Lu Jiaojiao couldn’t quite describe how she felt—only that her chest felt tight and stifled.

Jiang Chao noticed her silence and dropped a kiss on her ear.

Lu Jiaojiao pushed him away, keeping her distance.

Seeing her avoid him, Jiang Chao had some understanding of her thoughts, but there was nothing he could do.

She had simply come into his life too late.

No matter what, his past couldn’t be erased.

His father’s concubines—though he hadn’t truly been with most of them—he had indeed slept with two.

He also had two personal maids and had spent time with a few women from the pleasure houses.

However, despite his debauchery, he wasn’t the type to sleep with just any woman.

At the very least, he would never touch a woman who had already been with another man—he found it disgusting.

But now, with this girl in his arms, he felt that no other woman could stir his interest.

By the time Shen Qingwan arrived, Lu Jiaojiao had already been taken away by Jiang Chao.

Jiang Chenghai had refused to let her go for too long, and Jiang Chao, unable to wait any longer, had simply taken her away in secret.

When Shen Qingwan arrived at the Jiang residence, Jiang Chenghai happened to be at home.

The moment he saw her, he was struck by her beauty. He had pursued Lu Jiaojiao only for the sake of novelty, but Shen Qingwan made his heart tremble—just one glance, and he felt as if he had become ten years younger, experiencing the youthful thrill of attraction all over again.

Upon hearing that she was looking for Lu Jiaojiao, Jiang Chenghai didn’t hesitate to tell her that his “unfilial son” had taken her away.

Not only that, he even thoughtfully provided a possible location where Jiang Chao might be hiding.

Shen Qingwan had expected a tough battle but was surprised at how cooperative Jiang Chenghai was. Since Lu Jiaojiao wasn’t there, she had no choice but to go find Jiang Chao.

As she left, Jiang Chenghai suddenly realized he had forgotten to ask whose daughter Shen Qingwan was.

When Shen Qingwan finally found Lu Jiaojiao, Jiang Chao was in the courtyard, holding her and stealing kisses.

Lu Jiaojiao was clearly unwilling and struggled against him.

Shen Qingwan kicked the door open, saw Lu Jiaojiao being taken advantage of, and rushed forward with a powerful kick.

The blow landed squarely on Jiang Chao’s lower back, sending him sprawling to the ground in a miserable heap.

To avoid hurting Lu Jiaojiao, he had deliberately twisted his body to the side.

“Jiang Chao!” Lu Jiaojiao gasped in shock.

Just as she was about to help him up, she saw Shen Qingwan striding toward her.

“Big Sister-in-law!” Lu Jiaojiao cried as she threw herself into Shen Qingwan’s arms, her tears spilling over.

“Sob… Big Sister-in-law, you finally came! I thought I would never see you again!”

She wept like a child, burying her face in Shen Qingwan’s embrace.

Jiang Chao grimaced in pain as he got to his feet.

He was about to curse the “bastard” who had kicked him, but when he turned around, he saw Lu Jiaojiao sobbing desperately in another woman’s arms.

She cried as if she had suffered the greatest injustice in the world.

Shen Qingwan soothed her gently while looking at Jiang Chao with cold eyes.

He limped forward and locked eyes with Shen Qingwan.

He had to admit, Shen Qingwan was stunningly beautiful. But in his heart, she couldn’t compare to Jiaojiao.

“Jiaojiao,” Jiang Chao called softly, clutching his chest and coughing.

Lu Jiaojiao finally lifted her tear-streaked face to look at him.

Shen Qingwan, however, had no patience for Jiang Chao.

She glared at him as if he were nothing more than a lecher.

She raised her fist, ready to strike again, but Lu Jiaojiao suddenly stopped her.

“Big Sister-in-law, ever since I was sent to the Jiang family, he has been protecting me. I…” Lu Jiaojiao lowered her head.

Shen Qingwan shot Jiang Chao a look.

His air of a debauched nobleman wasn’t something that could be erased overnight. She could see through him at a glance. Under Shen Qingwan’s sharp gaze, Jiang Chao felt utterly exposed.

“You’re the son of Vice Minister Jiang?” Shen Qingwan’s eyes were piercing.

Jiang Chao straightened up and put on a serious expression. “I am Jiang Chao.”

Shen Qingwan ignored him and turned to Lu Jiaojiao, scrutinizing her. “Did anyone in the Jiang family bully you?”

She looked ready to seek justice for Lu Jiaojiao.

It was as if she would wipe out the entire Jiang family if Lu Jiaojiao so much as nodded.

Lu Jiaojiao shook her head. “Big Sister-in-law, I’m fine. Jiang Chao has taken care of me these past days. Are you here to take me home?”

She wanted to go home but worried that Shen Qingwan would get into trouble with the Jiang family.

Hearing that she wanted to leave, Jiang Chao immediately stepped forward. “Jiaojiao—”

She glanced at him but didn’t respond.

Compared to Jiang Chao, she wanted to go home more.

She missed her parents, her sister-in-law, and her family.

Since Lu Jiaojiao had acknowledged Jiang Chao’s care, Shen Qingwan didn’t give him a hard time.

She could tell there was something between them, but they weren’t a good match.

“My sister was forced into the Jiang family. Today, I’m taking her away. Since she spoke on your behalf, I won’t make trouble for you. But if you keep pestering her, don’t blame me for being ruthless,” Shen Qingwan warned.

She shielded Lu Jiaojiao behind her.

Jiang Chao looked at Lu Jiaojiao, almost pleading. “Jiaojiao, do you really want to leave?”

Lu Jiaojiao saw the emotion in his eyes, but compared to her family, his feelings weren’t enough to make her waver.

And she couldn’t ignore his past scandals. She resolutely chose to leave with Shen Qingwan.

“The Jiang family is not my home. My family is waiting for me,” she said firmly.

She didn’t look back at him.

Shen Qingwan had no interest in arguing with Jiang Chao and took Lu Jiaojiao away immediately.

“Jiaojiao!” Jiang Chao called out in desperation, trying to follow, but Shen Qingwan’s cold gaze stopped him in his tracks.

He clenched his fists.

He wouldn’t give up.

Jiaojiao could only belong to him.

After returning to the General’s Manor, it didn’t take long for a scandal to erupt in the capital.

News spread that the newly promoted Vice General Lu had abandoned his wife and children to climb the social ladder, allowed his new mistress to sell his own daughter, and let his father starve to death.

With the storytelling masters embellishing the tale, Lu Wenzhao’s reputation was utterly ruined.

Prime Minister Su had thought he had secured a promising son-in-law, only to realize he had picked up a disaster.

The scandal not only destroyed his daughter’s reputation but also brought shame to the entire Su household.