Сhaptеr 4: Не’s Rеаlly Despiсаble.
Jiang Siуe thought hе wаs hаlluсinаting.
Divоrcе?
Не Yаng wanted а divorce from him?
Аftеr a lоng раusе.
Jiаng Siyе bаrеly manаgеd to find his vоice: “Divorсe mу ass!”
Having еxhаusted аll hеr energу from saying thоsе wоrds, Нe Yang lооkеd wеary аnd listless: “I wаnt to go bаck to mу aunt’s housе, or I’ll die herе.”
“……”
Неr cоusin Lin Тing came tо piсk hеr up.
Afrаid of upsеtting her, Lin Тing аvоided mеntioning anуthing relatеd tо thе baby from start to finish, instead chаttеring nonstop abоut thе mistakes and еmbаrrassing moments she’d made at work.
Back in the familiar room, surrounded by familiar scents, He Yang collapsed onto the bed and fell asleep.
The apartment was in an old residential complex, located on the first floor. It wasn’t large—just over seventy square meters—with two bedrooms and a living room, and a small backyard.
Half the curtains were drawn, and a breeze drifted in through the screen window, carrying the scent of freshly cut grass.
He Yang slept deeply.
The rustling of leaves cast dappled shadows, slanting across her cheeks.
In the kitchen, her aunt was simmering soup and stewing dishes for her. Lin Ting tiptoed in to check on her, saw she was still asleep, and quietly closed the door again.
He Yang lost both her parents when she was ten.
Her aunt and uncle took her in and cared for her.
The family’s financial situation was modest, but her aunt and uncle had stable jobs, so milk and eggs were never in short supply.
He Yang never suffered any neglect.
Lin Ting had a lively personality and never minded that her parents devoted half their resources to He Yang.
After He Yang got into university, her uncle died in the line of duty.
Not wanting to add to her aunt’s burden, He Yang applied for a student loan and took on part-time jobs during her free time, depositing all the money she saved into Lin Ting’s campus meal card.
After she married Jiang Siye, her aunt and cousin never visited the Jiang family.
To avoid any suspicion, they were afraid others might mistake them for poor relatives trying to freeload or curry favor.
They didn’t want to cause trouble for He Yang.
Even in her dreams, He Yang was filled with regret.
She should have worked hard and properly repaid her aunt.
Instead, she let herself rush into marriage right after graduation.
From then on, she relied entirely on the Jiang family for food and shelter, with no say in anything.
She had brought this upon herself.
And then there was her baby.
Her Zhengzheng.
The little one who interacted with her every day in her womb—the doctor showed him to her for just a moment. He was as frail as a kitten, his head damp, eyes still closed, his cries barely audible.
She wanted to hold him, but Jiang Siye gripped her hand and signaled to the doctor with a look.
The doctor forced a smile and said the baby had a lung infection and needed to be taken to the pediatric department for treatment.
After that, he never returned.
He Yang was shaken awake by Lin Ting.
Lin Ting tried her best to put on a cheerful smile, but her red-rimmed eyes gave her away.
“Sis, you were dreaming.”
He Yang’s gaze was dazed.
She had been like this often lately.
“Sis,” Lin Ting helped her sit up, “do you remember that bookstore we used to go to? It finished renovations last week, and there’s a cat café in the corner now. Let’s go check it out this afternoon.”
He Yang slowly gathered her thoughts: “Okay.”
Seeing her willing to go out, Lin Ting happily snuggled up to her: “The owner of that cat café is really handsome.”
“……” He Yang paused. “How are things between you and Jiang Xiao?”
Jiang Xiao was Jiang Siye’s second older brother.
His illegitimate second older brother.
Jiang Xiao’s biological mother died early, and as a child, he developed a chronic leg condition that left him reliant on a wheelchair for mobility. His father brought him to the Jiang family, where Madam Jiang raised him for a few years.
Lin Ting met Jiang Xiao at He Yang and Jiang Siye’s wedding.
Hearing this, Lin Ting mumbled, “We broke up.”
“……””I don’t want anything to do with anyone surnamed Jiang,” Lin Ting said bluntly. “Mom has always been against it. She says she’s already lost one daughter to them and can’t afford to lose another. I think she’s right.”
He Yang stroked her smooth face. “I was also worried it might affect you.”
Lin Ting asked, “What effect?”
He Yang didn’t hide it from her. “I’m getting a divorce.”
“…” After a brief moment of shock, Lin Ting quickly returned to normal. “Then get divorced. You should have done it long ago. I’ve wanted to complain about his mother for ages, blah blah blah…”
She spoke quickly, her words precise, and her complaints were sharp and witty.
He Yang couldn’t help but laugh.
“Before, you mentioned,” He Yang said, getting down to business once Lin Ting finished, “that a friend’s streetwear company was hiring designers. Have they found anyone yet?”
Lin Ting’s eyes lit up. “No, they haven’t. Sis, are you interested? I think you’d be perfect!”
He Yang patted her head. “Let’s eat first.”
Opening the door revealed a combined living and dining area of just over ten square meters.
At the dining table, Jiang Siye was sitting there.
Aunt Gu Hui sat awkwardly beside him.
The four-person dining table wasn’t large to begin with, and Jiang Siye, being tall and broad, made the space feel cramped just by sitting there.
Near the sofa were various gift boxes of different sizes.
He Yang’s tone was indifferent. “What are you doing here?”
Jiang Siye replied, “To take you home.”
He Yang said, “I’m staying here.”
Jiang Siye curled his lips. “Don’t disturb Auntie and your cousin.”
Lin Ting was furious and about to speak up when her own mother shot her a warning look, signaling her not to add fuel to the fire.
“Let’s eat first,” Aunt Gu Hui urged. “The food will get cold.”
The chicken soup was rich and fragrant, but He Yang, having not eaten for a long time, could only manage half a bowl.
Jiang Siye’s gloomy eyes gradually softened. “Auntie’s cooking is excellent. The food the maid makes at home, Yangyang never likes to eat. Can I take some to go?”
“…” Gu Hui forced a dry smile. “It’s just home-cooked food, hardly worthy of Fourth Young Master’s taste…”
He Yang had always been subservient in the Jiang household, but she didn’t want her aunt to be the same way.
She looked up directly. “Have a few bites and then leave. Our home is small; there’s no room for you.”
Jiang Siye scooped a spoonful of shrimp and steamed egg for her, calmly saying, “Wherever you are, I’ll be there.”
He Yang’s eyes were filled with sarcasm.
Anyone who didn’t know better would think he loved her deeply.
But it was just about saving face—if word got out, it would embarrass him.
The esteemed Fourth Young Master of the Jiang family was always pampered and indulged wherever he went. He was the one who dumped others; no woman had ever dumped him.
The atmosphere in the dining room was tense.
Only Jiang Siye remained at ease, serving her food while stirring up trouble. “Auntie worked hard to make this; don’t waste it. Auntie, look, she’s being picky again.”
He was truly despicable.
He had always been a despicable person.
His recent seriousness had made He Yang forget that this man was a scoundrel.
For her health, Gu Hui patiently urged her to eat properly.
She didn’t dare bring up the child.
After the meal, Gu Hui got up to clear the table. Jiang Siye was unusually eager, insisting on doing the dishes himself.
Gu Hui didn’t dare let him do it. As they argued, a plate and two bowls shattered.
Lin Ting was speechless.
He Yang had had enough. “Jiang Siye, are you leaving or not?”
“…” The man shamelessly grinned. “Want to go home? Let’s go, right now. We shouldn’t trouble Auntie any longer.”
He was the only trouble here.
If he stayed, Auntie would feel uneasy, worried she wasn’t treating him well enough. Swallowing her anger, He Yang decided to settle the divorce cleanly before returning.
As they were leaving, Jiang Siye suddenly turned back.
He Yang instinctively knew what he was about to do. “Don’t you dare take it…”Before she could finish speaking.
The man had already cradled the stew pot containing the chicken soup in his arms.
Their eyes met.
“Aunt,” Jiang Siye cleared his throat lightly, “I’ll take this soup with me.”