After My Engagement Was Broken, I Married My Fiancé's Uncle - Chapter 13

When the bell rang, Jiang Xingyuan felt a surge of joy. Finally, this godforsaken morning lesson was over!

“You must remember the content learned today and review diligently in private.”

Xie Junqing’s gaze fell upon the boy.

“Got it, Ninth Uncle,” Jiang Xingyuan replied perfunctorily.

His heart had long since flown away. The moment everyone stood up, he spoke hurriedly: “Ninth Uncle, let’s stop here for today. I have other matters to attend to, so I’ll take my leave first.”

He rushed toward the door, terrified he might be kept behind. As he exited, he naturally spotted Xie Huai ahead of him.

Remembering his mission and the need to grind some “favorability points,” Jiang Xingyuan chased after him: “Xie Huai, wait for me!”

Having just stepped out the door, Xie Huai heard the voice behind him. His expression instantly soured, and he quickened his pace.

After chasing for a while, Jiang Xingyuan was panting and bewildered. He runs so fast!

In the blink of an eye, Xie Huai had vanished. Jiang Xingyuan scratched his head. He wasn’t some man-eating monster, was there a need to be that terrified?

Back in the Buddhist hall, the elegant and handsome man looked at the sutra abandoned in haste by its owner, its title page stained with dust. He leaned down to pick it up, the book seemed to retain a trace of warmth.

One moment it was held in the palm like a precious treasure, the next, it was discarded like a worn-out shoe.

Truly, such is the disposition of youth.

“Ninth Master.” A servant nearby saw the smudge on the scripture and moved to take it.

“No need.” Xie Junqing waved him off, lightly brushing the dust away with his hand.

However, just as he was about to return the sutra to its place, the door was suddenly pushed open with great force. Heavy panting echoed through the hall.

Xie Junqing looked up and met a pair of beautiful eyes, bright as if washed by rain, clear and fresh like morning dew.

“Ninth Uncle!” The boy’s energetic voice filled the hall.

Xie Junqing stood still, watching the returned Jiang Xingyuan while holding the sutra he had just retrieved. A faint smile played on his lips, it seemed he had spoken too soon.

“Why have you returned?” he asked. Hadn’t the boy been desperate to escape, like a bird fleeing a cage?

“Ah, I left in such a hurry, I forgot something here.” A shy flush crept onto Jiang Xingyuan’s cheeks. Seeing the book in Xie Junqing’s hand, his eyes lit up, and he rushed forward. “You’re so kind! You even picked it up for me.”

As Jiang Xingyuan reached for it, Xie Junqing followed the momentum, handed over the sutra, and took a step back to maintain a proper distance.

“Scriptures are not like ordinary objects, you must care for them with your heart,” Xie Junqing said.

“Don’t worry, Ninth Uncle, I’ll take good care of it! This was an accident,” Jiang Xingyuan promised, patting his chest.

He had failed to catch up with the person he was chasing halfway and realized he’d forgotten his book. He just happened to see Xie Junqing holding it upon his return.

“Thank you, I’ll be going now.” Jiang Xingyuan waved, turning to leave. But just as he stepped out, he was called back.

“Wait.”

Jiang Xingyuan paused and looked back at the man in the hall with a surprised expression. “Ninth Uncle, is there something else?”

Xie Junqing looked at the boy standing in the doorway, his gaze resting on that outstanding face. “The tree that stands out in the forest will be destroyed by the wind. Aren’t you afraid of retaliation from Xie Chao for what you did today?”

Jiang Xingyuan blinked. He didn’t quite catch the first half of the proverb, but he understood the rest. He hadn’t expected Xie Junqing to ask that!

So, Ninth Uncle knew he was the one who pranked Xie Chao. But why hadn’t he exposed him in front of everyone? It didn’t make sense. Xie Chao was his biological nephew, while Jiang was an outsider. Yet, not only did he not blame him, he punished Xie Chao and gave Jiang plenty of “face.”

“Why did you help me?”

Xie Junqing replied: “I did not help you. Xie Chao sowed the cause and reaped the effect. Since he harbored ill will toward you first, he must bear the consequences.”

In Xie Junqing’s eyes, if a member of the Xie family could fall for the same trick twice by the same person, showing such arrogance and stupidity, they had no right to complain.

Jiang Xingyuan was stunned. Xie Junqing knew everything, not just that Jiang had locked Xie Chao in, but that Xie Chao had locked Jiang’s door first.

He felt a surge of warmth. Aside from “the old man,” this was the first time he felt someone being biased in his favor. To him, maintaining basic fairness felt like favoritism.

As the morning light spilled through the door, the man standing in the center of the hall seemed draped in a golden aura, his handsome face appearing exceptionally benevolent.

Jiang Xingyuan rubbed his nose, feeling moved. “I’m not afraid of his revenge! Some people deserve to be offended. Otherwise, everyone thinks you’re a soft persimmon and will bully you to death!”

His voice carried a slight nasal tone, making him sound pitiful and aggrieved. He didn’t leave but walked back into the hall. He stole a glance at Xie Junqing, and seeing no disapproval, continued: “To be honest, I did use your name to establish some authority. But the effect was immediate! I bet those people who wanted to bully me in secret will think twice now.”

Xie Junqing didn’t know what to think of this fawning boy. It was the first time someone had been so blunt about using him for leverage.

Jiang Xingyuan went even further, acting like a devoted attendant by pouring tea. “If I didn’t rely on your prestige, I’d be bullied to death. Now they all think you like me, so they’ll have to weigh the consequences before messing with me.”

Xie Junqing took the teacup. The temperature was perfect. He looked at the boy. Jiang was a natural at reading people. After only two meetings, he was already gauging Xie Junqing’s thoughts. He was smooth but not cynical, opportunistic yet strangely honest.

He didn’t necessarily “like” him, but the boy was certainly more pleasant to look at than his other nephews.

Seeing Xie Junqing drink the tea, Jiang Xingyuan breathed a sigh of relief. The danger had passed.

A servant entered. “Ninth Master, it is time for breakfast.”

“Then Ninth Uncle, I won’t disturb your meal. We…” Jiang Xingyuan saw his chance to slip away.

Simultaneously, Xie Junqing said, “Join me.”

Jiang Xingyuan’s sentence took a sharp turn: “…we should eat together! It’s my honor to accompany you. I won’t be formal then.”

Xie Junqing’s lips curled slightly as he walked toward the dining room.

Jiang Xingyuan’s mind was filled with visions of a lavish Xie family breakfast. But when he arrived at the table and saw nothing but greens, he froze.

Wild herbs? Why is it all vegetarian? The sea of green killed his appetite instantly.

“Do you not like today’s vegetarian meal?”

“Ah!” Jiang Xingyuan forced a smile. “I love it! Why wouldn’t I? Green is healthy!”

Xie Junqing chuckled at the boy’s miserable expression. “As long as you like it.”

After choking down the meal, Jiang Xingyuan excused himself. Never again, he thought.

Back in his room, he realized he only had 30 minutes until class. The drive to school took two hours. He decided to ask for a leave of absence or better yet, drop out. His mission was to “marry a wife” to save his family’s fortune, anyway!

However, his attendant Zhao Lou was confused. “Why ask for leave? I’ll get you there on time!”

At the parking lot, Jiang Xingyuan’s jaw dropped. It wasn’t a parking lot, it was a private airfield filled with helicopters.

“I’ll have you there in fifteen minutes,” Zhao Lou promised.

On the flight, Jiang Xingyuan felt a pang of “wealth envy” realizing this was Xie Chao’s daily commute. Before landing on the school rooftop, he told Zhao Lou: “Help me keep an eye on Xie Huai’s schedule. I need to find a chance to ‘chat’ with him.”

Jiang Xingyuan stepped off the helicopter and headed for the roof exit. But as he entered the stairwell, his vision went black. A powerful hand gripped his throat, slamming him against the cold wall.

Ouch.

As his vision cleared, he stared into a pair of bloodshot eyes. A crushing Alpha pheromone washed over him.

“Jiang Xingyuan, you damn well think you can play tricks on me? Do you believe I won’t kill you right now?”