《His and Her Forever Love》 Chapter 1 Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio It was almost dark by the time Song Wenxin arrived at her grandmother¡¯s house in the country, and there was no sign of life in the sleepy little village. Just as she was about to enter the house, she heard a rustling sound from amongst the tall grass in the yard¡­ 2Since there had been no one around to look after the house and yard, the garden had been overgrown with tall grass and unkempt bushes. 1She stopped in her tracks, thinking that it was a snake¡­ A hacking cough drifted from amongst the tall grass. Curious, she ventured, ¡°Who is it?¡± To which there was no response, except for the faint sounds of someone gasping for breath. Working up her courage, Song Wenxin cautiously approached the spot from where the sound had emanated and saw a person lying on the ground. Shocked out of her wits, she pulled out her phone and shone the flashlight into the grassy patch for a better view of the person. She saw a man sporting a crew cut, dressed in a white shirt and black pants, lying on the ground. However, the white shirt was now spattered with blood¡­ And the air was filled with a faint stench of blood. Gingerly, she reached out to touch the man¡¯s body and was reassured to find that it was still warm. 2The man was sweating profusely, his short hair drenched in perspiration. His face was covered with bloodstains, making his features indiscernible to Song Wenxin, who did not dare take a closer look anyway. All she could work out from his physique was that he appeared t be a young man in his twenties. Song Wenxin could tell that the man had been severely wounded and that it would take an ambulance a long time to reach them, so she decided to drag the man into the house for the time being. 1Having decided, she reached out to grab the man¡¯s elbows and proceeded to drag him into the house¡­ Song Wenxin¡¯s family business was in traditional Chinese medicine, and her grandmother had been a medical practitioner in the village. Her grandmother¡¯s modest, tiled house was filled with treasures in the likes of traditional herbs used in Chinese medicine, and a vast assortment of western medicine as well. The man looked to be at least 1.8 meters tall and proved to be an exceptionally heavy load for Song Wenxin, who used all her strength and then some to drag him into the house. Settling him in a corner of the house, she began to inspect his wounds. It appeared that he had been shot in the chest, which explained the large amount of blood. However, since she was not a doctor, she could not remove the bullet for him. All she could do for him was to stop the bleeding for now! She rummaged through her grandmother¡¯s treasures before locating some medicine, which she recognized as suitable to stop bleeding. She decided to apply the medicine to his wound, hoping to stop the extensive bleeding. 6The man flinched¨Cprobably from the pain caused by the medicine being applied to his wound¨Cand made a feeble attempt to open his eyes¨Ca pair of intense, dark eyes. ¡°Don¡¯t touch me,¡± he ordered, suddenly awake and reaching out to push Song Wenxin away. Song Wenxin was petrified¡­ ¡°I¡¯ve just applied some medicine to your wound, so that should help stem the bleeding. I¡¯m going to call emergency services to get you to the hospital,¡± she uttered as she reached for her phone, not daring to look him in the eye. In that instant, the man grabbed her phone and stopped her from making the call. ¡°Are you one of Jiang Hai¡¯s people?¡± he demanded to know, as though he suspected her to be one of the bad guys. ¡°What?¡± Song Wenxin assumed that he was hallucinating due to his wounds. She did not know any Jiang Hai or Jiang He. ¡°This medicine will help stop the bleeding. You just keep applying it while I look for something that you could swallow,¡± Song Wenxin instructed, leaving the medicine on the ground beside him. She then searched through her grandmother¡¯s cabinets for other medicine. Chapter 2 Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio Pulling himself into a sitting position, the man looked down at the medicine that had been applied to the wound on his chest and realized that the bleeding had indeed stopped. She had saved him¡­ He raised his head and looked at the person busily searching through the cabinets for medicine that could be of use, his dark eyes flashing intensely. ¡­ Suddenly, they heard the thundering sound of footsteps outside the house. Judging by the racket they were making, there were many people at the door. Soon after, there was a loud banging on the door. ¡°Anyone there?¡± Song Wenxin did not even get the chance to respond before the door was unceremoniously kicked down! There were at least a dozen men, all dressed weirdly in black and wielding knives or guns. ¡°Boss!¡± As soon as they saw the critically wounded man lying on the floor, the entire group rushed over to him on the double! The severely wounded man that they had called ¡°boss¡± coughed weakly and pointed suddenly toward Song Wenxin, who had stood rooted to the floor by the side of the room, not daring to speak. Interpreting their boss¡¯ instruction, two men walked over, caught hold of Song Wenxin, and brought her to face him! The sixteen-year-old Song Wenxin was so shocked by the actions of these men that she simply froze, unable to speak. 1The wounded man stood up slowly and stared at Song Wenxin. His face was covered with so much blood that Song Wenxin turned her head away, too scared to look. When he extended his hand suddenly toward her, she almost collapsed with fear. Her neck¡­ suddenly, she felt a sharp pain on her neck. Song Wenxin turned around and saw that the silver necklace that she had been wearing was now sitting in his palm. ¡°You¡­¡± Now, why would he snatch her necklace? ¡°I will always repay my debts. This is proof!¡± He would repay her kindness! In that instant, a heavy gold chain was secured around her neck. 4By the time she had dared open her eyes to look at him, he was already being supported by his men and preparing to leave the scene. ¡°Let¡¯s go!¡± The men filed out of the house quickly; so swiftly, it was as though they had never been there. Bewildered, Song Wenxin stood in the same spot for a very long time. She looked down at the thick gold chain hanging around her neck and noticed that a ring, adorned with some strange carving, had been strung on the chain. ¡­ Three years later. The scene was in A City, at a luxurious villa built halfway up a hill. This was a neighborhood where only the ultra-rich and famous people could afford to live! It was late at night. A black sports car turned into the dimly lit driveway of one such villa. The car stopped and a man alighted. He was clad in a black jacket, and his shoes were a glossy black. Exuding charm, he was strikingly good looking, but his dark eyes, while radiating intelligence, appeared cold and unfriendly. The entire villa was enveloped in silence, interrupted only by the sound of the man¡¯s leather shoes striding across the floorboards. ¡°Welcome back, sir,¡± a servant greeted respectfully, adding, ¡°Dinner will be served shortly.¡± The man pursed his thin lips in acknowledgment, his entire persona imparting an uninvitingly cold detachment. He took big strides up the stairs to the second level, heading toward his bedroom. Opening the door to his bedroom, he stepped inside. Immediately, his demeanor changed, his aloof face taking on an expression of distaste. His brows puckered up slightly. There was a scent¡­ a strange, unfamiliar smell in the room. It was the scent that emanated from a person. Or, more accurately, the scent of a woman. The man¡¯s face turned cold instantly as he bellowed, ¡°What is the meaning of this?¡± It was a question that commanded an immediate response. ¡°I-It was President Zhou¡­ H-He said this was a present for you¡­¡± Hearing his angry voice, the servant had scurried into the room, pale-faced and trembling with fear. ¡°Throw it out!¡± he ordered immediately in a voice that invited no argument, his thin, alluring lips barely moving. Chapter 3 Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio ¡°Throw it out!¡± he ordered immediately, in a voice that invited no argument, his thin, alluring lips barely moving. It was as though the woman was a piece of trash to be discarded! ¡°Yes, yes!¡± The servant nodded immediately, turning on the lights and entering the room quickly time to do as she was told. With the lights turned on, the bedroom was suddenly illuminated. At that moment, there, on the huge bed, lay a woman with long, shiny, black hair. The servant ran over to the bed and, in a low voice, tried a couple of times to wake the woman up. However, the woman simply moved a little and went back to sleep, showing no intention of waking up. Caught in a dilemma, the servant panicked as she thought about how the situation could be salvaged. However, the man standing behind her had clearly lost his patience and walked over irritably. He was boiling over with uncontrollable rage! Who was this wretched woman who had dared to go to sleep on his bed, and to sleep so soundly at that?! Just as he approached the bed, preparing to personally pick the woman up and throw her out of the room, he stopped dead in his tracks. His dark, intense eyes had focused on the face of the woman sleeping soundly in his bed. She had a very pretty, young face with a creamy, smooth complexion¨Cmouth outlined with rosy lips, her long lashes resting lightly on her face as she slept on. Her brows puckered ever so slightly, as though she had encountered something unpleasant in her dreams. As he realized who it was, an expression of shock and disbelief appeared on his handsome face. It was her¡­ Since she had not been able to rouse the woman from her deep sleep, the servant used the walkie-talkie that was part of her uniform to summon the security team for help to throw her out of the boss¡¯ bedroom. At that moment, Jiang Beihan immediately issued his order in his signature cold and no-nonsense voice. ¡°Get lost!¡± ¡°Sir, but I cannot rouse her¡­¡± the servant uttered, terrified of his wrath. She could not even wake the woman from her beauty sleep, let alone throw her out! ¡°You, get out!¡± Jiang Beihan repeated curtly, pointing at the servant with his slender finger. The servant jumped in fear, totally confused by now. So, the boss had wanted her to get lost? Not that woman? ¡°But¡­ this woman¡­¡± ¡°Out!¡± Refusing to say anymore, Jiang Beihan simply repeated his simple order. Finally getting the message, the servant nodded quickly. ¡°Yes, sir. I will leave right away!¡± Leaving the bedroom as quickly as she could, the servant was puzzled. What had gotten into the boss today? It was totally uncharacteristic of him to not have the woman thrown out by the security guards! 1Then again, even though she was deeply puzzled and would welcome an explanation, she did not dare let her confusion show on her face, or in her attitude. None of the help would ever dare question the boss¡¯ actions or motives! ¡­ The bedroom. Once the servant had left, the bedroom was again enveloped in a silence that was periodically interspersed by the breathing of the two people remaining. Standing by the bed, Jiang Beihan looked at the sleeping young woman for a very long time before he began to appear unsettled, seemingly battling a range of emotions in his head. How could it be her? All this time, the young woman, oblivious to the commotion that she had caused, had remained deep in sleep. It was probably the exceptionally quiet surroundings that caused the young woman to finally began to come out of her deep sleep. She stretched her arms and gently massaged her head. Then, she slowly opened those big eyes of hers. Confused, she looked around her at the unfamiliar bed before resting her gaze on the man standing beside the bed. She was shocked. Without a doubt, he was the most strikingly handsome man she had ever seen, but, regardless, her natural instinct of self-preservation kicked in and she was instantly wide awake! She sat up in bed, stunned. ¡°Who are you?¡± she asked him, her face pale with fear. ¡°This is my home!¡± Jiang Beihan told her obliging, giving her a searing glare. Chapter 4 Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio ¡°This is my home!¡± Jiang Beihan told her obligingly, giving her a searing glare. The man¡¯s voice had a lyrical lilt and sounded very charming¨Ca perfect complement to his strikingly handsome face. However, for some unfathomable reason, neither his eyes nor his voice revealed even an inkling of the man¡¯s emotions, exuding instead a cold aloofness. Song Wenxin remained silent for a while, her face a picture of confusion. She had absolutely no idea how she had ended up in this man¡¯s bed. ¡°Someone had sent you to me as a present,¡± the man added. At that, Song Wenxin¡¯s memory was jolted, and she seemed to recall something. She remembered meeting Shen Jiayu for dinner and feeling unwell after having drunk a glass of water. She had wanted to get out of the restaurant but had lost consciousness even before she could get out of the private dining room! ¡°Was it Shen Jiayu?¡± Song Wenxin asked with gritted teeth, the hand clutching the quilt tightening into a fist in anger. The man moved closer to her suddenly and said mockingly, ¡°Aren¡¯t you focusing on the wrong thing right now?¡± His point was that, regardless of who it was that sent her here, the fact was that she was right here, in his bed! In the past, irrespective of who the sender was, any woman gifted to him would have been thrown out instantly! But now, since he had seen who she was, he had changed his mind. ¡°What do you want?!¡± Spooked by his tone and demeanor, Song Wenxin clutched the quilt closer and shrunk deeper into the recess of the bed to distance herself from him. ¡°What do you think?¡± he asked, looking at her through narrowed eyes. ¡°I¡¯m warning you¡­ don¡¯t try anything or I¡¯ll call the police!¡± Song Wenxin uttered, searching herself frantically and realizing that she did not have her phone with her. The man let out another mocking laugh. Suddenly, he reached into the pocket of his jacket, retrieved a phone, and handed it to her. Surprised, she hesitated, not sure about his intentions. ¡°Call the police,¡± he instructed. For a split second, Song Wenxin wondered if she had heard him wrongly. Did he just give her his phone so that she could call the police? She stared at him warily, wide-eyed, trying to work out if this was a trap. Or could it be that this man was so arrogant, that he thought that he was untouchable? Whatever. She decided to take a gamble and reached out to take the phone from him. But the man withdrew his hand instead and did not give her the phone. ¡°I gave you a chance and you blew it.¡± ¡°You!¡± Song Wenxin glared at him, holding back her anger inside. What was he playing at? The jerk! ¡°What about me?¡± the man asked, looking at her lazily through half-closed eyes. ¡°You¡­ cannot possibly be a bad person, right?¡± Song Wenxin smiled sweetly at him. She had decided to suppress her anger and change her tactics to deal with him. Her mood had changed from one extreme to the other so rapidly that even Jiang Beihan was caught unawares. ¡°I just know it; you are definitely a good person and will let me go, right?¡± Song Wenxin continued to smile and think of all the good things that she could throw in as she added, ¡°Most good-looking men are kind, and, judging by your striking good looks, you should be an exceptionally kind person!¡± She had decided to throw her conscience out of the window and tell a white lie: he was indeed very good-looking, but as to whether he was a kind person¨Cthat was still undeterminable. 2She was all too aware that, in her current situation where she was up against this tall and well-built man, on his turf, there was not much she could do except to pretend to be a helpless damsel in distress! She was not going to let that b*stard Shen Jiayu have his way! ¡°And what if I decide not to let you go?¡± Chapter 5 Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio ¡°And what if I decide not to let you go?¡± Song Wenxin¡¯s words had roused something in him, and Jiang Beihan¡¯s usually cool and emotionless face showed signs of interest and curiosity. What if he decided to not let her go? Would he then be branded a bad guy? This notion of assessing whether a person was good or bad based totally on physical appearance was really stupid! Song Wenxin became very worried by his question. Seeing her hesitation and unease, his dark eyes flashed devilishly as he decided to tease her. 1He leaned forward and put his arms on the bed, one on each side of her body, effectively imprisoning her. Then, he deliberately lowered his head, very slowly¡­ until his thin lips touched hers. Shocked, Song Wenxin tried frantically to push him away, but her hands were locked swiftly in a tight grip by one of his hands, which he had lifted off the bed. And she could feel his breath, warm and damp, fanning her face; a tantalizing breath¡­ that caused her heart to miss a beat. She felt a rush of emotion¨Cof panic, confusion, and also fear. Scared out of her wits, she had opened her mouth in an attempt to bite at his lips, but, somehow, he seemed to have predicted her next move and pulled his lips away suddenly, successfully evading her attack! ¡°So, what about now?¡± he taunted, narrowing his eyes as he used his palm to cup her chin, resting his slender thumb on her trembling lips and gently rubbing. His eyes shone darkly as he stared intently at her lips¨Cthose lips that had almost made him lose control just a short while ago. He could not understand why or how that kiss¨Ca feathery, light kiss¨Ccould have had such an impact on him, causing him to breathe unevenly. It was at that moment when he had almost lost his self-control. He, who had always prided himself on his excellent power of self-control, had had a near miss today. 1Song Wenxin glared at him for a while. At such a close range, she discovered that this man¡¯s facial features were even more attractive than she had imagined. Ultimately, it was the crystal residue on his lips that seemed to remind her of something, and she immediately raised her hand to brush away his hand that had been caressing her lips. Then, she raised her arm and began wiping her lips subconsciously on her sleeve. There still remained the lingering taste of his breath on her lips. As he watched her wiping her lips violently, Jiang Beihan became upset and frowned, his eyes radiating anger. So, did she find him repulsive? Very well! ¡°Ha, what about now? Do you still think I¡¯m a good guy?¡± He taunted her with a sneer, eyebrows raised. Would she still stand by her earlier opinion of him? Song Wenxin stared wide-eyed at him, her face flushed with anger, and, in the next instant, shook her head vehemently. She had said that he was a good guy just to make him feel good about himself¡­ in fact, she did not think that he was a good person at all. ¡°So, do you mean that I am a bad guy?¡± Amused at her unease and confusion, Jiang Beihan could not resist asking further. Song Wenxin wanted so much to nod in response to his latest question but had decided to hold back in the end. Under the circumstances, she was definitely not going to provoke him, knowing full well that the consequences would be unfavorable to her! Biting her lip, she took some time to calm herself down before transforming herself into a victim, looking at him. Her big eyes brimmed with tears that threatened to overflow at any time. She was a picture of misery that would generate sympathy from anyone. ¡°Bro, please let me go. Pretty please? I¡¯m still young¡­ still a flower yet to bloom fully for our beloved country. I don¡¯t feel well today, and my body is average. It is nothing to rave about, so it would be an insult to you,¡± she said, her eyes trailing down her body in a critical assessment of her physical assets. At her words, he took her lead and followed her gaze as she examined her physical assets. ¡°Indeed, nothing to rave about,¡± he agreed, nodding. Chapter 6 Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio ¡°Indeed, nothing to rave about,¡± he agreed, nodding with his chin. At his words, Song Wenxin immediately agreed with him, nodding her head fervently. Who would have thought that a body that was nothing to rave about would turn out to be an advantage?! ¡°And that is why you should let me go, please!¡± she pleaded, looking at him with sorrowful eyes, begging for mercy. Jiang Beihan pursed his lips and looked at her through those charming eyes without saying a word. Yet, it was that very look of his that had left Song Wenxin feeling guilty¡­ ¡°Let¡¯s do this. Since I have been set up by that son-of-a-b*tch Shen Jiayu, I will seek him out, take my revenge on him, and then come back here. What do you think?¡± She laid out her plan carefully, looking at him with bated breath, worried that he would reject it. ¡°And would you still come back here?¡± Jiang Beihan glared at her with disbelief. Surely she would not walk back into the lion¡¯s den voluntarily? ¡°Of course, I swear! If I don¡¯t come back, the heavens will punish me by having my chest flattened!¡± She raised her hand to make the pledge with a wince, hiding her unwillingness deep in her heart! Listening to her pledge, Jiang Beihan could not resist stealing a glance at that part of her body before squinting. Wow, that was quite a cruel pledge! ¡°All right, scram!¡± he said as he turned nimbly and swung himself off the bed. So, he was being nice and letting her go, just like that. ¡°Bro, thank you!¡± Secretly elated that he had agreed to her suggestion, Song Wenxin quickly threw off the quilt and jumped out of the bed. ¡°Hold on!¡± Just as she was about to escape from him as quickly as possible, he suddenly spoke up again. Song Wenxin¡¯s heart sank, hoping that he was not about to rescind his decision. Fortunately, all he did was hand her a business card. It was different from the run-of-the-mill business card, in that it was not made of paper, was gold in color, and felt a bit hard. ¡°Come and see me if you ever need anything,¡± he said. She was left wondering why he had made such a statement. Nonetheless, she reached out and accepted the business card in silence, not asking any questions. Without looking back, she left the bedroom at rapid speed, running as fast as she could toward the stairs. ¡­ Jiang Beihan chuckled. Was this someone who had claimed that she was not well? She had scuttled off faster than a rabbit! Shortly after, he rose from the bed and took big strides to the bedroom window¨Ca floor-to-ceiling window. Looking down, he could see the shadow of a woman walking hurriedly away. 1Lips pursed, he walked back to the bed and pulled out the drawer of the nightstand to retrieve a small, gold box. He opened it to reveal a silver chain and pendant nestling in the box. Removing the necklace from the box, he placed it in his palm. The handcrafted pendant was designed simply, comprising the three characters of a name, manually crafted. He looked down at the necklace and opened his mouth to read out the three characters, softly. ¡°Song Wenxin¡­¡± He closed his huge hand slowly into a fist, enclosing the necklace, like a priceless treasure, in the palm of his hand. In the next instant, a shadow of a smile appeared to flash across his emotionless face. It had been three years. He had planned to look her up soon, but she had instead materialized on his doorstep. Wow, how very interesting. 1¡­ Running out of the villa, Song Wenxin did not dare look back but just kept pushing forward at the fastest speed that she had ever run. She just kept running as though her life depended on it, surprising even herself at how fast she could run. It was only when she knew that she was safely outside the zone of the villas that she breathed a sigh of relief. By then, she was so exhausted that she flopped onto the ground, gasping continuously for air. She turned around to confirm that the villa was no longer in sight before she could truly relax. Chapter 7 Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio She turned around to confirm that the villa was no longer in sight before she could truly relax. What was that about coming back to him voluntarily after she had taken her revenge? Why would she do something like that? She was not an idiot! Then, remembering her pledge, Song Wenxin looked down at her chest¡­ she guessed she could live with a flatter chest. Well, she could always eat more papaya and hope for the best! 4Gritting her teeth, she silently cursed Shen Jiayu a thousand times in her heart! That jerk. He had actually dared to do this to her! She was definitely going to make sure that he paid for what he had done! She rested by the roadside and, after a few minutes, noticed a cab approaching. Despite knowing that she had no money on her, she hailed it and got in anyway. In the cab, Song Wenxin thought through the details of the whole incident and eventually worked out what it was all about! The luxurious villa that she had just escaped from was located in an area where only the super-rich and famous people could afford to live! She figured that, by offering her as a present, Shen Jiayu was probably trying to curry favor with that man! From the looks of it, that man would probably have the power and capability to help the Shen family! Having worked it all out, her hatred of the Shen family grew even more intense! About thirty minutes later, the cab came to a halt outside the main entrance to the Songs¡¯ western-styled house. Song Wenxin got out of the cab and pressed the doorbell of her home. A short while later, someone had come out to open the door for her. It was Song Jiamu, Song Wenxin¡¯s brother. Looking surprised at seeing Song Wenxin, he said, ¡°Wenxin, you¡¯re back at last!¡± Holding back her anger, Song Wenxin shot her brother a look that radiated misery and exhaustion before pointing to the cabbie who had been standing behind her, waiting to collect his fare. Understanding what she meant, Song Jiamu immediately took out his wallet to pay the cabbie. Taking big strides, Song Wenxin walked into the house. There, in the living room, beside her parents, she saw someone she disliked with every fiber of her being! Shen Jiayu! Song Wenxin really could not believe that he would have the balls to show up in her presence! ¡°Wenxin, you¡¯re back at last!¡± Shen Jiayu walked over to her, looking happy to see her. When she saw him, Song Wenxin¡¯s anger just boiled over! She glared at him and did not say a word, ignoring him. Upon seeing her, Mrs. Song could not resist fussing. ¡°Wenxin, it¡¯s almost dawn. Where have you been all this time? We were about to call the police!¡± Song Wenxin did not respond to her mother either but, instead, headed resolutely toward and entered the kitchen. Everyone in the room looked puzzled. Shen Jiayu, who had been following behind her, also had a confused look on his face. Shortly after, Song Wenxin emerged from the kitchen with a cleaver in her hand! ¡°Shen Jiayu, I¡¯m going to kill you!¡± Song Wenxin walked determinedly toward Shen Jiayu, wielding the cleaver. Everyone was even more shocked and began to scramble about, trying to stop her. ¡°What has happened?¡± Her brother, Song Jiamu, rushed to stop her in her tracks, looking stunned and demanding an explanation. So what had provoked his silly baby sister to make her do this?! ¡°Don¡¯t anybody stop me. I will kill this weasel today, no matter what!¡± yelled Song Wenxin, brandishing the cleaver furiously. That son-of-a-b*tch! He had actually dared to sell her to another man! ¡°Wenxin, what are you doing?¡± asked Shen Jiayu frantically, shocked by her actions. ¡°You have the gall to ask me?! You sold me to another man!¡± Song Wenxin shouted, still brandishing the cleaver. If murder was not a punishable crime, she would have loved to chop him into pieces right there and then! In fact, she had known all along that this man was a jerk, but she had never imagined him to be that big of a jerk. Hearing what she had just said, Shen Jiayu was stunned and looked puzzled for a moment. Then, he seemed to have recalled something, and his face turned pale. Chapter 8 Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio Hearing what she had just said, Shen Jiayu was stunned and looked puzzled for a moment. Then, he seemed to have recalled something, and his face turned pale. ¡°What exactly do you mean?¡± Mr. Song asked sternly, his expression suddenly turned ugly. Since she had been stopped from hacking Shen Jiayu into pieces, Song Wenxin threw the cleaver away, crouched on the floor, and burst into tears. Seeing their daughter in distress, the Songs appeared even angrier. ¡°Shen Jiayu, what on earth is going on? Is what Wenxin just told us true?¡± Song Jiamu demanded angrily, grabbing Shen Jiayu by his collar. ¡°I¡­¡± Shen Jiayu was about to explain when Song Jiamu raised his hand and punched Shen Jiayu fiercely in the face! Take that for daring to bully my sister! You asked for it! Trained in Taekwondo, Song Jiamu packed a mean punch. Shen Jiayu staggered backward and was floored by the power of his punch. Gingerly fingering his mouth, Shen Jiayu realized that he was bleeding. ¡°I¡¯m calling off the engagement. Get out of my sight!¡± Song Wenxin yelled at Shen Jiayu with tears streaming down her face. Shen Jiayu was her unofficial fianc¨¦. Their families had maintained a close-knit relationship, socially and commercially, for decades, and when they were still kids, their parents had decided that their union in marriage would strengthen the bond between the two families. As the years went by and Song Wenxin had matured into a young adult, no one had sought her opinion on the proposed marriage agreed by the respective parents. Instead, they had just gone ahead with the official engagement ceremony. The wedding had been scheduled to take place once she had graduated from university. Song Wenxin had never really wanted to marry Shen Jiayu. Besides the fact that she had no feelings for him, there was another reason why she did not want to marry him. A few months earlier, she had accidentally discovered that Shen Jiayu, while openly professing to have feelings for her and planning to marry her in the near future, had been having a clandestine affair with another girl! She had wanted to call off the engagement, but her father had been reluctant to offend the Shen family, who, at the moment, were the top dogs in the commercial world. For her, what had happened today was her opportunity to break it off. ¡°Wenxin, I really have no idea what happened. How could I possibly sell you off to another man?¡± Shen Jiayu proclaimed and wiped away the blood on his lips, although he could not completely suppress his guilty conscience as he explained. ¡°Shen Jiayu, you monster! How dare you bully my sister?!¡± Song Jiamu stepped forward in his rage and grabbed Shen Jiayu by the collar, preparing to give him another beating. ¡°Stop it!¡± Mr. Song intervened, the commanding tone in his voice restraining his enraged son from hitting Shen Jiayu. ¡°Uncle, I am innocent! Really!¡± Sensing a reprieve from what he had seen, Shen Jiayu clung on to the hope of being redeemed. Mr. Song glanced at him and said, with controlled fury in his voice, ¡°Shen Jiayu, do not, for a moment, think that I am not aware of your cavorting. I had kept quiet because I wanted to give you a chance to change for the better! But this time, you have gone too far, and we are extremely disappointed with you!¡± In fact, Mr. Song had known all along that Shen Jiayu was not that faithful, but he had not intervened because, in the past, Shen Jiayu had never done anything to harm his daughter. 4¡°I¡­¡± Shen Jiayu was left speechless by what Song Wenxin¡¯s father had just said. ¡°So we will call off your engagement with Wenxin!¡± Mr. Song added. ¡°Uncle, our proposed marriage was agreed between you and my father. How could we so easily¡­¡± Shen Jiayu protested, realizing the severity of the matter. ¡°There¡¯s nothing more to discuss. I will talk to your father! Please leave!¡± ¡°Uncle!¡± ¡°My father has just asked you to get out of here. Are you deaf?¡± Chapter 9 Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio ¡°My father has just told you to get lost. Did you not hear him? Are you deaf?¡± Song Jiamu, who was still fuming mad, yelled as he bunched up his fist, preparing to give Shen Jiayu another punch! Shen Jiayu scrambled to his feet very quickly and, adjusting his clothes, glared at the family confronting him, saying angrily, ¡°You will live to regret this!¡± He refused to believe that the Songs would dare to upset the powerful Shen family! That said, he stormed out of the house. ¡­ With Shen Jiayu gone, Song Wenxin began to calm down slowly and stopped crying. Wiping the tears from her eyes, she looked at her father in surprise. For her sake, he had actually stuck his neck out and crossed swords with the Shen family. At the same time, Song Jiamu hurriedly approached his sister and asked with concern, ¡°Wenxin, what actually happened today?¡± In between sniffs, Song Wenxin recounted to her family what had happened in the past few hours, intentionally leaving out some details¨Cfor example, her being kissed by that man. She did say that she had tried very hard to beg for mercy and that the man had eventually relented and let her go. Listening to her, Song Jiamu was so angry that he had wanted to immediately confront the Shen¡¯s and demand an explanation. However, he was held back by Mrs. Song, who suggested that perhaps they should just let the matter rest since Wenxin had returned unharmed. He then agreed not to pursue the matter further. 1The family had barely settled down to some peace when they received a call from Shen Jiayu¡¯s father, the chairman of Sanshen Group. Although Song Chengtao had tried to maintain a civil tone in explaining his decision to call off the engagement, he was also adamant about not changing his mind, and that had incurred the wrath of Shen Jiayu¡¯s father! ¡°Since you people have stubbornly refused to give me face, we will not be held accountable for any future action taken against you. Song Chengtao, you will soon regret this and come kneeling before me for mercy!¡± With that threat, he hung up. The silence that followed was deafening. Not saying a word, Song Wenxin¡¯s father just lit up and drew hard on his cigarette. ¡°Father, it¡¯s all my fault¡­¡± Song Wenxin began to speak, keeping her head lowered. She felt a sudden pang of guilt even though she had not done anything wrong. Indeed, it was because of her that her family¡¯s relationship with the Shens had deteriorated to this stage! ¡°We had never been in favor of this engagement from the get-go, so it¡¯s for the better!¡± Song Chengtao sighed in relief, suddenly feeling the need to comfort Song Wenxin. ¡°Indeed, I don¡¯t believe that the Shens would have so much power in A City to be able to do us any real harm and get away with it!¡± Song Jiamu snorted. He had long harbored a dislike for that family! Song Chengtao nodded in agreement before suggesting to his children and wife, ¡°It¡¯s late. Get some rest, all of you!¡± That night, Song Wenxin did not sleep a wink. Thoughts of how the Shens could harm her family kept going through her head. Since she had tried unsuccessfully to get some sleep, she decided to get out of bed and open her laptop to surf the internet. She noticed some new messages in her inbox and proceeded to open them. Her hopes were dashed once she had read the contents of the messages. They were all spam messages, not information about her missing necklace. Three years ago, she had lost a necklace of huge sentimental value. It was a necklace adorned with her name, handcrafted by her late grandmother. To her, it was the most precious treasure ever. Over the years, she had posted ads with a forwarding email address, on the internet, to locate the person who had taken the necklace from her, hoping to get him to return it to her. However, three years had flown by and she had not been successful in locating that man. Sighing, she shut down her laptop in disappointment. Then, she opened her jewelry box and took out the heavy gold chain. Chapter 10 Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio She opened her jewelry box and took out the heavy gold chain. Strung on the gold chain was a heavy gold ring, adorned with an etching of a tiger. It looked like it had been around for a long time¨Can antique. That man had left her this, and nothing else. If she had not been left with this object, Song Wenxin could easily have assumed that what had happened that day had been a dream, because it was so surreal. So, who on Earth was that man, and why did he take away her necklace? Also, why did he leave her with this weird-looking necklace? ¡­ Song Wenxin had not expected the repercussions of their altercation with the Shens to be so swift. In the early morning of the following day, a team of police officers turned up at their doorstep. Song Wenxin had initially assumed that the police had arrived to attend to the matter of Shen Jiayu being beaten up by her brother. But she was wrong, and the situation was a lot more serious than she had imagined. ¡°The police suspect that Songhe Tang is involved in the manufacturing of fake medicine that has resulted in two deaths. We are to take the owner back to the station for further investigation!¡± With that announcement, they immediately proceeded to take Song Jiamu away without so much as a by-your-leave. Mrs. Song was so shocked by the news that she almost collapsed, and she had to be helped to her room by Song Wenxin. Mr. Song just sat in the living room, chain-smoking and looking very troubled. Song Wenxin was totally stunned. All this had happened so suddenly. She knew very well that this bolt from the sky was the doing of the Shen family, who had deliberately set out to frame them! The Shen¡¯s were indeed a vicious lot. With this fell swoop, they had managed to not only destroy the little business that her family owned but, more importantly, also made sure that her brother, Song Jiamu¡¯s, life would be effectively over! This charge of manufacturing fake medicine, if proven and convicted, could result in a jail term ranging from a few years to a few decades, or worse still¨Cthe death penalty! Just the thought of the long imprisonment, or a possible death penalty, was enough to send Song Wenxin into a panic, causing her to hyperventilate and feel unsteady on her feet. In that instant, the phone rang again. Seeing that her parents were in the living room, Song Wenxin walked into her bedroom to take the call. ¡°Wenxin, did you see what has happened? This is the consequence of calling off the engagement!¡± Shen Jiayu said gleefully over the phone. ¡°Shen Jiayu, you son-of-a-b*tch!¡± Song Wenxin screamed at him in a rage. That jerk, who, in the past, had always put on a front of being a true gentleman whenever he was with her, had finally shown his true colors! Son of a b*tch! ¡°You can hurl insults at me all you like, but it won¡¯t change anything. I just want to inform you that, right now, I am the only one who could save Song Jiamu! He is still so young. Surely you wouldn¡¯t want to see him being destroyed by me?!¡± ¡°What exactly do you want?¡± Song Wenxin demanded impatiently, her internal alarms sounding. She knew that he had not called just to offer his help! ¡°I have booked a room at the hotel for tonight. The location and room access card are in an envelope now sitting in the mailbox of your house!¡± ¡°What do you mean by that?¡± Song Wenxin asked, looking increasingly suspicious and upset. ¡°You know very well what I mean! Song Wenxin, I have been courting you for so long, and yet, you still refuse to sleep with me! So now, I not only want you to marry me but also to give me your first time!¡± Oh, his sneering tone was so despicable! Shaking with rage, Song Wenxin was unable to speak for a while. ¡°Ha. Have you forgotten that you had sold me to another man? I no longer have a ¡®first time¡¯!¡± she retorted, suppressing her anger and trying hard to sound nonchalant. ¡°That man never laid a finger on you!¡± Chapter 11 Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio ¡°That man never laid a finger on you!¡± She could tell from his voice that he was absolutely sure. A little surprised, Song Wenxin wondered how he could have known. ¡°I wouldn¡¯t be so sure if it were anyone else, but we are talking about Jiang Beihan here!¡± said Shen Jiayu, laughing. Puzzled, Song Wenxin wondered what Shen Jiayu could be alluding to in his statement. Why was he so confident that the man had not lain a finger on her? ¡°Eight o¡¯clock tonight. I¡¯ll be waiting! Just be there, and I will make sure that Song Jiamu will be released, safe and sound! However, if you don¡¯t turn up, then your entire family¨Cnot just Song Jiamu¨Cwill be destroyed!¡± Song Wenxin was so furious, that she would have dearly loved to hang up on him in that instant, but she forced herself to bear with it. ¡°Jerk!¡± she yelled into the phone. ¡°Wenxin, don¡¯t worry. I will treat you with ¡®special care¡¯ tonight¡­¡± taunted Shen Jiayu as he laughed jeeringly. Enraged, Song Wenxin hung up on him. Angry as she was, her curiosity eventually got the better of her, so she left her bedroom, picked up the key to the letterbox, and went outside to open it. There was indeed a letter addressed to her. Picking up the letter, she went back to her room and shut the door before tearing open the envelope. True enough, there was a piece of paper inside, on which was written an address, as well as a room access card. She clutched the access card tightly. Although she was sorely tempted to throw the two items away, she did not do so. Her brother had been arrested. In one fell swoop, her family had suddenly been thrown into a state of confusion. However, just the thought of that jerk Shen Jiayu¡¯s face made her blood boil! Angrily, she threw the access card and paper on the floor and trampled them repeatedly! Finally, exhausted and feeling completely helpless, she sat slumped on the floor and stared miserably at the card. Surely, this could not be her only option to save her brother and family from total ruin! Ever since she was a little girl, her brother had always doted on her, giving her the best food and toys, and she had always turned to him for help whenever she was bullied! She simply could not bear to stand by and see him get arrested, end up having his future ruined, and maybe even be at risk of losing his life. And the fact that she was unable to do anything to save him simply tore her heart to pieces. With their wealth and connections, the Shens wielded a lot of power in A City, and, without their approval, the charges against the Songs would not go away, even though the Songs were innocent and had done nothing wrong. Then again, such was the reality in today¡¯s society, where one would just have to grit their teeth and carry on. Having come to that conclusion, she slipped the card into her pocket and left the house quickly. Song Wenxin had gone to the police station to visit her brother, Song Jiamu, but had had her request flatly denied. Obviously, they had been instructed to make things difficult for her! Although she was anxious about her brother, there was nothing Song Wenxin could do. Just as she was loitering outside the police station, thinking through her next steps, someone appeared in front of her. It was Shen Jiayu. ¡°Wenxin, I just knew that you would be here!¡± Shen Jiayu exclaimed gleefully, his face still a little swollen from being beaten up by Song Jiamu. It was that irritating smug smile on his face that made Song Wenxin want to punch him and make his face swell up again! ¡°Let me in. I want to see my brother!¡± Song Wenxin demanded, glaring at him. Suddenly, Shen Jiayu sneered and walked slowly toward her. On reflex, Song Wenxin stepped backward. ¡°Just come to me tonight and I will make sure that you get to see Song Jiamu tomorrow morning!¡± ¡°You shameless jerk!¡± Song Wenxin spluttered, shaking angrily. Shen Jiayu simply shrugged and said, ¡°See you tonight!¡± after which he turned and walked away. Chapter 12 Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio ¡°I¡¯ll be waiting for you tonight!¡± Shen Jiayu said, turning around and strolling away. ¡­ After she got home from the police station, Song Wenxin locked herself in her room. She did nothing but simply stare blankly at the access card before turning to look at the clock, where the seconds were slowly ticking into minutes. It was already after five in the afternoon. In a couple of hours, she would have to present herself to Shen Jiayu. But she did not want to go, and she certainly did not want to have any physical relationship with Shen Jiayu. Just when she was feeling like the entire world had abandoned her, Song Wenxin suddenly remembered the man from the previous night. Touching her lips with her hand, Song Wenxin remembered what the man had said when he handed her his business card. Call me if you should need anything in the future. ¡­ Having recalled what he had said, Song Wenxin immediately rummaged through her things, searching everywhere for the gold business card from the day before. After a long search, she finally found it. It was a simple card comprising only his name and a mobile phone number. Nothing else. Also, there was something about the material that the card was made of that surprised Song Wenxin. It was not made of ordinary paper but was rather hard and quite heavy. Song Wenxin placed the card to her lips and opened her mouth to take a bite. She was stunned to discover that the card was made of gold. 1This was not the type of business card that the average man could afford! ¡°Jiang Beihan¡­¡± looking at the name, Song Wenxin hesitated. She had no idea as to whether the man would make good on what he had told her the night before, or even if he had the capability to help her! Then, she opened her laptop to research that man on the internet. The search yielded results that shocked her. Jiang Beihan, twenty-four years old. President and owner of the JS Group! Song Wenxin was shocked, her mouth agape. Of course, JS Group was a name that everyone knew, and she was no exception! In the domestic market, JS Group was regarded on an equal level to the SX.L Group and was hailed as the royalty of the commercial world. That was to say that, domestically, apart from the SX.L Group, there was no organization that could compete with JS Group! 1Much less that poxy little company owned by the Shen family! It was finally clear to her why that jerk Shen Jiayu had tried to sell her to Jiang Beihan! At that moment, Song Wenxin could see a sliver of hope on the horizon. If Jiang Beihan was willing to help her, then her brother would definitely be saved! And the predicament that her family business was currently in would surely be resolved. However, in the next instant, she looked crestfallen again¡­ The night before, before she left the villa, she had promised him that she would return once she had taken her revenge¡­ So, looking him up now would be like walking back voluntarily into the lion¡¯s den. At that moment, two faces appeared in Song Wenxin¡¯s head. One was that of Shen Jiayu, while the other was that strikingly handsome face from the night before¨Cthe face that had, at first sight, caused her heart to miss a beat¨Cthe face belonging to Jiang Beihan. ¡°Oh, I don¡¯t care anymore!¡± Song Wenxin decided with a shake of her head. Clutching the business card in her hand, she dashed out of the house. Right now, it didn¡¯t matter to her who it was, as long as it wasn¡¯t Shen Jiayu! At least, there could never be anyone in the entire world who could disgust her as much as Shen Jiayu did! ¡­ So, once again, Song Wenxin was back in the neighborhood of luxurious, hillside villas. Based on her memory, she managed to locate the villa from the night before. However, the security guard at the villa had refused to let her enter. ¡°I have a very important and urgent matter to discuss with Jiang Beihan. Please let me in!¡± 1¡°No way!¡± The security guard refused to budge, his face expressionless and uncompromising. Song Wenxin stood there feeling anxious and frustrated. Chapter 13 Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio ¡°No way!¡± The security guard refused to budge, his face expressionless and uncompromising. Song Wenxin stood there feeling anxious and frustrated. While she was arguing with the security guard, a black Rolls-Royce approached slowly and stopped at the main gate. 1The security guard immediately clicked open the auto gate. However, the sports car did not drive through. Instead, a window was wound down. Framed within that window was an exceptionally good-looking face. ¡°Hey¡­ did you mean what you said last night?¡± Song Wenxin ran up to him, speaking softly. He did say, the night before, that she could look him up if she needed help! ¡°Get in!¡± he ordered after casting a glance at the passenger seat. Nodding, Song Wenxin opened the car door and stepped in, sitting in the passenger seat beside him. The sports car drove slowly into the villa¡¯s grounds. The security guard, witnessing what had just transpired, stood stunned beyond words. Did that woman just get into the boss¡¯ car? This was Earth-shattering breaking news, indeed. In all the years that he had been on the job, neither he nor any of his colleagues had seen a woman in Jiang Beihan¡¯s car! 1¡­ The sports car was driven into the garage before coming to a complete stop. With no intention of alighting, Jiang Beihan turned in his seat to look at her. ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°I need your help with a matter!¡± Song Wenxin, never imagining that she would have the audacity to approach a man, whom she had just met, for help! ¡°Tell me.¡± ¡°Our family¡¯s traditional medicine business has been set up by somebody claiming that we have been manufacturing and selling fake medicine. They have arrested my brother. Please help me!¡± Clutching her knees uneasily with her hands, Song Wenxin did not dare look him in the eyes. 1The aura of this man was too overpowering¡­ ¡°Sure.¡± Song Wenxin was surprised that he had agreed to help her so casually and quickly, without even having to think through the specifics. ¡°That¡¯s fantastic; thank you!¡± Upon his agreement to help, Song Wenxin¡¯s face brightened with relief and joy, thanking him profusely. ¡°I am a businessman!¡± he continued, after a glance at her. ¡°I know. I researched you on the internet and I know that you are the boss of JS¡­¡± Song Wenxin nodded innocently. ¡°A businessman will not enter into deals that are not profitable!¡± Jiang Beihan looked at her, eyes radiating fire. A businessman will not enter into deals that are not profitable¡­ ¡°I know¡­ if you are willing to help me, I will¡­¡± Song Wenxin was tongue-tied for a while before bravely announcing, ¡°One night!¡± But, even as she uttered those words, she had wanted to bite her tongue! Giving herself to this man right in front of her was better than giving herself to Shen Jiayu. At the very least, he did not make her want to puke! ¡°One night?¡± The man laughed coldly. Song Wenxin¡¯s heart skipped a beat. Was he saying that it was not enough? ¡°You said so yourself that you would come back here once you had taken your revenge. What is this? Are you playing games with me?¡± the man asked. Not able to interpret that unfathomable expression on his handsome face, Song Wenxin was startled. ¡°Okay, one more night, then!¡± she suggested, having decided to throw in the towel while consoling herself that this arrangement was still preferred over giving herself to Shen Jiayu. ¡°That is not enough to compensate me for helping you.¡± His thin lips curled into a smile as he hooked his slender fingers around her chin, lifting her face and forcing her to look him in the eyes. ¡°So¡­ so what are you suggesting?!¡± Forced to look straight into his eyes, Song Wenxin¡¯s heart constricted involuntarily as she lost herself in the dark, vast universe that those deep, intense eyes of his seemed to represent. ¡°I need a wife!¡± Jiang Beihan¡¯s gaze had stopped at her lips before he opened his thin lips to speak. As though he was simply discussing something as mundane as the time of day¡­ Chapter 14 Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio ¡°So¡­ why you want is¨Cor maybe not¨Cthat you want me to marry you?¡± Song Wenxin asked in disbelief, pointing to herself. ¡°Yes, you could call it that.¡± His admission shocked Song Wenxin even more¡­ Silently, she had been struggling to suss out the real motive behind his words. What he had just said was that he needed a wife¡­ and not that he wanted her to marry him. Although the two statements did sound similar, they were really polar opposite in meaning! At that moment, Song Wenxin suddenly made a connection about her phone conversation with Shen Jiayu on the previous night. On the call, Shen Jiayu had sounded absolutely sure that the man had not touched her. Could it be¡­ was it because¡­ Deep in thought, Song Wenxin suddenly assessed the man facing her. He was very handsome, with perfectly proportionate features and an excellent physique. His long legs were captivatingly attractive; the sight of which was pure eye candy for any observer. A man with such excellent qualifications would surely have no problems getting a wife, even if he had decided to ditch his role as the president and owner of JS Group! Yet, he had picked her instead¡­ She also connected the dots of what had happened on the previous night, when he had not gone further after he had kissed her. At the same time, Song Wenxin suddenly recalled an article that she had seen when she was researching Jiang Beihan on the internet. The contents of that article had alluded to rumors about Jiang Beihan¡¯s abnormal sexual preference¨Cthat he preferred men¡­ Shocked, and with her heart thumping, Song Wenxin immediately came to a conclusion, which was that this man, in her presence, did not like women! Or, to put it another way, he probably preferred men! 5And he had sought her out to be his wife, most likely to appease his family members, or for some other reasons. Otherwise, he would not have said that he wanted to marry her! Following her trail of thoughts and deduction, Song Wenxin realized, in that instant, why he had wanted to marry her. ¡°Very well. As long as you are willing to help me, I will agree to marry you!¡± she said, nodding her agreement, knowing very well that, in her present situation, she was left with no other options! Jiang Beihan looked at her, and his thin lips curled into an inscrutable smile. ¡­ An hour later, the doors to the civil office were opened. Although it was already long past its operating hours, the civil office was filled with officials who fell over themselves to attend to them. Without a doubt, Jiang Beihan was the reason why they had made a special appearance. Holding on to her residence card and other related documents that she had stolen from her house, Song Wenxin looked a little concerned. ¡°I¡¯m nineteen this year. Surely that means that, legally, I cannot do this without my parents¡¯ approval?¡± Song Wenxin asked, looking worriedly at Jiang Beihan, who was standing beside her. She had to be at least twenty before she could get her own marriage license! ¡°Miss Song, we have already raised your legal age to twenty!¡± a good-looking man in a black suit and an emotionless face, who had been standing behind Jiang Beihan, spoke up suddenly. He was probably one of Jiang Beihan¡¯s henchmen. 1At first, Song Wenxin was a little shocked, but, remembering the status of who she was with, she finally understood. He was Jiang Beihan and getting her age amended was something that would not pose a challenge to him at all. But she was still perturbed that she had grown a year older and not by her own choice! In acceptance, she sighed and tried to console herself silently. It was only a marriage¡­ no big deal. After all, they were only getting married in name with no consummation! 1She was willing to do anything to save her brother! They were given two forms and Jiang Beihan had his filled out very quickly. As for Song Wenxin, she stopped writing after filling in her name. She looked up and stole a glance at Jiang Beihan and the stoned dude standing behind him. 2 Chapter 15 Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio She raised her head and stole a glance at Jiang Beihan and the stone-faced dude standing behind him. She could tell that the relationship between him and Jiang Beihan was a close one¡­ This stone-faced dude, probably not¡­ but could he be Jiang Beihan¡¯s lover?! 2In this day and age, a same-sex relationship was no longer considered freaky. However, since this was Song Wenxin¡¯s first encounter with a gay couple, she was naturally curious about them. Although it was just a speculation, Song Wenxin¡¯s curiosity got the better of her, and she could not stop herself from stealing a few more looks at the two people, checking them out, before proceeding to fill out her form. 1¡­ Watching her from the side, Jiang Beihan had noticed the curiosity in Song Wenxin¡¯s eyes. Not happy with what he had just seen, he frowned, his face darkening instantly with disapproval as he clenched his fists on the table, cursing silently! Damn it. She must have read the trashy gossip that had been written about him and come to an ill-informed conclusion. That certainly explained the looks that she had given him and Shangguan! 4¡­ Just when Song Wenxin was about to fill out the date, which was the last field on the form, it was swiftly snatched away by someone. 1¡°Okay, that will do. Could you both please come over here for a photoshoot?¡± Nodding, Song Wenxin followed Jiang Beihan to the designated spot. Song Wenxin found herself standing, a little awkwardly, next to Jiang Beihan, looking into the camera in front of them. To her, it all felt very unfamiliar, but also surreal. ¡­ Shortly after the photoshoot, the red certificate was presented to them. ¡°Congratulations! We wish you a happy marriage!¡± Accepting the marriage certificate, Song Wenxin stood in a daze¡­.. This man, standing beside her, was now her husband in the eyes of the law. So, getting married was really quite a simple matter¡­ although, the jury was still out as to whether they would have a happy marriage. After a while, she regained her composure and turned to look at Jiang Beihan. ¡°Now, can you please help save my brother?¡± Jiang Beihan glanced at her before turning to his side to look at Shangguan. ¡°What¡¯s the status on that matter?¡± ¡°Song Jiamu has returned home,¡± replied the stone-faced dude, his head lowered. Pulling out a phone, he handed it to Song Wenxin. ¡°Perhaps Miss Song would like to call home and confirm.¡± That was quick! Song Wenxin looked at him in total surprise. If she could confirm that her brother had returned home, then these guys were indeed extremely efficient in getting things done! Accepting the phone that had been handed to her, she dialed her home number and waited. Very quickly, the call went through and was accepted. ¡°Hello, who is this, please?¡± asked a voice that belonged to Song Wenxin¡¯s mother. ¡°Mother, it¡¯s me. Wenxin!¡± ¡°Oh, Wenxin. Where are you? I haven¡¯t seen you around. Whose phone is this?¡± Mrs. Song asked anxiously. ¡°This is my classmate¡¯s phone. I had come to them to see if they could help us out!¡± Song Wenxin lied, looking at the stone-faced dude. ¡°Well, everything has been resolved and your brother has come home safely. They had gotten to the bottom of the matter and confirmed that we had nothing to do with the fake medicine. The culprit was someone from the Shen Group!¡± Mrs. Song sounded unreservedly happy as she related the news. ¡°That¡¯s awesome!¡± Song Wenxin exclaimed, relieved upon hearing her mother¡¯s news. ¡°Come home earlier today. I¡¯ve cooked a lot of delicious food. Let¡¯s celebrate tonight!¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Song Wenxin nodded like a good girl. After she had hung up, Song Wenxin returned the phone to the stone-faced dude. ¡°Thank you!¡± she said, after taking a long look at Jiang Beihan. ¡°Let¡¯s go home,¡± Jiang Beihan glanced at her before turning to walk out of the Civil Affairs Bureau. At the entrance to the Civil Affairs Bureau, the stone-faced dude opened the doors to the car and stood waiting for Jiang Beihan and Song Wenxin. Chapter 16 Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio At the entrance to the Civil Affairs Bureau, the stone-faced dude opened the doors to the car and stood waiting for Jiang Beihan and Song Wenxin. With the marriage certificate in her hand, Song Wenxin waved at him and said with a smile, ¡°I don¡¯t need a ride from you. I will make my way home.¡± She felt that she could finally relax now that her family¡¯s problems had been solved. 1At her words, Jiang Beihan stopped in his tracks and looked at her with a frown on his face. ¡°Go home?¡± ¡°Yep, I can hail a cab home from here. Thank you so much for what you¡¯ve done!¡± she smiled in all innocence. ¡°Which home might you be referring to?¡± he asked, eyebrows raised. Song Wenxin was stunned by the question. What did he mean which home? She had only one home. ¡°My home, of course!¡± ¡°The Song family home?¡± ¡°Yes!¡± ¡°Song Wenxin, can I remind you that, since we are now married, you¡¯d have to be by my side always? Do you know what that means?¡± he asked patiently. Surely she should go back to his home, now that they were married. ¡°What do you mean?¡± asked Song Wenxin, looking at him in confusion. She had not grasped what he meant. They were just married in name, so why should she be by his side? 1¡°From now on, you must live in my house,¡± he explained curtly and to the point since she had not understood what he meant. Eyes wide opened, Song Wenxin stared at him in bewilderment. Did the arrangement mean that they had to live together under one roof, too? ¡°But, I must go home every day, otherwise¡­ my p-parents will be worried¡­¡± she stammered as she tried to reason with him. ¡°That is not my problem. Get in the car!¡± he commanded, shooting a glance at the back seat of the sports car. After a moment¡¯s hesitation, Song Wenxin got into the car. Well, he did do her a big favor, so she should comply with his request. Once she was safely in the car, Jiang Beihan followed suit and got in beside her. With the doors shut, the sports car maneuvered its way out of the car park of the Civil Affairs Bureau and sped toward the villa in the hills. Throughout the journey, he did not utter a word, relaxing in his seat with his eyes closed, head against the headrest. All Song Wenxin could do was to sit tight and think about how she was going to explain to her parents why she had to stay out. 2¡­ It was dark by the time they arrived at Jiang Beihan¡¯s villa. Getting out of the car, Song Wenxin followed Jiang Beihan into the villa. Although it was dark outside, the villa appeared to be dimly lit. Besides that, the help were deadly quiet and inconspicuous, appearing only to greet Jiang Beihan when he returned, or to attend to specific requests from him. They were never seen wandering about the villa at any other time. Although Song Wenxin had found this strange, she concluded that, since Jiang Beihan himself was such a weirdo, any odd behavior uncovered in the place where he lived would be deemed normal. 1After he got home, Jiang Beihan headed straight for the dining room where he began to attend to work matters at the dining table. Obviously, he was a very busy man. ¡°Sir, dinner is ready to be served,¡± was spoken softly by one of the help, who approached him suddenly. Having made the announcement, the help stole a startled glance at Song Wenxin, who had been sitting by the side. Song Wenxin was puzzled by the help¡¯s look. Jiang Beihan nodded. ¡°Can you lend me your phone, please? I need to call home,¡± Song Wenxin asked, not wishing to hold off any longer. It was already late, and if she did not call home soon, her family would get worried. Glancing at her, Jiang Beihan called out, ¡°Shangguan!¡± Shortly, the stone-faced dude appeared in the dining room. Looking at Jiang Beihan, he seemed to understand what he had to do and handed over the phone to Song Wenxin. Chapter 17 Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio Looking at Jiang Beihan¡¯s expression, he instantly understood what he had to do, retrieving his phone and handing it over to Song Wenxin. Watching them, Song Wenxin was stunned by the tacit understanding between them¨Cthat they were able to communicate with just their expressions and their eyes. Accepting the phone from him, Song Wenxin did not call home directly. Instead, she called a close friend of hers¨Csomeone whom she hung out with a lot¨Cand asked her to call and inform her family that she would be staying the night with her. Finishing her call, Song Wenxin returned the phone to the stone-faced dude called Shangguan and could not resist checking him out. The stone-faced dude was physically well-built and had average looks, but his entire persona exuded a brutish temperament. And, going by the eye contact and wordless exchange that she had witnessed between him and Jiang Beihan earlier, Song Wenxin was even more convinced about the speculation that she had made at the Civil Affairs Bureau about their relationship! ¡°Miss Song, is there anything else I could help you with?¡± asked the man whom Jiang Beihan called Shangguan. He had noticed Song Wenxin eyeing him with curiosity and was getting suspicious. Immediately shaking her head, Song Wenxin replied, ¡°Oh, no!¡± Noting the man¡¯s not-too-friendly attitude toward her, Song Wenxin could not help feeling sorry for him. Could it be because he was jealous of the fact that she had married Jiang Beihan that day? 3Song Wenxin could not resist letting out a laugh at that very thought. It appeared that she had inadvertently uncovered an Earth-shattering secret! Having heard her laugh, Jiang Beihan looked up from his paperwork and glanced sideways at her. Damn it! He wanted to destroy all those newspapers and magazines that had written those trashy articles insinuating that he was gay! 3¡­ In no time, the dining table was covered with many types of delectable food. However, Song Wenxin did not like any of the dishes that had been placed before her. Every dish was meticulously cooked, using the best ingredients, and was elaborately presented, very similar to what one would find served in the major hotels. However, she still preferred the home-cooked food made by her mother. Also, since there were only Jiang Beihan and herself in the big dining room, she found the atmosphere way too quiet. It was deafeningly quiet in the dining room, and since Jiang Beihan used his cutlery very elegantly, there was only silence in the room, except for the intermittent sounds of him eating and drinking his red wine. Although Song Wenxin did not the food particularly appetizing, she was hungry from the day¡¯s hectic activities, and so she forced herself to eat some of the food. ¡­ ¡°Have you had enough to eat?¡± Jiang Beihan asked as he laid down his chopsticks and lowered his gaze to look across the table at Song Wenxin, who had stopped eating a while ago. Song Wenxin nodded. ¡°Let¡¯s go to the bedroom,¡± he said in a commanding tone, rising from his chair. Song Wenxin nodded, expecting him to lead her to her own room. However, she did not expect to return to the room that she had been in the night before. ¡°Are we sleeping in the same room?¡± she asked him, surprised. ¡°We are husband and wife,¡± he said mildly, suddenly walking over and standing close, right in front of her. As he spoke, a faint whiff of sweet-smelling alcohol drifted from between his lips toward her nostrils, causing her heart to miss a beat involuntarily, probably due to the intoxicating aroma. Caught unawares, Song Wenxin was at a loss for words¡­ Suddenly, he turned and left, leaving Song Wenxin alone in the bedroom. Out of curiosity, she looked around the bedroom. From the minimalist d¨¦cor, she could tell that every meticulously planned detail was expensive and luxurious. She noted the exquisite vase, high-quality paintings, gold-plated antique wall lamps, and handmade rugs; In her eyes, all these represented wads and wads of cold, hard cash. As she was engrossed in inspecting Jiang Beihan¡¯s bedroom, the silence was rudely interrupted by two knocks on the door. Song Wenxin jumped out of her skin at the sudden intrusion of noise. Chapter 18 Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio Song Wenxin jumped out of her skin at the sudden intrusion of noise. ¡°Miss Song, I¡¯ve brought you a change of clothes,¡± the help announced from outside the door. ¡°Come in!¡± Song Wenxin, composing herself, looked toward the door and stood upright. The help pushed the door open and entered the room, pulling a trolley of clothes. Having arranged the clothes neatly, the help turned and prepared to leave the room. But was stopped by Song Wenxin. ¡°Hang on a minute!¡± The help stopped in her tracks and turned to look at Song Wenxin, asking, ¡°Miss Song, is there anything else that you need?¡± ¡°Actually, it¡¯s not anything in particular, but I just feel that this place is a bit too quiet, don¡¯t you think?¡± Song Wenxin said, her eyes roving around the room. Perhaps, having grown up in a lively household, she was not used to the silence and found it difficult to adapt to this new environment. ¡°Sir does not like noise.¡± Song Wenxin nodded. ¡°Then, how about adjusting the lighting to brighten up the room? I find it a bit dark,¡± she suggested, looking up at the lights in the ceiling above her head. She was not used to dimly lit rooms. ¡°Sir does not like too much brightness,¡± the help continued. Song Wenxin was dumbfounded and dearly wanted to retort that their boss had too many weird quirks. ¡°Miss Song, is there anything else that you need? If not, I will leave you now. Sir does not like¨C¡± ¡°All right. You don¡¯t have to tell me any more about Jiang Beihan¡¯s idiosyncrasies. Where is he, anyway?¡± Song Wenxin finally gave up, not wanting to hear anymore. She was not inclined to listen to the help talk incessantly about Jiang Beihan¡¯s pet peeves and everything that might irritate him, as though there was not a single thing in this world that he liked! ¡°He should be in the study,¡± the help replied. Nodding, Song Wenxin said, ¡°Okay, I got it. You may go now.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± The help nodded and turned to leave, shutting the door behind her as quietly as possible. After letting out a sigh, Song Wenxin mumbled to herself, ¡°This Jiang Beihan is a real weirdo.¡± So it was true¡ªthat rumor about the direct relationship between the level of eccentricity and wealth¡ªthat rich people tend to behave more quirkily. Take Jiang Beihan as example, he was, without a doubt, filthy rich, but he was also extremely weird and eccentric! ¡­ Song Wenxin took a shower and changed into the undergarments and nightgown brought by the help. Having dried her hair, she emerged from the bathroom. Needing the time, she looked around for a clock, but she could not find any timepiece at all in the bedroom. It was extremely quiet in the room¨Cso quiet, that she felt very uneasy. And, there was not even a television in the bedroom to provide entertainment for whiling away the time. After a long search, she found some paper and writing instruments¨Cthe only things she could use to pass the time. Sitting on the carpet by the sofa, she put the paper and writing instruments on the coffee table and started drawing with the pencils. Song Wenxin majored in fashion design. Since she had unfinished homework from school to be completed, she decided to use the time to put some designs on paper. However, after doodling a couple of times, she paused and put down her pens. It was just too quiet here¡­ so quiet that she felt disconcerted. However, that was not the point. The point was that the eerie silence scared her. Admittedly, this fear was probably the aftereffect of the many horror movies that she had watched recently! Being in the eerily silent environment all by herself gave Song Wenxin goosebumps and made her hair stand uncontrollably. ¡­ The study. Jiang Beihan was in the process of reading through the information of the Shen family that his assistant had just emailed. As he got to the page of Shen Jiayu, his fingers slightly tightened. He was focused on the information regarding the relationship between Song Wenxin and Shen Jiayu. Fianc¨¦e and fianc¨¦. His dark eyes emitted a flash of unfathomable emotion. Chapter 19 Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio His dark eyes emitted a flash of unfathomable emotion. At that moment, he heard footsteps at the door. He closed the folder containing the information that he had been reviewing. The door suddenly opened, and an adorable head poked through it. ¡°Erm, are you busy now?¡± She smiled sheepishly at him. ¡°What do you think?¡± he asked with raised eyebrows as he glanced at the folders stacked in front of him. She giggled. ¡°May I come in please?¡± she asked with a sweet smile, her attitude exceedingly deferential. He said nothing, but instead just looked at her with his lips pursed. Judging from his reaction, Song Wenxin decided that he had agreed to her request. She had brought a chair with her and placed it not far behind him. ¡°I¡¯m just going to sit here and draft my designs quietly. I promise not to disrupt your work!¡± she assured him. 1Truth be told, she had not wanted to come looking for him, either. Unfortunately, the villa was completely deserted, without even the shadow of a person in sight. She did not want to be on her own in that exceedingly quiet bedroom; she was scared¡­ So, she had to come looking for him here. Having someone beside her gave her a sense of security. Jiang Beihan did not say a word but watched her every move behind him through the reflection on his computer screen. She had kept her word. All she did was work on her designs quietly. ¡°Why did you come here?¡± he asked her through pursed lips. ¡°I-I¡­ was scared¡­¡± Song Wenxin responded, having decided to be honest with him. She added, ¡°It was just too quiet in the bedroom, and¡­¡± she raised her head to look at the ceiling lights in the study, continuing, ¡°the lighting was too dim.¡± She spoke softly and meekly, sounding like a mosquito buzzing. For some unknown reason, at the moment when she spoke of being scared, his heart seemed to have been hit by something gentle and soft. It felt like a tugging at his heartstrings but was also a little uncomfortable. He really wanted to protect this girl. 1With that thought, he reached out and extended his hand toward her. ¡°Come here, you,¡± he said suddenly. Engrossed in her drawing, Song Wenxin was startled by his sudden command, looking at him with suspicion before walking over to him. ¡°What is it?¡± Suddenly, he reached out and held on to her arm¡­ Following the action with a strong pull of his hand¡­ She fell toward him, and, in the next second, her body was twisted, landing her neatly and completely in his arms, sitting on his lap. His hand was, at that moment, wrapped snuggly around her slim waist¡­ 1The warmth of his hands, transmitted through the nightdress and onto the skin of her waist, gave her a feverish, hot sensation. Her nose was once again accosted by the lingering aroma of the red wine on his body, and, also, that distinctive scent of a hotblooded man on him was unexpectedly sweet-smelling. ¡°Still feeling scared?¡± he asked her, barely moving his lips. Just like the warmth of his hands, the deep tone of his voice seared through Song Wenxin, setting her on fire and making her feel hot and feverish¡­ And her face burned up, uncontrollably flushing a deep red. Chapter 20 Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio And her face burned up, uncontrollably flushing a deep red. ¡°Not anymore,¡± she murmured, keeping her head lowered and shaking it, her face flushed. Due to the difference in their heights, even when seated on his lap, Song Wenxin was still shorter by a head. She had to raise her head in order to look him in the eye. Although she had long been engaged to be married, she had never been so close physically with Shen Jiayu. Not that Shen Jiayu had not wanted it, but that she had rejected him every time he tried. However, during those times, Shen Jiayu had still maintained his false persona as a nice gentleman in her presence, and so he had never forced himself on her. So Song Wenxin was still a tad sensitive and inexperienced when it came to dealing with the opposite sex. ¡°But¡­¡± Song Wenxin moved her body uneasily and raised her eyes to look at him, unknowingly shifting her gaze, trying to avoid looking him in the eye. What they were doing now¡­ was it a little too intimate? Although he was not a regular man and would probably not feel anything, she was a very normal woman! ¡°But what?¡± he suddenly lowered his head and asked with a frown. Seeing her blushing face and obvious embarrassment, he actually felt quite happy in his heart. He had never been bothered with the trashy gossip spread by the troublemakers, but, at this moment, he suddenly had a change of mind. He smiled, and, with a devilish look in his eyes, he lifted his hand to hook and lift her chin. Song Wenxin was stunned by his actions. In the next instant, he lurched toward her suddenly, kissing her on the lips with his sensual lips. Song Wenxin was, by now, a little confused. Having confirmed Jiang Beihan¡¯s sexual preference, and now being kissed once again by him, had filled her heart with a weird feeling. In her head, she suddenly fantasized about images of Jiang Beihan and Shangguan together¡­ images that made her feel cold and nauseated¡­ ¡­ Since she had just showered, her body emanated the lingering fragrance of shower gel, which, when blended with her natural body scent, presented a very pleasant aroma. This refreshing aroma wafted around Jiang Beihan¡¯s nose, enhancing the sense of peace and tranquility in his heart¡­ His dark eyes flashed. He realized what was happening to him. With a loud bang, all the items on the work desk were brushed aside, with some items tumbling to the floor. Jiang Beihan picked Song Wenxin up and laid her on the desk, flat on her back. At that moment, Song Wenxin¡¯s head was cleared completely as she came to her senses and, upon reflex, pushed at him with her hands. At the same time, he immediately stopped what he was doing. This sensation of being so close to going completely out of control was, to his memory, the very first time it had occurred. Seeing him straighten his body, Song Wenxin also sat up immediately. Her face was flushed. She opened her mouth wide and gasped for breath, her heart beating rapidly¨Cso rapidly that it might just have crashed out of her. ¡°So sorry to have disrupted your work. I will go now,¡± Song Wenxin said, clamoring up from the desk. Without daring to look Jiang Beihan in the eye, she picked up her drawings and ran out of the study. Jiang Beihan stood rooted to the spot, watching her as she hurried away. Then, he frowned, cleared his somewhat dry throat, raised his hand to unbutton the top two buttons on his shirt, and took a couple of deep breaths before he was able to calm his body down. Within a short span of two days, he had lost it because of her. However, at least for now, he was still not inclined to force himself on her! Turning sideways to look at the chair that she had brought with her and had just occupied, he frowned and muttered to himself, ¡°It¡¯s way too quiet¡­¡± Chapter 21 Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio Turning sideways to look at the chair that she had brought with her and had just occupied, he frowned and muttered to himself, ¡°It¡¯s way too quiet¡­¡± ¡­ Back in the bedroom, Song Wenxin raised her hands to gingerly massage her burning cheeks. She then opened her mouth and took several deep breaths before her tumultuous emotions were soothed, and then she began to regain her composure. Recalling what had just happened in the study, Song Wenxin was puzzled. That kiss he had given her¡­ why did he kiss her like that? Was it because¡­ she had barged into his study without first getting his consent? And so had he done that just to punish her? Of course, she would not be so na?ve as to think that the man had acted like that because he harbored any romantic interest in her or was attracted to her physically. If that was the case, there was no way he would have let her off so easily during those two incidents, earlier that night or the night before. Although she had never had a physical relationship with a man, she did know a thing or two, thanks to today¡¯s society and the free flow and access to all kinds of information. Recalling the scenarios where they had left off in the study, and from the previous night, she surmised that, generally speaking, most men would have lost control and would have not been able to hold back if they had gotten to that extent with a woman. And yet, he had opted not to go further with her on both occasions. That was another sign that convinced Song Wenxin of his sexual preference. However, what had confounded her was the impact that his kiss had on her, causing her heart to beat so rapidly and continuously¡­ ¡­ By the time Jiang Beihan returned to the bedroom, Song Wenxin was fast asleep. She was nestled deeply among the pure, white sheets on the immense bed, her slight form almost indiscernible. She would have been so easy to miss if one was not looking specifically for a person on the bed. Taking a big stride with his long legs, he walked toward her, subconsciously keeping his footsteps light. She was in a deep sleep, seemingly without a care in the world, as though she was in the comfort and security of her own bed at home. Watching her, Jiang Beihan was a tad surprised. His gaze stopped on her face as he looked curiously at her, sleeping so soundly in his bed. After a long time, he raised his hand and, very gently, touched her cheek. A smooth, gentle tingling transmitted through his fingertips, uplifting his mood instantly. ¡°Song Wenxin.¡± He said her name once. It was as though she had heard him calling her. In that instant, Song Wenxin roused and moved suddenly. A look of embarrassment flashed across Jiang Behan¡¯s face as he quickly retracted his hand. Then, Song Wenxin opened her eyes. ¡°Oh, you¡¯re back,¡± she exclaimed, alarmed at seeing him. She sat up in bed. ¡°Am I so scary?¡± He frowned. He felt a twinge of regret for being too pushy and scaring her when they were in the study. ¡°No,¡± Song Wenxin responded, shaking her head and adding, ¡°I¡¯m just curious. Why¡­ did you marry me?¡± Before she had fallen asleep, she had thought about the matter again. Although she had arrived at a conclusion earlier, what had happened in the study had confused her. ¡°What?¡± Frowning, Jiang Beihan wondered why she had waited until now to broach the question. ¡°Surely you don¡¯t¡­ have feelings for me?¡± Song Wenxin gave a sheepish laugh before asking him probingly. At that, Jiang Beihan laughed curtly and asked her in return, ¡°What do you think?¡± ¡°Perhaps I read too much into it,¡± Song Wenxin replied, raising her hand and gently scratching her nose. She had asked that question based on an assumption that she had hidden in her heart¨Can assumption that she herself had deemed not probable. They had only met once, so how could he have been attracted to her? ¡°There are three sons in the Jiang family, and I am the only one who is still not married. I am tired of being constantly nagged at by my old man!¡± Jiang Beihan explained suddenly He lied¡­ Chapter 22 Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio He lied¡­ But, for now, that was the only excuse he could use so that she would lower her guard against him. Even though it was not a good idea. As predicted, after hearing his explanation, Song Wenxin had believed him! ¡°Okay, so that¡¯s why. Don¡¯t worry. Going forward, I will play my part well and not interfere with you and Shangguan. I will also never divulge your relationship to anyone!¡± Song Wenxin assured him with determination. 1Seeing that look of relief on her face, Jiang Beihan¡¯s expression darkened. So, he was right. She did really think that there was an issue with his sexual preference! And, to top it all off, she had assumed that he and Shangguan were in such a relationship! If only she knew how much he wanted to pin her down on the bed, at that very moment, and show her with his actions that he was a very normal man in every inch of his body! But he was more concerned about scaring her away! So all he could do now was to forcefully suppress his discomfort as he turned and stormed into the bathroom! ¡­ As she watched Jiang Beihan storm wordlessly away, Song Wenxin was a little puzzled, and she began to feel sorry for him. Noticing his sudden unhappiness, Song Wenxin assumed that it was because he was upset at not being able to be with the person he loved most. As she thought about it, she sighed audibly. What a real pity it was that such a fine, good-looking man had eyes only for men¡­ 1¡­ On the morning of the following day, Song Wenxin woke up in Jiang Beihan¡¯s room. Looking around the room, she could not see Jiang Beihan anywhere. However, she did notice, from the dent in the pillow beside hers, that it had been slept on. So they had indeed slept together in the same bed last night, but nothing had happened between them. ¡°Heck, I should not even be thinking about this right now!¡± Song Wenxin scratched her head in a panic. She had no idea what time it was and whether or not she would be late for class. Judging by the lighting outdoors, she could tell that early morning had come and gone and that she had classes to attend today! Changing into the clothes that the help had brought the day before, Song Wenxin realized, to her dismay, that the clothes were too flimsy. There was a shirt dress that reached her knees, and a thick, long, woolen jacket, but not even a pair of tights or pants to keep her warm! It was already winter in A-City, and, in a few weeks, they would begin their winter vacation. Wearing these clothes in this weather would not help keep her warm. Since she had no time to worry about keeping warm, Song Wenxin went downstairs hurriedly, preparing to head out the door and off to class. ¡°Miss Song, Sir is waiting for you in the dining room,¡± reminded the help, who had approached her. ¡°I¡¯m running late and cannot stop. I need to go now,¡± she exclaimed with a wave of her hand, heading for the door. ¡°Sir has instructed that, since it would be difficult for you to get a cab in his neighborhood, you should go first to the dining room. He will arrange for someone to send you to your class!¡± the help continued. Hearing her, Song Wenxin suddenly realized that, indeed, it would be very difficult for her to hail a cab in this neighborhood. With that thought, she nodded and headed toward the dining room. ¡­ In the dining room, Jiang Beihan was seated at the dining table, elegantly eating his breakfast. Shangguan, holding his briefcase, stood straight as a rod beside him. This was the scene that Song Wenxin observed as she entered the dining room, and she paused briefly in surprise. Song Wenxin sat in the chair that the help had pulled out for her. At that moment, Jiang Beihan suddenly picked up his plate of fried egg and handed it to Shangguan, who was standing by his side, saying, ¡°Eat this!¡± ¡°Boss,¡± Shangguan sputtered, looking at Jiang Beihan in shock. What was going on with the boss today? ¡°Just do as you¡¯re told and eat it; stop talking nonsense!¡± Jiang Beihan ordered somewhat impatiently. ¡°Yes!¡± Shangguan responded, nodding vigorously. He took the plate from him and began to eat the fried egg slowly. Watching them from across the table, Song Wenxin looked at them with intense curiosity. Noticing that look, Jiang Beihan became extremely unhappy! Chapter 23 Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio Noticing that look, Jiang Beihan became extremely unhappy. With a face devoid of emotion, he rose suddenly from his chair and looked at Shangguan, who was standing beside him. In the next instant, he reached out suddenly and began to adjust Shangguan¡¯s suit. 1Once again, Shangguan was shocked beyond words. ¡°Boss¡­¡± He wondered if he had done anything wrong for the boss to intimidate him like this! ¡°Stop whining!¡± Jiang Beihan sputtered irritably. He was tearing himself out inside here. To think that he had to resort to these antics, very much against his conscience, just so that Song Wenxin could feel reassured that he harbored no ill intentions toward her! ¡°There, it¡¯s all good now!¡± Jiang Beihan announced, retracting his hands and sitting back down. Watching from across the table, Song Wenxin sent him a warm, friendly smile. Although he absolutely hated doing what he just did, he was glad that the ploy had worked most effectively! ¡­ A short while later, Song Wenxin prepared to leave the villa together with Jiang Beihan. While at the door, Song Wenxin discovered that her shoes had gone missing. She searched through the entire shoe cabinet but could not find them. All she found was a pair of low-heeled, knee-high boots. Stunned and baffled, she asked the help, ¡°Where are my shoes?¡± ¡°These are the boots to complement your outfit for today,¡± the help explained. Song Wenxin did not quite understand what she meant, but, since she had no time to spare, she did not argue and hurriedly put on the boots. Fortunately, the length of the boots perfectly covered up any skin left bare by the flimsy clothes. So, she definitely felt a lot warmer now. ¡­ Since Jiang Beihan had offered to give her a ride to school, Song Wenxin got into his car with him. However, during the journey, she began to worry about the inevitable scandal if she was spotted being driven to school in such a fancy car. ¡°Just let me alight at the bus stop not too far from the school, please!¡± Song Wenxin requested of Jiang Beihan¡¯s driver and lover as they got close to the school. ¡°Okay.¡± Shangguan nodded and stopped the car at a bus stop not far from A-University. Song Wenxin got out of the car quickly and sprinted into the university. ¡°Let¡¯s go,¡± Jiang Beihan instructed after a long while, having watched the back of Song Wenxin disappearing slowly into the distance. But the car did not seem to be moving. Having sat in silence for a while, Shangguan turned around to Jiang Beihan, who was seated in the back seat, and asked, in his strong, unwavering voice, ¡°Boss¡­ erm, I¡¯m wondering if I have done anything to upset you.¡± ¡°Why do you ask?¡± ¡°Y-You¡¯re behaving very strangely today,¡± Shangguan responded anxiously. First thing in the morning, the boss had given him his own breakfast. Then, he had helped him adjust his attire¡­ If he had not done something to upset the boss, he would not have treated him that way. Behaving strangely¡­ hearing those words, Jiang Beihan looked embarrassed and gave a low cough. ¡°Nothing to worry about. You¡¯re good. Let¡¯s go.¡± ¡°Yes, sir.¡± ¡­ By the time Song Wenxin got to her class, she was already more than ten minutes late. She had thought that she would be in deep trouble, but fortunately, because there was a problem with the equipment that was to be used to deliver the lecture, the class had been delayed by thirty minutes. Having found herself a seat, Song Wenxin settled in and heaved a sigh of relief, marveling at her spot of good luck. She had barely settled into her seat when, suddenly, a tall, formally dressed guy walked in. ¡°Is Song Wenxin here?¡± Intrigued, Song Wenxin looked at the unfamiliar guy and raised her hand, saying, ¡°I¡¯m here.¡± The guy walked over to her immediately and politely placed a thermal food container in front of her. ¡°This fruit is for you!¡± the guy said, and then walked out immediately before Song Wenxin had had the chance to speak up. She lowered her head to look at the fresh fruit, packed in a sealed container, and was puzzled. Chapter 24 Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio She lowered her head to look at the fresh fruit, packed in a sealed container, and was puzzled¡­ So who had sent these to her? The fruit had been washed and sliced, ready to eat, and was packed in a sealed, transparent container. It looked invitingly fresh. Apart from the fruit, there was also a bottle of milk. How very considerate! Did her brother send these? Probably not, because if it had been him, he would generally have delivered the stuff himself. Besides, although her brother would sometimes send her food, he had rarely been so thoughtful as to wash and slice the fruit before sending them over. Just as Song Wenxin was silently contemplating the fruit, she heard someone behind her speaking suddenly in a sarcastic tone, ¡°Oh my goodness, Song Wenxin. I thought that I had made a mistake but it¡¯s really you!¡± Recognizing that sneering voice anywhere, Song Wenxin did not even have to turn around to know who it was. Ding Ruqian, the Dean¡¯s own daughter, someone who frequently abused the power that her family wielded in the university and lorded it over everyone else, behaving obnoxiously. She was always strutting around arrogantly with her nose in the air. Some of her classmates had given her the nickname ¡°The Little Princess¡±. Of course, it was a nickname that they used only in their private discussions. Song Wenxin turned around and deadpanned. ¡°Hey, Ding. It¡¯s only been two days since we last met. Are you saying that you are not able to recognize me after just two days?¡± Approaching her slowly, Ding Ruqian looked with disdain at Song Wenxin¡¯s outfit, sneering. ¡°You¡¯re all decked up in designer clothes. That¡¯s why I couldn¡¯t recognize you. Don¡¯t tell me these are high-quality knockoffs?¡± she asked scornfully. Usually, Song Wenxin kept a low profile and preferred a nondescript, minimalist style of dressing. So today, since she was suddenly dressed from head to toe in what appeared to be expensive designer clothes, Ding Ruqian naturally could not resist making a dig at her with some sarcastic remarks! ¡°Oh yes, I bought them online at very cheap prices. Shall I forward the URL to you?¡± Song Wenxin asked obligingly with a smile because she could not be bothered to argue with her. It was a well-known fact that Ding Ruqian was a highly competitive person. So, if Song Wenxin had admitted that her clothes were in fact, authentic designer clothes, she would end up being continuously harassed by Ding Ruqian. On the other end, if she fessed up to the fact that her clothes were worthless knockoffs, then Ding would be pacified and not bother with her! Upon hearing Song Wenxin¡¯s reply, Ding Ruqian¡¯s face was instantly transformed as she sneered gleefully. ¡°I do not buy knockoffs. Do share the URL with the others,¡± Ding Ruqian scoffed, giving Song Wenxin a smug look before turning around and strutting away arrogantly. ¡­ At that time, a classmate close to Song Wenxin, who had come to sit alongside her, exclaimed, ¡°Wenxin, by the looks of it, I don¡¯t think that the clothes you have on are knockoffs!¡± Staring at the clothes, she commented wistfully that, judging by the quality of the material and the cut of the clothes, if these were really knockoffs, then all the authentic designer clothes would be left unsold! Song Wenxin did not say a word except to send her a look of helplessness. Her classmate caught on immediately, understanding what she meant with that look. She gave her a thumbs up and praised her softly. ¡°You did this to avoid being continuously harassed by Ding Ruqian. Smart move!¡± ¡­ After the completion of the second period of the morning, the lecturer suddenly announced a field trip to tour the headquarters of a brand. Song Wenxin was stunned when she heard the name of the fashion house that they were about to visit. It was DL, a subsidiary of the JS Group owned by Jiang Beihan¡­ Within the country, DL was a reputable brand of luxury goods with a considerable share of the domestic market. They were also gaining recognition very quickly on the international scene. Everyone in the class was super excited with the news of the trip to tour DL¡¯s headquarters that day, and Song Wenxin was no exception! Chapter 25 Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio ¡­ It was almost noon by the time Song Wenxin and her classmates arrived at the DL headquarters with their lecturer. After a short wait in the reception area, a bespectacled woman turned up and led them into the head office. Along the way, the woman gave Song Wenxin¡¯s group a detailed account of DL¡¯s history of development and growth, guiding them through a variety of products created by DL¡¯s internal team of designers. Song Wenxin was mesmerized by the varied range of creative designs. Suddenly, the female DL employee extended her hand and pointed toward Song Wenxin, saying, ¡°By the way, this student is wearing the latest design from DL¡¯s winter collection. The entire outfit, including the accessories, was created by our brand¡¯s very own designers!¡± At her words, everyone¡¯s attention was then diverted, and they all looked at Song Wenxin¡¯s outfit. Lowering her eyes to look at her clothes, Song Wenxin was stunned. Her clothes had been prepared by the help in Jiang Beihan¡¯s house. In her hurry to get out of the house, she had simply put the clothes on without taking the time to examine them in detail. ¡°Ha, but these are just knockoffs!¡± scoffed Ding Ruqian, looking down her nose at Song Wenxin. ¡°Knockoffs?¡± asked the female employee, surprised by Ding Ruqian¡¯s comment. Then, shaking her head vehemently, she insisted, ¡°That is impossible. These are definitely DL¡¯s clothes!¡± Her adamant assertion surprised Ding Ruqian, cutting off anything she had intended to say. Unhappy at not being given the chance to have the last word, Ding Ruqian glared angrily at Song Wenxin and said nothing, annoyance written all over her face. Song Wenxin felt wronged and victimized. She had done absolutely nothing, but some people were just hellbent on looking for trouble for themselves. Not wishing to look again at Ding Ruqian, she turned her attention to the clothes displayed in DL¡¯s exhibition cabinets. DL¡¯s designers were all globally renowned, and they designed clothes that were unique. Song Wenxin took the opportunity to learn as much as she could while scrutinizing the clothes in the exhibition cabinets. ¡°Oh right, today¡¯s your lucky day. Our boss, who heads up the JS Group, will be here at our head office. So you might just get a chance to meet him!¡± the female employee announced, changing the subject suddenly with a big smile on her face. Her announcement caused a stir amongst the visitors as they expressed their keenness to meet this Jiang Beihan, the so-called legend of the business world. Well, everyone except a surprised Song Wenxin, who had been lagging behind the group in silence. So, Jiang Beihan, her husband in name only, was coming here? Barely a few minutes after the female employee¡¯s announcement, they noticed, along the corridor, a group of people striding determinedly toward them. With Jiang Beihan taking the lead. Looking expressionless, he walked in their direction, taking big strides with his long legs. When he noticed Song Wenxin¡¯s group, he slowed down and eventually stopped beside Song Wenxin, looking down at her. However, Song Wenxin stepped backward on reflex and turned her head away, pretending not to know him! ¡°Hmm¡­¡± He gave a terse laugh. Very well. So she had decided to be a stranger and pretend not to know him! Was being acquainted with him something to be ashamed of? ¡°Boss!¡± greeted the female employee swiftly, her head lowered. In an instant, all the girls in the group were caught in a frenzy! ¡°Is that Jiang Beihan? Oh, he¡¯s so cute!¡± exclaimed someone in a low voice. Song Wenxin followed suit and raised her head to look in the same direction. Jiang Beihan was dressed in an immaculate business suit, which accentuated his excellent physique! Whether it was just his face or the entire package of him, Jiang Beihan was indeed a strikingly handsome guy. What a pity it was that he preferred men. Song Wenxin wanted very much to reveal this regrettable information to the girls, but she had held back, knowing that she would have to face the most severe punishment if she ever dared to divulge Jiang Beihan¡¯s secret¡­ ¡°Who are these people?¡± Chapter 26 Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio Jiang Beihan cast an offhand glance at the group of visitors before resting his gaze for a few seconds on Song Wenxin. Then, he turned to his employee and asked expressionlessly, ¡°Who are these people?¡± ¡°They are students from A-University, on a tour of our headquarters.¡± ¡°Tour?¡± Jiang Beihan asked, narrowing his eyes and shooting a glance at Song Wenxin, who was standing right at the back of the group. Suddenly, he said to the people beside him, ¡°Perfect. I want to visit the creative department. Let them join us, then!¡± That said, he strode off quickly, followed by the group of people, forming a grandiose sight. At this stage, everyone in the group was even more excited. ¡°This is really your lucky day, to be able to tour the creative department together with our boss!¡± the female employee remarked. With a twinge of envy, she shared that, in her many years with the company, she had only met the boss a few times. Song Wenxin was, in fact, surprised that Jiang Beihan would, out of the blue, allow them to join him on the tour as a learning experience. It appeared that he was not too bad a guy after all¡­ ¡­ Song Wenxin¡¯s group followed at a short distance behind Jiang Beihan as they headed toward the creative department. Once they got to the creative department, Jiang Beihan instructed his employees to take the A-University students on the tour but singled out Song Wenxin, pointing at her. ¡°You stay here and get me a cup of coffee!¡± he ordered as he looked at her, his expressionless face tinged with mockery. Since she had wanted to pretend not to know him, he would play her game. Song Wenxin¡¯s heart stopped, her face suddenly transformed by a look of disappointment. She had been over the moon when she found out that they were going on a tour of the creative department, hoping to be able to pick up some tips and enhance her learning. However, she had not expected to be held back by him and ordered to fetch him some water. 1Who was he to order her around, when she was not even an employee of his?! ¡°Boss, let me do it!¡± offered one of Jiang Beihan¡¯s employees, who had been in attendance on the side. Jiang Beihan stared at her coldly, after which she immediately retracted the offer and stood silently to one side. ¡°Can I not go¡­?¡± Song Wenxin pleaded softly, suppressing her anger with gritted teeth, hoping that he would rescind the order on account of her being his legally married wife, in name only. ¡°I¡¯m thirsty,¡± Jiang Beihan insisted, after scrutinizing her briefly. ¡°Erm¡­ Miss. The office pantry is over there. Thank you for your help!¡± said one of the female employees as she thoughtfully pointed Song Wenxin in the direction of the pantry with an envious look on her face, as though the opportunity to make a drink for Jiang Beihan was a most honorable and revered task. Fuming silently, Song Wenxin wanted to take back her earlier compliment of Jiang Beihan being a good guy! He was just another unscrupulous businessman, who refused to use any of his legally hired employees, but instead chose to exploit someone like her for free service! He had gone too far! ¡°Thank you, Song Wenxin. We¡¯ll go ahead first. Remember to come to look us up when you are done and call me if you need to!¡± her lecturer said gently before leading her group of students away. Song Wenxin turned to glare unhappily at Jiang Beihan before turning around and storming off to the pantry to carry out her order. Although she was extremely unwilling to make coffee for Jiang Beihan, she knew that, under the circumstances, she had no choice but to keep her head low and bear with it. ¡­ Once in the pantry, Song Wenxin proceeded to carry out her order and pour coffee into a disposable cup. She was about to leave the pantry with it when she noticed, on the table in the pantry, an assortment of sugar, including cane sugar, honey, glucose syrup, rock sugar, and sugar cubes. She stopped suddenly, as though she had thought of something, and raised her hand to cover her mouth, hiding a smile that had formed. Chapter 27 1 Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio ¡­ A few minutes later, Jiang Beihan was seated in an air-conditioned office in the creative department, reviewing some boring documents and waiting for Song Wenxin¡¯s coffee. Shortly, there was a knock on the door. ¡°Coffee!¡± Song Wenxin announced from the other side of the door. ¡°Come in!¡± he responded. Holding the coffee, Song Wenxin walked into the office with a hint of a smile on her face. Placing the cup of coffee on the desk, she stood to one side without a word, waiting to see his reaction when he drank the coffee. Flashing her a glance, Jiang Beihan lifted the cup and took a sip of the coffee. With that one sip, his face took on a stunned look. ¡°Song Wenxin, you call this coffee?¡± he asked patiently, suppressing his emotions and putting the cup down. How much sugar had she added to the coffee? Did she intend to murder him for his money?! That level of sweetness was definitely enough to dislodge all his teeth! He had no doubt whatsoever that she must have taken all the sugar that she could find in the pantry and added them to his coffee! ¡°Of course it¡¯s coffee!¡± Song Wenxin exclaimed innocently. ¡°Perhaps the quality of the coffee in your company is sub-standard and not quite up to the quality of coffee that you are accustomed to.¡± She rarely drank coffee and had no clue as to whether the coffee was good or bad. What she had just said was simply an excuse that she had made up. Jiang Beihan pursed his lips. Poor quality coffee? She could not have known that the JS Group only ever procured top-grade coffee, so the term ¡°poor quality coffee¡± did not exist here! ¡°Oh, I see!¡± he responded, suddenly laughing out loud. That laugh made Song Wenxin¡¯s heart miss a beat, alerting her to looming danger. This was the first time that she had heard Jiang Beihan laugh aloud, and it was a laugh that caused her hair to stand on end, giving her goosebumps! Glancing at the cup of coffee on the table, he instructed, ¡°Song Wenxin, drink it up.¡± As expected¡­ Song Wenxin hesitated, realizing that he had seen through her prank¨Cthat she had messed with his coffee. Shaking her head vehemently, she declined with gusto. ¡°I don¡¯t drink leftovers!¡± ¡°Are you looking down on me?¡± He demanded to know, enunciating each word clearly in a tone tinged with anger. She had refused to drink it because he had drunk it first?! Did that mean that she felt superior to him? Noting that his face had darkened with anger, Song Wenxin was worried. Game over. She had gotten herself into deep trouble. Even if she had been hellbent on getting back at him, she should not have gone overboard with adding all that sugar in the coffee. Having endured the furious glare from his dark eyes for a few seconds, Song Wenxin laughed guiltily and said, ¡°I was referring to other people, not you, Big Boss Jiang!¡± It was all she could do to suppress her unwillingness even as she uttered those deferential words. All right then. She conceded defeat, blaming it on her destiny. Busted for a prank that had backfired, she had no choice but to reach for the cup of coffee and proceed to drink it. Would this scenario be described as ¡°cutting off the nose to spite the face¡±? The coffee was not only sickeningly sweet but also extremely bitter, enough to trigger a cardiac arrest. The deadly combination of extreme sweetness and bitterness made Song Wenxin feel suddenly nauseous. By the time she had drunk half the coffee, Song Wenxin felt that her entire body was falling apart, her face an unearthly shade of grey! In that instant, the cup in her hand was suddenly snatched away and dumped in the trash bin! ¡°Stop drinking. That¡¯s enough!¡± he commanded in a low voice. It was only then that Song Wenxin heaved a sigh of relief, raising her hand to pat her chest, her mouth still filled with the lingering taste of the coffee, making her very uncomfortable¡­ Jiang Beihan glared at her and said angrily, ¡°Try a prank like this again and this will be the consequence!¡± 1She was the first person who had ever dared to play a prank on him! Looking all innocent, Song Wenxin stuck out her tongue¡­ She had not wanted this. It was his fault for making her stay behind when all she had wanted was to join the educational tour! Chapter 28 Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio She had not wanted this. It was his fault for making her stay behind when all she had wanted was to join the educational tour! Because she had felt short-changed, she decided to get back at him! Even though her prank had backfired, and he had only taken a sip of the sickeningly sweet coffee. Whereas she had drunk half a cup¡­ He had so many employees to order around but had instead singled her out, making her stay behind. This was just plain bullying! ¡°Send in a glass of water!¡± Jiang Beihan picked up the phone on the desk and barked into it. Shortly, an employee brought him a glass of warm water. Having waited until the employee had left the office, Jiang Beihan glanced at the glass of water placed in front of him and said to Song Wenxin, ¡°Drink up!¡± Song Wenxin paused and looked at Jiang Beihan in surprise. ¡°Is this for me?¡± Was the glass of water ordered for her? Jiang Beihan looked briefly at her and said, ¡°Don¡¯t drink it, I don¡¯t care. You had your chance!¡± and proceeded to move the glass away from her. But Song Wenxin was too quick for him and snatched the glass first. ¡°Stop, I¡¯ll drink it!¡± That unpleasant combination of extreme sweetness and bitterness in her mouth was unbearable, and she needed to wash it all down with some water. She was really worried that she might just throw up! Song Wenxin had to drink the entire glass of water before she could rinse out the unpleasant taste from her mouth. Having drunk all the water, she placed the glass on the table and said, ¡°Since the coffee has been delivered, I will be off now.¡± ¡°Hold on a minute!¡± Jiang Beihan called out to her suddenly. Song Wenxin stopped and looked at him suspiciously. Suddenly, he produced a slim, white phone¨Cthe latest model¨Cand placed it on the table. ¡°Use this,¡± he said, economizing on his words. Song Wenxin had lost her phone the night before, and she had not had the time to get a replacement! Eyeing the latest model of mobile phone, Song Wenxin asked with a tinge of glee, ¡°Did you buy this phone for me?¡± Ogling at the phone, she was again inclined to declare that he was a good guy! But what he said next immediately put a stop to any compliment that she was about to give him. ¡°A hand-me-down from the help!¡± The big boss of the JS group had stooped to giving her a hand-me-down from the help. What a thrifty guy! In other words, he was tight-fisted! Although Song Wenxin was secretly a tad unhappy at being given a hand-me-down from the help, she reached across and graciously accepted the phone anyway. The phone looked new, practically unused, and it was the latest model. Song Wenxin lamented silently that the help in Jiang Beihan¡¯s house must be well-off to be able to afford such a good phone. They were also wasteful, to be discarding such a new model so quickly! 1Casually, she said, ¡°Thanks!¡±, put the phone in her pocket, and turned around to leave the office in search of the group that she had left behind. ¡­ After Song Wenxin had left, Jang Beihan sat in the leather chair, reclining slightly in his seat. Retrieving his phone, he opened the messaging app and input a string of digits before sending out a single row of text. ¡­ At noon. Wait for me at the gate. ¡­ By the time Song Wenxin located her classmates, the tour was almost over. She was a little disappointed. At the sight of Song Wenxin, her classmates, unable to contain their curiosity any longer, bombarded her with questions. ¡°Wenxin, did the JS boss say anything to you?¡± ¡°Yes, and did you ask for his number?!¡± She had the golden opportunity to get close to the JS boss, and it would be a great pity if she did not even ask for his number! ¡°Has he taken a liking to you? Otherwise, why, of all people, did he single you out to make his coffee?!¡± Everyone in the group was buzzing with speculation, and the spotlight was once again focused on Song Wenxin. Even the DL employees could not resist casting curious looks in her direction! Chapter 29 Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio Song Wenxin stood rooted to the ground, momentarily stumped, not knowing how to respond to the many questions thrown at her. It was all Jiang Beihan¡¯s fault. Why did he have to single her out to make his coffee when he had so many employees to do his bidding?! Watching from the side as Song Wenxin was being accosted by questions from the rest of the group, Ding Ruqian remarked sarcastically, ¡°Song Wenxin, why are you looking so smug when all you did was make him coffee? But then again, with your looks, that¡¯s about all you¡¯re good for anyway!¡± ¡°Ding Ruqian, you should watch your words. Do you have verbal diarrhea?¡± Song Wenxin asked, irked by Ding Ruqian¡¯s nasty words. This woman had never had a kind word for anybody, but what she had just said topped it all and she could not tolerate it any longer! ¡°What about my words? Don¡¯t tell me that you did not want it to happen. You had probably been making eyes at the boss, otherwise, why would he single you out to make his coffee?¡± Ding Ruqian sneered. She was enjoying herself with her snide remarks and clearly had no intention of stopping! Song Wenxin was furious and was just about to have a showdown with Ding Ruqian when a bespectacled male classmate appeared out of nowhere and spoke out on her behalf. ¡°Ding, stop it. We are all classmates. You¡¯re crossing the line here, making these mean remarks about Song Wenxin in front of all of us here!¡± ¡°I¡¯m talking to Song Wenxin. Mind your own business!¡± Ding Ruqian retorted, eyes radiating condescension. Song Wenxin was also taken aback that someone was in her corner and had actually stood up for her¡­ ¡°Song¡¯s business is my business!¡± the bespectacled boy claimed righteously, reaching out with his hand to hide Song Wenxin behind him, presumably to shield her from harm. 1Eyeing the bespectacled, average-looking boy, Ding Ruqian sneered. ¡°What a dark horse you are, Song Wenxin! Who¡¯d have known that under that quiet, innocent exterior was someone who could easily manipulate men? I see that you¡¯ve wasted no time in getting someone to protect you!¡± ¡°Ding Ruqian, enough. You should keep it down, too. I did not organize this field trip for you guys to turn it into a battleground!¡± At this time, the lecturer, who had had enough of Ding Ruqian¡¯s unruly behavior, interfered and stopped her. Ding Ruqian glared fiercely at Song Wenxin before walking away in a huff. Soon, the group broke up and left the DL headquarters. Stopping in her tracks, Song Wenxin looked at the male classmate and said, ¡°Thank you for speaking up for me!¡± Embarrassed by Song Wenxin¡¯s words of gratitude, the male classmate scratched his head awkwardly and responded, ¡°I just didn¡¯t like her bullying ways.¡± ¡°Agreed.¡± Song Wenxin nodded. Ding Ruqian was a menace on campus, always behaving unreasonably and thinking herself above the law. Although many people had found her obnoxious, they had mostly decided to let things slide and not complain about her, just to give face to her father. When they had reached the main gate of DL, the boy suddenly plucked up courage and asked, ¡°Wenxin, since it¡¯s almost lunchtime, may I invite you to join me for lunch?¡± ¡°Okay, but it will be my treat!¡± Song Wenxin said, agreeing to the invitation without further thought. Well, whatever it was, he had indeed helped her out today, so it was just right that she should buy him lunch! ¡°No¡­ that is not necessary. It will be my treat,¡± the boy stammered happily. They had just stepped out of the grounds of the DL headquarters when the phone in Song Wenxin¡¯s pocket rang. She was baffled for a brief moment before recalling that Jiang Beihan had given her a phone. Retrieving the phone from her pocket, she noted that Jiang Beihan¡¯s name was displayed as the caller id. After a brief pause, she accepted the call and responded suspiciously, ¡°Hello, what is it?¡± What did he want from her? Chapter 30 Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio ¡­ In a black Rolls-Royce parked not far from the gates of the building that housed the DL headquarters, Jiang Beihan sat emotionlessly in the back seat, staring at the male and female couple standing a few meters in front of the car. 1¡°Did you not see the text message that I had sent you?¡¯ he asked, frowning in annoyance. He had sent her a text message, asking her to wait for him. ¡°Did you send me a text message?¡± Song Wenxin asked, looking confused. So, she had not read his text message! ¡°Where are you planning to go?¡± he continued asking her, suppressing his anger. From the looks of it, was she planning to leave together with that male classmate? ¡°It¡¯s lunchtime, so, of course, I¡¯m going to get something to eat!¡± Song Wenxin replied spontaneously without giving it another thought. ¡°Get something to eat? Who with?¡± He frowned, looking out of the window at Song Wenxin, who was standing not too far away. ¡°With my classmate of course,¡± Song Wenxin responded matter-of-factly. So¡­ she had intended to eat lunch with that male classmate. ¡°I¡¯m giving you two choices. One, go eat lunch with your classmate. Two, wait for me at the gate and have lunch with me!¡± Jiang Beihan leaned back in his seat and suggested suddenly, a challenging look in his eyes. ¡°Huh?¡± Song Wenxin was stupefied, momentarily not getting what he was alluding to. Was he saying that he wanted to have lunch with her? Wasn¡¯t he with Shangguan? Why would he want her to tag along? ¡°In two days¡¯ time, DL will be launching the new line of male apparel. I can consider taking you there for the exposure and experience,¡± he added suddenly, taking advantage of her temporary tongue-tied state. Yes, he was hanging a carrot in front of her, tempting her! Such was the fun of fishing¨Cthat feeling of anticipation, waiting for the fish to take the bait that had just been thrown in. And that was exactly what he was experiencing right now. The new product launch was the bait, while Song Wenxin was the fish, and he was the one manipulating the fishing rod! ¡°Do you really mean what you just said? Will you be willing to take me to the product launch?¡± As expected, Song Wenxin¡¯s surprise and excitement could be felt through the phone! ¡°Well, that would depend on the choice that you will make!¡± His lips curled slightly into a smile as he watched the obviously thrilled Song Wenxin from a distance. ¡°I choose the second option!¡± Song Wenxin said excitedly into the phone, secretly concluding that Jiang Beihan was indeed a nice guy, willing to take her to the DL product launch! Meanwhile, Song Wenxin¡¯s classmate, who had been waiting on the side, just looked at her in puzzlement. ¡°Erm, I¡¯m so sorry, my classmate. I cannot buy you lunch today because I need to attend to something that has just turned up. I will treat you to lunch at another time, okay?¡± Song Wenxin said, looking at him apologetically. Although he was disappointed with what Song Wenxin had just told him, he did not want to come across as too pushy either. ¡°If you are busy, then let¡¯s do this another day. It¡¯s okay with me! However, Wenxin, can you please give me your phone number?¡± the boy replied, scratching his head awkwardly. At the mention of her phone number, Song Wenxin paused. Since she lost her phone a couple of days ago, she had been using the one that Jiang Beihan had given her, and she had no clue what the number was. ¡°Let¡¯s do this. How about you leave me your number and I will text you later,¡± Song Wenxin suggested. At that, the boy nodded vigorously and agreed, giving Song Wenxin his number. After the male classmate had walked away, Song Wenxin looked around her, waiting for Jiang Beihan. At that time, a black sports car rolled up and came slowly to a stop in front of her. The car window wound down slowly, revealing a strikingly handsome face. ¡°Get in,¡± Jiang Beihan instructed after giving her a quick glance. Chapter 31 Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio ¡°Get in,¡± Jiang Beihan instructed after giving her a quick glance. Song Wenxin nodded, opened the car door, and got into the car obediently. ¡°Give me your phone!¡± Song Wenxin had only just settled into her seat when Jiang Beihan turned toward her suddenly with his palm opened. Song Wenxin promptly stuffed the phone in her hand into her pocket, saying, ¡°I thought you had already given it to me as a present.¡± So did he want to take it back now? He had said so himself that this was a phone that the help had discarded. There was really no reason for him to be so tight-fisted! ¡°Give it to me,¡± Jiang Beihan repeated firmly, too lazy to explain further. Sensing that he was serious and not about to give in, Song Wenxin, feeling like a loser, handed over the phone. Jiang Beihan took over her phone, opened the contacts list, and swiped the screen a couple of times on the screen with his fingers. After that, he threw the phone back to her. ¡°What did you just do?¡± She took back her phone and asked, looking suspicious. ¡°In the future, you are not allowed to go anywhere with anyone, and you are not allowed to have a meal with anyone!¡± he instructed, changing the subject deftly and avoiding her question. What he said made Song Wenxin pause, feeling muddled, not really understanding what he meant. The ¡°anyone¡± that Jiang Beihan had referred to¨Ccould he have been referring to himself? 1She was well and truly confused. Did he not tell her himself that he wanted her to lunch with him? So now, why was he telling her not to be casual about having a meal with anyone?! Song Wenxin shot him a look of disdain before opening her phone to find out what he had done to it. She discovered that her list of contacts had been totally wiped out and that the only remaining number was that of Jiang Beihan¡¯s. The contact number of her classmate, Zhang, which she had saved earlier, had disappeared without a trace. Had the number been deleted by Jiang Beihan? ¡°How could you simply delete my list of contacts without my consent!?¡± Song Wenxin exclaimed indignantly. ¡°Oh, there is one more condition to be added: you are not allowed to add anyone¡¯s number!¡± Stunned, Song Wenxin finally realized who he meant when he alluded to ¡°anyone¡± in his statements. So, he had not meant himself, but that classmate of hers! Song Wenxin was not at all pleased with his overbearing ways. Presently, he was not only interfering with her activities but had also proceeded to control her phone! ¡°Don¡¯t you know that it is very rude to meddle so casually with someone else¡¯s phone?¡± ¡°But you are not someone else; you are my wife!¡± Jiang Beihan kindly reminded her. They had already obtained their marriage certificate on the previous day! 1She was now his legally married wife, not someone else. Caught unawares by what he had just said, Song Wenxin was momentarily speechless. But she did mutter in her heart that even married couples had to show mutual respect for each other! Not forgetting the fact that they were married in name only! With that thought, without even realizing it, Song Wenxin shot a glance toward the front of the car at Shangguan, who was driving. ¡­ Jiang Beihan¡¯s sports car eventually rolled up and stopped at the front entrance of a restaurant in A-City that served Chinese Specialty Cuisine. ¡°Get out of the car,¡± said Jiang Beihan, turning sideways to face Song Wenxin. Song Wenxin gave him a nod before turning to look at the Chinese restaurant. She had never imagined that Jiang Beihan actually preferred dining at Chinese restaurants. Once out of the car, they both entered the restaurant, while Shangguan stood at the same spot and did not follow them into the restaurant. Puzzled, she asked, ¡°What about Shangguan?¡± Was he not going to join them? At that, Jiang Beihan shot Shangguan a look, which he quickly interpreted in a split second. ¡°I still have something to attend to. Miss Song and Boss, please go ahead!¡± Shangguan said politely. 1¡­ The restaurant was divided into two levels, with the second level comprising the private dining rooms, commonly called havens. Jiang Beihan and Song Wenxin entered one of the havens and sat down. He picked a few light, bland dishes at random and passed the menu to Song Wenxin for her to make her choice. Song Wenxin browsed through the menu and selected a few spicy and richly flavored dishes. Chapter 32 Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio Song Wenxin browsed through the menu and selected a few spicy and richly flavored dishes. Fish Poached in Chilli Oil, MaPo Tofu, and Braised Eggplant with Minced Meat¡­ these were the dishes that Song Wenxin¡¯s often cooked at home. Noticing that Song Wenxin had selected the spicy dishes, Jiang Beihan frowned slightly, asking, ¡°You¡¯re not affected by the heat from these dishes?¡± As he glanced at her silky-smooth complexion, he hoped that, going forward, he would not have to put up with a pimply Song Wenxin on a daily basis because of her preference for spicy food! 1¡°No problem, I just drink plenty of tea to counter it,¡± replied Song Wenxin nonchalantly. A little extra heat in her system was a small price to pay for delectable cuisine. Seeing that she was not too bothered, Jiang Beihan did not broach the subject further. ¡°Oh, right. Since I have no classes in the afternoon, I should make a trip home!¡± Song Wenxin announced, busily eating her food while talking to Jiang Beihan. Since she had not gone home yesterday, she needed to show her face at home today, otherwise, her family members would worry. For some reason that she could not explain, she felt that she should inform Jiang Beihan of her decision. Suddenly, Jiang Beihan put down his chopsticks and looked at her, expressionless, saying in a commanding tone, ¡°Going to the mall later!¡± ¡°Why go to the mall?¡± Song Wenxin asked, not understanding what he meant. Did he mean that he wanted her to go with him to the mall? ¡°To buy home appliances!¡± ¡°Why buy home appliances?¡± Jiang Beihan shot her a glance and asked, ¡°Weren¡¯t you complaining that it¡¯s way too quiet at home?¡± Who was it who had complained last night that it was way to quiet in the house? Song Wenxin paused. It was true that Jiang Beihan¡¯s villa was deadly quiet. There was not even a TV set in the bedroom, giving one the impression that it was not a place where people lived. Indeed, there was definitely room for improvement! If it had not been too quiet in the bedroom the last night, she would not have gone to the study¡­ Recalling what had happened the last night in the study, Song Wenxin¡¯s face flushed a flaming red uncontrollably¡­ ¡°Why do you look so flushed?¡± Jiang Beihan asked, scrutinizing Song Wenxin, who was seated across the table. Flustered, Song Wenxin quickly reached out with her hands to soothe her burning cheeks and used the spicy food as her excuse. ¡°Huh? I¡¯m not¡­ the food is way too spicy!¡± ¡°Why eat it if you can¡¯t take the spiciness? Song Wenxin, do you enjoy torturing yourself like this?¡± Jiang Beihan asked. Even as he appeared to be taunting her, subconsciously, he pushed the cup of tea, which had been placed in front of him, toward her. 1Smiling guiltily, Song Wenxin reached for the cup of tea that he had offered and drank a large mouthful. ¡­ Half an hour later, they arrived at the home appliances section of the mall. Jiang Beihan and Song Wenxin were there to select an LED TV. Browsing through a wide range of LED TV sets of different brands in various dimensions and with varying functionalities, Song Wenxin felt a little overwhelmed. With the shopping assistant talking continuously, highlighting the features of each product to them, Song Wenxin was at a loss as to which type to buy. All this time, Jiang Beihan had stood beside her, reading some documents that had been saved to his phone, behaving as though he had nothing to do with the intended purchase. ¡°Don¡¯t you watch TV at all?¡± Song Wenxin finally caved in and asked him. It was not possible for the home of a normal person to not be equipped with a TV set. ¡°I don¡¯t watch TV. It¡¯s too noisy,¡± he replied. He disliked anything that created too much noise. ¡°Don¡¯t you get bored, then?¡± Song Wenxin was dumbfounded. All he had to do was turn down the volume. ¡°Nope.¡± Song Wenxin felt defeated. It was just too tiring to have a conversation with such an abnormal person. ¡­ After browsing for a long time, Song Wenxin decided not to look further and simply instructed the shopping assistant to pick the LED TV with the most comprehensive suite of functionality, and it was the most expensive model stocked in the store. After all, it was not her money that she was spending, so she did not feel the pinch at all! Chapter 33 Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio Since they had bought the LED TV, the bedroom should not seem to be so quiet. Besides the TV, Song Wenxin took the opportunity to also browse through a selection of clocks and small, cute display items. Looking on as she went on her shopping spree at the mall, Jiang Beihan simply stood by her side, not uttering a word, his face expressionless. This was the first time that he had made a trip personally to a shopping mall to accompany a woman while she shopped. ¡°Look at this. What do you think? Isn¡¯t it adorable?¡± Song Wenxin picked up a small alarm clock shaped like a rabbit, turning around suddenly to show it to Jiang Beihan. ¡°Childish!¡± He shot a look of disdain at the silly-looking bunny¡­ how old did she think she was, taking a liking to these things? Pursing her lips, Song Wenxin looked disappointed at what Jiang Beihan had just said and put the alarm clock back on the shelf. Next, she spotted a retro clock with an old-school design that looked very stylish. Once again, she asked for his opinion. ¡°Would this one do, then?¡± Since the item was to be placed in his bedroom, she needed his opinion before buying it. If he did not want the item displayed in his bedroom, then she would have wasted her time buying it. ¡°Whatever, I don¡¯t use these things,¡± Jiang Beihan replied mildly, looking like he didn¡¯t care either way. He had an excellent biological clock and did not need to rely on those things. Based on his reply, Song Wenxin smiled and said happily, ¡°We¡¯ll buy this, then. It¡¯s nice!¡± That said, she put the item into the shopping cart. Observing her happy smile as she browsed the items on display, Jiang Beihan¡¯s dark eyes warmed up inadvertently¡­ He had never imagined that shopping at the mall with someone could be a little fun. ¡­ Having paid for the items, they walked out of the mall, preparing to depart, when Song Wenxin suddenly stopped in front of the display window of a men¡¯s apparel store outside the mall. Her eyes were focused on a blue and white striped tie displayed in the window that had caught her attention. However, when she noticed the price tag, Song Wenxin winced. As Jiang Beihan walked closer toward her, he followed her line of sight and finally noticed the tie. That was a man¡¯s tie! ¡°Jiang Beihan, lend me some money!¡± she said as she turned to the man standing behind her. ¡°Do you want to buy that?¡± Jiang Beihan asked, glancing at the tie. Did she intend to buy that tie as a gift for him? ¡°Yes! That one. I don¡¯t have that much money now. Lend me some money and I will return it another day!¡± Song Wenxin said determinedly. Although she did not have that much money on her, she was sure that, with the money she had saved from her allowance, she would have enough to pay for the tie! ¡°But I don¡¯t like anything too flashy!¡± Jiang Beihan claimed, looking with distaste at the blue and white stripes on the tie. Indeed, that was not his style. Too flashy! ¡°Huh?¡± Song Wenxin responded in confusion, adding, ¡°I¡¯m not buying it for you¡­¡± She was stumped and at a loss for words. Why did he have to be negative when she was buying the tie for someone else? She was not buying it for him, anyway! Before she could complete her sentence, Jiang Beihan¡¯s cool, handsome face had turned dark instantly. Amongst the many passers-by on that street, there was an endless stream of young women who were looking in Jiang Beihan¡¯s direction and talking about him, keeping their voices low. ¡°Look at that man. He¡¯s so good looking!¡± ¡°Where?¡± ¡°Look, that one wearing a black jacket; that tall guy!¡± ¡­ ¡°You¡¯re not giving it to me?!¡± Jiang Beihan demanded to know, his dark eyes staring intently at Song Wenxin¡¯s face as though he was about to devour her! If the gift was not for him, then who was it intended for? Chapter 34 Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio If the gift was not for him, then who was it intended for? ¡°I¡¯m buying it for my brother¡­ Why are you glaring at me like that? My brother¡¯s birthday is around the corner.¡± Flustered by his intense look, Song Wenxin gasped involuntarily. What was the matter with him? ¡°So, that¡¯s why you want to give him that tie?¡± Jiang Beihan clarified, his expression not looking any less sinister. Song Wenxin nodded in all honesty. In an instant, Jiang Beihan turned and walked into the men¡¯s store. Stunned, Song Wenxin stood rooted to the ground for a while before she followed in his footsteps and went into the store. By the time she got into the store, the sales assistant was in the process of wrapping up the tie in question and, having finished, handed over the package to Jang Beihan. ¡°Sir, here it is, all wrapped up.¡± Reaching out to accept the package, Jiang Beihan turned to leave the store when the sales assistant called out to him from behind. ¡°Sir, our store organizes members¡¯ events every month. Would you please leave us your phone number for us to contact you when we next bring in new products?¡± ¡°No need for that,¡± Jiang Beihan replied curtly. The female sales assistant looked a tad downcast. Song Wenxin concluded that, if she had guessed correctly, the sales assistant was merely using the opportunity to get Jiang Beihan¡¯s phone number. At the same time, Song Wenxin was amazed at the attention that Jiang Beihan had been getting. It appeared that, wherever he went, he would always become the person of interest. Indeed, good looks meant increased popularity! Then again, it would most likely be one of the reasons why he hated noise and commotion! ¡­ Song Wenxin followed Jiang Beihan out of the men¡¯s store. Eyeing the package he held that was holding the tie, she looked at in appreciation and said, ¡°Thank you for this. I will return the money when we meet again!¡± ¡°Why would you want to return the money to me?¡± Jiang Beihan asked, pausing and shooting her a quick glance. ¡°You bought the tie on my behalf, so, of course, I must return the money to you!¡± Song Wenxin explained. ¡°Who told you that I had bought this on your behalf?¡± he asked as he lifted up the package and looked at Song Wenxin with eyebrows raised. Did he mention that he had bought the tie on her behalf? ¡°If you had not bought it on my behalf, then why did you buy it?!¡± Song Wenxin looked at him, perplexed. If he had not bought it on her behalf, then who did he buy it for? Giving a short laugh, Jiang Beihan said tauntingly, ¡°I bought it for myself. Do you have a problem with that?¡± 2¡°But you don¡¯t even like the style of this tie¡­¡± Song Wenxin protested, dumbfounded. He had just declared that he disliked anything that was too flashy, but now? ¡°I¡¯m buying it for display at home!¡± Jiang Beihan retorted with disdain before turning around to walk away. ¡°Please don¡¯t. It would be a waste to buy for display at home. Why not give it to me? You detest flashy things, but I like them¡­¡± Song Wenxin pleaded, running to keep up with his big strides. ¡°That¡¯s my prerogative!¡± Jiang Beihan replied, sending her a glare, annoyance radiating from those dark eyes of his. ¡°Oh, why, for goodness sake?! You¡¯ve bought it with no intention of using it. That is being wasteful!¡± ¡°I like being wasteful!¡± he replied brusquely, lips pursed. Defeated once again, Song Wenxin felt her blood accumulating in her throat, ready to be spewed at any moment. Talking to Jiang Beihan was so exasperating, making her want to spew blood at any minute! He actually declared that he liked being wasteful! He would rather be wasteful than let her have that tie! Nouveau rich! A typical example of new money! Unscrupulous businessman! Infuriated, Song Wenxin cursed a billion times at Jiang Beihan in her heart! ¡­ On the journey back to the villa in the hills, Song Wenxin was fuming with resentment bottled up inside her and looked very unhappy. On the other hand, Jiang Beihan was looking very relaxed in his seat, toying with the box that held the tie, stealing occasional glances at the fuming Song Wenxin. Chapter 35 Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio As soon as Song Wenxin saw the box containing the tie in his hands, she got very angry! Unscrupulous businessman! Not only did he deny her request for a loan, but he also had to buy the tie on purpose, just to spite her! The more she looked at him, the angrier she got. Eventually, she shifted positions and faced the other way, refusing to look at him, instead, looking out the window at the passing scenery! Right about that time, Jiang Beihan turned sideways leisurely to glance at her, noticing from the look of fury on her small face that she was, indeed, very upset. ¡°Song Wenxin, get me a present!¡± he suddenly commanded. He wanted her to give him a present! Since it was what he had been thinking about, he had made that request. ¡°Huh?¡± Turning around to face him, Song Wenxin looked surprised, wondering if she had heard wrongly. What did he mean by those words; that she should get him a present? Whatever for? Without any explanation, Jiang Beihan pulled out a card from his pocket and passed it to her. After taking another look for confirmation, Song Wenxin realized that it was a bank card. ¡°No PIN necessary,¡± Jiang Beihan then said. ¡°Is this for me?¡± Song Wenxin asked, a little surprised. Did he give her the bank card because he had not lent her the money to buy that tie as she had requested earlier? ¡°There¡¯s two hundred thousand in the card, for your living expenses this month. Let me know if you need more.¡± 1Since they were married, he should be responsible for her daily needs, be it monetary or otherwise¡­ Once again, Song Wenxin was so amazed by his action that her jaw dropped. She had never met anyone who used money to force another to buy him a present¡­ It appeared that only Jiang Beihan could do something like this. Every inch the successful businessman that he was, he made sure that every action was duly rewarded, including the task of buying a present. Accepting the bank card, she asked a little apprehensively, ¡°What type of present would you prefer?¡± He had said so himself that he never engaged in any transaction that was not profitable, so, by giving her two hundred thousand, was he then expecting a present that was worth three hundred thousand? 1Which would put her out of pocket, big time¡­ ¡°Whatever you decide!¡± Jiang Beihan replied nonchalantly, surprising Song Wenxin with his attitude. ¡°Even if it¡¯s worth under a hundred?¡± Song Wenxin asked, trying to sus him out. ¡°I want something that you have made with your own hands!¡± he added, after having pursed his lips in thought for a while. ¡°But if you do not like what I have made, would you ask me to compensate you in cash?¡± Song Wenxin persisted, still suspicious and worried about his intentions. ¡°I don¡¯t need more money!¡± Jiang Beihan bellowed irritably. What kind of a person did she take him for? In her opinion, was he really that bad? ¡°Okay, deal. I will try my best to give you a present that you will like!¡± Song Wenxin slapped her hands together and agreed gleefully. Whichever way she looked at it, this was a transaction that was to her advantage! No, she should say it was especially advantageous for her. While she had no clue as to why Jang Beihan wanted this done, she could only assume that he was bored out of his mind and had simply used money to mindlessly while his time away. And, to her, this was no skin off her nose, having no negative impact on her¡­ so she simply accepted the deal! ¡­ On the following day, Song Wenxin attended one session for that day and, with Jiang Beihan¡¯s bank card in her possession, took the bus to the store that she had visited with Jiang Beihan the day before to buy a tie. Since Jiang Beihan had already bought the tie on the previous day, the shop had replaced the display with the exact same one in the window. Having studied the tie for a short while, Song Wenxin turned to the sales assistant and said, ¡°Please wrap¡ª¡± At that time, a man¡¯s elegant voice suddenly interrupted Song Wenxin¡¯s request. ¡°I want that tie.¡± Chapter 36 Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio ¡°I want that tie.¡± Song Wenxin was stunned as she turned her head toward the source of that voice. She noticed a man standing less than a few meters away from her, wearing a casual outfit¡ªa baseball cap and dark glasses. He was pointing to the very same tie that she had her eye on. At first, Song Wenxin had thought nothing of it. Within a store, it was normal for the customers to be attracted to the same item. It was nothing to put up a fuss about. However, it was what the sales assistant said next that created some anxiety in the ambiance. ¡°I¡¯m so sorry, dear customers, but we have only one piece left for this tie¡­¡± When she heard that, Song Wenxin immediately went into alert mode. ¡°Apologies. I was the one who first selected this tie, so you should pick one in another style,¡± Song Wenxin said, looking at him with a smile, staking her claim on that tie. ¡°Oh, is that so?¡± The man gave a laugh and removed his dark glasses, revealing a charming and very handsome face¡­ A very clean-cut and good-looking face, indeed¡­ However, when he looked clearly at Song Wenxin¡¯s face, the expression on his face took on a hint of surprise¡­ Sending Song Wenxin a charming smile, he looked confident as he asked, ¡°Do you have evidence to prove that you had selected the tie first?¡± Just as Song Wenxin was about to argue with him, she heard screams from the sales assistants behind her. ¡°Ooh! It¡¯s Qiao Zezhi!¡± Qiao Zezhi? Song Wenxin¡¯s heart lurched. The name sounded vaguely familiar; where had she heard it before? Moreover, that face, it looked familiar too, but, at that moment, she could not recall where she had seen it before. ¡°How about it? Now, will you let me have that tie?¡± the man asked Song Wenxin, sending her a smile followed by a wink, flirting with her. Song Wenxin had no response to that. Did he intend to use beauty to charm her into letting him have that tie? More¡¯s the pity. She was not the type to fall for this ploy. Over the past few days, she had faced Jiang Beihan on so many occasions that she had developed an immunity to men who are very good-looking! 1¡°No way, I was the one who picked that tie first!¡± she retorted, full of gusto. ¡°Don¡¯t you know who I am?¡± Qiao Zezhi asked. Noticing that she was very calm, Qiao Zezhi¡¯s smile began to fade, his elegant face appearing more annoyed! Did this woman really not recognize him? Which deep mountain did she crawl out from? How could she not know who he was?! ¡°Must I know who you are?¡± Song Wenxin responded with a question of her own. Was it important who he was? Regardless of who he was, she would not let him have that tie. She wanted to give it as a present to her brother. The other party had no response because what she said was not wrong, although it did irritate him a little. ¡°Zezhi, can we have a photo with you, please?!¡± At this time, the female sales assistants in the store had approached Qiao Zezhi excitedly, holding their phones in their hands. Qiao Zezhi smiled gently at them, saying politely, ¡°Of course!¡± The sales assistants were instantly overjoyed and extremely excited! It was then that Song Wenxin managed to recall who Qiao Zezhi was. Recently, her classmates had dragged her off to the cinema to watch a film that he had starred in. At that time, the cinema was basically packed with young girls who had gone there with their friends or their boyfriends just to watch Qiao Zezhi. After the photos had been taken, the sales assistants just ignored Song Wenxin and went ahead to wrap up the tie for Qiao Zezhi. ¡°Zezhi, this tie would look fantastic on you!¡± the sales assistant said, smiling shyly. ¡°I was the one who selected that tie first. Why are you wrapping it up for him?¡± Song Wenxin demanded, angry at what she had seen. Even if this Qiao Zezhi was a movie star, they should not behave like this¡ªwith no principles at all! Chapter 37 Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio ¡°Um, pretty lady, can we do this? Why don¡¯t you pick another style? I will give you a discount. Can you please give this one up and let our Zezhi have it?¡± suggested the sales assistant, giving Song Wenxin a look that transmitted the dilemma that she was in, before gazing at Qiao Zezhi with admiration as though she would have loved to devour him. For a tie like that, only someone with Qiao Zezhi¡¯s out-of-this-world good looks would be a good match for it. ¡°But I saw this tie first. Why don¡¯t you ask him to look for another style?¡± Song Wenxin demanded to know. Song Wenxin was very unhappy with such discriminatory service. So she had to give up on something that she liked simply because he was a movie star?! This was the tie that she had liked the moment she set her eyes on it on the previous day, and she wanted to give it to her brother as a present, knowing that he would like it! So there was no way Song Wenxin would give it up! ¡°Why are you so inflexible?¡± the sales assistant asked, now irritated by Song Wenxin¡¯s determination to not give in. At that moment, Qiao Zezhi, who was looking on by the side, interrupted with a laugh. ¡°I will pay you double the price. Can you let me have the tie, please?¡± Having been high on the popularity charts in the entertainment industry for so many years, Qiao Zezhi had long gotten used to the preferential treatment from his adoring public, so, today, he had not expected to encounter someone so inflexible, who regarded him as a nobody! Actually, he had earlier been half-hearted about wanting the tie, but, now, he was determined to persuade her to let him have the tie willingly! Now, that was Qiao Zezhi¡¯s style of getting things sorted! ¡°How about this, then? I will give you triple the amount, so please, can you stop fighting over this tie with me?¡± Totally incensed by his condescending attitude, Song Wenxin flashed the bank card that had been in her hand and stared at him fearlessly with her eyes opened wide. ¡°Did you think you could do anything just because you are rich?!¡± That said, she did not forget to also send him a look of contempt! Truth be told, Song Wenxin was not unreasonable, but the arrogance and conceit of the man had infuriated her so much that she was determined to fight him to the end. Qiao Zezhi¡¯s face turned a ghostly white. He could not believe that his first attempt, in his entire life, to use money to insult someone had backfired, resulting in himself being insulted, instead. He could not imagine that such a woman existed in this world. Could she not see his beautiful face? How could she even think of fighting with him over something? ¡°Are you doing this on purpose to get my attention?¡± Qiao Zezhi asked suddenly before laughing sneeringly and adding, ¡°Looks like you have been watching too many TV dramas!¡± She could not believe that he would resort to such an archaic, lame tactic! At his words, Song Wenxin laughed. What was this about her trying to get his attention? Was he insane? Why did she even need to get his attention? Not bothering to argue any further with him, Song Wenxin just handed the bank card to the sales assistant and instructed, ¡°Check out and wrap that up for me!¡± The sales assistant looked at Song Wenxin disdainfully with no intention of doing as she was told. Feeling slighted and ignored, Qiao Zezhi¡¯s face got even paler; ever since he made it and became popular, no had dared to treat him this way. Was this woman doing this intentionally? Seeing that they had ignored her, Song Wenxin got even more upset and asked irritably, ¡°Is this the type of customer service you offer to your customers? Do you want me to call in and file a complaint against you?¡± ¡°Forget it. I¡¯m not interested in something so tacky anyway. Let her have it!¡± By then, Qiao Zezhi had had enough. Sending Song Wenxin a scornful look, he put on his dark glasses, turned around, and stormed out of the store in a huff. Chapter 38 Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio As she watched Qiao Zezhi make his abrupt exit, Song Wenxin was a little surprised. He seemed to have given up the fight a tad too easily. Or perhaps he had decided that he did not want to stoop so low to continue to fight over a tie with her and that it would have been degrading for him to do so. In any case, she was not fazed. Who cared if he had deemed the tie tacky? It was good as long as she liked it. ¡­ On the other hand, the sales assistants, seeing that Qiao Zezhi had left the store, looked disappointed. ¡°Your male idol has already left. Now, can you wrap that up for me, please?¡± Song Wenxin reminded helpfully. Despite giving Song Wenxin a dirty look, the sales assistant had no other option but to do as instructed, so she wrapped up the tie for her. Looking on happily, Song Wenxin just knew that her brother would love that tie! Having paid for the tie, Song Wenxin emerged from the store and proceeded to search for a store that sold yarn and knitting tools for her to make a scarf. The prior night, she had promised Jiang Beihan that she would give him something that she had made herself. Having given it much thought, she decided that a scarf would be most appropriate. For her, that would be a simple task with minimum difficulty, and, in any case, it was just about the right time of the year to knit! ¡­ When she had made all her purchases, Song Wenxin looked at the time and, discovering that it was still early in the day, decided to make a trip home by bus. Song Wenxin arrived home at around lunchtime. Her brother, Song Jiamu, had just gotten home for lunch from the medicine store. The entire family was naturally happy to see that Song Wenxin had returned home. While they were having lunch, Mrs. Song, Xu Wenqing, asked worriedly, ¡°Wenxin, why have you not come home, staying out for the past two days?¡± Even though Song Wenxin had called home over the past two days to explain why she had to stay out, as parents, they were still somewhat concerned. Laughing in embarrassment, Song Wenxin replied after thinking through her response, ¡°Well, schoolwork has been a little hectic the past few days, so I decided to sleep at my classmate¡¯s. I intend to move to the dormitory to cut down on the daily commute between school and home.¡± Jiang Beihan had wanted her to stay at his villa, so she had no choice but to lie to her family¡­ 1So that was her plan for now since she had decided to keep the fact that she had obtained a marriage certificate with someone a secret from her family. If her parents and brother found out that she had gone to Jiang Beihan for help in regard to that matter from two days before and ended up getting married, they would be furious. ¡°Why this sudden decision to move out to the dormitory? I will drive you to and from school from now on!¡± Song Jiamu said, unable to remain quiet any longer. He could pick her up every day. ¡°That¡¯s not necessary, bro. You are busy enough as it is with the operation of the many stores, so don¡¯t waste precious time picking me up from school!¡± Song Wenxin declined his offer, smiling guiltily. ¡°How would it be a waste of my time? What if you get bullied while staying at the dormitory?!¡± Song Jiamu responded, not convinced. ¡°Oh, come on. You overexaggerate! In any case, the lecturers are encouraging us to stay in the dormitory as a way of grooming us to be independent and to adopt life skills that would allow us to adapt to society sooner rather than later!¡± Song Wenxin persisted in her reasoning. ¡°Wenxin is quite right. Let¡¯s do what the lecturers advocate, then. Staying close to the student community will be a learning process, anyway,¡± Mr. Song agreed with a nod. ¡°Father, you know me so well!¡± Song Wenxin smiled sweetly at her father, worming herself into his good books by helping him pick up some meat and placing it on his plate. ¡°What are you saying, then? That your brother doesn¡¯t know you?¡± asked Song Jiamu, annoyed at what she had just said. ¡°Nope, I did not say that. I know that you only have my best interest at heart, and that is why I have bought you an early birthday present!¡± Chapter 39 Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio ¡°Nope, I did not say that. I know that you only have my best interest at heart, and that is why I have bought you an early birthday present!¡± Song Wenxin replied as she ran over to the sofa, brought the box with the tie in it to the dining table, opened it, and showed it to Song Jiamu. Accepting the box, Song Jiamu looked at the blue and white striped tie and immediately smiled at the pleasant surprise. ¡°I must say that you do know your brother¡¯s tastes!¡± ¡°But of course!¡± Song Wenxin laughed happily. She just knew that her brother would like the gift that she had picked for him! After lunch, the family sat around and chatted happily. Broaching the subject cautiously, Song Wenxin asked her father and brother for the latest news about the Shen family. Regarding that incident of framing the Song family, it appeared that a senior executive of the Shen Group had stepped up and confessed to framing Song Jiamu, thereby bringing the matter to a close. As they related the details, both Song Jiamu and Song Chengtao were baffled as to what had really happened and why. Laughing, Song Wenxin said, ¡°Maybe it¡¯s because that senior executive from the Shen Group was suddenly hit by his conscience!¡± But she thought it more likely that it was due to the pressure exerted by Jiang Beihan that the Shens had had to sacrifice one of their employees to take the fall! Only that father-and-son from the Shen family would be capable of such a despicable act! But, after this incident, the Shens would, for the time being, probably not dare do anything to the Song family. ¡°The Shens are mean people, but, don¡¯t you worry, Wenxin, your brother here will protect you! Recently, I have been engaged in talks for a big business deal, and once that is completed successfully, the Shens will find it very difficult to mess about with us!¡± Song Jiamu announced gleefully, patting Song Wenxin on the shoulder. ¡°What big deal?¡± Song Wenxin asked, her curiosity aroused. Song Wenxin¡¯s parents had founded the family¡¯s medicinal herbs business, growing the business into a few medicinal stores and a small factory in A-City. Together with their own farm for cultivating the medicinal herbs, they had built a steady business selling medicinal herbs. Since his graduation, Song Jiamu had been placed in charge of the main lines of the family business, and he had done a good job, expanding beyond A-City and setting up stores in other cities. And now that Song Jiamu had alluded to a big deal, Song Wenxin was naturally very curious. ¡°It¡¯s confidential for now. We can celebrate as a family once I have successfully closed the deal on the collaboration!¡± Song Jiamu said, looking very confident. ¡°Then it would be your turn to buy me a gift,¡± Song Wenxin proceeded to angle for a gift, having noticed the confidence written all over Song Jiamu¡¯s face. ¡°Of course. No problem at all!¡± Song Jiamu responded immediately. ¡­ Because she had told her family that she planned to move to the dormitory, Song Wenxin spent the afternoon packing her clothes and necessities. In the evening, feeling a little sad at having to leave her family, she left her home with a suitcase, planning to hail a cab to take her to Jiang Beihan¡¯s villa in the hills. At that time, a royal-blue sports car pulled up suddenly in front of her before screeching to a halt. Shocked, Song Wenxin took a couple of steps backward. That was Shen Jiayu¡¯s car! The car door was pushed open from inside and Shen Jiayu began to step out of the car. ¡°What are you doing here?¡± Song Wenxin demanded to know, her expression turning unfriendly upon seeing Shen Jiayu. ¡°Song Wenxin, I never saw it coming that you¡¯ve got it in you to hook up with Jiang Beihan!¡± Shen Jiayu commented with a wry smile as he got out of the car. He had never expected his meticulously laid trap to get her to come to him voluntarily to be completely upended by Jiang Beihan, sending all his plans up in smoke! Chapter 40 He was very surprised that, for this incident, Jiang Beihan had actually stepped up and helped the Song family! And since there was no way the Shen family¡¯s influencing power could match up to that of Jiang Beihan¡¯s, they had no option but to find a scapegoat to own up to that matter! ¡°Your despicable scheme was unsuccessful. Are you now extremely angry?¡± asked Song Wenxin, standing firmly where she was and looking at him with disdain, not afraid of him at all, As far as this man was concerned, all she had for him now was contempt! ¡°What did you offer to him for him to help you so willingly?!¡± Shen Jiayu asked, looking to Song Wenxin uncomprehendingly! This was Jiang Beihan. Shen Jiayu had tried, many times before, to strike up a relationship with him for business purposes. However, he could not get a meeting with him even once! So what exactly was the reason why he had helped Song Wenxin so willingly?! Of course, Shen Jiayu did not believe that Jiang Beihan had helped her out of the goodness of his heart because he suddenly felt compassionate! In today¡¯s world, the businessman would always follow the profits! So what in the world did Song Wenxin give Jiang Beihan in exchange for his help? ¡°This has nothing to do with you. Can you please step aside? I want to leave now!¡± Song Wenxin replied, not wishing to say anything else to him. Shen Jiayu¡¯s expression became serious for a brief moment before he suddenly explained in a tone that also became a little gentler, ¡°Wenxin, about the incident that night¡ªthat was really not my doing!¡± The incident was all the doing of that woman who had clung on to him, refusing to let him go. That night, she had deliberately used his phone to send Wenxin a text message asking her for a meeting¡­ ¡°Shen Jiayu, I don¡¯t want to listen to your explanation. If you really still have a little conscience, going forward, please do not cause any more trouble for the Song family!¡± Song Wenxin said, gritting her teeth to suppress her anger. All this time, her parents had been quite good to Shen Jiayu, regarding him as a future son-in-law. But, this time, the Shens had gone too far. They had actually intended to destroy the entire Song family! Having said her piece, Song Wenxin turned and proceeded to walk around him. Shen Jiayu quickly ran ahead of her and blocked her way. ¡°What have I done wrong for you dislike me so?¡± He just did not understand. When they were kids, he had been quite nice to her. And, after they had grown up and gotten engaged, he had treated her extremely well, but she just did not seem to like him. Even though they had been in a fianc¨¦-fianc¨¦e relationship, she had never allowed him to touch her, and when he had tried to kiss her, she had flatly refused. Song Wenxin burst out laughing when she heard what he had just said. ¡°Shen Jiayu, stop talking as though you are a saint. Don¡¯t think that I am not aware of your womanizing ways!¡± What she really wanted to ask him was, ¡°Is there anything good about you?¡± Always putting on a pretentious face in her presence¡­ That was one thing that really made Song Wenxin nauseous. Instead of having to put up with this pretentious face, she concluded that she would rather look at that emotionless face of Jiang Beihan all day. At least it was more honest and real. ¡°You¡­ knew about that?¡± Shen Jiayu asked, feeling as though he had something stuck in his throat, unable to find a rebuttal to what Song Wenxin had just said. Song Wenxin shot him a glance and turned to walk away. Just at that moment, a cab came into view. Song Wenxin immediately raised her hand to flag it down and, picking up her luggage, got into the cab. It took Shen Jiayu a moment¡¯s pause before he decided to chase after her. However, in that instant, a black sports car had sped up and stopped horizontally, blocking his passageway. Shortly after, two tall and well-built men stepped out from the car and approached Shen Jiayu. ¡°Who are you people?¡± demanded Shen Jiayu, who was preparing to chase after Song Wenxin, jumping with shock at the sudden appearance of a group of people. ¡°We¡¯re here to beat you up!¡± By the time the sentence was complete, Shen Jiayu had copped a violent punch to his face. He could not even muster up the strength to retaliate. ¡°Do you know who I am? How dare you do this to me!¡± he yelled angrily as he raised his hand, gingerly touching the side of his face that had been boxed. Chapter 41 ¡°Do you know who I am? How dare you do this to me!¡± he yelled angrily, raising his hand to gently touch the side of his face that had been boxed. At that moment, the rear window of the black sports car was wound down slowly to reveal a cool, handsome face. Shen Jiayu looked at the person in the car and was wide-eyed with shock. ¡°J-Jiang Beihan?¡± Although Shen Jiayu had only met him once, that aura of imposing power surrounding Jiang Beihan was so intense and unforgettable that he would never be mistaken in identifying him as Jiang Beihan! ¡°Stay far away from her, or face the consequences,¡± Jiang Beihan said, eyeing him coldly. Although there was no inkling of emotion in Jiang Beihan¡¯s words, Shen Jiayu nonetheless felt a thin layer of sweat building up on his forehead. Naturally, he knew that the ¡®her¡¯ that Jiang Beihan had referred to was Song Wenxin. ¡­ With luggage in tow, Song Wenxin arrived at the hillside villa. However, since it was still quite early, Jiang Beihan had not returned yet. Having deposited her luggage, Soong Wenxin proceeded to explore the area where Jiang Beihan stored his clothes and accessories. He did not have a lot of clothes in the wardrobe and most of them were of a monotonous range consisting of suits, shirts, and jackets. Even the color scheme was monotonous, with most of the clothes in cool colors. Although the look, style, and material of the clothes were not bad at all, Song Wenxin¡ªa student of fashion design¡ªcouldn¡¯t help feeling that it was a little regrettable. She felt that it was a waste not to take advantage of that magnificent physical frame and good-looking face. In fact, that physique could actually offer plenty of opportunities for creative development. With his excellent frame and facial features being so uniquely exquisite, his clothes¡ªcut simply in a monotonous color scheme and style, instead of downplaying his good looks¡ªgave Jiang Beihan a heightened sense of subtle charm. ¡­ Having explored his walk-in wardrobe, Song Wenxin returned to his bedroom where she took out the package containing the yarn that she had bought earlier that day. Since she did not know Jiang Beihan¡¯s preference for colors, she had bought yarn in many different colors. Having explored his walk-in wardrobe, Song Wenxin discovered that his clothes trended toward dark colors and simple cuts, leading to her decision to pick a dark grey yarn to knit his scarf. The color that she had chosen would be a perfect match for the clothes in the walk-in wardrobe. With that thought, Song Wenxin took out her knitting needles and started knitting the scarf. Every year, during the winter, Song Wenxin would knit some items for her family members. Sometimes, she would make them scarves; at other times, she would make them things like sweaters or gloves. With all the practice accumulated over the years, she had become quite an expert at the craft. In today¡¯s society, knitting was not a craft that most modern women were capable of. But, for Song Wenxin, it turned out to be a very simple task to accomplish. ¡­ It was already dark by the time Jiang Beihan returned to the villa. He found his bedroom lit up and Song Wenxin settled on the sofa inside. While across from the sofa, a variety show was being aired on the television that they had bought recently. Approaching her slowly, he noticed that she was busy knitting something, so engrossed in her work that she did not even realize that he was there. He stopped about two meters away from her and just stood there, looking at her with his eyes lowered. He hated noise, too much light, and also having anyone in his space. But now, in this current scenario, he did not feel put off¡­ he found that he actually rather liked this feeling. The well-lit bedroom, a program airing on the television, and a woman sitting on the sofa, knitting something¡­ Although the volume of the television was a tad high, the sight of the woman sitting on the sofa gave him, for some unfathomable reason, a sense of peace. ¡­ Keeping her head lowered as she worked on the scarf, Song Wenxin had not noticed Jiang Beihan at all until she roused from her engrossed state. She shot a glance first at the television set before realizing that someone was standing beside her. Scared out of her wits, she gasped, ¡°When did you come in? You didn¡¯t make a sound!¡± Chapter 42 Scared out of her wits, she gasped, ¡°When did you come in? You didn¡¯t make a sound!¡± Did he always tread so lightly, not making a sound when he walked? Or was she so engrossed in knitting the scarf earlier that she did not even notice him? ¡°Just got in,¡± Jiang Beihan replied mildly before walking over and sitting on the sofa beside her. ¡°What¡¯s this?¡± he asked, looking at the half-finished knitting in her hands. ¡°A scarf. Didn¡¯t you say that you wanted me to give you a gift? Well, since it¡¯s the middle of winter, I¡¯ve decided that a scarf would be a great idea!¡± Hearing what she had just said, Jiang Beihan paused as a hint of pleasure radiated from his eyes. So, this thing was being knitted for him. He had thought that it was something that she was knitting for that brother of hers. Suddenly recalling something, Song Wenxin said, ¡°Oh, by the way. I¡¯m returning this card to you!¡± She reached into her bag and took out the card that he had given her the day before. ¡°I used some money from the card. I went home today to get some money and have already topped up the card with the amount that I had spent. As for this scarf, it will be my gift to you to thank you for your help!¡± she added. To her, their relationship was a marriage of convenience and he was just her husband in name only. Their relationship was not one of a sugar daddy and his mistress, so she did not need him to pay for her living expenses. Besides, Song Wenxin had a monthly allowance from her parents to meet her daily needs! But, Jiang Beihan had no intention of taking the card back from her and looked a bit annoyed. ¡°Song Wenxin, are you too embarrassed to use my money?¡± he demanded to know angrily as though he had read her mind. It was very normal for a man to give his wife money. Yet, she had refused his money! ¡°That¡¯s not what I meant. I just feel that you giving me money is a bit¡ª¡± Song Wenxin quickly explained, seeing that he had misunderstood her. ¡°A bit what?¡± Jiang Beihan asked, his eyes turning icy cold. Suppressing a shudder, Song Wenxin instantly shut up and did not utter another word. She just thought that taking his money made her feel like a kept woman. Switching his gaze to the unfinished scarf in her hands, Jiang Beihan instructed, ¡°Just keep knitting that scarf and show it to me when it¡¯s done!¡± Then, he rose from the sofa and marched out of the bedroom with his long limbs. Storing the card securely, Song Wenxin sighed helplessly and continued to knit the scarf, according to his order. ¡­ Since her return to the villa that day, Song Wenxin had spent practically all her time¡ªexcept to stop for dinner¡ªknitting the scarf. That night, after she had washed up for the day, she sat on the sofa and resumed her knitting. A short while later, the scarf was almost finished. Smiling and looking a little tired, Song Wenxin looked at the product and felt a sense of satisfaction. It was a very long scarf. Song Wenxin, considering Jiang Beihan¡¯s picky nature and his many dislikes, did not include any fancy adornments, keeping it plain and simple¡ªa regular grey scarf. But, because she had selected top-grade yarn, the scarf felt very soft to the touch. She had bought a lot of yarn that day, so, contemplating what to do with the remaining yarn, she decided that there should be enough for her to make another scarf. Since she had not made her brother a scarf in the past few years, she decided to knit him one now. ¡­ By the time Jiang Beihan returned from the study, Song Wenxin, dressed in pajamas, was seated on the sofa, watching TV and knitting a new scarf. While the grey scarf was draped over the sofa. He approached and noticed the grey scarf in one glance. ¡°Is it done?¡± he asked, looking down at her as he walked toward the sofa. Chapter 43 ¡°Have you finished knitting it?¡± he asked, looking down at her as he walked toward the sofa. ¡°Yep, see if you like it!¡± Noticing him, Song Wenxin put down what she had been knitting and swiftly handed him the grey scarf. Taking the scarf from her, he frowned and looked at it with disdain, saying, ¡°It¡¯s ugly.¡± In his memory, he had never used something like this. This was his very first scarf, and Song Wenxin was the first person to knit him a scarf! Stung by his words, Song Wenxin felt infuriated and was about to spew blood on him. She had spent the entire day knitting that scarf for him, only to have him ridicule it, saying that it was ugly¡­ She was emotionally drained. ¡°Okay, don¡¯t take it, then!¡± she retorted angrily, reaching out to pick up the scarf. However, the tall and lanky Jiang Beihan had raised his arms, holding the scarf high above his head. Leaving Song Wenxin struggling a couple of times to retrieve the scarf without succeeding! ¡°You just said that it was ugly, so give it back to me!¡± she seethed silently. Since he had said that it was ugly, why was he refusing to give it back to her?! Glaring at her, Jiang Beihan said scornfully, ¡°It¡¯s mine now!¡± Then, he draped the scarf around his neck. Since she had given this thing to him, it was now rightfully his. She had no right to want to take it back. Speechless, Song Wenxin looked at him. ¡°Have you never worn a scarf before?¡± She took one look at how the scarf had been draped around his neck and could not resist asking. ¡°No,¡± lowering his eyes to look at the very long scarf hanging around his neck, Jiang Beihan replied mildly. No one had ever knitted him a scarf! ¡°No wonder¡­¡± Song Wenxin remarked, a look of comprehension spreading across her face. ¡°No wonder?¡± Jiang Beihan asked, deep furrows forming on his forehead. What did she mean by ¡°no wonder¡±? ¡°It¡¯s no wonder that you don¡¯t even know how to wear a scarf properly!¡± she replied in exasperation, looking at the casual way the scarf was hanging around his neck. Worn that way, it would have made him look chic and smart. However, it would not serve the purpose of keeping him warm! Jiang Beihan¡¯s aloof eyes flashed as his emotionless face darkened. Was she belittling him? ¡°You help me wear it, then!¡± he suddenly commanded as he lowered his eyes to look at her. ¡°Okay. Let me teach you how to wear a scarf properly so that it would keep you warm.¡± At his command, Song Wenxin nodded and, without a thought, walked closer to him Stopping in front of him, she extended her hands and reached out to adjust the scarf around his neck. Although it was just a simple act of draping the scarf, Song Wenxin carried out the task very meticulously and patiently. Watching her work so carefully, Jiang Beihan¡¯s eyes flickered. Lowering his head, he was suddenly hit with an urge to kiss her, and, responding to that urge, he lowered his head slowly. ¡°Okay, that¡¯s done. It¡¯s very simple, so you should be able to do this yourself going forward.¡± At that moment, Song Wenxin suddenly took a step back to look at the way the scarf had been wound around his neck, nodding with satisfaction. Her method of draping the scarf would not only keep him warm but also would not compromise on the need to look chic and smart! The male models in some of the fashion magazines also wore their scarves this way. ¡­ Her sudden retreat had made Jiang Beihan, who was just about to kiss her, flush in embarrassment. Jiang Beihan lowered his head to look at the scarf draped around his neck and reached up to feel it. This was the scarf that Song Wenxin had personally knitted, stitch by stitch, for him. It did not feel very soft to the touch, but it also gave him an unfamiliar feeling of warmth¡­ And that warm feeling was not just felt at his fingertips¡­ it appeared that his heart was touched by something that warmed him up somewhat. This was a feeling that he had never experienced before. Chapter 44 ¡­ After she had helped Jiang Beihan wear his scarf, Song Wenxin returned once again to her seat on the sofa and continued to knit the scarf that she had begun earlier. Focusing on the scarf that Song Wenxin was currently knitting, Jiang Beihan frowned and, unable to suppress his concern, asked, ¡°What is this?¡± Was she going to give him two scarves? Hmm¡­ so far so good. At least she was conscious of her place. ¡°A scarf!¡± Dark eyes staring at the yarn in her hands, he asked, concerned, ¡°Who is it for?¡± ¡°I noted that there is quite a lot of yarn left, so I¡¯m planning to also knit my brother a scarf,¡± Song Wenxin replied after giving him a look. Upon hearing that, Jiang Beihan¡¯s face darkened instantly, and he was beginning to feel very unhappy. It was not for him. She was knitting the scarf for another man! If she could knit him a scarf, she could also knit a scarf for another man! Did it mean that, in her heart, he was no different from any other man? Trying not to show his anger, he mustered up his patience and asked mildly, ¡°Do you enjoy knitting scarves very much?¡± Did she enjoy knitting scarves for other people? ¡°Well, I wouldn¡¯t say that I enjoy knitting scarves. It¡¯s just that every time I finish knitting a scarf, I feel a small sense of accomplishment!¡± Song Wenxin explained with a smile as she looked at the unfinished scarf in her hands. This feeling was probably similar to fashion design. When one sees their own creation being applied by others, one would feel a small sense of accomplishment. ¡°Sense of accomplishment?¡± Jiang Beihan frowned and muttered in a low voice. ¡°Oh, yes. Why do you ask?¡± Sensing that he was being weird, Song Wenxin raised her head to look at him, a little puzzled. However, Jiang Beihan simply shot her a glance as his face was transformed by a smile that looked more like a snigger. That smile made Song Wenxin¡¯s heart falter, as she had a foreboding that something not very pleasant was about to happen. Suddenly sitting down beside her, he reached his hand toward her. Stunned, Song Wenxin immediately shifted away to the other side. Jiang Beihan¡¯s long arm reached out and, in one swoop, snatched from her hands the scarf that she had just started to knit. ¡°From now on, you can only knit stuff for me! Scarves, sweaters, or any other items¡ªit¡¯s your choice!¡± His attractive lips curled up, and he threw the stuff in his hand accurately and faultlessly into the trash bin. His overbearing arrogance and decisiveness manifested by how easily he landed his shot on the target. Song Wenxin was shocked into speechlessness as her face instantly showed outrage. ¡°Jiang Beihan, what do you mean by all this?!¡± she demanded, looking at him a little angrily. How could he be overbearing, throwing out her things like that and making a load of ridiculous remarks?! ¡°Exactly what I¡¯ve said. I¡¯ve already said it once, but if you find it difficult to understand, I could repeat myself.¡± Jiang Beihan replied with his eyebrows raised, his expression calm. ¡°I won¡¯t do it!¡± Song Wenxin responded resentfully, arms folded in front of her chest. She glared at him with her eyes wide open, the anger in her not yet subsided. Who did he think he was that she must do whatever he wanted her to do? Looking down at her through narrowed eyes, Jiang Beihan thought that she looked quite adorable when she was angry. From her expression, she looked like she was ready to devour him whole. However, she was painfully aware that there was nothing she could do to him, so all she could do was to tear her hair out in frustration! That look of unmitigated rage was very cute. At her angry protest, Jiang Beihan was not only unfazed but laughed suddenly, instead. That laugh¡­ hearing that laugh, Song Wenxin¡¯s heart shuddered. Her hair stood on end, and she had goosebumps, feeling in that instant a sense of foreboding that something unpleasant was about to happen! As far as Song Wenxin was concerned, hearing his laugh was always a lot more painful than listening to his harsh words or having to look at his emotionless, cold face. Chapter 45 Because every time he showed her this type of expression that gave her goosebumps and caused her hair to stand on end, it meant that she was about to get into trouble. It was the same type of expression that he had shown on the day before when he had made her drink that coffee. That laugh¡­ it made Song Wenxin remember things that were still very fresh in her mind. ¡­ Right about that time, Jiang Beihan suddenly raised his eyebrows, raised his well-toned arm, and draped it across her shoulders. Stunned, Song Wenxin froze and uttered, ¡°W-What are you doing?¡± Not answering her immediately, he lowered his head and inched it closer to her. His pitch-black eyes stared intently at her face. The warm air exhaled from his nose fanned across Song Wenxin¡¯s nose and cheeks. That alluring breath caused Song Wenxin¡¯s heart to beat involuntarily out-of-control, and so rapidly¡­ Opening her eyes wide, she raised her hands to clutch at her own pajamas, suddenly feeling the urge to take deep, deep breaths to try and soothe this embarrassing sensation. Even though this man did not like women, shouldn¡¯t he sometimes be a little more considerate toward them?! With a face that was exceptionally good-looking, he was behaving in such an ambiguously sensual manner toward women¡­ behavior that was misleading and could result in misunderstandings. If she had not known that he preferred men, Song Wenxin really feared that she might not have been able to restrain herself¡­ At that thought, her face flushed and heated up involuntarily. This was a first for her, where a man was concerned, that she felt this way. ¡­ ¡°Recently, Song Jiamu seems to have been negotiating a very important collaboration.¡± Jiang Beihan said, eyebrows raised smugly as he noticed her confused state. Collaboration¡­ Hearing that word, Song Wenxin was suddenly alerted, recalling that her brother had talked about a big business deal when she was home earlier that day. Putting her brother¡¯s potential business deal together with Jiang Beihan¡¯s smug smile earlier, Song Wenxin was instantaneously jolted into thinking that the business partner that her brother had alluded to was¡­ ¡°Are you the business partner that my brother was talking about?¡± Song Wenxin asked, sitting upright in surprise. ¡°It was such a small deal that I did not need to get personally engaged!¡± Jiang Beihan scoffed. Song Wenxin had no rebuff for what he had just said. Truth be told, in Jiang Beihan¡¯s eyes, the small scale of her family¡¯s business was indeed nothing. But, to her brother and the Song family at this time, the business collaboration was very critical! So what Jiang Beihan was really telling her now was that, if she refused to do as he had ordered, he would stop all the talks with Song Jiamu about the collaboration. She did not understand why he had to use this matter to threaten her. Was it just to make her knit sweaters and other stuff for him? He was Jiang Beihan. Surely he did not lack for sweaters¡­ Or perhaps he was just bored out of his mind and toying with her. She felt that she was getting more and more lost trying to understand this man¡¯s logic. Biting her lips, Song Wenxin asked guardedly, ¡°So, are you saying that if I agree to knit stuff for you, you will continue to discuss business collaborations with my brother?¡± ¡°That depends on how you perform!¡± His lips curled as he removed his arm from her shoulders and stretched out against the sofa, crossing his long legs. ¡°Depends on my performance?¡± Song Wenxin paused before reacting, and, lurching toward him, she asked, ¡°Are you referring to me knitting you a sweater?¡± ¡°You have to keep me in a good mood. Only then will Song Jiamu be happy, too!¡± Jiang Beihan nodded and explained, keeping his words short and to the point. Hearing what he had just said, Song Wenxin understood the meaning behind his words. The meaning behind his words was that as long as she did everything according to his instructions¡ªhence putting him in a good mood¡ªhe would continue to discuss business collaborations with her brother. Chapter 46 And knitting stuff for him was also a way of keeping him in a good mood. But then, she was really curious about when or how someone like Jiang Beihan would run out of sweaters or scarves. To top it all off, he had insisted on having them handmade by her! Did he think that her handiwork was great? If so, why did he complain that the scarf she had knitted for him was ugly? ¡°All right. Shall I go to the store tomorrow to buy yarn and knit you a sweater, first? What style do you like?¡± Song Wenxin agreed after some hesitation. If in exchange for knitting him something, she could get her brother an opportunity for a critical business collaboration, she felt that she had found a good bargain, whichever way she looked at it. ¡°Whatever!¡± he replied, his face cold and without much emotion. Song Wenxin was completely flabbergasted. He was the one who had asked her to knit something for him, but now, he did not seem to care one way or the other. ¡°Oh, then I shall knit a bright red flower into it. Would that be okay?¡± Song Wenxin teased playfully, not pleased with that nonchalant attitude of his. Well, he did say whatever, so she was going to find out if he was really happy with anything. She absolutely refused to believe that he would wear a sweater with a bright red flower on it. At that, Jiang Beihan¡¯s brows knitted as he glared at her and suddenly laughed curtly. It was that type of laugh again¡­ Song Wenxin felt her heart lurch. In the next instant, he abruptly retrieved his phone and dialed a number before placing the phone to his ear. Song Wenxin looked at him questioningly. ¡°That collaboration with Songhe Medicine Hall, call it¡ª¡± Before he could say the word ¡°off¡±, a pale-faced Song Wenxin had lunged toward him and grabbed Jiang Beihan¡¯s hand¡ªthe one that was holding the phone. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. Okay, I admit that I was wrong!¡± She looked at him, worry written all over her face. Surely he was not going to cancel the collaboration with her brother because of that joke that she had made! ¡°Wrong?¡± Jiang Beihan¡¯s lips curled in a smile and raised his eyebrows, his dark eyes radiating interest as he looked at her and continued, ¡°What did you do wrong?¡± ¡°I-I should not have talked about adding a bright red flower to your sweater,¡± Song Wenxin stuttered as she bit her lips, apologizing even though it was the last thing she wanted to do! ¡°What else?¡± he continued to probe patiently, his dark eyes narrowing. Somehow, this apology did not sound very sincere! ¡°I promise to put every effort into knitting that sweater!¡± Song Wenxin replied, patting her chest reassuringly. Satisfied, Jiang Beihan shot her a glance before he hung up the phone and looked at her, his eyes conveying the message that, ¡°at least she knew her place¡±. Song Wenxin heaved a sigh of relief, but, in her heart, she was silently cursing Jiang Beihan for being so small-minded! Although Jiang Beihan could see through what she was thinking, he did not expose her. Instead, he suddenly stood up and prepared to go to the bathroom for a shower. Now, it was his habit to unbutton his shirt before¡­ Before he entered the bathroom, he would remove his top. That was his habit. However, his sudden act spooked Song Wenxin, and she almost jumped out of her skin. ¡°What are you doing?¡± she asked as she grabbed the pillow and placed it in front of her chest, looking at him in confusion. ¡°Shower,¡± Jang Beihan replied mildly after giving her a glance. Following which, he took off his shirt and threw it onto the sofa, showing off his well-toned body. Before Song Wenxin had the opportunity to get a clearer view of his physique, he turned around and strode into the bathroom. Song Wenxin stood rooted to the ground, berating herself silently for being such an idiot. Earlier on, she had come close to mistaking¡­ she had thought that he was going to do something to her again. With that thought, Song Wenxin could not resist slapping her head! To remind herself that that man was gay! Chapter 47 ¡­ With Jiang Beihan in the bathroom, which adjoined the bedroom, Song Wenxin could clearly hear the sounds of any action in the bathroom and bedroom. After a brief interval, the sound of the shower running came through from the bathroom. For some unknown reason, Song Wenxin felt her heart stir when she heard the shower running, making her feel uneasy. Picking up the water glass from the coffee table, she drank a mouthful of water. Then, she decided that she might as well turn off the TV, after which she climbed onto the bed quickly, preparing to go to sleep. Before she went to sleep, Song Wenxin spent some time on her phone, sending her brother a text message to ask him about the status of the big business deal. However, her brother had seemed very confident, reassuring explicitly that it was going well and telling her not to worry. Song Wenxin was left with no other option but to stick to her promise and knit that sweater for Jiang Beihan. Placing her phone on the nightstand, she turned and prepared to go to sleep. At that moment, the sounds of the shower from the bathroom ceased abruptly. Shortly after, the bathroom door was opened, and she could hear Jiang Beihan¡¯s footsteps. Song Wenxin, who was preparing to go to sleep, immediately felt a little panicky. On each of the past two nights, she had already fallen asleep by the time Jiang Beihan got into bed. So, she had no impression of having to share her bed with someone else. But today¡­ the situation was a tad different because she was still wide awake. Although she knew that Jiang Beihan was sexually attracted to men, he was, after all, a man¡ªa strikingly handsome man with a well-toned body, at that. For what it¡¯s worth, that did make Song Wenxin feel a little uncomfortable. ¡­ The sound of his footsteps got closer. Song Wenxin could feel the previously unoccupied half of the bed beside her sag as Jiang Beihan, clad in his bathrobe, laid down next to her. ¡°Um¡­¡± Not able to bear it any longer, Song Wenxin turned to face Jiang Beihan. Biting her lips, Song Wenxin asked suddenly, ¡°There should be many unoccupied rooms in the villa, right?¡± ¡°Get to the point,¡± Jiang Beihan said, lips pursed. He had already seen through her, knowing her intention. ¡°Is it possible for us to sleep in separate rooms?¡± Song Wenxin asked. Since there were so many rooms in the villa, it was surely not necessary for them to have to sleep in the same room. With the current sleeping arrangement, was he not worried about Shangguan misunderstanding and coming to the wrong conclusion? Brows furrowed, Jiang Beihan replied with a question, as though there was nothing wrong with the arrangement. ¡°Why do we need separate rooms?¡± ¡°I just feel that it would be more convenient if we lived in separate rooms,¡± Song Wenxin replied, her gaze moving involuntarily to his chest¡ªto the well-toned chest, which had been partially left bare by the bathrobe having fallen open¡­ Gulping down her saliva, Song Wenxin drew her gaze away immediately. At the same time, Jiang Beihan laughed abruptly and, raising his body on one arm, moved closer toward her, looking down at her and asking, ¡°Are you worried about not being able to control your urges to do something to me?¡± ¡°Of course not!¡± Utterly embarrassed by his question, Song Wenxin quickly pulled the quilt over to cover up her guilty conscience. ¡°Since you don¡¯t have ill intentions, then what¡¯s the point of us sleeping in separate rooms?¡± Jiang Beihan asked with a hint of laughter in his eyes as he looked at her. Since she had no inappropriate thoughts about him, then did it matter if they were sleeping in the same room or in separate rooms? He could not fathom why, but the sight of her in an embarrassing state was really very cute, and he found that he was getting increasingly drawn to that look, as though he could not get enough of it. Made speechless by what he had said, Song Wenxin felt helpless and trapped, momentarily lost for words. This man, who usually looked cool and collected, was in fact a formidable opponent when it came to arguments, and Song Wenxin knew that she was not his match. If she chose to continue arguing with him now, it would appear as if she did have inappropriate thoughts about him¡­ Chapter 48 In any case, it did not matter what anyone said; she was still the one with the indecent inclinations! ¡°Okay, okay. Let¡¯s not discuss this any further. I¡¯m going to sleep now!¡± Since the negotiation had failed, Song Wenxin did not want to continue the discussion with him. Instead, she turned her back on him in frustration, pulling the quilt up to cover most of her head. To continue the discussion would have meant digging a deeper hole for herself, so she decided to keep her mouth shut. Shooting a glance at her, Jiang Beihan¡¯s lips curled slightly before he reached out with his long arm to turn off the bedroom lights. ¡­ That night, Song Wenxin did not sleep fitfully, so she was a little late getting up the next morning. Fortunately, her classes were scheduled for later in the day, so she was not anxious. By the time she woke, there was already no sign of Jiang Beihan. She assumed that he had gone to work. Having washed up and changed, Song Wenxin ate breakfast at the villa because she craved the delectable food that they offered for breakfast. After breakfast, she prepared to depart for classes. Emerging from the villa, Song Wenxin noticed a black MPV parked at the gate. Seeing her, the driver immediately opened the door and got out of the MPV before opening the back door for her. ¡°Miss Song, the boss has instructed me to send you to school. Please get in,¡± the driver said politely when he approached her. Looking at her watch, Song Wenxin realized that time was running short, so she nodded and got into the MPV. Just as the driver as about to shut the car door, a helper ran out from the villa. ¡°Miss Song, you have forgotten your fruit!¡± the helper said as she brought her a translucent container of fresh fruit and handed it to her. Song Wenxin paused in surprise as she stared at the container of fruit that the helper was handing over to her. The container contained an assortment of seasonal fruit, similar to the one that she had previously received in school. At that moment, Song Wenxin seemed to have realized something, her mouth agape in surprise. So was Jiang Beihan also the person who had sent the fruit to her previously? ¡°The fruit is from the boss¡¯ personal orchard and is 100% organic. It¡¯s very good for your health and skin!¡± the helper quickly explained with a smile, having noticed Song Wenxin¡¯s hesitation to accept the container. All the food in Jiang Beihan¡¯s villa was provided by exclusive orchards, vegetable farms, and agricultural organizations. Upon hearing the helper¡¯s words, Song Wenxin was even more surprised. Setting up an exclusive orchard just to produce the fruit displayed in the container? A regular household would never be able to afford such treatment. After a brief hesitation, Song Wenxin reached out and accepted the container of fruit, thanking the helper. ¡­ As was the case on that other day, Song Wenxin asked the driver to let her alight at a bus stop not far from the campus. Carrying her shoulder bag and her container of fruit, she ran quickly into the campus. She had only two classes in the morning, and they were over very quickly. Immediately after class had ended, Song Wenxin subconsciously retrieved her phone to check the time and discovered that she had a new text message. Since this was a new phone with a different number from her old one, she had not had a chance to inform anyone, apart from her family members and Jiang Beihan. True enough, when she opened the phone to check, the text message was from Jiang Beihan. There was only one line of text, short and simple. ¡­ Wait for me at the gates after class. I¡¯m taking you to the launch this afternoon! ¡­ Seeing that text message, Song Wenxin was instantly so excited that she nearly screamed with joy! It was DL¡¯s men¡¯s wear launch! Jiang Beihan had previously promised to take her, and he had indeed kept his word! Because this happy news had come so suddenly and seemed too good to be true, to be doubly sure, Song Wenxin dialed Jiang Beihan¡¯s number anyway to confirm the news. Chapter 49 Because this happy news had come so suddenly and seemed too good to be true, to be doubly sure, Song Wenxin dialed Jiang Beihan¡¯s number anyway to confirm the news. The call was accepted, and, in his consistent and unchanging curt tone, he asked, ¡°What is it?¡± However, Song Wenxin did not seem to mind, asking happily instead, ¡°Is it true that you are taking me to the launch this afternoon?¡± ¡°Are you saying that you do not want to go?¡± the response, in a killjoy tone, came through the phone. ¡°O-Of course I want to go. I will wait for you at the back gate of the campus, is that okay with you?¡± Song Wenxin replied instantly. The campus was usually packed with people at this time, but the back gate would be quieter, making it a preferable location for her to meet up with Jiang Beihan. Since her current relationship with Jiang Beihan was a little complicated, she did not want anyone to witness him picking her up from school, as it would definitely stir up a lot more trouble. So, for now, Boss Jiang would have to put up with this clandestine arrangement and pick her up at the back gate. ¡­ On the other hand, when Jiang Beihan, seated in the car rushing toward Song Wenxin¡¯s campus, heard her tell him to go to the back gate, his face suddenly darkened. Did she feel embarrassed by him? Was there a need for this cloak and dagger stuff? ¡°Is anything wrong?¡± Song Wenxin asked through the phone since he had not responded. ¡°How inconvenient! Okay, I get it!¡± he said with disdain before hanging up. Having finished his call with Song Wenxin, Jiang Beihan dialed another number. ¡°I will be attending this afternoon¡¯s new product launch personally,¡± he instructed emotionlessly through the phone. ¡°Will you be here in person, sir?¡± Jiang Beihan¡¯s assistant queried, very surprised. He hoped that he had not heard wrongly. The boss was actually going to attend the launch in person?! But that was an Earth-shattering first! Jiang Beihan pursed his lips and then said, ¡°Yes, please get it organized. I don¡¯t want to be hounded by the press.¡± Since they had invited a number of people from the press to the launch event, he did not want to be pestered by the reporters, having to field questions that he did not wish to respond to. ¡°Yes, sir. I will get onto it right away!¡± his assistant replied immediately. ¡­ At her end, after her phone conversation with Jiang Beihan, Song Wenxin ran to the campus¡¯ back gate to wait for Jiang Beihan to appear. She looked at the clothes that she was wearing. Since she was going to attend classes, she had decided not to wear the outfit that the help had laid out for her, choosing instead to wear her own clothes that she had brought with her. Her outfit today comprised a pair of regular jeans, a jumper, and a long jacket. She wondered if her attire was appropriate for a launch event. Just as Song Wenxin was agonizing over his, a black Maserati MPV pulled up to the back gate of A-University and stopped without making a sound. Song Wenxin was surprised. Since this was not the same car that she had ridden in with Jiang Beihan the day before yesterday, she almost missed it. Until the window was wound down slowly, revealing Jiang Beihan¡¯s extremely good-looking face. ¡°Get in,¡± Jiang Beihan said, looking with disdain at the slightly dilapidated state of the campus¡¯ back gate before glancing at Song Wenxin. ¡°Oh¡­¡± Song Wenxin smiled and walked over quickly. At the same time, an unfamiliar driver alighted and opened the car door for her. Song Wenxin paused, a little surprised. The person driving Jiang Beihan around today was actually not Shangguan? ¡°Miss Song, please get in,¡± the driver said. Nodding, Song Wenxin got into the car and sat beside Jiang Beihan. After Song Wenxin had settled in the car, it began moving again at a steady pace. ¡­ Song Wenxin looked at the driver in front and turned to Jiang Beihan¡ªwho was seated beside her¡ªasking in a puzzled tone, ¡°Where¡¯s Shangguan? Why is he not here?¡± ¡°Do you miss seeing him?¡± Chapter 50 ¡°Do you miss seeing him?¡± Jiang Beihan frowned and asked, his eyes showing a hint of annoyance. ¡°No¡­ I¡¯m just a tad curious as to why you guys are actually not together today,¡± Song Wenxin explained, thinking about the relationship between Jiang Beihan and Shangguan, and she could not help smiling cheekily. Although her smile had upset Jiang Beihan. ¡°He¡¯s on a business trip!¡± he replied curtly after giving her a look. Obviously, he would not tell her that he had given Shangguan special permission to take a long vacation. By doing so, he would not have to keep pretending to be close to Shangguan in her presence. ¡°Oh, so that¡¯s why,¡± Song Wenxin said, accepting Jiang Beihan¡¯s explanation that Shangguan was away on business and nodded, not giving it further thought. When Jiang Beihan¡¯s car approached the location of the launch event, Song Wenxin could not help feeling apprehensive. Song Wenxin looked down at her simple outfit and raised her head to ask Jiang Beihan, ¡°I¡¯m wearing these clothes to attend the launch event. Do you think it¡¯s a little inappropriate?¡± Jiang Beihan looked at her clothes and frowned. ¡°Didn¡¯t I instruct the help to prepare the new outfit for you? Why aren¡¯t you wearing those clothes?¡± Song Wenxin nodded and replied with a smile, ¡°Yes, they did, but I figured that, since I¡¯m still a student, for now, I¡¯d prefer simple clothes to feel more comfortable.¡± At her explanation, Jiang Beihan relented and responded in a milder tone, ¡°You are not the focus of this launch, so it does not matter what you wear.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± Song Wenxin nodded in agreement with what he had just said. Indeed, in a new product launch, the focus was generally on the new products, the models, the designers, and the celebrities attending the launch event. For someone as lowly as herself, nobody would pay her any attention. ¡­ At three o¡¯clock that day, the JS Group¡¯s brand of men¡¯s wear would be launching that year¡¯s new line of winter wear at a high-end hotel in A-City. This launch had been the buzz of the city for the past few months and was touted to be a showcase of the collective works of most of the leading designers from both the national and international markets. In addition, a large number of celebrities and idols, including some A-list stars, had also come forward to support the launch! And included among the celebrities were the most popular female star, Mi Lan, and male star, Qiao Zezhi, both of whom were the focus of the press present at today¡¯s event! Especially Qiao Zezhi, whose current status¡ªdescribed as a star riding high and unrivaled on the popularity charts¡ªwas definitely not an exaggeration! Every member of the press present at the venue this day was very enthusiastic and, judging by their equipment and state of readiness, seemed prepared, at any moment, to capture the headlines of the day. ¡°Here¡¯s Mi Lan!¡± a member of the press shouted excitedly. Shortly after, a black car pulled up slowly and stopped at the entrance to the launch venue. A beautiful woman with long, straight, pitch-black hair, clad in a long, black dress and very high stiletto-heeled shoes, alighted from the car. However, the woman¡¯s face was almost devoid of emotion as she walked slowly toward the hotel where the launch event was to be held. The cold and aloof beauty¡ªthat was one of Mi Lan¡¯s nicknames. In fact, it was because of this unique characteristic of hers¡ªthe charm of her cold and aloof beauty¡ªthat she had been able to gain a lot of attention and popularity in the entertainment industry! At that time, another voice shouted, ¡°There¡¯s Qiao Zezhi!¡± Once again, everyone raised their cameras, pointing them in the direction of another car that had just arrived on the scene and clicking away! Qiao Zezhi, dressed in a grey suit, handsome and oozing charm from every part of his body, made his appearance shortly after. He removed his dark glasses, revealing a strikingly handsome and cool face, working with the members of the press obligingly, enabling them to photograph him. Then, he turned and walked into the hotel. ¡­ Chapter 51 While the main entrance to the hotel was exceptionally busy with throngs of people buzzing with activity, the back door, by contrast, was deserted and quiet, with literally no pedestrians. A black Maserati had stopped there. It was Jiang Beihan¡¯s car. As soon as the car had rolled up, someone ran forward and opened the car door. ¡°Sir.¡± Nodding, Jiang Beihan got out of the car. Song Wenxin followed suit and alighted quickly. Looking up, she noticed that they were at the back entrance to the hotel and was puzzled. ¡°Why are we entering through the back door?¡± she asked. She did not mind one way or the other, but she just felt that it was weird that Jiang Beihan, the big boss attending the product launch of a label under his own company, should have to use the back door. Jiang Beihan gave her a quick glance and said, ¡°If you want to become the focus of the press, I don¡¯t mind taking you inside through the front entrance.¡± At his words, Song Wenxin finally understood why. It was because he did not want the press to take photos of him. He was, indeed, a low-key kind of guy. Then, his assistant stole a glance at his watch and said respectfully to Jiang Beihan, ¡°Sir, time to go in. The launch will begin in ten minutes.¡± Pursing his lips, Jiang Beihan replied, ¡°Yep.¡± Then he walked in, taking big strides! Song Wenxin quickly followed closely behind him, as though she was worried about getting lost! ¡­ It was a huge hotel and, for today, the entire hotel had been booked for the product launch. Except for the invited press, celebrities, some successful people, and staff members, no other people were allowed entry. Since this was Song Wenxin¡¯s first encounter with such a large-scale event, she was a tad excited. The launch venue looked magnificent. Everything, from the lavish layout to the lighting, oozed luxury and class. Everything here piqued Song Wenxin¡¯s sense of curiosity as she looked around the venue with much interest. In her heart, she harbored a longing for the future¡ªthe hope that her own designs would, one day, be launched at a venue like this¡­ As part of the layout for the launch, a runway had been installed to be used as a catwalk by the models who would be presenting the new line of clothing to the audience later. Seating arrangements had been installed on either side of the runway for the invited audience to view the show. While the press had to wait their scheduled time to enter the venue, the guests that had been invited to the show were entering the venue in a steady stream. Song Wenxin spotted several familiar-looking male and female celebrities, adding star power and pomp to this grand event. For Song Wenxin, this was the first time in her life that she had seen so many celebrities and A-listers. Although she was not a groupie, the atmosphere of the venue stirred up an impulse in her, making her want to walk up to them with her phone and ask for a photo to be taken with them. However, any impulse that she might have had was instantly suppressed when she stole a glance at the emotionless Jiang Beihan beside her. If she had really gone ahead with her impulsive act, he would definitely say that she was inconveniencing him! ¡­ Seeing Jiang Beihan make his appearance, a few of the celebrities that had already been seated quickly rose from their chairs and walked over to greet him. ¡°Mr. Jiang, you¡¯re here!¡± ¡°It¡¯s beyond our expectation to meet with you here today. Truly honored.¡± The other party¡¯s tone, including the way they looked at Jiang Beihan, all spelled immense respect. In the entertainment industry, the status of the handful of celebrities that had rushed forward to greet Jiang Beihan was not considered lowly. Song Wenxin watched as these celebrities who, in the presence of their fans, usually appeared to be condescending, seemingly superior and unreachable, acted all friendly and polite with Jiang Beihan. Silently, she lamented that such was the reality in the world today¡ªthat, indeed, a person¡¯s status was dictated solely by their wealth. But Jiang Beihan¡¯s handsome face was unfathomable, not displaying any exceptional emotion¡ªhis dark eyes looking them over mildly, not intending to respond. The other party appeared a little embarrassed, but they got the message loud and clear and walked away. At that time, the assistant approached him and advised in a low voice, ¡°Sir, the lounge is ready for you.¡± Chapter 52 Nodding with his chin, Jiang Beihan turned and prepared to leave the venue, only to discover that Song Wenxin had suddenly frozen and stood rooted to the floor. Her line of sight had stopped on a certain spot in the launch venue, where there stood a person¡ªa man. In fact, it was a man who was widely revered by many people! That person was none other than Qiao Zezhi, who had just entered the scene! Right from the moment when he had entered the venue, he was immediately surrounded by several women who appeared to engage him in discussing something. Song Wenxin recognized him immediately as her jaw dropped in shock, leaving her mouth wide open. She had not expected to see him here! Then, as she noticed his glamorous appearance, she concluded that he must be one of the invited guests! ¡­ Noticing that Song Wenxin was staring, spellbound, at Qiao Zezhi, who was not too far away, Jiang Beihan¡¯s eyes turned cold. Darn it! Was she a nymphomaniac? Staring so intently at another man? So why had he not caught her staring at him with that mesmerized look in her eyes? ¡°Song Wenxin!¡± he said her name, sounding very annoyed. ¡°What is it?¡± Startled by Jiang Beihan¡¯s voice, Song Wenxin almost jumped and looked at him in surprise. ¡°Come with me to the lounge!¡± he ordered as he shot her a glance and turned around abruptly, walking away. Stunned, Song Wenxin was momentarily speechless and did not react. Why did they have to go to the lounge? But she did not think much of it, quickly speeding up to catch up with Jiang Beihan¡¯s big strides. ¡­ The lounge was in a mini-suite, located very close to the launch venue. A mega-sized LED screen had been installed in the living room of the suite to provide a full, live view of key areas of the launch venue. As she entered, Song Wenxin could not hold back her curiosity any longer and asked Jiang Beihan. ¡°What are we doing here?¡¯ Were they not supposed to be viewing the launch at the venue outside? What were they doing in here? ¡°Let¡¯s watch it here!¡± Jiang Beihan glanced sharply at her as he took his seat on the sofa in front of the big screen. Song Wenxin looked at him uncomprehendingly, wondering at the logic behind his action. ¡°Isn¡¯t it better to be outside where the action is? Why are we watching the show on TV in here?¡± Surely, watching the launch outside and catching the models showing the new line of clothes live on the runway was pretty cool, right? The real action in clear view! ¡°I hate noise.¡± Jiang Beihan glared at her. Song Wenxin was speechless. All right. She conceded defeat. He was really the most fastidious person ever. It would appear that there was not one single thing in the entire world that he liked. Suddenly, she recalled the long string of things that the help at Jiang Beihan¡¯s home had told her about when she had first arrived there¡ªthe list of things that Jiang Beihan disliked. Sighing in her defeat, she resigned herself to sitting silently beside Jiang Beihan. ¡­ Shortly after, the launch began. Since it was the launch of a new line of men¡¯s wear, the MC¡¯s introduction was quickly followed by a string of male models appearing on the runway, showing off the latest line of DL¡¯s men¡¯s wear. Although they were viewing a live telecast of the show, there were only two people, Song Wenxin and Jiang Beihan, in the quiet lounge, and the atmosphere felt a bit weird since they could not feel the excitement and buzz of being at a live show. Looking around her, Song Wenxin lowered her head, looking a little down. This was a rare chance for her¡ªmaking it to DL¡¯s live event¡ªand she had not expected to be cooped up in here to watch the models on the catwalk. She felt that it had all come to nothing¡ªa wasted opportunity¡­ And what really baffled her was that Jiang Beihan was seated beside her, busy reviewing the business documents that his assistant had set out for him. She was rendered speechless. It was as though any place could be instantly turned into his personal office! Watching a live telecast of a launch under these circumstances made Song Wenxin feel especially disheartened. Chapter 53 Watching a live telecast of a launch under these circumstances made Song Wenxin feel especially disheartened. As though he could feel the bubbling resentment within Song Wenxin that was about to explode, Jiang Beihan suddenly raised his head from the documents that he had been reviewing and glanced at her. ¡°You look like you have something to say to me,¡± he commented, eyebrows raised. Subconsciously, Song Wenxin had wanted to nod in agreement. But, of course, with much difficulty, she had made it to her first-ever launch only to be made to watch it through the TV; how could she not have an opinion?! Then, just as Song Wenxin was halfway through her fervent nod, she suddenly noticed Jiang Beihan¡¯s dark eyes radiating a cold chill and froze. ¡°Don¡¯t you think that watching the launch in here is really unnecessary?¡± Song Wenxin ranted, annoyed. Since they were already here, at the venue, why did they have to watch the launch on the TV in here? She made it clear that she could not understand Jiang Beihan¡¯s logic for this. ¡°What you are saying is, that my taking you to the launch is an unnecessary act?¡± Jiang Beihan asked with a frown. ¡°Well, you said it yourself. I have not said anything like that,¡± Song Wenxin replied, lips pursed. Jiang Beihan¡¯s face froze. Darn it, he had taken the time to accompany her to the launch, and here she was, complaining that it was not necessary? ¡°All right, then. Since you feel that watching the live telecast of the launch here would be boring, how about we do something else, instead?¡± Suddenly, Jiang Beihan gave a brusque laugh, and, throwing away the documents in his hands, he lurched abruptly toward Song Wenxin. Startled, Song Wenxin shrunk back immediately. ¡°What are you planning to do?¡± she demanded to know, looking at him, wide-eyed. ¡°What do you think I want to do?¡± Jiang Beihan asked, his eyes narrowed, and his cool, handsome face suddenly displaying a devilish charm. In the next instant, he extended his hands swiftly and looked like he was about to take off his suit! ¡°You¡­ don¡¯t behave inappropriately¡­ otherwise, if Shangguan finds out¡­¡± Song Wenxin turned pale in shocked panic, her face turning red instantly. Seeing his face slowly edging toward hers, Song Wenxin recalled vividly the kiss that they had previously shared, that familiar scent promptly sending her heart beating uncontrollably at rapid speed. Surely, he was not planning to do anything to her? But he was not interested in women¡­ and, moreover, he already had a lover in Shangguan. ¡°What will he find out?¡± Seeing her in that state of fear, Jiang Beihan raised his eyebrows and asked, pretending to be curious. While the red-faced Song Wenxin was still thinking of an appropriate response, Jiang Beihan had already taken off his suit jacket and thrown it to one side. ¡°Oh, my shoulders are aching!¡± he complained in a mild tone as he suddenly sat, upright and proper, on the sofa. ¡°What?¡± Seeing his sudden behavioral swing from one extreme to another, Song Wenxin was once again shocked. Had they not just been discussing his relationship between Shangguan and him? What did it have to do with his shoulders? ¡°Give me a massage!¡± Jiang Beihan, now sitting upright and proper on the sofa, turned to look at her and ordered. Again, Song Wenxin froze at his words. So, the reason why he had taken off his jacket earlier was for her to give him a massage? Earlier, she had nearly made the mistake of assuming that his actions had meant something else. At that moment, Song Wenxin¡¯s mood instantly became complex. Without knowing the reason why, her sudden thought of Shangguan at that moment left her feeling, illogically, a sense of guilt toward him. ¡°I don¡¯t know how to,¡± Song Wenxin replied, face flushed as she cast Jiang Beihan a scornful look. She was not one of his servants at home. Also, she had never given anyone a massage, so she had no clue how it was done. ¡°Then learn!¡± he responded matter-of-factly. For married couples, an appropriate level of interaction would go a long way toward enhancing their relationship and affection for each other! Chapter 54 For married couples, an appropriate level of interaction would go a long way toward enhancing their relationship and affection for each other! ¡°I¡¯m slow. I will not be able to pick it up.¡± Song Wenxin shook her head and persisted. ¡°Song Wenxin, shall I teach you?¡± Seeing that she was obstinately refusing to comply, Jiang Beihan was starting to get annoyed. ¡°Huh?¡± Song Wenxin was stunned. How was he going to teach her? ¡°Just try it and you will get the hang of it!¡± Jiang Beihan replied as his lips suddenly curled, revealing a sneer. That smile made Song Wenxin¡¯s heart miss a beat, and she immediately felt uneasy, as though something ominous was about to take place. She was very sure that the trial that he was referring to was definitely not something good! ¡°No¡­ that¡¯s not necessary. I seem to have a recollection of how a massage is done,¡± Song Wenxin replied as she scrambled to sit up and proceeded to give Jiang Beihan a shoulder rub. What the heck? It was just a shoulder rub anyways. Not a big deal after all! At that, Jiang Beihan smiled with satisfaction. Biting her lips, Song Wenxin reached out and placed both hands on Jiang Beihan¡¯s shoulders, feeling, unmistakably, his body warmth on her palms. Since she had no idea how to give a massage, Song Wenxin just applied light pressure to gently knead his solid shoulders. With Song Wenxin seated behind Jiang Beihan and massaging his shoulders, there was barely any distance between them. She caught a whiff of the refreshingly aromatic scent of his shampoo on his body. What surprised her was that she found herself liking that nice smell¡­ At that thought, Song Wenxin bit her lips in confusion and intentionally put some distance between Jiang Beihan and herself. What was wrong with her? ¡­ In contrast to Song Wenxin¡¯s state of confusion and embarrassment, Jiang Beihan looked very relaxed as he sat primly on the sofa, indulging in the massage service that Song Wenxin was giving him. Although her massage technique was clearly not practiced and her pressure was totally inadequate¡ªtoo light, even¡ªhe nonetheless felt unexpectedly comfortable. The launch activities were, in the meantime, being streamed live on the LED TV in the room. While a red-faced Song Wenxin was in the midst of giving Jiang Beihan a shoulder massage, not uttering a word. Jiang Beihan shut his eyes and curled his lips in a smile, a satisfied look on his face. To him, the ambiance in the room was unexpectedly and unexplainably soothing. ¡­ After spending more than ten minutes massaging Jiang Beihan¡¯s shoulders, Song Wenxin could not take it any longer. ¡°I¡¯m tired!¡± she announced as she removed her hands and sat slightly back deliberately, putting some distance between herself and Jiang Beihan. Sensing that she was tired, Jiang Beihan did not force her to continue, but instead picked up his documents and resumed his reading. Looking at him and not saying a word, Song Wenxin turned and continued to watch the live stream of the launch activities. Except for the noise from the live stream on the TV screen, there was practically silence in the room. Fidgeting restlessly, Song Wenxin stole a glance at Jiang Beihan, who was seated beside her, engrossed in signing some documents. Sussing up the situation, an idea suddenly sprung up in her head Taking advantage of the fact that Jiang Behan was engrossed in his work, she stood up slowly and stealthily from the sofa, intending to sneak out of the lounge and into the launch venue where the activities were being conducted. However, just as her bump had left the sofa, Jiang Beihan¡¯s low voice sounded. ¡°Where are you off to?¡± Sprung, Song Wenxin froze, immediately feeling a little embarrassed. She was not sure if she could say that she was too stupid or that Jiang Beihan was too smart. ¡°My stomach is a bit upset, and I just need to go to the bathroom.¡± She looked at him and smiled sheepishly, feeling a little guilty and rubbing her tummy. Jiang Beihan, having seen through her ploy, gave a curt laugh and said pointedly, ¡°There¡¯s a bathroom right here in this suite.¡± Chapter 55 Jiang Beihan, having seen through her ploy, gave a curt laugh and said pointedly, ¡°There¡¯s a washroom right here in this suite.¡± Was she planning to take the opportunity to sneak out of the room? ¡°Oh, oh¡­ I didn¡¯t realize there was one.¡± Song Wenxin smiled in embarrassment. Earlier on, she had just grasped at that excuse, but, obviously, Jiang Beihan was not easily fooled. ¡°But my stomach ache is gone now. I¡¯m just a little thirsty. Can I go and get something to drink, please?¡± Song Wenxin asked, having scanned the room and noting that there were no water glasses or beverages of any sort. Surely this excuse would be a valid one? Song Wenxin had barely finished making her case when Jiang Beihan¡¯s phone suddenly rang. Giving Song Wenxin a quick glance, he answered the call. Sizing up the situation, Song Wenxin decided to interpret it as an approval to proceed, taking advantage of the fact that he was still on the phone to sneak out of the suite. The launch venue was buzzing with activity. On the runway, a well-built male model, standing at more than 1.8 meters, was showing off one of DL¡¯s latest winter wear for the year! Seated around the runway and enjoying the display were many celebrities, esteemed guests, and business people. And also, some press photographers were assigned to capture the launch. It was truly a scene packed with excitement and activity. Because all the invited guests had their allotted seats, and the back rows were already packed with people from the press, Song Wenxin had to squeeze through the aisle for a better view of the show. Throughout the show, she was completely focused on the clothes worn by the male models. Every piece of clothing was perfectly designed. After a round of new products had been displayed, the designer of the clothes would appear on stage, surrounded by the models. A woman of mixed race, clad in a long, black dress with a head of curly hair reaching down to her waist, holding on to the arm of a tall and good-looking male model, strolled onto the stage to the tune of the soothing music that was being played. The entire venue erupted into a ripple of commotion. Song Wenxin recognized that mixed-race fashion designer as Sally, the famous designer employed by DL. She had appeared in several magazines and on television. Song Wenxin was very much in awe of her talent for fashion design and liked her designs very much. Most of the products featured in this launch had been designed by her. As she watched Sally, the unbeatable shining star of fashion design on stage, Song Wenxin¡¯s eyes emitted, uncontrollably, an expectant yearning. What followed next was the display of clothes designed by the other designers. Just when Song Wenxin was entranced by the fashion show, a lyrical male voice sounded elegantly from behind her. ¡°Miss, you¡¯re blocking the aisle.¡± Startled out of her trance, Song Wenxin immediately apologized and stood aside, giving him room to pass through. ¡°Sorry.¡± But the other party showed no intention of passing through. Surprised, Song Wenxin turned around and looked at the other party, baffled. When she saw who it was, she almost jumped out of her skin. He was none other than Qiao Zezhi, who had returned from his trip to the bathroom. ¡°It¡¯s you?¡± Qiao Zezhi was surprised to see that the girl in front of him, Song Wenxin, was the same girl who had fought with him over a tie at the store the day before, not budging an inch. ¡°You¡¯ve got the wrong person.¡± Song Wenxin laughed in embarrassment, lowering her head quickly. At that moment, all she wanted was to find a hole and hide in it. She had been rude and had offended him yesterday. What a coincidence that she had bumped into him again today. ¡°Wrong person? Do you think my memory is so bad?¡± Qiao Zezhi laughed abruptly. What had happened the day prior was deeply etched in his memory, so how could he have been mistaken? ¡°I don¡¯t know what you¡¯re talking about,¡± Song Wenxin replied, clutching the collars of her jacket, trying awkwardly to hide her lower face and hoping naively that he would not recognize her. Chapter 56 Didn¡¯t they say that A-list celebrities were all extremely busy, resulting in them having bad memory? Why has he remembered her anyway? Song Wenxin clearly did not wish to be recognized by him. As there were many people from the press present at the venue, she did not want to cause any trouble here, especially since she had sneaked out from Jiang Beihan¡¯s suite. ¡°Are you an employee here?¡± Qiao Zezhi questioned, unable to curb his curiosity, noting that she had been desperately trying to shield herself. Did she pretend not to recognize him because she was worried about him getting back at her? ¡­ Because of Qiao Zezhi, a small group of people had already begun to look in the direction of Song Wenxin, sending curious looks at the two of them. Screaming a silent ¡°No!¡±, Song Wenxin reached out quickly and pushed Qiao Zezhi away. ¡°Um, apologies. I have to attend to something, so I will go now.¡± That said, Song Wenxin, shielding her face with her jacket, slipped away swiftly from Qiao Zezhi. ¡­ By the time Qiao Zezhi could react, Song Wenxin had already disappeared into thin air. He stood rooted to the ground and, lowering his head to check on his outfit, frowned, looking a little annoyed. Was he so scary? ¡­ In the lounge. Reclining on the sofa, Jiang Beihan raised his hand and checked the time on his watch. Song Wenxin had not appeared yet. Did she find the activities at the launch venue so exciting? Or was this woman eyeballing the men like the nymphomaniac that she was? Recalling that entranced look of Song Wenxin¡¯s when she had stared at that other man, he began to feel a twinge of annoyance. Indeed, she did not know a good thing when she saw one. Just when Jiang Beihan had put down the documents in his hands, preparing to go and check out the activities at the venue, the door, which had been left slightly ajar, was suddenly pushed open as someone entered the room. Frowning, Jiang Beihan asked in his low and stern voice, ¡°So you do know the way back¡­¡± A moment later, however, his expression turned serious. Because the person who had entered the room was not Song Wenxin. He heard the sound of high-heeled shoes on the floor. A mixed-race woman clad in a long black evening dress with long curly hair reaching down to her waist had entered the room. ¡°Mr. Jiang, unbelievable. You are here in person,¡± she said, smiling warmly when she saw Jiang Beihan. In fact, before the launch, she had called Jiang Beihan¡¯s secretary many times, wanting to invite him to attend the launch today, but had not received any response at all. She had not expected him to make an appearance, in person at today¡¯s launch, and was extremely surprised. Jiang Beihan looked at her emotionlessly before he frowned and asked, ¡°Who are you?¡± At Jiang Beihan¡¯s abrupt question, her face turned a ghostly pale. ¡°Mr. Jiang, you have such a good sense of humor. I¡¯m Sally, DL¡¯s designer. Mr. Zhou and I met up with you last month,¡± Sally replied with a forced smile. Although she had played through dozens of outcomes in her head, she had not expected one where Jiang Beihan did not even recall meeting her. ¡°You¡¯re very noisy.¡± Jiang Beihan heard her out but ignored her completely, not even looking at her. Instead, he opened up his phone and began reading work-related emails. Caught off guard by Jiang Beihan¡¯s indifference, Sally was deeply humiliated as her face turned ashen, and she was at a loss as to what to say next. A lot of people had told her about Jiang Beihan¡¯s abruptness, especially toward women. But she had never believed any of it until today when she finally experienced it for herself. Was it true then¡­ that he, as implied in the rumors, was not interested in women? Sally took one look at Jiang Behan¡¯s exceedingly handsome face and gritted her teeth, conceding reluctantly. ¡°I will not take up any more of your time, then,¡± she said with a smile before turning around and proceeding to leave the room in her high-heeled shoes. Chapter 57 Jiang Beihan did not seem to register what she had said and did not react at all, not even raising his eyes to look at her. Unexpectedly though, as she was about to take her first step, the woman¡¯s leg suddenly twisted, and she screamed as she lost her balance and fell forward, straight into Jiang Beihan¡¯s arms. Jiang Beihan frowned as, subconsciously, he lifted an arm and caught her. And that was how Sally literally fell into Jiang Beihan¡¯s arms, her eyes radiating waves of triumph. The reason why men showed no romantic interest in women was that they had not met one who was good enough for them. ¡­ At that moment, the door was suddenly pushed open by someone. Song Wenxin, holding a bottle half-filled with mineral water, walked in from outside. When she saw the scene in the room, she stopped and froze in shock. What¡¯s with this scenario? What shocked her, even more, was that the woman in Jiang Beihan¡¯s arms was, in fact, the famous fashion designer, Sally. Song Wenxin stood rooted to the floor, eyes wide open and a little dazed. Didn¡¯t he prefer men? If so, then what was this scene that she was witnessing? ¡°Um¡­ I need to attend to something, so I will leave now,¡± she said, giving a quick, humorless laugh before she turned to open the door and leave the room. Jiang Beihan¡¯s expression turned icy, irritation piling up instantly in his heart. Darn it, what did she mean by that? She had not been even a little upset by what she had seen and had voluntarily given him and that woman space to do whatever they wanted? He did not want her to be so considerate; there was absolutely no need for that! ¡­ Sally had also noticed Song Wenxin but had not given her much notice, assuming that she was one of the staff members. ¡°Mr. Jiang, thank you so much.¡± She smiled shyly at Jiang Beihan and was about to reach out to touch Jiang Beihan on his chest when he spoke up suddenly. ¡°You¡¯re standing in my way.¡± Jiang Beihan looked emotionlessly at the woman in his arms, eyes cold. Sally¡¯s smile froze up instantly. What? In the next instant, Sally was shoved aside by Jiang Beihan and fell directly onto the floor with a loud thud. Watching the scene unfold, Song Wenxin felt Sally¡¯s pain¡­ She looked at Jiang Beihan, now seated on the sofa without a trace of emotion on his face, and could not help lamenting that he probably had no idea whatsoever about showing care and compassion to his admirer! But that should be a good assumption since he would only be gentle with Shangguan, no? Song Wenxin sighed and walked slowly toward Sally. Bending at the waist, she extended her hand toward Sally and asked in a concerned voice. ¡°Are you all right?¡± Song Wenxin asked, giving Sally a look of pity. She was free to like whoever she wanted, but she had to fall for one who preferred men. Although, this man was clearly an excellent catch. Falling for a man like this meant that she was destined to get hurt. Sally glanced at Song Wenxin but had no intention of accepting her offer of help. Was she mocking her? Gritting her teeth, Sally rubbed her knees that were bruised from the fall and, using her own strength, she crawled up slowly from the floor and stood upright. Sussing up the situation, Song Wenxin quickly retracted her hand. ¡°My apologies, Mr. Jiang. I lost my balance earlier,¡± Sally began, smiling in agony as she pulled herself into a standing position, looking at Jiang Beihan in embarrassment. But Jiang Beihan did not even look at her and, instead, looked directly at Song Wenxin, asking, ¡°Did you have to take that long to get a drink of water?¡± ¡°There were too many people outside. It took me a long time to find the water.¡± Chapter 58 Fortunately, she was smart enough to, on her way back to the lounge, bring a bottle of mineral water as evidence, proving that she had indeed gone out to look for a drink of water; that she certainly had not seized the opportunity to sneak out to watch the launch! ¡­ In the meantime, Sally was simply disregarded by Jiang Beihan and left on the sideline while her expression turned even more furious. Sending Song Wenxin a sharp glance, she did not say another word; instead, angrily gritting her teeth, she scuttled away, having failed miserably. ¡­ With Sally gone, Song Wenxin and Jiang Beihan were the only two people left in the room. Jiang Beihan continued to look annoyed and appeared to be in a very bad mood. Stealing a glance at him, Song Wenxin approached the sofa carefully, intending to sit down. ¡°Are you not planning to give me an explanation?¡± Jiang Beihan¡¯s voice, filled with displeasure, sounded suddenly. Freezing in her action to sit down on the sofa, Song Wenxin gave a hollow laugh and then replied, ¡°Didn¡¯t I just explain?¡± She thought that she had already given him an explanation. So did he not believe her? With an icy expression, Jiang Beihan gave her a quick glance and asked, ¡°What did you mean by acting like that earlier?¡± ¡°Huh, what?¡± Song Wenxin was stunned and, for a moment, did not get what he was referring to. ¡°Just now, why did you have to leave the room?¡± Jiang Beihan asked patiently, although the tone of his question emanated anger. Having heard him ask his question in that way, Song Wenxin finally understood what he had been referring to. Earlier on, she had entered the room to witness him and Sally in a compromising, intimate position, and, inadvertently assuming that she was intruding on them, she had intended to walk away and leave them alone. ¡°I-I thought you were¡­¡± Song Wenxin gritted her teeth and hesitated, stuttering over her words. Anybody who had walked in on the scene at that moment would have come to the same conclusion¡ªthat they were in the midst of doing something. ¡°You thought we were what?¡± Jiang Beihan continued to ask, frowning. ¡°Nothing¡­ I read too much into it.¡± Song Wenxin touched her nose gently and laughed sheepishly. He had such a good relationship with Shangguan and would definitely not do anything to betray him. Moreover, he did not even like women. Seeing Song Wenxin looking so cute when she was laughing sheepishly, Jiang Beihan felt most of the anger in him subsiding uncontrollably. ¡°Next time, what would you do if something like this happens again?¡± he asked suddenly as he leaned his body back slightly, resting it against the sofa. Song Wenxin stood primly at attention by his side, looking very much like a student who was being reprimanded by her teacher. ¡°Next time¡­¡± Now, this question of his posed a challenge for her. What he had meant was that next time, if she happened to catch him being intimate with another woman, what action should she take? But she had not even thought about this question. Feeling clueless, she looked at Jiang Beihan, trying to scrutinize his expression. ¡°If there is a next time, I¡­ will definitely not leave the room,¡± she responded with a sheepish smile after hesitating briefly. Earlier, he had been unhappy because she had turned to walk away, leaving him and Sally alone in that room. ¡°Is that all?¡± Jiang Beihan asked, his dark eyes narrowed, not appearing too satisfied with her response. ¡°If that¡¯s not it, then what else could I do?¡± Song Wenxin responded in exasperation. Raising his eyebrows, Jiang Beihan asked suddenly, ¡°Shouldn¡¯t you, as my wife, behave as any wife would?¡± For example, get jealous! ¡­ Do what a wife should do? Chapter 59 What was that? Since this was her first time being a wife and, on top of that, just a wife in name only, she had no idea what to do. Song Wenxin looked at him, extremely puzzled. For a regular married couple, if the wife were to witness her husband behaving suspiciously intimately with another woman, she would be very upset, break down totally, go crazy with anguish or immediately charge forward and¡­ beat up the mistress? At that thought, Song Wenxin suddenly understood what he had been alluding to. What he meant was that he wanted her to shield him from all those women? ¡°Next time, if something like this happens again, I will definitely help you send them away!¡± Song Wenxin replied after having given it some thought. That said, she could not help feeling caught in a helpless situation¡ªthat he should expect her, his wife in name only, to do so many things. Like knitting scarves for him and chasing away the women who were scheming to entrap him. However, on second thought, she realized that he had also done a lot for her¡ªhelping her resolve that trap set up by the Shen¡¯s and taking her to the launch. That balanced it all out somewhat, she conceded. Having heard her response, Jiang Beihan seemed to be satisfied. At least she was able to pick up on innuendos. ¡­ After the launch had ended, Jiang Beihan and Song Wenxin left the hotel, again through the back door. Riding home in Jiang Beihan¡¯s car, Song Wenxin¡¯s eagle eye caught sight of a shop located on one of the clusters of alleys that the car was driving past. It was a small shop that sold yarn for weaving and knitting. ¡°Driver, please stop the car here.¡± ¡°All right,¡± the driver responded, stopping the car by the side of the road. Frowning, Jiang Beihan looked at Song Wenxin, slightly puzzled. ¡°I¡¯m going to buy some yarn!¡± She was running out of the yarn that she had bought earlier, so she needed to buy some more. Song Wenxin pushed open the car door and alighted, walking promptly around to the other side of the car and knocking on the window. Jiang Beihan wound down the window and glared at her through his dark eyes. ¡°Why don¡¯t you come with me?¡± she suggested to Jiang Beihan, who was still in the car. She wanted to buy yarn to knit him something. So, since he was here, he should go with her to choose the color that he wanted. Otherwise, he might complain that what she had knitted him was ugly. Frowning, Jiang Beihan glanced at the run-down, even slightly dilapidated little shop by the roadside, disdain written all over his cool, handsome face. ¡°Have you been knitting scarves for me with yarn bought from places like this one?¡± he asked, sounding displeased. ¡°What¡¯s wrong with this place?¡± Turning around to look at the little shop, Song Wenxin asked, not understanding what he was alluding to. ¡°It¡¯s too shabby!¡± Barely moving his lips, Jiang Beihan spat out the jeering words tersely. Song Wenxin just looked at him, lost for words. ¡°In what way is it shabby? I think it¡¯s pretty good!¡± Not everyone was like him, living at the top of the social food chain, enjoying the best that money could buy. For someone ordinary like her, this type of shop did not seem shabby at all. ¡°Are you coming or not? If not, I will just pick any color for you!¡± Seeing his reluctance to join her, Song Wenxin threatened in exasperation. At that, Jiang Beihan, his expression serious, frowned and gave her instructions in a stern voice. ¡°You are not to buy me anything in red!¡± Just one look at her expression and he knew that she was up to no good. ¡°Then I¡¯ll buy you something in pink!¡± Song Wenxin winked and announced playfully. Since she was not allowed to buy red, she would buy pink, then! As expected, Jiang Beihan¡¯s expression became exceptionally annoyed when he heard her response. ¡°Song Wenxin, don¡¯t you dare!¡± When had she ever seen a grown man in a pink sweater? Hearing him, Song Wenxin did not respond but, in her heart, silently replied that of course, she wouldn¡¯t dare. Chapter 60 At this time, she was hoping that she could get him to work closely with her brother on that collaboration deal, so she was certainly not going to do anything to upset him. Seeing his insistence on not getting out of the car, Song Wenxin pursed her lips in exasperation and, throwing caution to the wind, she reached out to pull open the car door before reaching inside to grab Jiang Beihan¡¯s elbow, attempting to drag him out of the car. ¡°Will you just come with me, please?¡± Although it was just a request, coming from Song Wenxin¡¯s mouth, it felt, strangely, more like she was being playfully cajoling. It was exactly how she would usually behave when she would playfully hold onto her brother, Song Jiamu¡¯s, elbow. Her sudden, impulsive action took Jiang Beihan completely by surprise, and his entire body froze, while his heart felt like someone had tickled it. It was ticklish but was unexpectedly soothing. Song Wenxin, who also realized that her action was a tad inappropriate, promptly released both her hands and stood, prim and proper, beside the car. After giving her a look, Jiang Beihan decided to cooperate and get out of the car. Song Wenxin stared at him in surprise. Did he really mean it? That he would go to that little shop with her? ¡°Not going?¡± he asked, glancing at her. ¡°Of course we¡¯re going!¡± Song Wenxin laughed, turning quickly to walk into the shop. Watching her bubbly, energetic form, Jiang Beihan lowered his head and could not resist laughing as he strode behind her and entered the shop. ¡­ The store was indeed very small, and the d¨¦cor was also not very grand. But the store owner was very warm and welcoming. Seeing that customers had entered the store, she rushed forward to greet them. When she learned that Song Wenxin wanted to buy yarn, the store owner began enthusiastically to talk to them about the yarn that they stocked in the store. Eventually, Song Wenxin selected a yarn spun from a certain type of wool¡ªa yarn that would offer warmth and that was extremely soft to the touch. ¡°Young lady, you have a very good eye. This type of yarn is spun from pure wool, perfect for knitting scarves and sweaters as they would keep the wearer warm!¡± the middle-aged storeowner praised Song Wenxin. Smiling, Song Wenxin nodded and then turned to look at Jiang Beihan, who was standing beside her. ¡°Take a look. What color would you like?¡± she asked him. Jiang Beihan looked down and scoured the shelf where the yarn was displayed in an assortment of colors. Subconsciously, his eyes rested on the grey, navy, dark brown, and black-colored yarn. ¡°So, we¡¯ll go with beige then, how about it?¡± Song Wenxin asked suddenly, picking up the beige colored yarn. He did not seem to have any beige-colored clothes in his wardrobe, which comprised mostly of clothes in dark colors and white shirts. And from Song Wenxin¡¯s perspective as a future fashion designer, she felt that beige would be a very suitable color for Jiang Beihan. Because this type of color would make a person appear a lot more mellow. Hearing Song Wenxin, Jiang Beihan glanced at the beige yarn and frowned. And, just when Song Wenxin had expected him to reject her choice, he suddenly said nonchalantly. ¡°Whatever. As you wish.¡± Although she was a little surprised, Song Wenxin smiled sweetly and said to the store owner by her side. ¡°I will take the beige-colored yarn, please. We¡¯ll take two pounds for a start.¡± ¡°All right, please wait a moment while I wrap it up for you.¡± The store owner nodded as she used a bag to pack the yarn for Song Wenxin. ¡°Um, pay up, please!¡± Song Wenxin looked at Jiang Beihan at her side, extending her hand toward him for money. Well, she was definitely not going to say that she had forgotten to bring her money before she left the house. Jiang Beihan glared at her. Thinking that he was about to refuse, Song Wenxin explained hurriedly, ¡°I¡¯m buying this stuff on your behalf.¡± Before Song Wenxin could complete her sentence, a black, leather wallet was thrust into her palm.