hear your excuses. Divorce that man!¡± her grandmother demanded.


    ¡°I¡¯m not getting a divorce.¡± She left it at that, not wanting to continue with this conversation.


    ¡°No? Then I¡¯ll beat you to death today!¡± Her grandmother¡¯s expression was fierce as she raised her arm to hit her. ¡°I¡¯ll make sure you learn from your heartless mother¡¯s mistake. I¡¯ll beat you to death so that you won¡¯t embarrass the Tang family!¡±


    Tang Qiu didn¡¯t resist the beating, so Xie Qingqing quickly went to intervene. ¡°Stop it! This is all a misunderstanding! You¡¯re her grandmother. Shouldn¡¯t you be more caring towards her?¡±


    ¡°What misunderstanding? She wasn¡¯t raised well. That¡¯s why she stole someone¡¯s fiance, and even married a cripple. Tang Qiu, you¡¯re too shameless. Didn¡¯t you learn anything from your mother?¡± The mention of Tang Qiu¡¯s mother only further incensed the old woman. Xie Qingqing couldn¡¯t stop her. Neither did Tang Qiu fight back. The situation was getting out of hand.


    Finally, Tang Qiu¡¯s grandmother grew tired. She held her heart and panted. Tang Qiu remained silent, and red-hot fury swarmed her vision. ¡°Qiu, listen to me. Divorce that man. You still have a whole future ahead of you. Don¡¯t ruin yourself for a little money.¡±


    Tang Qiu looked at her grandmother with red-rimmed eyes. ¡°Are you done hitting me? Can we talk properly now?¡±


    The old woman sighed. ¡°It¡¯s true. The Feng family came to look for me. I asked you to stay with them, so you should have restrained yourself and been more sensible. How could you steal Feng Lu¡¯s fiance?¡± Shame rushed through her.


    Tang Qiu swallowed augh. Her grandmother had always felt that Tang Qiu¡¯s mother was a vixen who had ruined someone else¡¯s marriage. When Tang Qiu had been sent to the Feng family, her grandmother had warned her that her mere existence was a reminder of that fact, so she could only keep her head down and endure everything they threw at her.


    And she had¨Cuntil she couldn¡¯t take it anymore, and ran to her grandmother, begging her to take her away. But her grandmother had told her that her mother had destroyed someone else¡¯s family. It was a debt she had to pay¨Cwhich was the sole reason Tang Qiu had been born. So she had endured the Fengs¡¯ mistreatment till the very end, when she had been sent to the Jiangs as a substitute bride. She couldn¡¯t even fathom what kind of life she would have had, if not for her husband¡¯s kindness.


    Tang Qiu suddenly felt too weary for words. ¡°I didn¡¯t steal anyone¡¯s fiance. Jiang Shaocheng might be a cripple, but he¡¯s treated me very well. Go back to the nursing home¡­¡±


    ¡°Tang Qiu, you¡­ I swear, I¡¯ll beat you to death today!¡± Her grandmother moved to hit her again, but Tang Qiu still didn¡¯t retaliate. Her eyes turned red. ¡°You¡¯re right. But you waited too long. From the moment I was born, you shouldn¡¯t have let me live. You should have thrown me into a pond and drowned me!¡±


    Her words made Xie Qingqing¡¯s heart ache. She stood in front of her friend, defending her. ¡°Madam Tang, you¡¯re Tang Qiu¡¯s grandmother, so, with all due respect: please don¡¯t go too far. You can¡¯t nder Qiu like this based on what other people said. She had her reasons! She was set up by the Feng family, you¨C¡±


    ¡°What reasons? At the end of the day, it all boils down to money!¡± The olddy cut over her, refusing to believe a single word. ¡°You¡¯re her friend; of course you would defend her! How could the Feng family have set her up? They raised her for so many years and even let her go to school. Can you imagine such generosity? Now, you¡¯ve snatched Feng Lu¡¯s fiance and even shamelessly asked the Feng family for the wedding gifts! Tang Qiu, you¡¯re right: I should have strangled you to death back then¨Calong with your mother! Why did I give birth to such a shameless daughter? Not only did she destroy someone else¡¯s family, she even birthed you!¡±

 Chapter 96

    <h1 ss="dib mb0 fw700 fs24 lh1.5">Chapter 96: You¡¯ll Only Drag Her Down</h1>


    <h2 ss="subtitle fw400"><strong>Trantor:</strong>As Studios<strong>Editor:</strong>As Studios</h2>


    Xie Qingqing looked at the olddy in shock. She had spoken to Tang Qiu as if thetter were nothing, and the Feng family were nobility. She finally understood why Tang Qiu rarely brought up her grandmother.


    Tang Qiu stared at her grandmother, long ustomed to the verbal abuse. The only thing she could do was to provide her grandmother with afortable life. ¡°I won¡¯t get a divorce,¡± she repeated. ¡°If you don¡¯t want to hear my exnation, then go back to the nursing home!¡±


    ¡°I raised you better than this¡­¡± Tang Qiu¡¯s grandmother was so angry that herplexion changed color and her fingers trembled.


    ¡°Raised me to what? Be bullied? To not retaliate in the face of beatings and scoldings? I¡¯ve had enough!¡± Tang Qiu took a deep breath. ¡°I dreamt of leaving the Feng family, and Jiang Shaocheng gave me a home. I married him for stability. Grandma, hurry back to the nursing home, before you embarrass yourself¨CI¡¯m begging you!¡±


    Only then did Madam Tang realize that students were staring at her strangely. Her face turned red; she had made a spectacle of herself in her rage. !!


    Feng Yao watched in pleasure behind the gate as Tang Qiu got beaten up. Madam Tang was extremely image-conscious, and had always felt humiliated by her daughter¡¯s status as a mistress, not to mention indebted to the Feng family. She had always been very strict with Tang Qiu; if she knew her granddaughter had stolen and married another woman¡¯s fiance, the olddy would view it as her imperative to teach her a lesson. Even if Tang Qiu exined the circumstances behind her marriage, her grandmother would definitely demand that she get a divorce once she found out that she had married a cripple. Moreover, Madam Tang was Tang Qiu¡¯s family¨Cand her weakness. Feng Yao didn¡¯t believe that Tang Qiu would dare to defy her grandmother¡¯s wishes!


    ***


    In the mansion, He Lei entered the study to report that someone had hit the young mistress. She hadn¡¯t fought back¨Conly cried.


    Jiang Shaocheng was so furious that he mmed the document he was holding on the table. His face darkened. ¡°Who is it?¡±


    He Lei immediately showed him the recorded video. He had paid a student to act as Tang Qiu¡¯s shadow in school, so they would know once anything happened to her.


    In the video, Jiang Shaocheng saw an olddy raise her arm and p his wife. His expression changed. If he had been present, he would have had that hand removed!


    ¡°I think it¡¯s the young mistress¡¯ grandmother,¡± He Lei said, head lowered.


    Jiang Shaocheng frowned. Tang Qiu had mentioned that she had a grandmother, but had never looked happy when raising the subject. There must be something wrong with their rtionship. His work matters could wait. He got up and left for Tang Qiu¡¯s school.


    He Lei hurriedly followed behind him and drove him there.


    ***


    When they arrived, Jiang Shaocheng rolled down the window and saw Tang Qiu sitting in a cafe.


    The olddy opposite her was agitated. She raised her hand and pped Tang Qiu again. However, Tang Qiu seemed to be numb and didn¡¯t dodge.


    ¡°He Lei, stop her!¡±


    When they arrived at the cafe, Jiang Shaocheng caught sight of Tang Qiu¨Cas well as Feng Yao hiding nearby.


    When He Lei saw how suspiciously she was acting, he said, ¡°That woman must be up to no good!¡±


    Jiang Shaocheng retracted his gaze; he couldn¡¯t care less about unimportant people like her.


    Quickly, he pushed his wheelchair to Tang Qiu¡¯s side and grabbed the olddy¡¯s wrist. ¡°You¡¯ll hurt your hand if you p her like that.¡±


    ¡°Who are you?¡± Madam Tang turned around and was shocked to see the man¡¯s scarred face.


    ¡°I¡¯m Tang Qiu¡¯s husband, Jiang Shaocheng.¡± Jiang Shaocheng let go of her hand and nced at Tang Qiu¡¯s red face. His entire demeanor turned cold.


    Tang Qiu¡¯s eyes widened in surprise at his sudden appearance. ¡°Dear, why are you here?¡±


    Jiang Shaocheng caressed her cheek. ¡°Does it hurt?¡± He instructed He Lei to get two hot eggs from the kitchen. He Lei nodded respectfully and turned to leave.


    ¡°I have thick skin. It doesn¡¯t hurt.¡± Tang Qiu didn¡¯t want him to worry; there were some things that were better kept to herself. She tried to muster a smile through the humiliation. She thought she seeded, but only ended up looking like a fool, making Jiang Shaocheng¡¯s heart ache.


    He remembered how she had liked Yin Shi¡¯s art. Not because his work was just that good, but because she had many grievances and sorrows in her heart which she had never expressed. The painting had merely triggered those deeply-buried emotions.


    He looked at the olddy again, and ice crept into his tone. ¡°I don¡¯t care who you are. Tang Qiu married me. She¡¯s mine. You¡¯re not allowed to touch her without my consent!¡±


    Madam Tang frowned at his warning. ¡°You¡¯re the man Qiu married?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡± Jiang Shaocheng¡¯s eyes were cold.


    ¡°Get a divorce. Qiu isn¡¯t right for you!¡± Madam Tang ordered.


    Jiang Shaocheng stared at her coldly and said in a dangerous voice, ¡°I think she is. And no one should presume to order me around.¡±


    ¡°You¡­ Have you looked into the mirror? You¡¯re a cripple in a wheelchair. Even if you have some money, Qiu will have to look after you for the rest of your life. You¡¯ll only drag her down!¡± In Tang Qiu¡¯s grandmother¡¯s mind, she was doing this for her granddaughter¡¯s own good.

 Chapter 97

    <h1 ss="dib mb0 fw700 fs24 lh1.5">Chapter 97: Slut of a Mother</h1>


    <h2 ss="subtitle fw400"><strong>Trantor:</strong>As Studios<strong>Editor:</strong>As Studios</h2>


    Tang Qiu willed away her humiliation. ¡°I won¡¯t divorce him. His legs are injured and will recover soon. He can get surgery for his scars in the future. No one has ever been as kind to me as him. No matter what happens, I¡¯m willing to shoulder it with him.¡±


    Madam Tang stabbed a finger at her. ¡°He¡¯s a cripple. He can¡¯t even take care of himself, so how well can he possibly treat you?¡±


    ¡°How well? When I was bullied, he was the only person who felt sorry for me and asked me if it hurt. That¡¯s enough! I¡¯ve never been loved before¨Cwhat else could I ask for?¡± Tang Qiu nearly broke intoughter.


    Madam Tang¡¯s face darkened. ¡°So you think I don¡¯t care about you, just because I hit and embarrassed you? Have you lost your brains from studying? How could you snatch a crippled and ugly man from your sister? Have you no conscience?¡±


    ¡°I didn¡¯t steal him from anyone. Why do you always treat me like this? You¡¯d take the word of outsiders over your own family?¡± The words tore from somewhere deep in Tang Qiu¡¯s heart. !!


    ¡°Because I know what boundaries are. Who do you think you are? You¡¯re a bastard child. What right do you have to marry a rich man? You just couldn¡¯t be content with your lot in life. You make me want to¡­¡± As Madam Tang spoke, she grew more agitated, and she clutched at her heart, as if it were ufortable.


    Tang Qiu bit her lip and lifted her eyes, not wanting to cry. It was her own flesh and blood saying those words to her. Someone gripped her hand, and she nced at her husband. His hand covered hers, the warmth of his touch reaching her heart and soothing her slowly.


    Jiang Shaocheng looked up at the olddy again. ¡°She married me. She¡¯s my wife, now and always. It doesn¡¯t matter what you think!¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re so arrogant!¡± Madam Tang spat, expression cold. She red at Tang Qiu. ¡°If you won¡¯t divorce him, we¡¯re no longer family! I¡¯m doing this for your own good, Qiu. Divorce him. This man can¡¯t give you happiness at all. You should find a healthy man to spend your life with.¡±


    Tang Qiu¡¯s eyes turned red again at the harsh words. Weakness seized her, stealing her words. Back then, her grandmother had abandoned her to the Feng family so she could have a better life, then told her to repress her emotions and tolerate their bullying. Now, she was forcing Tang Qiu to get a divorce just because of what some outsiders had said.


    Painnced through Jiang Shaocheng¡¯s heart when he saw her cry. He reached out to wipe her tears away and looked at the olddy. ¡°Do you think you have the right to demand that you both cut ties?¡±


    ¡°Why not? I¡¯m Tang Qiu¡¯s grandmother. She has my surname!¡± Madam Tang shouted.


    Jiang Shaocheng sneered. ¡°But you severed ties with her when you sent her to the Feng family, didn¡¯t you?¡±


    ¡°I¡­¡± Madam Tang¡¯s expression changed. Jiang Shaocheng spoke over her before she could defend herself.


    ¡°You want what¡¯s best for her? The Feng household is the equivalent of hell to my wife. Do you think you deserve credit for forcing her into hell? Do you think her life is yours to control? What a joke!¡±


    ¡°You¨C¡± Madam Tang¡¯s face flushed red with rage. She pointed at him, but the words wouldn¡¯te.


    ¡°I couldn¡¯t care less what you think,¡± Jiang Shaocheng snorted. ¡°Maybe you¡¯re just not right in the brain. But if you¡¯re going to try and take my wife from me, don¡¯t expect any sympathy from me!¡±


    Madam Tang was trembling from fury. She pointed at Tang Qiu and asked, ¡°Are you going to let this man bully your grandmother?¡±


    Tang Qiu gripped her husband¡¯s hand even tighter. ¡°I thought you were ashamed of me. Since you despise me so much, why are you still bothering yourself with me?¡±


    ¡°You¡­¡± Madam Tang was in disbelief.


    ¡°He Lei, settle the bill. I¡¯m going to bring Qiu to treat her injuries!¡± Out of patience, Jiang Shaocheng turned his wheelchair to leave, dragging Tang Qiu with him.


    Madam Tang stood up and wanted to chase after them, but He Lei stopped her. ¡°Know your limits, Madam Tang. My young master has a bad temper. You don¡¯t want to know what it¡¯s like to anger him. Besides, you don¡¯t understand the situation. It was the Feng family who threw the young mistress out as a substitute bride. Their daughter ran away a long time ago. You¡¯re old; you don¡¯t know what you¡¯re doing, ming the young mistress like this. It¡¯s impossible tomunicate with you.¡±


    Madam Tang shook him off. ¡°I think you¡¯re the one who¡¯s spouting nonsense! The Feng family has treated her well enough. She¡¯s just following in her slut mother¡¯s footsteps. I want her to get a divorce, and return to her true family. I won¡¯t let her repeat her mother¡¯s mistake!¡±


    He Lei waspletely speechless. Just how deeply did this olddy despise Tang Qiu¡¯s mother?

 Chapter 98

    <h1 ss="dib mb0 fw700 fs24 lh1.5">Chapter 98: A Baby Together</h1>


    <h2 ss="subtitle fw400"><strong>Trantor:</strong>As Studios<strong>Editor:</strong>As Studios</h2>


    After getting into the car, Jiang Shaocheng used an egg to soothe the red handprint on Tang Qiu¡¯s face. ¡°Does it still hurt?¡±


    Tang Qiu smiled and shook her head, but her brows creased when the hot egg rolled over her cheek. It was obvious that she was enduring the pain.


    Jiang Shaocheng felt a tinge of pain. ¡°I told you, Qiu, you don¡¯t have to put on an act in front of me. You canugh if you¡¯re happy, and cry if you¡¯re ufortable.¡±


    Tang Qiu blinked rapidly. ¡°I¡¯m not sad.¡±


    Jiang Shaocheng was helpless. ¡°Maybe, but you don¡¯t look happy either.¡± He pulled her into his embrace, as if his arms alone could shield her from the world. ¡°Will you be angry if I ask you to cut ties with your grandmother?¡± !!


    Tang Qiu bit her lip and shook her head. ¡°I have the Tang family¡¯s surname, but I know I¡¯m not one of them. My mother ruined someone else¡¯s marriage, and I have to pay the price. I harbor no resentment over it; it doesn¡¯t matter if they bully me. I¡¯ve learned to protect myself and survive, and I think I¡¯m managing just fine.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s not true.¡± Jiang Shaocheng¡¯s tone was serious. He lifted her chin. ¡°You know deep down you want to fight back, and that you shouldn¡¯t have had to endure what you have. You¡¯re my wife, Qiu. Your ce¨Cyour home¨Cis with me. We¡¯ll be happier together than you ever were.¡±


    Tang Qiu stared at him, unblinking, teary-eyed.


    Jiang Shaocheng wiped her tears, but they kept flowing. He lowered his head and kissed her eyelids. ¡°I¡¯ll always be with you. No one can bully you, not with me protecting you. You can share your happiness and pain with me.¡±


    Tang Qiu was touched. She leaned on his shoulder, unable to stifle her sobs. ¡°I hate my mother. I really hate her! I know I¡¯m horrible, but¡­ Why did she give birth to me in the first ce? Why didn¡¯t she take me away? I¡¯ve been living in misery all these years¡­ I¡¯d be better off dead¡­¡±


    Jiang Shaocheng patted her backfortingly, listening in silence. When her cries drew to a close, he said, ¡°Maybe there¡¯s more to your mother¡¯s disappearance than it seems.¡±


    ¡°What do you mean?¡± Tang Qiu looked at him suspiciously. Everything she knew about her mother came from her grandmother; she had said that Tang Qiu¡¯s mother wasn¡¯t brought up well and went to ruin other people¡¯s families for money. She had also given birth to Tang Qiu solely for money. In fact, she didn¡¯t even know what her mother looked like.


    ¡°I asked He Lei to look into your past. He found something strange. Your mother¡ª¡±


    ¡°What about her?¡± Tang Qiu stared at him intently.


    ¡°Your mother¡­ was a mute. Did you know that?¡±


    Tang Qiu was shocked; she hadn¡¯t known that. ¡°Where did you learn that?¡±


    ¡°Her former ssmates told me. Your mother was mute, but she was very good at her studies. After something happened to her, she suddenly dropped out of school and got pregnant not long after. She gave birth to you prematurely and vanishedpletely.¡± Jiang Shaocheng had long realized that something was wrong, but from then on, there had been absolutely no news of the woman.


    Tang Qiu wiped away her tears. ¡°So there was more to my mother¡¯s pregnancy than I thought?¡±


    ¡°Yes, that¡¯s why this matter needs to be investigated further. As for your grandmother, don¡¯t listen to her. You¡¯re mine. No one can force you to divorce me, not while I live,¡± Jiang Shaocheng assured her.


    Tang Qiu¡¯s attention was diverted, and her mood improved a little. ¡°I won¡¯t divorce you. I still want to have a baby together after you recover.¡±


    Jiang Shaocheng stared at his pink-cheeked wife and thought of that night, when he had stopped himself from iming her like he had wanted. He exhaled, unable to resist tasting her. He lowered his head and kissed her fiercely.


    The two of them waited for a long time before He Lei returned, face stormy.


    ¡°Is the olddy causing trouble again?¡± Jiang Shaocheng asked.


    He Lei¡¯s jaw clenched in frustration. ¡°She said that she would look for the young mistress at her school if we wouldn¡¯t let her see her granddaughter. I had to give her money before she quieted down.¡±


    Tang Qiu¡¯s brow pinched in surprise. It was possible she hadn¡¯t heard him clearly. ¡°Money?¡±


    ¡°For her travel expenses back to the nursing home, Young Mistress,¡± He Lei added carefully.


    ¡°Oh. I see.¡± Tang Qiu gnawed on her lip.


    ***


    Afterwards, Jiang Shaocheng brought her to lunch. Seeing that Tang Qiu was in a much better mood, he sent her back to ss.


    In the car, Jiang Shaocheng asked He Lei, ¡°The olddy wouldn¡¯t have run out of the nursing home all of a sudden. Who went there to meet her?¡±


    ¡°ording to the people in the nursing home, Feng Yao visited there yesterday. I¡¯ve also gotten someone to investigate Madam Tang. She has two children: a son and a daughter. The daughter is mute, but she¡¯s talented and smart, not to mention very beautiful. The son is a gambler who got sent to prison. The Feng family is paying for Madam Tang to stay in the nursing home.¡±

 Chapter 99

    <h1 ss="dib mb0 fw700 fs24 lh1.5">Chapter 99: Mad Dog</h1>


    <h2 ss="subtitle fw400"><strong>Trantor:</strong>As Studios<strong>Editor:</strong>As Studios</h2>


    Jiang Shaocheng sneered. That exined why the olddy kept defending the Feng family and degrading Tang Qiu. ¡°The Fengs have no reason to pay for an outsider to stay in a nursing home.¡±


    He Lei nodded. ¡°Feng Guo¡¯an doesn¡¯t even treat his own daughter kindly. There must be something going on, but I haven¡¯t found anything yet.¡±


    ¡°Then continue investigating. Qiu¡¯s mother is a raw wound for her, and I don¡¯t want her to be hurting forever.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll get more people to aid in the search. We¡¯ll be able to uncover something soon,¡± He Lei said confidently.


    *** !!


    When Tang Qiu returned to school, Xie Qingqing rushed up to her. ¡°Bad news, Qiu.¡±


    Tang Qiu¡¯s gaze swiveled to her. ¡°Is it my grandmother?¡±


    Xie Qingqing gritted her teeth. ¡°Watch this video.¡±


    Tang Qiu looked at the video and listened to Madam Tang¡¯s words. Her face turned pale.


    ¡°This video has already gone viral. Someone must have deliberately plotted against you. Qiu, get your husband to do something, and quickly. Otherwise, your reputation will be ruined!¡±


    In the video, a voice asked Madam Tang, ¡°Who are you to Tang Qiu? Why are you hitting her outside the school gate?¡±


    Madam Tang released a deep breath. ¡°I¡¯m Tang Qiu¡¯s biological grandmother. I hit her because she stole her sister¡¯s fiance¨Ca cripple, too! I wanted her to get a divorce, but she actually threatened to cut ties with me. I¡¯m so angry, I could¡­¡±


    ¡°Was the man she married really a cripple?¡± the voice asked again.


    ¡°He was in a wheelchair; what do you think? His face is full of scars¨Che¡¯s so hideous, I was shocked. Her mother has broken up people¡¯s marriages, and now she¡¯s following in her footsteps. That man is even more hateful. He threatened me and tried to silence me with money! I¡¯m just an olddy. What do I need the money for?¡±


    ¡°You said that Tang Qiu¡¯s mother also stole someone else¡¯s husband?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s humiliating, isn¡¯t it? That daughter of mine¡­ her shame brought her to an early grave. How unlucky for our family!¡±


    Tang Qiu gripped her phone tightly. How could her grandmother have let someone record her saying such things?


    Xie Qingqingforted her, ¡°Qiu, I think this has something to do with the Fengs. They just can¡¯t bear to see you living well! But you should still tell your husband about this. A family like the Jiangs is sure to beplicated¨Cyou¡¯re already Jiang Shaocheng¡¯s wife; there¡¯s no reason for them to be so unscrupulous. Jiang Shaocheng might be their target. We can¡¯t let them off.¡±


    It had to be said: Xie Qingqing was very clear-headed sometimes.


    Tang Qiu scoffed. ¡°Someone deliberately caused a scene to ruin my reputation. What am I supposed to do? It¡¯s not like I care anyway!¡±


    Xie Qingqing looked at the conviction in her gaze and patted her shoulder, feeling her heart ache with sympathy. They took out their books and prepared for ss.


    ¡°Hey, don¡¯t sit there. You¡¯re an eyesore. Go to the back.¡± A female ssmate spoke up without warning.


    Xie Qingqing had been implicated along with Tang Qiu all this while because of their friendship; she couldn¡¯t suppress her temper anymore. She threw down her book and was about to rise, before Tang Qiu stopped her. She turned to look at the female ssmate who spoke.


    ¡°Oh, I¡¯m an eyesore? Is that why you want me to sit behind? Well, I think you¡¯re ugly, so why did you leave your house this morning?¡± She concluded her taunt withughter.


    The female student shot to her feet and pointed at Tang Qiu. ¡°You actually have the cheek to say that I¡¯m ugly?¡± she yelled. ¡°Capital University¡¯s reputation has been ruined because of you. There¡¯s no one more revolting than you. You¡¯re greedy and vain¨Cthat¡¯s why you married a cripple. No wonder you always have the means to wear branded clothes¨Cyour disabled husband bought them for you! Must be difficult serving a cripple, right, Tang Qiu?¡±


    Tang Qiuughed. ¡°I didn¡¯t steal anyone¡¯s fiance, so why do you care who I married? You¡¯re all worked up¨Care you jealous of me? It¡¯s like I stole your lover! I would back off if I were you, since, ording to you, I¡¯m bold enough for anything. Hurry up and protect your boyfriend. I heard that he¡¯s from a wealthy family¨Cdon¡¯t let him be snatched away!¡±


    ¡°Tang Qiu, have you no shame?¡± The female student thought of her rich boyfriend whom she had been showing off recently and gritted her teeth in anger. ¡°Your grandmother said that you¡¯re greedy and vain, just like your mother. You seduced Senior Ning Mufan, and now you want to steal my boyfriend. Why are you still in school at all? Just lie down on the ground, spread your legs, and earn a living on your back!¡±


    Tang Qiu clenched her fists at the mention of her mother and stood up. ¡°What¡¯s your name?¡±


    ¡°What are you thinking? Why do you care what my name is?¡±


    Tang Qiu stood up and walked over, sparking fear in the female student. She had looked at Tang Qiu with disdain after that video and wanted to mock her¨Cnot get into a fight with her. Even more frightening was the thought that Tang Qiu would make good on her promise and steal her boyfriend.


    At this moment, someoneughed and said, ¡°Are you afraid already, Huang Jianwei? If you have the guts to speak, you should also have the courage to stand by those words!¡±


    Huang Jianwei red at the male student who had spoken. ¡°Li Nanwei, don¡¯t tell me you¡¯re fond of a woman like Tang Qiu. You trulyck standards!¡±


    Li Nanweiughed. ¡°The mad dog bites back. I told you not to be afraid¨Cdoes that count as being on Tang Qiu¡¯s side?¡±

 Chapter 100

    <h1 ss="dib mb0 fw700 fs24 lh1.5">Chapter 100: I Trust My Own Judgment</h1>


    <h2 ss="subtitle fw400"><strong>Trantor:</strong>As Studios<strong>Editor:</strong>As Studios</h2>


    ¡°I have a question: that olddy said that she¡¯s Tang Qiu¡¯s grandmother, so that¡¯s it; end of story? In that case, I saw on the school forum that you were toying with four to five men at once¡­ and even had to get an abortion. Does your boyfriend know about this?¡± Li Nanwei directed the question to the spectators watching. A few male students even wanted to join in the fun and call her boyfriend to ask him.


    Huang Jianwei was furious. ¡°That¡¯s nder!¡±


    Li Nanwei held his palms out in mock-surrender. ¡°If what I said hurt you, I apologize. You should apologize to Tang Qiu, too.¡±


    ¡°The olddy in that video said¡­¡± Huang Jianwei gritted her teeth.


    ¡°Our conversation was recorded and made into a video too¡­¡± Li Nanwei eyed her, resting his chin on one hand. !!


    ¡°You¨C¡± Huang Jianwei burst out.


    ¡°You want me to shut up? Sure¨Cthen apologize to Tang Qiu!¡± Li Nanwei shouted coldly, abandoning all traces of humor.


    Tang Qiu was stunned to see Li Nanwei speaking up for her.


    Huang Jianwei pointed at Tang Qiu indignantly. ¡°She insulted me too. She should apologize to me as well!¡±


    Tang Qiu¡¯s conscience was clear. She thought about it seriously. ¡°Don¡¯t tell me you¡¯re saying that you¡¯re ugly? I didn¡¯t say you were ugly; just ask Qingqing. If I were to insult someone, I wouldn¡¯t be so unoriginal. But I don¡¯t care for your apology, because I won¡¯t argue with someone who can¡¯t tell right from wrong¨Cit would lower my IQ.¡±


    Huang Jianwei was boiling with anger. ¡°You¡¯re going too far!¡±


    Xie Qingqing crossed her arms and smiled at Huang Jianwei. ¡°Qiu is already being very polite to you. That¡¯s enough. Go back to your seat. Yelling isn¡¯t going to improve your credibility.¡±


    Huang Jianwei¡¯s face turned red with fury as she red at Tang Qiu¨Cthat bitch!


    Tang Qiu ignored her and asked Xie Qingqing in a low voice, ¡°Why did Li Nanwei speak up for me?¡±


    Xie Qingqing rubbed her brow helplessly. ¡°My dear, have you lost your memory? He confessed to you when you were a first-year.¡±


    Tang Qiu stared at her in horror. ¡°Don¡¯t tease me. Why didn¡¯t I know?¡±


    Xie Qingqing nced at Li Nanwei, feeling a little sorry for him. ¡°He said that he liked you and gave you a gift. You didn¡¯t even look up when you thanked him; you were too busy studying.¡±


    Tang Qiu recalled the incident. ¡°That day was my birthday. I didn¡¯t even hear him clearly¨CI thought I would have to repay him for his gift in the future. I don¡¯t have the money for that. Besides, there¡¯s nothing wrong with studying.¡±


    Xie Qingqing held her forehead. ¡°You¡¯re right!¡± However, Li Nanwei hadn¡¯t harassed Tang Qiu after being rejected, and had even stood up for her when she was being insulted. He was a truly decent man. Unfortunately, Tang Qiu¡¯s taste was different from ordinary people.


    After ss, Xie Qingqing raised the issue again. ¡°Are you really not going to ask your husband for help?¡±


    Tang Qiu frowned. ¡°My husband is recovering. I don¡¯t want him to worry about me.¡±


    ¡°Okay, then,¡± Xie Qingqing said helplessly. ¡°I¡¯ll think of a way to help you investigate the matter.¡±


    Tang Qiu embraced her deeply. As she was leaving school, she bumped into Li Nanwei, who was waiting for her.


    ¡°Did something happen, Qiu?¡± Li Nanwei looked at her worriedly.


    Tang Qiu shook her head. ¡°Thank you for believing me.¡±


    Li Nanwei couldn¡¯t hide the lingering affection in his eyes. ¡°It¡¯s not you I trust¨Cit¡¯s my own judgment. I only go for nice girls.¡±


    Tang Qiu was a little embarrassed. ¡°Sorry, but I¡¯m married.¡±


    The light in Li Nanwei¡¯s eyes dimmed. ¡°I know, but you don¡¯t have to apologize for that. My feelings are my own problem¨Cif they be a burden to you, it would undermine the purity of my sentiments.¡±


    ¡°Either way, thank you so much!¡± Tang Qiu¡¯s phone vibrated; it was Jiang Shaocheng. She picked up the call. ¡°Dear, I¡¯ll be there soon.¡± She bade a quick farewell to Li Nanwei.


    The words Li Nanwei yearned to say to her were locked in his heart. He had felt a pang of jealousy at her smile as she answered her phone, but another part of him hadn¡¯t minded¨Cafter all, having feelings for someone didn¡¯t automatically make them yours. It was just a shame that she didn¡¯t feel the same way about him.


    Tang Qiu walked for a while and bumped into He Lei. She asked curiously, ¡°Why are you here? Where¡¯s my husband?¡±


    He Lei hadn¡¯t wanted toe either. But when the young master saw her standing with another man, chatting andughing, his aura had turned cold enough to freeze a man to death. He Lei had had to scramble for an excuse to get out of the car and pick her up.


    Tang Qiu didn¡¯t dwell on the matter and said to Jiang Shaocheng over the phone, ¡°Dear, I¡¯ve met up with He Lei. I¡¯ll see you soon.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll be waiting.¡±


    He Lei nced at Tang Qiu¡¯s phone; the call was still ongoing. How could a few boys, still in school, be his young master¡¯s match when it came to scheming? Ning Mufan had been a worthy opponent, but a few words from the young master was ultimately all it took to chase him out of the country. Who would have thought that another boy woulde to take his ce?


    Tang Qiu got into the car before hanging up. He smiled and spoke to Jiang Shaocheng.


    Jiang Shaocheng didn¡¯t bother asking who that boy was, because he could find out by himself. However, she didn¡¯t even utter a singleint about the nder she had faced in school that day. A tinge of sorrow filled his heart. ¡°Did anything make you happy in school today, Qiu?¡±

 Chapter 101

    <h1 ss="dib mb0 fw700 fs24 lh1.5">Chapter 101: Dear, Did You Change Your Belt?</h1>


    <h2 ss="subtitle fw400"><strong>Trantor:</strong>As Studios<strong>Editor:</strong>As Studios</h2>


    ¡°It¡¯s fine. Don¡¯t worry, dear, I can handle myself.¡± Tang Qiu couldn¡¯t exin why, but she felt that Jiang Shaocheng wasn¡¯t as simple as she had thought. She didn¡¯t know if she was overthinking: Every time something happened to her, Jiang Shaocheng would always show up not long after, as if he had a radar on him.


    However, she really didn¡¯t want Jiang Shaocheng to worry, if only for her own meaningless pride. She didn¡¯t wish to be a burden to her husband.


    ¡°Qiu, I¡¯m your husband. If something makes you ufortable, you must tell me. Unless you look down on me for being a cripple and believe I can¡¯t help you¡­ If that¡¯s the case, just pretend I didn¡¯t say anything.¡± Jiang Shaocheng pretended to be sad and lowered his head as if he had been dealt a physical blow.


    As expected, Tang Qiu was anxious. She couldn¡¯t bear to see Jiang Shaocheng like this. She couldn¡¯t help but feel sorry for him. ¡°Dear, that¡¯s not the case. I¡¯ve never looked down on you¨Cwhat do I have to do to convince you of that? It¡¯s just that I¡¯m really fine. I¡¯ve been used to dealing with my problems alone since I was young. At this point, I doubt anything can truly hurt me. So don¡¯t worry¡­¡± Tang Qiu was afraid that Jiang Shaocheng wouldn¡¯t believe her. She couldn¡¯t help but hug his neck and kiss him again and again.


    He Lei, who was in the driver¡¯s seat, quickly activated the partition. He felt a surge of admiration for his young master. How impressive! With just a few words, he had made the young mistress¡¯ heart melt, and even earned himself several kisses. !!


    ¡°If you¡¯re going to act like this, Qiu, you leave me no choice¡­¡± Jiang Shaocheng instantly turned the tables on her. He wrapped his arms around her, taking her breath away, and pulled her close in a tangle of limbs.


    Tang Qiu didn¡¯t expect that a mere kiss on the cheek would end up provoking a reaction that made her legs weak. When they were done, she leaned into Jiang Shaocheng¡¯s arms and panted heavily. ¡°Dear, did you change your belt? It¡¯s poking my stomach¡­¡±


    ¡°¡­Yes, I did.¡±


    Tang Qiu really couldn¡¯t be med for her ignorance in certain matters. How was she to know that a disabled person who couldn¡¯t meet his own masculine needs was capable of a physiological reaction?


    The next day, Tang Qiu went to school again. Before she could sit down, she was pulled away by Xie Qingqing, who wore a strange expression. ¡°Huang Jianwei, who framed you yesterday, is probably going to be expelled! To think that she became someone¡¯s mistress! Her lover¡¯s wife found her, and her boyfriend broke up with her. This spells trouble for her. I¡¯m afraid she won¡¯t be able to continue studying here¡­¡±


    Shocked, Tang Qiu was speechless for a moment. However, she refused to dwell on the matter, pushing it from her mind and continuing to study. Even still, her nerves remained on edge.


    Only that night, after school had ended, did she receive a call from her grandmother.


    Tang Qiu recalled her grandmother¡¯s words to her outside school and felt conflicted. However, her grandmother didn¡¯t give her a chance to speak. ¡°I saw your mother, Tang Qiu!¡±


    ¡°What?¡± Tang Qiu¡¯s mind went nk for a second. Her mother, whom she hadn¡¯t seen in more than ten years, had suddenly appeared? In the past, she would have responded with spite and resentment towards her mother for abandoning her. For giving birth to her. Most of all, for destroying someone else¡¯s family. But after the information Jiang Shaocheng had helped her find, Tang Qiu realized that she didn¡¯t know her mother at all, let alone her suffering.


    Now that she had the chance to see her again, Tang Qiu¡¯s heart was torn¡­


    ¡°Where is she? Is she okay? Why¡­ why didn¡¯t she look for me?¡± Tang Qiu trailed off.


    ¡°I¡¯ll give you the address. Come and see for yourself,¡± said her grandmother before hanging up.


    Tang Qiu¡¯s emotions were a murky wreck, leaving her helplessly anxious. How could this be true? Unknowingly, tears streamed down her face as she walked unsteadily towards the school gate. She knew that Jiang Shaocheng was waiting for her at the door. At this moment, she didn¡¯t know what to do. She just wanted to see Jiang Shaocheng. Everything would be okay, so long as she had her husband.


    Looking at the familiar car, Tang Qiu mustered her courage. Without waiting for He Lei to get out of the car and open the door, she opened it herself and threw herself into Jiang Shaocheng¡¯s arms. She knew that as long as she searched, he would be there.


    ¡°What happened? Who bullied you?¡± Jiang Shaocheng had never seen Tang Qiu like this before. His eyes shed with the promise of retribution.


    Tang Qiu hugged him tightly and shook her head. Her voice was weak and brittle. ¡°Dear, my grandmother just called me. She said she saw my mother¡­ but she was referring to her tombstone. My mother died long ago!¡±

 Chapter 102

    <h1 ss="dib mb0 fw700 fs24 lh1.5">Chapter 102: Where On Earth is Her Mother?</h1>


    <h2 ss="subtitle fw400"><strong>Trantor:</strong>As Studios<strong>Editor:</strong>As Studios</h2>


    The cemetery was remote and overgrown.


    It was filled with dead people who had no family and had been buried here by kind strangers.


    Jiang Shaocheng felt that something was wrong about the news of Tang Qiu¡¯s mother¡¯s death. He had just found a clue about Tang Qiu¡¯s mother, and it turned out she had been dead all along? However, seeing the state his wife was in, he brought her to the cemetery. No matter what, he had to discover what was going on. Jiang Shaocheng would never allow anyone to hurt Tang Qiu.


    When they reached, Madam Tang was standing by the cemetery, her eyes unreadable. When she saw Tang Qiu and Jiang Shaocheng, she said tly, ¡°This is your mother, Tang Linxi. She died in the same year she gave birth to you. I didn¡¯t want to tell you, but I can¡¯t watch you walk your mother¡¯s path again! Qiu, your grandmother isn¡¯t doing this to hurt you. Sooner orter, you¡¯ll get your retribution for snatching someone else¡¯s husband. Your mother¡¯s life is a perfect example of that!¡±


    ¡°So this is her¡­¡± Tang Qiu bit her lip and looked at the tombstone in front of her grandmother, disying a picture of a girl with a sweet smile¨Cher mother. The resemnce was uncanny. So this was what her mother looked like¡­ !!


    ¡°Madam, how can you be sure that this is your daughter, Tang Linxi? Just because of a photo? A tombstone disying her name? And how did you find out about this ce? It¡¯s far from the city, and it¡¯s not near the old folk¡¯s home either¡­¡± Jiang Shaocheng pushed his wheelchair towards them, his eyes deep with intent.


    ¡°What do you mean? Do you want me to open the coffin to check? Who do you think you are? When are you going to divorce Tang Qiu? Our family matters are none of your business!¡± Madam Tang whirled around and red at him, refusing to answer.


    ¡°Tang Qiu and I will not get a divorce. You have no say in the matter!¡± Jiang Shaocheng held Tang Qiu¡¯s hand to calm her down. He stared coldly at Madam Tang. ¡°I recently managed to uncover some information about Tang Qiu¡¯s mother, and today, you show up iming she¡¯s dead. Isn¡¯t that a little too coincidental? Besides, ording to the date on the tombstone, it has been more than ten years since Tang Qiu¡¯s mother died. Why is the picture still so clear? Don¡¯t tell me that you change her photos every once in a while?¡±


    At this moment, He Lei rushed over with a tablet and examined the picture on the tombstone. He turned around and said, ¡°Young Master, the photo is indeed new! I followed your orders and went to look for the cemetery manager. He has never seen Madam Tang before. Also, Young Master, take a look at this¡­¡± He handed the tablet over.


    Jiang Shaocheng held Tang Qiu with one hand and scrolled down the tablet with the other. When he was finished, he scoffed. ¡°After Tang Linyong was imprisoned, someone kept transferring money to his personal ount. However, when Tang Qiu was five years old, the money was cut off. That was why you sent Tang Qiu to the Feng family and ignored her. You even found a way to take money from Tang Qiu and save money for your son. Madam Tang, do you want to exin what happened?¡±


    Tang Qiu felt like she was on a roller coaster. Her emotions were a whirlpool, and her thoughts were even more of a mess. ¡°Dear, what do you mean? I¡­¡±


    Jiang Shaocheng patted herfortingly. ¡°Go to the car first. This grave doesn¡¯t belong to your mother! I¡¯ll handle the rest.¡± When Jiang Shaocheng was investigating Tang Linxi, he had deliberately spread some news to Madam Tang to see if he could find out anything from her. Obviously, she had taken his bait.


    However, he hadn¡¯t expected Madam Tang to make a fake tombstone to deceive him and Tang Qiu! Madam Tang had wanted him to divorce Tang Qiu because of her ties with the Feng family. Now, she was fighting to put an end to his investigation because the tragedy that was Tang Linxi¡¯s life had been caused by her! She didn¡¯t want the truth toe to light, lest it implicate Tang Linyong, who was still serving his sentence.


    Jiang Shaocheng had wanted to confirm his suspicions before revealing everything to Tang Qiu. But he was caught off-guard by how anxious Madam Tang was, so there were some things he wanted to keep secret from his wife for now.


    But now that things hade to this, how could Tang Qiu simply walk away? ¡°Dear, what do you mean? If this isn¡¯t my mother, then where is she?¡± She looked at Madam Tang. ¡°Where is my mother? What on earth is going on?¡± She suddenly realized that she didn¡¯t understand her grandmother or Jiang Shaocheng. Were they talking in riddles?


    ¡°He¡¯s talking nonsense! That bitch, your mother, is dead! After all these years, why are you looking for her?¡± Without warning, Madam Tang broke out into hysterics.


    ¡°Dear, tell me, what do you know? I have the right to know the truth!¡± Tang Qiu didn¡¯t look at Madam Tang, instead staring at Jiang Shaocheng with red-rimmed eyes. She wanted his answer now. Why was he keeping secrets from her? Didn¡¯t he promise her that he would help her find her mother?

 Chapter 103

    <h1 ss="dib mb0 fw700 fs24 lh1.5">Chapter 103: What a Tragic Life</h1>


    <h2 ss="subtitle fw400"><strong>Trantor:</strong>As Studios<strong>Editor:</strong>As Studios</h2>


    ¡°I just found out about it¡­¡± Before Jiang Shaocheng could say anything to Tang Qiu, Madam Tang interrupted him.


    ¡°Nonsense! Your mother is dead!¡± Madam Tang rushed to Tang Qiu, face contorted. ¡°I¡¯m your grandmother by blood. Don¡¯t you believe me? Listen to me now. Be filial to the Feng family and divorce this man. Stop asking questions about things that don¡¯t matter. It¡¯s your mother who was shameless back then and became someone else¡¯s mistress. She gave birth to you before marriage. You have to repay her debt. You don¡¯t need to care about anything else!¡±


    When she was finished, Madam Tang looked enraged enough to devour Tang Qiu.


    Tang Qiu was so frightened by her grandmother¡¯s unhinged behavior that she could not speak. Her face went pale. Jiang Shaocheng was so worried that the olddy would hurt his wife that he almost stood up, crippled facade be damned!


    Just as Jiang Shaocheng was about to pull her back, Tang Qiu¡¯s expression changed. She shoved Madam Tang away. ¡°Why shouldn¡¯t I care? Who are you to stop me? All these years, I¡¯ve always resented my mother and couldn¡¯t live with being her daughter. You¡¯ve also whispered about my mother¡¯s sins in my ear time and time again. I¡¯ve never understood why¨Cit¡¯s as if she isn¡¯t your daughter! Now that I think about it, she seems to be your enemy, and you despise me for being born to her! Why? What exactly are you hiding from me?¡± !!


    ¡°I¡­¡± Madam Tang did not expect Tang Qiu, who had always been easy to manipte, to grow a spine! Her eyes turned vicious as she turned to Jiang Shaocheng. ¡°This is all your fault! She wasn¡¯t like this before¡­¡±


    ¡°Qiu, calm down and listen to me.¡± Jiang Shaocheng pulled her over and held her icy, little hand. He fixed her with his gaze and said, ¡°Your mother is doing well. I just found out the news. I can take you to see her¡­ Let¡¯s get out of here. I¡¯ll exin everything, okay?¡± He was very worried about Tang Qiu¡¯s current situation and didn¡¯t dare to tell her the details.


    Hearing this, Madam Tang was in disbelief. She knew she couldn¡¯t hide the truth forever¡­ but she still wanted to say something. However, He Lei seized her, stopping her from approaching Tang Qiu. This was thest time she would see Tang Qiu in her life. She would have to pay for her sins sooner orter.


    Tang Qiu was taken away by Jiang Shaocheng in a daze. She couldn¡¯t calm down. Jiang Shaocheng¡¯s deep voice sounded in her ears. If he hadn¡¯t been talking about her mother, she might have sighed andmented what a tragic life this individual had lived.


    Madam Tang had been renowned for her beauty in her youth. Her husband had been a mere clerk. Although he was by no means wealthy, he came from a loving family of three. At least, from the perspective of Tang Qiu¡¯s grandfather. It was Madam Tang who hadn¡¯t been contented with a simple life. She met a businessman overseas and caught feelings for him. She had wanted to follow him, but realized that she was pregnant with Tang Linxi.


    Madam Tang had been bent on aborting the child, but her poor health stopped her. The doctor said that if she aborted the child, she would never be able to give birth again, and it had already been a huge struggle to birth one son.


    Madam Tang had had no choice. If she couldn¡¯t bear children, that rich businessman wouldn¡¯t want her! She med her misfortune on Tang Linxi, and resented her daughter even more when she was born mute! She cursed Tang Linxi for being a jinx, barely restraining herself in her husband¡¯s presence. However, when Tang Linxi was eight years old, Tang Qiu¡¯s grandfather had died in a car ident. And so began Tang Linxi¡¯s suffering. Her entire life became dedicated to serving her brother, Tang Linyong.


    When Tang Linxi was 18 years old, Tang Linyong raked up huge gambling debts. It was Madam Tang who sold her daughter to Feng Guo¡¯an in exchange for money to settle Tang Linyong¡¯s gambling debt! However, Tang Linyong refused to mend his ways. He got drunk and caused trouble. He identally stabbed someone and was sentenced to prison. Madam Tang ckmailed Feng Guo¡¯an using the truth about Tang Linxi, demanding a sum of money from him every year to ensure that Tang Linyong would be safe and sound in prison. That is, until Tang Qiu was five years old and Tang Linxi suddenly disappeared. Afterwards, everything changed.


    Madam Tang was afraid that if the matter was discovered, it would affect her only son. He would be released from prison soon, and his life couldn¡¯t afford to be ruined because of a jinx. However, what Madam Tang didn¡¯t know was that Tang Linyong couldn¡¯t be released from prison. He had fought with someone in prison and had his internal organs pierced. He had already died, leaving all her efforts in vain¡­


    Madam Tang had been young and unschooled in the ways of the world. When she realized that someone was trying to find out about Tang Linxi¡¯s past, she became uneasy and went to look for Feng Guo¡¯an. However, Feng Guo¡¯an washed his hands of the matter, iming that Tang Linxi had seduced him. After being subject to Feng Guo¡¯an¡¯s usations, Madam Tang had had no choice.

 Chapter 104

    <h1 ss="dib mb0 fw700 fs24 lh1.5">Chapter 104: His ¡®Illness¡¯ Should Be Cured</h1>


    <h2 ss="subtitle fw400"><strong>Trantor:</strong>As Studios<strong>Editor:</strong>As Studios</h2>


    Now that Madam Tang knew that Tang Linxi was still fine, she felt even more hatred and panic. If this jinx wasn¡¯t dead, why didn¡¯t shee to find her? Was she waiting to take revenge on her? On her son?


    In contrast to Madam Tang¡¯s hysteria, Tang Qiu was quiet¨Cso much so that Jiang Shaocheng was afraid.


    ¡°Qiu, are you okay?¡± Jiang Shaocheng didn¡¯t know how tofort her. He just held her in his arms and said solemnly, ¡°You still have me. I¡¯ll always protect you from harm.¡±


    However, he hadn¡¯t expected this matter to unravel all at once.


    ¡°My mother is alive¡­? Is she okay? I¡­¡± Tang Qiu wanted to see her, but how? She had believed she was born out of wedlock, but it turned out to be a tragic lie. Would her mother want to see her? If she did, she wouldn¡¯t have avoided Tang Qiu for years, right? !!


    ¡°She¡­ seems to have lost her memory! The private investigator found out that when you were five years old, she was chased by Feng Guo¡¯an¡¯s wife and fell into the sea. She was a foreigner from M Country who was out adventuring at sea¡­ When she woke up, she had lost her memory. Now she¡¯s living a good life. She married the man who saved her and had a child with him¡­¡± Jiang Shaocheng was at a loss for words. Tang Qiu had a knot in her heart about her mother; after so many years, she still couldn¡¯t face her. And now her mother had a separate life of her own.


    However, it wasn¡¯t Tang Linxi¡¯s fault. The first half of her life had been miserable. She should have had a better life, but her biological mother had ruined it. Now, her suffering was finally over.


    But what about Tang Qiu? How could she leave in peace? She was separated from her biological mother, and mistreated by others¡­


    Both their lives, as mother and daughter, had truly been¡­


    Tang Qiu was silent for so long that Jiang Shaocheng thought she couldn¡¯t ept the truth. Finally she spoke up, sounding forlorn. ¡°Is there a photo of her now? Can I see it?¡±


    Jiang Shaocheng looked at her and showed her the tablet. It was a photo sent back by the private detective.


    The woman in the photo looked to be in her early thirties, well-maintained, with gentle eyes and an elegant demeanor. Even without asking, he could tell she¡¯d been living a decent life for the past few years. Standing beside her was a little blond mixed-race boy who looked about five or six¡­


    ¡°She¡¯s doing well.¡± Tang Qiu looked at the photo, expression torn. She wanted to reach out and touch the woman¡¯s face in the photo, but she retracted her hand, as if afraid to disturb her. She hadn¡¯t forgotten the nature of her birth; she must be a blemish on her mother¡¯s life.


    ¡°Qiu, I already know her address. I¡¯ll book a ne ticket now. We¡¯ll go to M Country to find her immediately! Don¡¯t be sad¡­ If you¡¯re afraid of causing your mother any pain or trouble, we can go look for her discreetly.¡± Jiang Shaocheng didn¡¯t know how tofort her. In his opinion, no one was more important than Tang Qiu. If Tang Linxi¡¯s husband proved too stubborn, he had his ways¨Cand he wouldn¡¯t let off anyone who made Tang Qiu suffer.


    Tang Qiu shook her head. She put down the tablet and hugged Jiang Shaocheng, causing him to fall silent. ¡°Let¡¯s go home. I¡¯m tired. I want to sleep for a while.¡±


    Instead of speaking, Jiang Shaocheng hugged her tightly. His heart ached for Tang Qiu. ¡°Qiu, you¡¯re my wife and my family. You¡¯re the most important person in the world to me. No one canpare to you.¡±


    He didn¡¯t know what else to say. It didn¡¯t matter what he told her, and neither did her past. He just wanted her.


    But sometimes physicalfort meant more than words.


    After some trouble, Tang Qiu managed to be excused from school for the next few days, which she rarely allowed herself to do. Jiang Shaocheng wanted to bring his wife out to rx, so the two of them went to M Country!


    Of course, Jiang Shaocheng had other motives too: He was about to tie up all loose ends with his family! If he stayed in the country, he was worried that Tang Qiu would be implicated. After all, if he seeded, the Jiang family would lose everything and be driven to desperation. Jiang Shaocheng did not want Tang Qiu to see his cruel side. When Tang Qiu returned to the country, she would only see the news of the Jiang family¡¯s bankruptcy.


    Plus, it was time he recovered from his ¡®illness¡¯.


    ¡°Qiu, do you want to feed the seagulls like them?¡± Jiang Shaocheng looked at Tang Qiu, sitting on the bench facing the sea. The people around him were holding small pieces of bread and waiting for the seagulls toe. Although he didn¡¯t find it interesting, he couldn¡¯t help but make a suggestion when he saw Tang Qiu¡¯s depressed expression.


    ¡°I¡­¡± Tang Qiu was about to say no when a small rubber ball rolled by her feet. She looked up and saw a little blond boy looking at her shyly.

 Chapter 105

    <h1 ss="dib mb0 fw700 fs24 lh1.5">Chapter 105: Blessed Beyond Words</h1>


    <h2 ss="subtitle fw400"><strong>Trantor:</strong>As Studios<strong>Editor:</strong>As Studios</h2>


    ¡°Miss, can you please pass me the ball? Thank you.¡± The six-year-old mixed boy had rosy lips and pearly teeth. The smile on his chubby face made Tang Qiu¡¯s heart flutter.


    This child was the little boy in the photo¡­


    ¡°Here.¡± Tang Qiu handed the ball to him stiffly. The moment she came into contact with the child, something suddenly eased. Tang Qiu knew why Jiang Shaocheng had to bring her to M Country; she had resisted internally, but didn¡¯t voice anything out.


    It would be a lie to say that she wasn¡¯t looking forward to the trip, but she was afraid too. In fact, after learning about Tang Linxi, the truth wasn¡¯t any easier to bear; now she was also a stain on her mother¡¯s life.


    But however worthy of Tang Linxi¡¯s loathing she might be, Tang Qiu wanted to see her mother, who only existed in her memory. All these years, she had never felt the love of her family. It was like being trash that had been discarded by the world. !!


    However, Tang Qiu did not expect it to happen so quickly. At this moment, her heart was filled with anxiety, excitement, and fear.


    Jiang Shaocheng¡¯s hand gripped hers tightly. His hand wasrge and warm, his calloused touch lending her strength.


    ¡°Thank you, miss. You¡¯re very pretty. But why are you crying? This is my favorite ball. Why don¡¯t I give it to you?¡± The little boy had received the ball excitedly, but when he looked up, the prettydy in front of him had suddenly teared up. Although she was a stranger, he felt very close to her and wanted to go forward and hug her. She smelled like his mother, so he didn¡¯t want to see her cry. He was even willing to give up his favorite toy.


    He was too short to reach her face, and was about to stand on tiptoe to wipe thedy¡¯s tears when he saw someone. As if he had gained courage, he called out softly, ¡°Mom,e quickly. This pretty woman is crying. She cried after helping me pick up my ball¡­¡± The little boy didn¡¯t understand why, but after he had asked for help, thedy had cried. Children were very sensitive; he immediately assumed it was his fault somehow. Especially since the man in the wheelchair looked so terrifying. The boy was suddenly very afraid.


    However, what the little boy didn¡¯t know was that the moment he shouted ¡®Mom¡¯, Tang Qiu trembled. She didn¡¯t dare to turn her head. Without thinking, she pushed Jiang Shaocheng¡¯s wheelchair away and didn¡¯t look back.


    Jiang Shaocheng didn¡¯t say anything. He let Tang Qiu push him away. He had deliberately chosen M Country as their destination, just that whether they would meet Tang Qiu¡¯s mother or not depended on <span>fate. He didn¡¯t force it, and he certainly hadn¡¯t expected to run into her on the first day. He was so unprepared. No wonder Tang Qiu¡¯s only response was to flee.


    The little boy behind her was still chattering as he exined to his mother, ¡°Thedy cried for some reason. The uncle with her was so scary. Mom, I wanted to give the ball to her, but she left¡­¡±


    The boy¡¯s mother listened quietly, stroking her son¡¯s head reassuringly and watching the retreating figures he was pointing to. The young man beside the elegant woman followed suit and saidfortingly, ¡°Maybe she just thought of something sad. Don¡¯t you have to feed the seagulls, darling? Mom and Dad will apany you¡­¡±


    ¡°Okay.¡± The little boy was young and yful. In the blink of an eye, he had forgotten about the incident and was ying with his parents.


    Among the family of three, only the voices of the little boy and his father rang out, while his mother only smiled gently. Even though she couldn¡¯t speak, it was still obvious that the family was happy and loving.


    Some things were clearer to see with one¡¯s own eyes than pictures.


    Tang Qiu looked at the elegant woman through the crowd with eyes of yearning. She didn¡¯t want to disturb her. As long as she was truly happy, that was enough. Closure wasn¡¯t always necessary, and Tang Qiu didn¡¯t want to ruin her mother¡¯s life by showing up.


    Jiang Shaocheng understood this. Perhaps their meeting across the sea was enough tofort them for the rest of their lives. Life was meant to be filled with connections, separations, and reunions, and maybe one day their paths would cross again.


    However, in the next second, Jiang Shaocheng thought of something. His expression was indescribable as he gritted his teeth and said, ¡°Your brother is so stupid! He called you a prettydy, and me an old uncle! I just know hecks brains. Whatever will he do in the future?Hmph! He definitely won¡¯t be able to find a wife.¡±


    Tang Qiu couldn¡¯t help but smile sadly. She was happy¡­ wasn¡¯t she? After losing everything, she was blessed beyond words to have met Jiang Shaocheng.

 Chapter 106

    <h1 ss="dib mb0 fw700 fs24 lh1.5">Chapter 106: Meeting Feng Lu Again</h1>


    <h2 ss="subtitle fw400"><strong>Trantor:</strong>As Studios<strong>Editor:</strong>As Studios</h2>


    Tang Qiu and Jiang Shaocheng stayed in M Country for a few more days until Tang Qiu couldn¡¯t help but ask Jiang Shaocheng, ¡°When are we going back?¡± She still had to go to school.


    The whole saga with her mother was over. Tang Qiu knew how tofort herself. Otherwise, how could she have lived all these years? All she wanted now was to live the life directly in front of her. She wanted to study hard, graduate, find a good job, and start a family with Jiang Shaocheng.


    Because of her emotional state a few days ago, Tang Qiu had, for once, taken time off from school. Now that she had recovered, she was fretting about the homework she had missed! She was still hoping to get a schrship; it was money she desperately needed.


    Jiang Shaocheng looked at Tang Qiu, who was finally feeling better, and couldn¡¯t help butugh. ¡°Let¡¯s wait a few more days. It¡¯s rare that we have the chance to travel together. We still have a few ces to visit. The ne tickets are so expensive. It¡¯s a loss to go back so soon¡­¡±


    As expected, Tang Qiu couldn¡¯t bear to waste money. However, she had a mind of her own. She looked at Jiang Shaocheng and said seriously, ¡°But my studies, which I¡¯m putting on hold now, are the foundation for me to earn money in the future. I¡¯m losing out!¡± !!


    Jiang Shaocheng was stunned.


    Even so, Tang Qiu was not in a hurry to go back. She waited for Jiang Shaocheng to bring it up himself. This was because she felt that Jiang Shaocheng seemed to be deliberately dying their return. Her husband hadn¡¯t even brought He Lei on the trip. It was strange just thinking about it.


    Tang Qiu didn¡¯t understand his intentions, but she didn¡¯t ask further because she had a feeling she would get no reply. It was better to take this opportunity to indulge herself! This was only her second time going abroad. The memories of her first time overseas sat ill with her, and she pushed the thoughts aside.


    The next day, Jiang Shaocheng took Tang Qiu to many romantic ces. Unsurprisingly, they didn¡¯t meet Tang Linxi again. This country wasn¡¯t big, but it wasn¡¯t easy to meet again in the vast sea of people.


    Not that meeting once hadn¡¯t been enough.


    However, instead of meeting Tang Linxi, she met another unexpected person: Feng Lu! Feng Lu, who was supposed to marry Jiang Shaocheng but ran away on their wedding day and let Tang Qiu rece her.


    The moment she saw Feng Lu, Tang Qiu almost didn¡¯t recognize her. It hadn¡¯t been a few years since shest saw Feng Lu. How had she be like this?


    Feng Lu was in her early twenties, but disheveled and scrawny. Her skin wasid bare with scars. When she saw Tang Qiu, she seemed to be in disbelief. Then she rushed over. ¡°Tang Qiu, save me!¡±


    Fortunately, Jiang Shaocheng had bodyguards around him, who could stop Feng Lu before she hugged Tang Qiu. After all, Tang Qiu didn¡¯t expect Feng Lu toe and hug her after not seeing each other for so long. How was she to be sure that Feng Lu didn¡¯t want to stab her to death with a hidden knife? Tang Qiu didn¡¯t remember having a good rtionship with Feng Lu. During her years in the Feng family, Feng Yao bullied her openly and mistreated Tang Qiu to her face, but Feng Lu¡¯s attacks were more subtle, making her impossible to guard against.


    Now, looking at Feng Lu¡¯s teary eyes, Tang Qiu wondered if the other woman had gone crazy.


    ¡°Who are you? Throw her out!¡± Jiang Shaocheng did not recognize Feng Lu at all; they had never met despite her being his initial betrothed.


    ¡°Tang Qiu! It¡¯s me! I¡¯m your big sister, Feng Lu! Save me! After I came abroad, I found out that Guo Cheng had lied to me. He was married a long time ago. When he found out that I was going back home, he locked me up and went to the Feng family to cheat their money. Save me¡­¡± Feng Lu never expected that one day, she would beg Tang Qiu to rescue her. But what could she do? She couldn¡¯t go back again; it would be digging her own grave. As long as she could go back alive, she would tell her father that she would not let off anyone who hurt her! Including Tang Qiu¨Clook at the difference between their clothes alone! How could Tang Qiu deserve to live better than her?


    ¡°Qiu, what do you think?¡± Jiang Shaocheng stopped his bodyguards, leaving the choice to Tang Qiu. He also wanted to know what Tang Qiu would do in the face of such a thing. She would be the mistress of the Jiang family in the future. He could protect her for the rest of her life, but he could not stop Tang Qiu froming into contact with the outside world. People had to be themselves first before they could fulfill the wishes of others. She was not his essory¨Cshe was wholly her own.


    Hearing this, Feng Lu also ced all her hopes on Tang Qiu. Her heart was filled with jealousy and hatred. Now, she no longer felt that Jiang Shaocheng was crippled and ugly. At the very least, Jiang Shaocheng was a better man than Guo Cheng; he had asked his wife for her opinion. Clearly, Feng Lu was not in the right state of mind now.


    ¡°If she¡¯s in trouble, she should call the police. Let¡¯s help her call the police,¡± Tang Qiu said calmly.

 Chapter 107

    <h1 ss="dib mb0 fw700 fs24 lh1.5">Chapter 107: Jiang Shaocheng¡¯s Past</h1>


    <h2 ss="subtitle fw400"><strong>Trantor:</strong>As Studios<strong>Editor:</strong>As Studios</h2>


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong, dear?¡± Tang Qiu realized that after she finished speaking, not only was Feng Lu stunned, even Jiang Shaocheng was silent. He just looked at her and¡­ smiled?


    Tang Qiu felt a chill run down her spine. What was going on? She didn¡¯t think she had said anything shocking. It was just a very simple conclusion. Wasn¡¯t it normal to look for the police when one was in trouble? Besides, they were overseas, and she was under no obligation to help Feng Lu. She didn¡¯t feel burdened to assist someone who had always bullied her. She was no saint; she wasn¡¯t magnanimous enough not to bear grudges.


    She was an illegitimate daughter who had hurt the Feng family, but she was also a victim. Moreover, Feng Guo¡¯an was the one who caused all of this. All these years, she had been working like a ve in the Feng family. It wasn¡¯t that Tang Qiucked a spine, she simply knew the best way to survive.


    ¡°You¡¯re right. We should go to the police.¡± Jiang Shaocheng smiled. He should have known by now that his Qiu wasn¡¯t half as timid as she appeared. She wasn¡¯t one to simply forgive and forget, and to absorb abuse in silence after a single apology. No, she was full of spirit, with her stubbornness and her sense of right and wrong.


    ¡°No, no¡­ Tang Qiu, how can you ignore me? I¡¯m your sister. Don¡¯t you want my father to acknowledge you? As long as you bring me back to the Feng family, I¡¯ll make sure he reveals the truth of who you are! I¡¯ll acknowledge you as the third daughter of the Feng family!¡± Feng Lu hadn¡¯t expected Tang Qiu to ignore her. True panic dawned on her. She had nothing now. She had been fated to meet Tang Qiu in a foreign country. If she returned to the Feng family in this state and was seen by reporters, then her reputation¡­ !!


    In order for Tang Qiu to save her, Feng Lu leveraged the status that Tang Qiu had cared about the most in the past. As long as the Feng family did not make it public, Tang Qiu would bebeled as a bastard child. And Tang Qiu had to care about what people thought of her¡­ Otherwise, why would she shamelessly stay in the Feng family and let them vent their anger and humiliation on her?


    ¡°Shaocheng¡¯s bodyguard will send you to the police station. When the timees, you can contact the Feng family yourself. I believe they will pick you up immediately. As for the Feng family name¡­ I don¡¯t want it anymore. My surname is Tang, not Feng!¡± After knowing about her mother, Tang Qiu hated Feng Guo¡¯an, and she didn¡¯t want to admit that she was his daughter. She thanked Feng Guo¡¯an for neglecting her all these years. Otherwise, if she had to change her surname now, she wouldn¡¯t even dare to secretly meet Tang Linxi.


    Tang Qiu did not give Feng Lu another chance. Heedless of Feng Lu¡¯s final threat, she left the matter to Jiang Shaocheng¡¯s bodyguard.


    ¡°Do you think I¡¯m heartless?¡± Tang Qiu asked her husband as they watched Feng Lu being sent away.


    However, Jiang Shaochengughed. ¡°No! You did very well.¡± His Qiu really didn¡¯t know him at all. It should be said that she had never realized his true nature. If it had been up to him, Feng Lu would have been thrown into the sea long ago. After all, the Feng family deserved some payback after everything they had done. Just like the backstabbing members of the Jiang family who had killed his parents. If he hadn¡¯t pretended to be crippled for so many years, he would probably have be a victim of those rotten schemers.


    The Jiang family was arge family, with nock of children. Heirs could be nurtured one after another. However, those who wanted to manipte the Jiang family, monopolize its power, and hurt its interests deserved nothing less than to die.


    Jiang Shaocheng¡¯s mother had died in a secret power struggle, leaving him, a young boy, alone to face a group of predators. In order to survive, he had no choice but to hide himself. He had sowed his seeds of influence in the Jiang family long ago. But he wanted to y a good game of cat and mouse: to watch them fight like trapped beasts before leaving them helpless but to waste away.


    No one in the Jiang family was innocent. Jiang Shaocheng would not let anyone off, let alone be soft-hearted. Therefore,pared to him, Tang Qiu¡¯s actions were not cruel at all. However, she had managed to surprise him. Tang Qiu had always endured the bullying in her school in silence, he had nearly forgotten that she, too, was fierce at heart!


    It was only that she preferred to hide her sharp ws before catching her enemies off-guard.


    However, what Tang Qiu and Jiang Shaocheng did not expect was that a woman who stirred up trouble¨Ceven if she was barely a threat¨Ccould cause even more problems!

 Chapter 108

    <h1 ss="dib mb0 fw700 fs24 lh1.5">Chapter 108: The Jiang Family Falls Apart</h1>


    <h2 ss="subtitle fw400"><strong>Trantor:</strong>As Studios<strong>Editor:</strong>As Studios</h2>


    A few days after the encounter with Feng Lu, Jiang Shaocheng finally brought Tang Qiu back home. Their trip was finally over. Tang Qiu especially missed her textbooks. She was anxious just thinking about the sses she had missed.


    Therefore, the first thing she did when she returned was to look for Xie Qingqing and ask for her notes, before cramming tutoring sessions to catch up.


    It couldn¡¯t be helped. After all, she had to work to survive. Even if her husband didn¡¯t say anything, Tang Qiu felt that they had spent no small amount of money on their trip. Although her mother¡¯s matter had weighed on her for a while, she couldn¡¯t just keep ming herself. Life had to go on.


    Tang Qiu was as hardy as a cactus¨Cshe would survive wherever she was nted.


    In the library, Tang Qiu wanted to study, but people started pointing at her from the moment she entered. Was she in the wrong ce? Otherwise, why would everyone be gossiping instead of revising? !!


    But Tang Qiu didn¡¯t make a habit of paying attention to things which didn¡¯t concern her. She took out Xie Qingqing¡¯s notes and began to study. However, the discussion soon reached her ears.


    ¡°Is that the Tang Qiu who married the cripple of the Jiang family? I don¡¯t know if she¡¯s lucky or unlucky¡­¡±


    ¡°Why do you care? Maybe they¡¯re secretly happy! Although her husband is crippled, he¡¯s still alive. The rest of the Jiang family are either in prison or havemitted suicide. Her husband is the only one left. He still has enough money for them to survive¡­ Tsk, it¡¯s been less than half a month, and the huge Jiang Corporation has already fallen apart. It¡¯s shocking¡­¡±


    Now Tang Qiu couldn¡¯t just pretend to have heard nothing. This business involved the Jiang family! Why didn¡¯t she know anything about it? Besides, she didn¡¯t hear Jiang Shaocheng mention anything! Had he been in the dark too? Tang Qiu¡¯s expression changed. Just as she was about to contact Jiang Shaocheng, she heard a book being thrown in front of her.


    It was obvious that the person had a bone to pick with her. ¡°Tang Qiu, you actually have the cheek to show your face in school!¡±


    Tang Qiu looked up and saw that it was someone she knew. It was Feng Yao, Feng Lu¡¯s younger sister. Coincidentally, Tang Qiu met Feng Lu overseas and Feng Yao came looking for her after returning to the country. However, Tang Qiu didn¡¯t have time to argue with her today. Ever since she found out about her mother, Tang Qiu had lost all patience with the Feng family.


    In the past, she had been at their mercy, but now, she wished she had the power to go back in time. Even if it meant not being born, she would kill that bastard Feng Guo¡¯an!


    ¡°Why can¡¯t Ie to school? Who do you think you are?¡± Tang Qiu¡¯s expression was cold. She packed her bag and prepared to leave. However, Feng Yao wasn¡¯t about to let her go.


    ¡°You bitch! My sister was cheated overseas, but not only did you not save her, you even mocked her! You leeched off my family for years, you lowlife. How dare you?¡± Feng Yao thought of the news of the Jiang family¡¯s decline, and her disdain for Tang Qiu only intensified. She had thought that Tang Qiu had missed school because she had been implicated in an investigation. It was a pity that she hadn¡¯t taken the chance to mock Tang Qiu. In the end, she had found out from the police station that Tang Qiu was traveling with Jiang Shaocheng overseas.


    Feng Yao thought of the Feng family¡¯s current situation and red at Tang Qiu with renewed venom. Why couldn¡¯t she mind her own business after running into Feng Lu overseas? Now that Feng Lu¡¯s scandal had been found out, how would she be able to find a rich husband? ¡°The Jiang Corporation was found to have stolen taxes. The most favored family of the Jiangs¨CJiang Ming¡¯s family¨Cwas arrested for premeditated murder years ago. The Jiang family¡¯s old master, Jiang Hanchen, had a heart attack¡­ In other words, they fell apart. If you hadn¡¯t borrowed money from that cripple Jiang Shaocheng in the past, you would have nothing now. You would be reduced to living on the streets! You¡¯ll get what¡¯sing, you bitch. You lived in our Feng family for so many years in exchange for nothing. Ingratitude is one thing, but repaying our kindness by backstabbing us? Because of you, everyone knows about what happened to my sister! The Feng family¡¯s reputation has been ruined by you!¡±


    Tang Qiu did not expect so many things to happen in just a few days. And Feng Lu¡­ Although Tang Qiu could not forgive the Feng family, she had indirectly helped Feng Lu. But in the end, the Feng family only cared about their reputation, instead of Feng Lu. They were a rotten bunch indeed!


    ¡°Since you keep saying that you care about your sister, why didn¡¯t she receive any calls from the Feng family when she was overseas? Could it be that your family doesn¡¯t care? Or is the Feng family going bankrupt and can¡¯t even look after themselves?¡± Tang Qiu pushed her away, too consumed with worry for her husband.


    She hadn¡¯t expected her flippant words to strike home!

 Chapter 109

    <h1 ss="dib mb0 fw700 fs24 lh1.5">Chapter 109: Tang Qiu Kidnapped</h1>


    <h2 ss="subtitle fw400"><strong>Trantor:</strong>As Studios<strong>Editor:</strong>As Studios</h2>


    Tang Qiu¡¯s words had been casual, but in reality, the Feng family was actually going bankrupt! They weren¡¯t murderers, but over the years, Feng Guo¡¯an had secretly raped many women. Now that they had the chance to take revenge, they could not wait to get back at him!


    As for Feng Guo¡¯an¡¯s wife, Chen Man, when she found out that the Feng family was finished, she ran away with the money! She didn¡¯t care about her two daughters at all and only wanted to preserve her own life. After all, Feng Guo¡¯an had harmed many young girls, and many of them were pregnant. Not every one of them had given birth safely like Tang Qiu¡¯s mother. And Chen Man wasn¡¯t willing to let anyone snatch her assets away. Naturally, she arranged for the other girls to have miscarriages once she found out they were pregnant! This had caused a few girls in their prime to bleed profusely and be infertile.


    Now that the Feng family was in trouble, Chen Man was afraid of being dragged down with Feng Guo¡¯an. However, she hadn¡¯t managed to flee far. When she drove onto the highway, a truck in front suddenly lost control. The steel pipe on it had swung out and pierced through Chen Man¡¯s body.


    By the time help arrived, she had already bled to death.


    When Tang Qiu found out about this, it was already ten days after the ident! She did not have much of a reaction. She thought that she would feel relief, but she was indifferent. The Feng family deserved their retribution. However, that night, Tang Qiu still thought about what had happened in M Country¡­ !!


    Of course, she had also learned more urate information about the Jiang family from Jiang Shaocheng. She knew that the Jiang family had gotten their just desserts, so Tang Qiu didn¡¯t feel too much sympathy for them, only her husband.


    Because now they were one and the same: They both had no family left.


    If they¡¯d ever had one to begin with.


    Fortunately, they still had each other.


    ¡°Qiu, aren¡¯t you curious about why the Jiang family and the Feng family suddenly fell apart?¡± Jiang Shaocheng hugged Tang Qiu in his arms. He wanted to confess the truth to Tang Qiu, but he didn¡¯t know where to start. He suddenly felt a little afraid. What if Tang Qiu got angry? He had been lying to her for so long¡­ But even if Tang Qiu really resented him, he wouldn¡¯t let her leave. She was his.


    Tang Qiu looked at Jiang Shaocheng intently and blinked. ¡°Will my curiosity entitle me to an answer? One that you know best, since their misfortune is rted to you?¡± She was no fool; she could decipher Jiang Shaocheng¡¯s underlying question, but there was nothing he had done that she could not ept. She wasn¡¯t afraid of any answer he could give.


    Jiang Shaocheng hadn¡¯t anticipated this question from her. He had underestimated his wife¡¯s intelligence. She appeared soft and fragile, but she was strong and smart. He chose not to conceal the truth from her, but hardly knew where to begin. He decided to reveal pieces of the puzzle to her one by one.


    It would be easier for Tang Qiu to form her own understanding of what had happened. However, Jiang Shaocheng realized that Tang Qiu might be waiting for him to be honest with her, despite already having her suspicions.


    ¡°If I lied to you about something, would you be angry with me? I had no choice¡­¡± Jiang Shaocheng wanted to ask her to promise not to be angry, but he changed his mind. He was afraid to see Tang Qiu sad, even if it was just a little.


    Tang Qiu lifted her chin, turning her nose up at him. She wanted to peer down at him, but she was too damn short. ¡°That depends on what you lied to me about.¡±


    Jiang Shaocheng looked at her warily and began, ¡°Well¡­ what happened to the Fengs was caused by me¡­¡±


    Tang Qiu was expressionless. ¡°And?¡±


    ¡°And so was the Jiang family¡¯s misfortune¡­¡±


    ¡°So?¡±


    ¡°So you must have known I was behind it all along, right?¡±


    Tang Qiu smiled. Instead of replying, she gave a snort. ¡°This hardly counts as honesty, dear.¡±


    Jiang Shaocheng grinned and rolled over Tang Qiu. ¡°You¡¯re right. There is onest thing¡­ but actions speak louder than words, you little vixen.¡± He threw the covers over them.


    That night, Tang Qiu and Jiang Shaocheng finally uncovered the treasures of wedded life!


    When they were finished, Jiang Shaocheng looked satisfied. Tang Qiu¡­ was still sleeping.


    Jiang Shaocheng looked at the red marks on his wife¡¯s exposed skin and his eyes zed over darkly. He hugged her and whispered, ¡°Let¡¯s get married again.¡±


    Tang Qiu breathed heavily in and out in response.


    Meanwhile, Jiang Shaocheng had already started preparing. He even had a special date picked out. However, he did not expect that the day before their wedding, his bride would be kidnapped!

 Chapter 110

    <h1 ss="dib mb0 fw700 fs24 lh1.5">Chapter 110: Thank You For Being a Part of My Life (FINAL CHAPTER)</h1>


    <h2 ss="subtitle fw400"><strong>Trantor:</strong>As Studios<strong>Editor:</strong>As Studios</h2>


    Tang Qiu woke up in an abandoned warehouse north of the city.


    Because the wedding was tomorrow, Tang Qiu had been resting very early recently and even slept in separate rooms with Jiang Shaocheng. Ever since they started having sex, her husband¡¯s self-control seemed to evaporate every night, as if he wanted to make up for years of deprivation. It drained Tang Qiu of her energy, leaving her unable to wake up the next morning. Xie Qingqing hadughed about it at her expense for a long time.


    However, Tang Qiu did not expect to receive a call from the old folk¡¯s home the day before her wedding. They said that her grandmother was dying and wanted to see her for thest time. After careful consideration, Tang Qiu decided to grant her her request. Jiang Shaocheng had been very busy recently, as most of his businesses were conducted domestically now. Now, Jiang Shaocheng had recovered and was stepping into new shoes as a new man, so Tang Qiu chose to pop down ande back, without disturbing him.


    Unexpectedly, as soon as she stepped into the ward, her grandmother¡¯s eyes slipped shut. Tang Qiu stood at the door and watched, her emotions unreadable. Just as she left, someone knocked her out¨Cand openly at that!


    ¡°You?¡± Tang Qiu woke up and saw Feng Yao and Feng Lu. She was at a loss. Why did they kidnap her? Did they need money? However, from the look in their eyes, she felt that it wouldn¡¯t be that simple. !!


    Feng Lu smiled like a lunatic. ¡°Tang Qiu, you married Jiang Shaocheng in my ce. Now that I¡¯m back, there¡¯s no need for you to take my ce. It¡¯s time for you to leave! I won¡¯t be cruel to you. I¡¯ve arranged for a few men to satisfy you. As for me, I¡¯ll be Shaocheng¡¯s bride.¡± Thinking of Jiang Shaocheng¡¯s current status, Feng Lu regretted her past decision. What was she thinking? She would never have thought that Jiang Shaocheng was so handsome, let alone perfectly healthy! Why did she let Tang Qiu, this bitch, rece her? But everything was fine. She was back.


    Tang Qiu looked at her, face unreadable. ¡°You¡¯re crazy! Shaocheng won¡¯t marry you. He¡¯ll definitelye to save me!¡± Others might not know, but Tang Qiu knew that she had a device broadcasting her location in her ne. It was only a matter of time before Jiang Shaocheng found her. She just had to stall them.


    Feng Lu smiled smugly, as if terribly amused. Suddenly, her smile froze, and Tang Qiu was stunned.


    A knife was stabbed into Feng Lu¡¯s stomach. Blood flowed out from the wound. The person holding the knife was Feng Yao!


    ¡°Sis, don¡¯t me me. I have to take care of myself too!¡± Feng Yao¡¯s hands were trembling, but when she thought of living the good life again, she smiled. ¡°I¡¯ll go to Jiang Shaocheng to report that you¡¯re here¡­ but we were toote. You killed Feng Lu, but you were also injured and died. As your sister, I¡¯ll take your ce at tomorrow¡¯s wedding!¡±


    These people were crazy! Without waiting for Tang Qiu to say anything, Feng Yao held the knife and walked towards her.


    ¡°Calm down. Do you think Jiang Shaocheng is stupid? You can only get what you want if you keep me alive!¡± Tang Qiu shouted.


    Feng Yao shook her head. ¡°I have nothing left, so don¡¯t get any ideas! Even if Jiang Shaocheng doesn¡¯t believe me, I¡¯ll drag you to hell with me!¡±


    Blood glistened on the long de of the knife, inching closer and closer. Tang Qiu couldn¡¯t help but shout, ¡°Jiang Shaocheng!¡±


    Bang! The broken door of the warehouse was knocked open by a group of people. Jiang Shaocheng stood in the doorway, light gleaming in his ruthless gaze, and aimed his gun at Feng Yao. A gunshot rang out, and Feng Yao died with her eyes wide open. She had been so close¡­


    ¡°Qiu, are you alright? It¡¯s all my fault¡­¡± Jiang Shaocheng held Tang Qiu in his trembling arms and looked at the corpse on the ground with lingering fear.


    Tang Qiu leaned into Jiang Shaocheng¡¯s arms, terrified, and cried silently. She wasn¡¯t that fearless after all; she was only human. Fortunately, she had her husband.


    Originally, Jiang Shaocheng wanted to postpone the wedding, but Tang Qiu was unwilling. They would carry on as per normal. She looked forward to putting on her wedding dress for him and making a solemn vow to each other.


    Many yearster, Tang Qiu and Jiang Shaochengy on a pair of rocking chairs with graying hair. Every morning, the two of them would sit under the garden and bask in the sun together.


    In the blink of an eye, her life had passed by in a sh. Tang Qiu thought of the grievances she had suffered in the Feng family all those years. Perhaps it had been leading up to her wedding day, when she married Jiang Shaocheng as a substitute bride. The day she met the person who would transform her life: her husband, Jiang Shaocheng.


    Now, she had plenty of children and grandchildren with Jiang Shaocheng, and they lived hand in hand until the end of their lives. The suffering in the first half of her life had been reced by the blessings in the second half of her life. There was nothing else she could ask for.


    Tang Qiu looked at the old but handsome man beside her and smiled happily. ¡°Jiang Shaocheng, thank you for being a part of my life.¡±


    Jiang Shaocheng looked back at his darling Qiu and smiled. ¡°Thank you for not despising me for being crippled and disfigured.¡±


    The end.


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