Chapter Sixteen: I Will Make You Pay

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Ji Leqing’s physique was different from Xu Zhixia’s; her muscular lines were healthier, exuding a vibrant beauty. Realizing her gaze was uncomfortably direct, she quickly looked away. “I—I’m going to close the balcony door.”

“Mm, mm, I just remembered too. I’ll go take a shower.”

It was clear both of us felt awkward. Ji Leqing hurried toward the door, and as she passed by me, suddenly her foot slipped.

Just as she was about to fall flat on her back, I instinctively caught her waist and helped steady her to prevent the fall.

Her body trembled slightly; struggling to stand, she slipped again.

“Ah!”

With one hand gripping her waist and the other supporting her back, I helped her stand firmly before releasing my hold.

“You stepped in some water, be careful.”

“Thank you.”

I wasn’t sure if I imagined it, but it seemed a flush of redness appeared on Ji Leqing’s face. However, she left too quickly for me to see clearly.

Back in my room, I picked up my phone from the bed, intending to check the time, only to remember it had been turned off since the afternoon.

After powering it on, a flood of missed call notifications popped up rapidly.

Dozens of missed calls, most from Xiao Zhu.

Though feeling a bit guilty, I resisted the urge to call back.

Within two minutes of turning it on, an unknown number called.

“Hello, who is this?”

“Brother Jiang, you finally answered. After taking the painkillers, Madam Xu is still in severe pain.”

“She said you know how to make womb-warming soup, and that it helps a lot after drinking it. I’m not asking you to come back, but could you teach me how to make it?”

Hearing Xiao Zhu’s almost tearful voice on the other end, I couldn’t bring myself to hang up.

Since I wasn’t going over to help, I decided to teach Xiao Zhu. Once he learned, Xu Zhixia wouldn’t bother me with such trivial matters again.

“Go into the kitchen, the second cabinet on the left above eye level has a pre-made spice pack. I’ll send you the recipe and brewing instructions on WeChat. When it’s used up, just follow the recipe to make more.”

“Thanks, Brother Jiang, I found it!”

“Alright, I’m helping you this once. Don’t bother me about Xu Zhixia’s matters anymore.”

“Brother Jiang… are you really sure? Madam Xu is, after all, powerful and wealthy. If you offend her, it’ll be impossible to survive in Tianhai.”

Xiao Zhu hesitated but still tried to persuade me over the phone.

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“I always felt Madam Xu still holds a place for you in her heart. She just cares too much about appearances…”

I cut him off, “Xiao Zhu, do you think that ‘place’ is significant?”

“You’ve loved your wife for eighteen years, yet in her heart, that place is filled entirely by another man.”

“She only agrees to intimacy when she imagines you as that other man. Can you tolerate that?”

“How could anyone tolerate that? Only the most pathetic man would!”

“Well, I’m just that pathetic man, and I’ve endured it for five whole years!”

“For love, I sacrificed my dignity as a man. And now you’re still trying to convince me otherwise?”

Xiao Zhu fell silent. After a long pause, he said, “Brother Jiang, you are the real man.”

I silently ended the call and exhaled deeply.

Out of my sight, Xiao Zhu carefully carried the womb-warming soup to Xu Zhixia’s bedside.

He cautiously said, “Madam Xu, the soup is ready.”

Xu Zhixia struggled out of bed, her once-beautiful face now pale and weak.

“Has Jiang Jian come back?”

“I told you he’s a scoundrel; he can’t keep up the act for long before he sheepishly returns.”

Xiao Zhu stood silently nearby, unwilling to speak.

Xu Zhixia took a sip, then furrowed her brows and spat it onto the floor.

“What kind of concoction is this? Bitter and astringent. Did he make this just to disgust me?”

“Bring him here!”

“Madam Xu, Brother Jiang hasn’t returned. I made the soup following his recipe and instructions. If you’re not satisfied, I can make it again.”

Bang! Crash!

The bowl was smashed violently on the floor, shattering into pieces. Warm soup spilled everywhere.

Xiao Zhu stood nearby and got his pants soaked by the splashes. His hour’s work was easily destroyed.

But for survival, he only shrank his shoulders, lowered his head, and didn’t dare make a sound.

“Why wouldn’t he come back? Just because he burned a lousy erhu? The man’s dead; why keep such junk?”

“Giving him an out, and he won’t take it? Fine, let him self-destruct however long he wants!”

“I’ll make that bastard pay for his stubbornness!”

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“Xiao Zhu, didn’t the authorities announce plans to level the Changshui Village area for bidding? Go to the group and tell them they must secure that land.”

“But Madam Xu, the land can only be used for ecological industries as per official requirements, and the market prospects are mediocre.”

“If the group does a risk assessment, they probably won’t agree…”

“Then have those useless consultants who returned from abroad gilded go talk to my father. In any case, I’m determined to get that land!”

“Yes, Madam Xu.”

Meanwhile, I sat in my room staring at the rain outside the window, lost in thought. Despite having a pile of unresolved tasks awaiting me, I inexplicably didn’t want to move.

Until a knock at the door broke my reverie. Ji Leqing, freshly showered and dressed, stood outside.

“The fridge is empty. I’m planning to drive to a nearby supermarket. Want to come along?”

“Sure, it’s boring to stay alone in the room. I might as well get some daily necessities.”

I had assumed Ji Leqing would take me to an ordinary supermarket, but when the car entered the underground parking, I realized something was off.

She had taken me to Tianhai’s famous upscale supermarket—a membership-based warehouse store where prices and quality far exceeded the norm.

Most customers were servants of wealthy families or influencers sharing affluent lifestyles online.

Seeing the price tags on the shelves, I couldn’t help but gasp.

Even as a small business owner, buying here without restraint would hurt my wallet deeply.

“Why did you bring me to such a store for groceries?”

“It’s close to home and convenient. Don’t worry; you’re not paying.”

Pushing the cart behind Ji Leqing, I watched her place items inside one by one, feeling as if I saw money flying away—though it wasn’t mine.

At the household goods section, I picked up a shaving kit from a brand I’d never seen. After checking the price, I gently put it back.

Thanks, but my beard isn’t that precious yet. Buying online would do just fine.

Suddenly, a pale hand reached past me, grabbed the set, and placed it in the cart.

“I didn’t bring you any gifts when I returned to the country, so consider this a present. Men need to take care of themselves too.”

“Ji Leqing, be honest—did you win the lottery or something?”