Volume 1, Chapter 24: A Man’s Infidelity Is Also a Disgrace

Jiang Shuwei felt her scalp tingle and quickly summoned a smile. "Is there something you need, Assistant Sun?"

"President Qin wants to see you. Please come with me," Sun Xuan said in a businesslike tone.

Under the sympathetic gazes of her colleagues, Jiang Shuwei followed Sun Xuan to the elevator.

"Assistant Sun, do you happen to know why President Qin is looking for me?" Jiang Shuwei asked curiously.

"I’m afraid I don't know," Sun Xuan replied with a faint smile.

They arrived at a lounge, where Qin Weizhou was hunched over, reviewing some documents. As Jiang Shuwei walked in, he gestured toward the sofa nearby. "Sit."

Jiang Shuwei, her nerves taut, sat down gingerly.

Qin Weizhou clasped his hands together and leaned back against the chair, projecting a languid air, much like a lion basking in the sun.

"Ms. Jiang, you seem quite familiar with human meridians. Where did you study?" Qin Weizhou asked suddenly, his expression serious.

Jiang Shuwei immediately named the university professor she had studied under.

Qin Weizhou frowned, then asked again, "As a medical student, why didn't you go into hospital work or pursue medical research?"

"Personal reasons," Jiang Shuwei said with a dry laugh. "Although I graduated from medical school, I never had any intention of working in a hospital."

"Fair enough. Being a doctor doesn't pay as well as what you're doing now, does it? You chose a path of least resistance; it’s clear you’re quite clever." Qin Weizhou’s tone became more verbose, his gaze sweeping over Jiang Shuwei from head to toe.

Jiang Shuwei felt as if she were being scanned by a robot. Feeling extremely uncomfortable, she laughed dryly. "Making money is a hobby of mine, and one of my dreams. Why is President Qin suddenly asking about this?"

She certainly didn't believe he was showing concern for her.

Qin Weizhou tapped his fingers against the armrest, his expression indifferent. "It’s my grandfather. He asked me to help him find an old friend. Seeing that you were so familiar with the meridian chart, I thought perhaps you understood the art of acupuncture."

Jiang Shuwei shook her head immediately. "I’m sorry, I don't know anything about that."

A look of disappointment flickered across Qin Weizhou’s handsome face. He raised a hand and said, "Very well, you may leave."

Jiang Shuwei offered a polite goodbye and hurried away. Once she stepped out of the Qin Group building, she finally let out a sigh of relief.

That evening, Jiang Shuwei received a call from her mother-in-law, Huang Yujie, saying that the grandfather had returned from a business trip and the family was to gather for dinner. Jiang Shuwei had no reason to refuse, so she agreed.

By the time dusk settled, around seven o'clock, Jiang Shuwei rushed to the restaurant. It was rush hour, and the traffic had been heavy. She apologized immediately: "Grandfather, Mom, I'm so sorry I'm late."

He Jingcheng cast a cold glance in her direction, as if to say that she had a lot of nerve keeping everyone waiting.

The grandfather smiled gently. "It’s fine, the food has only just been served. Are you hungry? Let’s eat."

He Tingting immediately ran from He Jingcheng’s side to sit next to Jiang Shuwei, her small face glowing with happiness. Jiang Shuwei reached out to stroke the girl’s soft hair, her eyes filled with tenderness.

He Jingcheng watched with cold indifference, feeling somewhat annoyed. Perhaps he really should change Jiang Shuwei’s surname; after all, she seemed more like a member of the He family than he did.

The meal had just begun when someone knocked on the private room door. In walked Su Zhendong and his daughter, Su Mian.

"We ran into President He at the entrance, so we thought we’d come over to say hello," Su Zhendong said politely.

Jiang Shuwei’s hand, holding her chopsticks, stiffened slightly. It was likely that He Jingcheng and Su Mian had arrived together.

He Senior’s tone was indifferent. "You’re too kind, President Su. We’re just having a family dinner."

Su Mian immediately called out sweetly, "Grandpa He, Auntie, Brother Jingcheng..."

After speaking, Su Mian looked tenderly at He Tingting and tried to reach out to pat the child’s head. The little girl nimbly dodged her, creating an awkward silence.

Seeing this, Su Zhendong’s expression hardened. He exchanged a few more polite words before taking his daughter and leaving. When the door closed again, He Senior dropped his chopsticks and looked sternly at He Jingcheng. "I heard you were at the press conference the day Su Mian held it?"

He Jingcheng’s handsome face froze, and he nodded. "Yes. Su Mian said it was her first time facing the press and asked me to be there to help her."

"In what capacity were you helping her? And I’m curious—whose paper did she steal?" the grandfather asked, fixing a piercing gaze on his grandson.

The atmosphere turned heavy. Jiang Shuwei looked up at He Jingcheng and found that his eyes were fixed on her.

"Grandfather, Su Mian and I have been friends since childhood. Is friendship no longer allowed? As for whose paper she took, I didn't ask." As He Jingcheng spoke, he kept his eyes locked on Jiang Shuwei, as if afraid she would expose him.

Jiang Shuwei kept her head down and continued eating; she certainly wouldn't choose this moment to embarrass him.

He Senior clenched his fist and pounded it on the table. "Friendship also has its place. In such a public setting, was it appropriate for you to be sitting there?"

"Grandfather, has someone been telling you things?" He Jingcheng asked with a forced smile, his gaze still fixed on Jiang Shuwei. It was as if he had caught her in the act of being the villain behind the scenes.

He Senior understood the implication behind his grandson's words and said angrily, "Don't blame everything on this girl, Shuwei. She hasn't said a word."

"Is that so?" He Jingcheng said meaningfully, his eyes fixed on Jiang Shuwei with palpable hostility.

Jiang Shuwei didn't want to get involved in this topic, though she did feel that He Jingcheng had crossed a line.

Huang Yujie stepped in to smooth things over. "It was Jingcheng’s fault this time, but let’s not have it happen again. Dad, try this yellow croaker; it’s cooked perfectly."

The topic ended there. The grandfather, being a gracious guest, picked up a piece of fish to eat.

He Tingting finished her bowl of rice quickly and looked at Jiang Shuwei with a pitiful expression. "Auntie, may I borrow your phone to play a little game? The one where you dress up the little princess?"

Jiang Shuwei smiled and nodded, pulling out her phone to download the game for He Tingting.

"Shuwei, did you get a new phone?" Huang Yujie suddenly noticed. Everyone turned their eyes to the new black phone in Jiang Shuwei’s hand.

"Yes, my old one was too outdated. The battery drained quickly and the casing was worn out. New phones are better; the download speed is fast, and the screen is much brighter," Jiang Shuwei said with a soft smile.

He Jingcheng’s gaze flickered. He remained silent, looking down at his food, though his hand tightened around his chopsticks.

Huang Yujie nodded. "I told you to change it a long time ago. Old things are never as good as new ones."

He Tingting, occupied with the game on the new phone, looked happy. "Auntie, this phone is so pretty, and it’s so much faster!"

"Yes, but hold it further away, and be careful with your eyes," Jiang Shuwei said gently.

In another private room, Su Zhendong and Su Mian were dining. Su Mian’s mother was abroad overseeing a project and hadn't returned.

"Dad, that little brat doesn't like me," Su Mian complained, clutching her chopsticks. "Jiang Shuwei must have been bad-mouthing me behind my back."

Su Zhendong had seen his daughter’s awkwardness earlier and had developed a poor impression of Jiang Shuwei.

"She is the girl’s aunt, and they are together every day; she certainly has the opportunity to influence the child." Su Zhendong felt sorry for his daughter and comforted her, "It’s fine. That girl will marry off eventually and won't affect your relationship with He Jingcheng. Once you marry him, get pregnant as soon as you can. If you can give him two sons, that little brat won't be a threat at all."

Su Mian had the same plan. She pursed her lips and smiled. "You're right, Dad. I have nothing to worry about."

After dinner, Jiang Shuwei decided to return to her studio to finish up some work and did not head back with the He family.

"Grandfather, Mom, you take Tingting home. I still have things to do," He Jingcheng said, standing at the entrance to see them off.

He Senior looked at him sternly. "Are you going to see the Su family?"

He Jingcheng made no comment. Jiang Shuwei, standing nearby, remained silent as well, simply waving goodbye to Tingting.

"Jingcheng," the grandfather warned, "a man cheating is just as shameful a thing."