After My Engagement Was Broken, I Married My Fiancé's Uncle - Chapter 23

“If it hurts, come with me.”

Jiang Xingyuan nodded, obediently wiping away his tears and following closely behind Xie Junqing. He was on his best behavior. However, once Xie Junqing entered the room, he realized the person behind him hadn’t followed.

“Hurry up.”

Jiang Xingyuan stood guard at the door, refusing to enter. His raven like lashes fluttered like butterfly wings, obscuring his eyes. “You’re the one who said I didn’t need to come over if there was nothing going on.”

Jiang Xingyuan was petty, he still remembered that sentence clearly.

Xie Junqing’s eyes narrowed slightly. He said unhurriedly, “In that case, don’t come in.”

“Now, how could I do that?” Jiang Xingyuan immediately relented and limped inside.

“What happened to your leg?” Xie Junqing watched as the previously fine leg had suddenly become lame.

“It hurts a little,” Jiang Xingyuan whispered, peeking up at him. “It hurt before too, but I endured it.”

“Take it off.” Xie Junqing remained silent for two seconds. “I’ll go get the medicine box.”

Take it off…

Jiang Xingyuan froze, a flush creeping onto his face. He silently pulled off his shirt, carefully clutching the garment to his chest. When Xie Junqing returned, he saw the youth crouching on a chair, back arched and hands hugging his knees. His gaze fell on the smooth, white back, the marks from the last time had completely vanished, replaced by new bruises.

After a long silence, Jiang Xingyuan felt goosebumps rising. “Ninth Uncle…”

“Hm?” The voice by his ear was low and husky, inexplicably sexy, making his face turn even redder.

As cool fingertips coated in ointment touched his skin, the icy sensation made Jiang Xingyuan tremble. He unconsciously gripped the edge of his clothes. For some reason, he felt shy.

Xie Junqing watched the trembling youth under his hand, his gaze deepening. “Does it still hurt?”

“N-no.”

Xie Junqing glanced at him and continued applying the medicine. Soon, the wounds on his back were covered. Suddenly, the room fell into a deep silence.

“Alright, take off your pants.”

By now, Jiang Xingyuan’s mind was miles away. He only heard a voice behind him and, without processing the words, nodded dizzily. After a long moment of no movement, he realized what had been said and turned around, his eyes meeting Xie Junqing’s.

“Taking them off?” Xie Junqing’s lips parted slightly, an eyebrow raised.

Jiang Xingyuan reflexively yanked his waistband tight. In his haste, the clothes he had been holding to his chest fell to the floor.

The youth had a tall, well-proportioned physique, lean but not frail. His muscles were sleek and elegant. His firm chest rose and fell with nervous breaths, and his taut abdominal muscles led down to a sexy mermaid line. Every part of him was perfect. His stiff posture and unnatural movements carried the raw, green charm unique to his age, a vibrant, fresh vitality.

After a subtle glance, Xie Junqing said calmly, “You’re quite pale.”

Jiang Xingyuan stiffened, his mind going blank. Quite pale…

He looked down at his bare torso and frantically scrambled to pick up his clothes to cover himself. “Ninth Uncle, you…” He bit his lip, his face turning visibly red.

“If you don’t take them off, how can I apply the medicine?” Xie Junqing chuckled at the sight of the blushing boy. “You’re not shy, are you?”

“N-no… why would I be… shy?” He’s an Alpha, what the hell is there to be shy about!

Jiang Xingyuan stammered, “I suddenly don’t feel that much pain anymore.” He didn’t know why he was being so sensitive. The moment he felt Xie Junqing’s gaze on him, his whole body felt off and his face burned. “Just give me the ointment, I can do it myself.”

Xie Junqing’s brow furrowed imperceptibly. “What about your hands?”

Lowering his head, Jiang Xingyuan finally felt the stinging pain in his palms. His hands were injured too, with the skin rubbed raw. However, he could endure that kind of pain. He had a high tolerance, his earlier crying was mostly to gain sympathy and play the “good boy.”

“I can do it myself!”

Seeing this, Xie Junqing didn’t push. He handed over the medicine. “Try it yourself. If you can’t, call me. Do you want to go to the hospital tomorrow to check for internal injuries?”

“No internal injuries, just surface stuff.” He stood up and stretched his legs to demonstrate. The “lame” leg was miraculously cured. Jiang Xingyuan was experienced in fights, he knew how to minimize damage.

Still, he had to thank Ninth Uncle for saving his life. He remembered seeing Su Quan’s silhouette flash by, so fast he thought he’d imagined it. He had a premonition then. He wondered if Ninth Uncle would save him if he knew, but he had been anxious. Xie Junqing had no obligation to help him. Their relationship was just that of strangers who had spent some time together, nothing compared to the blood relatives of the Xie family.

But then, Xie Junqing had come.

The moment he saw him, his heart skipped a beat. That sense of security made him realize how reliable and powerful the man was. He was grateful because Xie Junqing was the first person in the Xie family to show him kindness.

“Ninth Uncle, thank you for today,” Jiang Xingyuan said seriously after dressing. “I don’t even know how to thank you.” He patted his chest. “From now on, you’re like my real uncle. I’ll definitely take care of you, even better than my own father!”

He truly viewed Xie Junqing as an elder. In his heart, the man’s ranking was second only to his dad (mostly because his dad gave him more money, otherwise, Ninth Uncle might have been first).

Xie Junqing fell silent for a moment. Real uncle?

A mocking smile touched his lips. “You don’t need to repay me.”

“Huh?” Jiang Xingyuan was stunned. Why? Was he not sincere enough? Right! He wasn’t even carrying a fruit basket. It wasn’t formal enough.

“Xie Su was in the wrong,” Xie Junqing said. “Go back and rest well today. I’ll have someone send you.”

Jiang Xingyuan shook his head like a rattle. “No, no, I’ve troubled you enough. I can go back on my own.”

He straightened his back and walked out of the hall, but the moment he crossed the threshold, his posture collapsed. He dashed back to his room and called for Zhao Lou.

The Secret of the Necklace

At Qingfeng Court, Xie Huai sat despondently looking at a sapphire necklace.

“A-Huai, are you still sad?” An old man approached with a kind smile. “I’m not here for a lesson today, just to see you. I heard you’re getting engaged.”

Xie Huai smiled bitterly. “You’ve heard.”

“Try to stay positive,” the teacher advised.

“How can I stay positive when I’m marrying someone I don’t like?”

The teacher looked at the sapphire necklace. “I feel like I’ve seen that necklace before. About twenty years ago.”

Xie Huai was surprised. “My cousin gave this to me.”

“Ah, I remember now,” the teacher said. “I definitely saw it. Your aunt wore this sapphire necklace on her wedding day. It’s called ‘Unspoken Love’.”

Xie Huai’s heart trembled. Did his cousin have feelings for him? “Cousin, he…”

“Ah Huai, do you love your cousin?”

Xie Huai’s eyes reddened. “I love him, but we can never be together. We are family. All we have is that thin bond of blood.”

The teacher sighed and whispered a secret. “Child, don’t cry. Your aunt was actually adopted by the Xie family. You and A-Yi are not related by blood.”

Xie Huai looked up, eyes wide with shock and then, wild joy.

Punishment in the Ancestral Hall

Inside the Xie Ancestral Hall, flickering candles cast long shadows over the rows of spirit tablets. Xie Junqing looked coldly at the kneeling Xie Su. “Xie Su, do you know your mistake?”

“If it was offending you, Little Uncle, then I admit my mistake,” Xie Su said, his eyes dark.

“You’re not convinced,” Xie Junqing noted.

“Ninth Uncle, aren’t you being too biased toward an outsider?”

“He is not an outsider. He is about to be engaged to Xie Huai.”

Xie Su sneered. “Just an engagement. He’s still a stranger. Even if he marries into the third branch, what does he have to do with you? You protect him now, but will he remember your kindness? He might just stab you in the back for the third branch’s interests. Why bother?”

Xie Junqing remained still.

“Or perhaps,” Xie Su’s voice turned venomous, “you’ve taken a liking to that pretty face? Being a monk for so many years must be lonely. He probably served you well in bed, which is why you’re so biased.”

“Xie Su,” Xie Junqing’s voice was devoid of warmth. “Do not provoke me.”

“What, you want to teach me a lesson yourself?” Xie Su stood up, looking sinister. “Your injury hasn’t healed yet, has it? Can you even hold a blade?”

Suddenly, the room went deathly silent. The next second, the doors slammed shut. A crack of thunder coincided with a piercing scream. Rain began to pour.

When the door opened again, a slender figure walked out, trailing the scent of blood. In a flash of lightning, everyone saw Xie Junqing’s pale face splattered with a shocking red, like red plums blooming in the snow. No one dared to look twice.

Su Quan hurried over with a white handkerchief. Xie Junqing wiped his fingers elegantly. Once clean, he handed back the blood-stained cloth.

“Xie Su has committed a great error. Throw him on the island for three days of reflection.”

“I’ll arrange it,” Su Quan said quickly.

Xie Junqing sneered. “Since the Old Master fell ill, everyone’s mind seems to be wandering. Perhaps we should start the trials early this year to select a new Head of the House?”

His deep gaze swept across the crowd. No one dared to speak.

The Billion Dollar Request

Jiang Xingyuan used his injuries as an excuse to take a week off school. He found it ridiculous that he had to go to school while being engaged.

He had protested to Jiang Hongyuan, who shut him down: “Your father is uneducated. I don’t want your son to suffer for it later. You want him to regret his name for a lifetime?”

Last night’s rain made for a peaceful sleep until a loud pounding on his door woke him.

“Jiang Xingyuan, get out here!” It was Xie Chao.

Jiang Xingyuan ignored it for a few minutes before slowly getting up. He swung the door open, nearly causing Xie Chao to fall in. “What are you doing disturbing me so early?”

Xie Chao looked distraught. “Let my brother out!”

“What?” Jiang Xingyuan dug his ear. “Did I hang your brother up somewhere? Go find your brother yourself. Or, since you’re so pitiful, I can be your brother. Hey, little brother, what do you want?”

“If not for you, Ninth Uncle wouldn’t have punished my brother!”

Jiang Xingyuan laughed. “He was punished for disrespecting Ninth Uncle. What does that have to do with me? Go beg Ninth Uncle yourself.”

“I can’t see him! That’s why I’m here. If you beg him, he’ll listen.”

Xie Chao grabbed his hand. “If my brother stays on that island for three days, he’ll go crazy! The Island of Confinement… for the Xie family, it’s the most terrifying place.”

Jiang Xingyuan refused to budge. “Your brother beat me up! I’m not a saint. I’m not going.”

“I’ll give you money.”

“Doesn’t matter.”

“One hundred million.”

Jiang Xingyuan paused. That was… a lot. His grip on the doorframe loosened. Xie Chao immediately handed him a bank card. “There’s thirty million in here as a deposit. You’ll get the rest when he’s out.”

“Only a third?” Jiang Xingyuan hesitated. “What if I don’t get the rest? Society is complicated, you know.”

“Is a hundred million not enough?” Xie Chao was shocked. “Don’t be too greedy!”

“I’m not going! I have enough money.”

Xie Chao grit his teeth. “I’ll add a factory.”

Jiang Xingyuan’s eyes lit up. “Let me think… how’s the performance? When’s the transfer? What’s the valuation?”

Xie Chao dragged him toward Xie Junqing’s residence. “Xie family industries are solid. My lawyer is already on the way.”

The Blood Stained Handkerchief

Jiang Xingyuan was pushed to the gates of the Jingya Pavilion. Su Quan met him with a grave expression. “Ninth Master isn’t seeing guests today.”

“I just want to see him. Is he okay?” Jiang Xingyuan felt something was wrong. After a moment, Su Quan let him in.

Jiang Xingyuan ran toward the tea room and saw Xie Junqing. “Ninth Uncle!”

Xie Junqing poured a cup of tea. “Why are you here?”

“I… I missed you,” Jiang Xingyuan lied.

Xie Junqing didn’t call him out. “Did you come alone?”

Thinking of Xie Chao waiting outside, Jiang Xingyuan nodded. “Yes, alone.”

Suddenly, a coughing fit seized Xie Junqing. Jiang Xingyuan’s eyes widened as he saw a smear of bright red on Xie Junqing’s handkerchief.

“Ninth Uncle! You’re bleeding!”

Xie Junqing’s face was deathly pale. Jiang Xingyuan rushed to his side. Did Xie Su injure him last night? Is that why he was punished?

“Did Xie Su do this?”

Xie Junqing didn’t speak. He just looked at the youth’s worried face and offered a comforting smile. He placed a hand on the boy’s arm. “Don’t worry, I’m fine.”

“How is this fine?!” Jiang Xingyuan stared at the blood, his anger boiling over. He felt terrible for being “money mad” earlier. He didn’t want the money or the factory anymore. Xie Su could rot on that island forever!

“You can bully me,” Jiang Xingyuan thought, clenching his fists, “but you can’t bully Ninth Uncle!”