Chapter 68: After the Divorce, Don't Regret It

"And Grandpa? Grandpa cherishes you just as much."

Jiang Shuwei looked up at him, her gaze steady. "I hope you can make this matter clear to Grandpa."

Seeing that Jiang Shuwei seemed fully resolved to get a divorce, He Jingcheng let out a faint, dry laugh. "Fine, don't regret this."

With that, He Jingcheng headed upstairs.

Jiang Shuwei followed him up. He Tingting had just finished her bath, and the housekeeper had dressed her in her pajamas before she scampered out.

"Auntie, you're back!" The little one rushed over, smelling fresh and fragrant, and Jiang Shuwei caught her in a full embrace.

He Jingcheng stood in the hallway, watching the scene unfold.

Early the next morning!

He Jingcheng left the villa without even touching breakfast, as if he genuinely had some urgent business to attend to.

Watching his receding figure, Jiang Shuwei thought to herself, *I hope he can persuade the old master and finalize this divorce without delay.*

He Tingting was eating her breakfast happily, completely unaware that her uncle and aunt might get divorced today.

After dropping He Tingting off, Jiang Shuwei headed to the office. Zhou Haixin bounded over excitedly and threw her arms around her. "Shuwei! Three more agencies want to partner with us, and their orders are all upwards of five million! It looks like we'll need to hire more people again."

Jiang Shuwei was equally delighted. It seemed her networking efforts from the previous night had paid off once again.

"Oh, by the way, they mentioned that President Qin introduced them. Shuwei, President Qin's connections are just so powerful," Zhou Haixin added.

Jiang Shuwei's eyes widened in surprise. It turned out to be Qin Weizhou's doing.

Presumably, the business cards that Qin Weizhou and Yan Feiye had handed out on her behalf during the opening day had played a decisive role.

"Shuwei, this President Qin has really done us a massive favor. Our company's success is entirely thanks to him. Back in ancient times, a girl would have to offer her hand in marriage to repay such a debt." Zhou Haixin looked at Jiang Shuwei with a teasing, suggestive smile.

"Then why don't you go do it?" Jiang Shuwei laughed, amused by her antics.

"I'd love to, but President Qin certainly wouldn't have eyes for someone like me." Zhou Haixin wore a fluttering, daydreamy expression, but in the next second, she snapped back to reality. "He might not look at me, but he's definitely got his eyes on you."

"Don't talk nonsense." Jiang Shuwei didn't believe for a second that Qin Weizhou would fancy her.

"How would you know if you never tried?" Zhou Haixin retorted, looking unconvinced.

Jiang Shuwei was in no mood to flirt back. She twitched the corner of her mouth and said, "Have you forgotten? I'm a married woman."

"Well, aren't you about to get divorced..." Zhou Haixin blurted out, before quickly slapping her hand over her mouth the next second.

***

Seeing Zhou Haixin's mischievous expression, Jiang Shuwei couldn't help but laugh. "It's fine, I'm not mad."

Only then did Zhou Haixin grin broadly. "So... what about President Qin?"

"I'll find an opportunity to express my gratitude to him." Jiang Shuwei was genuinely grateful to this President Qin.

A little past one in the afternoon, Jiang Shuwei received a call from He Jingcheng.

"Come to the hospital. Grandpa has been admitted." He Jingcheng's voice sounded somewhat heavy.

Jiang Shuwei's heart tightened instantly, and she quickly asked, "What's wrong with Grandpa? Is it serious?"

"He said his chest felt uncomfortable," He Jingcheng replied.

Jiang Shuwei rushed to the hospital without a moment's delay.

Inside the luxurious VIP ward, Elder He's silver hair was disheveled. Dressed in a hospital gown, he lay on the bed as if asleep, an IV drip running into the back of his withered, bony hand.

Seeing her arrive, He Jingcheng stood up and walked out. "Grandpa has fallen asleep."

Anxiously, Jiang Shuwei looked at him. "What on earth happened?"

A flash of remorse crossed He Jingcheng's expression. "Grandpa found out that we attended the banquet the other night posing as siblings. He said that over the past two days, quite a few people have been calling him, wanting to talk about matchmaking arrangements for you."

"What?" Jiang Shuwei froze completely. Grandpa had fallen ill and been hospitalized because of this?

Seeing the pale terror drain the color from her pretty face, He Jingcheng sneered, "It seems there were quite a few men enamored with you that night, all scrambling to go on blind dates with you."

"When is this, and you still have the mood to make sarcastic remarks?" Jiang Shuwei's pretty face darkened slightly. "Whether they are taking a fancy to me or to my identity as the He family's step-daughter, you know better than anyone."

He Jingcheng choked on her words and said nothing more.

With a worried expression, Jiang Shuwei gazed at the elderly man through the glass window, her fingertips turning ice-cold.

At that moment, Yan Hong hurried down the corridor.

"Senior Brother Yan..." Seeing him, Jiang Shuwei took the initiative to walk over and greet him.

"Shuwei, how is your grandfather doing?" Yan Hong had heard about the matter from a colleague and had rushed over to check on him.

"I don't know yet. Grandpa has some old heart trouble," Jiang Shuwei said softly.

When He Jingcheng saw Yan Hong, his handsome face was instantly covered in a layer of frost.

Yan Hong's feelings for Jiang Shuwei seemed rather subtle—somewhere between family and friend.

"Ah, don't worry, the doctors will find a way," Yan Hong comforted her.

***

"Thank you, Senior Brother Yan." Jiang Shuwei was grateful that he had made a special trip to check on them.

At that moment, Yan Hong's phone rang. He answered it, and then said to Jiang Shuwei, "I have a surgery to attend to, so I need to go. Let's keep in touch."

"Alright." Jiang Shuwei watched as his figure disappeared into the elevator.

Coolly, He Jingcheng remarked, "You and this Senior Brother Yan are certainly on very good terms. How come I've never heard you mention him before?"

Ignoring his sarcastic and barbed tone, Jiang Shuwei replied indifferently, "Senior Brother Yan and I have known each other for many years. We're close friends."

"How close?" He Jingcheng asked.

"Closer than you think," Jiang Shuwei answered firmly.

A frown of displeasure gathered between He Jingcheng's brows.

Right at that moment, the old master coughed twice, and the two of them quickly pushed the door open and entered the ward.

"You brat, you're still here?" As soon as the old master saw He Jingcheng, he grabbed the pillow beside him and hurled it straight at him.

He Jingcheng easily caught it, patted it into shape, placed it back behind the old master, and helped him lean up against the headboard. "Grandpa, you're getting older, don't let your temper flare up like this."

Seeing that the old master still had the strength to throw a pillow, Jiang Shuwei figured the condition might not be too severe. She stepped forward with a faint smile, "Grandpa, don't be angry. This whole thing is my fault."

Elder He looked at Jiang Shuwei and let out a heavy sigh. "Shuwei, stop making excuses for him. This idea must have been concocted by him."

"Grandpa, you should know what kind of feelings I have for her. Being siblings suits us much better than being husband and wife," He Jingcheng piped up irritatingly from the side.

"You still dare to spout nonsense?" Elder He looked as though he wanted to discipline him again.

Jiang Shuwei reached out directly and caught Elder He's arm. "Grandpa, I think so too. It was my fault for being ignorant before. That diary was something I deliberately left in the living room for you both to see. I'm sorry, I let down your affection for me. I used your kindness to force him into marrying me, and I am truly ashamed."

Elder He looked at Jiang Shuwei's reddened eyes, and then turned to look at his grandson's stiff, gloomy expression.

Letting two tears of guilt fall, Jiang Shuwei continued, "The mistake I made shouldn't be paid for by him. Grandpa, please agree to our divorce. While this matter hasn't been made public yet, this is the best time."

Seeing the dead seriousness in Jiang Shuwei's demeanor, Elder He froze. "Shuwei, you... don't you love him anymore?"

Leaning against the chair nearby, He Jingcheng's dark eyes sank as he looked at Jiang Shuwei.