Chapter 45 - Truly Terrifying (1/2)

“Nothing.” He Lei shook his head. “I asked the young mistress what she wanted to eat today. I was just about to head off.”

Tang Qiu reinforced his words with a nod. “What do you want to eat, dear?”

“It doesn’t matter,” Jiang Shaocheng said coldly. How did she expect him to have an appetite, with the fury broiling inside him? His little wife was really something–dating Ning Mufan behind his back, and now exchanging whispers with his aide in secret.

“I’ll make you a few different dishes, then,” she said appeasingly. “I’ll give you a list of groceries, He Lei.” The aide obliged.

Jiang Shaocheng stifled an icy laugh. Making alliances, now, are we? He wheeled himself into the house without saying a word.

Only after he had gone did He Lei relax. “If you don’t… persuade him like I told you, Young Mistress, it won’t bode well for either of us in the future.” He had served Jiang Shaocheng for many years and he knew that if his young master’s fury wasn’t mollified, it could well simmer for years on end–until it came back to bite whichever poor soul had incurred his wrath.

“I’ll try.” Tang Qiu couldn’t keep the dread from her voice.

“You have to,” he insisted, in a manner that somehow managed to be encouraging. “You enraged him, now you need to take responsibility.”

Tang Qiu exhaled in resignation. Every footstep that carried her into the house felt like it was weighed down by lead. She approached her husband, sitting on the sofa, as she would a tiger. “Do you want some fruits, dear?” she asked cautiously. I can get some for you.”

Jiang Shaocheng lifted his gaze to her. “Tell me: what exactly is your relationship with Ning Mufan?”

Tang Qiu forced herself not to look away. “I was being bullied by someone in school,” she explained. “She poured coke into my food and even accused me of sleeping around for money. Ning Mufan said I was his girlfriend to protect my reputation. We were… we were afraid that if we allowed that woman to slander me, my teachers would hear of it and refuse to give me a scholarship…”

“How much is that scholarship worth?”

“Five thousand yuan.” Tang Qiu’s voice grew quieter, the full extent of her guilt sinking down on her.

“So you let him claim that you were his girlfriend, all for a little money?” Jiang Shaocheng’s anger boiled to the surface; he nearly abandoned his charade right then just so he could stand up and spank her. How could she be so foolish? Selling herself for that pathetic sum?

“I was wrong!”

“Oh?” He quivered with the effort of restraining his rage. “How so?”