After The Beautiful Drama Queen’s Marriage To The Wealthy Tycoon - Chapter 25

Chapter 25: Hubby Don’t Be Mad

Jiang He’s illness this time was long and lingering. Whenever Qi Hanchuan wasn’t home, he refused to drink the dark, bitter herbal decoctions. Coupled with the cooling weather and the endless drizzling rain, his recovery was even slower than expected.

At that moment, Jiang He had been caught red-handed by Qi Hanchuan while trying to secretly pour his medicine down the drain. He was currently acting spoiled in an attempt to muddle through.

“I’m sorry, okay? That medicine is just way too bitter. I won’t pour it out ever again.”

Qi Hanchuan looked at him expressionlessly, his voice turning cold. “How many times has this been?”

The first time Jiang He said instantly, without a moment’s hesitation.

If Qi Hanchuan didn’t have a rough understanding of his personality, he probably would have believed that innocent, aggrieved face. As the man’s expression turned icy, Jiang He immediately confessed: “The third time.”

Realizing he was in the wrong, Jiang He slumped his small face and played the pity card. “It’s all because this herbal soup is too bitter, way more bitter than the last ones. You know I never kick up a fuss when it’s Western medicine I take it whenever you tell me to. But this one is truly awful. Every time I finish it, I feel like throwing up. It’s miserable.”

Qi Hanchuan tried his best not to look into Jiang He’s eyes, focusing his gaze on the boy’s collarbone instead. “Are you sure it’s only the third time?”

No wonder the cough was healing so slowly. It turned out he was pouring out the medicine behind his back and likely sneaking cold food. He shouldn’t have assumed Jiang He would be obedient; without someone watching him, this person was a total little devil.

When Qi Hanchuan played the “cold CEO” part, he was quite convincing. Combined with his own guilty conscience, Jiang He truthfully confessed: “Counting the ones before… it’s the fifth time.”

Qi Hanchuan took a deep breath, his tone low. “You’ve only had eight doses of this herbal soup in total, and you poured out five?”

The remaining three were only consumed because Qi Hanchuan had supervised him personally. No wonder he had been so well-behaved those times; it was all a ruse to lower his guard. He had been wondering why recovery was so slow and was even planning to take Jiang He for a full-body checkup—he’d already made the appointment—only to find out the medicine wasn’t being taken at all.

Jiang He lowered his head guiltily, whispering, “Because it’s too bitter.”

Qi Hanchuan kept his tone as level as possible. “Besides pouring out the medicine, what else did you do?”

If it were just missing medicine, recovery wouldn’t be this stunted. It had been a long time, and with all the various cough-suppressing soups combined with Chinese medicine, he shouldn’t still be coughing like this even if he missed a few doses.

Jiang He didn’t answer. He looked up at Qi Hanchuan’s dark face and said in a soft, sweet voice: “Hubby, don’t be mad. I’ll drink my medicine properly from now on.”

If Qi Hanchuan complained to his parents or Jiang Xu, he would be absolutely dead.

Seeing him soften, Qi Hanchuan spoke with certainty: “You ate ice cream.”

Jiang He’s guilt intensified. He lowered his head, not daring to look at Qi Hanchuan, his voice as soft as a mosquito’s buzz. “I didn’t…”

Qi Hanchuan said nothing, staring at him expressionlessly.

Jiang He covered his chest and coughed a few times, turning to head downstairs. “I’m so hungry. Let’s go eat.”

His collar was suddenly grabbed, his feet left the ground, and a moment later he was back by Qi Hanchuan’s side, looking up at that stunningly handsome, icy face.

Jiang He struggled, his accusation lacking conviction. “What are you doing? This is uncomfortable. Let me go.”

How was he supposed to know Qi Hanchuan would suddenly come home at noon today? He reasonably suspected the man had come back specifically to catch him; otherwise, how could it be such a coincidence that he was caught right as he was pouring the medicine?

Qi Hanchuan looked the same as usual, but Jiang He could feel he was angry—for the first time since they got married.

Knowing he couldn’t hide it, he confessed everything. “I ate half of one at the rescue station yesterday. Fang Zhiyi threw the rest away.”

Qi Hanchuan set Jiang He down on the sofa and looked down at him. “And?”

The pressure was too much. Even Jiang He was starting to feel scared. He kept his head down, showing the top of his head to Qi Hanchuan. “I ate half a refrigerated cake the day before yesterday. Sister Wang caught me.”

Qi Hanchuan took several deep breaths to calm down. He frowned and said to Jiang He, “Confess everything all at once.”

He was like a child; he had to be watched just to take medicine, and he was sneaking treats without a single thought for his own health. No wonder Jiang Xu had suddenly messaged him to go home at noon; clearly, this wasn’t Jiang He’s first time doing this.

Jiang He honestly spilled everything: sneaking out for hotpot with Fang Zhiyi three days ago; buying a Frappuccino on the way home after visiting Qi Hanchuan’s mother’s grave and asking the driver to hide it; and every time Qi Hanchuan wasn’t home, he would hide from the servants to eat refrigerated mini-cakes.

Every single incident was laid out clearly, including the time, place, and quantity.

Qi Hanchuan was angry enough to want to give him a piece of his mind, but looking at that innocent face, he couldn’t quite bring himself to be too harsh.

Jiang He looked at Qi Hanchuan’s clenched fist, thinking his head would be flattened if that punch landed. He quickly blurted out, “I’m sorry.”

Qi Hanchuan’s voice was cold. “You don’t care about your own body. You don’t need to say sorry to me.”

As a peace offering, Jiang He tugged at the hem of Qi Hanchuan’s shirt. “Don’t be mad.”

He knew he shouldn’t be so immature, but he had been sick for nearly a month now. That black herbal soup really was disgusting—he felt nauseous after every sip—and the dietary restrictions were endless, banning everything he actually liked. How was he supposed to resist?

So, it wasn’t his fault. It was the fault of the bad weather and the slow-healing illness. It had nothing to do with him.

Qi Hanchuan tried to ignore him, but Jiang He had a whole toolkit for coaxing people. If acting spoiled didn’t work, he tried being cute; if that failed, he tried “righteous indignation”; and if all else failed, he would just go in for a hug, burying his face in the man’s chest to fake cry. His methods were endless.

Seeing him “crying” with increasing vigor, Qi Hanchuan finally spoke: “Fine, stop. That dry wailing is bad for your throat.”

Jiang He looked up at him, his eyes watery. It wasn’t dry wailing; he was actually crying.

Qi Hanchuan pulled out a tissue to wipe his face, saying coldly, “You have the nerve to cry after doing something wrong.”

Jiang He pouted, his tears flowing even faster. “The ones at fault are the weather, the sickness, and the gross medicine. I did nothing wrong.”

He knew he couldn’t get away without crying, so he had pinched his thigh twice under the table—it hurt like hell and would probably bruise.

Qi Hanchuan allowed Jiang He to cling to his waist, his calloused thumb brushing the tears from Jiang He’s cheek. His anger had been drained out of him. “Sophistry.”

Jiang He felt genuinely aggrieved, his voice rising. “I’m telling the truth!”

Qi Hanchuan sighed helplessly. “If you do this again, I’m not looking after you. I’ll let your brother handle it.”

Jiang He said hurriedly, “Don’t! I won’t do it again.”

He could manipulate Qi Hanchuan, but Jiang Xu was a different story. If his brother found out what he’d been up to, he’d be in real trouble.

Qi Hanchuan gave a cold snort, casually wiping away the tears. “You act like a law unto yourself with me. I thought you weren’t afraid of anyone.”

Jiang He couldn’t argue. He really wasn’t afraid of Qi Hanchuan because he knew Qi Hanchuan wouldn’t hit him; the man would just huff in frustration, and as soon as Jiang He cried or acted spoiled, the anger would vanish.

After cleaning him up, Qi Hanchuan pried Jiang He’s hands away. “From now on, I will personally watch you drink every dose. No cold drinks or ice cream for the next two weeks.”

Having hugged him for so long, Jiang He was covered in Qi Hanchuan’s scent. He scrunched his nose. “I think I’ll be better in ten days. Can’t I eat them then?”

Qi Hanchuan ignored his pitiful expression, remaining firm. “We’ll talk about it when you’re better.”

Jiang He suddenly called out: “Hubby.”

Knowing he was about to try another move, Qi Hanchuan said directly: “Go wash your face.

Jiang He said naturally, “You wash it for me. I don’t feel well.

He had been using this trick throughout his illness, making Qi Hanchuan wait on him every day. It worked every time.

But this time, it failed. Instead of helping, Qi Hanchuan mocked him: “You didn’t feel bad when you were eating ice cream or hotpot, but suddenly you’re too ill to wash your face.”

As Jiang He prepared to pout, Qi Hanchuan added coldly: “Wash it yourself.”

Jiang He looked at him, his face full of disappointment. “Fine. Just a few days ago, you promised at your mother’s grave that you’d take good care of me. Only a few days have passed and someone has already forgotten his promise. Truly, the world is cold and human hearts are fickle.”

When they had gone to pay respects to Qi Hanchuan’s mother, Jiang He had forced a promise out of him. Exactly how he forced it wasn’t important.

Qi Hanchuan couldn’t help but expose him: “You were the one talking to yourself and then forced me to agree. I never said it.”

Jiang He stood up to argue. “But you did agree! A promise is a promise. I’m six years younger than you and I’m sick; it’s only right that you’re more patient and take care of me.”

Qi Hanchuan countered: Am I not taking care of you?

The boy had secretly poured out his medicine and lied to him, yet he still had the nerve to make demands with total confidence. What a little brat.

Jiang He lost his momentum, his shoulders drooping. “You are, but I need your care even more right now. I don’t want to wash my own face. You do it.”

Seeing the look of utter grievance on Jiang He’s face, Qi Hanchuan had no choice but to help him wash up, mentally labeling him a “drama queen.”

After washing his face, Jiang He instructed Qi Hanchuan to apply his face cream. He tilted his head back and closed his eyes, asking casually, “Do you find me hard to serve?”

Qi Hanchuan carefully evened out the cream on Jiang He’s skin, not answering.

Jiang He didn’t give up. “Hubby, do you think I’m hard to serve?”

Qi Hanchuan capped the cream and put it back, glancing at him. “What do you think?”

He had never met anyone as high-maintenance as Jiang He, but the boy’s saving grace was that beautiful face and his ability to be flexible when needed, making it impossible to stay truly angry.

Jiang He grinned. “It must not be hard. I’m already very well-behaved.

Qi Hanchuan remained expressionless. “Go downstairs for lunch.

Jiang He was particularly guilty today, so he didn’t dare demand a carry. He followed obediently behind Qi Hanchuan. To keep up the “pity” act, he took three steps for every cough, looking at Qi Hanchuan’s back with watery, soulful eyes.

The butler and the servants were shaken by the aura Qi Hanchuan had displayed earlier, terrified he might have actually struck Jiang He.

Since Jiang He was hiding behind Qi Hanchuan, the butler didn’t see him and rushed forward to plead: “Sir, Young Master Jiang is young and doesn’t know better. It’s my fault for not watching him drink the medicine. Please don’t be too hard on him. That medicine really is difficult to drink; he didn’t mean it.”

Hearing this, a faint smile flickered in Qi Hanchuan’s eyes.

He’s even good at winning people over, Qi Hanchuan thought. He hasn’t lived here long and he’s already bought over everyone in the house.

Jiang He was touched by the butler’s words. He peeked out from behind Qi Hanchuan on his tiptoes, smiling. “Uncle Lin, thank you! But I’m okay, he didn’t hit me.”

Uncle Lin looked embarrassed. “That’s good. Lunch is ready; I’ll tell the kitchen to bring it out.

Qi Hanchuan looked down at Jiang He. You’re quite capable.

Jiang He pouted arrogantly and gave a huff. Of course. I’m likable.

Qi Hanchuan neither agreed nor disagreed.