Jiang Xiao's heart died once again.
Actually, she had already guessed this answer. Asking was just wishful thinking.
She had loved Cheng Yuan for years, always hoping for a miracle—maybe one day he would change his mind and like her too.
She had been dreaming this dream since they first met, and she still hadn't woken up.
Jiang Xiao was stunned for a moment. Coming back to herself, she smiled. "If you don't want to watch a movie, that's fine. We can do something else. You like concerts, don't you? We can go to one."
Lately, several trending topics online showed Cheng Yuan attending concerts with different women. It seemed he really liked them.
"Jiang Xiao, you're annoying, don't you know that?" Cheng Yuan could be quite frightening when he was stern. Jiang Xiao wished he would speak gently, like he did online—soft and light.
But he had never been kind to her. His good temper was reserved for the other women and his fair-weather friends outside.
Those who knew Cheng Yuan well said he was arrogant and unrestrained, free and easy. But beneath that unbridled exterior, Jiang Xiao only saw coldness.
Jiang Xiao wasn't sure if he was like this only with her or with everyone.
Probably only with her.
After all, he had never liked their marriage from start to finish. The only reason he persisted was that their families had been close for generations.
These were things Cheng Yuan said when he was drunk. When he was sober, he still saved her some face, at least not to the point of a complete falling out.
Now that she thought about it, in the Cheng family, only Cheng Yuan treated her decently. The others were worse.
Especially her mother-in-law, Madam Cheng—elegant and gracious in public, hysterical in private.
People said there were many conflicts in wealthy families. Jiang Xiao hadn't thought so before, but after entering the Cheng family and seeing a different world, she fully understood her parents' words.
She also understood why they had opposed this marriage.
Family status might match, but the waters of the wealthy ran deep.
The Cheng family was a deep pit—anyone who fell in would lose a layer of skin.
"I'm... sorry," Jiang Xiao coaxed gently. "A Yuan, I was wrong. I won't bother you anymore."
"Alright, I'm still busy. Remember to go home." Cheng Yuan hadn't called on his own initiative. In his eyes, whether Jiang Xiao came home or when, he didn't care.
His family had told him to call—more precisely, his mother had.
Turning, he called his mother. "Mom, I told Jiang Xiao she needs to come home today."
Cheng's mother hummed in acknowledgment and said lightly, "A Yuan, after Jiang Xiao comes back, you need to have a word with her. She can't keep running back to her parents' house like it's nothing, as if we're mistreating her. What will the ladies in my circle say about me?"
"Also, the Jiang family isn't the only prestigious family in Beicheng. If she wants to live well, she needs to learn to behave. If she doesn't, she might as well divorce sooner rather than later. I'd be happy either way."
"Mom, we're not getting divorced," Cheng Yuan said solemnly. "Don't bring this up again."
"I really don't know what's so good about Jiang Xiao that you'd defend her like this," his mother fumed. "There are plenty of women in Beicheng better than her. Any one of them is superior."
"Mom, I've said this more than once. I'll say it again: my marriage is my decision," Cheng Yuan said. "I'm hanging up now."
No one knew what Cheng Yuan was really thinking. He clearly didn't like Jiang Xiao, yet he insisted on keeping her trapped by his side.
That was even worse than letting her go.
Jiang Yu handed him a document. "President Cheng, please sign."
Cheng Yuan took it and signed. "What's the schedule after this?"
"Miss Zhou has invited you to lunch."
"Miss Liu wants to discuss the endorsement."
"Tonight, Miss Rong has reserved a table at Huating."
Cheng Yuan asked, "What about the vice president?"
"All quiet for now," Jiang Yu said. "Rest assured, President Cheng. I've got people watching him."
Cheng Yuan said, "Make sure you keep a close eye on him."
Jiang Yu replied, "Yes."
*
Jiang Xiao had just returned to Shengshi Haoting when she received a call from Shen Yue. On the phone, Shen Yue shouted, "A Xiao, do you know who I just saw?"
Jiang Xiao kicked off her high heels, walked barefoot into the living room, and sat on the sofa, gently rubbing her heel. "Who?"
Shen Yue said, "Who else? Your husband, Cheng Yuan."
"A Yuan? Where did you see him?" Shoes that didn't fit only hurt yourself. Jiang Xiao found some ointment and slowly applied it, pretending to be casual but actually nervous. "Are you sure it was him?"
"I'm not blind. I'm sure it's him." Shen Yue took a big gulp of water, swallowed, and continued, "At a newly opened restaurant. I was there for a blind date, and I ran into him."
"He wasn't alone. There was a woman with him."
"Cheng Yuan is such a jerk."
Shen Yue somewhat regretted helping Jiang Xiao capture Cheng Yuan back then. If she had known he was this scummy, she would never have come up with those ideas.
"Did he tell you?" Shen Yue asked.
Jiang Xiao smiled bitterly. "You know he never tells me anything."