When the Villain Falls Madly in Love with Me - Chapter 17

Chapter 17: Sky-High Inheritance

For more than half a month after that, Jiang Congyue almost always scheduled her business meetings at the riding club or the golf course.

This instantly caused a stir in the business circle. Everyone privately commented that Chairman Jiang was truly old but strong, still so fond of exercise at her age.

Even more wildly rumored was that if a cooperation meeting could be set in these two locations, and if they could time it just right to praise her adopted daughter and make Chairman Jiang happy, the cooperation was almost certainly a done deal!

In the early years, Jiang Congyue had also introduced Jiang Le publicly, but she protected her fiercely, and Jiang Le had never been disturbed.

It wasn’t until now that Jiang Le’s strikingly beautiful face was truly exposed to the scrutiny of these business people.

“I have to say, Chairman Jiang, you really know how to raise a child! Look at my good-for-nothings…” CEO Wang’s face was plastered with smiles, his words full of flattery. “Sigh, I’m embarrassed just bringing them up!”

Jiang Congyue leaned lazily on her hand, resting in a chair in the lounge area, her eyes glued, as if with superglue, to Jiang Le, who was practicing her standard swing motion not far away.

Hearing the flattery, the corner of her mouth curved up. She said airily, “Mr. Wang is too modest. Everyone has their own ambitions. My child is just very curious; she wants to try everything, and she happens to learn things quickly.”

This understated display of humble-bragging choked CEO Wang. He secretly clenched his fists, forcing down his frustration. Forget it. For the sake of the project, endure!

Rubbing his hands, he tried again: “My youngest daughter also enjoys golf; she’s about the same age as Miss Jiang. Why don’t… we let the two children play together? Young people, it’s livelier with a companion.”

Jiang Congyue’s gaze finally left Jiang Le and briefly swept over CEO Wang. The look seemed calm but held a subtle sense of distance. A standard, warmth-less professional smile appeared on her lips: “Thank you for the kind thought, Mr. Wang. However, my child has a solitary nature and doesn’t enjoy socializing with strangers. We won’t trouble your daughter.”

With that, she ignored the other person’s instantly stiff face, stood up directly, and walked with elegant steps toward Jiang Le in the center of the field.

CEO Wang was completely stunned, looking bewildered. Didn’t we have a good chat just now? How could she change her expression faster than flipping a book?! This shift in mood is way too erratic!

Jiang Le had just finished a set of movements, and fine beads of sweat were forming on her temples. She instinctively went to wipe them with the back of her hand.

“Oh, your hands are dirty!” Jiang Congyue quickly slapped her hand away. As if by magic, she pulled out a soft silk handkerchief and carefully wiped the sweat from Jiang Le’s face and temples. The movement was so gentle, as if she were polishing some rare treasure.

Although it was an indoor practice facility, Jiang Le’s cheeks were flushed with a healthy blush from the exercise. She took the water Jiang Congyue offered and took a sip, asking faintly, “Done with the talk so soon?”

“Mhm, all done.” Jiang Congyue put away the handkerchief and naturally linked arms with her. “Let’s go. I’m taking you to that new private restaurant. I heard the food is exceptionally authentic.”

CEO Wang was unwilling to give up and tried to approach to argue his case. The moment he moved his foot, a cold, sharp gaze sliced over him like a knife!

His heart thumped violently, and a layer of cold sweat instantly broke out on his back. When he looked closely again, the obedient girl standing beside Jiang Congyue was looking down, focused on arranging her golf bag, her expression incredibly meek, as if the terrifying glare just now was his imagination.

“Mr. Wang, anything else?” Jiang Congyue turned her head at the right moment, her face still wearing that impeccable, gentle smile.

CEO Wang’s throat tightened. He knew this was absolutely not the time to bring up business. He could only force a smile and wave his hand, sounding dejected: “No… nothing, Chairman Jiang. Please take care.”

It seems the rumors can’t be fully trusted. Not everyone who flatters her can strike it rich.

Watching the two leave, CEO Wang belatedly felt a hint of absurdity: He was actually intimidated by a look from a teenage girl? Unbelievable!

However, something even more astonishing to everyone was yet to come.

The blazing sun was fiery, but its heat was far less than the massive wave stirred up by the announcement of the college entrance exam results!

When that name, with a score higher than anyone dared to imagine, firmly landed at the very peak of the science scores for the entire province and even the nation, the entire public opinion field exploded instantly!

The next day, almost all mainstream media headlines were dominated by the same name:

“Genius Girl Jiang Le, Victorious as the National Top Scorer in Science!”

“Jiang Corporation Heir Claims the Crown, Intellect and Family Background Equally Dazzling!”

“Unmasking the Top Scorer Jiang Le: The Extraordinary Path of a Low-Key Star Student”

With the media’s frantic deep-dive, the Jiang Group was practically stripped bare by netizens.

But the actual Jiang Le, in the eye of the storm, only offered the public the slightly aloof and cool face from a passport photo, along with a deluge of praise.

Her past experiences were firmly guarded by Jiang Congyue, safely hidden beneath this dazzling honor, perfectly fitting the image of a “low-key genius.”

From this point on, “Chairman Jiang is a good educator” was no longer empty flattery but an irrefutable fact, sanctified by the golden body of the top scorer!

The prestige of the Jiang Group soared to an unprecedented peak because of this sudden emergence of the top scorer heir. The immense commercial value and social influence it brought far surpassed all of Jiang Congyue’s past successful business strategies.

Jiang Le took a deep breath, her finger sliding across the phone screen, closing the news push that featured her “big-head photo.”

“Tsk, it’s a bit ugly,” she muttered softly. “I shouldn’t have stayed up late the night before the photo shoot.”

She looked up, surveying her surroundings. This was Jiang Congyue’s office on a middle floor of the Jiang Group headquarters building, with a superb view. Today, her riding and golf lessons were canceled, and Jiang Congyue asked her to wait here.

Outside the enormous floor-to-ceiling window, the city skyline glittered in the sun. The sunlight was a bit dazzling, and Jiang Le instinctively narrowed her eyes. The next second, with a swish, the thick curtains were deftly drawn, cutting off the outside world.

Immediately following, a light but definite flick landed on her smooth forehead.

“What are you spacing out for, little top scorer?” Jiang Congyue’s voice sounded with a smile.

Then, the office door opened again. The core executives of the Jiang Group and the top members of Jiang Congyue’s private legal team filed in, each with a solemn expression.

On the large office table, in addition to everyday documents, there was a stack of unusually thick, exquisitely bound folders.

Jiang Congyue tilted her chin toward the documents, gesturing for Jiang Le to open them, just like she had years ago when she asked her to open the sausage maker.

A silent expectation.

Jiang Le frowned slightly and obediently opened the top few documents. Striking titles instantly jumped out at her: Stock Transfer Agreement, Real Estate Gift Contract, Family Trust Beneficiary Change, Overseas Asset Transfer Confirmation…

The numbers following each item were dizzyingly large. The combined value was enough to elevate her overnight into the ranks of the world’s top billionaires.

A colossal, unimaginably valuable inheritance was laid bare before her.

So, the “company affairs” that Lin Qingyu had stammered about that day were this.

Such a complete, unreserved transfer…

Jiang Le’s fingers trembled almost imperceptibly. A massive panic instantly enveloped her.

She abruptly raised her head, her bewildered gaze meeting Jiang Congyue’s gentle and tolerant eyes. That look was like a stabilizer, miraculously calming the tumultuous waves in her heart. She took a deep breath, slowly settling down.

Under the solemn gaze of the board members and the legal team, Jiang Le picked up the pen and, on the document that could change countless lives, signed her name stroke by stroke, with immense seriousness—”Jiang Le.” The ink dropped, covering the signature that originally belonged to “Jiang Congyue.”

The ceremony concluded, and the crowd silently filed out. In the vast office, only the two remained, facing each other in silence.

It was Jiang Congyue who finally broke the quiet. She walked up to Jiang Le, the familiar teasing smile fading from her face, replaced by an especially soft expression, carrying a profound meaning: “Lele, I know you’ve always wanted to be a qualified heir. I also eagerly anticipate seeing that day. However, I hope my expectation doesn’t become a thorny shackle on you; it should be the laurel wreath for your head.”

She reached out, gently smoothing out a non-existent wrinkle on Jiang Le’s shoulder, her voice low and clear: “I want you to understand that inheriting all this doesn’t require you to conform to anyone’s standards. Because you are the standard. As long as it is you, no matter what you eventually become, you are worthy of owning all this.”

“This is just a reward for all your efforts over the years.”

Just now, signing those sky-high documents, Jiang Le only felt cold in her fingertips and an emptiness in her heart, without any sense of reality.

But at this moment, hearing Jiang Congyue’s powerful words, her heart felt violently struck by an iron hammer wrapped in thick honey. Beneath the dull ache, an indescribable sweetness quietly permeated.

Throughout these years, Jiang Congyue had repeatedly and tirelessly told her what was worth, what was needed, and what was qualification.

She was worthy, she was needed, she was qualified.

Jiang Congyue was the source of all her courage and confidence, the gentle and firm, never-collapsing support behind her.

“Jiang Congyue…” Jiang Le grabbed her waist, lowering her eyelashes, the thick lashes trembling violently, her voice dry, almost unable to make a sound. “Will people… all die?”

A long sigh came from above her head: “Lele, everyone will die.”

A huge wave of soreness instantly choked her throat. Jiang Le’s voice was distorted with sobs: “Can’t… can’t it be avoided?”

The person opposite laughed softly, with a hint of helplessness and indulgence. She reached out and gently embraced the girl, patting her back as if soothing a child: “Is Lele throwing a tantrum?”

Jiang Le desperately clung to the corner of Jiang Congyue’s clothes, burying her face in her neck. Her muffled voice carried an unprecedented fragility: “Can you… stop being so good to me?”

However, this time, Jiang Congyue didn’t try to coax her with sweet words or jokes as usual. She merely hugged the girl in her arms tighter, then said in a voice as light as a whisper near her ear: “Why I am so good to you… you will naturally understand in the future.”

This sentence was like a stone suddenly thrown into a deep pool, instantly stirring up a thousand-layer giant wave in Jiang Le’s heart! Understand in the future? What does that mean?

She suddenly raised her head, wanting to grab Jiang Congyue’s sleeve and ask. But before the words could leave her mouth, a slightly cool finger gently pressed against her lip.

“Shhh…” Jiang Congyue gazed at her tear-filled eyes, still smiling gently, yet carrying an inscrutable sense of distance, as if guarding a huge secret. “It’s a secret that cannot be told right now.”

She raised her hand and gently wiped away the tears from the corner of Jiang Le’s eyes with her thumb, her movement as soft as a feather brushing past.

Jiang Le silently pulled a slight curve on her lips, feeling an unspeakable sense of loss in her heart.

Jiang Congyue truly has so many secrets.

…

Jiang Congyue: 28