Four Years Ago, Her Husband Cheated on Her Body - Chapter 3

37.9°C.

The fever had subsided a little, but it had not gone away completely.

“Very good, the condition hasn’t worsened.” Zhou Chuanbai looked over the temperature fluctuations that Jia Qiao had recorded overnight and let out a slight sigh of relief. “This is already the most effective antipyretic medicine currently available. I suggest you take two more doses and observe the situation.”

Having served as this ‘young master’s’ private doctor for over five years, Zhou Chuanbai was well aware of how fragile and difficult Jia Qiao’s constitution was.

Most medications would develop resistance after being taken no more than twice, and the available drugs were becoming fewer and fewer.

If all antipyretics lost their effectiveness, they would have to rely on injections, which would also eventually become useless after multiple uses.

At that point, if Jia Qiao got a fever again, he could only rely on his physical fitness to endure it.

Heh heh, his physical fitness?

It was absolutely dreadful.

“Thank you, Dr. Zhou.”

Even when feeling unwell, Jia Qiao’s routine remained disciplined; he got up punctually at six-thirty for breakfast.

Because the fever had suppressed his appetite, he managed to drink only two mouthfuls of white porridge, causing Lu Min to pace worriedly on the spot.

Just after seven o’clock, Lu Min watched anxiously as Jia Qiao walked into the study to start his day’s work.

The study was in a completely traditional Chinese style, antique and elegant.

Outside the wide, carved wooden window was a dense bamboo forest, and the drizzling rain rustled softly against the bamboo leaves.

The three screens on the desk were already lit up, entering remote conference mode.

After Zhu Nanyu’s accidental fall off the cliff, Jia Qiao took over the Qianhe Group, which Zhu Nanyu had founded, becoming the acting chairman.

Qianhe Group’s main businesses involved digital electronics, network technology, artificial intelligence, and other fields.

Jia Qiao was not a technical professional and could not participate in the core operations, so he left the company’s research and development and management to Zhu Nanyu’s former colleagues.

In the eyes of the outside world, he was merely a handsome, incompetent puppet who had been entrusted with a position in a crisis.

Even so, Jia Qiao had to personally attend some events.

“A charity gala?”

“Yes.” The executive assistant explained to Jia Qiao via an online app. “This gala has a very high priority. The organizers sent the invitation directly to the company, specifically requesting the chairman’s attendance.”

Although Jia Qiao did not interfere with the company’s operations, he was still the nominal acting chairman and possessed the highest decision-making authority.

Jia Qiao asked, “What kind of gala is it?”

“Ostensibly, it’s to raise funds for the research and conquest of rare diseases. Many celebrities have been invited to perform for charity, and it’s said that the performances and fundraising will be live-streamed online.”

Upon hearing ‘live-streamed,’ Jia Qiao frowned slightly. “Do I have to attend?”

Jia Qiao was not a public figure, but every time he appeared in public, it triggered endless discussions.

Countless people maliciously speculated under the guise of ‘gossip,’ proposing all sorts of conspiracy theories.

It was as if his husband’s death was the greatest accomplishment of his life.

After moving to the isolated countryside, Jia Qiao couldn’t even be bothered to use a smartphone except for handling work.

“It’s not strictly necessary to attend…” the executive assistant said with a difficult tone. “It’s just that the special guest invited to this gala is Lanner, who is supported by enormous foreign capital. We have an important cooperation project in the fourth quarter, and the company really needs this opportunity.”

Jia Qiao remained silent for a moment, his long eyelashes covering his eyes, concealing all emotion.

“I understand.”

.

In the city center, at the charity gala venue, the atmosphere was one of fragrant clothes, beautiful shadows, and total decadence.

In recent years, the most powerful and elite people increasingly enjoyed making a big show of doing charity.

This wasn’t because they liked ‘scattering money’ to the poor, but rather to use charity as a fig leaf, allowing them to legally avoid taxes while also establishing a public image, and having a ready-made “get out of jail free card” if any scandals were exposed.

Inside the ballroom, anyone with a bit of status wanted to squeeze in to expand their network, displaying the various characters of the social game.

The organizers divided the guests into different tiers based on their wealth and power, pre-arranging name cards at each seat, lest anyone be ‘unworthy of their money.’

Wang Liang, a new elite in the business circle, swirled a glass of red wine, his lips appearing stained with fresh blood. He was followed by several ‘brothers’ who shared his distaste for certain people.

Passing by a round table toward the back, Wang Liang’s eyes swept over the name card on the table, and he stopped, letting out a knowing sneer.

“Row Seven, Seat Nine, Acting Chairman of Qianhe Group, Jia Qiao.” Wang Liang picked up the name card, holding it up like a rare object for those around him to pass around. “Being seated in such a remote corner, he’s even worse off than the third-tier celebrities hired to warm up the party.”

These words were like throwing a rock into a cesspit, splashing out a foul ripple and attracting a few flies that huddled together in their shared contempt, buzzing around the incongruous name card.

“Oh my gosh, seriously? Has Qianhe fallen to this extent?”

“Even if Qianhe’s market value hasn’t fluctuated much over the years, they shouldn’t be ranked this far back, should they?”

“That depends on who the person in charge is. If Chairman Zhu were still around, he could sit in the first row even if the company were an empty shell. What a pity, he died young, leaving the company in the hands of a little widower he’d only been married to for half a year.”

“That little widower is really a piece of work. When Zhu Nanyu was alive, he was constantly tormented by him. Every item for the wedding had to be custom-made, and for the wedding ring, he even bought out an Australian mineral source, selecting what he liked from hundreds of raw stones.”

“Tsk, tsk, tsk. It serves Jia Qiao right to be a widower. I heard Zhu Nanyu’s life was literally cursed to death by him; otherwise, why would the little widower have made such a fuss about celebrating his twentieth birthday…”

Catching sight of a car shadow flashing past the window, the discussion abruptly ceased.

Outside the hotel, a black commercial vehicle slowly drove up, cutting through the vast curtain of rain.

The uniformed driver was the first to step out, pulling a large black umbrella from inside the door, opening it to shield them from the continuous drizzle. Only then did he respectfully open the rear door.

Inside the car, a pair of pales, slender hands slowly reached out, gently resting on the driver’s forearm.

Following the hands, a delicate, graceful waist appeared, so slender it seemed fragile. His ink-black hair, as lustrous as a waterfall, was tied up at the small of his back, fastened with a pure white satin ribbon.

Since Zhu Nanyu’s accident, no matter what event Jia Qiao attended, there was always a touch of sorrowful white in his hair.

Holy, tragic, and fiercely loyal.

The people looking out from inside the hotel hadn’t yet clearly seen the beauty’s face through the rain curtain, but they were already mesmerized and captivated by that slender waist.

There were still a few steps leading up to the ballroom. A gust of wind blew the rain askew.

Jia Qiao paused there, lightly coughing twice. His shoulders trembled like delicate butterfly wings, an unnerving sight that made people’s hearts ache.

A gentleman in a suit immediately rushed out of the ballroom, took out his umbrella, and ran up to Jia Qiao in three quick steps, unceremoniously pushing the driver aside to offer his assistance. “Madam Zhu, the path is slippery in the rain. Let me help you inside.”

Hearing the voice, Jia Qiao looked up at him.

Beneath his raven-feather-like long lashes, his clear eyes were like the autumn moon and spring water. His pale skin was flushed with a perfect trace of crimson due to the low fever, causing the gentleman to stare fixedly, completely infatuated.

“Thank you, but there’s no need.” Jia Qiao pushed away the hand attempting to assist him, straightened his back—which seemed fragile and easily broken—and stepped up the stairs one by one through the fine rain.

Those few short steps seemed to have completely exhausted his strength.

Jia Qiao entered the bustling and noisy ballroom. Greeting the glances that were either covetous, pitying, or malicious, he walked straight to the corner seat specifically arranged by the organizers. He asked a waiter to take away the champagne in front of him and bring a glass of warm water instead.

The buzzing frequency of the annoying flies increased, faintly reaching Jia Qiao’s ears from all directions.

“Although I’ve long heard that the little widower is a spendthrift and a curse to his husband, that face is truly… exquisitely beautiful. No wonder a man like Zhu Nanyu was utterly charmed by him.”

“I remember he became a widower at 19. He must be very lonely living alone all these years, right? If I were to marry him, wouldn’t I also get the inheritance left by Zhu Nanyu?”

“Such a huge inheritance, could you even manage it? Why don’t you let me try!”

Jia Qiao picked up the champagne glass containing the warm water. His eyelashes cast a faint dark shadow, and he seemed not to hear the vulgar remarks.

Seeing this, Wang Liang strutted over and clinked his red wine glass against Jia Qiao’s.

A few spots of blood-red liquid splashed into the warm water, slowly spreading and sinking to the bottom.

“…” Jia Qiao subtly frowned, glancing at the newcomer from the corner of his eye.

He had attended business functions with Zhu Nanyu and had met Wang Liang a few times.

In his early years, this man was unsuccessful in starting a business and begged everyone for help. He later luckily gained Zhu Nanyu’s appreciation, who advised him on catching the right market trend to rise quickly.

Now that his company had just begun to show promise, he styled himself as a ‘business nouveau riche,’ high-profilely attending various high society events, preening like a peacock to show off everywhere.

“Jia Qiao, we meet again.” Wang Liang’s tone was deliberately familiar. “Do you still remember me?”

“You are…?”

“My name is Wang Liang, I’m the CEO of Wangyang Technology.” Wang Liang stated his name, adding, “About five or six years ago, when I was just starting my business, it was Chairman Zhu who signed my first major contract.”

Jia Qiao avoided his gaze, his tone polite and distant. “Nanyu rarely discussed his business affairs with me.”

“…I was just an unknown person back then, so it’s normal that Chairman Zhu didn’t mention me.” Wang Liang met with a polite refusal, and his tone clearly became stiff, as he boastfully put on airs. “I was incredibly lucky later on, and my business has been booming. Although I can’t compare to the Zhu family’s company right now, I’ll definitely catch up in a couple of years.”

Wang Liang deliberately emphasized the word ‘now,’ reminding Jia Qiao to be aware of the current situation.

Jia Qiao turned his face, his gaze lightly resting on Wang Liang’s face, a faint curve forming at the corner of his lips. “That’s truly congratulations.”

The word ‘congratulations’ immensely pleased Wang Liang, whose vanity was greatly satisfied.

He took advantage of the situation and leaned closer, placing his hand on the back of Jia Qiao’s chair, creating a posture that was almost an embrace. His tone became increasingly ambiguous and frivolous. “The fact that I am where I am today is all thanks to Chairman Zhu’s discerning eye back then. Since he’s passed away, if you run into any difficulties, just tell me. I will certainly… take good care of you on Chairman Zhu’s behalf.”

Jia Qiao did not speak, silently staring at the faint red settling at the bottom of the champagne glass in front of him.

I can’t drink this water now. What a waste.

Wang Liang clearly interpreted Jia Qiao’s silence as permission or shyness. His eyes greedily lingered on Jia Qiao’s profile and neck; his big head was completely controlled by his little head.

“Speaking of which, Chairman Zhu died at a terrible time, leaving you so young to…”

“…” The fingers Jia Qiao used to hold the glass tightened slightly. He stood up before Wang Liang could finish speaking. “I feel a bit stuffy.”

With that, he looked down at Wang Liang, a delicate and somewhat alluring look flashing in his eyes, and his naturally pampered voice was soft and gentle.

“I’m going outside to get some air.”

“Good, good, get some air.” Wang Liang’s gaze was practically glued to his face, and he self-indulgently took the tempting look as some sort of invitation, his heart instantly blossoming with joy.

Watching Jia Qiao walk towards the balcony, he eagerly followed.

The guests were all gathered in the ballroom. The open-air balcony was sprinkled with fine rain, and the night wind was chilly.

Jia Qiao gently pushed the door, separating the balcony from the busy inner hall, his figure disappearing into the boundless shadow.

Wang Liang rushed onto the balcony, his eyes not yet adapted to the darkness when he heard a crisp shattering sound.

He saw Jia Qiao’s slender wrist gripping the glass. With a gentle tap on the balcony railing, the delicate crystal glass immediately shattered into uneven, sharp jagged pieces.

“Jia Qiao? You…”

Wang Liang was about to ask why Jia Qiao was breaking the glass, but then he saw the other man turn around sharply, his movement so fast it left an afterimage.

In a flash, with an inescapable force, Jia Qiao yanked Wang Liang’s tie forward while simultaneously bringing his bent knee up to strike Wang Liang heavily in the abdomen.

Wang Liang felt intense pain and dizziness. When he recovered, his whole body was being pressed over the railing, his neck held in a vice-like grip.

“What did you just say?”

Jia Qiao leaned down slightly, staring coldly at the man’s bruised face, his gentle voice carrying a cruelty that seemed to come from hell.

“Who died at a terrible time?”