When Han Mengjuan saw Ye Chu stride toward Qian Xin, she frowned slightly.
"Wouldn't that be rather inappropriate?"
It seemed as though he were deliberately forcing the other man to pay.
She was not speaking out of concern for Qian Xin himself, but because he had promised to assist Junyao. To offend him over a mere twenty million might not be worth the cost.
"Mother, there's nothing wrong with it. In his state, he can hardly leave on his own. I'm only helping him."
With a genial smile, Ye Chu approached. Qian Xin's heart burned with irritation—Ye Chu clearly intended to corner him into paying the bill.
Alas, Qian Xin was not drunk at all; he merely feigned it. No matter what method was used, he would never "sober up."
Hmph. Wretched cur, you think you can make me pay? Dream on. He sneered inwardly.
Ye Chu came to his side and lightly clapped a hand on his shoulder. A thread of true energy slipped silently into his body.
At once, Qian Xin felt a sharp, needling pain erupt within, as though countless silver pins pierced him all at once.
His frame shuddered, his face twisted with agony. Fortunately, he was lying face-down, and Junyao and the others could not see his expression.
Han Mengjuan's brows furrowed. "Xiao Chu, will this truly work?"
"Work? Nonsense. This useless fool is only toying with us again," Jiang Haiyun snorted coldly.
No sooner had the words left his mouth than the "drunken" Qian Xin gave a strangled cry and suddenly bolted upright.
"Aaah!"
Jiang Haiyun's face turned black—never had a slap to the face come so swiftly.
"You bastard, what did you do to me?"
Qian Xin glared daggers at Ye Chu, his eyes brimming with murderous intent. The torment within his body was worse than death itself.
Ye Chu smiled pleasantly. "No need to panic, Young Master Qian. I merely helped you sober up."
At once, the sensation of countless needles faded. Qian Xin became all the more certain that Ye Chu had played some trick—but in such a situation, he dared not press the matter.
"Young Master Qian," Ye Chu said with easy calm, "since you are sober now, perhaps it's time to settle the bill. We've eaten our fill, after all."
Having spoken, he sauntered back to his seat.
Qian Xin ground his teeth until his jaw ached, rage boiling in his chest.
He had intended tonight to shine before Junyao, to trample Ye Chu underfoot and prove him unworthy of her. Instead, he had been thoroughly humiliated.
And the cost—twenty million. His heart bled at the thought. Worse still, he had tasted only a sip of the wine that had devoured his fortune.
As his silence dragged on, Ye Chu chuckled mockingly.
"Young Master Qian, surely you're not unable to pay, are you?"
Without waiting for a reply, he went on,
"No matter. If you truly can't, we can always split the bill. But if word got out, I fear it might tarnish your reputation."
"The illustrious Young Master Qian, hosting a banquet—yet unable to settle the account, forced to go dutch… tsk, tsk, how very amusing."
His words, dripping with ridicule, turned Qian Xin's complexion from red to pale and back again.
At last, he gnashed his teeth and spat coldly, "Utter nonsense. A mere twenty million—do you think I cannot pay?"
"How magnanimous of you, Young Master Qian." Ye Chu raised a thumb in mock praise, though his eyes gleamed with mischief.
In the end, Qian Xin was forced to max out nearly all of his credit cards just to scrape together the twenty million.
Once the bill was settled, the party finally departed Jianghuai Pavilion.
"Junyao, allow me to call a driver for you," Qian Xin said eagerly, his eyes fixed upon her with feigned devotion.
Ye Chu stepped smoothly between them, his voice full of false concern.
"No need, Young Master Qian. You've had quite enough to drink tonight—best you return home and rest. As for Junyao, she has me to care for her. You need not trouble yourself."
Without awaiting Qian Xin's consent, he flagged down a taxi with a wave.
"Father, Mother, quickly, into the car."
Han Mengjuan entered at once. Jiang Haiyun would have preferred Qian Xin escort his daughter, eager to give the young pair more time together. But with his wife already in the taxi, he could not press the matter. He gave Qian Xin a perfunctory wave and followed inside.
"Many thanks for your hospitality." Junyao gave Qian Xin a slight nod before stepping into the cab.
"Young Master Qian, truly, my thanks. That eighty-year-old Moutai was exquisite." Ye Chu cast him a mocking smile before climbing in as well.
Watching the taxi disappear into the night, Qian Xin's face grew so dark it seemed to drip ink.
"Little bastard, just you wait."
He ground his teeth until they nearly cracked. Never in his life had he suffered such humiliation. If he did not repay this debt, he would no longer bear the name of Qian.
Half an hour later, they returned to the Jiang family villa.
No sooner had they entered than Jiang Haiyun erupted.
"Worthless wretch, get over here!"
Ye Chu flopped onto the sofa with leisurely indifference.
"Father, what's the matter? Did you not drink enough tonight?"
Jiang Haiyun's face stiffened, then flushed with fury.
"What's the matter? You know full well what you've done!"
Feigning ignorance, Ye Chu replied, "What did I do? We only had a meal."
His pretense of innocence only stoked Jiang Haiyun's rage.
"Who told you to order such outrageously expensive wine? Do you know what trouble you've caused? Qian Xin's father is a director of the Jiangnan Chamber of Commerce—he is not someone we can afford to offend! You useless fool, instead of helping this family, you only invite disaster!"
Though he, too, had enjoyed the eighty-year-old Moutai, the thought of offending Qian Xin fanned his anger all the more.
His temper flared higher and higher until, with a snarl, he raised his palm.
"I'll beat you to death, you worthless cur!"
Ye Chu slipped aside before the blow could fall.
"You dare to dodge? Stand still!" Jiang Haiyun roared.
Han Mengjuan rushed forward to block him.
"Jiang Haiyun, what are you doing?"
"Move aside! He needs to be taught a lesson. If not, this good-for-nothing will truly think he can act with impunity!"
He tried to shove her aside, but she clung fast, refusing to yield.
"What are you yelling for? You were all too happy to drink before. Now that the wine is gone, you turn your face and deny it?"
Her words left him red with shame, yet his fury only deepened.
Just as the quarrel threatened to spiral out of control, Jiang Junyao's cold voice cut through.
"Enough."
"This useless—" Jiang Haiyun began, but she silenced him with a sharp look.
"Father, it's late, and you've had enough to drink. Go and rest. As for the cooperation with the Huangfu family, leave it to me. I will resolve it."
With that, she turned and ascended the stairs, her graceful figure disappearing from view.
Jiang Haiyun exhaled heavily, then glared at his wife.
"See what kind of son-in-law you've chosen? Impulsive, brainless—who knows what disaster he'll cause next?"
Han Mengjuan snorted.
"It was that Qian fellow who sought to take advantage of Junyao. As her husband, was it not right for Xiao Chu to teach him a lesson?"
She had never liked Qian Xin. When calamity befell Junyao, he fled abroad at once. Only when she awakened did he return with feigned devotion.
"That was a lesson?" Jiang Haiyun snapped. "I'd say Qian Xin hates him to the bone now. And what if he refuses to help Junyao? Without the Huangfu partnership, she cannot regain her footing in the corporation. Do you want to see your daughter crushed beneath the weight of the main household?"
Han Mengjuan faltered, momentarily speechless. At last, she muttered, "If all else fails, Junyao can return to manage Yunmeng Pharmaceuticals. With the old man's favoritism, he would never pass the conglomerate to her anyway."
Jiang Haiyun opened his mouth, but no rebuttal came. At last, he cast Ye Chu a look of utter loathing before storming upstairs.
"Mother… thank you."
Ye Chu was genuinely moved. In such a situation, she still stood firmly by his side.
"Enough of that—we are family." She waved a hand, then fixed him with a solemn gaze.
"Xiao Chu, I know you despise Qian Xin. But do not act so recklessly in the future. Making enemies now will only worsen our plight."
She could see plainly that Ye Chu's provocations had been deliberate. Satisfying though it was, it risked sowing further trouble at a time when the main branch already sought to isolate them.
"I understand, Mother." Ye Chu nodded obediently.
"Good. Now go and rest."
"You should rest early as well."
Bidding her goodnight, he went upstairs.
At the door, however, he found it locked. No matter how he knocked, no response came.
He sighed inwardly. There was no need to guess—Junyao was displeased with his conduct that evening, and this was her warning.
He curled his lips in quiet defiance. Others dare to covet my wife, and I'm expected to smile and welcome them? What do they take me for—a worthless coward?
…