Refusing Divorce After a Contract Marriage - Chapter 15

Chapter 15: Blatant Protection

Hearing her thanks, Shen Qingye looked at her with confusion. “Hmm? Thanks for what?”

Jiang Chumian leaned back against the seat and looked at Shen Qingye candidly. “Thank you, President Shen, for letting me experience the atmosphere of a normal family. It was very warm.”

Shen Qingye shook her head. “I don’t really know what a ‘normal’ family is supposed to be like. Since my parents passed away when I was young, my grandparents were always exceptionally indulgent and doting toward me. It wasn’t until I grew up that I realized my upbringing might be a bit rare.”

Jiang Chumian was slightly stunned, then her eyes curved softly. “If they were here, they would surely dote on you just as much as your grandparents do.”

Just then, they hit a red light. Shen Qingye stopped the car and turned to look at Jiang Chumian. “From now on, my grandparents are your grandparents too.”

As Jiang Chumian met the subtle tenderness in her eyes, her heart suddenly began to beat erratically.

She looked away uncomfortably, feeling that the seed in her heart had truly broken through the soil.

It wasn’t too late when they arrived home. Both had showered but weren’t feeling sleepy yet. Jiang Chumian prepared to read for a bit in her room.

Suddenly, Shen Qingye messaged her: “Want to come down for a drink?”

Seeing the message, Jiang Chumian changed out of her bathrobe into pajamas and headed downstairs.

Shen Qingye was wearing dark blue silk pajamas, her hair loose, standing behind the bar with a beaming smile. Two mixed drinks sat before her, looking both beautiful and dangerous.

Jiang Chumian walked over. Shen Qingye had already poured a glass and handed it to her as she approached.

Taking the drink, Jiang Chumian elegantly clinked glasses with her. “Happy New Year. Thank you for taking care of me over the past year.”

Shen Qingye’s lips curled into a lazy smile. “Happy New Year. Looking forward to another year of successful cooperation.”

“Want to watch a movie? Drinking alone feels like something is missing,” Jiang Chumian suggested.

Shen Qingye nodded. “Sure.”

Jiang Chumian found a movie a rather artistic romance film. It didn’t seem quite suitable for the two of them to watch together, but besides this genre, they could hardly watch horror, suspense, or spy thrillers, could they?

The two chatted idly, not bothering to sit on the sofa. Instead, they sat on the carpet, leaning their backs against the sofa, and even found a plate of melon seeds and some snacks.

Shen Qingye’s home rarely saw such a scene. It seemed that since Jiang Chumian moved in, the entire house had undergone many changes. For example, the vase of flowers on the bar. Jiang Chumian had brought them back on New Year’s Eve, saying she saw a girl selling flowers at a stall on her way home for ten yuan a bouquet. She thought they looked nice, so she bought them and put them in a vase. They were quite pleasing to the eye.

Watching the movie and sipping wine, they finished a bottle before they knew it. Shen Qingye felt she hadn’t had enough yet. She tilted her head and asked Jiang Chumian, “Another bottle?”

Jiang Chumian looked at her seriously. Shen Qingye was truly beautiful the most beautiful person among everyone she knew it was just that she was usually too sharp. But once she was home and in front of Jiang Chumian, she would retract all her thorns.

Jiang Chumian couldn’t help but wonder if she was also someone special to Shen Qingye.

Today, having drunk some wine, Shen Qingye’s skin was slightly flushed, adding a touch of lazy ease. She was like a blooming rose, making one want to pluck her and keep her for oneself.

Realizing her thoughts were becoming dangerous, Jiang Chumian stopped herself immediately and nodded firmly. “Okay.”

Shen Qingye went to get another bottle. She loved fine wine and had quite a collection.

When she returned, the movie was still playing. The lead actors were kissing passionately. Shen Qingye’s gaze toward Jiang Chumian was somewhat fervent.

Jiang Chumian looked back into her eyes. Shen Qingye leaned slightly closer to her, holding her wine glass. In a low, husky voice, she asked, “Is the wine good?”

There was only the distance of two wine glasses between them. On the screen, the leads were no longer satisfied with just kissing. Shen Qingye’s gaze made Jiang Chumian’s cheeks burn.

She lowered her eyes and drained her glass in one gulp. “Qingye certainly knows how to choose wine.”

After saying this, Jiang Chumian put down her glass. “It’s getting late. President Shen, you should get some sleep. We have to go to the Jiang house tomorrow. It’ll be a long day.”

Her departing figure had a hint of “fleeing in panic.”

Shen Qingye let out a light chuckle and watched the girl go upstairs. She finished the last bit of wine, her eyes narrowing slightly. It was the first time Shen Qingye had been rejected in such a matter. Although there was no love between them, adults don’t necessarily need love to go to bed together. Although she hadn’t experienced it herself, in the past, others were always the ones hoping to do something with her.

However, since the girl dodged, Shen Qingye wouldn’t force it though she felt a bit of disappointment.

Then, she thought to herself: Jiang Chumian truly wasn’t the type of person to do intimate things before a relationship was confirmed. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have kept a secret crush for so many years.

Jiang Chumian showered again and lay in bed, her thoughts a bit muddled. In truth, she had felt a momentary impulse just now. Looking at Shen Qingye’s lips, she couldn’t help but wonder if they would be good to kiss.

But she suppressed that impulse. The most important thing between her and Shen Qingye was their cooperative relationship. She didn’t want anything to affect that. She still needed Shen Qingye’s power. Although she knew it might not necessarily have an impact, she didn’t want to gamble.

Jiang Chumian knew she benefited more from this cooperation than Shen Qingye did, so she wouldn’t easily break the current balance. More importantly, she didn’t know what their relationship would be if they actually slept together.

The next day, the two arrived at the Jiang house just in time for lunch. The entire Jiang family was there. Upon entering, they saw Jiang Feichen pestering Jiang Wenyan to play games, while Jiang Xiaofan was lazily looking at her new nails and asking her mother which outfit would look best with them.

It looked like a harmonious family. Jiang Chumian and Shen Qingye were led in by the butler.

Seeing them arrive, Jiang Wenyan said something to Jiang Feichen to let him play on his own, then greeted the two with a smile. Luo Wan also greeted Shen Qingye politely. Shen Qingye gave them the gifts she had brought.

Luo Wan chided Shen Qingye with a beaming smile, “Qingye, why are you being so formal? Why bring gifts just to see your parents?”

She didn’t mention Jiang Chumian’s gift at all.

Jiang Xiaofan, sitting on the sofa, also sidled up to Shen Qingye. “Sister Shen, you’re here! Is there a gift for me?”

Shen Qingye handed her a small bag. “Happy New Year.” She was always thorough with etiquette; since she was visiting the Jiangs, she would naturally bring a gift for everyone.

Jiang Xiaofan opened the gift a necklace from the new collection of the jewelry company under the Shen Group. “Sister Shen still dotes on me, knowing exactly what I like.” She hooked her arm through Shen Qingye’s, even casting a subtle glance at Jiang Chumian. She hoped to see anger or dissatisfaction on Jiang Chumian’s face, but there was nothing. This made Jiang Xiaofan feel like she had punched a bale of cotton frustrating and with no outlet for her irritation.

Shen Qingye withdrew her arm and gave a slight smile. “I’m glad you like it. Chumian picked it out.” After saying this, she reached out and took Jiang Chumian’s hand. Only then did Luo Wan smile and ask them to sit in the living room.

Hearing that Jiang Chumian had picked it, Jiang Xiaofan suddenly found she didn’t want the necklace as much. But in front of everyone, she couldn’t make a scene, so she sat down with a cold face.

Shen Qingye received VIP treatment at the Jiang house, but Jiang Chumian was virtually ignored. Her mother didn’t mention her, Jiang Xiaofan squeezed her out, and Jiang Wenyan only asked a few perfunctory questions about how she was doing at the Shen Group. He gave a few lukewarm praises saying her performance was acceptable and she hadn’t dragged Shen Qingye down, eventually circling back to thank Shen Qingye.

Shen Qingye could feel all of this, and she couldn’t help but feel heartache for Jiang Chumian, though she remained polite and gentle on the surface.

As expected, Jiang’s father wanted to discuss cooperation the new AI development project the Shen Group was preparing. Not only did Zhao Kaiguo want a piece of it, but Jiang Wenyan also wanted to get in on it.

“It would be great for the Jiang family to cooperate with the Shen family. As it happens, I plan to let Chumian lead this project. Since Uncle Jiang mentioned it, I would be more than happy to have you on board,” Shen Qingye said, sipping her tea. Her face was calm, as if she had indeed planned it this way from the start.

As soon as she spoke, not only did Luo Wan’s expression shift, but even Jiang Wenyan took a few more looks at Jiang Chumian. He saw his younger daughter still sitting quietly beside Shen Qingye, eating silently and not interrupting their conversation. Only when she heard Shen Qingye say this did she glance at her, but she ultimately said nothing.

He still couldn’t quite figure out why Shen Qingye thought so highly of her.

“Chumian is still too green. Entrusting such a large project to her might be improper,” Jiang Wenyan said in a low voice.

Shen Qingye let out a light chuckle. “It’s no matter. If it doesn’t succeed, we’ll just treat it as a learning experience for her. The Shen Group isn’t short of this amount of money. Besides, I’m here. I’ll be assisting her. Uncle Jiang needn’t worry; I trust Chumian’s ability.”

Her hand rested on Jiang Chumian’s waist, her intention to protect her more than obvious. Jiang Chumian felt the hand on her waist. Shen Qingye was the only person, besides Yu Xuan and Xiao Jinyu, who would protect her so blatantly. She was currently one of Jiang Chumian’s pillars of support.

“Besides, in less than a year, she was able to bring Xiguang back from the brink of being abandoned and multiplied its profits several times over. I believe in her.”

Her hand reached behind Jiang Chumian’s waist and took her right hand, their fingers interlacing. Jiang Chumian felt Shen Qingye’s slender fingers sliding through the gaps of her own, their hands locked together. The gesture was so intimate that it made her heart burn. She instinctively relaxed and leaned against Shen Qingye.

Seeing Shen Qingye’s resolve, Jiang Wenyan could only nod. “It is Chumian’s good fortune to have married you. Then it’s settled.” He added, “This child isn’t very good at taking care of people; thank you for looking after her.”

Shen Qingye put down her teacup, her eyes full of tenderness as she looked at Jiang Chumian. “Uncle Jiang must be joking. Chumian is very good at taking care of people.”

Jiang Wenyan realized he truly didn’t know this daughter, so he said nothing more.

After lunch, Jiang’s father chatted with Shen Qingye about other things. Jiang Chumian went to the restroom and was unexpectedly blocked by Jiang Xiaofan.

The jealousy in her eyes was blatant. “Good skills in bed, aren’t they? You even managed to seduce Sister Shen. You’re exactly like your mother.”

Jiang Chumian ignored her. Jiang Xiaofan always hated her silence; she grew even angrier. Seeing Shen Qingye protect Jiang Chumian like that just now had caused the jealousy in her heart to surge again.

“Sister Shen has plenty of women around her. How long do you think you can keep her interest? Seducing your own sister’s former fiancée… I truly underestimated you, Jiang Chumian,” Jiang Xiaofan spat out viciously.

Jiang Chumian’s calm eyes reflected Jiang Xiaofan’s image, watching her beautiful face filled with a jealous and hateful expression. She was the little princess of the Jiang family, doted on by everyone; Jiang Chumian couldn’t understand why she was as noisy as a shrew, as if all her etiquette lessons were for nothing.

But then she thought of Jiang Xiaofan’s mother and understood. Regardless of whether Jiang Xiaofan had truly had an “awakening” or not, old habits couldn’t be changed overnight.

“Are you done? If you’re done, please move. You’re loud,” Jiang Chumian said. She didn’t want to say much to her because she knew that once you engaged her, she would only get noisier. Jiang Chumian hated noise. It reminded her too much of the swearing and shouting from the mahjong parlor downstairs when she was a child.

“You think I’m loud? I’m your elder sister! Don’t you have any manners? You really are a wild child with no one to raise you,” Jiang Xiaofan said, reaching out to hit her.

Jiang Chumian didn’t dodge; she let her hit her. Jiang Xiaofan was provoked by her and, in a fit of rage, actually landed a slap.

But Jiang Chumian, having taken the slap, curled her lips into a cold smile. The smile made Jiang Xiaofan feel a chill, as she suddenly remembered the scene of Jiang Chumian hitting that man that day.

Jiang Chumian didn’t do anything to her, simply saying, “After this slap, we’re even, Jiang Xiaofan.” She added, “Work hard in the group. Don’t let me have a reason to laugh at you.”

After this slap, she wouldn’t feel any more lingering sympathy. She walked away, her eyes ice-cold where Jiang Xiaofan couldn’t see.

Shen Qingye saw her come out with five finger marks on her face. Her entire aura instantly turned cold. She stood up and asked Jiang Chumian, “What happened?”

Jiang Chumian glanced at Jiang Wenyan, who was only looking at her with a frown. She smiled and said, “There was a mosquito. I missed it and slapped myself instead.”

“How could you be so careless?” Hearing this, Jiang Wenyan’s brow relaxed, and he asked her in a deep voice.

Jiang Chumian let out a scoff, not bothering to answer his question, and simply took Shen Qingye’s arm. “Qingye, I’m feeling a bit unwell. Let’s head back early.”

“Okay.” Shen Qingye looked at her cheek tenderly. “Does it hurt?”

“It hurts.”

“Then you’d better kill the mosquito next time.”

“I will.”

Shen Qingye told Jiang’s father they were leaving first. Luo Wan stood nearby, hypocritically saying she could rest at home if she wanted. Jiang Chumian shook her head and refused. “No. I forgot to say Happy New Year to my parents today. I won’t disturb you further.”

With that, Jiang Chumian pulled Shen Qingye and left.

Once they were gone, Luo Wan snorted at Jiang Wenyan. “This is your ‘good’ daughter?”

Jiang Wenyan stood up as if to slap Jiang Xiaofan. “That is your sister! Do you have to embarrass yourself in front of outsiders?”

Luo Wan stopped him. “You want to hit Xiaoxiao for a wild child? So now you know how to be embarrassed? Why didn’t you think about embarrassment when you were having your fun? Why didn’t you think about embarrassment when you brought her back?”

Leaving the Jiang house, Shen Qingye sighed. “Did I overestimate you? You just take a hit like that?” She was clearly a bit angry.

Jiang Chumian’s gaze was fixed on Shen Qingye. “Shen Qingye, did I ever tell you that when I first moved back to the Jiang house, I almost got assaulted once?”

Hearing this, Shen Qingye’s heart skipped a beat. “Bullying?”

“Mhm,” Jiang Chumian nodded. “There were many of them. I had only been at the new school for a week. Everyone knew I was the Jiang family’s illegitimate daughter, and they seemed certain that Jiang Xiaofan would let them bully me. So they cornered me in the restroom…” Jiang Chumian closed her eyes, opening them again after a long while.

“But when Jiang Xiaofan found out, she brought people and took me out of that restroom.” Jiang Chumian let out a chuckle. “The ‘Eldest Miss’ was arrogant and domineering, asking them who they thought they were to dare bully someone from the Jiang family.”

“So I had a relatively stable middle school life after that. I do need to thank her for that, even if her motive was likely just for the Jiang family’s reputation.”

Shen Qingye understood instantly why Jiang Chumian didn’t have that much hostility toward Jiang Xiaofan.

“But from today on, everyone in the Jiang family is the same to me. I won’t feel any more guilt,” Jiang Chumian said with a smile, but the smile didn’t reach her eyes it was even colder than the thick white snow.

Shen Qingye ruffled her hair. “Then I’ll look forward to the show.”

Jiang Chumian’s eyes turned red. “Shen Qingye, thank you.” Whether for the warmth yesterday or the protection today, she was deeply grateful.

“If Xiao Jinyu were here, would she protect you?” Shen Qingye asked with a smile.

Thinking of Xiao Jinyu’s personality, Jiang Chumian chuckled. “She would probably have just hit back directly.”

Shen Qingye’s lips curled. “Then I’ll have to work harder to be a qualified friend.”

“Thank you.” Jiang Chumian suppressed her emotions and looked at Shen Qingye with a beaming smile. “Then, ‘friend,’ how about I treat you to a meal as a token of thanks?” She added, “And I’ll introduce you to some of my other friends?”

Although she didn’t want to categorize their relationship as just friends in her heart, Jiang Chumian seemed to have no better way of putting it.

“Sure.” Shen Qingye agreed without a second thought.

Jiang Chumian started the car and drove toward the outskirts of the city.

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