Chapter 19: Heartless

After getting their marriage certificate, He Chi started calling her “Yi Ning” instead of “Jiang Yi Ning.”

Though it was just a single character change, the subtle shift made Jiang Yi Ning feel that something had changed between her and He Chi, as if they had become a little closer.

For Jiang Yi Ning, however, aside from the additional marriage certificate, it didn’t seem like much else had changed between her and He Chi.

He Chi sighed softly. The sudden marriage certificate had caught both of them off guard, and neither of them had fully adjusted yet.

“We’re already married. You don’t have to force yourself to be happy when you’re not. Everyone has their own emotions, and you shouldn’t have to pretend just for others’ sake.”

“From now on, as your husband, I don’t want you to sacrifice yourself. And no matter what happens, you can always talk to me.”

What He Chi truly wanted to say was that he wanted her to stop wearing a mask, to stop holding back her true nature.

He Chi hadn’t spent much time with Jiang Yi Ning, but he had begun to understand what his father meant when he said, “Yi Ning is someone who keeps her thoughts to herself.”

She didn’t like to trouble others, and that “others” even included her husband now.

He Chi didn’t want her to keep sacrificing herself for the sake of others.

He chose his words carefully, not wanting to hurt Jiang Yi Ning by being too blunt.

Jiang Yi Ning was stunned for a moment, her red lips pressed into a thin line. She wanted to say “sorry” to He Chi, but when she looked up, she was met with his deep, dark eyes.

After a brief silence, she nodded. “I understand. I’ll be more careful in the future.”

As she fastened her seatbelt, she suddenly released her hand and said to He Chi, “Sorry to trouble you again…”

He Chi’s eyes were fixed on her.

Jiang Yi Ning smiled. “I meant that you should wait for me for a bit longer. I’ll go up for a moment.”

He Chi asked, “Do you need me to go up with you?”

“No need, I’ll go up by myself and handle a few things. It’s better if you’re not around,” Jiang Yi Ning said, fully aware that the house was in her name, which would likely become a source of trouble in the future. Her father wouldn’t give up on having her transfer the property.

She didn’t want to keep going in circles with them. She didn’t want her life with He Chi to be disturbed, and she certainly didn’t want to drag He Chi into this mess.

Standing at the door, Jiang Yi Ning fumbled for the keys to open it. As soon as she stepped inside, she heard voices coming from within.

“The bride price was only a little over 300,000. It’s nothing compared to the man I introduced her to, Mr. Chen. Not only did he offer 500,000, but he also gave her a house,” Zhao Hong’s mocking voice echoed through the room.

“I thought your daughter had found a good man for herself, but it’s nothing special,” she continued derisively.

Jiang Wentao tried to hold his temper, saying, “You should say less. Isn’t Jia Jia back? Don’t talk like that in front of the younger generation.”

The door swung open, and Zhao Hong and Jiang Wentao emerged from the bedroom. When they saw Jiang Yi Ning standing there, both of them froze for a moment.

Zhao Hong couldn’t hide the sneer that formed on her lips.

Jiang Wentao, on the other hand, suddenly became flustered.

Jiang Yi Ning’s face darkened as she fixed her cold gaze on them. Her eyes landed on Zhao Hong’s hand—the bank card He Chi had given her father in the hotel suite.

She looked back at Jiang Wentao with a cold, piercing stare, her whole demeanor radiating a frosty aura. For a brief moment, her mind went blank.

“Yi Ning…” Jiang Wentao began, but she cut him off.

Jiang Yi Ning had initially planned to ask for the money back from her father later on, and then make an agreement to transfer the house to his name, severing any ties with the Jiang family.

But what right did Zhao Hong have to take this money?

Jiang Yi Ning pressed her lips together and spoke coldly, “If you want me to transfer the house, one of the conditions is that you give me the 399,000 He Chi gave as my dowry, without a single cent missing.”

Zhao Hong raised her voice in anger, “You’re dreaming!”

Jiang Yi Ning smiled, but there was no warmth in her eyes. “If you don’t want to give it, that’s fine.”

She glanced around the room, her voice taking on a matter-of-fact tone as she continued, “The house was renovated just a few years ago. Though the neighborhood is a bit old, the location is excellent. There’s a key primary school, middle school, and high school nearby, plus a top-tier hospital.”

“Everything you need—healthcare, education—is all right here. There’s also a shopping district, and the subway station is only a few hundred meters away. The transportation is very convenient.”

Jiang Yi Ning looked at them, the corners of her lips lifting into a cold, deliberate smile. “I heard from Aunt Sun the other day that someone in our community sold a place smaller than this for over 1.5 million.”

Zhao Hong eyed her warily. “What are you trying to do?”

Jiang Yi Ning smiled faintly at her. “Sell the house, of course. I’ll undercut the price—how about one million?”

“That’s a discount of hundreds of thousands. I doubt the buyers will care if you squat here and refuse to leave. Worst case, they’ll just hire some thugs to throw you out.”

“Ningning!” Jiang Wentao’s face darkened. “I’m your father. Do you really want to leave me sleeping on the street?”

Jiang Yi Ning shot back, “Dad, do you still remember that you are my father?”

“Do you even have me in your heart anymore?”

“My mom’s been gone for only half a year and you’ve already remarried. Can you really say you haven’t wronged her?”

The words Jiang Yi Ning had held back for so long finally burst out in a storm of emotion. She shouted, accusingly, “You let Zhao Hong bully me. There isn’t even a bed for me in this house anymore. And now suddenly you remember you’re my father?”

Jiang Wentao and Zhao Hong were both stunned into silence.

Jiang Yi Ning screamed like she’d lost control, her voice sharp and raw. The commotion drew out Auntie Sun from next door, who caught on quickly to what was happening.

Never one to shy away from drama, Auntie Sun strolled over and said loudly, “Oh my, Lao Jiang, when other people marry off their daughters, the betrothal money always goes toward the couple’s new life together.”

Then she turned to Zhao Hong with a pointed look. “And you, Zhao Hong, you’re not even Yi Ning’s real mother. Aren’t you afraid Du Ruo will come back to haunt you in the middle of the night for touching that money?”

Zhao Hong flinched. She was used to bullying the weak but crumbling in the face of direct confrontation—now, she didn’t dare lash out at Jiang Yi Ning.

Instead, she snapped at the woman behind her, “Sun Shujuan, are you a fly? You just buzz around wherever there’s trouble!”

“Mind your own damn mess before sticking your nose in ours!”

But Auntie Sun wasn’t having it. She stepped right into the room, arms crossed, ready to battle. “And what exactly do you mean by that? You Jiang lot sell off your daughter, and people aren’t even allowed to talk about it?”

Zhao Hong shot back, “Who are you calling a family that sells their daughter?”

Auntie Sun snorted. “Yours, obviously! Oh please, the entire complex knows how you pushed Yi Ning to marry a divorced man just for the dowry money.”

“Now you’re playing dumb?”

The room erupted into a shouting match between Zhao Hong and Auntie Sun, their voices rising and overlapping, while Jiang Yi Ning stood to the side, seething.

After saying goodbye to his friends, He Chi immediately walked towards Jiang Yining.

　　He noticed that her face was pale, her eyes were slightly red, and she seemed to be suppressing a huge amount of emotion. He did not speak immediately, but gently took her hand and gave her a warm and firm grip.

　　”What’s wrong?” He Chi’s tone was gentle and low, his eyes full of worry.

　　Jiang Yining looked up at him, his throat moved, and he suppressed his emotions, “It’s okay, let’s go back.”

　　He Chi didn’t ask any more questions, just nodded, opened the car door, helped her get in, and then sat in the driver’s seat.

　　After the car started, the silence inside was somewhat depressing.

　　After a while, He Chi concentrated on driving while whispering, “Yining, today is the day we get our marriage certificate. You shouldn’t let these people and these things affect you.”

　　He paused, and said more firmly, “It doesn’t matter how they treat you. What matters most is how you treat yourself in the future. I’m by your side to support you, not to let you continue to suffer.”

　　These words shocked Jiang Yining’s heart. She turned her head to look out the window, but couldn’t hold back the tears in her eyes.

　　She responded softly, “I know.”

　　She was not used to talking, nor was she used to being understood. But at this moment, she suddenly lost that habit.

Do you want me to continue writing about their interaction after they get home?

Come.

　　He Chi was stunned for a moment, but then he caught her steadily, held her tightly in his arms, and patted her back gently, again and again, as if to soothe all her grievances.

　　”It’s okay, Yining, don’t be afraid, I’m here.”

　　Jiang Yining cried so hard that her shoulders trembled slightly. It had been a long time since she had cried so freely in front of someone. The emotions that had been suppressed for a long time came out like a box opened by a key.

　　He Chi didn’t urge her or ask any more questions. He just held her and let her cry and break down emotionally.

　　After a long time, Jiang Yining’s crying slowly subsided. She raised her head from his arms, her eyes were red and swollen, her nose was red, and her voice was hoarse, “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean it.”

　　He Chi frowned, raised his hand and gently wiped away her tears, his voice gentle but firm: “You don’t have to say sorry. In front of me, you can cry, make a scene, or say nothing… You can be yourself.”

　　Jiang Yining’s throat choked, and an indescribable sourness and warmth suddenly surged in his heart.

　　He is not her safe haven, he is her only support.

Should I continue with the details of their return home, or cut to the part where Jiang Yining starts drafting the agreement?