He gently tucked the stray strands of hair behind her ear, his voice still soft enough to make one sink into it. But to Jiang Hua, it sounded like a cold blade.
Jiang Hua paused slightly, frowning as she looked at him with confusion in her eyes. “…Why? Don’t you want to be with Song Qingran? If she finds out about what’s between us, she’ll never be with you.”
Pei Zhan rubbed her earlobe with his thumb. “If you want a divorce, it’s meaningless unless I say so myself.”
Her voice instantly turned cold. “Pei Zhan! What else do you want to do?!”
“…” Pei Zhan didn’t answer her question. Instead, he said slowly, “If you still want to stay in a hotel for the next three months… I’m not sure if the divorce matter will reach Chairman Pei’s ears by then.”
Jiang Hua angrily retorted, “Are you threatening me? Aren’t you afraid I’ll tell Song Qingran everything? Let her know she’s the third party ruining someone else’s marriage? I’ll even tell the media and make it public.”
Pei Zhan lowered his hand and smiled. “…Hua Hua, don’t anger me. You know, I’m capable of anything.”
“Song Qingran is my bottom line.”
“Without me, how long can Jiang’s Jewelry Group last? Three years? Or three months?”
“This marriage can’t bind me. Once we divorce, it won’t take three months… The Jiang Family, a century-old dynasty in Di Du, could vanish overnight.”
Jiang Hua’s face turned ashen, her emotions barely restrained. She gripped the blanket tightly, her gaze fixed on him. After a long while, she suppressed the sharp pain in her chest, a throbbing ache more intense than any wound.
In a hoarse voice, she said, “Fine, I’ll leave the hotel. But… I will never return to Hua Yuan, and I won’t live under the same roof as someone unfaithful to their marriage. In front of others, I’ll play along with you. Are you satisfied with that?”
Pei Zhan didn’t remain silent. It seemed he was pleased with this decision.
Bottom line!
She is your bottom line!
Pei Zhan, aren’t you even bothering to pretend in front of me anymore?
Instantly, all her emotions surged like a tidal wave, overwhelming her.
Jiang Hua’s hand, hooked to the IV drip, trembled coldly.
This outcome wasn’t exactly what Pei Zhan wanted, but… it was part of his plan!
“Stay in your place as Mrs. Pei.”
Hua Hua, can’t handle it already?
What will you do when the Jiang Family is gone?
This… is just the beginning.
Pei Zhan stood up, one hand in his pocket, giving her a cold, indifferent glance before turning and leaving without looking back, leaving only a frigid silhouette behind.
As Pei Zhan left the hospital room, he brushed past Wen Huaishi, who was returning with medicine.
Pei Zhan didn’t spare him a single glance, walking past him with his hand in his pocket, eyes fixed straight ahead.
As soon as Wen Huaishi entered the room, he noticed something was wrong with Jiang Hua.
She was clutching her chest in pain.
Wen Huaishi set down the medicine in his hand. “Hold on a little longer.” He opened the bedside drawer, found a small bottle of pills, and took one out.
Jiang Hua refused, her crimson eyes looking as if they might shed tears at any moment, softening Wen Huaishi’s heart. “…I have to get used to it eventually. I just need a moment to collect myself.”
Wen Huaishi said, “If you’re feeling unwell, either cry it out or… sometimes you need a hug. If you don’t mind, I can lend you my shoulder.”
“Don’t suppress your emotions. If you’re hurting, let it out.”
Jiang Hua coughed several times between rapid breaths, leaning against Wen Huaishi’s shoulder while clutching his clothes tightly. “…I’m fine. It’ll pass soon. I just need to endure it a little longer…”
Pei Zhan had confronted her earlier than in her previous life.
He had also admitted outright that Song Qingran was his bottom line—the person he… cared about…
If she dared lay a hand on Song Qingran, Pei Zhan would retaliate against the Jiang Family!
Jiang Hua couldn’t understand. She had never done anything to harm Song Qingran, so why… did Pei Zhan despise her so much?
The Jiang Family… had paved his way to success, given him everything. Was that still not enough?
After leaving People’s Hospital, Pei Zhan sat in the back passenger seat.
His phone vibrated.
He swiped the screen.
Message: The medicine has been switched! It will take effect soon.
Pei Zhan turned off his phone and closed his eyes.
“Drive!”
…
During the two or three days Jiang Hua was bedridden, Wen Huaishi had requested leave for her from school. The school required a related project, but Jiang Hua had no ideas whatsoever—she hadn’t even considered continuing to participate.
After being discharged, Jiang Hua returned to the hotel to pack her belongings. She decided to buy a studio apartment near the school and hired movers to transfer all her usable items to the rental unit. She deliberately chose a spacious flat larger than Hua Yuan.
Jiang Hua wasn’t one to shortchange herself.
When the elevator reached the lobby, the front desk manager approached her with an exquisite gift bag. “Miss Jiang, this is a small gift for our hotel’s tenth anniversary. We hope you won’t find it unworthy.”
Jiang Hua accepted it. “Thank you.”
“Please leave your luggage with the bellhop. He’ll load it into the car for you.”
As Jiang Hua went to check out, a familiar address echoed from behind.
“Mr. Pei, Miss Song… enjoy your meal!”
Jiang Hua pretended not to hear.
Pei Zhan, dressed in a black suit with an imposing stature, was particularly conspicuous—especially alongside a youthful, bright-eyed girl in a white minidress. Together, they made a strikingly handsome pair.
Song Qingran initially wanted to greet Jiang Hua. Despite their conflicts, she didn’t want their relationship to become irreparable—Jiang Hua still held leverage over her.
Song Qingran was afraid. She feared Jiang Hua might spread rumors outside; if people misunderstood her relationship with Mr. Pei, no amount of explaining would clear her name.
Wearing a white dress with a braid draped over one shoulder and clutching a cheap handbag, she bit her lip hesitantly. But before she could decide whether to approach, Jiang Hua had already turned and left under the hotel staff’s respectful escort.
Jiang Hua boarded the hotel’s arranged car, where a white-gloved driver held the door open for her. Once seated, she couldn’t shake the feeling of an intense, unavoidable gaze fixed upon her. Jiang Hua acted oblivious, brushing past them as if they were strangers.
Upon arriving at Jinsha Bay Apartment, Jiang Hua checked her phone and discovered numerous messages from her homeroom teacher, along with missed calls, all urging her to submit the design draft for the competition.
Jiang Hua ignored them and simply tossed her phone aside.
If the competition was truly rigged in her favor, as her father had implied, then there was no point in her participating.
“Miss Jiang, everything has been tidied up for you.”
After paying the cleaner, Jiang Hua saw her out.