Volume One, Chapter 38: Piercing the Paper Veil

"You..." Su Mian’s face flushed with a mix of anger and humiliation.

Xia Chengze could no longer watch in silence and coldly interjected, "Jiang Shuwei, the He family spoils you, but that doesn't mean you can be so arrogant. If it weren't for Jingcheng's good temper, you would have been kicked out long ago."

Jiang Shuwei tilted her head slightly, looking straight at Xia Chengze with a cold gaze. "I don't think I’m the only one who can see that Young Master Xia is fond of Miss Su. A love triangle—is it fun?"

Xia Chengze’s handsome face turned ashen instantly. Su Mian’s eyes widened in shock, and Lu Yanzhi, standing nearby, was equally astonished.

Jiang Shuwei tossed her long hair, took Zhou Haixin’s hand, and walked away with long, steady strides.

Su Mian’s face turned crimson with embarrassment. She lowered her eyes and whispered to Xia Chengze, "Brother Chengze, don't listen to her nonsense. That woman just can't stand to see others happy; she’s trying to sow discord in our friendship."

Xia Chengze felt deeply humiliated. He had kept his feelings for Su Mian hidden so well that even his closest friends hadn't noticed. How did Jiang Shuwei see through it? She was truly venomous.

"She is indeed spouting nonsense," Xia Chengze said, forcing a casual tone. "My relationship with you has always been that of friends and siblings."

Lu Yanzhi glanced at the two of them and caught a hint of the truth, but he decided to keep it to himself.

"Alright, Jingcheng is still waiting for us upstairs. Let's go find him."

Though Su Mian wore an expression of shy embarrassment, she was smug on the inside. She couldn't help but steal a glance at Lu Yanzhi nearby, her eyes filled with a coy, lingering allure. She secretly wished to capture the hearts of all these noble young men so that she could always remain the center of attention.

Jiang Shuwei and Zhou Haixin ducked into a cafe and chose a corner seat.

"Shuwei, that deep, attractive voice from earlier—that was Young Master Qin, right? The one you were trying to collaborate with?" Zhou Haixin began to gossip. "He’s so handsome! Did you see that Su woman? Her face was bright red with rage."

"It was him," Jiang Shuwei nodded. "I don't know why he insisted on bidding for that book."

"Maybe... he knew you wanted it and plans to give it to you," Zhou Haixin teased with a giggle.

"How is that possible?" Jiang Shuwei wasn't arrogant enough to believe that Qin Weizhou would spend thirty million to outbid Su Mian for an ancient book just to gift it to her.

Zhou Haixin agreed that it was unlikely.

"These rich people are just insane. Still, I wish I could hold up a bidding paddle like that—it must feel so exhilarating," Zhou Haixin said, cupping her cheeks. "But they’re also terrifying. Power spoils them. Each of them acts as if they are above the law and rules, doing whatever they please."

Jiang Shuwei fell silent.

Down in the banquet hall, the sound of violins created a soothing atmosphere. He Jingcheng was busy discussing work with several foreign guests.

When Su Mian arrived, her eyes were red-rimmed, like a wronged little rabbit.

He Jingcheng finished his conversation with the guests, walked over, and handed her a glass of wine. "Did you get what you wanted at the auction?"

"No." Su Mian looked up, sighing as if defeated, and downed the wine in one gulp. She reached out again. "Brother Jingcheng, give me another."

He Jingcheng was slightly taken aback, but Su Mian simply took the glass from his hand and finished that one too.

He Jingcheng frowned; that was the glass he had been drinking from.

"Young Master Qin is just awful." Su Mian felt better after the wine and muttered, "That ancient book my mother wanted me to get—he bought it."

He Jingcheng was surprised. "Why would he want an ancient book?"

"How would I know?" Su Mian bit her lip, looking aggrieved. "Maybe it’s because both Jiang Shuwei and I wanted it. He saw me using money to outbid her, got angry, and just threw away money to snatch it away."

He Jingcheng’s gaze darkened, a chilling aura rising. "You suspect he competed with you because of Jiang Shuwei?"

"What else could it be?" Su Mian looked at He Jingcheng with a pitiful expression. "Brother Jingcheng, the Qin family doesn't dabble in pharmaceuticals. Why would he need an old book? I don't even know what the book is for; my mother just said she wanted it, so I went to bid."

He Jingcheng clenched his jaw. Could Jiang Shuwei really be getting involved with Qin Weizhou?

"Brother Jingcheng, do you think she’s trying to make you a cuckold?" Su Mian lowered her voice, looking at him with feigned sympathy. "In three years of marriage, you’ve never done anything to hurt her, yet she’s already cozying up to a more powerful man, trying to stir up trouble."

He Jingcheng gave Su Mian a cold, sharp look. "Don't guess blindly. She wouldn't dare."

He was so confident because the man Jiang Shuwei wanted most to sleep with was him. There could be no one else. He had read her diary; every word was about him, with love almost bleeding through the pages.

That fool—her heart was entirely his. How could she be flirting with someone else? Even if she were, it would only be a misunderstanding she created on purpose to provoke him.

Su Mian was startled by He Jingcheng's gaze. She couldn't tell if it was her imagination, but whenever the topic of Jiang Shuwei cheating came up, He Jingcheng became irritable.

"Right, Brother Jingcheng, I won't guess anymore. So, are you... going to try to improve your relationship with her now?" Su Mian asked tentatively.

He Jingcheng thought of the slap he had received from Jiang Shuwei in the lobby earlier, his handsome face darkening. "Let her cool off for a while. It's time to break her temper."

Hearing this, the fantasy in Su Mian’s heart collapsed instantly.

What was happening? Previously, He Jingcheng never cared about Jiang Shuwei. Even after they married, when she asked to move out, he hadn't stopped her.

The He family elders had been pressuring them to have children, and He Jingcheng had remained indifferent. But now, the appearance of Qin Weizhou seemed to be on the verge of shattering the solid wall between them.

Was He Jingcheng finally starting to pay attention to that wretch, Jiang Shuwei?

The cruise ship began its return to the pier. Jiang Shuwei and Zhou Haixin sat in the cafe, discussing work.

Zheng Dongsheng hadn't come back to cause trouble, but Jiang Shuwei still felt uneasy. That scoundrel was back in the country; her life was likely about to lose its peace.

As the ship docked, Jiang Shuwei and Zhou Haixin were among the first to leave.

Mother He had sent a driver to pick up Jiang Shuwei. After dropping Zhou Haixin home, she headed straight to the old family estate.

He Tingting was already asleep, and Huang Yujie had prepared bird's nest and pear soup for Jiang Shuwei.

"You’ve been busy with work lately, you must be feeling drained. Drink something light," Huang Yujie said softly.

"Thank you, Mother." Jiang Shuwei lowered her head and sipped the soup; it tasted fresh and sweet.

"I'm sorry, Mother. I failed to win the white jade Guanyin for you." Jiang Shuwei felt deeply frustrated. In truth, if anyone else had been bidding, they would have won it. It was only because it was her that Su Mian kept driving up the price.

"It's fine. It's not as if there aren't other options," Huang Yujie comforted her gently. "I’ve already set my sights on a few other pieces."

Just as Su Mian was about to say something, the sound of a car engine reached them from outside.

Huang Yujie’s gentle expression darkened instantly. "What has that brat been up to tonight? I asked him, and he wouldn't say."

He Jingcheng walked in, carrying an exquisite gift box that looked very valuable.

"Mother, a gift for you from Su Mian," He Jingcheng said, placing it on the table.

Huang Yujie froze. The color drained from Jiang Shuwei's face.

"What is this?" Huang Yujie opened it immediately. After one glance, her expression changed. "This white jade Guanyin... why is it in Su Mian’s hands?"