A Heartless, Cheating Scumbag Woman in a Matriarchal World (15)

After sounding Rong Chao out that day and getting no reaction, Rong Feng never mentioned Jiang Xuefu in front of him again.

Since he had truly and completely forgotten her, he could live his life as it was now in peace.

Rong Feng had also looked into Xu Zhu privately. She was a good woman who kept herself pure and had not been with any men during her years abroad. Everyone who had worked with Xu Zhu had nothing but praise for her whenever she came up, so if Rong Chao married her, Rong Feng could rest easy too.

Time flew, and before long, the day of Rong Chao and Xu Zhu's wedding arrived.

Only three short months had passed between the engagement and the wedding, and the speed of it left quite a few people in their circle secretly clicking their tongues.

The Rong Family's wealth alone was not enough to make a name for them in this upper-class circle, but the Xu Family, into which Rong Chao was marrying, certainly counted as a wealthy and powerful family. Of course, they still could not compare to a family like the Xie Family, with its century-long heritage.

As the groom's older brother, Rong Feng did not attend the wedding that day.

Afraid something unexpected might happen, he decided that since he had already started, he might as well see it through. He went abroad on vacation with Jiang Xuefu, cutting off any possibility of the two getting back together.

The wedding was held outdoors, beneath a blue sky and warm sunshine. Flowers covered the entire lawn, making it dreamy and beautiful. Melodious piano music drifted through the air, accompanied by the guests' sincere blessings.

Everything was so perfect, as beautiful as the wedding every boy dreamed of.

But for some reason, Rong Chao's heart was in turmoil, as if he had done something terribly, terribly wrong to someone.

Yet his mother, father, and brother had all said he had never been in a relationship before. Why did he feel this way?

The feeling reached its peak that night in the bridal chamber.

Under the dim light, Xu Zhu held Rong Chao's hand and gently caressed it, her eyes filled with an inextinguishable desire.

This was the man she had longed for over a decade, and now her wish had finally come true.

The woman slowly lowered her head, wanting to kiss his crimson lips, but Rong Chao felt no joy at all, only sadness and stiffness.

He turned his head, dodging Xu Zhu's kiss with a hint of awkwardness.

"I'm sorry." Perhaps he truly felt apologetic, for even his voice trembled slightly as he said it.

His long lashes fluttered violently, casting shadows on the wall like the beating wings of a butterfly.

"It's all right, Xiao Chao. You never need to apologize to me."

Xu Zhu was not angry. She merely cupped his face in both hands and tenderly brushed a kiss against his forehead, as lightly as a dragonfly skimming the water.

"I'll always wait for you, until you're willing."

Her voice was so gentle, so achingly familiar that it made him want to cry.

It seemed there had once been someone like that in his memories, someone he had loved very, very much, and who had loved him just as much.

But he had lost that person.

By the time Jiang Xuefu returned from abroad, Rong Chao had been married for a long while, but she knew nothing about it.

Not knowing was one thing, but every man around her was also keeping it from her.

Foremost among those who did not want her to know was Xie Jinhua.

"Fufu, how was your trip?"

Xie Jinhua poured a glass of water and sat down on the sofa, very close to Jiang Xuefu.

Jiang Xuefu took a small sip, her lips, delicate as flower petals, brushing against the rim. Drops of water left them glistening, catching tiny flecks of light and lending the woman's cool, aloof air a different kind of allure.

Putting down the glass, the woman tilted her head slightly and answered, "It was good. The scenery over there was beautiful. By the way, where's Xiao Ning? Isn't it his birthday today? I brought him a gift especially."

Xiao Ning, Xiao Ning, Xiao Ning again...

Why did she have to mention Xiao Ning every time she talked to him?

Jealousy and grievance churned in his heart. The man's dark brown eyes were tinged with envy, and his fingers tightened around his glass until they nearly turned white. Yet a warm, genial smile remained on his face. "He went out with friends. He probably won't be back until late."

"I see. Then, President Xie, could you give him his gift for me? It's a bracelet." Jiang Xuefu nodded in understanding and handed Xie Jinhua the bag she was holding.

"There's a gift for you in there too, President Xie."

"F-for me too?" The surprise and emotion in Xie Jinhua's eyes were impossible to conceal, spreading like ripples across a deep pool. The jealousy and grievance from moments ago seemed to have vanished completely.

He had not expected Fufu to bring him a gift too.

Fufu did care about him after all. Xiao Ning's was a birthday present, but he had received a gift even though it was not his birthday.

Xie Jinhua carefully accepted what Jiang Xuefu handed him, moving gently as though he were holding some priceless treasure.

Watching him, Jiang Xuefu almost laughed. She had not expected the mature and steady President Xie to be so happy to receive a gift. He even looked a little cute.

When Xie Jinhua caught Jiang Xuefu's faintly smiling gaze, he felt an unaccustomed warmth rise to his cheeks, while a nearly imperceptible tenderness welled up in his eyes.

An air of ambiguity seemed to fill the living room, leaving Xie Jinhua a little breathless.

He was the first to look away. Lowering his eyes slightly, his gaze somewhat evasive, he asked, "Are you hungry? Would you like something to eat?"

"No, thank you, President Xie. I have plans with someone tonight." Though she felt that Xie Jinhua was a little different tonight, Jiang Xuefu still turned down his offer to eat together.

Seriously, who wants to eat with their boss after work?

Although Xie Jinhua had never put on airs as her boss in front of her and had always treated her well, a boss was still a boss. No matter how she looked at it, she felt a little uncomfortable.

"Is that so? Then shall I see you out?"

Xie Jinhua felt a little disappointed, and his eyes gradually darkened.

"President Xie, I'm a woman. How could I let you see me out?" Jiang Xuefu smiled. She had already put on her coat and was ready to leave.

He nodded, holding back the ache in his chest. "Then be careful on your way."

Traffic streamed through the streets as Jiang Xuefu drove home.

"Ring, ring!"

Her phone rang. Jiang Xuefu glanced at it, momentarily distracted, and saw that it was Xie Ning.

She put on her Bluetooth earpiece and answered.

"Xie Ning?"

He was clearly at a bar. Dance music and noisy voices sounded nonstop on the other end.

"Jiang Xuefu, it's my birthday today." Perhaps because he was drunk, a faint, languid drawl had crept into Xie Ning's clear voice, and his breath was a little unsteady as he spoke.

"Mm, I know."

Driving was rather boring, so Jiang Xuefu answered the person on the phone at a leisurely pace, a smile in her eyes as her fair, slender fingertips tapped idly on the steering wheel.

"I made a birthday wish."

"Mm, and then?"

"And then, and then..."

Xie Ning kept saying "and then" for a long time without getting to the point. Only after a series of cheers and teasing calls came from the other end did he finally summon the courage to finish.

"And then, would you like to go out with me?"

The young man's confession was awkward but sincere. It carried Xie Ning's usual pride, yet the nervousness hidden beneath it could still be heard.

Jiang Xuefu's hand stopped tapping the steering wheel, and the smile in her eyes grew more teasing. "Are you sure you didn't lose a game of truth or dare?"

"...Jiang Xuefu, what do you mean?" Xie Ning's embarrassed, indignant voice came through the phone.

A busy signal followed immediately-the call had been disconnected.

Jiang Xuefu was momentarily taken aback, but could not be bothered to figure out what was wrong with him this time.

However, less than a few minutes later, Xie Ning called again.

But this time, it was not Xie Ning speaking, but another young man she did not know.

"Hello? Are you Teacher Jiang?"

"Mm, I am."

The woman's cool voice, tinged with a hint of allure, came through the receiver, making the young man's ears tingle and a shy blush rise to his cheeks.

"Um, Xie Ning is drunk, and he keeps calling your name. We're all going home now. Could you come pick him up?"

"Sorry, if he's drunk, call his father. If you don't know the number, I can give it to you."

She had no interest in the love games played by little brats like these, nor could she be bothered to take part.

A trick like this might have worked on her when she was twenty.

On the other end of the phone.

Xie Ning's mouth was slightly open, and his breath carried a faint smell of alcohol. Head tilted, he stared intently at the phone in the boy's hand, his eyes full of anticipation.

The boy hesitated. "She told me to call your dad, and then she hung up."

"Bang!"

Xie Ning clenched his fist and slammed it against the sofa. Damn Jiang Xuefu! He had already taken so much initiative! What did she mean by this?

Did she dislike him that much? She would rather leave him alone at the bar than come pick him up.

When had the Xie Family's young master, who had always been surrounded like the moon by stars, ever suffered such treatment? And with the alcohol already muddling his head, the young man's eyes reddened, and he nearly burst into tears.

"Hey, Xiao Ning, don't cry!"

"She's just a woman. If she doesn't like you, it's her loss!"

"Xiao Ning, I have an idea. Want to hear it?"

A young master who usually played around without restraint murmured a few words in Xie Ning's ear, a malicious gleam in his eyes.

Xie Ning's gaze flickered, and he bit his lower lip, seemingly hesitating over the idea.

"Oh, come on, Xiao Ning, this drug is really mild. It'll just make her sleep. Then you can pretend you two did it, and she'll definitely have to take responsibility for you!"

"You won't lose anything, and you won't actually be doing it."

"Don't you like her? This is the quickest way right now."