Chapter 8: A Misunderstanding

Hearing Qin Huan’s firm answer, Jiang Jingchu nodded self deprecatingly.  He’d foolishly tried to avenge her, even hiring a private investigator, only to find she didn’t care.

“Excellent. A few years abroad, and your only improvement is your promiscuity? You can even tolerate a man having multiple partners?”

His words were harsh.  Even though Qin Huan was still confused, she was furious.

“What are you talking about?”

Jiang Jingchu sneered, suddenly pinching her chin. His thumb, scented with sandalwood, lightly traced her full lips.

Qin Huan’s pupils constricted.  Her captured lips trembled slightly, like a dew kissed flower swaying in the wind.

Jiang Jingchu’s Adam’s apple bobbed. He really wanted to kiss her.

But when his gaze fell on a faint scar at the corner of her eyebrow, his pupils trembled, and his fingers tightened involuntarily.

Qin Huan hissed in pain, her delicate brows furrowed. She slapped his hand away.

“What are you doing!”

Jiang Jingchu glanced at the clear finger marks on her chin, a flicker of self reproach crossing his face. He looked away.

“You’re so indiscriminate. Aren’t you afraid of getting sick?”

“Jiang Jingchu!”

Qin Huan was furious, her pretty face flushed crimson.  She pushed him away fiercely.

“You’re the one who’s sick! Your whole family is sick!”

She stormed off.

Jiang Jingchu swayed slightly. Her push was insignificant, but his fingers were visibly trembling.

He remembered the incident, the blood flowing down Qin Huan’s forehead a horrifying image that still haunted him. The scar remained.

Jiang Jingchu wanted a cigarette to calm down, but his lighter wouldn’t work.

In anger, he snapped the cigarette and threw it and the lighter into the trash can.

Zou Shikai had only taken a short break from his business dinner to meet Qin Huan. He returned to the private room and then went to the restroom.

Seeing Jiang Jingchu at the door, his eyes lit up.

“Mr. Jiang!”

Jiang Jingchu was leaning against the wall, lost in thought. He opened his eyes impatiently.

Zou Shikai strode forward. Since unintentionally offending Jiang Jingchu and losing the project, he had tried several times to contact Jiang Jingchu, but hadn’t even been allowed into the elevator.

Facing pressure from the board, he was desperately trying to find a way to salvage the situation.

He hadn’t expected this encounter.

“Mr. Jiang, could I take five minutes of your time?”

Seeing Zou Shikai, Jiang Jingchu’s hard-won calm was shattered.

He rubbed his temples, his impatience evident.

“I thought I made myself clear.”

Zou Shikai was embarrassed, but thinking of the board, he pressed on.

“I’m sorry, Mr. Jiang. I know this is inappropriate, but the Xinghuawan project involved many people.

If the cooperation fails because of me, it’s unfair to those who worked hard.”

Jiang Jingchu sneered, seemingly unconcerned.

He stood up lazily, his eyes sweeping over Zou Shikai contemptuously.

“So, why can’t you control your behavior?”

Zou Shikai’s mind was racing.

Everyone in North City knew Jiang Jingchu was unpredictable, but no one had told him how extreme it was! He had just chatted with a PR lady at a business dinner.  How had he broken Jiang’s rules?

But he was the heir, and even ten Zou Shikais wouldn’t dare defy him.

Zou Shikai took a deep breath.

“I know I was wrong, but I have my reasons.”

“Reasons?”

Jiang Jingchu’s low voice rose slightly, finally piqued.

Zou Shikai hesitated, a hint of embarrassment on his face.

“I have a girlfriend, but she’s been abroad for years and rarely comes back. You’re a man; you should understand the need for… certain things.”

Years abroad? Rarely comes back?

Something flashed through Jiang Jingchu’s mind, too quickly to grasp.

“That’s not right. I saw you having dinner with your girlfriend just now.”

Zou Shikai was stunned, realizing what he meant.

“You mean Ms. Qin? No, she’s not my girlfriend. She’s an interior designer.”

“Interior designer?”

Jiang Jingchu’s eyes showed a clear change.

Zou Shikai, being shrewd, guessed Jiang Jingchu had misunderstood.

He quickly showed him their recent WeChat messages.

“Including today, we’ve only met twice.  We’ve communicated mostly through WeChat.”

Jiang Jingchu glanced at the messages normal work communications.

He recalled his conversations with Qin Huan. She had never mentioned Zou Shikai as her boyfriend. He’d jumped to conclusions.

Jiang Jingchu was stunned, then chuckled self-deprecatingly.

She’d rather he misunderstand she had a boyfriend than have any connection with him.

Qin Huan, are you that afraid I’ll cling to you again?

Ji Jingya felt Jiang Jingchu’s mood had soured after his restroom trip.

In the car, he told the driver to take her home and closed his eyes, his brow furrowed.

Ji Jingya sat beside him, sensing an extreme coldness, as if they were back to their first meeting three years ago.

It was a rainy morning.  Ji Jingya had just arrived at work when Jiang Jingchu knocked.

His presence immediately caught her attention.  He sat down, leaning back lazily, and said coldly,

“Doctor, I hear you’re excellent. Do you know how to forget someone?”

Ji Jingya had treated many patients with psychological issues, but this was a first.  She sensed a psychological barrier.

She smiled and sat opposite him.

“Can you tell me about this person?”

Jiang Jingchu’s eyelids drooped, his emotions unreadable.  After a while, he said,

“A woman I both love and hate.”

“Specifically?”

Ji Jingya asked, needing to understand his issues.

“What do you love about her, and why do you hate her?”

Jiang Jingchu frowned, looking at her skeptically.

“Is this relevant?”

“Don’t psychologists use hypnosis? If it can make me forget her, I’ll do it.”

Ji Jingya smiled, not offended.

“Theoretically, yes, but it’s temporary.  After waking up, the person will still be in your memory.”

Jiang Jingchu nodded, unsurprised.

“That’s fine. I just want to sleep without dreaming of her.”

They arrived at Ji’s house.  The driver opened the door for her. Ji Jingya looked back at Jiang Jingchu, who was still closing his eyes.

“You haven’t been to my office in a while. When will you come by?”

This was their unspoken agreement. When Jiang Jingchu had trouble sleeping or was in a bad mood, he would go to Ji Jingya’s office. Sometimes he’d be hypnotized and sleep there, sometimes he’d just chat with her.

His sleep and mood had improved, but with Qin Huan’s return, he was losing control again. Ji Jingya, being a psychologist, noticed immediately.

Jiang Jingchu’s eyes flickered.

“In a few days.”