Chapter 021: Did They Spend the Night Together?

Luo Shuyao clung to Jiang Junwen’s arm, crying as she said, “Ah Wen, why don’t you take me home tonight? I won’t stay here anymore. Your mom seems really upset.”

To say Madam Jiang was “upset” was an understatement—she was furious.

Shen Qingli even suspected that Madam Jiang might have been so enraged today she nearly gave herself a heart attack.

Jiang Junwen comforted Luo Shuyao in his arms. “No, Shuyao, you don’t have to leave. I brought you here. Why should my mom get to drive you away?”

His conflicts with Madam Jiang had been worsening ever since middle school.

She had a strong need for control and constantly kept him on a tight leash.

The tighter her grip, the more rebellious Jiang Junwen became. The more she objected to Luo Shuyao, the more determined he became to be with her.

With a cold face, Jiang Junwen held Luo Shuyao’s arm and said, “Come, I’ll take you inside. If my mom says anything else about you, I’ll talk to Grandpa.”

His grandfather was good friends with Luo Shuyao’s grandfather.

He would definitely support her.

Luo Shuyao, reassured that she wouldn’t be kicked out, instantly felt better.

Clutching Jiang Junwen’s arm, she said sweetly, “Ah Wen, I came out in a rush earlier and my slippers got dirty in the garden. Can you carry me back?”

Jiang Junwen nodded, immediately bending down and lifting her in a princess carry. “Let’s go. I’ll carry you back.”

Shen Qingli watched Jiang Junwen, totally love-drunk, and wondered if he’d lost his mind.

If Madam Jiang saw him carrying Luo Shuyao into the house like this, things would really blow up.

Luo Shuyao glanced at Shen Qingli standing off to the side, her heart swelling with pride.

She turned to Shen Qingli and said, almost apologetically, “Oh, could you help me bring my slippers in and wash them?”

She pointed to the muddy slippers she had just taken off after running through the garden.

Shen Qingli: “…”

Just as she was about to speak, Luo Shuyao turned to Jiang Junwen again. “Ah Wen, sorry… Did I say something wrong just now? Isn’t she one of your housemaids?”

Jiang Junwen glanced at Shen Qingli and replied without hesitation, “Shen Qingli, help Shuyao bring her slippers.”

With that, he walked straight into the villa, still carrying Luo Shuyao.

Luo Shuyao leaned against his shoulder and shot Shen Qingli a smug glance.

Shen Qingli looked at their backs, then at the pair of filthy slippers, and muttered under her breath, “Are they insane?”

She shook her head and ignored the slippers entirely, turning back to her small annex. On her way to her room, she knocked on Shen Guiqi’s door and said simply, “Dad, I’m back.”

Then she returned to her room.

After showering, it was already past midnight.

Still, she pulled out her phone and went to look for Pei Songjiang’s WeChat—but found nothing.

Shen Qingli was surprised. What was going on?

She had added him before, she was sure of it.

Just then, she received a new friend request—and to her astonishment, it was from Pei Songjiang.

Shen Qingli frowned. When did she delete him?

Could this be Jiang Junwen’s doing?

She cursed Jiang Junwen in her head.

After accepting the request, she quickly sent Pei Songjiang a message:
[Senior, have you made it home yet?]

He replied almost immediately:
[You finally got your phone back?]
Then another message followed:
[I’m home already, thanks for checking in.]

Lying in bed, Shen Qingli stared at the chat screen.

After hesitating, she transferred him 200 yuan:
[Senior, thank you so much for today. This is for the movie tickets and taxi fare. I hope you’ll accept it.]

Shen Qingli actually wasn’t strapped for cash. Her father Shen Guiqi sent her a monthly allowance of about 2,000 yuan, and her red envelope money from past years—about 10,000 yuan—was saved up in her card.

Still, it wasn’t that much, and she felt she should get a part-time job soon.

She couldn’t afford to pay Pei Songjiang back for the neon jade succulent, nor for this cap worth several thousand yuan.

So she decided at least to cover the movie and taxi fare.

As for the cap, she would wash and dry it carefully and return it to him.

Pei Songjiang didn’t accept the money. He replied quickly:
[No need to pay me back. I’d prefer if you invited me next time—for a movie, or a meal. Deal?]

Shen Qingli thought he probably wasn’t serious about watching another movie or eating out.

He just didn’t want to take her money and found a polite excuse.

She was touched and replied:
[Deal! I can treat you to lunch tomorrow, Senior!]

Pei Songjiang:
[It’s a promise.]

…

After sending the message, Shen Qingli still wasn’t sleepy.

She got out of bed, grabbed a brand-new soft-bristle toothbrush, and took Pei Songjiang’s cap to the bathroom to wash it gently.

The hat was expensive—she was terrified of ruining it. She even looked up the correct care instructions for that brand online.

Jiang Junwen hadn’t lied. It really was pricey.

After carefully cleaning and rinsing it, she left it to dry by the window and then finally went to sleep.

…

The next morning, the soft glow of dawn filtered through the carved curtains of the luxurious Jiang family master bedroom.

Madam Jiang, Gao Xuanzhen, got up early.

Elegant yet slightly anxious, she adjusted her silk robe and briskly walked to the door to summon the butler.

When the butler appeared, she immediately asked, “What happened last night? Did Luo Shuyao leave?”

The old butler looked visibly tense. Bowing slightly, he replied respectfully, “Madam, the young master wouldn’t let us send Miss Luo away, so…”

He trailed off, his gaze flickering uneasily.

Madam Jiang was holding a fine bone china cup filled with freshly pressed juice.

Hearing this, her grip tightened, and she slammed the cup onto the coffee table with a heavy thud.

Her face darkened, and her voice rose sharply. “They shared a room? Spent the night together?!”

The butler hesitated under her searing gaze. After a moment of silence, he nodded.

Rage surged through Madam Jiang, her face turning livid.

She began pacing in the room. “I’ve said it before—Ah Wen is a man, it’s normal for him to date, and even sleep with someone. But he cannot get her pregnant!”

Especially not with Luo Shuyao’s child. Just thinking about it made her scowl in disgust.

Lowering her voice, she added to the butler, “Her father is about to be arrested. Tying our family to theirs—what a disaster! My grandchild cannot have a convict for a grandfather.”

The butler sighed inwardly. It wasn’t even certain that Luo Shuyao’s father would be jailed. Things might not turn out that serious.

He spoke with reluctance. “Madam, I fear the young master won’t listen to any of this.”

He knew very well that once their young master fell in love, all practical reasoning was useless.

Still, he chose not to argue any further.

Madam Jiang stopped pacing and fell silent for a moment.

Suddenly, her gaze sharpened. She looked at the butler and ordered in a low voice, “Have the family doctor prepare some contraceptives. Mix them into her juice or porridge and make sure she takes them.”

The butler’s expression showed a hint of shock.

Madam Jiang had always been decisive and ruthless.

She was determined to eliminate every potential problem at the source—even if Jiang Junwen and Luo Shuyao hadn’t actually done anything last night.