Volume 1, Chapter 58: Su Mian Loses Control and Provokes

"I really didn't expect you all to come. It truly brings great honor to my humble studio," Jiang Shuwei said with polite pleasantries.

Zhou Zuirui raised the corners of his lips with a smile. "Miss Jiang is too modest. I've heard that Miss Jiang is a leading figure in the medical illustration industry. I wonder if we might be able to visit your studio after lunch later."

"Certainly," Jiang Shuwei nodded.

"Miss Jiang, today is your grand opening, didn't you invite Young Master He?" Yan Feiye asked with an expression of astonishment.

Qin Weizhou's cool, aloof eyes only then cast a glance at Jiang Shuwei.

Jiang Shuwei froze. Immediately afterward, her delicate face flushed bright red, and she whispered softly, "I mentioned it to him before, but he probably forgot."

"What kind of person is this? His wife's studio is grand opening, and her husband actually goes to someone else's place for dinner instead. I've truly seen it all today," Zhou Zuirui immediately spoke up to fight her corner.

Jiang Shuwei was already feeling awkward, and at this moment, a trace of sorrow and self-mockery washed over her delicate face.

Qin Weizhou held his teacup, took a sip of tea, and said, "He Jingcheng has a three-billion investment in the Su family. Today's opening is also a major event for them; as one of the major shareholders, it is only fitting that he should be present."

Zhou Zuirui remained silent, while Yan Feiye nodded. "That logic stands. However, when it comes to Miss Jiang's side, he still ought to have made some sort of gesture."

Jiang Shuwei did not want her failed marriage to become their topic of conversation, so she quickly chimed in, "He Jingcheng, he... he did send a gift over; it's just that he couldn't come in person."

Qin Weizhou raised his eyes to look at her, causing Jiang Shuwei's eyes to flicker with a guilty conscience.

"Miss Jiang, regarding the matter of translating the Golden Acupuncture Cavity that I asked of you last time, has there been any progress?" Qin Weizhou inquired.

Jiang Shuwei nodded. "Yes, the translation is already underway. I have sent the translated content to your email. However, this book is the lower volume, and the contents are rather obscure and difficult to comprehend. President Qin, in my opinion, having only this lower volume without the upper one will likely not be of much use to you."

"Where is the upper volume?" A fleeting trace of perplexity crossed Qin Weizhou's dark, deep eyes. "I've had people look for it for a long time, but I haven't been able to find the upper volume."

Jiang Shuwei's heart pounded wildly against her ribs. She desperately wanted to say that the upper volume was right in her hands.

However, if she told him, would Qin Weizhou buy the upper volume as well? That was something her mother had left behind for her. If President Qin demanded it strongly, could she refuse to give it to him?

After all, he was her most important client.

Of course, Jiang Shuwei also wanted to help Qin Weizhou, so she said, "President Qin, I can also help you look for clues on my end."

"Then I shall have to trouble you. If you can find the upper volume for me, I will purchase it for thirty million," Qin Weizhou stated.

Jiang Shuwei trembled slightly. Thirty million?

Was that book of hers worth thirty million?

She had already read nearly half of the contents of the upper volume, and all of it was committed to memory.

If it were merely to study the contents of the book, she actually didn't need the physical book itself. However, that was one of the few mementos her mother had left her; she simply couldn't bear to exchange it for money.

Delicious dishes were served on the table, and the four of them began to eat. Seeing that Jiang Shuwei was absent-minded, Zhou Zuirui immediately said, "Miss Jiang, if you have things to attend to, you can go downstairs and keep your staff company for lunch. We are all quite familiar with each other; you don't need to entertain us specially."

"How could that do? You are distinguished guests," Jiang Shuwei shook her head gently.

"It really doesn't matter. Go and greet your staff; it also shows your poise as a boss. Go on," Zhou Zuirui said with a beaming smile.

Jiang Shuwei looked toward Qin Weizhou.

He was eating with elegance, slow and unhurried.

Seeing Jiang Shuwei looking over, he raised his gaze to meet hers for a second. "Go ahead."

With Qin Weizhou's permission, Jiang Shuwei had no choice but to stand up. "Then please enjoy your meal slowly. I'll just go say hello and come right back up."

With that, Jiang Shuwei left the private dining room.

Unexpectedly, just as she reached the hallway, He Jingcheng came looking for her.

"Jiang Shuwei, why didn't you tell me a word about your grand opening?" He Jingcheng blocked her in the middle of the hallway. There was hardly anyone around here, and it was very quiet.

Seeing that he had chased her all the way upstairs, Jiang Shuwei knitted her brows tightly. "Someone who truly cares about me would have known about this long ago; why would I need to make a superfluous remark?"

Hearing these words, He Jingcheng curled his lips in a sneer. "Is that attitude of yours a reproach that I didn't send you a gift?"

Jiang Shuwei froze, then sneered back, "Your gift is something I cannot afford."

"What kind of temper are you throwing?" He Jingcheng looked somewhat displeased. "It's not too late now that I know. What do you want?"

Jiang Shuwei was actually taken aback and gave a cold, dry laugh. "Lately, you seem to be growing more and more attentive toward me."

He Jingcheng's handsome face suddenly darkened into gloom. "Don't be ungrateful. Just say directly what you want me to send, and I will satisfy you."

A mischievous impulse stirred within Jiang Shuwei. She suddenly smiled and said, "You are my legal husband; what a wife wants, you ought to understand."

He Jingcheng's gaze flickered across her wicked, pretty face. Seeing her sarcastic smile, he lowered his voice. "Don't think about those unnecessary things. We are in a contract marriage, have you forgotten?"

Jiang Shuwei had not forgotten. That agreement had even been drafted by her own hands, signed by the two of them on their wedding night, kept secret from all the elders.

"Since you can't even offer the most basic care and concern, I don't want anything else." Having said that, Jiang Shuwei pushed aside He Jingcheng's arm and made to leave.

"President Qin?" Suddenly, He Jingcheng called out behind her.

Jiang Shuwei looked back and saw that Qin Weizhou was standing at a passageway behind them, holding a pack of cigarettes and a lighter.

Chaos erupted in Jiang Shuwei's heart, and her fair face flushed red with shame.

Had he heard anything?

Had he heard He Jingcheng offering to send her a gift?

It was over. The lie she had just told at the dining table was about to be exposed. Would Qin Weizhou think of her as a habitual liar and start doubting her professional capabilities?

"I came out for a cigarette." Qin Weizhou was as cold and detached as ever. He strode over, brushed past Jiang Shuwei, and headed toward the smoking area.

He Jingcheng's gaze swept back and forth between her and Qin Weizhou, and he let out a very faint hum. "If you won't say it, then I really won't send anything."

Watching He Jingcheng's retreating figure laden with cold anger, Jiang Shuwei helplessly lowered her head.

He Jingcheng was truly something else. If he wanted to send a gift, he could just send it; why ask so many questions? She didn't want it anyway.

When Jiang Shuwei returned to the private room, Zhou Haixin had livened up the atmosphere, and everyone was eating, drinking, and having a great time.

Jiang Shuwei rarely drank alcohol, but today she had been coaxed into a few glasses. Holding her goblet, she supported herself against the table and stood up. "I'm very glad to have formed this team, and I'm equally happy to work with you all, to witness together a brand-new vista where everything is crystal clear. I wish our studio a booming business!"

"General Manager Jiang, say something more impactful!" Zhou Haixin raised her glass and shouted out.

Jiang Shuwei clinked glasses with her. "I'll dispense with the empty pleasantries. I just want to lead everyone to make big money, so that every single staff member who steps into 'Crystal Clear' can earn a profit."

Everyone's enthusiasm reached an unprecedented height as they all stood up and raised their glasses in celebration.

"Shuwei, leave things here to me. You go entertain our client; he's the very source of our wealth." Zhou Haixin, slightly intoxicated, patted Jiang Shuwei's arm.

"All right, then I'll head back upstairs. Drink in moderation," Jiang Shuwei put down her wine glass and pushed open the door to leave.

As Jiang Shuwei stood by the elevator waiting for it to arrive, Su Mian suddenly appeared beside her, seemingly heading upstairs as well.

Su Mian turned her head to glance sideways at Jiang Shuwei and, noticing that she had consumed quite a bit of alcohol, wore a mocking smile.

They said that if a woman doesn't get drunk, a man has no chance.

What was Jiang Shuwei's purpose in getting herself drunk?

Was she trying to give Qin Weizhou an opening?

A pang of sorrow and bitterness welled up inside Jiang Shuwei. She knew Su Mian was right beside her, but she refused to turn her head to look at her.

Ever since her marriage, this woman had constantly hovered around He Jingcheng, openly and secretly sharing in He Jingcheng's affections.

As his wife, she didn't even possess the qualification to scold her—that was the most painful truth of all.

The elevator arrived, and Jiang Shuwei stepped inside with large strides.

Su Mian followed her in. Remembering how Qin Weizhou and his entourage had trampled Su family's dignity into the dust earlier today, Su Mian boiled with resentment and concluded that Jiang Shuwei had deliberately orchestrated it.

Coupled with the fact that He Jingcheng had left for a spell just a moment ago, Su Mian felt extremely displeased inside.

With no outsiders in the elevator, Su Mian finally couldn't help herself and blurted out, "Brother Jingcheng didn't deliberately skip your opening event; he is the major shareholder of my Su family, and the Su family is also very important to him. Please try to understand."

Jiang Shuwei turned her head to stare straight at her. Didn't Su Mian find these words laughable?

"Why should I understand? He is my husband; he ought to put me first! I'm sorry, but I don't understand at all," Jiang Shuwei retorted coldly.

Su Mian knitted her delicate brows and scoffed, "Jiang Shuwei, since Brother Jingcheng gave you the cold shoulder, you go find warmth in front of other men instead. You aren't much to look at either, then."

With a ding, the elevator doors opened, and Jiang Shuwei stared at Su Mian with cold fury in her beautiful eyes.

Su Mian continued her mockery, "You aren't even divorced yet, and you're already looking for your next stop. Who is cheaper than whom?"

"Su Mian, don't think that just because you're the eldest miss of the Su family, I wouldn't dare beat you up." Jiang Shuwei had drunk some alcohol, and it was starting to go to her head. Su Mian's repeated suppression and provocation had pushed her to her absolute limit.

That word—cheap—which Su Mian had just uttered, completely ignited her anger.

Su Mian looked at her with a proud, unyielding expression.

"Come on then, hit me." Just as the elevator doors were about to close, Su Mian reached out and forced the doors open again. "Jiang Shuwei, I'd like to see just how much backbone you have—do you really dare to hit me?"