Whenever Jiang Hua completed a piece of work, she always felt as if something was missing, though she couldn’t pinpoint exactly what it was…
After class, just as Jiang Hua stepped out of the classroom, she heard her phone vibrating in her bag.
Seeing the caller ID showed it was from the Jiang Family’s old residence, she pressed the answer button.
“Young Mistress!”
“Uncle Wang?”
Uncle Wang was the old butler who had served the Jiang Family for many years. He had previously taken half a month off due to family matters.
“The Master has something to discuss with you and hopes you can return for dinner tonight!”
Jiang Hua’s heart skipped a beat, tightening instantly. She wasn’t sure if her father had found out about her divorce from Pei Zhan.
“…Alright, I’ll come back.”
“I’ll send a car to pick you up.”
Jiang Hua declined, “No need, I’ll take a taxi.”
“Very well, Young Mistress. Travel safely.”
On the taxi ride back to the Jiang Family residence,
Song Qingran happened to be getting into the Audi car.
Sitting in the passenger seat, Song Qingran noticed the originally occupied seat was now empty. Zuo Xiangnan glanced through the rearview mirror and explained, “President Pei has matters to attend to today, Miss Song, no need to worry.”
Song Qingran immediately retorted, “I’m not worried about him, Assistant Zuo, you’ve misunderstood.”
Jiang Hua arrived at the Jiang Family old residence around 6:30 PM. The sky was still bright at this hour.
Entering the foyer, a servant took Jiang Hua’s bag.
“Young Mistress, please wait a moment. The Master and your husband are discussing matters in the study and will be down shortly.”
Jiang Hua was taken aback. At this time, shouldn’t he be picking up Song Qingran and returning to Fan Hua Si Jin? Why would he be here?
Her heart filled with unease. Her father rarely asked her to return to the old residence unless there was something important. Today’s sudden summons inevitably made Jiang Hua overthink.
After washing her hands and emerging from the kitchen while drying her hands with a tissue, Jiang Hua heard conversation coming from the corridor.
Her gaze swept past Pei Zhan in his cheap black suit. By the time she felt his gaze upon her, she had already taken her seat at the dining table.
Jiang Weiguo chided, “You’re back and didn’t even call out ‘Dad’?”
“Uncle Wang called you – why didn’t you come back with Pei Zhan?”
Before Jiang Hua could respond, her father continued…
“Don’t always say Pei Zhan is too busy to spend time with you. I’ve already asked him to take time off. Unless there are major company matters, they’ll be handled by Xiao Nan. Isn’t this weekend perfect since you’re off? Let Pei Zhan accompany you shopping? There are several new jewelry collections launching – go to the company and see if there’s anything you like. You can wear them to banquets.”
Jiang Hua kept her head down, eating the food in her bowl without tasting it. Pei Zhan picked up a piece of fish, removed the bones, and placed it in Jiang Hua’s bowl.
Jiang Hua’s hand holding the chopsticks paused briefly before she set them down. Though she normally loved fish, she suddenly lost her appetite. “No need. I’ve been quite busy lately too. I joined a psychology club and have club gatherings on weekends.”
“Pei Zhan needs to focus on work. I don’t want to disturb him.”
Pei Zhan’s deep gaze turned to the person beside him. “It’s fine to wait until after your gathering. Didn’t you always want to watch the newly released movie? I’ll accompany you.”
Jiang Weiguo glanced at the couple. “You must have heard by now that Jiang’s Jewelry Group is hosting a competition at Di University? Winning this award would nearly fulfill your credit requirements. There’s no need for such pressure at school. If you encounter any problems, your father can help resolve them. Besides, there’s Pei Zhan.”
Jiang Hua: “This competition was your idea, Dad… Actually… there’s no need for this. I can graduate after completing two elective courses.”
Jiang Weiguo raised his hand, cutting off Jiang Hua. “Enough. We’ll proceed as I’ve decided. Submit your design work next month. If you lack inspiration or can’t complete it, the company has excellent designers who can provide ideas.”
Jiang Hua set down her chopsticks, placing her hands on her knees. “Doing this would be unfair to others. I know I have no talent for jewelry design. If you insist on this, I’ll consider changing my major to study something else!”
Jiang Weiguo’s expression turned cold. “What else can you study besides jewelry design? I wanted you to learn business, but you refused… When I encouraged you to choose this major, it was all for your future.”
“I don’t expect you to inherit the company, but at least you could assist Pei Zhan with some tasks in the future.”
“Stop idling around aimlessly all day.”
Under the table, a warm hand tightly enveloped Jiang Hua’s. She tried to pull away, but he held firm. Jiang Hua shot him a look of disgust and distance, her eyes screaming ‘let go.’
Not only Pei Zhan, but even in her father’s eyes, this was how they saw her.
Jiang Hua was nothing but a ‘useless’ good-for-nothing.
Jiang Hua stood up. “Don’t you know what I want to do, Dad?”
Pei Zhan grabbed her wrist. “Chairman, I will handle this matter.”
Jiang Hua shook him off forcefully, her hand hitting the corner of the table in the process. A momentary numbness was quickly replaced by a sharp pain. “Yes, I idle around. I suppose this is all my life will ever be. Dad, why don’t you… just let me be and stop interfering altogether?”
Jiang Hua had a congenital heart condition. Marriage and children were already complicated issues for her, and besides… she might die from a heart attack any day.
Furious, Jiang Hua turned, grabbed her bag from the entryway, and left the villa.
Jiang Weiguo’s chopsticks clattered to the floor. “Go ahead and leave. It’d be best if you never come back.” As he spoke, he clutched his chest in anger. A servant quickly brought him his medication.
At night, Jiang Hua walked along the deserted asphalt road. The suburban villa area saw few passersby, and it would take at least two hours to reach the city where she could hail a taxi.
A car approached from behind, its high beams illuminating her figure.
The car stopped in front of her.
Pei Zhan’s intention was clear.
Jiang Hua’s gaze fell on the bottle of perfume placed in the car. Her voice was as cold as a passing breeze. “…I find it dirty.”
Pei Zhan, still wearing a silver minimalist ring, tapped his fingers rhythmically on the steering wheel. “The Jiang family holds immense power. Wouldn’t it be easier to just enjoy it? Pretend nothing ever happened, and you can remain the carefree young lady you’ve always been.”
For the first time, Pei Zhan spoke to her in such a cold tone—gentle yet sharp as a blade. His eyes, too, were different from before, lacking the patience and warmth they once held when he looked at her.
His eyes were like the night itself, so deep one couldn’t see the bottom at a glance.
Jiang Hua crossed her arms and sneered. The wind blowing through the cold night was rather chilly. She tucked the disheveled long hair behind her ear. “So soon, you’ve run out of patience to keep up the act with me?”
“That’s just as well. I’ve long grown tired of your hypocritical facade.”
“I know you married me only for the Jiang Family’s assets. Rest assured, I won’t contend with you for anything of the Jiang Family. Song Qingran… remains yours as well.”
“After the divorce, we’ll still need to keep up appearances when necessary. Don’t let any flaws show.”
Because this time… Jiang Hua didn’t know how much longer she could live. After that car accident, she could feel her body was no longer what it used to be…
If… she didn’t have much time left, for the remaining time… she wanted to live for herself.