Chapter 13 – Neighboring Big Sister

Jiang Jiang originally planned for the two of them to order takeout or go to a nearby restaurant. She didn’t expect that Wen Ye had already ordered groceries, and they arrived shortly after.

Jiang Jiang tried to transfer him the money, but he immediately declined it and even looked a little aggrieved. “It’s just some groceries. You’re already kind enough to take me in. Otherwise, I wouldn’t even have had a place to sleep tonight. Please don’t be so polite with me, okay?”

Seeing that he wasn’t just saying it out of politeness, Jiang Jiang finally let it go.

As Wen Ye cooked, he said, “I was always the one who cooked at home. When I was a kid, my mom had to work two jobs to support us. I’d climb up on a stool and make simple meals myself.”

He went quiet after that.

Wen Shulan had once truly loved him. She was timid and weak, yet she still gave birth to him and never once complained, no matter how tired or overworked she was.

But people change.

He couldn’t forget the look of relief on her face when she pushed him out the door earlier today.

The warmth of those seven years he had with her had kept him trapped in that hellish home for so long. But now, he finally understood—it was time to let go.

Wen Ye had a blank expression while thinking about all of this, but when he turned to Jiang Jiang, his eyes were suddenly filled with tears.

“…Jie, can I get a hug?”

He looked like a wounded, fragile little creature.

But it wasn’t until the unsuspecting woman walked into his arms that he tightened his hold on her, greedily soaking in her scent.

That empty, perfunctory hug earlier in the day had almost broken his self-control.

Sure enough, holding her tight in his arms—that was more his style.

After dinner, Wen Ye grabbed the trash bag. “I’ll go take this out.”

Jiang Jiang responded, then remembered something and handed him the spare key. “I might not hear the doorbell if I’m painting in the studio during the day, so just come and go freely.”

Wen Ye took the key.

It still carried the warmth of her body.

For a moment, he had the illusion that this place was his home too…

But soon, it wouldn’t just be an illusion.

He carefully sorted the trash downstairs. Just then, a black Cayenne pulled up beside him.

“Young Master.”

A man dressed in black stepped out of the car, respectfully bowing.

Wen Ye’s face no longer wore the pitiful expression he used in front of Jiang Jiang. A flash of cold cunning flickered in his eyes as he chuckled. “Tell him—I’ve changed my mind. I accept his offer.”

The man looked pleasantly surprised. “Master will be very happy to hear this.”

Wen Ye rubbed the key between his fingers. It had cooled down by now, but just the memory of her warmth softened his heart a little.

“…I’ll handle things here myself. Don’t interfere.”

“Yes, sir.”

Wen Ye watched as the man drove away.

They had found him a month ago.

The ironic thing was—after abandoning his mother, that playboy of a biological father now had no other heirs.

Either they’d killed each other off, or died in accidents.

In the end, he had no choice but to seek out the illegitimate son he never raised.

Wen Ye thought it was laughable.

He even pitied his mother—she must’ve loved that man once. But the man never once tried to see her again, only interested in the son he never raised.

At first, Wen Ye rejected them. He thought a man like that deserved to die alone.

But now, gripping the key tightly in his hand, he suddenly realized—this was an opportunity.

“If he wants an heir…” Wen Ye’s lips curled into a cold smile.

Then I’ll show him just what kind of monster he brought home.

He turned to head back to Jiang Jiang’s apartment—only to bump into someone unexpected in the stairwell.

Chu Keyong.

The man’s face was flushed red from alcohol. When he saw Wen Ye, he let out a twisted grin. “Well, well. You finally dared come out, you little bastard?”

Wen Ye looked at him blankly. “Move.”

“Move?” Chu Keyong spat. “Living in that bitch’s house now, feeling proud of yourself?” He grabbed Wen Ye by the collar. “I raised you all these years, and this is how you repay me?”

Wen Ye’s expression turned cold in an instant.

He slowly raised his hand and pried Chu Keyong’s fingers off one by one.

“You raised me?” He let out a low laugh. “From the moment I stepped into your house, have you ever spent even a single cent on me?”

If anything, he’d probably taken more than he’d given.

Chu Keyong shuddered slightly at the way Wen Ye looked—like he was facing a completely different person.

Truth be told, he was just a bully who preyed on the weak. Wen Ye had always tolerated him out of concern for his mother, letting things slide if they weren’t too extreme.

But now, Wen Ye had Jiang Jiang.

Wen Ye’s strength took Chu Keyong by surprise. He stomped him to the ground and crushed his fingers beneath his shoe.

There was no one else around for some reason.

“AHHH!!—”

Chu Keyong let out a wretched scream.

But Wen Ye’s expression remained calm, as if nothing had happened. “Don’t let me see you again. Next time won’t be this easy.”

Chu Keyong clutched his fingers and staggered to his feet, cursing. “You think I won’t call the cops?”

Wen Ye smiled faintly. “The surveillance cameras in this area are all broken. With the way you usually treat me, who do you think the police will believe—me or you?”

Chu Keyong fled.

Wen Ye stood alone in the dim stairwell, a cold smile slowly forming on his lips.

Moonlight slanted in from the window, casting sharp shadows across his handsome face. His beautiful eyes were dark as ink, swirling with something dangerous and chilling.

“I never planned to let you go.” he murmured.

His slender fingers brushed the collar that Chu Keyong had wrinkled.

Tsk. Dirty.

This was Jie-jie’s shirt.

Like someone with OCD, he rubbed the collar furiously until his hands turned red—but he could still faintly smell that man’s stench.

Damn it.

Damn it. Damn it. Damn it.

Just as he was about to lose it, his phone lit up.

The cracked screen displayed a profile picture of a little kitten.

【Not done yet?】

It was Jie-jie.

Wen Ye blinked.

As he turned around, the viciousness on his face melted away, replaced by a harmless, obedient look.

But his fingers were still absentmindedly rubbing the key in his pocket—like it was the only thing that could calm the storm inside him.

–––

“I got your shirt dirty… sorry.”

Jiang Jiang looked at the spot he was pointing to and couldn’t even tell what was dirty. After a beat of silence, she wondered if maybe the male lead had a bit of a cleanliness obsession.

But his fingers—she noticed—were red and raw.

“Where’d you bump into something?”

Wen Ye blinked, and suddenly tears welled up in those pretty eyes. “When I went downstairs… I ran into my stepfather… it was my fault, I wasn’t careful…”