Jiang Xiaoxiao was woken by the ringing of a phone.
The ringtone was one she had specifically set for Su Chen, different from everyone else’s. Hearing the familiar melody, she jolted awake and scrambled out of bed.
“Hello?”
“Can you come out? I have something I want to ask you.” Su Chen’s voice sounded flat, chillingly so.
Jiang Xiaoxiao bit her lip, instinctively wanting to refuse.
Because she knew what he wanted to ask.
“It’s so late, can we do it another day?” she tried.
Su Chen ignored her, directly giving an address.
It was a high-end club in the city center.
Jiang Xiaoxiao knew he was informing her, not asking for her opinion.
He always got his way.
Taking a deep breath, Jiang Xiaoxiao agreed. “It’s quite far for me to get there, it’ll take about an hour.”
He grunted and hung up.
Jiang Xiaoxiao remained in bed for a while, then resignedly got up and rummaged through her wardrobe for a down jacket she hadn’t worn in ages.
At this time of year, especially at night, the temperature was well below freezing.
An hour later, Jiang Xiaoxiao arrived at Fandu as promised.
After giving the room number to the attendant, she was led to a luxurious private room upstairs. Compared to the liveliness of other rooms, this one was dim, almost eerie, and a little frightening.
Jiang Xiaoxiao stood at the door for a moment, then tentatively called out, “Mr. Su?”
“Come in.” From the sofa with its back to the door, a tired voice responded.
Jiang Xiaoxiao took a step forward and closed the door.
She bravely walked in and, upon reaching the sofa, saw a pile of wine bottles on the table and half a jar of cigarette butts.
“Sit.” Su Chen sat on the sofa, still in an elegant posture, showing no sign of being drunk.
Jiang Xiaoxiao skirted around the empty bottles on the floor and nervously sat down on a single sofa diagonally opposite him.
Su Chen stared at her for a while before slowly shifting his gaze away.
He didn’t question her directly or ridicule her. Yet, the more he remained silent, the more uneasy Jiang Xiaoxiao felt.
Just as Jiang Xiaoxiao was about to break and confess, Su Chen spoke first. “Do you know why I sponsored you and had you stay by her side?”
“Yes,” Jiang Xiaoxiao lowered her head in shame.
“Did you succeed?” Su Chen asked again.
Jiang Xiaoxiao shook her head with difficulty.
“Why did you hide it from me?” Su Chen picked up a cigarette with his fair fingers, the flame of the lighter flickering.
“I didn’t intend to hide it from you.” Jiang Xiaoxiao nervously clutched the strap of her bag.
She hadn't dressed up for this; a simple black base layer, skinny jeans, and a short white down jacket, a far cry from her usual professional attire.
The wind outside was strong, and her hair was messy from the journey. She hadn’t even put on makeup. Her face was clean, her nose a little red from the cold, and her small freckles were faintly visible on her cheeks.
“I followed your instructions and persuaded Miaomiao to divorce Lu Jingyang. I thought that once she was out of the Lu family, she’d move back home. But after a few days away, she moved in with Lu Yanbei…”
“I asked her why, but she refused to say. She only mentioned that she’d be completely free in two years.”
“I figured two years wasn’t too long…”
“Who told you to act on your own initiative!” Su Chen, who had been gentle and refined, suddenly roared, grabbing a wine bottle and smashing it onto the coffee table.
With a loud crash, the bottle shattered, fragments scattering everywhere.
Jiang Xiaoxiao screamed, her face draining of all color.
“Because you concealed it without my permission, you made me lose the initiative… two years is enough time to change many things…”
“How could you…”
“Was the money I gave you not enough, or did you have betrayal in your heart from the start?”
“Were you bought off by Lu Yanbei? How much did he give you to side with him like this!”
Su Chen rarely lost his temper, but when he did, he was like a fierce and dangerous tiger from the mountains.
Bottle after bottle was smashed, emitting a piercing sound.
After smashing them, he still felt unsatisfied and kicked over the coffee table.
Jiang Xiaoxiao had never witnessed such a scene and cowered on the sofa, trembling.
Broken glass exploded around her, many shards flying and hitting her, causing her pain.
However, no matter how angry Su Chen was, he didn’t physically harm her.
He still had that much gentlemanly conduct.
When everything finally settled down, Su Chen gradually calmed down, and most of the alcohol’s effect wore off.
He rubbed his temples and sat down again, regretting his sudden outburst. “I’m sorry, did I frighten you?”
Jiang Xiaoxiao remained silent, her eyes red.
Her eyes were wet, but she held back her tears.
Su Chen leaned back against the chair for a while, picked up the call button on the floor, and pressed it. Moments later, a waiter knocked and came in to clear the room, replace the coffee table, and bring fresh wine and snacks, as if this were a regular occurrence.
“I’m sorry…” Jiang Xiaoxiao apologized, her voice choked with emotion.
Su Chen closed his eyes and sighed. “I underestimated that person. It’s not your fault.”
After this direct confrontation tonight, Su Chen had a rough idea of what kind of person Lu Yanbei was. Wouldn’t he get whatever he desired with ease?
He took a deep drag from his cigarette and exhaled smoke rings dully. “You can go back now.”
“Mr. Su…” Jiang Xiaoxiao tugged at her clothes uneasily.
“Go back,” Su Chen reiterated.
Jiang Xiaoxiao’s clenched fist loosened and tightened, and she lacked the courage to ask the question that had been lingering in her heart.
He, had feelings for Su He, didn’t he?
She had seen it long ago, but she also knew clearly that Su He only saw him as a brother, with no complex emotions involved.
Between them, they were destined to be nothing more than siblings.
And wasn’t she also just cherishing a one-sided love? Ever since she first saw Su Chen in high school, she had kept him in her heart, treasuring him carefully, afraid of being discovered.
Alas, he had always seen her as merely a tool to be used.
Jiang Xiaoxiao gave a bitter smile and stood up to leave.
As she passed by him, she couldn't help but offer a piece of advice, “Smoking and drinking are bad for your health. And… Miaomiao doesn’t like these smells either.”
Su Chen gave her a faint sideways glance, as if to say: What right do you have to lecture me!
Jiang Xiaoxiao felt a pang in her heart and, enduring the pain in her ankle, walked out quickly.
*
With only a few days left until New Year’s Day, wedding preparations were in full swing.
Although it was a small-scale wedding, Old Master Lu was determined to make amends and insisted on the most expensive items. It was said that the venue rental alone cost tens of millions, not to mention the astronomical betrothal gifts.
Just as Su Chenghai had predicted, the Lu family’s proposal that day was full of sincerity. Not only did they present jewelry and a yacht worth hundreds of millions, but also a piece of land that had long been coveted by him.
“This, this is too precious!” Su Chenghai was so overwhelmed by the list of betrothal gifts that he could barely speak.