Jiang Ci, like a silent storm of authority he is , swept Su Yue away from the frenzy of reporters, his arm a still remain like steel band around her waist. The journalists, left in their wake, stood frozen, with a flurry of unanswered questions swirling in their minds: When did Su Yue get married? Who was this disfigured man? But the man’s presence, an unspoken command in the air around him, was too potent. A shiver of fear, raw and undeniable, ran through them thinking about him , silencing their eager questions before they could even form on their lips.
“You are blocking the way,” Jiang Ci’s voice cut through the stunned silence, laced with an impatience that brooked no argument.
The reporters jolted awake from there daze , snapping out of their stupor, and scrambled backward, clearing a path for them . They were, after all, astute individuals. Even without knowing his identity, they recognized that this man was not to be trifled with. As the figures of Jiang Ci and Su Yue disappeared, the reporters also dispersed, their minds buzzing with the scandalous potential of the story: Newcomer Su Yue, spurning a popular actor for a disfigured man – this news was sure to explode!
Once free from the throng of repoters, Jiang Ci led Su Yue directly into the bustling studio.
“Have an intimate chat with the male lead ?” Jiang Ci turned his head, a cold sneer playing on his lips as he looked at Su Yue.
Su Yue blinked, her dark, translucent eyes fixed on him, radiating an almost exaggerated sincerity. “They don’t have good eyes,” she declared, adding, “There was no ‘intimate chat,’ just a few words spoken between colleagues.”
Jiang Ci merely hummed, a reluctant acceptance of her explanation.
“You don’t need to see me in. Don’t you have a meeting today? Go to the company,” Su Yue urged, the coldness she had shown the reporters now completely vanished.
“The meeting is rescheduled,” Jiang Ci replied, his tone as indifferent as ever.
“Huh? Rescheduled?”
“Oh, I’m accompanying you on the set today.” He wanted to see for himself what kind of “cold and excellent” actor the reporters had been talking about.
Su Yue blinked again, tilting her head slightly to study Jiang Ci’s expressions . Her gaze landed on his chiseled chin, which seemed even more defined and stern against the crisp white shirt and the sharp collar of his black suit. This man, she realized, had become even more handsome since his scars had diminished significantly.
On the other hand word of Su Yue’s encounter with the reporters at the studio entrance quickly spread among the crew. Director Guan, hearing the commotion, had intended to send staff to intervene. But then, a new report came back: someone had already helped Su Yue, and it was the very man who had risked his life to save her during the landslide, an investor in their very production. Seeing Jiang Ci now, calmly by Su Yue’s side, the crew understood. Over by the set, Xu Shen appeared, giving Su Yue a polite nod, seemingly unfazed by the swirling online rumors.
Jiang Ci, however, shot Xu Shen a chilling glance. As Su Yue began filming, he pulled out his phone, making a call and calmly giving instructions to his subordinates.
Gu Qing upon hearing the order responded, reporting that the news about Jiang Ci and Su Yue had indeed spread like wildfire online, complete with photos. Did he want them to be removed like before ?
Jiang Ci pulled out another mobile phone, scrolling through the online comments.
[“It all depends on one mouth to spread rumors, take me away Xu Shen.”]
[“God, Su Yue is already married? Isn’t she still in college? Is this the man who was photographed last time at Amusement Park with Su Yue ?”]
[“It’s okay to look at it separately. Standing together, this man is not worthy of Yueyue. What’s wrong with his face, such a big scar.”]
[“Cry, Yueyue’s beauty is so high, I like her so much, why is she already married?”]
[“It used to be a normal chat on the set, and I don’t know who spread the rumors. Look, Su Yue is a famous flower with a master.”]
[“Although the two don’t seem to match each other, it’s still a blessing.”]
[“Focus on works, stay away from private life.”]
[“Su Yue is married? How can she be so honest and frank, so cute, Lu Zhuanfan, I like this kind of undisguised behavior.”]
[“The man is tall and cold, and his facial features are also very good. The two have a husband and wife appearance. Congratulations.”]
Jiang Ci’s gaze lingered on the comment about their “husband and wife appearance” for a moment. A subtle tug at the corner of his lips appeared . “No need to delete it,” he instructed.
Gu Qing was momentarily became stunned by the instructions . In the past, Jiang Ci had always forbidden any news or photos of himself from being published. Now, he was allowing the photos of him and Su Yue to remain online . Still as skill assistant he is he replied curtely “Yes, President Jiang,” .
After hanging up, Jiang Ci settled back, quietly observing Su Yue as she filmed. He knew nothing of acting, yet with every scene, he could tell she possessed a remarkable spirit. And for which an inexplicable sense of pride swelled within him. His charming wife is good at everything she do .
After an indeterminate amount of time pass , Gu Qing called again. “Mr. Jiang, Xu Shen’s agent was the one who sent the news about the ‘intimate chat’ between your wife and Xu Shen on the set to the tabloids. Last night, Xu Shen was photographed entering and leaving the hotel with his girlfriend. In order to divert attention from his own lover , Xu Shen asked people to spread rumors about his affair with your wife.”
Jiang Ci’s eyes lifted lazily, fixing on Xu Shen, who was now standing under the camera, engrossed in his script. Jiang Ci’s lips curled into a cold, predatory smile. “Then let someone send his photos from last night . He wants to cover up, to protect his lover . I, on the other hand, prefer to expose.”
Gu Qing knew his boss was displeased with Xu Shen. It was clear Xu Shen had tried to protect his girlfriend by diverting attention, but in doing so, he had walked straight into Jiang Ci’s sharp blade. Jiang Ci had now someone to protect, and Mrs. Jiang was that very someone.
“Yes, President Jiang,” Gu Qing complied swiftly.
“Are you feeling bored?” Su Yue, having completed two takes, walked back towards Jiang Ci. He sat there, a solitary figure in his black suit, like
a quiet, cold world unto himself amidst the bustling set.
Jiang Ci retracted his phone, his gaze falling to Su Yue’s hand resting lightly on his black suit trousers. Her fingertips were slender and white, tipped with a delicate pink, appearing soft and fresh. Gee, makes him want to take a bite.
“It’s not boring,” Jiang Ci said, his eyes flicking to Xu Shen. “It’s interesting to have someone perform a trick who doesn’t know what to do to relieve my boredom.”
Su Yue didn’t know who had offended Jiang Ci, but she knew Jiang Ci was not one to suffer in silence, so she didn’t worry. “It’s good if it’s not boring. I don’t have many scenes today. We’ll go back early after filming.”
Jiang Ci looked down at her, and a simple, satisfied, “Okay” escaped his lips.
In the office Gu Qing, following Jiang Ci’s directive, moved swiftly and withint the same morning photos of Xu Shen and his girlfriend were immediately released, causing an instant explosion online. Savvy netizens quickly deduced that Su Yue had been unjustly implicated, taking the blame for someone else’s misdeeds. Many flocked to Su Yue’s social media, expressing their sympathy and offering well wishes to her and Jiang Ci.
Later that afternoon, after school, Su Yue had removed her makeup and changed into her own clothes. Than she and Jiang Ci went to pick up Jiang Haoyan.
“Dad, Mom!” The little boy, spotting their figures at the kindergarten door, clutched his schoolbag and shot out like a tiny cannonball.
“Mr. Jiang, Mrs. Jiang, Hao Hao was very good at school today, and he learned a lot of new words. The child is very smart,” Lu Xiang reported, a polite smile gracing her lips as she followed behind Jiang Haoyan.
Su Yue gently touched Xiao Haohao’s head. “Say goodbye to the teacher.”
“Goodbye, teacher,” Xiao Haohao chirped, waving his chubby hand before taking Su Yue’s hand in one of his own, and Jiang Ci’s large, gauze-wrapped hand in the other saying. “Hao Hao likes his father and mother the most.”
Once in the car, Su Yue noticed the little boy’s pocket was bulging with candy, almost spilling out.
“Mom, this is the candy that Haohao left for you. It’s so sweet. Haohao can peel it for Mom.” Xiao Haohao extracted a toffee, deftly peeling it with his tiny fingers before feeding it into Su Yue’s mouth.
“Thank you, Haohao. Was this given to you by the teacher?” Su Yue asked, thinking of Lu Xiang.
“Hao Hao is very good today so , the teacher rewarded Hao Hao, and other children also have it,” Xiao Haohao explained, peeling one for himself and half-closing his big eyes in satisfaction. Mmm, candy is delicious.
“It’s not good to eat too much candy. You can put it away yourself, just eat one a day, okay?” Su Yue didn’t confiscate his candy, opting instead to encourage the little boy’s self-control.
“Okay, Haohao only eats one a day.” His big eyes swiveled upwards as he looked at Jiang Ci. “Dad, can Haohao go to Teacher Xiangxiang’s house to play tomorrow?”
Jiang Ci lowered his eyes. “Huh?”
“Teacher Xiangxiang invited Hao Hao to be a guest at her house, can Hao Hao go?” Xiao Haohao asked in his milky voice again.
Go to Lu Xiang’s house to play? Su Yue frowned, puzzled by Lu Xiang’s sudden invitation. When Jiang Ci had asked them about raising her sister’s child, Lu Xiang had refused, not even offering to meet. It seemed she had been reluctant to contact them, but now she was inviting the child to her home?
“Do you want to go?” Jiang Ci asked the little boy.
“Can Haohao go?” Xiao Haohao wiggled his short legs, tilting his head as he looked at Jiang Ci.
“Go if you want,” Jiang Ci said lazily.
Su Yue said little. Lu Xiang was, after all, Xiao Haohao’s relative. Neither she nor Jiang Ci had the right to prevent him from seeing his family, nor would they object, as long as the little boy was happy.
“Then I’ll ask Uncle Zhang to take you there tomorrow and pick you up at dinner time. Hao Hao should be obedient when he goes to the teacher’s house, okay?” Su Yue gently instructed the little boy.
Xiao Haohao nodded vigorously. “Okay.”
On the drive back, Jiang Ci received a call from Old Man Jiang. The online photos and interview video of Jiang Ci and Su Yue had revealed to the Jiang family that Jiang Ci’s eyes had healed. Old Man Jiang’s tone after learning this news from the somebody else was clearly angry, scolding Jiang Ci for not telling his family about his recovered sight himself.
However, before he could utter more than a few words, Jiang Ci rubbed his ear, a sneer in his voice as he pointed out that his eyes had been fine when he was still at the Jiang family home, leaving Old Man Jiang sputtering in frustration.
“You’re calling to ask this? There’s nothing to do. I’m hanging up.” Jiang Ci had no patience for Old Man Jiang from now on.
He had concealed his recovered eyesight before because of Sheng Minghao. Now that Sheng Minghao was a defeated dog, having fled abroad, there was no longer any need for Jiang Ci to maintain the pretense. Thus, the Jiang family’s discovery of his recovered sight elicited little reaction from him.
“Wait a minute.” Old Man Jiang, unable to control his eldest grandson, sighed and slowly said, “How long have you been home? Find time to come back for dinner.”
Jiang Ci held the mobile phone in one hand and Su Yue’s hand in the other, idly tracing circles on her palm. His cold eyebrows relaxed. “I’ll think about it.
The next day, Su Yue arranged for the driver to take Jiang Haoyan to Lu Xiang’s house. The previous night, she had called Lu Xiang to discuss the visit. To which Lu Xiang had explained that her mother, Mother Lu, missed her sister and felt a reluctance to be apart from the child. She wanted to have him over to assuage her longing.
“Mom put the phone in Hao Hao’s backpack. If anything happens, just call Dad and Mom, you know?” Su Yue instructed Hao hao before leaving.
Xiao Haohao, wearing his little Yellow Duck backpack, nodded obediently.
When he reached at the entrance of the old community, the iron gate was mottled and faded, and a thick carpet of fallen leaves lay beneath the doorframe, stirred occasionally by the cold wind. It was clear the area hadn’t been cleaned in a long time.
Mother Lu tugged at her collar, trying to ward off the chill of the morning wind. She rubbed her hands, a hint of impatience in her movements. “Why haven’t they come yet?”
Lu Xiang sniffed, her beautiful face pale from the cold. She typically cherished her Saturday and Sunday mornings for sleeping in, but now, waking early to brave the biting wind just to recive this estrange nephew made , her mood far from pleasant. “They’ll come any minute . The Jiang family has a driver; the child must have come by a special car.”
“You still have a way to coax the child so easily,” Mother Lu remarked, shrinking her neck further into her coat, a happy expression spreading across her face.
“It’s easy to coax a child. Mom, you have to be kind to the child later and cook him something delicious. If you are good to the child, the child will be close to you and listen to you,” Lu Xiang advised, worried that Mother Lu might show a stern face to Jiang Haoyan.
“I’m not stupid, of course I know. Don’t worry, that child is a little ancestor, and it’s only right that I serve him,” Mother Lu said with a smile.
A short while later, a sleek, black, domineering car glided towards the community.
Mother Lu’s eyes lit up seeing the car . “Is it them? This car is really stylish.” The families in this old community were not well-off. How could they afford such a high-end vehicle? Clearly, her little ancestor had arrived.
The car stopped at the gate, and the driver opened the door.
“Oh, Grandma’s sweetheart, you are here!” Mother Lu could no longer contain her excitement and rushed forward with eager anticipation towards Hao Hao.