Volume One, Chapter 15: Disdain

Lu Wenzhou’s gaze swept over the bed.

Jiang Wan was nowhere to be seen.

The entire suite was silent, not a sound from the bathroom.

He frowned, intending to check the wardrobe.

But before he could take a step, Lu Wenzhou noticed the trash bin nearby. The dirty clothes he had thrown in were already gone.

Jiang Wan had left.

She would rather put on her old clothes, soiled with vomit, than accept the new ones he had provided.

Lu Wenzhou’s hand, gripping his bag, tightened uncontrollably, again and again.

A dark, forbidding cloud settled over his entire demeanor.

*

By the time Jiang Wan arrived at the company, it was nearly noon.

Before she could enter her office, her secretary came out from the side, holding her bag.

“President Jiang, this was delivered by a courier.”

Handing her the bag, the secretary asked, “Would you like to check the contents?”

At this, Jiang Wan hurriedly opened the bag.

The acceptance document signed by Wang Dexing was still inside, black and white, clear as day—there would be no further disputes.

Jiang Wan breathed a sigh of relief.

Fortunately, after she disappeared last night, he hadn’t tampered with it.

He had even arranged for someone to send her bag to the company; it seemed he didn’t dare stir up more trouble.

Jiang Wan quietly counted her blessings and handed the acceptance document to her secretary.

She then continued with her other work.

The next two days were spent shuttling back and forth between home renovation markets, searching for reliable subcontractors for Jiang Group’s custom home design project.

Around noon, just as she stepped out of the renovation market, she ran into Ji Jiali and the Lin family’s driver.

Mother and daughter locked eyes.

Jiang Wan gave her a cool glance, nodded in greeting, and was about to leave.

Sensing this, Ji Jiali quickly gave a few instructions to the driver and hurried after her in her high heels.

“Why are you running away? I’m your mother—am I going to bite you?”

Jiang Wan ignored her, continuing to walk forward.

Ji Jiali grew anxious.

She grabbed Jiang Wan’s hand, forcibly stopping her.

“What are you doing? Did you do something shameful behind my back that you’re afraid I’ll find out?”

Her voice rose unconsciously.

With their striking looks, the mother and daughter immediately attracted the attention of curious passersby, who began to watch with interest.

Jiang Wan frowned, lowering her voice.

“Can’t I just not want to be alone with you?”

“No, you can’t.”

Ji Jiali flatly refused, pulling Jiang Wan back. “I have something to say to you. Let’s have lunch together.”

She insisted, emphasizing, “My treat. You don’t have to spend a thing!”

She brought Jiang Wan to a high-end Western restaurant nearby.

Just the two of them.

Yet she requested the most luxurious private room with the best view.

As she handed her coat to the waiter, she made sure to stress that the light fur was Angora rabbit hair—prone to picking up dust and lint, and must be stored separately with care.

Jiang Wan sat across from her, watching her flip through the menu with sparkling crystal nails before ordering eight dishes, a bottle of wine, and two desserts.

Once the waiter left, Ji Jiali immediately extended her hand to show off a new ring on her ring finger.

“Isn’t it beautiful? Your uncle gave it to me.”

Jiang Wan couldn’t even be bothered to look. “If you have nothing important to say, I’m leaving.”

With that, she braced her hands on the table, preparing to stand.

“Hey, hey!”

Ji Jiali grabbed her hand. “There is something! Who said there isn’t?”

She no longer mentioned anything about the Lin family.

Instead, she brought up Gu Huaixu.

Since the wedding, he had vanished as if off the face of the earth.

All she knew was that he’d flown to Switzerland; otherwise, there was no word from him.

“Your husband’s run off, and you still have the heart to focus on work?”

Ji Jiali shot her a look of disdain. “How do you expect to keep a man’s heart, acting like you do?”

Jiang Wan was unmoved.

She’d been through all this before.

The first time is strange, the second familiar.

Gu Huaixu’s disappearance no longer meant anything to her.

As long as it didn’t affect her reclaiming the Jiang Group, he could die abroad for all she cared.

“I’m talking to you!”

Ji Jiali was dissatisfied with her silence, her expression growing slightly grave. “Can’t you learn from Lin Zhi? Be a bit more tactful and flexible—it won’t hurt you.”

“With such a beautiful face, why do you always look so cold to people?”

As she spoke, she unconsciously circled back to the Lin family.

Lin Zhi had graduated early and was already given a position at Lin Group by Lin Hongguang. An official announcement would be made soon.

Not only was her career progressing, her love life seemed promising as well.

“Do you know what she’s been up to lately?”

Ji Jiali’s tone was exaggerated, her expression even more so. “She’s been spending all her time with Lu Wenzhou. Can you believe it? Lu Wenzhou! Huaixu’s little uncle—the crown prince from Beijing’s elite circle!”

She stressed his social status, clearly shocked.

“I never could have imagined the two of them would end up together. But thinking back, Lin Zhi did study in Beijing, so maybe they met back then.”

“No wonder Lu Wenzhou came to Rong City for the wedding—it was just an excuse…”

Ji Jiali sighed. “That girl really is blessed!”

“Though she isn’t the Lin family’s only daughter, she’s always been at your uncle’s side, cherished like a treasure.”

“She might not have been born with a golden spoon, but at least it’s a silver one.”

“Her family is well off, her education and job are good, and if she marries into the Lu family… Tell me, how is it that, both being women, her life is so charmed?”

Jiang Wan grew increasingly annoyed, taking a sip of water.

Ji Jiali, still caught up in her own complaints, poured out everything she’d been holding back.

“I even saw her looking at villa brochures the other day. Do you think Lu Wenzhou is going to buy her a house right off the bat?”

“Is this how the rich in Beijing date?”

“If you compare that to you marrying Huaixu, didn’t you get the short end of the stick? With your looks and figure, in what way are you inferior to Lin Zhi?”

“If anything, it’s just your family background. Blame your father for holding you back…”

Bang!

At this point, Jiang Wan could no longer bear it.

She slammed her water glass onto the table, the dull thud startling Ji Jiali.

“Are you done?”

Jiang Wan’s face was cold, her tone dripping with impatience.

“I…”

Ji Jiali was at a loss, thrown by her reaction.

Jiang Wan gritted her teeth, set the cup down, and rose.

“My father has never held me back, and I have no desire to marry any so-called crown prince from Beijing.”

With that, she strode toward the door.

“Hey! We haven’t even eaten—where are you going?”

Ji Jiali called after her.

Jiang Wan didn’t look back. “I’ve lost my appetite. Enjoy your meal.”

“You…”

Ji Jiali, angry yet helpless, followed her out of the private room.

“I still have something to give you. Can’t you just sit and have a meal with me?”

Jiang Wan ignored her, striding ahead.

Ji Jiali caught up, about to grab her hand and speak, when a figure in the distance caught her eye.

“Isn’t that Lin Zhi and Lu Wenzhou?”