Volume 1, Chapter 46: He Said He Didn't Like It

Taking advantage of the moment, Jiang Shuwei snatched the ancient book right out of his grasp. In the next second, she clutched it carefully to her chest, her beautiful eyes radiating a chilly coldness. "You must be feeling quite upset that I wasn't toyed with by Zheng Dongsheng, but next time... if that bastard dares to bully me again, I will kill him." Step by step, Jiang Shuwei retreated, a fierce light blooming in her gaze, making her look like a fearless little beast. "If he dies, the Zheng family will certainly investigate. When they trace it back to you, it won't be very pleasant."

He Jingcheng’s breathing grew rapid, his gaze flickering over Jiang Shuwei’s calm, delicate face. He parted his lips, but found no words to say.

Jiang Shuwei turned around, picked up her bag, and headed toward the adjoining children's room.

Cold sweat broke out all over He Jingcheng’s body. He leaned against the wall, the light in the depths of his eyes gradually fading away.

Who on earth was it? Who had invited that bastard Zheng Dongsheng onto the yacht?

He had nearly forced Jiang Shuwei, yet he had been completely oblivious to it all.

He recalled that day on the cruise ship when Jiang Shuwei had bought a men's shirt. Was that meant for Qin Weizhou?

Had Qin Weizhou been injured while saving her?

He Jingcheng suddenly turned around and hurried down the stairs.

Huang Yujie was planning to head upstairs to rest when she saw him going out so late at night, so she asked, "Jingcheng, aren't you going to sleep? Running around raising hell at this hour."

"I have things to do." He Jingcheng changed his shoes in the entryway and went out.

The thin mist of the early morning hours shrouded the night.

A Lamborghini approached from afar and drove into the villa complex.

Xia Chengze had called a subordinate to drive for him, while he himself had drunk too much and was dozing off in the passenger seat.

"Young Master Xia, we've arrived home," the driver said.

"Mm, take this." Xia Chengze pulled a stack of cash from the car and handed it to the other man.

"Thank you, Young Master Xia. Have a pleasant evening." The driver took it eagerly and got out of the car, leaving.

Xia Chengze intended to sleep a little longer in the car when suddenly, he felt a pair of eyes staring at him from the shadows.

He snapped his eyes open and saw He Jingcheng’s face right outside the car window.

He shivered uncontrollably, immediately pushed the car door open, and stepped out.

"When Zheng Dongsheng returned to the country, was it you who used my name to invite him to join the chamber of commerce?" He Jingcheng demanded, launching straight into the accusation.

Half of Xia Chengze’s drunkenness instantly vanished. He hurriedly explained, "Didn't you say you wanted to cooperate with the Zheng family and asked us to sound them out first? When Zheng Dongsheng came back, I was just doing it for our cooperation with the Zheng family..."

He Jingcheng suddenly threw a punch, striking Xia Chengze right in the face. In the next instant, he grabbed him by the collar and roared, "Then do you know that bastard Zheng Dongsheng almost raped Jiang Shuwei?"

Struck and in pain, Xia Chengze stared blankly with unfocused eyes, stunned by the roar.

"I want to cooperate with the Zheng family, not with Zheng Dongsheng! He can't even set foot inside the Zheng family's company, why on earth did you invite him?" He Jingcheng violently slammed Xia Chengze against the car with a harsh crash. "Although I don't like Jiang Shuwei, she is my woman after all. None of you are to meddle, otherwise..."

This was the first time Xia Chengze had ever seen He Jingcheng fly into such a rage. His gaze was like that of a ghost from hell—gloomy and ruthless—as if in the next second, he might crush him to dust.

Although Xia Chengze felt resentful, the vast majority of the Xia family's business partnerships were tied to the He family. Xia Chengze was willing to act as He Jingcheng's underling precisely because he depended on the He family for development.

At that moment, a profound terror gripped Xia Chengze. He Jingcheng was fully capable of severing all business ties with the Xia family, a deed this man could genuinely carry out.

"I'm sorry, Jingcheng. I didn't think it through. I thought that by buttering up that little darling of the Zheng family, we could secure the cooperation. Please forgive me; I won't be so rash in my actions next time. How is... how is Ms. Jiang? Was she hurt?" Xia Chengze immediately put on an expression of deep remorse, guilt, and even concern for Jiang Shuwei.

He Jingcheng had been blinded by rage, which was why he had lost his rationality and hit his sworn brother.

Now, as his rationality returned, seeing the swelling on Xia Chengze’s face, he leaned powerlessly against the car door, irritably pulled out a cigarette, bowed his head to light it, and took a deep drag.

Through the hazy smoke, his gaze seemed stained with the frost of the late night, dark and cruel beyond description.

Xia Chengze reached out, asked him for a cigarette and a lighter, and lit one as well.

"Jingcheng, this was my fault. I let you down, and I almost harmed Ms. Jiang," Xia Chengze said with a righteous, objective demeanor. "I can understand your anger just now, but what are your true thoughts on this? Have you actually fallen for Jiang Shuwei?"

With the cigarette clamped between his lips, He Jingcheng’s voice was colder than frost. "I don't like her."

"Then do you like Su Mian?" Xia Chengze asked eagerly.

"I don't know," He Jingcheng replied indifferently.

"One 'I don't like her' and one 'I don't know'—well, that makes things rather interesting." Xia Chengze took a vicious drag on his cigarette, choking slightly on the smoke. "I think you shouldn't drag this out any longer. If you want a divorce, then get a divorce. Jiang Shuwei is more suited to being your sister, not your wife. The two of you are just wasting your youth like this."

He Jingcheng turned his head to look at Xia Chengze. "I hit you too hard just now. My apologies. Next time something like this happens, run it by me first."

"I'll remember that, Jingcheng. You knocked some sense into me, too. It was my lack of thoroughness, but I'll do better in the future," Xia Chengze said, lowering his head sincerely.

"Alright, it's getting late. I'm heading back." He Jingcheng turned, got into his car, and vanished into the darkness.

With a rigid and gloomy gaze, Xia Chengze stared at the retreating Bentley and spat a mouthful of blood onto the ground.

Even though He Jingcheng had driven over in the middle of the night to give him a punch, he dared not harbor any hatred; the Xia family could not survive without the He family. But He Jingcheng’s punch—that, he would remember.

He Jingcheng returned a little after two in the morning, radiating a cold and forbidding aura. As he passed the children's room, his footsteps suddenly grew lighter. He paused by the door, staring at the pink doorknob lock for a long while before finally returning to his own bedroom.

Early the next morning, Jiang Shuwei woke up quite early. She helped He Tingting get dressed and combed her hair into two adorable little braids, leaving her round, pretty face looking charming with eyes that shone like stars.

"You look so pretty." Jiang Shuwei found herself growing more and more fond of this little cutie.

He Tingting giggled happily, overjoyed to be complimented by her aunt.

Holding her small hand, Jiang Shuwei led her downstairs, where Huang Yujie had already prepared breakfast.

"Shuwei, Tingting, come over and eat."

"Where's Uncle?" He Tingting asked.

Still burning with anger over the matter of the white jade Guanyin, Huang Yujie let out a huff. "Never mind him. You two eat first."

"Is Uncle sick? He always goes for a run in the garden in the mornings," He Tingting asked, blinking her eyes.

Huang Yujie was startled, then immediately looked at Jiang Shuwei. "Shuwei, be a dear and go upstairs to check on him for me."

Jiang Shuwei really didn't want to take on this task, but it was hard to refuse, so she simply nodded.

Jiang Shuwei went upstairs and arrived at He Jingcheng’s bedroom. Finding the door closed, she knocked once.

"Come in..." the man’s deep, hoarse voice drifted out.

Jiang Shuwei pushed the door open and poked half her head in to take a look.

"Mom wants to know if you're sick," Jiang Shuwei said in a flat tone.

"I don't know." The man’s voice remained somewhat hoarse, offering an evasive reply.

Frowning, Jiang Shuwei walked straight into the room and looked at the man lying in bed.

Noticing that his complexion looked abnormal, she, as a medical student, walked right over and placed the back of her hand against his forehead. "You have a fever."

"It's fine. I'll be better after a nap," He Jingcheng replied with his habitual cold detachment.

Not bothering to pamper him, Jiang Shuwei got up and walked straight out of the bedroom.

With his back to the door, the man heard the footsteps recede into the distance. Suddenly, he pulled the blanket tighter around himself and turned his head to stare fixedly at that doorway.