Vоlumе 1 Сhарter 21: Love-Struсk Вuff Stackеd to the Мах
Оh nо, it’s оver.
А shоwdоwn—a full-blоwn showdоwn!
Wen Mingzhu sеnsеd the subtlе tensiоn in thе аir. As раrt of thе Jiаng fаmilу, shе, likе еverуonе еlse, had a blind and unсonditiоnal аffесtiоn for Jiang Хining.
Commоnlу knоwn аs doublе standаrds.
If Fu Jinghao wеrе thе оnе seеking out anothеr wоmаn tоdаy, being all lоvеу-dovеy аnd caring fоr hеr, thаt wоuld definitelу nоt be aсceрtаblе.
Вut if it werе Jiаojiao, it seemed like nо big deаl.
Jiаоjiао was still уoung, not evеn engаged уet. Whаt right did he have to demand she be confined? As a man, he should be magnanimous.
Wen Mingzhu stood nearby, ready to act. If Fu Jinghao dared to give Jiaojiao a hard look, she would absolutely go back and report him.
If he had a temper before marriage, what would happen after?
Given Sister Jun’s temperament, she definitely wouldn’t let him set foot in the house again. Fifty points deducted from his performance score, with sixty being the passing mark.
Jiang Xining also felt a bit guilty and mumbled, “Xingxing’s eyes aren’t well, he’s hospitalized…”
Fu Huaixu was still wearing his hospital gown. Perhaps he hadn’t fully recovered, or maybe he was just hungry, but he looked somewhat pale and weak.
The three of them stood in a triangular formation. Fu Jinghao suddenly laughed, “So that’s how it is. No wonder when I went to look for you, you weren’t home these past few days…”
Taking care of Little Uncle—how nice.
He thought to himself, usually she’d practically jump at the sight of his messages. How could she possibly ignore him and not come looking for him for so many days?
Ever since Little Uncle returned to the country, she had changed.
She used to share every little thing with him, but now it was all with someone else.
And Little Uncle too—what kind of grown man gets lonely and scared in the hospital? Did he really have to have his future niece-in-law keep him company? What would people think if word got out?
The lecturing tone Little Uncle had used back then was gradually fading from Fu Jinghao’s mind. He couldn’t help but wonder—was Little Uncle really uninterested in Jiaojiao?
“Dou Dou, are you angry?”
Jiang Xining always felt his smile wasn’t genuine. Her eyes timid, she couldn’t help but move closer to Fu Huaixu.
Fu Huaixu naturally took the lunchbox from her hands, breaking the triangular balance.
“I replied to your message. Xingxing needed someone to take care of him…” After that day, she hadn’t blamed him anymore. She just hadn’t expected him to come looking for her.
It would have been fine if she hadn’t mentioned “Xingxing.” The moment she said it, Fu Jinghao felt a surge of irritation.
He didn’t like seeing Jiang Xining and Fu Huaixu being overly intimate, as if his possession had been tainted by someone else’s scent.
The anger that had built up from A Xun’s cold remarks earlier was uncontrollably bubbling up, but seeing Wen Mingzhu playing with her phone nearby, Fu Jinghao held back.
“How could I be? Little Uncle is our elder. Taking care of him and showing filial respect is only right. It’s just…”
Fu Jinghao’s tone was affectionate but also carried a hint of reproach. “Jiao Jiao should have told me. We’re about to get engaged soon. As husband and wife, we’re one. You taking care of him alone must be tiring. If you’d called me, I could have helped.”
So that’s how it was.
Jiang Xining felt Dou Dou’s attitude had softened again. She scratched her head lightly, “I forgot…”
Fu Jinghao looked up at Fu Huaixu, “How are you, Little Uncle? Are your eyes okay?”
Compared to Fu Jinghao’s subtle provocation, Fu Huaixu appeared much calmer. “Fine, not blind.”
“That’s good. Jiao Jiao, come here.” Fu Jinghao looked at Jiang Xining with affection. “In a few days, it’s your birthday. I’ve booked a candlelit dinner at Lianwei Restaurant to celebrate early. After the date, we can go watch a movie together…”Fu Jinghao extended his hand toward Jiang Xining, as if certain she would walk toward him without hesitation.
Jiang Xining took two dazed steps forward but suddenly paused, turning back to look at Fu Huaixu.
But Xingxing…
Fu Huaixu smiled faintly. “Go on, have fun.”
Seeing Xingxing’s pale smile, for some reason, Jiang Xining didn’t feel particularly happy.
She realized she didn’t truly love Dou Dou—she didn’t want to possess him exclusively. He had a first love, and she wasn’t even that angry about it.
But she and Dou Dou were about to get engaged…
Jiang Xining suddenly froze. Would things be different after the engagement?
In her moment of distraction, Fu Jinghao stepped forward and took Jiang Xining’s hand, like a triumphant rooster. “Uncle, take good care of yourself. Jiaojiao and I will be leaving now.”
Before Jiang Xining could even say goodbye, she was dragged away, unable to resist glancing back at Fu Huaixu.
Wen Mingzhu said nothing and followed closely behind.
Fu Huaixu lowered his gaze. Even though he knew he had missed over a decade of Jiaojiao’s life, his heart still ached as if half of it had been carved out.
Alone, he looked at the heavy lunchbox in his hand and let out a low, bitter laugh.
The eerie smile in his eyes mingled with profound pain, as if it could shatter into countless sharp blades at any moment, piercing his already battered heart.
…
Qi Yun and Wei Huanmu thought their friend had gone mad again.
The two pulled Fu Huaixu out of the red-tinted swimming pool. Qi Yun skillfully took out disinfectant, hemostatic, and suturing tools, cursing under his breath.
“I must owe you a debt from a past life. Can you stop going crazy in the middle of the night?”
Even in an indoor pool, it wasn’t particularly warm in the dead of winter.
Fu Huaixu lay there, staring at the dark sky through the transparent dome, showing no reaction.
“A-Xu?”
Wei Huanmu knew he was hurting. Whenever Fu Huaixu lost control, twelve out of ten times, it was because of “his Jiaojiao.”
Without anesthesia, Fu Huaixu didn’t even frown in pain, as if the sutures were being applied to pork rather than his own arm.
“It’s nothing serious. Just letting off steam. I’m not trying to die.”
Qi Yun’s clothes were still wet, and he forced a sarcastic smile. “Yeah, if your friends hadn’t fished you out, you could’ve said that when you were bloated like a giant.”
Fu Huaixu replied, “I don’t feel like laughing right now. You don’t have to try to amuse me.”
“Heh.” Once again, Qi Yun felt that out of all the people in the world, befriending such a madman was like his ancestors’ graves emitting black smoke.
After wrapping the arm like a pig’s trotter, Qi Yun reluctantly let go and sat down beside him.
“So, what’s it this time?”
Fu Huaixu remained silent.
Qi Yun took a deep breath. “My lord and master, I’m begging you. Can you just speak like a normal human being?”
Fu Huaixu finally spoke, though whether it was human speech remained debatable.
“What do you think would happen if I did something to Fu Jinghao…”
Wei Huanmu gazed at the dark, starless sky and sighed softly. “A-Xu, they can break up, but it absolutely cannot be because of you.”
No matter how perfect the method, there’s always a chance it could be exposed someday.
Compared to never having something at all, the pain of losing what you’ve schemed to obtain would undoubtedly be more excruciating.
Qi Yun couldn’t bear to listen any longer. Just seeing the marks on Fu Huaixu’s body was enough to drive him mad.”It’s not that I’m saying this, but you’ve got money, you’ve got the looks, and you’re still a hopeless romantic to the extreme. With all these buffs stacked up, what’s there to be anxious about?”
“That nephew of yours is fickle-minded, clearly unreliable. What can’t you compare to him?”
“Besides, there are plenty of good girls in this world. Do you have to hang yourself on one tree?”
Fu Huaixu said, “I only want Jiaojiao.”
Qi Yun swore he had heard this line at least ninety-nine times, if not a hundred.
This madman—either he doesn’t love at all, or once he falls in love, he becomes an emotionally unstable, insecure neurotic.
He deeply felt that being loved by him wasn’t necessarily a good thing either.
Qi Yun and Wei Huanmu exchanged a glance, both admitting they were out of ideas.
“Fine, as long as you’re happy.” He also lay down by the poolside, sighing in defeat. “Anyway, the engagement hasn’t been set yet. There are plenty of variables. Even if they do get married, you could still be the other man. Opportunities are what you make of them, and there are tricks to stealing someone away. When the time comes, I’ll compile a guide for you or something…”
Wei Huanmu said helplessly, “A-Yun, don’t add fuel to the fire.”
Given A-Xu’s personality, he really might go for being the other man. Whether it would sound good if word got out was another matter.
Fu Huaixu lifted the corner of his lips, smiling faintly, but his dark eyes were desolate.
The other man…
He was the rightful one, the one Jiaojiao had personally promised.
Hearing Fu Huaixu’s laugh, Qi Yun fell silent.
“Bro, I really think you’re on the verge of a mental breakdown.”
Letting him wallow like this wasn’t helping. He pulled Fu Huaixu up. “Come on, we’ll drink with you till you drop. Smoke eases loneliness, alcohol drowns sorrows. Once you have a couple of cigarettes, all that sadness and worry will vanish.”
Fu Huaixu refused. “Jiaojiao doesn’t like men who smoke.”
“Drinking hurts the liver, and even more so the kidneys. I won’t engage in unhealthy behaviors that harm my body.”
Qi Yun wiped his face. “”
He was done, really.
Is self-harm here supposed to be healthy?