After The Beautiful Drama Queen’s Marriage To The Wealthy Tycoon - Chapter 13

Chapter 13: Protection

After washing up and changing, Jiang He regained his usual bright and sunny appearance, as if his earlier disarray had been a mere illusion.

Once ready, Jiang He went straight to the room where Fang Zhiyi was staying and knocked. Seeing Fang Zhiyi with messy bed-head, he reached out and ruffled the nest of hair. “Xiao Yi, how did you sleep last night?”

Fang Zhiyi let out a yawn and leaned limply against Jiang He. “Headache.”

Finding a kindred spirit, Jiang He’s brows knit tightly. “Me too. I’m never drinking again. Let’s go downstairs; Qi Hanchuan said he had the kitchen prepare hangover soup. We should have some.”

Fang Zhiyi looked at Qi Hanchuan, who was not far off, and gave a polite nod. He then lowered his voice and whispered to Jiang He, “Xiao He, I actually think your husband is pretty good to you. He carried you back personally last night.”

Jiang He froze. “He carried me back?”

He had absolutely no memory of it. No wonder strange, fragmented images had been floating in his mind—Qi Hanchuan holding him and coaxing him softly. He had thought his brain was malfunctioning from the alcohol.

Fang Zhiyi hummed in affirmation. “I’m pretty sure he did.” Having been dragged out to drink by lab-mates at school a few times, his tolerance was slightly better than Jiang He’s; he didn’t black out as easily.

Jiang He remained silent for a few seconds, frustratedly messing up his own hair before pushing Fang Zhiyi toward the elevator. “I never said he was bad to me. I just said he’s cold and doesn’t talk much.”

In truth, Qi Hanchuan had been quite good to him. Since moving in, Jiang He had completely taken over the master bedroom, and Qi Hanchuan hadn’t breathed a word of complaint he even helped him organize his things. He promised to buy flowers and did so the very next day. He even personally came to the Jiang house to apologize and bring him back. Even when Jiang He went to a club to order male models, Qi Hanchuan went to pick him up.

Actually… Qi Hanchuan is a very qualified husband.

But Jiang He didn’t want him to be so qualified. He had only married the man to spite Qi Xu. If Qi Hanchuan was too good, Jiang He would start feeling guilty.

His shoulder was shaken twice. Fang Zhiyi’s worried voice broke through his thoughts. “Xiao He? What’s wrong? You look pale.”

Jiang He forced a strained smile, his tone heavy. “Nothing. I just feel like I should be a bit nicer to Qi Hanchuan from now on.”

Fang Zhiyi threw an arm around Jiang He’s shoulder and gave his soft hair a rub. “Since you’ve already registered the marriage and there’s the old family connection, try to get along. I think he’s a decent guy. Most people avoid me like the plague, but your husband doesn’t seem to care about that.”

“Who dares look down on you?” Jiang He instantly bristled like a cat. “I’ll beat them to death.”

Fang Zhiyi laughed. “With the Young Master Jiang here, who would dare? I am Jiang He’s best friend, after all.” If it hadn’t been for Jiang He over the years, he likely would have given up on himself long ago. He was deeply grateful to both Jiang He and the Jiang family.

Jiang He huffed, clearly displeased. “As long as you know. Don’t go belittling yourself all the time.”

As a lifelong friend, Fang Zhiyi could read Jiang He’s emotions with a single look. He pinched Jiang He’s cheek and explained with a smile, “Drank too much last night, my brain isn’t fully online. You know I didn’t mean it like that.”

Jiang He brushed his hand away. “If you ever say something like that again, I’ll really be mad.” In Jiang He’s heart, Fang Zhiyi was ten thousand times better than Fang Zhixu; the Fang family were fools who couldn’t tell a pearl from a pebble.

Fang Zhiyi quickly promised, “I won’t say it again, I swear.”

The elevator reached the ground floor. The butler greeted them with a smile, showing them to their seats while the kitchen brought out the hangover soup.

Jiang He’s head had been thumping with a dull pain all morning, but he felt much better after the soup. However, he had no appetite. He only managed a few bites of breakfast and tried to bolt after being stared down by Qi Hanchuan into drinking half a glass of milk, only to be pressed back into his chair by his shoulder.

The grip was a bit firm, making Jiang He irritable. “What now?”

Qi Hanchuan didn’t look at him, his voice level. “Your brother is coming over. Don’t leave yet.”

Jiang He’s pupils shrank. “No way… you’re a snitch? My brother will kill me if he knows I went out drinking!” He didn’t remember acting spoiled and begging Qi Hanchuan to keep his secret last night, so he naturally assumed Jiang Xu was coming to lecture him.

“Then tell him you didn’t drink. You just ordered ten male models,” Qi Hanchuan said deadpan, his voice dripping with dry humor.

Jiang He’s lip twitched. He tried to push the hand off his shoulder to make a run for it, only to stand up and lock eyes with Jiang Xu.

“Looks like I arrived just in time,” Jiang Xu said with a smile as he walked toward them. Jiang He retreated in a panic.

Just as he turned to flee the scene, Jiang Xu grabbed him by the scruff of his neck. “What guilty thing did you do? Trying to run the moment you see me.”

Guilty and not daring to look him in the eye, Jiang He chirped obediently, “Brother… what brings you here so early in the morning?”

“Coming over for breakfast. Am I not welcome?” Jiang Xu steered Jiang He back to the table. The butler quickly signaled for another set of breakfast.

Jiang He’s heart was in his throat, but Jiang Xu didn’t say anything further, acting as if he really was just there for a meal. Finally, finding a gap to escape, Jiang Xu’s voice drifted into his ear like a ghost: “Xiao He, nothing you want to tell your brother?”

Jiang He’s knees went weak, and he slumped back into his chair, head bowed. “I won’t go there again.” Qi Hanchuan, that traitor, he really did snitch.

Seeing Jiang He glaring secretly at Qi Hanchuan, Jiang Xu slapped the table with a cold face. “You’ve grown quite bold, haven’t you? Drinking in a place like that. I heard you even ordered ten male models?”

Jiang He’s resentment toward Qi Hanchuan deepened, and he threw him a blatant, questioning glare.

Jiang Xu snorted. “You really think I wouldn’t find out just because you asked him to keep it a secret?”

Jiang He muttered under his breath, “He clearly told you. Stop pretending.”

Jiang Xu heard him and a small smile touched his face. “Then you really guessed wrong. Pei Mingxuan told me. It has nothing to do with Hanchuan.”

Originally, Jiang Xu was a generation younger than Qi Hanchuan and would address him formally as “President Qi,” but now that Qi Hanchuan was his brother-in-law, that was too distant. Calling him by his full name was too formal, so Jiang Xu had automatically switched to “A-Chuan.” He never thought he’d see the day he could look down on Qi Hanchuan from a senior position. Honestly, it felt pretty good.

Jiang He didn’t care about the honorifics. He frowned. “Who is Pei Mingxuan?”

“The young master of the Pei family. The owner of the club you visited,” Jiang Xu explained patiently.

Jiang He gritted his teeth. “Fine. I’ve noted his name.”

Jiang Xu dropped his smile. “Don’t you dare try to cause trouble for him. I’m here to teach you a lesson today. You’re already in poor health and you dared to go out drinking? Do you even know what kind of place that is? If someone had taken advantage of you, you wouldn’t even have a place to cry.” He had wanted to go grab him the moment he got the message last night, but Pei Mingxuan said Qi Hanchuan had already taken him. Jiang Xu had waited until morning to settle the score.

Fang Zhiyi quickly spoke up. “Brother Jiang Xu, it’s not Xiao He’s fault. I wanted to go, and he just accompanied me. Don’t scold him. We won’t go again.”

Jiang He stepped in front of Fang Zhiyi to shield him. “I was the one who wanted to go. It has nothing to do with Xiao Yi. Hit me or scold me as you like, but I won’t go again.”

Jiang He knew Jiang Xu was worried. He was just tired yesterday and wanted to relax, but he knew he shouldn’t have gone. He realized he was wrong, but getting Jiang He to admit it out loud was harder than climbing to heaven.

The atmosphere was tense. Jiang Xu was already angry, and seeing Jiang He’s defiant protection of his friend made his temper flare even higher. Just as it was about to spiral, Qi Hanchuan spoke up tonelessly: “Let’s go.”

Everyone looked at him in unison. Jiang He was dazed, not knowing who Qi Hanchuan was talking to. Qi Hanchuan simply stood up and walked away without another word of explanation.

Jiang He and Fang Zhiyi exchanged a look, hesitating whether to follow. Jiang Xu passed by them, saying coldly, “I’ll settle the bill with you later.”

Jiang He blinked. Did Qi Hanchuan just save me?

While he was dazing, Fang Zhiyi whispered, “Xiao He, should we run?”

Jiang He didn’t answer. He grabbed Fang Zhiyi and bolted for the door. The butler chased after them, calling for the driver to take them.

Upstairs in the third-floor study, Jiang Xu watched the two escape. He let out a cold laugh. “I didn’t expect President Qi to be the type to provide cover for someone. How rare.”

Qi Hanchuan didn’t reply. Instead, he handed Jiang Xu several resumes.

Jiang Xu glanced at them and tossed them back on the desk. “It’s no use. We’ve seen many doctors over the years, and there’s never any effect. Besides, Xiao He is very resistant now. The psychologist said that in his current state, he shouldn’t continue forced treatment.”

Qi Hanchuan’s brow furrowed imperceptibly.

Jiang Xu sighed and patted Qi Hanchuan’s shoulder. “I appreciate the thought. But if he finds out you’re secretly looking for a psychologist for him, that kid will throw a fit. The family has worried enough over the years, but since he’s unwilling, the doctors say we shouldn’t force him, or it will backfire.”

After a long silence, Qi Hanchuan asked, “Is it because of the kidnapping when he was a child?”

Jiang Xu turned to look out the window. Even after all these years, his voice still choked up. “Yes. He told Xiao Yi to run first. Later, Xiao Yi found us and led us there. Xiao He was lying limp in a damp, dark basement. I felt like my soul had left my body. After he woke up, he was left with severe psychological issues. He’s much better now, but in those first few years, he had claustrophobia, a fear of small spaces, and refused to leave the house.”

Back then, the Jiang family was at its peak. A competitor had targeted Jiang He to force Jiang Chenwei to drop a bid. Jiang Chenwei had actually compromised, and the other party agreed to release him, but then they reneged. Furious, Jiang Chenwei destroyed that competitor’s company within hours.

That company no longer exists in Hai City. But Jiang He was left with a shadow that became a thorn in the heart of every member of the Jiang family.

Qi Hanchuan didn’t know what to say. His heart felt heavy.

“You’ll have to take more care of him in the future. He’s delicate—you can’t hit him, you can’t scold him, and you have to coax him with kind words,” Jiang Xu said with a smile. “You’re stuck with a wife like this. You just have to endure it.”

Qi Hanchuan gave a low “Mhm,” serving as a promise.