Someone recognized the necklace and exclaimed in surprise, "Isn't that the most expensive item from the auction a while ago? Worth eighty million."
"Oh, right, it's Master M's last work."
"How could she just throw it away? Doesn't she feel sorry?"
Jiang Xiao heard the comments too, but she really didn't feel sorry at all. She walked away resolutely.
Cheng Yuan stood behind, watching quietly as she opened the car door and drove off without even looking back at him.
Only when the taillights disappeared did he react, staggering back two steps.
Jiang Yu quickly walked over and supported him. "President Cheng."
He instinctively glanced down at Cheng Yuan's leg—the doctor had warned him yesterday during the checkup not to stand for too long.
"Are you okay?" Jiang Yu asked about his leg.
How could Cheng Yuan be okay? Seeing Jiang Xiao on a blind date with several men at once made his heart ache to death.
"Have someone keep an eye on the missus," he said. "I want to know her every move."
Jiang Yu pursed his lips, wanting to say that keeping an eye on her was useless—the missus would still meet men, and knowing would only make him more miserable. But he knew persuasion was futile. "Okay, I'll have someone tail the missus."
Someone retrieved the necklace from the trash. Cheng Yuan glanced at it coldly and said, "Throw it away."
If she didn't want it, why should he keep it?
How could a necklace worth eighty million be thrown away? After Cheng Yuan entered the restaurant, Jiang Yu murmured a few words to that person, then took the necklace and left.
That evening, after a business dinner, Cheng Yuan went to K Club.
Zhou Jin and the others could tell from his expression what had happened. They offered a few token words of comfort, but seeing that it didn't help, they stopped and just drank with him.
Jiang Yu reminded him several times that the doctor said no alcohol, but it was useless.
Cheng Yuan drank without restraint, glass after glass. Someone watching would think he was drinking water, but even water isn't drunk that way.
Xu Cong couldn't stand it anymore and snatched his glass. "Look at what you've done to yourself over Jiang Xiao. Do you really not want to live?"
"Yes, I don't want to live," Cheng Yuan said, utterly dejected. His eyes were red, his voice deep and hoarse, as he examined the red liquid and murmured, "She doesn't want me anymore. What's the point of living?"
"A Yuan, you're not someone who falls head over heels for love. Can you stop this?" Lin Xu tried to persuade him. "Isn't she just a woman? We'll find you someone else."
So they did. The next day, Zhou Jin organized a gathering and called Cheng Yuan out for a drink.
At that time, Cheng Yuan was downstairs at Jiang Xiao's place, lazily leaning against his car, his gaze fixed upward. The dark window told him the owner wasn't home yet.
He looked down at his watch. Eight o'clock. It was well past work hours. If she wasn't home by now, she was most likely meeting someone again.
Inevitably, the image of her blind date from last night came to mind, and his heart clenched.
It felt as if something had squeezed it, or as if it had been trampled.
Only then did he truly understand the anxiety Jiang Xiao must have felt when she saw him with other women all those years ago. So... this was how painful... how unbearable it was.
Every breath hurt.
Vaguely, he remembered the harsh words he had said.
"Jiang Xiao, you're supposed to be a proper lady. Can you stop being so paranoid all the time?"
"Those women are just for show. They don't mean anything."
"Is this fun? You're so annoying."
"...If you insist on thinking that way, I can't help it."
"Cut them off? Impossible. This is who I am. I won't cut off ties with others just because you don't like it."
"I'll say it one last time: it's just fun, not real. Believe it or not."
Jiang Xiao had begged him many times to stop contacting those women, but back then he never realized he was wrong. He took everything for granted.
He would rebuke her mercilessly in front of others.
He remembered the worst time was when he flipped the table and kicked Jiang Xiao out. It was raining outside. She was lightly dressed and had no umbrella. The servant wanted to help, but he stopped her.
"Don't go."
The servant said, "It's too cold. The missus will catch a chill."
That night was indeed very cold. Even a sweater wouldn't keep you warm, but Jiang Xiao was only wearing a shirt. Watching her shiver under the eaves, instead of feeling sorry for her, he thought she deserved it.
"Let her cool down and get her priorities straight."
Later, he got a call and drove off. That night, he got drunk and stayed in a hotel. As for Jiang Xiao, the servant said she only came back inside at dawn.
After that, she became much more docile.
At the time, he thought she had finally listened, but he never considered that she was giving up hope.
Zhou Jin called again, asking where he was and why he hadn't arrived yet.
Cheng Yuan kicked the cigarette butt at his feet and said coldly, "On my way."
After hanging up, he opened the car door and got in.
The driver glanced at the time. The boss had been waiting for two hours. "President Cheng, shall we go?"