Jiang Heng had always considered himself a gentleman, always wearing the mask of a gentleman.
But now, the young and promising Professor Jiang, with a bright future, was being pointed at and accused by a woman of wanting to climb the social ladder through marriage, his pride trampled underfoot. How could he still be so nonchalant and engaging in conversation here?
His handsome face had long turned chillingly intimidating.
Even though Su Jiaobai knew what kind of person he was early on, she was still startled by his expression this time.
In reality, she didn’t understand Jiang Heng at all.
Just as she didn’t understand Gu Xingmo at all.
A person’s intelligence and abilities wouldn’t change much due to a single awakening or rebirth. Even with a head start, the things she could change were probably minimal.
For example, she knew Jiang Heng was scheming and not a good person. She also knew that to immediately cut ties with him, go their separate ways, and never cross paths again, never to be involved.
But she couldn’t bring herself to expose Jiang Heng’s evil deeds and make him pay the price he deserved.
Fortunately, she didn’t intend to do so.
After her awakening, she learned “harmony” and “magnanimity” from Gu Xingmo.
This world might not always go according to your wishes. When things don’t go as you want, emotional violence can’t solve anything.
Unless absolutely necessary, one should always leave a way out.
Not seeking to meet again in the future, but to avoid offending petty people and adding trouble to one’s own life.
Therefore, even though Su Jiaobai was deeply disappointed and disgusted with Jiang Heng at this moment, she still tried her best to adjust her mindset and said calmly, “Jiang Heng, your intentions in approaching me are impure, and I cannot accept that. Therefore, let’s end it here, and we won’t see each other again.”
After saying this, she didn’t want to eat anymore and left with her bag.
Jiang Heng, however, stopped her.
He looked thin, but his arms were very strong. He gripped her wrist so tightly that Su Jiaobai’s eyes welled up with tears from the pain.
“Since you’re already married, why are you still entangled with me?” Jiang Heng’s face was cold, tinged with anger, and he once again stood on the moral high ground.
But this time, he wasn’t as nonchalant; he was exasperated, “You say you want to break up now, then what do you take my feelings for?”
Su Jiaobai desperately tried to pull her wrist out of his palm. After exerting all her strength to pull it free, she stumbled and hit the wooden partition wall.
She said angrily, “Jiang Heng, what are you pretending for? Have you really gotten too invested in this act? Acting like you have deep feelings for me, have you even convinced yourself? You already knew I was married, didn’t you? You’re so furious now simply because things aren’t developing according to your plan, your scheme has failed, and you’re not getting any benefits. If you truly loved me, you wouldn’t have broken up in high school! Have you regretted it before? If you had known I was the daughter of a wealthy family, you wouldn’t have broken up then, and you wouldn’t have had to scheme so hard to get close to me later, and I might not have even appreciated it.”
Jiang Heng narrowed his eyes and retorted, “So, are you seeking revenge? Do you hate me for breaking up with you in high school, so you’re playing with my feelings?” As he spoke, he reached out again, grabbed Su Jiaobai’s wrist, and pulled her towards him, “You concealed the fact that you were married while dating me, your character is questionable, and you’re unfit to be a teacher. Aren’t you afraid of losing your job at the school?”
Su Jiaobai knew he was threatening her and immediately warned him with a cold gaze, “Jiang Heng, you dare!” She added, “It’s best for us to part ways amicably now and live our own lives, never crossing paths again. Otherwise, I won’t let you off either. If it comes to a point of mutual destruction, you’ll lose everything you have now. You’d better weigh it carefully!”
“Also, I assume you already know who my husband is, right? You can’t afford to provoke him.”
Jiang Heng chuckled at this. After suppressing his anger, his emotions were no longer as volatile.
He released the woman’s wrist, sat back down, and said confidently, “The saying goes, ‘ignorance is bliss.’ You dating me while hiding your marital status, this matter can’t be blamed on me. I am the victim here. Now that I know you’re married, I certainly won’t have anything to do with you. What won’t you let me off?”
“Also… are you sure your husband will help you if this gets out? Will he not know about your infidelity and betrayal of your marriage? If he knew, would he take no action and let you do as you please?”
Jiang Heng was confident that her husband would not help her. In fact, based on his speculation, her husband was weaving a net for her behind her back.
A net that could trap her, leaving her with no escape, leading her to her own demise.
That President Gu probably wanted her to bear the stigma of “marital infidelity” so that he could control the Lu family. When it came time to reveal everything, he would be on the moral high ground and could negotiate with the Lu family at will.
If he knew that she, this woman, had suddenly become smart and wasn’t doing as he wished, but instead confessed to breaking up with him, her “lover,” he would be furious and wouldn’t make her life easy.
Although he was upset that his plan had failed, he felt a little bit of comfort knowing that she wouldn’t get any good from her husband, President Gu.
He was eager to see her fate.
Su Jiaobai could naturally hear the hidden meaning in his words.
Could it be that he and Gu Xingmo had some private dealings or agreements?
The book didn’t mention any transactional relationship between him and Gu Xingmo.
But she felt that what wasn’t written in the book didn’t necessarily mean it didn’t exist. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have spoken in that tone.
But no matter what, Su Jiaobai was certainly not going to ask him at this moment.
If she asked, he definitely wouldn’t tell her, or if he did, he wouldn’t tell the truth. Instead, it would make her lose the upper hand she currently had.
So, she simply said, “That’s between my husband and me, Professor Jiang doesn’t need to worry about it.” She then countered, “I’m just a junior high school teacher, not as impressive as you, who became an associate professor at the university at just thirty. Even if I quit teaching, I can still live comfortably at home, but you’re different.” She threatened him verbally.
Jiang Heng naturally felt that she was difficult to deal with now, unlike the naive and sweet girl she was before, who could have all her emotions stirred by a single sentence.
Not only that, but now she was even threatening him.
Jiang Heng narrowed his cold eyes, feeling indignant, but he knew he shouldn’t continue to pester her.
His plan had failed, so he naturally cut his losses.
Further entanglement might be detrimental to his reputation and affect his future.
Regardless, he had gained some benefits from this scheme.
At the very least, he had obtained the opportunity to go abroad for exchange and study.
Being a university teacher, competition is fierce unless one is completely content with a meager salary.
To earn money, one needs to be able to take on projects.
And to take on projects, overseas exchange experience is crucial.
“Miss Su, take care of yourself.” With that cold remark, Jiang Heng stormed out.
After he left, Su Jiaobai didn’t leave. She sat back down.
The food had already been ordered, and it would be a waste not to eat it.
Thinking that Lu Yuanyuan’s home was not far from her school, she called Lu Yuanyuan and dragged her out of her house.
“So, you mean you were actually planning to rekindle your old flame with Senior Jiang, not just playing around?” Before her, the hot pot steamed, and Lu Yuanyuan, who was eating her first meal of the day, didn’t stop talking with her mouth and chopsticks, but she could still speak normally. “And then today you suddenly came to your senses and decided to completely cut ties?” After saying this, she was even happier than Su Jiaobai and immediately raised her glass to celebrate, “Ms. Jiaobai, congratulations on finally holding onto your conscience and not straying from the path, making another mistake.”
Su Jiaobai also felt fortunate and raised her glass to clink with Lu Yuanyuan’s.
Then Su Jiaobai began to vent to Lu Yuanyuan: “You know, Gu Xingmo and I got married because I was pregnant. Jiang Heng was my first love, and I couldn’t resist his temptations and aggressive pursuit. If it weren’t for Junzai, I probably would have divorced Gu Xingmo. I was always hesitant until I discovered that Jiang Heng wasn’t sincere with me and that he approached me with ulterior motives. Only then did I truly wake up.”
“What love, what not love, it’s all nonsense. In the adult world, where is there such pure love? It’s just that I was foolish to believe his lies. Fortunately, I woke up early, otherwise, I would have divorced now, have no love, and the person would have left… In the end, I would have been a joke.”
That was her final outcome as described in the book.
“I don’t want to think about anything else now. Since it’s a done deal, and I have the adorable Junzai, I’ll live a good life with Gu Xingmo.” If there’s no love, at least there’s money.
A stable twenty thousand yuan in pocket money every month, isn’t that great?
Now she had a car. In a while, she would find a way to get Gu Xingmo to buy her a property.
Lu Yuanyuan strongly agreed with her words, nodding like a garlic pounder, “You’ve truly come to your senses!”
Lu Yuanyuan also felt fortunate, “Fortunately, you and Senior Jiang only went for meals and watched movies, and didn’t do anything more outrageous. Otherwise, if your CEO husband found out, he would definitely be unhappy.”
Hearing this, Su Jiaobai suddenly fell silent. She suddenly thought of something.
Given their close friendship with Yuanyuan, and the fact that the three of them were alumni of the same middle school, Yuanyuan knew clearly about her past with Jiang Heng. Therefore, she must have told Yuanyuan about her reunion with Jiang Heng and the progress of each date.
Yuanyuan saying that her relationship with Jiang Heng was limited to meals and movies was definitely true.
She had been worried before, fearing that fate’s cruel hand might have caused her to sleep with Jiang Heng with a single stroke.
Now, it seemed there was no need to worry.
Although the book didn’t explicitly state whether she and Jiang Heng had physical intimacy in the end, it could be inferred.
Given her current understanding of Jiang Heng, since he had schemed, he would definitely have left himself a way out.
Therefore, he himself would certainly not allow their relationship to go any further.
Because once they crossed that line, many things would be difficult to undo.
For example, Gu Xingmo, who had been cuckolded, would let him off?
A person like him, who was full of calculations and weighed every action by its pros and cons, would not allow himself to take that step.
After figuring this out, Su Jiaobai’s mood instantly lightened.
Although Jiang Heng did fit her aesthetic standards, this series of actions had also made her feel a physical aversion to him.
It was good that they hadn’t slept together. If they had, she probably would have been disgusted for a lifetime.
This would have become a shadow that would haunt her forever.
“Scumbag!” After cursing him again, she raised her glass to Lu Yuanyuan, “I have to go back to school this afternoon, so I can’t drink. Otherwise, with such happy news today, we’d definitely have to have some drinks.”
Lu Yuanyuan immediately responded, “If you want to drink, find me. I’m a single dog, no kids, no dates… I’m available anytime.”
Su Jiaobai blinked, “I’ll keep an eye out for you. If I find any suitable young men, I’ll definitely introduce them to you.” She could introduce outstanding single male teachers from school, or employees with promotion potential from Gu Xingmo’s company.
Since she was introducing her best friend, she had to choose someone with good overall conditions.
They finished their meal at half-past one, as Su Jiaobai had to be at work at two o’clock, and then parted ways.
She could get off work at four-thirty today. At four o’clock, Su Jiaobai returned to the office from her classroom, finally having some free time.
After hesitating for a while, she decided to send a message to Gu Xingmo: [Are you coming home for dinner tonight?] She had made such a fool of herself at noon, directly embarrassing herself in front of him, and she wanted to probe his thoughts at the moment.