Chapter 4
Chapter 4
Jiang Zheng’s pupils constricted suddenly, and his voice tightened with disbelief. “Girlfriend?”
“Yes, that’s right.”
Ji Yan walked over, smoothed a stray lock of hair by my temple, and said tenderly, “Are you alright, Tingwan?”
I shook my head.
Ji Yan placed an arm around my shoulders, a beaming smile on his face. “Tingwan just returned to the country and isn’t quite familiar with many of the rules yet. Please bear with her, Young Master Jiang.”
Jiang Zheng lifted his lashes, his pitch-black eyes staring straight at me. “Girlfriend?”
My silence served as a tacit admission.
The air was thick with tension.
It was a powder keg ready to blow.
A long moment passed.
Jiang Zheng let out a cold sneer, his gaze drifting lazily between Ji Yan and me. “Hmph, not bad. You make a good match.”
Ji Yan took my hand and smiled. “Thank you, Young Master Jiang.”
Jiang Zheng pulled out a cigarette and lit it.
He brushed past Ji Yan.
“Shen Tingwan.” Jiang Zheng stopped in his tracks and turned his head toward me, his brow arched slightly as he enunciated every word. “Welcome home.”
Before I could react, Jiang Zheng had already vanished down the hallway.
Ji Yan let go of my hand, looking apologetic. “Tingwan, that was a spur-of-the-moment decision. I hope you don’t mind.”
I shook my head. “Thank you, Ji Yan.”
Ji Yan wasn’t actually my boyfriend.
I had nearly died in the UK, and Ji Yan was the one who saved me.
I felt a flicker of worry. “Ji Yan, Jiang Zheng is the type of person who seeks revenge for the smallest grievance. You’ve just returned to the country and haven’t established yourself yet-”
Ji Yan interrupted me, patting the top of my head.
His voice was like a spring breeze. “I know what you’re going to say. It’s fine, I’ll be careful.”
When I led Ji Yan back into the private room, everyone was playing Truth or Dare.
Jiang Zheng was sitting in the center.
As soon as we entered, Zhu Zhu called out to me, “Tingwan, come join us!”
I waved her off. “No thanks, you guys go ahead.”
Zhu Zhu tilted her head, catching sight of Ji Yan behind me. She teased, “No wonder Tingwan has been so distracted; it turns out the person she was waiting for hadn’t arrived yet.”
Jiang Zheng’s hand, which was spinning a wine bottle, paused.
I quickly explained, “No, I just don’t feel very well today.”
Ji Yan reached out to touch my forehead. “What’s wrong?”
People around us started hooting and hollering.
“Oh my god, they’re flaunting their love the second they walk in. How are the rest of us supposed to live?”
My face instantly flushed with heat. I brushed Ji Yan’s hand away and shook my head. “It’s nothing.”
With a sharp crack, a wine bottle shattered.
“Jiang Zheng, your hand is bleeding!”
A girl’s exclamation drew everyone’s attention away.
Jiang Zheng said indifferently, “Sorry, my hand slipped.”
“There doesn’t seem to be a pharmacy nearby. Let’s order some delivery.”
Zhu Zhu called out to me, “Wanwan, you should have some Band-Aids with you, right?”
Jiang Zheng was a man of noble status, but after we got together, he always liked to try making things himself to make me happy, only to clumsily injure himself.
So, I had gradually developed the habit of carrying Band-Aids.
After a moment of hesitation, I nodded.
“Yes, I have some.”
I handed a Band-Aid to Jiang Zheng, but he didn’t take it.
“My hand hurts. I can’t put it on myself.”
Jiang Zheng looked up at me.
He had drunk quite a bit tonight; his face was flushed, and his eyes looked misty.
I didn’t say anything and instead handed the Band-Aid to the girl sitting next to him.
The girl looked delighted. “Jiang Zheng, let me help you-”
“No need.” Jiang Zheng stood up abruptly.
The table shook, and a wine bottle fell to the floor with a clatter.
Jiang Zheng’s gaze landed on Ji Yan and me. “She’s not playing, so will you?”
I nervously tugged at the corner of Ji Yan’s shirt and shook my head.
Ji Yan patted the back of my hand and looked at Jiang Zheng. “Young Master Jiang should probably take care of the wound on his hand first.”
Jiang Zheng’s eyes darkened slightly. The corner of his mouth curled into a mocking sneer. “What? You don’t dare?”
Ji Yan smiled. “As you can see, my girlfriend won’t let me.
“A man has to spoil his own girlfriend.”
Ji Yan paused, then looked at Jiang Zheng. “Otherwise, what if she breaks up with me?”
Jiang Zheng stared at me intently.
I turned my head, avoiding his gaze.
“You two are together? Since when?”
Zhu Zhu chimed in, her face full of surprise. “And here I thought we were friends, yet you didn’t even tell me.”
“It’s been a while.” Ji Yan turned his head to look at me. “We’ll find a time to treat everyone to dinner.”
Jiang Zheng kept his eyelids lowered.
The blood on his finger soaked through the pure white tissue, and he radiated a chilling aura from head to toe.
Zhu Zhu wanted to gossip more, but I squeezed Ji Yan’s hand and whispered.
“Ji Yan, I’m not feeling well. Please take me home.”