Volume One, Chapter 9: Su Mian Wants to Accompany Him on the Journey

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Jiang Shuwei disheveled in the wind? What nonsense.

He Jingcheng assumed she had followed him to this restaurant?

As dusk fell, Jiang Shuwei received a call from He Tingting.

“Auntie, what are you busy with? Can you come over and have dinner with me?” the little one asked eagerly.

Jiang Shuwei glanced at the time and hurried over, hoping to catch dinner.

“Sure, Auntie is on her way.” She thought about how recently He Jingcheng had become close to Su Mian, and wondered if she should discuss the divorce with her elders.

When Jiang Shuwei arrived at the He family’s old residence, she saw He Jingcheng’s car just pulling up at the gate.

He Tingting jumped up excitedly: “Great! Uncle and Auntie came home together. You must have planned this, right?”

Jiang Shuwei felt awkward; who knew He Jingcheng had just arrived too?

He Jingcheng’s expression was cold and hard as he glanced at Jiang Shuwei, a look filled with displeasure and warning.

Jiang Shuwei read the emotion in his eyes. Could it be that he narcissistically thought she had followed him, which was why they happened to arrive at the same time?

“Mommy, hug me. Uncle, hug Auntie,” He Tingting ran over, holding out her small hands for a hug.

Jiang Shuwei’s smile stiffened. After picking up He Tingting, she worried He Jingcheng might come to embrace her.

Soon, her worries proved needless.

They had been married three years, never even consummated their marriage. How could there be any hugs between them?

“Tingting, stop fooling around and go wash your hands for dinner,” He Jingcheng said gently before going upstairs.

Jiang Shuwei felt a knot in her chest but kept her expression neutral.

She really didn’t understand the meaning of ten years of secret longing if all it brought was He Jingcheng’s irritable mood.

Clenching her fists, she resolved that tonight she would bring up the divorce.

At the dinner table, the patriarch raised his glass heavily.

“Shuwei, your mother’s memorial day is approaching. Are you planning to go back to the town and stay for a while?”

Jiang Shuwei’s eyes reddened. She looked gratefully at the old man, thinking she was the only one who remembered her mother’s memorial.

“Yes, I will go,” she replied.

“Good. Jingcheng, you’re Shuwei’s husband. This time, you’ll take her back and stay with her for a few days—that’s the proper courtesy from a son-in-law,” the old man said sternly, giving an order to He Jingcheng.

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“Grandpa…” He Jingcheng frowned in displeasure.

“What? You won’t listen to grandpa’s words anymore?” the patriarch asked with authority.

Huang Yujie chimed in: “Jingcheng, you really should accompany Shuwei back to pay respects. It’s the proper thing to do.”

“I want to go too! Can I?” He Tingting raised her small hand, blinking her big dark eyes.

Huang Yujie quickly comforted her: “Little darling, don’t join in. The trip is very far, and you have to take a plane.”

“I like flying,” He Tingting pouted. “I’ll be good, really. Is it really not possible?”

Jiang Shuwei was stunned. She hadn’t expected the old man and mother-in-law to make such arrangements.

So, should she even bring up divorce now?

Huang Yujie whispered in He Tingting’s ear.

But the little girl loudly declared: “Really? If Uncle and Auntie go together, will I soon have a little brother or sister?”

Jiang Shuwei: “??”

He Jingcheng: “……”

The next moment, He Jingcheng frowned, half-annoyed: “Mom, stop corrupting the child.”

Huang Yujie gently tapped He Tingting’s arm: “You naughty child, secrets aren’t to be blurted out.”

He Tingting blinked innocently yet mischievously.

The patriarch immediately slammed the table: “It’s decided. Jingcheng, you must take responsibility as a man. Shuwei is a girl; traveling far alone isn’t safe.”

He Jingcheng turned his head, looked at Jiang Shuwei with a defeated expression, full of resentment.

Jiang Shuwei lowered her head, fiddling with her fingers, knowing the old man and mother-in-law had conspired.

She felt sorrow and helplessness, mostly bewilderment.

She loved the warmth the He family gave her, but she knew if she divorced He Jingcheng, that warmth would disappear.

Could she… stay a few more days, and after the memorial, she would definitely divorce?

That night, Jiang Shuwei didn’t return to her apartment. He Tingting cried, begging her to stay and tell stories until she fell asleep.

Looking at this child who had lost her mother early, Jiang Shuwei couldn’t help but think of her own past.

If not for the care and love from He’s mother, she didn’t know where she would be—perhaps dead, or twisted in character, truly like a creature crawling in the gutter.

A child caught in the rain always wants to hold an umbrella for others.

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Jiang Shuwei gently held the gradually sleeping Tingting and closed her eyes to sleep as well.

The next morning, Jiang Shuwei returned to her studio, taking some sketches with her. She told Zhou Haixin about her trip for the memorial.

“Go ahead, go ahead. Don’t worry, I’ve got things covered here,” Zhou Haixin said heartily. “It’s fine if you stay a few extra days.”

Jiang Shuwei was grateful to have such a good partner.

When booking her plane ticket, she recalled the patriarch’s words, telling He Jingcheng to accompany her.

Should she confirm the flight time with him?

She frowned but ultimately only booked her own ticket—an evening flight at six, arriving at the distant town around nine.

At the airport, after boarding, she pondered and sent He Jingcheng a text saying she was going ahead.

At that moment, He Jingcheng was at Su family’s biotech company.

Inside the office, He Jingcheng was listening to a progress report from the Su family.

As the second largest shareholder of the Su family, He Jingcheng was quite invested in their developments. With frequent outbreaks of epidemics at home and abroad, pharmaceutical stocks were soaring. Many wanted to share in this lucrative industry. As a leading enterprise, the Su family naturally had to seize opportunities and push for new heights.

He Jingcheng glanced at his phone but ignored it.

After the meeting, Su’s father personally brought coffee, while Su Mian sat obediently nearby, dressed in a black professional suit, formally learning management affairs.

“Mr. He, something urgent?” Su’s father asked.

He Jingcheng nodded. “I’m going to An County.”

Su’s father was surprised. “The An County in E City?”

“Yes, Jiang Shuwei’s hometown. Her mother’s memorial is coming up. My grandfather insisted I accompany her,” He Jingcheng said coolly.

Su’s father brightened immediately. “Mr. He, may I ask a favor? Could you take Xiao Mian with you this time?”

He Jingcheng’s expression shifted as he looked at Su Mian.

Su Mian immediately spoke sincerely and gently: “Brother Jingcheng, don’t misunderstand. My father has been searching for my sister. We heard years ago someone saw her and her mother in E City. I want to go there to look as well.”

Su’s father looked wistful: “Yes, my first love disappeared while pregnant without my knowledge. Later, someone told me she gave birth to a daughter. More than twenty years have passed; we don’t know how they’ve fared. My wife, Xiao Mian, and I have discussed it—we want to find them.”

“I see.” He Jingcheng nodded. “Then Su Mian will come with me.”

A flicker of joy crossed Su Mian’s eyes. This journey together promised to be quite an adventure.