Volume One, Chapter 10: Past Affections, How Dull They Are

It was late autumn at the airport entrance in E City. Jiang Shuwei, dressed in a thin outfit, shivered from the cold. She quickly hailed a taxi and headed straight to the hotel she had booked in advance.

Upon arrival, Jiang Shuwei took a hot shower, changed into warmer clothes, and then strolled around the nearby food street. When she returned to the hotel with some local delicacies in hand, she noticed a couple checking in at the lobby.

Passersby admired the young couple with awe. At the sight of the tall, handsome figure, Jiang Shuwei immediately recognized He Jingcheng. He wore a black shirt, and his suit jacket was draped over Su Mian’s shoulders.

The eldest daughter of the Su family was accustomed to wearing light dresses. At that moment, she was dressed in a haute couture Chanel outfit, her bare legs elegantly exposed beneath the jacket He Jingcheng had placed on her, looking delicate and enchanting.

Jiang Shuwei felt her breath catch. Why were the two of them here together? Had He Jingcheng come just to indulge in a romantic escapade with Su Mian?

As Su Mian glanced around and spotted Jiang Shuwei, she tugged He Jingcheng’s sleeve with her small hand and deliberately tightened the jacket around herself.

He Jingcheng turned to look at Jiang Shuwei.

“Jiang Shuwei, what a coincidence! You’re staying here too,” Su Mian greeted her graciously.

Jiang Shuwei knew the area well—it was near the food street she loved to explore whenever she came back. Her mother had once brought her here too.

He Jingcheng handed the room card to Su Mian and said to Jiang Shuwei, “Don’t put on that attitude. Su Mian is here on serious business.”

Jiang Shuwei’s expression, already stiff, shifted into a forced smile. “Miss Su is indeed very busy. No matter where she goes, there’s always business to attend to.”

Su Mian blinked innocently at He Jingcheng, as if wrongfully accused.

He Jingcheng frowned. “Stop being sarcastic. Didn’t I just come here?”

A wave of inexplicable pain surged through Jiang Shuwei's heart.

Anxian was her hometown. He Jingcheng was flirting openly with Su Mian in the capital, which she didn’t want to care about, but for them to flaunt their love in her hometown felt like a knife stabbing into her heart.

Jiang Shuwei didn’t want to pay any more attention to them and turned to press the elevator button.

“Su Mian, go upstairs and rest first,” He Jingcheng instructed before striding over.

As Jiang Shuwei stepped into the elevator and the doors were about to close, a large hand forcefully pried them open.

He Jingcheng’s tall figure entered.

Jiang Shuwei lowered her head, avoiding his gaze.

He Jingcheng coldly said, “Are you thinking about how to tattle to Grandpa again?”

Jiang Shuwei bit her lip and remained silent.

“You’ve always liked tattling on me since we were kids,” He Jingcheng sneered, mistaking her silence for a rebuttal.

The elevator dinged open, and Jiang Shuwei walked toward her room.

Suddenly irritated, He Jingcheng blocked her path. “What are you scheming now?”

Jiang Shuwei looked at the man blocking her way and snapped, “A good dog doesn’t block the road. Move aside.”

He Jingcheng knew Jiang Shuwei looked calm but had a fiery temper, stubborn as a mule. Lately, her words had become sharper too.

“How’s your decision about the divorce?” He Jingcheng asked, standing firm.

Jiang Shuwei’s expression was icy, her tone even colder. “I haven’t considered it.”

He Jingcheng smirked mockingly. “Planning to stick around forever?”

She slowly lifted her head to meet his eyes. “I just don’t need to consider it. We can just divorce directly.”

His face froze, staring at her in disbelief.

“Playing the ‘let go to catch’ game, haven’t you had enough?” He Jingcheng disliked her indifferent air, but as long as the old man and her mother didn’t agree, the divorce might never happen.

That was why Jiang Shuwei dared to provoke him repeatedly, feeling fearless.

She closed her eyes tightly. “Do you think my silence means I’m fighting with you?”

“Isn’t it?” He Jingcheng narrowed his eyes.

“No. I just don’t know how to say goodbye to the past or how to save this mistake,” Jiang Shuwei said, then swiftly entered her room.

Leaning against the door, she took a deep breath.

If she’d known marriage wouldn’t win his affection, she wouldn’t have agreed so rashly or forced her love onto Lu Jingcheng.

But everyone said she pressured He Jingcheng into marriage, while in truth, he proposed to her; only on their wedding night did he reveal it was revenge, then left her behind.

She had flown headlong into a trap he had long planned.

Thus, she became the scapegoat, repeatedly mocked by others.

The next morning,

Jiang Shuwei planned to rent a car and set off toward the mountainous region a hundred kilometers away.

Years ago, her mother had brought her here when she was three.

Though unfamiliar with the place, her mother was strong and capable, opening a small clinic that gradually expanded from one storefront to four, attracting more and more patients.

Jiang Shuwei spent a happy childhood here.

Until one day, her mother died at home. Just after class, a female officer had held her tightly, telling her not to go back yet, coaxing her to the police station for a bowl of noodles. It was only at midnight that Jiang Shuwei learned her mother had passed away. Standing in the cold police station lobby, she was too terrified to even cry.

The police concluded her mother was killed by a burglar, a thug who had been caught, tried, and died in prison.

Jiang Shuwei dared not recall the past, afraid to face it.

The paved road ended, followed by a stretch of dirt, leading to a small town called Gangshan.

Jiang Shuwei parked the car and carried some fruit from the vehicle. She recognized some elderly residents, as every year she returned and habitually visited each home to deliver fruit.

“Shuwei's back!” greeted the familiar faces.

Jiang Shuwei responded warmly, delivering gifts and even being invited for lunch.

Back at her mother’s small house, everything remained as before. Jiang Shuwei carried bedding upstairs, cleaned out the interior, and placed items on the balcony to air out.

Standing on the small second-floor balcony, she noticed He Jingcheng asking for directions—this time, without Su Mian.

He carried a backpack, followed by several black-clad bodyguards. Upon entering the town, a few dogs swarmed them, and the bodyguards scrambled to shoo them away. He Jingcheng strolled ahead with hands in his pockets, spotting Jiang Shuwei on the balcony.

She propped her chin up, returning his gaze.

His expression immediately darkened.

Without invitation, he had come.

Jiang Shuwei descended and stood at the door. “How did you find this place?”

He Jingcheng replied coldly, “My grandfather wants to see the photo of us in front of your house.”

“And then?” Jiang Shuwei asked.

“If he can’t see the photo, he’ll reclaim three percent of the shares,” He Jingcheng bit his thin lips. “Jiang Shuwei, how about we switch surnames? You keep He, and I take Jiang?”

The more his grandfather spoiled this woman, the more He Jingcheng hated her, feeling she had barged into his life and stolen his affection without his consent. Now she expected him to love her like a husband? Dream on.

Jiang Shuwei turned and brought out two chairs. “Sit down. Let’s take the photo quickly. Once it’s done, you can leave.”

He Jingcheng looked at the cold-faced woman. “Jiang Shuwei, don’t think that putting on this sensible, understanding act will change my opinion of you.”

She smiled at him. “If that’s what you think, I have nothing to say. But suddenly, I find those once reckless feelings so meaningless.”

He Jingcheng lowered his gaze to her, sunlight warmly illuminating her face, her eyes bright.

“Su Mian said you’re cunning. Seems she wasn’t wrong. She appears content and unassuming, but actually wants everything—this, that, and more,” He Jingcheng said, sitting down and instructing the bodyguards, “Hurry up and take the photo.”

The bodyguards immediately pulled out their phones.

Jiang Shuwei sat beside him, both expressionless, like people from an old era facing the camera for the first time. When the photo was taken, their solemn faces looked as if they were about to enlist in the army the next second.

The three bodyguards glanced at the photo together.

“Young master, aren’t you two going to smile?”