After My Engagement Was Broken, I Married My Fiancé's Uncle - Chapter 22

Xie Junqing’s expression flickered slightly upon hearing the news, but he quickly returned to normal.

He masked his emotions perfectly, as if he had just heard something mundane. A faint smile appeared at the corners of his mouth. “Congratulations.”

He paused before adding, “Since that is the case, I wonder why you are troubled?”

Jiang Xingyuan looked at the man’s smile and pursed his lips. His mouth turned downward, and he lowered his eyes, saying gloomily, “I just wanted to find you to chat.”

He let out a weak sigh and spoke like a friend catching up. “I feel so weak. A simple decision from them can change my life. It was like that before, and it’s like that now.”

“Hearing you say that, it does sound a bit pitiful,” Xie Junqing replied.

“Actually, it’s alright.” At some point, Jiang Xingyuan had sat cross-legged on a prayer mat, propping his head up with his hand, looking heavy-hearted.

“From your appearance, it doesn’t seem ‘alright’ as you say. Do you dislike this marriage?”

Jiang Xingyuan nodded. He reclined casually on the floor, legs crossed, and said slowly, “You know Xie Huai’s attitude toward me. He doesn’t like me, he even hates me. A marriage like this won’t be happy. I believe marriage should be with someone you love, but I’m forced to go against my own will by their decision.”

Xie Junqing sat still, his quiet gaze resting on the youth. “Are you looking for me now just to complain about your troubles? Or are you seeking a solution?”

Jiang Xingyuan froze for a moment. “Huh? Can you help me?”

Xie Junqing shook his head with a faint smile, his figure half-hidden between darkness and light. “How could I help you?”

Xie Junqing turned his head to look at the boy, and their eyes met.

Jiang Xingyuan held his breath. In that instant, he seemed to see a giant web interlacing in the depths of the man’s ink-black eyes, waiting for him to fall into it once he was exhausted.

This version of his “Ninth Uncle” reminded him of the night Ninth Uncle had an episode, making him feel inexplicably afraid.

He took a deep breath and suddenly said, “Forget it. Since I can’t think of a way, I’ll just go through with the engagement first.”

He had talked himself into it.

Instead of wallowing in self-pity or looking for a miracle at the last minute, he might as well think about a strategy for later. He couldn’t change the facts anyway.

He comforted himself this way.

It was just an engagement, not a wedding. When it actually came to the wedding, he would still have a chance to back out. It was no big deal at worst, he’d run away from the wedding and take the money with him.

Besides, given how much Xie Huai hated him, maybe the other guy would run away before he did.

It was just that… it would be hard to see Ninth Uncle after that.

Hearing this, Xie Junqing lowered his dark eyes. He stood up and walked toward the door, pulling it open. “Since you’ve thought it through, it’s time for you to go back.”

Jiang Xingyuan didn’t seem to react in time. He scrambled up in a panic and chased after him without thinking.

“Ninth Uncle! Where are you going? Weren’t you going to stay and chat with me?”

Soon, he heard the man’s gentle refusal: “I have other matters to attend to. I don’t have spare time for now.”

Jiang Xingyuan was dazed. He followed behind Xie Junqing, catching the faint, cool scent emanating from the man, but this time his heart couldn’t settle down.

Suddenly, Xie Junqing stopped.

Because of the sudden stop, Jiang Xingyuan couldn’t brake in time due to inertia. He lost his balance and lunged forward out of control.

“Ninth Uncle!” he yelled, his eyes widening. Just as he was about to fall into the man’s arms.

“Be careful.”

Xie Junqing tilted his body slightly and caught Jiang Xingyuan by the arm. “Why are you following me?”

Jiang Xingyuan was covered in dust from the near-fall. Hearing Xie Junqing’s words, he quickly scrambled up and called out urgently, “Ninth Uncle.”

“Since your marriage has been settled, you will surely be busy during this period. You don’t need to come to the prayer hall anymore.”

“And you don’t need to come looking for me.”

Jiang Xingyuan’s eyes snapped wide. This felt so sudden.

He should have been happy about not having to recite scriptures every morning and evening, but he couldn’t bring himself to smile at all.

“Ninth Uncle, I’m not busy at all. I’m very free.”

“Are you joking with me?”

How could he… suddenly not let him come anymore?

Jiang Xingyuan stared blankly at Xie Junqing. Everything was fine just a moment ago.

Xie Junqing shook his head. “No, it is I who am busy.”

“I have some matters delayed from earlier that need processing. I might not be at the old manor during this time.”

Xie Junqing looked at the youth, who raised his beautiful eyes and gazed at him pleadingly.

He looked like a pathetic puppy, desperately trying to make him soften his heart.

Jiang Xingyuan didn’t know what was happening to him.

The moment he heard Ninth Uncle was sending him away, his heart hammered with anxiety. Tiny beads of sweat broke out on the tip of his nose from the stress.

Xie Junqing’s eyes swept over the nervous boy standing there at a loss. He parted his thin lips and said indifferently, “Starting today, you simply don’t need to come back.”

Having said that, he turned and left, leaving Jiang Xingyuan standing there dazed.

Jiang Xingyuan’s pupils contracted. He watched the man’s silhouette disappear, blinked, and finally closed his mouth helplessly.

He lowered his head, his eyes drooping with a look of profound loss.

There was nothing he could criticize about what Ninth Uncle said.

But his mood, which should have been relieved, was now even heavier, as if something was blocking his chest.

Jiang Xingyuan took a deep breath. The cool air filled his lungs and cleared his head.

He sniffed, shoved his hands lazily into his pockets, and walked away in a different direction with a cold, expressionless face.

Ever since the news of the engagement broke, Xie Huai had locked himself in his room.

Seeing him so despondent, Biyun couldn’t help but advise, “Young Master, please eat a little more. It’s not worth ruining your health for a bastard like Jiang Xingyuan.”

Xie Huai let out a cold laugh. “Am I doing this for him?”

He looked up at Biyun, his bloodshot eyes filled with obsession. “Does Cousin know about this?”

“The Young Master [Cousin] already knows.”

Excitement instantly flared on Xie Huai’s face. He grabbed Biyun and asked eagerly, “What did Cousin say?”

“Young Master… he, he said…”

“What did he say!” Xie Huai’s eyes flashed with impatience.

Biyun bit her lip, looking troubled. “The Young Master wished you a happy engagement and asked me to give you this.”

Biyun produced an exquisite box.

Xie Huai opened it to find a sapphire necklace. He stroked the gem, and his eyes gradually grew red.

Since that day’s unpleasant parting.

The next day, Zhao Lou noticed something was wrong with Jiang Xingyuan. “Aren’t you going to the prayer hall?”

Jiang Xingyuan, with a lollipop in his mouth, said flatly, “Not going.”

However, the next second, he habitually walked toward the prayer hall anyway.

When he reached the closed doors, he suddenly remembered Xie Junqing’s words.

It seemed Ninth Uncle was truly very busy.

Jiang Xingyuan didn’t run into Xie Junqing for a whole week, as if the two had never crossed paths.

He had even visited Ninth Uncle’s Jingya Hall, only to receive the same answer.

Meanwhile, rumors began to spread through the Xie family, the Jiang kid seemed to have fallen out of favor with Ninth Uncle.

Jiang Xingyuan ignored the gossip.

When people provoked him, he mostly ignored them.

He spent his days going to school and coming home, a simple three points routine, waiting for the third of next month for the engagement ceremony.

One day, Jiang Xingyuan finished school early. Bored, he went to the lakeside in the garden to skip stones.

After playing for a while, he felt it was pointless. Just as he was about to leave, his path was blocked.

The man in front of him was tall and straight with handsome, hardened features. His clean-cut black hair fell over his eyes, and he radiated a cold aura. His gaze toward Jiang Xingyuan was anything but friendly, it was full of contempt and arrogance.

Jiang Xingyuan frowned; he didn’t recognize this person.

Not knowing the man’s background, he didn’t plan on causing trouble.

Alert, he shifted his direction to bypass the man.

However, the moment he tried to pass, an arm shot out to block his way.

Jiang Xingyuan turned his head, his expression cool. “Do you need something?”

“You are Jiang Xingyuan?” the man asked coldly.

Jiang Xingyuan tilted his head and seemed to think seriously for two seconds.

Then, he said with utmost sincerity, “Who is Jiang Xingyuan? You must have the wrong person. I don’t know him.”

The man was stunned.

He looked at the boy. Had he really gotten the wrong person?

Taking advantage of the man’s confusion, Jiang Xingyuan stepped back, quickly slipped past him, and began walking away at a steady pace.

His mind raced. When had he offended someone like this?

The guy looked like he was out for blood.

“Wait, I’m asking you…”

Jiang Xingyuan caught a glimpse of the man behind him and immediately sped up, quickly leaving the garden.

Wait my ass!

Wait to be used as a punching bag?

Seeing Jiang Xingyuan’s disappearing back, the man realized he’d been tricked. His expression turned cold, and a hint of ferocity appeared in his eyes.

“Truly despicable and shameless.”

A cold sneer played on the man’s lips. To think he’d try to run on his turf, how naive.

Jiang Xingyuan sped up. Once he was sure no one was following, he stopped to catch his breath.

But before he could, a cold voice rang out behind him.

“Where exactly do you plan on running to?”

Jiang Xingyuan’s pupils shrank. He looked up to see a figure blocking his path.

Shit! He’s like a ghost that won’t leave.

“Brother, what’s your name?”

Jiang Xingyuan grinned. “My memory isn’t great, but I shouldn’t forget someone as handsome as you. So, you are…?”

The man replied, “I am Xie Su, Xie Chao’s older brother.”

“Oh~”

Jiang Xingyuan acted as if he had just realized, and his smile deepened. “So you’re Xie Chao’s brother! I’m on pretty good terms with him. May I ask what you want with me, Brother Su?”

“I do,” Xie Su said succinctly. “I’m here to teach you a lesson.”

“There’s no need for that. Brother Su, listen to me, what happened between me and Xie Chao was a misunderstanding.” Jiang Xingyuan kept a smile on his face while slowly backing away.

“A misunderstanding?”

Xie Su laughed mockingly. “If it’s a misunderstanding, then why did you take nude photos of my brother?”

Jiang Xingyuan was shocked.

Xie Chao’s brother knew about that.

Damn… was Xie Chao really that petty? He couldn’t win, so he went home to tell on him to his parents?

“That was just a joke between friends,” Jiang Xingyuan explained.

“Is that so?”

Xie Su stepped closer. “Since it’s a joke, you shouldn’t mind if I take a few photos of you.”