Volume One, Chapter 29: Jiang Shuwei Is Innocent

Jiang Shuwei stood as if nailed to the spot. After a long while, she let out a self-deprecating laugh.

Her mother-in-law had told her to keep trying, but given the current depth of He Jingcheng’s rage and hatred toward her, she feared she had no chance left at all.

This marriage was doomed to end.

At the Su residence, the atmosphere was heavy. Mr. Su was on the phone, demanding that the company’s public relations team prepare for an emergency. When He Jingcheng arrived, he brought news meant to soothe their nerves.

"Brother Jingcheng..." Su Mian stood by the sofa in the living room, dressed in beige pajamas, looking pitiful. Her eyes reddened the moment she saw him.

He Jingcheng offered comfort: "Don't worry. I’ve invited Dr. Liang Senyue, a leading authority in the medical field, to join the company as a consultant. He has already agreed. The company will conduct an interview with him this morning, and by making it public, we should be able to ease the pressure of public opinion for now."

Upon hearing this, Su Mian’s eyes filled with pleasant surprise and joy.

Mr. Su also looked at He Jingcheng with gratitude and said courteously, "Thank you, President He, for your great help. With Dr. Liang stepping forward, this matter should be put to rest without causing further losses."

He Jingcheng looked at Su Mian’s tear-reddened eyes and nodded. "It’s only right."

Su Mian interpreted this "only right" as him acting in his capacity as a son-in-law, bringing hope to the Su family. The look she gave him was overflowing with affection.

Mr. Su stood up. "I’ll head to the company to handle this. I hope it won’t affect today’s stock prices." He left intentionally, wanting to give the young couple some time alone.

Once Su Zhendong had left, Su Mian suddenly walked over and gently hugged He Jingcheng, leaning her face against his chest. "Thank goodness you’re here, Brother Jingcheng. Ever since I was a child, I’ve felt safe whenever you’re by my side."

He Jingcheng’s body stiffened slightly. His relationship with Su Mian had always remained within the bounds of friendship. This sudden intimacy made him feel a bit uncomfortable, and he reached out to push her away. "I’m just worried about the company’s stock dropping. After all, I am now the second-largest shareholder of the Su family business."

Su Mian was taken aback as she was gently pushed aside.

He Jingcheng changed the subject. "Have you and Jiang Shuwei been fighting again?"

"No," Su Mian bit her lip, saying innocently, "I’ve always wanted to be on good terms with her. Brother Jingcheng, you know what I’m like. My attitude toward her has always been peaceful. I don’t know why she has to treat me this way."

"That thesis..." He Jingcheng had seen the papers others were reposting on his way over. Although he didn’t fully understand the technical details, the fact that Su Mian had mentioned "borrowing" it last time suggested she might have hidden something.

Su Mian’s pretty face flushed a deep red. She nervously twisted her fingers before lowering her head. "Brother Jingcheng, I’m sorry. I was so overwhelmed by my studies at the time, and I accidentally lost the thesis I had just finished, so I... I borrowed hers."

"So, you really did steal all of her hard work?" He Jingcheng’s brow furrowed deeper. He remembered how Jiang Shuwei had insisted that Su Mian was a thief, and he hadn't believed her.

Now that the evidence was public, Su Mian had no justification left, even if she tried to argue.

"I’m sorry, Brother Jingcheng. I lied to you. I did publish her thesis, but I was... in a moment of desperation, my mind just went blank..."

"Enough, don’t explain," He Jingcheng interrupted. "You were definitely wrong in this matter."

"I won’t do it again, Brother Jingcheng. I know Jiang Shuwei still holds a grudge against me. How about I go to her and apologize? Even if she asks me to kneel, I’m willing to endure it, just so she won’t keep harping on this, okay?" Su Mian lowered her head, feigning a repentant and compliant attitude.

He Jingcheng frowned tightly. "Jiang Shuwei has a proud personality. Even if you want to apologize, she won't give you the chance."

"Then what should I do? If she’s in a bad mood later and uses this against me again, will I... have to hang my head in shame for the rest of my life? The company will be affected, too." Su Mian’s eyes turned red with grievance, as if she were about to cry.

Seeing her shattered appearance, He Jingcheng’s heart softened after all.

"I will speak to her clearly about this," He Jingcheng said, feeling restless as he stood up.

Su Mian watched his retreating figure, feeling a sense of panic. Her persona had always been that of a beautiful, kind-hearted, and reasonable woman. Even as the eldest daughter of the Su family, she was always polite and friendly, never the type to intentionally harm anyone. She had played her part perfectly until now. Who would have thought that a single Jiang Shuwei could almost destroy her flawless reputation?

Just now, when He Jingcheng left, he was clearly unhappy. Su Mian worried that her favorable image in his heart would diminish.

"Jiang Shuwei, it’s all your fault. If it weren't for you, none of this would have happened. Why don't you just die?" Su Mian clenched her fists, her teeth grinding in hatred.

Outside the "At a Glance" studio, a silver Bentley had been parked for some time. He Jingcheng leaned back in the rear seat, a cigarette held between his fingers. Through the haze of smoke, he stared at the inconspicuous storefront.

Thinking about Su Mian’s admission to stealing the thesis, He Jingcheng felt incredibly restless. Had he really wronged Jiang Shuwei before? He had believed in Su Mian because she had always given him the impression that she was above such things—a proud woman who would never stoop to theft. He had looked down on Jiang Shuwei, perceiving her as manipulative and cunning, which led him to conclude that she must have been the one lying about the thesis. Without knowing the full situation, he had been biased toward Su Mian. Now that the truth had been turned on its head, He Jingcheng was naturally deeply depressed.

"Sir, are you looking for Ms. Jiang?" The driver, feeling the air pressure in the car was too low to breathe, asked cautiously.

"Let’s go." In the end, He Jingcheng did not get out of the car and told the driver to drive away.

At noon, He Jingcheng sent a text message to Jiang Shuwei, asking to have lunch together. Jiang Shuwei stared at her phone in shock for a long time. It was as if the sun had risen from the west; He Jingcheng had actually taken the initiative to invite her to lunch.

While in a meeting, He Jingcheng checked the time and noticed Jiang Shuwei hadn't replied. His expression grew colder. He was accustomed to his own pride; if she didn't reply to his first message, he wouldn't send a second. That was his principle. Thus, until nightfall, Jiang Shuwei never replied.

That afternoon, He Jingcheng went to pick up He Tingting from class.

"Uncle, how do you have time to come here? Aren't you busy?" He Tingting asked, munching on a piece of chocolate with a happy smile.

"Do you want to have dinner with your aunt?" He Jingcheng crouched down and asked gently.

"I do! Will Aunt be coming?" He Tingting’s eyes brightened.

"Call her and tell her to come over," He Jingcheng said, pointing to her smart watch.

He Tingting blinked her large eyes. "Why don't you call her, Uncle?"

He Jingcheng’s handsome face looked uncomfortable. "I had an argument with her, and she’s ignoring me."

He Tingting let out an "oh" and pouted, "Now you know how important I am, right? You ignored Aunt, so it’s only right that she ignores you back."

Having been lectured by a child, He Jingcheng’s jade-like handsome face flushed red.

He Tingting genuinely wanted to see Jiang Shuwei, so she called her to suggest dinner. When Jiang Shuwei asked who was picking her up, the child told the truth. Jiang Shuwei recalled the text message she had received at noon and realized that He Jingcheng was likely using the child. A grown man like him—did he have no shame left? She decided she wanted to see just how much further he would go to favor his childhood friend.

And so, she went.