After The Beautiful Drama Queen’s Marriage To The Wealthy Tycoon - Chapter 26

Chapter 26: Bad Boy

With the previous lesson learned, Qi Hanchuan supervised Jiang He’s medicine intake every day. When he wasn’t home, he would initiate a video call to ensure Jiang He drank it in front of him. He didn’t allow a single forbidden food, and combined with acupuncture treatments, it took nearly half a month for Jiang He to fully recover.

Having been cooped up at home for too long, the moment he was well, Jiang He scrambled over to the rescue station to find Fang Zhiyi. He started complaining the moment they met: “You have no idea how overboard he went! ‘Don’t eat this, don’t eat that.’ I was eating things with zero flavor every day. He practically abused me until I got thin.”

Fang Zhiyi shook his head and laughed. “If he hadn’t, would you have recovered?”

Jiang He argued stubbornly, “Of course I would have! I suspect it was his restriction of my freedom that led to my bad mood, which is why I recovered so slowly.”

Recently, the weather had been poor constant drizzling rain. Qi Hanchuan hadn’t let him out, saying a chill would slow his recovery. He even threatened Jiang He with the previous incident: if Jiang He didn’t behave, Qi Hanchuan would tell his family about his refusal to take medicine. Facing a “triple threat” scolding from his parents and brother, Jiang He had no choice but to be obedient.

Fang Zhiyi stuffed a kitten into Jiang He’s arms and placed another into the drying box. “Give it a rest. If he let you run wild, who knows what your illness would have turned into. He did the right thing.”

Jiang He petted the kitten and said loudly, “Xiao Yi, why are you taking his side? Look at what your best friend has been through—the meat on my face is all gone!”

He had lost a lot of weight. Fang Zhiyi started lathering up the next kitten for a bath. “I’ll treat you to something delicious tonight.”

Jiang He stepped up to help, grinning. “Let me treat you. What do you want to eat?”

Fang Zhiyi was still a student, and the Fang family didn’t provide him with a living allowance; his money came from part-time jobs and scholarships. Jiang He couldn’t bear to let him pay.

Fang Zhiyi was practiced in his movements, handing a washed kitten to Jiang He to blow-dry. “You always pay. My turn this time. My project bonus came in, so I have money.”

Hearing this, Jiang He didn’t stand on ceremony. While drying the kitten, he said, “Fine! You pay then. Let me think about what I want and I’ll tell you later.”

Fang Zhiyi smiled. “You should check with your husband first, in case he won’t let you go.”

Jiang He huffed, ruffling the dry kitten’s fur into a mess before letting it down. “I’m going even if he says no. I don’t care about him.”

Despite his words, he still sent a message to Qi Hanchuan saying he was going out to dinner with Fang Zhiyi. Qi Hanchuan agreed, specifically reminding Jiang He not to drink any alcohol.

Jiang He intentionally skipped over that part of the message. What if my mood is too good to control myself?Ultimately, Jiang He decided on the same restaurant he had visited with Qi Hanchuan. The manager there recognized him; he figured they might get a discount, which would save Fang Zhiyi some money.

Sure enough, as soon as they arrived, Manager Wang personally brought over a bottle of red wine, explaining it was a “complimentary gift” so they could drink with peace of mind.

Fang Zhiyi stared at the bottle for a moment and whispered to Jiang He, “If I remember correctly, this wine is 30,000 yuan a bottle. A gift?”

The manager overheard and explained with a smile, “It is our honor to have Young Master Jiang here. This is from my private collection; consider it a personal gift from me.”

Jiang He looked at the bottle. This manager is quite sharp. He smiled and said, “Then we won’t refuse your kindness. Thank you, Manager Wang.”

As they ate, Jiang He suddenly asked, “Xiao Yi, the Fang family hasn’t been giving you trouble lately, have they?”

Fang Zhiyi froze, a hint of unnaturalness in his expression. He lowered his eyes. “No.”

Jiang He instantly sensed something was wrong. “Really? I feel like you’re hiding something.” Because of his illness, Jiang He hadn’t been paying attention to the outside world. Fang Zhiyi was the type to report only good news and hide the bad.

Fang Zhiyi hesitated, then forced a smile. “It’s nothing. Let’s eat.”

Jiang He stared at him in silence. Perhaps from spending so much time with Qi Hanchuan, his “cold face” was becoming quite convincing.

Fang Zhiyi sighed in defeat. “The Fang family wants an alliance with the Xie family.”

Jiang He’s face went cold. “They want to send you?”

Fang Zhiyi put down his chopsticks, looking desolate. “Fang Zhixu is already engaged to the Lin family’s daughter. It has to be me. But I don’t want to…” He didn’t want to be anyone’s appendage or a tool for family profit.

Jiang He patted his shoulder solemnly. “If you don’t want to, no one can force you. Don’t worry, I’ve got your back.”

Knowing Fang Zhiyi was in a bad mood, Jiang He pulled him into drinking some wine. Neither of them had a high tolerance—especially Jiang He, who could get tipsy even on red wine.

When Qi Hanchuan called, it was Fang Zhiyi who answered. Hearing the cold male voice on the other end, Fang Zhiyi sobered up slightly. “Mr. Qi, it’s Fang Zhiyi. Xiao He is… drunk. He can’t come to the phone.”

Qi Hanchuan asked for the address and hung up. His voice sounded icy, as if he were furious.

Ten minutes later, the door to the private room was pushed open. Qi Hanchuan walked in, his presence heavy and oppressive. Fang Zhiyi instinctively felt afraid and tugged on Jiang He, who was thoroughly wasted. Being disturbed, Jiang He muttered a curse which Qi Hanchuan heard perfectly.

Qi Hanchuan told his secretary, Zhou Yu, to take Fang Zhiyi to the car first. He then stood there, frowning at Jiang He, who was slumped on the table.

Fang Zhiyi, being supported by Zhou Yu, hesitated before pleading, “Um… please don’t hit him, okay?”

Qi Hanchuan gave a cold “Mm” and waved them away.

Jiang He was completely out of it. Qi Hanchuan stood there for nearly a minute, but the boy showed no sign of getting up, just mumbling incoherent words into the table. Qi Hanchuan was genuinely angry he had explicitly told him not to drink.

As if sensing something, Jiang He looked up with a goofy grin. “Hubby, you’re here.”

“Didn’t I tell you not to drink?” Qi Hanchuan said icily.

Jiang He cupped his own face and swayed his head, lying through his teeth: “It’s not alcohol I’m drinking grape juice.” To prove it, he even tried to grab the remaining half-glass of wine, but Qi Hanchuan caught his wrist.

Qi Hanchuan’s hand was cold. Jiang He shivered and struggled, but the grip only tightened. He frowned, his eyes unable to focus. “It hurts.”

Qi Hanchuan loosened his grip, his expression frigid. “Jiang He, will you ever be obedient?”

Jiang He nodded meekly. “I’ll be obedient.”

Qi Hanchuan forced himself not to look into those watery eyes. “You want to get sick again, don’t you?”

“I don’t,” Jiang He’s head tilted, landing directly against Qi Hanchuan’s stomach. He mumbled, “I didn’t do it on purpose. I’m in a bad mood… I’m very sad.”

Qi Hanchuan had never seen someone so capable of making excuses even while drunk. Manager Wang, hearing that Qi Hanchuan had arrived, hurried over. But seeing the cold atmosphere, he felt a sense of impending doom.

Qi Hanchuan glanced at the manager. “You gave him the wine?”

Manager Wang’s knees went weak. He lowered his head, his voice trembling: “I-I’m sorry, President Qi. I didn’t know Young Master Jiang couldn’t drink.”

“Don’t let it happen again,” Qi Hanchuan said.

Y-yes…

Jiang He started talking to himself again, and before long, he started crying. Qi Hanchuan pinched Jiang He’s chin, forcing him to look up. His gaze was aggressive, like a predator examining its prey. Looking at that tear-stained little face, his voice remained cool: “Drunk enough to dare to cry.”

Jiang He pouted, looking aggrieved. “Hubby…”

“You are not good at all,” Qi Hanchuan said while wiping his tears.

“I am good!” Jiang He frowned in protest.

Manager Wang, watching the two bicker, didn’t know whether to stay or go. Suddenly, Qi Hanchuan’s bone-chilling voice rang out: “Get out.”

The manager fled, closing the door behind him.

Jiang He whimpered, “You’re so mean.”

The coldness in Qi Hanchuan’s eyes faded, replaced by resignation. “I wasn’t being mean to you.” Seeing the boy’s heartbroken expression, Qi Hanchuan’s rough thumb brushed over his chin, gently tilting his face up. “You don’t take your medicine properly, and you don’t listen when told not to drink.”

Bad boy.

Jiang He countered unhappily, “I’m a good boy!”

Qi Hanchuan let out a cold huff, a faint curve appearing on his lips. “Little brat.”

“I’m not…” Jiang He’s words became jumbled. “I want you to hold me. My head is spinning.”

Qi Hanchuan’s gaze fell on Jiang He’s flushed lips. “Why do you always want to be held? Do you want a hug from whoever shows up?”

Jiang He shook his head, his lashes still wet as he gave Qi Hanchuan a silly smile. “Only Hubby can hold me.”

The tightness in Qi Hanchuan’s brow finally smoothed out, and his cold eyes softened with warmth. He bent down and picked the boy up, warning coldly, “See what happens if you’re disobedient next time.”

Jiang He didn’t say a word. He buried his face in Qi Hanchuan’s shoulder and pretended to fall asleep.