Vоlumе 1 Chaрtеr 17: Dоn’t Gеt Аngry Over Меn
Han Shun wаs momentаrilу stunnеd bу thе bеautу аnd imрosing рresеnce bеfоre him, his mind gоing blank аs еvеn the раin in his arm sееmеd tо fаdе аwaу.
Thе рolice offiсer оn the оthеr еnd оf the phоne was still аsking, “Sir, is уоur рersоnal sаfety undеr thrеаt? Wе…”
“Nо neеd.” Han Shun abruрtlу hung uр thе рhone.
“You… аrе thе ownеr herе?”
He еуеd hеr with scrutiny. Тhis wоman loоked to bе оnlу in hеr twentiеs, уet she could run such a largе cаkе shор. Shе wasn’t оne of the wеll-known sоciаlites frоm City B either—where did she get the resources?
Just the monthly electricity bill alone would be equivalent to a year’s expenses for an ordinary household.
Xu Jinhuan smiled, “Do you need to see the business license?”
“That won’t be necessary.” Han Shun smirked slyly. “Beautiful boss, you’ve come at just the right time. I’ve suffered such a serious injury in your shop—how should we settle this?”
The pain in his body was overshadowed by the alluring fantasies in his mind. This woman was far more captivating than that fool Jiang Xining.
“The bill, of course, will be settled item by item.”
Xu Jinhuan took the calculator from the shop manager, her slender fingers flying across the keys. “Sir, the decorative piece you just destroyed is valued at 109,880 yuan each. With six pieces, the total comes to 659,280 yuan. Will you be paying via WeChat, Alipay, or card?”
If it were before, Han Shun might have gritted his teeth and paid up to show off, perhaps even asking for her WeChat in the process.
But now, he didn’t even have 50,000 yuan on him. Enraged and humiliated, he snapped, “Even if I have to pay, it should be that bitch who pays! She’s the one who kicked me down! And besides, what’s so precious about that glass? It’s not even made of gold!”
Jiang Xining didn’t want others to be troubled because of her. Clenching her fists, she mustered her courage and said, “I’ll pay for it!”
Xu Jinhuan gently pulled her back. “Art isn’t measured by its price.”
She smiled. “The surveillance footage shows that this young lady was sitting quietly on the sofa when you approached her with verbal and physical harassment. She acted in self-defense—why should she pay?”
“If Young Master Han can’t afford it, the bill will be sent to your residence. I’m sure your father will understand its significance.”
Han Shun’s expression shifted slightly. “Are you threatening me?”
“Who do you think you are? Do you think I’m afraid of you?”
“Oh?” Xu Jinhuan chuckled softly, raising her right hand slightly. “Recognize this?”
On her ring finger was a massive sapphire ring, exquisitely cut and dazzlingly brilliant.
“The… the Tear of Atlantis…” Han Shun’s previously disdainful expression instantly turned pale, and he began to stammer.
“You… you are…”
Xu Jinhuan counted out two hundred-yuan bills and casually stuffed them into his pocket. “For your medical expenses. My compensation will arrive tomorrow. Understood?”
“Oh, and send my regards to your father for me. Tell him I hope he’s in good health.”
Ye Mu sneered, “We also hope Young Master Han and President Han pray to the heavens that President Jiang doesn’t get too angry.”
It’s over…
The lingering effects of Han Shun’s hangover vanished instantly. He suddenly remembered that behind Jiang Xining stood Jiang Xinjuan—a tigress who devoured people without spitting out the bones.
And then there was President Wei…
A chill surged up Han Shun’s spine. If he went back like this, his legs would surely be broken.
How could he have been so foolish as to provoke these two formidable figures!
…
With the “eyesore” gone, the atmosphere in the shop became much more harmonious.The staff swiftly cleaned up the broken pieces on the floor. Xu Jinhuan smiled gently and said, “I’m very sorry for disturbing everyone. All purchases today are on the house. Enjoy your shopping!”
The onlookers hadn’t suffered any property loss and had enjoyed quite a spectacle, so they were naturally happy to take advantage of this small favor.
“Boss is generous!”
“Wow, that lady is so cool~”
Xu Jinhuan looked at Jiang Xining, who was being protected. Her eyes were clear and beautiful, without a trace of impurity, just like a child’s—exactly like the little ones.
Her tone softened even more. “Are you okay? Were you scared?”
Jiang Xining shook her head. “No.”
Thinking of Han Shun’s furious, bloodshot gaze, she frowned and nervously tugged at the corner of her clothes. “Will he cause trouble for you?”
“No.” Xu Jinhuan handed the tablet back to Jiang Xining, her tone gentle but firm. “He wouldn’t dare.”
“Would you like to eat something else? It’s on me today.”
Jiang Xining had been very excited about going out earlier. She had even wanted to order a big cake, but for some reason, she suddenly lost her appetite. She said dazedly, “Thank you, but I want to go home…”
Dou Dou’s friends weren’t nice at all.
And he hadn’t really cut ties with them.
…
Fu Jinghao had no idea what had happened.
Jiang Xining suddenly stopped responding to him.
First, she refused to let him visit her, and then she didn’t reply to any of the messages he sent.
Could it be that she was jealous because he had a girlfriend before?
But she had clearly said she didn’t mind at the time. Fu Jinghao irritably switched out of WeChat and was just about to head to the Jiang family when his phone rang urgently like a death knell.
“Hello?”
Han Shun’s voice on the other end was frantic, as if his hair was on fire. “Brother Fu, you have to help me! You’re the only one who can help me now!”
Fu Jinghao sat back down. “Shunzi, what happened?”
“My family is about to go bankrupt! There are debt collectors everywhere now, and I have nowhere to go! Brother Fu, can you take me in? My dad is going to kill me!”
Fu Jinghao frowned deeply. “What exactly happened?”
…
Meanwhile.
Wen Mingzhu rubbed the goosebumps on her arms as she navigated around the dark and twisted paintings, finally finding Jiang Xining in the corner of the studio, buried in her work.
“Sweetie, I’m back!”
Broken wings, birds falling from the sky, torrential rain being mercilessly swallowed by black holes on the ground, bodies covered in bruised patterns, living like the walking dead, and immense threats stirring in the depths of the ocean—what a post-apocalyptic scene.
Her slender wrist paused. Jiang Xining looked up blankly, her gaze distant, with two large dark circles under her eyes on her pale face.
Wen Mingzhu feigned surprise. “Wow, you’re scaring me like this as soon as I return to the country?”
Jiang Xining blinked dazedly. “Zhuzhu…”
“Little ancestor, I heard you’ve been painting for three days straight. Are you possessed by a muse? Can you take a break?”
“I don’t know what else to do…” Jiang Xining pursed her lips. “Zhuzhu, I’m not happy.”
A drop of paint slid down, covering the moment the bird fell on the canvas.
Wen Mingzhu crouched beside Jiang Xining, gathering her messy hair and tying it into two little buns. “Why? What’s making Jiaojiao unhappy?”
Jiang Xining’s voice was soft. “I don’t know…”
It wasn’t Dou Dou’s fault. It was just that his friends weren’t nice. But why was she angry with him too…Wen Mingzhu had always looked down on Fu Jinghao’s pretentious “eldest grandson” act. After learning the whole story, she sneered, “Birds of a feather flock together. If he hangs out with such a pack of good-for-nothing friends, how could he possibly be an unsullied lotus rising from the mud?”
Jiang Xining looked utterly confused, clearly not understanding.
“Don’t waste your anger on men. They’re not worth it.”
Wen Mingzhu patted her head. “I’ll go with you to clear your mind. The wintersweet on West Hill has bloomed—perfect for finding some inspiration.”
Jiang Xining thought for a moment, then shook her head. “I don’t want to go out.”
Burdened with the whole family’s expectations, Wen Mingzhu was just thinking of another way to cheer her up when she heard servants “conspiring loudly” outside the door.
“When did it happen?”
“Just yesterday. I heard Young Master Huaixu’s eyes aren’t doing well again…”
Xingxing’s eyes! Jiang Xining froze for a second, then rushed over to yank the door open, her face visibly frantic.
“What’s wrong with Xingxing’s eyes?!”
Wen Mingzhu: “…” Well, well. So after all that talking, she still couldn’t compare to this childhood friend, huh.