Putting on a show?
It was pretty convincing.
Whether it was because she was annoyed by his antics or something else, Jiang Xiao suddenly lost her temper. She said to Song Xuan, "Sorry, I'll treat you to a meal another day," and then shoved Cheng Yuan into the room.
The door slammed shut with a thud. She raised her hand and slapped Cheng Yuan across the face.
"You love me, right?"
"You adore me, don't you?"
"Fine then. Prove it to me."
"...How do I prove it?" Her slap was too light; it landed on his face like a tickle. Cheng Yuan didn't even flinch. He slowly turned his face to look at her. "What do you want me to do?"
"Just say it, and I'll do it."
Jiang Xiao sat on the sofa, looking up at him with a scrutinizing gaze. "Publicly sever the mother-daughter relationship with Zhang Rong, and transfer all your assets to me."
"Not just what you said before—I mean everything. All of it."
She stood up slowly, bracing her hands on her knees, then stepped closer. "Are you willing?"
Last time, Cheng Yuan had agreed to give Jiang Xiao property, but that was only part of his wealth. His true net worth wasn't what outsiders saw. Apart from the family business, he also co-owned companies.
Those subsidiaries spanned multiple European countries.
He hadn't calculated the exact profits, but the annual income was at least tens of billions of dollars.
The fortune he had amassed was beyond ordinary imagination.
Jiang Xiao had only found out by accident. She hadn't originally wanted his money, but he was too annoying, always clinging to her.
"What? Can't bear to part with it?" she said. "It's fine if you can't. I don't necessarily need it anyway. After all, there are people who've offered to give me money—"
Cheng Yuan pulled her into his arms, holding her tightly with all his strength. He spoke slowly, emphasizing each word, "I won't let you go to anyone else!"
"You won't let me? What right do you have?"
"You promised me. We were going to start over. You can't break your word."
"Promise?" Jiang Xiao laughed lightly. "Cheng Yuan, haven't you heard? The last thing in the world you should trust is a promise."
"Besides, what about all the promises you made me? How many did you keep?"
Cheng Yuan didn't remember what he had promised Jiang Xiao. He said, "I'll do them now. Just say it, and I'll do it."
"Now?" Jiang Xiao sneered. "Too late."
"It's not too late." Cheng Yuan smelled faintly of alcohol; he must have drunk before coming. Jiang Xiao didn't like it. She pushed him hard, but couldn't get him off. Instead, he held her even tighter, burying his face in the crook of her neck, his voice trembling. "Punish me however you want, just don't leave me."
"Punish you? President Cheng overstates it."
"Don't call me President Cheng." Cheng Yuan cupped Jiang Xiao's face, gazing at her deeply. His bloodshot eyes seemed ready to bleed. He pressed his forehead against hers. "Please, don't call me that."
He only wanted to be her husband, not President Cheng.
His emotions suddenly got the better of him, surging with anger. Hearing no response from Jiang Xiao, he panicked, wanting to confirm something. He lowered his head and kissed her, nibbling wildly.
He had wanted to kiss her for so long.
Even in his dreams, but in those dreams, she wouldn't let him touch her.
"Xiao Xiao, don't leave me. Please." Tears streamed from the corners of his eyes, rolling down to the corners of his mouth, swallowed along with the taste of blood. Cheng Yuang kissed deeper, his tongue almost probing the deepest part.
Jiang Xiao felt uncomfortable and moaned, "Cheng Yuan, let go..."
Cheng Yuan was crazy; he couldn't bear to let go. "No, I won't. I want to kiss you."
He sealed her lips again, his tongue thrusting forcefully. Even hearing Jiang Xiao's whimpers, he didn't stop. He was afraid—afraid this would be their last kiss.
He had truly longed for this kiss for too long.
Jiang Xiao was no longer the Jiang Xiao from five years ago who had eyes only for him. During his third deep kiss, she stomped hard on his foot. Taking advantage of his pain, she shoved him away.
He staggered backward, tripped over the coffee table, and fell onto the carpet. In the chaos, the water glass on the table was knocked off.
The glass shattered with a crash.
Cheng Yuan's hand landed right on the shards.
Glass fragments pierced his palm. Blood gushed out, instantly staining the white carpet red.
Anyone else would have fainted from such blood loss, but not Cheng Yuan. He didn't even glance at it. His hand hung limp as he stood up, slowly stepped forward, and tried to explain his previous irrational behavior.
"Xiao Xiao, I just... couldn't control myself. I've been yearning for you so much. It's all my fault. Hit me, okay?"
He reached out to touch her hand, but remembering she disliked blood, he withdrew it and used his other hand to grasp hers. "Come on, hit hard."
He used her hand to slap his own face three times in a row. Looking at her reddened palm, he lowered his head and gently blew on it, his eyes full of distress. "Does it hurt?"
"Next time, don't use your hand. Use a whip."
There was only one emotion in Jiang Xiao's eyes: disgust. "Cheng Yuan, I agreed to start over with you, but this side of you makes me detest you."
"My fault. I apologize." He was no longer the lofty business tycoon but a man begging humbly for love.
His face was drained of color, his jaw tight, his voice strained and trembling. "I know you hate me. I hate myself too. But Xiao Xiao, I can't help it. I really can't."