"Ah! What are you doing?!"
Wang Xinyao's face flushed crimson. Shaking his hand off in a mix of shame and anger, she slapped Jiang Ce across the face.
A crisp SMACK echoed through the room, jolting Jiang Ce to his senses. He stared back, completely baffled.
Wang Xinyao scrambled to the corner of the bed, pulling the quilt around her trembling body as tears welled in her eyes. She had given her heart to Jiang Ce, and out of pity, she had let her guard down to care for him herself. She never imagined he would take advantage of her while she slept. Even in her twenties, she had never so much as held a man's hand; she was still a virgin who had prided herself on her purity for years. But now, her clothes were a mess, her body had been defiled... If she hadn't woken up, who knows what might have happened?
Jiang Ce realized something was terribly wrong and quickly tried to explain. "Miss Wang, please don't misunderstand! I was treating your illness—"
"Shut up!" Wang Xinyao cut him off. "Jiang Ce, I can't believe you've become this kind of person. I never want to see you again!"
More than the violation, it was the heartache that crushed Wang Xinyao. She had never trusted or relied on anyone besides Jiang Ce.
The boy who was once the pride of the heavens, who faced even the worst adversity with optimism, has become... this!
In that instant, the image she held of him in her heart crumbled to dust.
It seems I was just fooling myself. The boy I loved died a long time ago. Maybe... for the sake of the family, an arranged marriage really is my best option.
As this thought crossed her mind, tears blurred her vision. "Get out!" she sobbed.
Jiang Ce fell silent, the explanation dying on his lips.
So be it, he thought. It's clear we're not destined to walk the same path. A misunderstanding is fine.
"Miss Wang, I'll take my leave," he said formally. With that, Jiang Ce turned and walked away.
Watching his back disappear, Wang Xinyao sniffled pitifully. The golden boy she once knew had become a sleazy degenerate.
Why would fate do this to him? Why would it do this to me? Am I really destined to be just a tool for a political marriage? The thought tormented her.
Just then, Aunt Mei entered with a plate of fruit. "Miss, I cut some fruit for you... Oh? Where did Young Master Jiang go?"
"...He's dead," Wang Xinyao said after a moment of silence.
But the word "dead" made her worry. Given Jiang Ce's current situation, where could he possibly go after leaving her? Homeless, wandering aimlessly during the last moments of his life... The kind-hearted Wang Xinyao couldn't bear to imagine it. After a long pause, she gritted her teeth. "Never mind. It's not like I'll be coming back to East Sea City anyway. Aunt Mei, go and liquidate my assets here and transfer them to Jiang Ce. At least he'll have a place to live."
After speaking, Wang Xinyao turned her back to the room, refusing to say another word.
Aunt Mei was stunned.
Didn't she just say he was dead? Why is she transferring assets to him? The young miss is truly impossible to understand...
"Yes, Miss. I'll get right on it," she replied. "By the way, Miss, we've successfully scheduled an appointment with Dr. Liu. With his skills, your illness is sure to be cured this time!"
Wang Xinyao just waved a tired hand. "I know. You can go. I want to sleep."
...
The rain had stopped by the time he left the villa, but the sky remained overcast. Staring up at the gloomy expanse, Jiang Ce clenched his fists.
For five years I've lived in a stupor, surrounded by lies and deceit. From now on, I will not let that tragedy repeat itself. I will live with dignity!
After a moment's thought, Jiang Ce hailed a taxi and headed for his old rental apartment. There was something there he had to get back. The place he once shared with Chen Mei, once full of sweet memories, now filled him with nothing but disgust.
When he reached the door, his key wouldn't turn.
"That bitch," Jiang Ce muttered hatefully. "She changed the locks already."
But now, his body strengthened by the Xuanyuan Inheritance, Jiang Ce was incredibly powerful. He tossed the key aside, gripped the lock, and simply crushed the cylinder with his bare hand before pushing the door open.
Jiang Ce strode into the bedroom and began rummaging through the nightstand. At last, he pulled out a dark, broken piece of a jade pendant. Seeing the Jade Pendant brought a wave of relief. Though he didn't know its purpose, it was his mother's only heirloom. He had to have it back.
With the half-pendant clutched in his hand, Jiang Ce felt no desire to stay a moment longer and turned to leave.
Suddenly, the sound of playful laughter echoed from the hallway.
"Stop it! We're not even inside yet. What if someone sees?"
"Who cares? There are no cameras in the stairwell."
Jiang Ce's expression hardened. A moment later, the door opened and a flirting couple stumbled in—it was Chen Mei and Liu Jiajun.
"Baby, I can't wait anymore. Take your clothes off," Liu Jiajun said eagerly. He had just pulled off his shirt when a flicker of movement in the room caught his eye. He jumped back in fright. "Fuck, a burglar... Jiang Ce?!"
Both of them stared, wide-eyed. Chen Mei was the first to recover. "So that's why the lock was broken," she snarled. "Jiang Ce, you worthless piece of trash! Who the hell let you in?"
Looking at the adulterous pair, memories of their betrayal flooded back, and Jiang Ce's eyes filled with killing intent.
Liu Jiajun's shock quickly turned to a cold sneer. "Well, well, Jiang Ce. The road is narrow for enemies, isn't it?" He scoffed. "This is just perfect. I had someone look into that woman who supposedly saved you. There's no one that powerful in all of East Sea City. You're quite an actor, huh? Hiring a whore to put on a show for you, even on death's door! Today, I'm going to finish you for good!"
With that, Liu Jiajun rolled up his sleeves and threw a punch straight at Jiang Ce's face.
In the past, weakened by illness, Jiang Ce would have been no match for him. But now...
Jiang Ce sidestepped the blow, caught the incoming fist, and twisted.
CRACK!
The sickening sound of breaking bone filled the air as several of Liu Jiajun's fingers snapped backward. He let out a pained scream, tears instantly springing to his eyes.
Chen Mei watched in shock. "Jiang Ce, you dare hit my husband!" she shrieked, instinctively rushing forward to punch and kick him. She had done this often in the past, lashing out with violence whenever she was the slightest bit unhappy. She never realized that Jiang Ce had only endured it out of love.
But now...
SLAP!
Before she could even land a blow, a sharp crack echoed through the room. The force of the slap sent her spinning to the ground, a red, swollen handprint already blooming on her cheek.
"You... you hit me?" Chen Mei clutched her stinging face in disbelief.
Jiang Ce's gaze was ice-cold. His oppressive aura felt like death itself descending upon her, leaving Chen Mei speechless with terror.
Is this... is this the same useless man I knew?
At that moment, a crazed expression twisted Liu Jiajun's face. He fumbled in his bag and pulled out a knife, its blade glinting coldly.
"Motherfucker!" he roared. "I'll kill you!"
He lunged forward, stabbing at Jiang Ce.