Jiang Che sat on the chair outside, waiting for her. His mind replayed Su Qinghe’s reaction just now and the words she had said.
He sighed. In truth, he could tell that in the end, Su Qinghe had given in on her own. She probably just did not want to spoil his mood.
But he still hoped she would genuinely like the clothes. After all, they were for her. If she wore them unhappily, it would be better not to buy them at all.
With that thought, Jiang Che decided that after she came out, he would ask her again. If she truly did not like them, then he would not buy them.
A few minutes later, the fitting room door was gently pushed open.
Su Qinghe walked out wearing a cream-colored dress.
The style was simple, and the hem fell just to her knees.
Her cheeks were slightly red. One hand lightly pinched the edge of the skirt while the other felt her way forward.
The moment Jiang Che saw her, he immediately stepped forward and supported her arm.
Feeling the warmth of his palm, the tension in Su Qinghe’s heart instantly eased. She smiled softly and asked, “How is it? Does it look good?”
Jiang Che looked her up and down. She had chosen a relatively longer dress, the hem just covering her thighs.
That way, the bruises on her thighs would not be visible.
His gaze then fell on her arm.
The moment he clearly saw what was there, his pupils shrank sharply.
The bruises on her arm were even worse than the ones he had seen on her thigh last night.
Blue and purple patches overlapped. Just looking at them made his heart ache.
What kind of beasts were they?!
A surge of anger shot up in Jiang Che’s chest. In that instant, he understood why Su Qinghe had said she did not like wearing dresses.
She was afraid of exposing the injuries on her legs and arms.
His fists clenched tightly. He stared at Su Qinghe without saying a word for a long time.
Su Qinghe was still waiting for his reaction. After waiting for what felt like forever and hearing nothing, she called out uneasily, “Jiang Che?”
Jiang Che pulled himself back from his thoughts. He forced his voice to sound calm so he would not frighten her. “Mm, it looks very good. This dress suits you.”
Hearing his affirmation and praise, a sweet joy immediately spread through Su Qinghe’s heart.
“Then I’ll try the other ones too?”
Jiang Che did not answer right away. Instead, he asked, “Didn’t you say you don’t like wearing dresses? You don’t have to force yourself for me. If you really don’t like them, we can stop looking and check other clothes.”
Su Qinghe stiffened completely.
Her small hand gripping the hem tightened unconsciously. After a long pause, she gently shook her head.
“I’m not forcing myself.”
She spoke softly and then forced a smile. “I like them. Just now… I just wasn’t used to it.”
Jiang Che’s gaze lowered slightly, falling on the arm she was holding close.
Then he looked at her face, the way she was trying so hard to please him. The anger in his heart flared up even more.
He could not imagine what those beasts had done to her to turn someone who used to shine so brightly into someone so humble to the core.
Jiang Che said nothing more. He reached out, took the old clothes she had changed out of, and together with the other dresses he had selected, stuffed them all into the sales assistant’s hands.
“These, and that one,” he pointed at the dress she was wearing, “I’ll take them all. Except for the one she’s wearing, pack the rest for me.”
The sales assistant’s smile stiffened for a moment. She thought she had misheard and confirmed again, “Sir, you mean… you want all of these?”
Jiang Che raised an eyebrow. “Is there a problem?”
“N-No problem!”
The sales assistant quickly shook her head. Her smile became much more genuine. This was a big order.
Su Qinghe’s heart pounded in panic. She hurriedly reached out and tugged at Jiang Che’s sleeve.
“Jiang Che, it’s not necessary! One piece is enough. Buying so many is too wasteful…”
“Listen to me.”
Jiang Che’s attitude was unprecedentedly firm, his tone cold and hard.
Startled by those two words, Su Qinghe shrank her neck and dared not speak again.
She could feel that Jiang Che seemed angry.
Was he angry because she had lied just now? Or because she was making him spend too much money?
She stood there, her heart in turmoil, completely flustered.
Jiang Che ignored her wild thoughts. He took out a black card from his wallet and handed it to the sales assistant. “Swipe it. Deliver everything directly to this address.”
He casually took the pen and paper handed over and wrote down the address of his apartment.
The sales assistant took the card with shining eyes and quickly went to pack the clothes.
Only then did Jiang Che turn back and grab Su Qinghe’s wrist, who was still standing there in a daze.
“Let’s go. Next store.”
His grip was a little strong. Su Qinghe stumbled as she was pulled along behind him.
Just moments ago, Jiang Che had been talking and laughing with her. Now he was completely silent, a heavy, oppressive aura surrounding him.
He was truly angry.
Su Qinghe’s heart sank bit by bit, and her face turned pale.
She did not want to be abandoned by Jiang Che, but she had no idea what to do to calm him down.
In just a few breaths, Jiang Che led her into a winter clothing store.
The store’s style was casual and comfortable, filled with hoodies and down jackets.
“Go try these on.”
Jiang Che casually picked out several pieces that looked thick and soft, stuffed them into Su Qinghe’s arms, and led her to the fitting room entrance.
His tone was still stiff.
Su Qinghe held the clothes, pressed her lips together, and asked nothing. She obediently walked into the fitting room.
She was afraid that if she said one more word, Jiang Che would get even angrier.
Watching the fitting room door close, the cold expression on Jiang Che’s face softened slightly.
He walked to a quiet corner, took out his phone, and dialed a number he knew by heart.
The call was answered after just one ring.
“Hello, Uncle Liu.”
A steady middle-aged male voice came from the other end. “Xiao Che? What made you think of calling Uncle Liu? Are you short of money?”
Uncle Liu was his father’s most capable assistant. He had followed Jiang Che’s father for over twenty years and had watched Jiang Che grow up.
“I have enough money,” Jiang Che said, in no mood for jokes, getting straight to the point. “Help me investigate someone.”
“Who?” Uncle Liu’s tone turned serious.
“Su Qinghe, a student at Lincheng No.1 High School, in the same grade as me.”
Jiang Che paused before continuing, “Find out what’s happened to her family recently. Especially look into a group of thugs who hang around the back street near the school, and her relatives.”
When he said the word “relatives,” he practically ground it out through his teeth.
“I want to know exactly who bullied her into this state.”
There was a few seconds of silence on the other end before Uncle Liu replied, “Alright. I’ll look into it immediately. How soon do you need the results?”
Jiang Che leaned against the wall, staring in the direction of the fitting rooms, his eyes icy cold. “As soon as possible.”
“And,” he added, “find out where her parents are too.”