Volume 1, Chapter 25: Mother-in-Law Objects to the Divorce

He Jingcheng’s handsome face flushed instantly. He gritted his teeth and explained, "Grandfather, I am not that kind of person."

Huang Yujie shot her son a glare, got into the car, and said to Jiang Shuwei, "Shuwei, don't work too late. Make sure to get some rest."

"Thank you for your concern, Mother," Jiang Shuwei replied with a nod and a smile.

As the He family’s business car pulled away from the restaurant entrance, Jiang Shuwei turned toward the parking lot to get her own car.

He Jingcheng called out to her.

"Jiang Shuwei, don't do such unnecessary things in the future."

Jiang Shuwei stopped and looked back at him. "Which thing was 'unnecessary'?"

He Jingcheng walked toward her with his tall, lean frame. "It was just a new phone. Was it really necessary to bring it up? And as for the thesis, isn't that already over?"

Jiang Shuwei found him ridiculous. She immediately pulled out her phone to show him. "I didn't say anything, did I? I just said, 'Out with the old, in with the new.' Is that unnecessary? As for the thesis, I just didn't want to bring it up; that doesn't mean I'm not allowed to talk about it."

He Jingcheng’s expression turned grim and unpleasant.

At that moment, several men who appeared to be of significant status walked by to attend a social engagement.

Seeing He Jingcheng, they immediately stepped forward, bowing and scraping. "President He, what a coincidence. Are you here for dinner as well?"

He Jingcheng nodded politely. "President Wang, President Zhang."

"And this is..." The men’s eyes wandered toward the young and beautiful Jiang Shuwei.

"My younger sister," He Jingcheng introduced her without changing his expression.

A look of gossip flickered in the men's eyes—so she was just his sister.

Not daring to intrude, the men quickly departed.

Jiang Shuwei curled her lips in a mocking smile and prepared to leave.

Just then, Su Mian walked over, stood shoulder-to-shoulder with He Jingcheng, and asked Jiang Shuwei, "Jiang Shuwei, would you like another drink?"

Jiang Shuwei had already reached her car. Looking back, she saw them standing there as a couple.

Without a word, she opened her car door and executed a perfect U-turn, leaving them covered in dust and exhaust fumes.

Su Mian immediately pretended that sand had blown into her eye, rubbing it incessantly. "Brother Jingcheng, she did that on purpose."

He Jingcheng had certainly noticed, and his handsome face turned even darker.

"Are you alright?" He Jingcheng asked.

"I think sand got into my eye. It hurts so much," Su Mian said, pouting her lips and looking pitiful. As she spoke, she kept rubbing, and the eye quickly turned red.

"Let me blow on it for you." Unable to tell if she was faking or not, He Jingcheng lowered his head and gently blew into her eye.

Su Mian blinked hard and laughed. "It really doesn't hurt anymore. Thank you, Brother Jingcheng."

"Let's go. I still have some business to discuss with your father," He Jingcheng said, and followed Su Mian into the private room.

Jiang Shuwei had just dusted them with her car when she hit a red light. Looking in her rearview mirror at the brightly lit restaurant entrance, she saw them standing under the cover of some greenery; with He Jingcheng leaning down, they looked as if they were kissing.

"He Jingcheng, you're quite something," Jiang Shuwei breathed in deeply, a dull ache spreading through her chest.

The next day at noon, Huang Yujie asked Jiang Shuwei to go shopping with her.

Since Huang Yujie had adopted Jiang Shuwei at the age of eight, she had always cherished her like her own child. The reason was simple: Huang Yujie’s life had been saved by Jiang Shuwei’s mother.

Huang Yujie was a person who understood gratitude, and the gift of a second life was greater than heaven itself. Jiang Shuwei also knew that a large part of why Huang Yujie treated her so well was because her mother had granted her a new beginning.

After being brought to the He family, Jiang Shuwei did not live in the main house, but in a separate courtyard further away, with two housekeepers hired to look after her.

Jiang Shuwei did not attend elite schools, but the ones she did attend were quite good. Since she consistently topped her class, both the grandfather and the father would scramble to attend her parent-teacher conferences—after all, who wouldn't want to hear their child being praised by teachers? However, they would always wear masks to hide their identities.

Jiang Shuwei excelled in everything, and even her appearance grew increasingly refined and elegant.

She remembered when she first started her period, she had been so scared she hid in the bathroom and refused to come out. It was Huang Yujie who gently explained what was happening and comforted her for a long time. When Jiang Shuwei was sick and hospitalized, it was Huang Yujie who personally took care of her.

Jiang Shuwei truly relied on Huang Yujie as a mother, but she kept this deep maternal bond carefully hidden. As an eight-year-old, she had been naive, but she knew that after her mother passed away, she had no real family left.

"Shuwei, don't walk away yet. Come here and try on this dress." Huang Yujie had picked out five in one go and urged Jiang Shuwei to try them on.

"Mom, please don't buy me anything more. I have clothes to wear," Jiang Shuwei said with a smile.

The shop assistant nearby saw this and immediately flattered them: "Madam, your daughter is so beautiful, and she has such a wonderful aura."

"You are so blessed."

Huang Yujie paused and looked at Jiang Shuwei. "They said you are my daughter?"

Jiang Shuwei took her arm and leaned lightly against her shoulder. "Actually, the role of a daughter suits me better."

Huang Yujie felt a pang of sadness. She patted Jiang Shuwei’s arm. "I know what you're thinking, but... can you try to fight for it a little more?"

"Mom..." Jiang Shuwei looked at her blankly.

Huang Yujie pursed her lips and said nothing, just urging her to try on the clothes.

By noon, Huang Yujie invited her to lunch. The two women sat in the restaurant, the atmosphere pleasant.

"Shuwei, do you no longer like Jingcheng?" Huang Yujie asked directly.

Jiang Shuwei said bitterly, "It is he who has never liked me."

"No, I am asking about you." Huang Yujie frowned. "You even replaced the phone he gave you with a new one. Does that mean your feelings for him... have also disappeared?"

Jiang Shuwei knew that Mother Huang was an observant person who had always kept a close eye on her and He Jingcheng’s relationship. It was no surprise she would notice such small details.

"Mom, perhaps I am truly better suited to be your daughter than your daughter-in-law," Jiang Shuwei sighed, thinking it best to clarify things now.

Huang Yujie stirred her soup, looking somewhat helpless. "It seems my wish will not be fulfilled after all."

"Mom, what wish?" Jiang Shuwei asked softly.

"I wanted a grandchild as clever as you." Huang Yujie’s expression brightened with expectation. "They say sons take after their mothers, inheriting her intelligence. Look at you—with such high intelligence, if I really had a brilliant grandson like that, how happy I would be."

Jiang Shuwei was left both amused and frustrated.

It turned out her mother-in-law valued her high IQ above all else.

"Mom, actually, emotional intelligence is very important too. I might have a high IQ, but my EQ is quite average. Aren't you worried you might end up with a rebellious grandson?" Jiang Shuwei couldn't help but tease.

"Who says your EQ is low?" Huang Yujie disagreed. "Your EQ is high too; otherwise, how could you have made it this far with Jingcheng?"