Volume 1, Chapter 60: Apologies Are Fine, But Divorce Is Mandatory

"There's no need." Su Mian's delicate face was pale, but her voice was soft as she said, "Brother Jingcheng, I don't want to put you in a difficult position anymore. Because of me, your relationship with him has become too strained. I'll probably feel better after resting a bit."

"Su Mian, even if you're kind-hearted, you shouldn't let others bully you. Someone like Jiang Shuwei is ruthless at first glance—look at her, she just patted her hands and left as if nothing happened. If you don't teach her a lesson this time, who knows what she might do next..." Xia Chengze said passionately from the side.

"There won't be a next time." He Jingcheng interrupted him with a dark expression. "There will never be a next time."

Xia Chengze snorted indignantly, "Jingcheng, we only gave her a pass out of respect for you. You aren't going to side with her this time too, are you?"

He Jingcheng's expression grew gloomy, and his voice was cold, "Whoever throws the first punch is in the wrong. Rest assured, she is my wife; I will discipline her."

That single phrase—"my wife"—almost caused Su Mian to pass out all over again.

"Brother Chengze, stop talking. I don't want to make things difficult for Brother Jingcheng." Su Mian looked at the people present with a pitiful and touching expression. "Shuwei just has a more volatile temper. I believe her character isn't bad; otherwise, Brother Jingcheng wouldn't have married her."

Xia Chengze, standing nearby, sneered, "If the elders of the He family hadn't forced him, Jingcheng would never have married her."

He Jingcheng's expression was less than pleasant; he detested others making remarks about his marriage.

Therefore, he said in a deep voice, "My mother's life was saved by Jiang Shuwei's mother. Reason and emotion both dictate that I should repay this kindness. That is a fact."

Lu Yanzhi chimed in from the side, "Jingcheng, we've never asked you this before: are you planning to repay this debt for the rest of your life? Or do you think a marriage without affection should be ended early?"

Su Mian's beautiful eyes, shimmering with unshed tears, fixedly stared at He Jingcheng. In truth, she had long wanted to know his answer, but had never dared to ask.

Xia Chengze also looked at He Jingcheng. Although he was infatuated with Su Mian, he knew that in Su Mian's eyes, there was only He Jingcheng—from beginning to end, only him. Xia Chengze was nothing more than a devoted follower, hoping his goddess would get her wish and marry into the He family as the young mistress.

As long as Su Mian became the young mistress of the He family, he would be content to worship her for a lifetime.

Seeing everyone staring at him, He Jingcheng felt a surge of irritation. "This is my affair; stop prying. Su Mian, the doctor is here, let him examine you."

A flash of disappointment crossed Su Mian's beautiful eyes. However, she knew this matter could not be rushed.

"Alright, thank you for your concern, Brother Jingcheng." Su Mian immediately lay back down and extended her arm for the doctor to check her blood pressure.

Actually, Su Mian felt she had already won.

He Jingcheng had stayed by her side all this time—that was the proof.

After examining Su Mian, the doctor suggested that she make time to visit the hospital for an electrocardiogram and an echocardiogram.

***

Su Mian expressed her gratitude, and Lu Yanzhi escorted the doctor out.

Seeing that everything was settled here, He Jingcheng said, "I'm leaving first."

Xia Chengze chased him to the doorway, wanting to mutter a few more words urging him to severely punish Jiang Shuwei, but in the end, he didn't dare.

Seeming to know what Xia Chengze was about to say, Su Mian immediately called out, "Brother Chengze, come here for a moment."

Xia Chengze immediately walked over to her side. Su Mian said softly, "I'm thirsty. Could you pour me a glass of water? Make it warm."

Xia Chengze nodded and went to pour her water.

After Jiang Shuwei and Qin Weizhou's group of three had finished some food, they mentioned they had to leave first and promised to visit her studio another day to see her paintings. Jiang Shuwei warmly invited them.

At the entrance on the first floor, Jiang Shuwei personally saw them off as they boarded their car and left.

Having drunk alcohol and subsequently gotten into a fight, most of the alcohol had worn off, but her small face still retained a flushed, vibrant hue from the liquor. Her long hair remained slightly disheveled, and the black suit jacket draped over her shoulders appeared exceptionally oversized. Jiang Shuwei decided to return to the private dining room to continue eating with her staff.

At the elevator lobby, she collided head-on with He Jingcheng, who was just walking out.

He Jingcheng's cold eyes were glacial. When he saw the men's suit jacket draped over her shoulders, his expression grew even frostier.

Seeing him, Jiang Shuwei's pretty face instantly chilled as well. She bypassed him and moved to enter the elevator.

"Jiang Shuwei," He Jingcheng called out to her.

Jiang Shuwei turned her head to look at him and said indifferently, "Something the matter?"

He Jingcheng reached out and blocked the elevator door, preventing it from closing. Towering over her, he stared down at Jiang Shuwei. "Su Mian had chest pains and fainted. Was this your doing?"

Jiang Shuwei swept a cool glance over him. "I only hit her face; I didn't touch her heart. Why are you pinning this on me?"

"Is that so? Su Mian said you jammed your knee into her chest," He Jingcheng said coldly.

"Oh? Did I crush the implants in her chest then?" Jiang Shuwei let out a wicked, teasing laugh.

"Jiang Shuwei!" He Jingcheng flared up, violently dragging her out of the elevator.

He hauled her all the way to the nearby stairwell, where no one was passing by at the moment.

***

Angered, Jiang Shuwei flung his arm away and turned to leave.

He Jingcheng immediately reached out, pinning her between the wall and his outstretched arms. "You can leave after we finish talking."

Jiang Shuwei was practically laughing in exasperation. "What do you want me to say? That I got into a fight with someone, and my own husband helped outsiders denounce me? Or that Su Mian's deliberate provocation is completely innocent, while my self-defense has magically turned into premeditated assault?"

"She insults you, so you hit people? Why are you so violent? Did you waste all those years studying in college for nothing?" He Jingcheng raged, casting a look of disappointment at her.

Jiang Shuwei froze, her eye sockets stinging.

She took a deep breath, lowered her head, and bit her lip. It took her a long time to calm down before she spoke. "I didn't graduate from college, did I? You forgot, He Jingcheng? Or were you deliberately trying to make sure I couldn't get my diploma? And besides, isn't Su Mian a third party?"

Astonishment flickered across He Jingcheng's eyes. He stared at Jiang Shuwei in disbelief. "What nonsense are you spouting?"

Suppressing her grievance and sorrow, Jiang Shuwei looked at him with tear-stained eyes. "I'm not spouting nonsense. It's the truth—a truth everyone is witnessing."

He Jingcheng coldly dropped his arms and crossed them over his chest. "Jiang Shuwei, stop projecting your petty mindset onto others. Su Mian is not my mistress; she's simply a younger sister and friend I've known since childhood. As for your diploma—aren't you a genius? Genuses don't need such useless certificates."

Upon hearing his explanation, Jiang Shuwei almost laughed out of sheer anger. "He Jingcheng, I accept your retaliation in full. As for the relationship between you and Su Mian... when it comes down to it, you just don't dare to admit it."

"Jiang Shuwei, stop making excuses for your infidelity." He Jingcheng directly ripped the men's suit jacket off her shoulders and tossed it casually into a nearby trash can. "You suspect me and Su Mian, then what's going on between you and Qin Weizhou?"

Seeing the suit jacket discarded, Jiang Shuwei rushed over and fished it out.

"You are not allowed to pick that up!" He Jingcheng barked coldly.

Ignoring his fury, Jiang Shuwei clutched the suit jacket to her chest and stared coldly at He Jingcheng. "He lent it to me to cover up. You have no right to throw it away."

Only then did He Jingcheng notice that the front and back of Jiang Shuwei's gown were torn, exposing her fair skin and a patch of scenery at her chest.

He Jingcheng said nothing more, while Jiang Shuwei draped the suit jacket back over her shoulders.

"You need to apologize to Su Mian for this," He Jingcheng commanded coldly.

Jiang Shuwei felt as though her heart had been pierced by a knife. She bit her lip, pondered for a moment, and said, "I can apologize, but you have to agree to divorce me."