Chapter 3: Venting for Her

Qin Huan wanted to say she didn’t have a boyfriend, but changed her mind at the last moment.

“He’s very busy,” she said.

Jiang Jingchu’s heart suddenly constricted. He felt like a masochist, actively seeking pain.

“The one with the surname Wen? Weren’t you two very close? I thought you’d end up together.”

Qin Huan was startled. She realized he had misunderstood her relationship with her client in the elevator yesterday.

After a moment’s thought, she didn’t bother explaining.

“No one can guarantee who they’ll truly end up with.”

This answer not only addressed Jiang Jingchu’s question but also subtly alluded to their past.

Both fell silent, an awkward silence filling the car.

After a while, Jiang Jingchu glanced at her shivering shoulders and chapped lips, and couldn’t help but speak.

“What’s with the drama? No one’s used it; it’s brand new, bought last week.”

Even Jiang Jingchu didn’t want to admit that after all these years, he still clearly remembered all her habits.

Qin Huan had mild case of mysophobia,  she never shared things like towels and clothes with anyone.

He remembered one time they got carried away at his place, ruining their clothes beyond repair.

While waiting for the delivery from the department store, Jiang Jingchu offered her his clothes, but she refused and sat naked in the bathroom for half an hour.

From then on, he made it a habit to keep her personal items in his car and home, and he never changed that.

Gao Fei was genuinely confused about the relationship between his boss and the woman.

They were familiar, yet they didn’t even exchange basic pleasantries when they met. But the woman dared to give Mr. Jiang the cold shoulder. In all of North City, which woman wouldn’t try to sweet talk Mr. Jiang?

The most bizarre thing was that Mr. Jiang, who never got close to women and was known as the cold-faced Yama, was actually affected by her!

He took another look at the woman, who clearly seemed indifferent. Gao Fei had a sudden idea.

“It’s true that no one has used it. I can testify; Mr. Jiang never lets anyone else ride in this car.”

Jiang Jingchu hadn’t expected Gao Fei to say that.

He was about to scold him for being meddlesome, but he caught sight of the woman beside him moving. The shawl she had just rejected was now draped over her slender shoulders.

He felt a surge of displeasure. When did his words become less credible than a stranger’s?

After putting on the shawl, Qin Huan finally warmed up. She glanced at the medicine bag in the storage box, which had the same label as the one in her hand, and asked indifferently.

“Were you at the hospital too?”

Jiang Jingchu hummed, not mentioning that he had been there for an IV drip in the middle of the night.

Qin Huan, however, noticed the names of several stomach medicine on the box and subtly furrowed her brow.

She knew about Jiang Jingchu’s stomach problems. It was due to his past habits; he often drank with Han Xian and others, waking up in the middle of the night in pain, and then bothering her.

Qin Huan had told him countless times to stop and even learned to cook stomach-friendly meals for him.

Every time, he would laughingly finish them, not forgetting to tease her about her “dog rejecting” cooking skills.

But back then, Jiang Jingchu’s stomach problems weren’t severe enough to require medication.

Qin Huan didn’t know what had happened to him in the past few years. She hesitantly asked,

“Lots of business entertainment?”

Jiang Jingchu was lost in thought and didn’t understand her question, reflexively replying,

“Not much.”

Not much?

So, he did it to himself. Serves him right.

Qin Huan put aside her brief sympathy and looked out the window.

Seeing her stubborn, stiff back, Jiang Jingchu inexplicably felt she was sulking.

He frowned in confusion.

He had gone to great lengths to take her home and even lent her a shawl, and she was still unhappy?

For the rest of the journey, they sulked, each occupying one side of the seat, the atmosphere heavy with tension.

Gao Fei didn’t dare to upset them, and after much hesitation, quietly asked Qin Huan for her address.

Qin Huan casually gave him the name of a residential area. Jiang Jingchu heard it wasn’t Hengfeng Jiayuan, meaning she wasn’t living with her unreliable boyfriend.

He immediately felt a little better.

The car wound its way to an older residential area.

Jiang Jingchu scanned the surroundings, a shadow crossing his eyes. He said sarcastically,

“He lives in such a nice place, yet he puts you here?”

Qin Huan was hopping out of the car with difficulty. Hearing this, she glared at Jiang Jingchu.

“What’s wrong with living here? Who says couples have to live together?”

This was clearly a dig at Jiang Jingchu.

When they first got together, Jiang Jingchu had eagerly wanted Qin Huan to move in with him.

When she refused, he threatened and cajoled her, even brazenly brainwashing her,

“Couples who don’t want to live together aren’t truly a couple.”

Later, on every night she was woken up by his actions, Qin Huan regretted her soft heart for falling for Jiang Jingchu.

Jiang Jingchu was speechless. By the time he recovered, Qin Huan had already hopped away.

Seeing her resolute back, the same as when she left years ago, Jiang Jingchu felt bitterness spreading from his chest to his throat.

How much did she regret being with him?

For a long time after that, Qin Huan didn’t see Jiang Jingchu again.

The client’s design was almost finalized; the next step was a more complete 360° VR panorama.

In between her busy schedule, she visited several kindergartens. The ones with good environments were far from where she lived, and the ones closer had elementary schools she wasn’t satisfied with.

Zhou Tiantian accompanied her for half a day. Seeing her meticulous planning, she sighed.

“Honestly, I admire you. You were still a student, and you dared to raise a child alone!”

Qin Huan smiled.

“Pure courage, I guess.”

Actually, no. When she found out she was pregnant, she was devastated. Her mother cut ties with her, her grandmother passed away, and she had a falling out with Jiang Jingchu.

Standing alone in a completely unfamiliar place, she felt empty, even losing the will to live.

It was her child who supported her until now.

“Do you think you can keep it a secret from him forever?”

“Why not?”

Qin Huan lowered her brows, the overhead light casting a soft yellow halo on her head.

“He’s getting married and will soon have his own child.  We won’t have any more contact.”

A bitter feeling welled up in Zhou Tiantian’s heart. She felt sorry for Qin Huan.  She had suffered so much, yet in the eyes of others, she was the one at fault.

Zhou Tiantian hugged Qin Huan with sympathy.

“Don’t worry, your daughter is my daughter too. When she comes back, I’ll help you take care of her!”

Meanwhile, Jiang Jingchu was at a business dinner.

He didn’t touch the food on the table, quietly watching a man and woman flirt across from him.

Perhaps his gaze was too direct. The man paused, then leaned over and whispered something in the woman’s ear.

The woman’s charming eyes curved slightly, and she swayed her hips towards Jiang Jingchu, speaking in a sweet voice.

“Mr. Jiang, it’s so boring being alone. May I have the honor of a drink with you?”

Jiang Jingchu didn’t lift his head or open his eyes, coldly spitting out two words.

“Go away.”

The woman hadn’t expected such a rejection. She was stunned for a moment, then took another step forward, her large chest almost brushing against Jiang Jingchu’s arm.

“Give me some face. Just one drink?”

Jiang Jingchu took a breath, his icy eyes lightly scanning the woman.

“I said no. Don’t you understand?”

Jiang Jingchu was always serious and unsmiling in public. Even standing still, his aura was strong. Now that he was angry, he exuded a powerful presence.

The woman, intimidated, fell silent, her face pale and unsure of what to do.

The others at the table belatedly sensed Jiang Jingchu’s displeasure. Those with good judgment waved to the remaining women at the table, and they quickly left.

Jiang Jingchu’s coldness subsided slightly. He folded his hands on the table, leaning lazily against the back of his chair.

“Excuse me, does Mr. Zou have a girlfriend?”

Zou Shikai was the man Jiang Jingchu had been staring at. He was startled, unsure of Jiang Jingchu’s meaning but dared not fail to answer.

“Yes.”

Jiang Jingchu sneered.

“It seems that home flowers are not as fragrant as wild flowers. You have one at home, yet you’re still restless outside.”

He stood up and brushed the wrinkles from his pants. Jiang Jingchu’s thin lips slightly parted.

“Jiang Corporation has been established in North City for a hundred years, always upholding integrity. We never cooperate with people of questionable character. Mr. Zou, you should find someone else.”

With that, he turned and left without hesitation, leaving Zou Shikai and his group dumbfounded.

It’s just a girlfriend; they’re not even married yet. Besides, it’s normal for men to socialize even if they’re married, right?

Why escalate it to the point of canceling a multi million dollar contract?