Jiang Qingli stared blankly at him, her expression filled with disbelief.
Beside her, Jiang Haotian immediately looked delighted by Jiang Chen’s misfortune.
He hadn’t expected Jiang Chen to suddenly say something like that just when he’d begun to think the guy had finally gotten smarter.
Everyone knew Jiang Qingli had always been cold and aloof.
If Jiang Chen insisted on leaving and even said something like this, there was absolutely no way she would ask him to stay.
Jiang Chen was finished this time!
He could just wait to be completely driven out of the Jiang Family.
“Eldest Young Miss Jiang, is there something wrong with your ears?”
Jiang Chen noticed Jiang Haotian’s gloating expression, but he showed no intention of backing down.
“If you didn’t hear me clearly, Miss Jiang, I’ll say it again.”
“I’m tired. I don’t like you anymore. I don’t like you anymore! Did you hear me clearly…”
“Shut up! Shut up, shut up!!”
Before Jiang Chen could finish, Jiang Qingli roared like she’d gone mad, cutting him off.
‘I don’t believe it! I don’t believe it!’
For some inexplicable reason, hearing Jiang Chen say that he no longer liked her sent rage surging through her. She even forgot to maintain her usual composure.
But she absolutely refused to believe that Jiang Chen no longer loved her.
He loved her so much. He had done so much for her.
For more than a decade!
Ever since he entered the Jiang Family over ten years ago, he’d been like a little dumpling, happily following behind her wherever she went.
His love for her had been obvious to everyone.
And now he was actually saying that he didn’t love her anymore?!
Was he joking with her?
“Jiang Chen, I know you’re angry because you think I drove you out of the family because of Haotian.”
“So I won’t blame you for throwing a little tantrum.”
Wasn’t he simply upset because he didn’t want to leave the Jiang Family or leave her?
“But you were the one at fault in the first place.”
“Do you think saying you don’t like me anymore will make me angry?”
“You can deceive yourself like this and fool everyone else. Even if you can fool me, can you really fool yourself?!”
“Come home with me now. Apologize properly to Mom and Dad and explain what happened when you pushed Haotian down the stairs. I can consider persuading them to let you stay.”
“But if you keep causing trouble, I won’t bother with you anymore!”
Jiang Qingli glared furiously at Jiang Chen.
Even now, she still believed that Jiang Chen was merely throwing a tantrum.
After all, there was no way she could believe that Jiang Chen truly didn’t love her anymore.
Hearing this, however, Jiang Chen couldn’t help laughing.
“Deceiving myself?”
“If that’s how you insist on understanding it, there’s nothing I can do.”
“As for what you said about never bothering with me again, that’s great.”
“I hope you keep your word. Take care. I won’t see you off.”
He sneered. After saying that, he didn’t spare Jiang Qingli or Jiang Haotian another glance before turning around and walking away.
Behind him, Jiang Qingli continued shouting furiously.
“Jiang Chen! Stop right there! Jiang Chen!”
“If you’ve got the guts, then never come back!”
Jiang Qingli gritted her teeth, her entire face flushed red with fury.
She had completely lost her composure.
Had Jiang Chen lost his mind?!
‘Fine! You’re giving up on pursuing me, aren’t you? You’re tired, aren’t you?’
‘You don’t like me anymore, right?’
‘I’d like to see how many days you can keep this up!’
‘Whoever comes crawling back first is the loser!!’
Jiang Qingli roared, “Butler Li, freeze his cards! Throw away everything of his that’s still at home! I don’t want to see a single trace of his belongings!”
Butler Li looked awkward. “Yes, Eldest Young Miss… but Young Master Jiang Chen’s cards were already frozen two years ago.”
As for his belongings at home, Jiang Chen had already packed up and taken everything with him.
He hadn’t even left behind a button, as though he were afraid a single button might be worth hundreds of thousands.
“What?”
Jiang Qingli looked stunned. “They were frozen two years ago? Who froze them?”
“Didn’t I give him a monthly spending limit of 2 million?”
How had she not known about something like this?
If his cards had been frozen, what had Jiang Chen been spending all these years?
What had he been eating?
“Well…”
Butler Li hesitated before saying, “Madam Jiang and Chairman Jiang said that Young Master Jiang Chen had already become an adult two years ago.”
“Legally, they were only responsible for supporting Young Master Jiang Chen until he turned eighteen. After that, he was supposed to support himself.”
The more Butler Li explained, the darker Jiang Qingli’s expression became.
‘Mother actually cut off Jiang Chen’s living expenses without even telling me?’
‘Two years…’
‘That 2 million was barely enough to cover his meals in the first place, and they even cut that off?’
‘Jiang Chen was only eighteen at the time. How could they bring themselves to do that?’
Even if they weren’t related by blood, he was still a child the Jiang Family had raised.
Besides, that money came from her personally!
How could Mother Jiang stop it without her permission?
And more importantly…
‘Jiang Chen… Why didn’t you tell me?’
“Fine. I understand.”
Jiang Qingli stared darkly at Jiang Chen’s retreating figure. “Forget about him for now. I’d like to see how long he can keep sulking.”
“As for Jiang Chen’s living expenses, I’ll personally ask Mother about it.”
With that, Jiang Qingli turned to leave.
Jiang Haotian had remained an unnoticed bystander throughout the entire exchange. Seeing that Jiang Qingli had ‘really’ decided to stop caring about Jiang Chen, he happily approached her.
“Sister, don’t be angry. Getting angry is bad for your health.”
“Haven’t you been feeling unwell lately? Let’s go home, and you should drink more hot water.”
“Brother Chen didn’t mean to push me or argue with you.”
“If he’s angry, he can hit me or push me all he wants. A few fractures are nothing, I’ll be fine. But how could he speak to you like that, Sister?”
“Maybe Brother Chen has lived at home for too long, and all the Sisters spoiled him too much, so he’s developed a bit of a temper.”
“Unlike me… I’ve never had a Sister. If only all the Sisters could like me as much as they like Brother Chen.”
“It’s all right, Sister. Don’t be angry with Brother Chen. Getting too angry isn’t good for your health.”
Jiang Haotian was immensely proud of his seemingly innocent words.
‘Brilliant! Absolutely brilliant!’
On the surface, he appeared to be defending Jiang Chen, but in reality, every sentence was subtly criticizing him.
He was lowering Jiang Chen’s image while making himself appear thoughtful and sensible.
The last time he’d tried this tactic, he’d underestimated Jiang Chen’s skill and only made a basic attack.
“Sister, let me help you back so you can rest.”
Feeling immensely pleased with himself, Jiang Haotian reached out to support Jiang Qingli.
Unfortunately, Jiang Qingli was still furious.
On top of that, she had always been obsessed with cleanliness and hated being touched by others.
The moment Jiang Haotian reached toward her, she instinctively swung her hand at him.
“Get away from me!!”
Smack!
Along with Jiang Qingli’s furious roar, a crisp slap landed squarely across Jiang Haotian’s face.
Jiang Haotian was completely stunned.
He didn’t have Jiang Chen’s reflexes, nor had he been prepared, so he took the slap full force.
He almost cried.
‘What the hell? Are you crazy?’
‘Are you all right?!’
‘So now comforting someone is wrong too?!’
‘That slap Jiang Chen dodged earlier ended up landing on me instead?!’
At that moment, Jiang Haotian wanted nothing more than to raise his head toward the heavens and roar, ‘Why am I always the one who gets hurt?!’
Butler Li couldn’t help curling his lips in disdain from the side.
‘And you wonder why people call you stupid.’
‘Eldest Young Miss is already furious because of Jiang Chen. She’s so angry she’s practically lost her mind, yet you still went up to her. Weren’t you just asking to get slapped?’
Sure enough, when Jiang Qingli turned and saw Jiang Haotian, her expression darkened even further.
‘Why hasn’t he left yet?’
And what did he mean by telling her to ‘drink more hot water’?
In the past, whenever Jiang Chen noticed even the slightest sign that she wasn’t feeling well, he would immediately find a doctor and prepare everything she wanted to eat.
Small desserts, cakes, milk tea, brown sugar water.
Whatever she wanted, he would immediately bring it to her, even if he’d already stayed awake for several nights preparing those things.
But now, Jiang Haotian looked at her and could only tell her to drink more hot water.
For some inexplicable reason, she felt as though something important was missing.
‘Why did I never notice before that Jiang Haotian likes interfering in matters between Jiang Chen and me so much?’
Especially when she recalled what he’d just said, the more she thought about it, the more something seemed wrong.
What did he mean by ‘unlike me’?
Was he deliberately being manipulative, or had he said it unintentionally?
Jiang Qingli suddenly remembered that before Jiang Haotian appeared, Jiang Chen’s tone had actually been fairly calm.
‘That’s right! Why? Why did Jiang Chen suddenly become so angry the moment Jiang Haotian appeared?’
Jiang Qingli couldn’t help studying Jiang Haotian carefully.
She remembered that day at home. She had indeed seen Jiang Haotian and Jiang Chen together on the staircase.
However, she hadn’t personally witnessed Jiang Chen pushing Jiang Haotian down the stairs. She had only vaguely seen someone’s back.
Everything else had come afterward from the servants, Father Jiang, and Mother Jiang.
At the time, she’d assumed that no matter what happened, Jiang Chen was still a child her parents had raised. There should at least have been some affection from raising him, so she believed they would give a fair account of what happened.
But now…
‘Could there actually be something suspicious about all of this?’
Otherwise, why did Jiang Chen become so furious whenever he saw Jiang Haotian?
He had even become angry enough to say something as foolish and spiteful as being tired and no longer loving her.
He had never behaved like this before.
In the past, no matter how upset or wronged Jiang Chen felt, he had never said anything this harsh or absolute to her…
Everything about his behavior made it seem as though he had suffered an enormous injustice…
‘Could it be…?’