It Was Your Old Hag at Home Calling

Meanwhile, in a bright, spotless Western restaurant, a clear female voice cut through the lilting music.

"Jiang Nan!"

Jiang Nan looked up to see Gu Wenze's cousin, Gu Jinman, walking briskly toward her. Her bright yellow off-the-shoulder dress made her look playful and adorable, and she carried the latest LV handbag.

Jiang Nan smiled gently. "Jinman, you're here."

"Jiang Nan, when did you get back? Why did you only tell me now?" After sitting down, Gu Jinman affectionately linked arms with her. "I thought you were still abroad."

"I only came back recently." As though something had come to mind, Jiang Nan's expression turned forlorn.

The Jiang Family's bankruptcy was no secret in their social circle. Apparently, Jiang Nan's parents had died in a car accident on their way to the airport, leaving her all alone in the world.

Gu Jinman comforted her. "Jiang Nan, don't be sad. At least you still have my cousin."

Then she gave a mischievous wink. "And now that you're back, you and my cousin can..."

"Don't say that. Your cousin is already married."

Despite her words, a faint, bashful blush still appeared on Jiang Nan's face.

Gu Jinman snorted. "Wenze was forced into it. It's not like he actually wanted to get married."

Gu Wenze's feelings for Jiang Nan were no secret. If Jiang Nan hadn't gone abroad to study three years ago, how could Qiao Hua have had the chance to marry into the Gu Family?

Just thinking about that vicious woman made Gu Jinman sick.

How could a woman that lowly deserve to marry into our family?

"Qiao Hua is actually quite nice. She's just a little blunt." Jiang Nan volunteered to defend her. "I've met her a few times since coming back. Although things ended unpleasantly each time, I genuinely think of her as a friend."

Sensing something wrong with those words, Gu Jinman immediately perked up. "Has Qiao Hua been giving you trouble?"

Jiang Nan looked up, appearing flustered. "N-no. It was just a little misunderstanding. I'm sure she didn't mean it."

"Jiang Nan, you're too kind. You're still defending such a vicious woman." Gu Jinman said indignantly, "Now that I'm back, if she dares bully you, I won't let her get away with it!"

Watching Gu Jinman stand up for her, Jiang Nan lifted her coffee cup to hide the triumphant smile at the corners of her lips.

As evening approached, Qiao Hua left the office and called Gu Wenze, hoping to discuss the divorce with him again.

As long as I can get divorced sooner, I'll settle for a little less.

It's better than wasting more time dragging things out with Gu Wenze.

Ring-

But after just two rings, the call was rejected.

Qiao Hua thought it over and decided Gu Wenze must still be angry about yesterday and was doing it deliberately.

She refused to give up and called again, only to have him reject it once more.

She was furious. If she weren't trying to divorce Gu Wenze as soon as possible, she would never have indulged that bastard's temper.

Qiao Hua persisted and called again, only to be rejected yet again. Even the meekest person had a temper, and she was hardly meek. Her anger flared, and she decided to go head-to-head with Gu Wenze.

Fine. Let's see which of us has more patience!

She called over and over, making his phone ring nonstop like a symphony. Whether Gu Wenze could no longer stand her barrage of calls or had suddenly come around, someone finally answered.

But the voice on the other end wasn't Gu Wenze's. It was an arrogant female voice. "I've never met anyone so shameless in my life. You keep calling when someone clearly doesn't want to answer. Have you no shame?"

Hearing the unfamiliar voice, Qiao Hua briefly thought she had dialed the wrong number.

Someone else was speaking nearby. It sounded like Jiang Nan.

"Jinman, don't say that. Qiao Hua might have something important to discuss with Wenze. Give your cousin his phone."

Gu Jinman wasn't having it. "What could she possibly want? She just wants to cling to my cousin. I've seen plenty of women like her. She thinks pestering him will make him fall for her. Dream on."

Qiao Hua picked up on the key word in Jiang Nan's remark.

Jinman?

Could that be Gu Wenze's cousin, Gu Jinman?

In the original novel, Gu Jinman hated Qiao Hua, her cousin's wife. She had even caused a huge scene at their wedding, leaving people mocking Qiao Hua behind her back for a long time afterward.

When Qiao Hua fell silent, Gu Jinman grew annoyed. "Why aren't you saying anything? Feeling guilty? Let me tell you, my cousin is having dinner with Jiang Nan and me tonight. If you know what's good for you, stop calling, or he'll hate you even more."

"All right, Jinman. Stop. It won't be good if your cousin finds out."

A worried look appeared on Jiang Nan's pretty, innocent face, as though she was concerned for Gu Jinman.

"What are you afraid of? With me here, would she dare bully you?" Gu Jinman snorted. "She should take a good look at herself."

Listening to the two women play off each other, Qiao Hua found it rather amusing. She curled her lips and drawled, "Does your cousin know you're answering his phone behind his back?"

A flicker of guilt crossed Gu Jinman's face, and she snapped in embarrassment, "What's it to you? It's none of your business!"

"Besides, even if my cousin knew I answered your call, he wouldn't be angry with me. Don't flatter yourself."

Without giving Qiao Hua a chance to reply, Gu Jinman hung up and said angrily, "That woman is shameless. Just because my cousin hasn't gone home, she keeps hounding him."

Jiang Nan soothed her. "Don't get angry. It's not worth making yourself sick over it."

Gu Jinman gave her an exasperated glare. "Jiang Nan, you're too kind. That's why she bullies you."

"No, you're overthinking it." Jiang Nan lowered her eyes and pressed her lips together slightly. "Qiao Hua hasn't bullied me. We've just had a few arguments. It's nothing."

Seeing Jiang Nan like this only convinced Gu Jinman further that Qiao Hua had bullied her while she was away.

Just then, a deep voice suddenly sounded behind them. "What are you doing?"

Both women turned around. Gu Wenze walked in from outside, his gaze sweeping over the phone in Gu Jinman's hand.

Looking somewhat embarrassed, Gu Jinman handed it back. "Wenze, you forgot your phone when you went out just now, so I answered a call for you."

"A call?" Gu Wenze took the phone and asked casually, "Who was it?"

Gu Jinman said carelessly, "Who else? Your old hag at home."

In the past, Gu Wenze had never reacted no matter how Gu Jinman disparaged Qiao Hua, so she spoke without restraint, growing more animated as she went on. "Wenze, you have no idea. She called more than ten times because you hadn't gone home. If I were a man, even I'd find it annoying, let alone you."

"Watch what you say. Whatever else she is, she's still your cousin's wife." Gu Wenze's expression remained unchanged, but his tone grew sterner.

Gu Jinman froze. Beside her, Jiang Nan's expression stiffened too, and she unconsciously clenched her hand.

Gu Wenze had actually scolded Gu Jinman to defend Qiao Hua.

Everyone knew how much Gu Wenze had doted on this cousin since childhood.

Sensing the shift in the atmosphere, Jiang Nan quickly recovered her smile and smoothed things over. "Jinman, you've finally come back. Let's not talk about her. Let's eat."

Unhappy about Gu Wenze's rebuke, Gu Jinman snorted and lowered her head to eat in a sulk.

She had no idea what was wrong with her cousin. He was actually acting out of character and defending Qiao Hua today.

Fortunately, Jiang Nan kept things running smoothly, preventing the atmosphere from becoming too awkward. Yet Gu Wenze seemed distracted, glancing at his phone from time to time.

"Wenze, why haven't you touched your food?"

Jiang Nan's soft, gentle voice sounded beside him as she thoughtfully placed some food on his plate.

Gu Wenze looked away from his phone and said evenly, "It's nothing. I'm going to make a call."

Jiang Nan's chopsticks froze in midair, and her gaze followed Gu Wenze as he got up and went out onto the balcony.

"Did you need something?"

As soon as the call connected, Gu Wenze spoke in an indifferent tone.

Qiao Hua sounded casual. "What else would it be? I wanted to discuss the divorce."

Gu Wenze's gaze darkened. "Qiao Hua, do you not understand plain language?"

"I know. You won't agree to a divorce because you think I'm asking for too much, right?" Qiao Hua was quite accommodating. "How about this? I won't take the house. Just give me the money. Surely that works?"

Gu Wenze's grip on the phone tightened until it creaked. His words seemed to be forced out of his throat. "Qiao Hua, just wait until I get home. You'll see how I deal with you!"

"Hey, I've already made this much of a concession. Why are you..."

Before Qiao Hua could finish, Gu Wenze hung up with a thunderous expression. When he turned around, he saw Jiang Nan standing behind him.

Jiang Nan looked perfectly natural, as though she hadn't heard the conversation. She asked with concern, "Wenze, what's wrong? You look so angry."

Gu Wenze composed himself. "Nothing."

Hearing the dismissiveness in his words, Jiang Nan bit her lip, a pitiful expression appearing on her lovely face. "Wenze, have I done something wrong? Why have you been growing colder toward me lately?"

"If I really did something to upset you, tell me. I can change. Please don't ignore me."

But all Gu Wenze could think about now was teaching that ungrateful woman Qiao Hua a lesson, and his tone was cold. "You're overthinking it. Go back and eat."

Seeing that he was about to leave, Jiang Nan's eyes shifted, and she swayed before pitching forward.

"Ah!"

Hearing the startled cry behind him, Gu Wenze caught sight of Jiang Nan falling out of the corner of his eye. He reacted quickly, reaching out to catch her.

As though badly frightened, Jiang Nan pressed herself tightly into Gu Wenze's arms, clutching his forearm with one hand and refusing to let go.

Inside the restaurant, Gu Jinman was eating out of boredom when she happened to see the scene through the window. As though she had seized a perfect opportunity, she quickly took out her phone and snapped a picture.

Then she hurriedly put her phone away and pretended nothing had happened, but the malicious smile at the corners of her lips betrayed her thoughts.

Out on the balcony, Gu Wenze had no idea they had been photographed. He frowned. "Are you all right?"

Jiang Nan's delicate brows knitted slightly, and she bit her rosy lip. "I'm fine. My foot slipped just now. Luckily, you caught me."

She tried to stand upright, but a moment later, her body went limp and she collapsed into Gu Wenze's arms again, her brows drawing together slightly. "Ow."

Gu Wenze looked down at her. "What's wrong?"

Jiang Nan's face was pale with pain. "My ankle hurts a little. I don't know if I've aggravated my old injury."

She looked up, a faint sheen of tears in her eyes. "Wenze, could you take me to the hospital to have it checked?"

She had expected Gu Wenze to agree without hesitation, just as he always had. Instead, he slowly released her, his words tinged with coldness. "I have something to do in a bit. I'll have the driver take you."