5 – A Suit-Clad Kneel
Jiang Wanning hadn’t managed to get Fu Yan’s phone number, and her mind was fixed on how to get his number as soon as possible. If possible, winning the man himself over in the shortest time would work too.
That way, she’d have a boyfriend.
Surely the family wouldn’t keep pushing her to go on blind dates with those rich second-generation heirs then, right? Jiang Wanning really didn’t want to go down the path of an arranged business marriage for the family.
When she got home, Jiang Wanrou was sitting on the living room sofa, chatting excitedly with Du Shiqin about which limited-edition bag and which outfit would be suitable for attending a gala.
Hearing someone come in, the living room instantly fell silent.
Jiang Wanning crossed her arms and leaned against the display cabinet by the entryway, her posture casual and languid, looking at the mother and daughter on the sofa: ”Why is it that the moment I come home, you stop talking?”
“Sorry, but those limited-edition bags and clothes you were talking about—I’ve already pre-ordered them. If you two want them, you can buy them from me.”
“Same rules as always.”
Jiang Wanrou tossed her phone aside and sprang up from the sofa, her whole body radiating fury, as if even the ends of her hair were seething with anger.
“Jiang Wanning, you’re going too far!”
Jiang Wanning raised an eyebrow, wearing an expression that said, How exactly am I going too far? Go on, tell me.
Jiang Wanrou ground her teeth, her ladylike image completely gone, and said in a flustered rage, “Don’t think you can act this outrageous just because you’re the eldest daughter of the Jiang family! You’re Dad’s daughter, but so am I! Don’t forget, my mom is your dad’s wife—what’s with this attitude of yours?”
“Heh, and what’s with your attitude?”
Jiang Wanning asked back, light and breezy.
Jiang Wanrou choked.
Jiang Wanning wasn’t provoked in the slightest. Her expression remained perfectly calm, her tone flat. “Everyone knows I’m your older sister, but if they didn’t, they’d think I was the family maid. What’s with all the shouting? Is this what my stepmother’s skills amount to—raising a daughter who calls her own older sister by her full name?”
It was one thing when Jiang Wanning said nothing.
But the moment she opened her mouth to fire back, showing no regard for anyone’s face, she could infuriate people to death!
Du Shiqin’s face turned ugly, but she held back her temper and didn’t lash out. Even if it was just for show, she had to maintain surface-level harmony—everyone living under one roof should be able to coexist peacefully.
As for privately? She absolutely hated Jiang Wanning!
She had long been itching for her to disappear from this world.
Du Shiqin kept an elegant smile on her face. “Ningning, you two are sisters, so stop bickering and quarreling over every little thing. Oh, right, that night of the rainstorm—you must have been terrified. I’ll have the auntie make you something nice to eat, help you recover.”
What a hypocrite!
Jiang Wanning thought this to herself but didn’t say it out loud. She couldn’t be bothered to say anything either—she simply said she didn’t need it, then went upstairs to her room.
Downstairs, Du Shiqin’s expression wasn’t looking too good.
Jiang Wanrou, watching her mother act so humble and ingratiating in front of Jiang Wanning, felt a surge of frustration. She stomped her foot angrily and complained, “Mom, did you see how arrogant and overbearing she was? She’s only like that because Dad favors her more! We’re both daughters, and Jiang Wanning’s mom died ages ago—why should she keep hogging all the family’s affection? Dad dotes on her, and Grandma dotes on her too—isn’t that enough? Every time she snatches things from us, Dad and Grandma just turn a blind eye. What more does she want!”
Every one of Jiang Wanrou’s angry words stabbed right into Du Shiqin’s heart. She had grievances of her own but couldn’t vent them, because both Jiang Sunan and Jiang Sunan’s mother cherished Jiang Wanning more.
Perhaps it was because Jiang Wanning was that woman’s daughter.
Although she had later used some dishonorable means to win Jiang Sunan, successfully driving away Jiang Wanning’s mother and taking her place.
But at the end of the day, Jiang Wanning’s mother was the original wife.
To put it bluntly, Du Shiqin was nothing more than a mistress who had successfully climbed into the position of wife.
The child she bore naturally couldn’t compare to the treasure born of the original wife. Especially since the old madam didn’t much care for her.
“All right, Rou Rou, stop complaining! If your grandmother hears any of this, the old lady will get angry again and start scolding you.”
Angry as she was, Jiang Wanrou still had her eye on a perfume Jiang Wanning had blended—rare on the market, in fact not yet released. She now regretted quarreling with Jiang Wanning. What if she asked for it and Jiang Wanning refused to give it to her?
She still had a banquet to attend.
Upstairs, she took off her clothes and sank into a bathtub filled with fresh rose petals.
Out of habit, Jiang Wanning poured herself a glass of bitter red wine before remembering she had taken cold medicine and couldn’t drink alcohol.
She set it down regretfully.
As she soaked comfortably, Jiang Wanning suddenly opened her eyes and stared at the wine glass. She reached out, picked it up, and sniffed it—nothing unusual.
Only the faint bitterness of the wine.
Jiang Wanning thought back to what had happened to her two days ago. That bottle of water must have been tampered with. But the car had been sent to the dealership for repairs, and it was too late to report it to the police now.
Besides, it was only a suspicion.
She didn’t dare act rashly on mere words alone.
Jiang Wanning had a suspect in mind.
Her stepmother.
Du Shiqin.
Half an hour later, after her bath, Jiang Wanning stood wrapped in a bath towel in the middle of the open floor, holding a dancer’s pose, stretching her arms and legs, chin lifted toward the ceiling.
Kissing the ceiling.
Fifty times.
After stretching her neck and shoulders as well, Jiang Wanning went to find the hair dryer. She had barely finished drying her hair when Shu Xia called. “Baby, what are you up to?”
Jiang Wanning: “At home. Taking a bath.”
Shu Xia went silent for two seconds, then exploded as if the earth itself had burst. “Holy crap, Ning, what’s going on! Taking a bath in the middle of the day—do you have a man at home?! Who is he? How tall? Fat or thin? What’s his body like? Does he have abs? And most importantly, is his face good-looking? Ugly or handsome? Corporate lawyer or domineering CEO?”
Jiang Wanning was speechless. She tucked in a corner of her bath towel to keep it from slipping loose.
She looked down at her fair, smooth calves, her gaze landing on the cherry-red polish on her toenails, and said with exasperation, “Xia Xia, can you think about anything other than men? What’s wrong with taking a bath in the middle of the day? Does there have to be a man involved?”
Shu Xia was Jiang Wanning’s best friend, as well as the brand ambassador and agent for Jiang Wanning’s personal label.
Shu Xia had flown to another province these past two days for a runway show. She didn’t yet know what had happened to Jiang Wanning.
Jiang Wanning didn’t bring it up.
There was no need.
She didn’t want to frighten Shu Xia either—she’d tell her when she got back.
“By the way, Ning, how’s the agarwood piece coming along? The big boss is waiting—he’s really looking forward to your new work.”
Jiang Wanning answered honestly: “Give it a bit more time. I haven’t had much inspiration lately. We’ll talk when you’re back.”
After chatting about work for a while, Shu Xia asked about something else. “Ning, I saw your grandma’s Moments posts—several of those guys looked like total domineering CEO material. Is she setting you up on blind dates again? Anyone catch your eye?”
Jiang Wanning: “Not interested.”
In her heart, she already had someone in mind.
That man’s looks were beyond reproach. Take off that firefighter uniform, put him in a suit—and just based on that tall, straight figure and those impossibly long legs, she knew that the moment he knelt down in a suit, women would go crazy screaming!
At that thought, Jiang Wanning got excited.
Her heart itched.
She wanted to immediately bring home that stern, unsmiling Captain Fu—even a bit cold and harsh when scolding people—and personally dress him in a dark, austere suit.
Paired with that aloof, indifferent expression.
Give her a suit-and-kneel!