The Paranoid Male Lead’s "White Moonlight" Has Reborn - Chapter 20

Jiang Chaoyun watched the boy, who was a few years younger than him, walk away. Finally, he found his voice. “…What do you mean by that?”

Han Jiangmu said, “Do you want to follow and see?”

Jiang Chaoyun didn’t answer, but his feet had already moved to provide the response.

The two maintained a careful distance from the boy. Finally, in a more secluded spot, the boy stopped and knocked gently on a wooden door. Soon, the door opened, and a woman stepped out. She rubbed the boy’s head and pulled him inside.

Watching this scene, Jiang Chaoyun’s fingers dug a small mark into the wall. “…Who is he?”

“Young Master already knows in his heart, doesn’t he?” Han Jiangmu replied.

Jiang Chaoyun pursed his lips, glared at him, and turned to leave. Han Jiangmu stood there watching him walk away; as expected, Jiang Chaoyun soon turned back and walked quickly to him, asking with suppressed emotion, “How do we get out of here!?”

Han Jiangmu looked at his face and saw his reddened eyes. He said nothing, simply stepping ahead to lead the way. Jiang Chaoyun sniffed, refusing to show any vulnerability in front of Han Jiangmu.

The boy’s looks were ironclad evidence. Jiang Chaoyun couldn’t disbelieve it. But he found it hard to understand—Jiang Zuoling had always been a man of integrity, without even a concubine for all these years. Why would a son of that age suddenly appear out of nowhere?

Furthermore, judging by the situation, this was likely an out-wife (secret mistress). This was the worst kind of arrangement; a concubine is at least half a master in the house, but an out-wife is… lower than a servant girl.

Jiang Chaoyun’s mind was a mess. Did his mother, Jiang Lin-shi, know? Did she know Jiang Zuoling was keeping a secret family outside?

In a family with even a modicum of clean principles, one wouldn’t keep an out-wife; it was a joke to others. If one wanted a woman, they would bring her into the manor as a concubine; that way, everything was upright and no one would look down on him. But Jiang Zuoling maintained a facade of being clean and devoted to his wife, allowing people to praise his deep affection for Jiang Lin-shi, while keeping a “golden house” hidden outside. The nature of his actions was vile.

Jiang Chaoyun had been moved by his parents’ perceived affection over the years. He had often thought that if he had a healthy body, he too would stay with one person for a lifetime, not taking concubines like the second or third branches. Now, the towering image of Jiang Zuoling in his heart instantly shrunk by half.

That mistress had a son who looked only a few years younger than him. This meant Jiang Zuoling had lied to them for over a decade.

Jiang Chaoyun returned to the Jiang mansion in a daze. Bixin had been guarding the gate; seeing him return with red eyes, she nervously asked him a few questions and then flared up at Han Jiangmu. “Guard Han! How can you take the Young Master wandering around like that? If something happened, could you take responsibility?!”

Jingrou, standing nearby, intervened. “That’s enough, Bixin. The Young Master is back; why are you losing your temper at Guard Han?”

“Sister Jingrou, look at the time!” Bixin fumed. “He had the Young Master outside for over an hour. Can his body handle that?!”

Jingrou said, “Look at him, isn’t he back safe and sound? Your overreacting will only scare the Young Master.”

Bixin noticed Jingrou’s eyes were fixed on Han Jiangmu, not even looking at Jiang Chaoyun. She spat inwardly. Jingrou said to the guard, “Bixin is a rash girl; please don’t take her words to heart, Guard Han. With you there, how could anything happen to the Young Master?”

Han Jiangmu, looking down and thinking of something, didn’t even acknowledge Jingrou. Receiving no response, Jingrou stopped awkwardly. “Alright, come inside quickly.”

Han Jiangmu escorted Jiang Chaoyun back to his courtyard. At the door, Jiang Chaoyun stood still, turned his head, and said fiercely to Han Jiangmu, “You are not allowed to speak a word of today’s events to anyone!”

Han Jiangmu stared into his eyes and said, “Alright.”

Jiang Chaoyun returned to his room, feeling completely dejected. Bixin asked softly, “Young Master, what’s wrong?” He dismissed her with a vague “Nothing.”

But his heart was so stuffed with grief that after sitting for a long time and steadying his emotions, he had Bixin go and fetch Han Jiangmu. Bixin sensed that his troubles were related to the guard and didn’t argue; she went to call Han Jiangmu and then went alone to Jiang Lin-shi’s quarters.

Inside the room, Jiang Chaoyun fidgeted with the soft fabric on his knees. After a long pause, he asked, “Is that child… truly my father’s son?”

“Yes,” Han Jiangmu said. “And he is only two years younger than you.”

Jiang Chaoyun froze. Once he snapped out of it, he instinctively leaned over and let out a dry heave. Han Jiangmu handed him a handkerchief, which Jiang Chaoyun pushed away. He pulled out his own handkerchief with a frantic movement, wiping the acidic moisture from his lips.

He had memories from very early on. Because of his premature birth, Jiang Lin-shi had cared for him day and night until he was five. During that time, Jiang Zuoling appeared frequently, pampering him excessively. He would bring him toys, play with him like a devoted father, and even let him ride on his back like a horse.

Yet while he was acting the part of the devoted father, he was raising a son with another woman outside. Jiang Chaoyun suddenly felt a wave of nausea.

Han Jiangmu watched his face, a faint light in his eyes. He had always thought of Jiang Chaoyun as a fragile young master; when his subordinate, Wu Jiu, found this lead, he had debated whether to tell him. In the end, he decided to inform him. Perhaps he had misjudged the boy from the start.

Han Jiangmu lowered his eyes and said with a touch of intentionality, “It’s not rare for a man to have an out-wife. You should put your mind at ease, Young Master. Perhaps you can even have your father bring them into the manor to keep you company.”

Jiang Chaoyun glared at him with red eyes, dropped his handkerchief, and said, “What nonsense are you talking? How could I ever let him bring them in?”

“He is your brother, after all,” Han Jiangmu said.

Jiang Chaoyun was so angry he slapped the table. However, because his palm was too soft and tender, the counterforce of the blow made him let out a “hiss” of pain. His other hand quickly grasped the injured one to soothe the sting. From Han Jiangmu’s angle, he could see Jiang Chaoyun’s five reddened fingertips.

Far too delicate, Han Jiangmu thought. He reached out his hand, his voice low. “Let me see.”

Jiang Chaoyun turned away from him, not wanting to deal with him at all. Han Jiangmu withdrew his hand and asked softly, “Is Young Master angry?”

Jiang Chaoyun instinctively retorted, “You? You think you can make me angry?”

Han Jiangmu fell silent. A moment later, Jiang Chaoyun murmured, “Don’t you think a man should be devoted to his wife?”

Han Jiangmu said, “Young Master, isn’t it normal for a man to have three wives and four concubines?”

Jiang Chaoyun was choked up. “It is normal, but…” He couldn’t find the words. He looked at Han Jiangmu again and saw the slight curl of the man’s lips—a hint of a smile that was somehow bewitching. It sparked an inexplicable annoyance in Jiang Chaoyun’s heart, and he began to vent recklessly:

“I don’t like him finding other women! That betrays my mother! And another child… I don’t like him either! Because his body is better than mine, I will be jealous of him! If my father brings them into the house, and I die… my mother will have no children to rely on. She’ll surely be bullied…”

Before he could finish, Han Jiangmu’s expression changed. The slight smile vanished, replaced by a cold tone. “What nonsense are you talking? I told you, Young Master, you have a life of wealth and honor; how could you die? If you speak such unlucky words again—”

He paused, then continued, “I will strip Xiaobao’s skin to make you a neck warmer.”

Jiang Chaoyun cried out, “You wouldn’t! That’s my dog!”

“I bought it, Young Master,” Han Jiangmu said.

Jiang Chaoyun instinctively went to slap the table again—as if it gave him more courage to face Han Jiangmu—but this time Han Jiangmu moved faster, catching Jiang Chaoyun’s hand before it hit. “Young Master, haven’t you had enough pain?”

His hand was held tightly in Han Jiangmu’s. He could feel the scratchy calluses on the man’s palm. Han Jiangmu was taller, and even his hands were much larger, capable of wrapping Jiang Chaoyun’s entire hand inside. This close physical contact, where even the scorching heat of Han Jiangmu’s palm could be felt through his own, was like soft water plants brushing against his heart—a faint itch that sent a wave of inexplicable panic through him. His voice began to stammer. “Y-you, let go! How can you touch me so recklessly!”

Han Jiangmu let go. His pitch-black eyes caught the light from the window, showing an intensity of focus. “Does Young Master still dare to speak of dying?”

Hearing this, Jiang Chaoyun’s nose crinkled, and he nearly burst into tears. He forced it back and huffed, “None of your business!”

Han Jiangmu went silent. After a while, he said: “Young Master, if they all died, would you be happy?”

Jiang Chaoyun was startled. “What nonsense are you saying?”

Han Jiangmu leaned closer, his handsome face now revealing an icy indifference. “If Young Master is angry, I will kill them for you. How about that?”

Jiang Chaoyun looked into his eyes and knew he wasn’t joking. In an instant, his entire body froze.