Сhарtеr 11: You Should Ве Sаd.
Тhе Jiang househоld wаs in an uprоar.
Mаdаm Jiаng’s bеlоvеd floоr tilеs, thе оld rosewоod staircasе rаiling aсquirеd аt аn аuctiоn, thе lаyout аnd dеcоr of the seсond flоor—
Everуthing had сhangеd.
Jiаng Sanyun stоod guard in front оf hеr рiаno, refusing tо budgе аn inсh. “Takе it all bаck. Who gаve yоu permissiоn to touch аnуthing?”
“Тhird Sister, dоn’t mаke things difficult for thеm,” Hе Yаng said cаlmly. “Jiang Siуe аllоwеd it.”
Aftеr speаking, she cоntinuеd with hеr work.
Jiang Siye, now burdened with all thе blаme, didn’t know whether tо bе angry or аmusеd.
Jiang Sanyun shrieked, “Jiang Siye!”
“What’s done is done,” Jiang Siye retorted impatiently. “All you’ve ever known how to play since childhood is ‘Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star.’ What’s the point of keeping it?”
“…” Jiang Sanyun was furious. “That room is mine! What right does she have to decide?”
Jiang Siye replied, “I made the decision. Can’t you hear?”
Jiang Sanyun turned to her mother. “Mom!”
Duan Tianhua was still mourning her cherished possessions. “Don’t call me!”
“You two move out. Get out,” Jiang Sanyun said, her breathing unsteady. “Leave now and never come back.”
Jiang Siye said casually, “Enough. From now on, the first floor is yours, and the second floor is ours. Let’s keep out of each other’s way.”
“…”
From now on?
It felt like the sky was falling.
They actually planned to stay long-term!
Ignoring the commotion downstairs, He Yang remained unperturbed. She helped the workers install her workbench and draped a brightly colored shawl over a plain mannequin.
She needed to produce a set of design sketches for next spring’s sportswear collection in the shortest time possible.
Footsteps approached from behind. He Yang measured fabric with a soft tape. “Can I attend the fashion show next week?”
“Go ahead,” Jiang Siye said, pressing against her back and resting his chin on her shoulder. “I’ll get you an invitation.”
He Yang replied, “Thank you.”
Jiang Siye chuckled softly. “Why did you pick a fight with Jiang Sanyun?”
He Yang paused. “Did I pick a fight with her?”
“Didn’t you?” Jiang Siye raised an eyebrow. “You even pinned the blame on me.”
He Yang straightened up, putting distance between them. “Are you part of this family?”
“?”
“Am I your wife?”
“Obviously.”
“Is your home my home?”
“Keep talking and I’ll kiss you.”
“Then, can’t I make changes in my own home?” He Yang asked. “Is setting up a workspace for myself in my own home considered picking a fight with her?”
“…”
He Yang lowered her eyelashes. “So, I’m the one causing turmoil in your family.”
Jiang Siye: “…”
He Yang looked up. “I’ll behave.”
Jiang Siye’s heart twitched.
For no apparent reason.
He Yang set down the soft tape and walked toward the door.
Jiang Siye’s tone was unclear. “Where are you going?”
“Your third sister likes the ginger duck I make,” He Yang said. “I’ll go prepare it for her.”
Jiang Siye said coldly, “He Yang, if you have something to say, just say it.”
He Yang replied, “Then kill me.”
“…”
She was doing it on purpose.
All of this was intentional.
By now, Jiang Siye was certain she was still angry about that night.
“Can I apologize?” he softened his tone. “There really was an urgent matter that night…”
He Yang asked, “If I don’t accept, will you stop giving me face?”
“…”
He Yang said, “I don’t accept.”
He Yang added, “Jiang Siye.”
Though long numbed, He Yang couldn’t help but tear up. “My parents loved me dearly. Even when I made mistakes, my aunt and uncle never raised their voices at me. You’re not the only one who’s been pampered. In my own circle, I’ve never been wronged either.”Her parents, aunt, and uncle had built a world for her, sheltered from all storms.
He Yang’s obedience stemmed from the kindness she had always encountered.
But later on.
She married.
In just two short years, she entered a new social circle and witnessed malice she had never seen before.
He Yang personally prepared a pot of ginger duck.
The dining room was dead silent.
Jiang Sanyun wanted to speak, but Duan Tianhua slapped her and gestured toward the opposite side.
Jiang Siye had been sitting in his chair the entire time, not uttering a word.
Yet the atmosphere grew heavier and heavier because of him.
His innate sense of oppression made even the servants tread carefully.
The ginger duck was served, its steam enticing.
He Yang wiped her hands on her apron. “It’s ready. Third Sister, you eat first.”
“What’s that smell?” Jiang Sanyun sniffed. “It smells strange.”
He Yang asked, “Does it have a smell?”
Jiang Sanyun demanded, “What did you put in this dish?”
“Oh,” He Yang replied calmly. “I was worried there might be bugs in the live duck’s feathers, so I sprayed a little organophosphorus.”
Jiang Sanyun asked, “What the hell is organophosphorus?”
He Yang answered, “Dichlorvos.”
Everyone: “…”
“Eat up, Third Sister. Don’t you love my cooking the most?” He Yang put on gloves and tore off a duck leg for her. “Don’t be shy. I’ll make it for you whenever you want in the future.”
Jiang Sanyun shrank back. “What are you trying to do? Do you want to kill me?”
He Yang paused. “It won’t kill you.”
Then, she swept her gaze across the room.
“Don’t believe me?” Her eyes were innocent. “I’ll eat it for you to see.”
She raised the duck leg toward her mouth.
Suddenly, a hand shot out from mid-air, firmly gripping her wrist.
Jiang Siye’s chest heaved, his dark eyes cold and piercing as he stared straight at her. Then, he guided the duck leg in her hand toward his own mouth.
Duan Tianhua cried out in alarm, “Si’er!!”
Jiang Sanyun shouted, “It’s poisoned!”
Jiang Siye ignored them.
Using He Yang’s hand, he ate the entire duck leg clean.
He Yang didn’t care what he was thinking. She looked at Madam Jiang and her daughter. “See? It’s not poisonous.”
“…”
Duan Tianhua suddenly barked, “From now on, Fourth Young Madam is not allowed in the kitchen!”
The servants murmured their assent.
He Yang didn’t care.
Who wanted to do servile work anyway?
All that effort for no appreciation.
If no one else would eat it, she would.
He Yang pulled the ginger duck pot in front of herself.
Immediately, Jiang Siye snatched it away.
He Yang said listlessly, “If you die from poisoning, I won’t take responsibility.”
Jiang Siye sneered, “That’s just fine. Then you can go find someone better.”
He Yang stated bluntly, “Even if you don’t die, I can still find one.”
“…” Jiang Siye’s neck veins bulged. “You won’t even think about it until I’m dead! Stay obediently by my side!”
He Yang ignored him, lowering her head to quietly drink her soup.
A moment later, Jiang Siye peeled the skin off the other duck leg and placed it in her bowl. “Eat it.”
The rest of the entire duck went into his stomach.
After the meal, Jiang Siye, filled with pent-up anger, grabbed He Yang’s hand to go upstairs.
He Yang resisted. “There’s still something I need to do.”
Jiang Siye asked, “What is it?”
He Yang replied, “Serve Mother while she soaks her feet.”
“…”
Duan Tianhua was furious. “What’s wrong with you?”
“Mother, please don’t be angry,” He Yang said calmly and firmly. “You’re right. Since I eat the Jiang family’s food, I shouldn’t do nothing.”
Jiang Siye’s brow furrowed. “Whose food does she eat?”
Duan Tianhua snapped, “Who knows what madness has taken her? Hurry up and take her away…”
Jiang Siye suddenly stood up, his figure blocking out all the light.
The air visibly froze.”She is my wife,” Jiang Siye said calmly, yet his presence was suffocating. “Who among you has she eaten from?”
He Yang took his hand, looking up. “Darling, don’t be angry.”
Jiang Siye lowered his gaze.
He Yang said sincerely, “Mother doesn’t dislike me. After all, I’m your person. She just dislikes you. With an outstanding eldest brother above and a considerate third sister below—”
Amid Duan Tianhua’s stunned expression.
He Yang continued, “Darling, you shouldn’t be angry. You should be sad instead. Even your own mother doesn’t love you.”