Volume 1 Chapter 44: Has She Truly Changed Her Heart?

"It really was a gift for that bitch." Su Mian was driven mad with fury. When she thought of how Qin Weizhou had driven the price of that trashy book up to thirty million, causing her to fail her mother's task and earn herself a harsh scolding via an international phone call, her anger flared anew.

Now, the book her mother treasured like a precious heirloom had been so effortlessly handed over to Jiang Shuwei by Qin Weizhou. How could she not be furious?

At that moment, Su Mian was almost certain that Jiang Shuwei had seduced Qin Weizhou, and that their relationship had crossed the line, becoming something far more serious than mere flirtation.

Qin Weizhou had given Jiang Shuwei's design studio a massive order, they had ridden horses unrestrainedly at the racetrack, and now, to avenge her, Qin Weizhou had ruthlessly outbid everyone for the item she was determined to acquire, only to casually present it to Jiang Shuwei.

"It seems the reason Zheng Desheng failed on the cruise ship was probably because Qin Weizhou interfered behind the scenes." Su Mian didn't dare to directly ask Zheng Desheng what had happened on the cruise. Although she desperately wished that wicked man would tear Jiang Shuwei to shreds, she couldn't afford to play the villain herself. Her carefully constructed public persona must not be ruined.

Su Mian took out her phone and made a call. "Brother Chengze, fancy getting together tonight?"

Xia Chengze was nothing more than Su Mian's obedient lackey; a single word from the little princess was an order he had to fulfill to the letter.

"Does Mian Mian want to unwind? Alright then, I'll organize a gathering. The usual place," Xia Chengze agreed with a smile.

Su Mian immediately instructed her driver to take her to their frequented high-end private club.

When Su Mian arrived, Xia Chengze was already there, with a table laden with delicious food and premium drinks.

"Is Brother Jingcheng not here yet?" Su Mian asked, a trace of disappointment flickering in her eyes.

Xia Chengze smiled and replied, "Jingcheng said he just finished a meeting and is on his way over."

Just then, Lu Yanzhi arrived with Lu Youyou, whose mood seemed rather downcast, her eyes still red and swollen.

"What's wrong, Youyou?" Su Mian immediately stepped forward with concern.

"My brother scolded me," Lu Youyou wiped the corners of her eyes, looking deeply aggrieved. "I like Yan Feiye, so why can't I? He's so handsome and so gentle."

As soon as these words were spoken, the expressions of everyone present shifted.

Lu Yanzhi wore a look of utter disgust. "Yan Feiye is in the same circle as Qin Weizhou. If you like him, Jingcheng won't be happy."

"But among the men in our social circle, apart from this handful, there are no better choices out there. Which of the other second-generation heirs isn't a playboy? Do you dare marry me off to one of them?" Lu Youyou had long harbored a secret crush on Yan Feiye, but had never dared to voice it. She had spotted him again on the cruise ship and wanted to go over and show off a bit, only to be stopped by Lu Yanzhi, leaving her sullen and resentful ever since.

Su Mian comforted her from the side, "Big Brother Lu, I think Youyou makes a valid point. Looking around, the majority of the wealthy heirs in high society are idle and unproductive. Yan Feiye possesses exceptional ability and a refined temperament; it's only natural that Youyou would be drawn to him."

"Exactly, still Sister Mian Mian understands me best," Lu Youyou squeezed out two tears of sorrow.

Su Mian looked at Lu Yanzhi with watery eyes. "Big Brother Lu, I don't think you need to deliberately stop this. What if they really hit it off? This would be a splendid match."

Lu Youyou's eyes lit up, wishing she could marry Yan Feiye right this instant and become his bride.

Lu Yanzhi irritably picked up a glass of alcohol and took a gulp. "Do as you please. If you truly have the ability, marry into his family. I never said the Yan family was bad."

"Really?" Lu Youyou finally cheered up.

Xia Chengze chuckled from the sidelines, "Youyou, keep your chin up. Even if our circles differ, as long as he's a good man, he's worth marrying."

On the surface, Su Mian appeared to be supporting Lu Youyou, but deep down, she hoped Yan Feiye would ruthlessly dump her.

When He Jingcheng arrived, his handsome face was tinged with fatigue. His suit jacket was draped over his sturdy arm, and a dark gray shirt accentuated his tall and upright figure, giving off an aura of mysterious nobility.

"Brother Jingcheng," Su Mian greeted him, her eyes brimming with deep affection.

He Jingcheng nodded slightly in her direction, then sat down on the sofa, accepting a drink from Lu Yanzhi and taking a couple of sips.

"Why are you all gathered here so late? Is something the matter?" He Jingcheng had originally intended to rush back home because He Tingting had asked him to tell her a story before bed, a promise he had made that morning.

"Brother Jingcheng, there's something I probably need to tell you," Su Mian said, her voice dropping noticeably lower, wearing an expression of hesitation and inner conflict.

"What is it?" He Jingcheng furrowed his brows slightly. "Is it something to do with work?"

"No," Su Mian replied, glancing around at the people present. "I'd like to speak with Brother Jingcheng in private."

With that, Su Mian pushed open the door of the private room and walked toward the vacant balcony.

He Jingcheng followed behind her. Su Mian stood before the glass window, took a deep breath, and finally brought out her phone, wearing an apologetic look. "Brother Jingcheng, I'm sorry. I didn't expect to capture these photos. The truth is, I've always had people secretly tracking Qin Weizhou. Ever since he outbid me for that ancient book on the Golden Acupoint that my mother treasures so much—and my mother told me to find a way to get it back—that's why I kept tabs on Young Master Qin. But... see for yourself."

With a troubled expression, Su Mian handed her phone to He Jingcheng.

He Jingcheng's gaze turned dark and gloomy, and gradually, a chilling frost flickered in the depths of his eyes.

After viewing every single photograph, his voice turned cold with fury. "So, the book Qin Weizhou won at the cruise auction was really meant to be a gift for Jiang Shuwei?"

Wearing a look of grievance, Su Mian spoke in an innocent and pitiful tone, "Judging from these photos, yes. Brother Jingcheng, I truly regret it. I shouldn't have competed with Aunt Huang just to gift her that white jade Guanyin, never dreaming that Qin Weizhou would snatch away the item I was determined to win just for Jiang Shuwei's sake."

Within He Jingcheng's chest, it felt as though someone had thrown a blazing firebrand. The flames leaped high, filling him with a rage so intense that spots danced before his eyes.

Jiang Shuwei had been acting quite abnormal lately, growing rather cold toward him. She no longer bothered to defend him in front of their elders as she used to.

So that was it.

Behind his back, she was seeing someone else.

And this someone happened to be his arch-nemesis, Qin Weizhou. She certainly knew how to pick them.

"Brother Jingcheng, Jiang Shuwei is simply too ungrateful. She is your wife, after all! Meeting other men behind your back is already a blatant disrespect to you, and on top of that, she casually accepts expensive gifts from outsiders." Su Mian didn't use any vulgar language to hurl insults, but her words carried far more devastating impact than any curse.

They struck directly at the core of He Jingcheng's heart.

"I understand. Send these photos to me," He Jingcheng said, turning around to re-enter the private room. Moments later, he grabbed his jacket and left.

Su Mian chased after him, watching the man's figure vanish into the elevator. A calculating, cold smile curled the corners of her lips.

Jiang Shuwei, let's see how many tongues you have to argue your way out of this now.

Faced with such evidence, the only outcome left for you is being driven out of the He family.

The place Jiang Shuwei returned to that night was the old family residence. He Tingting had called and begged her to come back, and the little girl was hiding inside her tent once again, clutching an old stuffed rabbit toy, curled up into a pitiful little ball.

When Jiang Shuwei walked in, the child finally found the heart to gently put down the stuffed rabbit, rushed over, and threw her arms tightly around Jiang Shuwei. "Auntie, it's wonderful! You're finally here."

"Does our little princess have something on her mind again?" Jiang Shuwei asked softly.

He Tingting raised her head, a hint of a smile suddenly touching her small mouth. "That little boy came to scold me again today. But I scolded him right back! When he tried to hit me, the teacher caught him, and he was made to stand in the corner as punishment."

Jiang Shuwei was momentarily stunned. The little one had repeatedly been bullied at school, and this simply wouldn't do.

"Tingting, you can tell your grandmother about this and let her go talk to the boy's parents at school," Jiang Shuwei advised in a low, gentle voice.

"It's fine," He Tingting said, her little face brimming with spirit. "I'm not scared of him anymore."

Jiang Shuwei kissed her little cheek. She adored this spunky little expression of hers when facing adversity—it had quite the air of her own younger days.

"Well said. If you cower every time you encounter a bad person, who would ever be willing to be a good person?" Jiang Shuwei nodded gently.

"Auntie, can you sleep here with me tonight?" He Tingting asked timidly.

"Of course. Let Auntie go take a quick shower first, and you go downstairs and have Grandma keep you company while you watch a bit of TV, alright?" Jiang Shuwei said softly.

"Okay!" He Tingting happily scrambled out of her tent and ran downstairs to play.

Jiang Shuwei entered her guest room, picked up her pajamas, and went to take a shower.

Once finished, she stood in the bathroom, drying her long hair with a hairdryer.

Suddenly, the bedroom door was shoved open with immense force. The loud crash startled Jiang Shuwei, causing her to poke her head out. Her fair, fresh little face and damp, cascading hair made her look tender and delicate, like a water lily emerging from the morning mist.

When He Jingcheng walked in and saw this fragile, delicate-flower appearance of hers, the thought of who she had met for dinner that evening and the expensive gift she had accepted made his anger surge all over again.