But she didn’t know which word or sentence had provoked Jiang Hua— the man who had just been relatively calm suddenly exploded with fury: “Shut up! You don’t know a d*mn thing! Let me make this clear now—there’s no chance for us anymore!”
In that person’s eyes, his image had already crumbled. Jiang Da’s fake sincerity, and the way she furrowed her brows because of it—had ruined everything.
And as for Yang Jinqiu—
“You’re the one to blame!”
Of all the places to throw a scene, you just had to do it in front of Jiang Da.
“Idiot! Utter idiot!”
After hurling the insults, the man flung his sleeves and stormed off.
Yang Jinqiu collapsed to the floor, covering her face as she wept in anguish.
Why?
Just moments ago, he said they could still talk, even asked how she wanted to resolve it—split or sever—it was clear he didn’t really care about that woman.
So why the sudden reversal?
He wanted to move into that apartment with the other woman now, giving her nothing but an empty shell of a marriage and a hollow title of “Mrs. Jiang.”
Could this drastic change truly be just because she made the matter public?
…
After leaving, Jiang Hua drove straight to Nanzhu New Town.
Lin Xiaowen seemed to have anticipated this. She greeted him with a smile, already showered and changed into a camisole nightdress.
She crouched down obediently and personally helped him change his shoes.
“I thought you’d be gone for two or three days at least. Didn’t expect you back so soon.”
Jiang Hua let out a cold snort: “Two or three days? Then who were you planning to show this outfit off to?”
“You’re terrible~” she teased coyly.
Jiang Hua walked into the living room and sat on the sofa.
Lin Xiaowen immediately clung to him, wrapping her arms around his neck, body soft like cotton, her voice coquettish and sweet—
“All taken care of?”
Jiang Hua put one arm around her, chuckling faintly: “Taken care of? What exactly do you think I was supposed to take care of?”
Her eyes flicked with a glimmer of cunning. “Did she stop making a fuss?”
Jiang Hua stared into her eyes, his brows suddenly furrowed: “Don’t show me that greedy, delusional look again. It’s ugly.”
As he spoke, his hand touched her face, drifting slowly to her brow, and finally brushing over her beautiful peach blossom eyes, murmuring—
“Something this pretty… don’t defile it.”
Lin Xiaowen froze.
“Even if you’re just pretending—then pretend properly. Keep it clean, you hear me?”
Jiang Hua’s hand suddenly tightened, gripping her chin.
She winced in pain, inhaling sharply. “I just…”
“Did you hear me or not?” His grip intensified.
“Ah—!” Tears welled up, sliding from the corners of her eyes into her hair. “I heard! I heard!”
Only then did Jiang Hua curve his lips in a softer smile, releasing her chin and stroking it gently. “That’s better…”
He stared into those tear-washed, crystalline eyes—and as if possessed—leaned in to kiss her lightly.
But Lin Xiaowen only felt a chill run through her.
It was starting again…
He always did this: erupting out of nowhere, and then treating her tenderly once she cried.
She used to think her tears softened him. But now, she suspected—
Maybe it was her eyes he pitied more?
Why?
Just as she was trying to make sense of it, her body suddenly lifted—Jiang Hua had scooped her up in his arms.
He rushed into the bedroom, urgent and impatient.
This time, more aggressive and enduring than ever before.
The curtains were drawn tight, the room dim. Lin Xiaowen laid on the bed, staring blankly at the ceiling.
The man beside her had already fallen into deep sleep. But she couldn’t snap out of her shock.
Because just moments ago, she had clearly heard Jiang Hua whisper into her ear—
“Ah Ru…”
Before today, even if she had heard that name, she wouldn’t have known who it referred to.
But after Yang Jinqiu’s meltdown, she learned the truth: Jiang Ji was opened by Jiang Hua’s eldest brother!
And the owner’s wife was named Han Yunru.
Could the world really be that coincidental?
Thinking back to that moment in the private room—when Jiang Hua walked in, his first glance wasn’t at her, nor Yang Jinqiu—
It was toward Jiang Da.
And standing in that direction, cradled protectively in Jiang Da’s arms—was the lady boss.
The realization made Lin Xiaowen’s neck prickle with goosebumps.
Jiang Hua… he actually coveted—
Yes. Her coworkers used to joke that her eyes looked like the lady boss’s.
She hadn’t thought much of it then.
But now, recalling the way Jiang Hua always looked at her— what once seemed passionate suddenly felt like he was looking through her, at someone else.
Lin Xiaowen sat up abruptly and threw off the quilt, waking Jiang Hua.
“What are you doing?” he opened his eyes.
Lin Xiaowen’s back stiffened, but when his palm touched her, she softened again and laid back down beside him.
“President Jiang,” she asked lightly, “should I keep working at Jiang Ji?”
At the mention of Jiang Ji, Jiang Hua instantly sobered.
His voice turned cold: “Why keep going? Just to be laughed at?”
“Oh. Then I won’t go anymore. Honestly, I didn’t want to anyway. Staying home’s better.”
“Mm.”
“Just… I’ll kinda miss the lady boss,” she said casually.
Jiang Hua froze and withdrew his hand.
Just as Lin Xiaowen thought he wouldn’t respond, Jiang Hua said: “…You’re close with her?”
“Not too bad. She’s got a gentle temper, speaks softly, treats people kindly and generously. And she’s beautiful too—can’t even tell her age. I don’t know how she maintains herself…”
Jiang Hua let out a faint “Mm.”
“That’s always been her nature.”
Lin Xiaowen’s heart sank even deeper, though her tone stayed light. She was glad they were lying flat—so he couldn’t see her expression.
“It’s amazing that Boss Jiang could marry someone like her. Everyone can tell—they’re not really a match…”
“Hmph! My brother just happened to make money a couple years earlier.”
Back then, Jiang Hua had just graduated from college. His job was unstable, income pathetic.
Jiang Da, on the other hand, was already holding up the family.
Han Yunru was an orphan with no family support. That’s probably why she chose Jiang Da.
If he had been born a few years earlier—where would Jiang Da even stand a chance?
Ah Ru should have been his!
Now, Lin Xiaowen was completely certain of the wild suspicion in her heart.
She couldn’t help but wonder—
Does Jiang Hua’s wife even know?
….
Yang Jinqiu’s eyes were swollen from crying.
Like punishing herself, she stared at the photos sent by that vixen over and over.
The woman in them looked seductive, sultry; while her own husband lay satisfied in deep sleep—clearly enthralled.
She was furious!
She swept the ashtray off the coffee table—then as if she’d found a release—began smashing things like mad.
First the living room, then the master bedroom, and finally Jiang Hua’s study.
There, she discovered a locked drawer inside the cabinet.
It was hidden inside, invisible unless the cabinet door was opened. Since a housekeeper usually cleaned the home, and she rarely went through his belongings, it was the first time she realized it existed.
Her instincts screamed—this might be where the truth lay.
She searched for the key, but couldn’t find it.
Finally, she stormed into the kitchen, grabbed a cleaver, and began hacking at the drawer in a frenzy.
By the time she was exhausted, the drawer finally gave way, revealing its contents.
Photos?
She pulled them out. The top one was a faded family portrait from twenty years ago, its edges frayed.
At that time, she hadn’t married into the Jiang family yet. Jiang Hua looked young and inexperienced—probably still in college.
The old lady sat in the center, looking much younger, with black hair and a smooth face.
On her left was Jiang Qin, and on her right—Han Yunru. Jiang Da, Jiang Hua, and Jiang Kai stood lined up.
Jiang Qin already had her sharp, mean look even back then.
But even so, Han Yunru’s beauty stood out vividly. She didn’t need comparison to look stunning.
Wearing only a plain shirt and jeans, hair down naturally, no makeup—still, her face drew every eye.
Even Yang Jinqiu, as a woman, couldn’t help but stare longer.
Back then, she was probably already with Jiang Da, as he stood behind her with his hands gently on her shoulders—a subtle but intimate gesture.
Young Jiang Kai beamed with sunshine.
Only Jiang Hua wore a sullen face, as if someone owed him five million.
At first glance, Yang Jinqiu saw nothing out of the ordinary. Just an ordinary family portrait.
She flipped to the next photo— and suddenly, her eyes widened. Her body started trembling uncontrollably…
