Chapter 86: Unless he begs me
“Jiang Jingyuan, you bastard! Are you trying to kill me with anger?” Jiang’s father clutched his chest and gently rubbed it, feeling like he could collapse any second.
He warned himself not to lose his temper, knowing that if his health failed because of anger, he’d be the one suffering.
But no matter how he tried to calm down, the trembling in his hand pressed against his chest wouldn’t stop.
Yet Jiang Jingyuan remained calm and collected, lifting the teacup on the table to savor the tea.
Jiang’s father ground his teeth in fury.
“Jiang Jingyuan, you’re unbelievable! You don’t learn from good examples but imitate Lu Jianbo! You could’ve chosen anyone else, but you go for that Ming guy with such a bad reputation.”
Recently, that son had been making waves with ZhÅng Zhuóhuá, frequently appearing in the papers. Jiang’s father had looked up old articles about her and never found anything good to say.
Jiang Jingyuan said, “No matter how bad her reputation is, I don’t care.”
His father pointed at him from across the room, the words “Get out of my sight” almost spilling from his mouth before he swallowed them back.
Previously, because of Yang Jiayuan, they had a massive fight that nearly severed their father-son relationship; Jiang Jingyuan hadn’t even come home.
Later, after his heart surgery that almost took his life, things had eased somewhat.
Just now, when the unfilial son said he planned to marry within a year or two and try to be a good father, his father thought he had finally seen the light.
But barely half a minute into his happiness, a thunderbolt struck.
“So you’re still blaming me and your mother because of Yang Jiayuan? Just giving up completely and not letting us have peace.”
“Dad, don’t read too much into it. Yang Jiayuan wanted to register the marriage, but I insisted on waiting until your health recovered. So where’s the blame on you and Mom if we broke up? If you want to think that way, fine.”
Jiang Jingyuan had come back today only to inform his father face-to-face that he was going to marry ZhÅng Zhuóhuá.
Whether the family agreed or not didn’t concern him anymore, nor did he want to argue.
“I’m definitely getting married, and I don’t care at all about her reputation.”
“If you really dare marry her, Jiang Jingyuan, don’t ever step foot in this house again! I’ll pretend you’re not my son!” Jiang’s father dropped his harsh ultimatum.
Even at their worst fights before, he had never been this decisive.
Jiang Jingyuan, unusually, did not retort but said calmly, “ZhÅng Zhuóhuá’s temper is such that she can’t stand even the slightest grievance. I won’t let her face your disapproval. So I have no plans to step through this door again.”
He drank another sip of tea leisurely, set down the cup, took out a card he had prepared beforehand, and pushed it toward his father across the coffee table.
“You raised me with difficulty. No matter what, I’ll fulfill my obligations. From now on, you and Mom take good care of yourselves.”
After saying this, he stood and left without waiting for his father’s reaction.
Back from the old house, Jiang Jingyuan returned to his own apartment.
Since breaking up with Yang Jiayuan, he hadn’t lived here.
Everyone around him regretted it. After so many years, they had weathered the hardest times together. How could it just end so suddenly?
He still didn’t understand why she left so abruptly when there was still love between them.
Between his parents, interests, and her, he had always chosen her firmly, even if it meant offending powerful families.
But when his father was in the ICU, he couldn’t just ignore his survival.
It was just a postponement, not a cancellation of registering their marriage.
When they argued, Yang Jiayuan said he didn’t love her at all.
After all he’d done, it apparently didn’t count as love to her.
“Yang Jiayuan, what have you ever done for me? Could that mean you don’t even like me?”
They had argued two more times after that. She proposed the breakup and left so decisively.
There were still many of Yang Jiayuan’s things in the apartment, including gifts she had given him.
After breaking up, he hadn’t dealt with them, thinking they might get back together after cooling down.
After all those years of feelings, he had even imagined marrying her and having children.
But fate had other plans.
When he learned she had a new boyfriend, he realized everything was over.
Ayi asked him, “What do you want for lunch?”
“No need to cook.”
Jiang Jingyuan didn’t plan to eat here; he’d only come to get some things.
In the safe were many overseas investment contracts. He intended to transfer some assets to ZhÅng Zhuóhuá to make her happy.
Packing all the important documents, he glanced at the photo cabinet and saw the picture of him and Yang Jiayuan.
It was taken during their second year together on a trip.
Jiang Jingyuan went over, flipped the photo frame facedown on the table, took out Li Secretary’s number, and dialed.
“President Jiang, any instructions?”
“Sell this apartment and get rid of all the stuff inside.”
“Understood.”
After hanging up, Jiang Jingyuan didn’t linger and left the apartment immediately.
***
On the way to the airport, he received a call from Yu LÇoshÄ«, who asked what he had been busy with lately and why he hadn’t called.
Jiang Jingyuan replied, “To save your phone bill.”
“…But I saved your landline number in my phone!”
“I don’t want to call landlines.”
Yu LÇoshÄ« didn’t waste time chatting, knowing calls were expensive.
He got straight to the point. “Did you and ZhÅng Zhuóhuá break up?”
“How could I break up with her?”
“I didn’t expect you’d be so happily backtracking.”
The teacher,
Even though ZhÅng Zhuóhuá never gave him a kind look, he still persisted.
For months, ZhÅng Zhuóhuá kept pushing him away, saying she didn’t want to see him, but he pretended not to hear.
If only he had gone to find Yang Jiayuan when she first suggested breaking up, maybe things would have been different.
But back then, he couldn’t swallow his pride.
He never went, never called.
Does that mean he didn’t love Yang Jiayuan?
Impossible.
But he never begged for a second chance.
Yet with ZhÅng Zhuóhuá, for some reason, he was willing to swallow his pride and look for her.
Even when she ignored his messages and calls, he found her apartment.
Some feelings, even he couldn’t explain clearly.
Maybe it was because ZhÅng Zhuóhuá’s temperament was so exhausting that he had no choice but to humble himself and coax her.
Jiang Jingyuan asked his friend, “What’s up with you?”
Since they hadn’t broken up, his mood should be fine.
Yu LÇoshÄ« cut to the chase: “You said you were going to buy me a computer? When are you sending it?”
Jiang Jingyuan had been so busy coaxing ZhÅng Zhuóhuá, he had completely forgotten about the computer.
“Buy it first, I’ll reimburse you.”
“If I had the money, I’d have bought it already.”
Jiang Jingyuan laughed. “What about your secret stash?”
“…You can’t buy that with secret stash! That’d be obvious.”
Recently, he’d heard from friends that computers were very useful and wanted to learn more.
All the money was managed by his wife, who said there was no need to change the computer as long as it could turn on.
“Tomorrow it’ll be delivered to your home.”
Jiang Jingyuan had a favor to ask, “Keep an eye out for any houses for sale in town.”
“Why? Buying a house in town? Why not just move into my place? There are so many houses; you could live with ten or eight of us no problem.”
Jiang Jingyuan said, “Buying a vacation home. In spring, I want to bring my kids to live there for a couple of months. It’ll come in handy next spring.”
“Next spring?!” Yu LÇoshÄ« was so shocked he couldn’t speak.
Yu LÇoshÄ« had heard about Yang Jiayuan giving birth.
At first, he thought there was no way it was Jiang Jingyuan’s child. With Jiang Jingyuan’s personality, he wouldn’t knowingly let a former lover have his baby while he was with another woman.
But just now, Jiang Jingyuan himself admitted it.
“So it really is your daughter? Then what’s this? Being with ZhÅng Zhuóhuá while having a child with Yang Jiayuan!”
Jiang Jingyuan: “Yang Jiayuan’s child has nothing to do with me. It’s mine and ZhÅng Zhuóhuá’s child. I’m going to be a dad by the end of November.”
Jiang Jingyuan had long wanted to share this good news with his friends, but ZhÅng Zhuóhuá was unwilling to marry him.
His parents wouldn’t accept him marrying someone from the entertainment industry.
If news of the child leaked out, the media would exaggerate and twist the story, mocking her for having a baby but still not marrying into a wealthy family.
Considering ZhÅng Zhuóhuá’s career and to protect the child from disturbance, he had to endure in silence.
Among his many friends, only Yu LÇoshÄ« could keep the secret.
“Don’t tell Zhou Yunlian.”
Yu LÇoshÄ« was honored, “Am I the only one who knows?”
“Besides my family, yes.”
Yu LÇoshÄ« calmed down but still found it hard to believe his friend had suddenly become a father.
Last year, they joked over dinner in Beicheng about when Jiang Jingyuan and Yang Jiayuan would hold their wedding banquet.
Now, both had new partners and were already parents.
It was truly a cause for reflection.
“Don’t worry about the house. I’ll buy one for you as a gift for my nephew or niece.”
“You can’t even afford a computer. Where’s the money for a house?”
“The houses in town are cheaper than computers.”
Jiang Jingyuan emphasized, “Don’t buy a bad one. The vacation home has to have a decent yard.”
The child wasn’t even born yet, but he was already looking forward to bringing them to Jiangcheng Town for vacations.
After ending the call with Yu LÇoshÄ«, his mother called.
He knew why and ignored it.
She called again.
Jiang Jingyuan had to pick up. “Mom, what’s up?”
Mother Jiang said, “You came back and left without seeing me?”
She had just come home from work and heard from her husband that the third son was back and insisted on marrying ZhÅng Zhuóhuá, and that they even had a child.
Jiang Jingyuan said, “Seeing each other or not is the same. You’re never going to accept ZhÅng Zhuóhuá and me being together, so there’s no need to meet and fight.”
“What about your dad?”
Jiang Jingyuan cut in, “My dad’s heart is fine. I asked Director Gu. Director Gu said my dad’s heart can last thirty years without problems. But if my dad insists on being reckless, no one can save him.”
“Mom, you don’t have to worry about my dad. After he lost his mind, he’s been okay.”
Mother Jiang said, “Mom, don’t try to persuade me. I’m a father now. I know what I’m doing.”
“Not trying to persuade you. I don’t have time for that. Persuading you is useless. You wouldn’t listen anyway. I’m calling about something else. You gave me the card but didn’t tell me the password.”
Jiang Jingyuan had been too angry with his father to remember the password.
He thought for a moment and told her the password to the card.
Mother Jiang wasn’t going to meddle anymore. Three sons and one daughter, not one of them obedient. Instead of wasting time being angry, she might as well invest and manage her money.
Having money meant you’d be liked by the younger generation when old—never like her husband, who was so disliked.
She asked her son, “Where are you now? Dinner is on me tonight, just the two of us. You pick the place.”
Jiang Jingyuan said, “I can’t. I’m heading to the airport soon.”
“You’re going back to Hong Kong Island today?”
“Yeah. I don’t feel comfortable leaving ZhÅng Zhuóhuá alone at home.”
What he didn’t know was that ZhÅng Zhuóhuá was quite happy he wasn’t home.
ZhÅng Zhuóhuá’s baby bump wasn’t obvious yet.
Plus, morning sickness had made her lose a few pounds, and the loose clothes she wore completely hid the fact she was already four months pregnant.
Her manager said she’d probably start showing in about half a month.
Before the bump was visible, she took the opportunity to go shopping with her manager, trying to appear in the media more often.
After all, she would have to “disappear” for several months soon.
They got tired and stopped at a café to rest.
ZhÅng Zhuóhuá ordered coffee—not to drink, but to hide her intentions.
Her manager said, “President Jiang called me again today, telling me to persuade you to move in with him.”
“President Jiang has everything—sea views, great for pregnancy.”
“He says your bedroom is too small. Once you put a bed in, there’s no room to move.”
ZhÅng Zhuóhuá touched the coffee with her lips but didn’t drink.
She made a swallowing motion, then put down the cup. “No. Unless he begs me.”
Her manager made an “OK” gesture and said no more, then sent Jiang Jingyuan a text: 【President Jiang, I tried my best but couldn’t persuade her. The lady says only if you beg her.】
Jiang Jingyuan only saw the message after getting off the plane and replied: 【Okay, got it. Thanks.】
Since moving into ZhÅng Zhuóhuá’s place, he’d changed cars and tried to come and go before dawn or after dark.
Back at the apartment, ZhÅng Zhuóhuá was already lying on the bed.
Jiang Jingyuan, worried she might dislike him, took a shower first and changed into clean loungewear before approaching her.
ZhÅng Zhuóhuá lifted her foot and pressed it against his shoulder, pushing him away.
Jiang Jingyuan grabbed her ankle. “Be good. Don’t use so much strength.”
ZhÅng Zhuóhuá said, “If there wasn’t a baby in my belly, I’d have kicked you away long ago!”
Jiang Jingyuan put her foot down on the bed and buried his face to kiss her stomach.
“Did you think about daddy today?”
“Flatterer! Who thinks about you?”
ZhÅng Zhuóhuá raised her foot again, aiming to kick his neck.
Jiang Jingyuan didn’t move, letting her “kick” until she was done, then scooted closer and pulled her into his arms.
“Have you been eating well today?”
She met his gaze. “You’re not home; I eat well and sleep soundly.”
She patted his cheek. “In such a hurry to come back, is Beicheng making you nostalgic and unable to stay a day?”
Jiang Jingyuan lowered his head and lightly bit her chin. “I rushed back because of you and the baby. What does Beicheng or Nancheng have to do with it?”
“Who knows.”
“Now you do, don’t you?”
ZhÅng Zhuóhuá snorted but didn’t continue her sarcastic teasing.
Jiang Jingyuan asked, “What do I have to do to get you to move in with me? Tell me how to beg, and I’ll do it.”
“Call me ‘auntie’.”
“If I call you that, won’t that be too much of a generation gap?” He pressed a kiss on her lips. “I beg you, come live with me.”