Chapter Twenty-One: Take a Knife for Su Muyun?

Jiang Yang was certain that she was likely telling the truth. He was a man who might have a low bottom line, but he could not be without principles.

There was a world of difference between the feigned affection of a bar escort and genuine sincerity, and he could tell them apart. But what exactly...

Su Muyun continued, "I didn't want to let you off so easily. I didn't give you the money, but from that day on, I would come to the bar every few days to find you and demand that apology."

"Surely it wasn't just for an apology?"

Su Muyun glared at him fiercely. "What do you think?"

Jiang Yang finally understood. That was merely a pretext; she had treated him like a male escort at a nightclub. Back then, desperate to pay off his debts, he surely wouldn't have refused.

He pressed further, "And then? How did this scar come to be?"

Su Muyun sipped her drink and said, "That night, in this very private room, it was just the two of us. We had been drinking. I asked you, 'What will it take for you to apologize for that slap?' You laughed and said you would never hit a woman, let alone a wife. You said if I were your wife, you’d apologize—heck, you’d even kneel on a washboard for me. I told you I’d consider it, but that I’d buy the washboard first."

"I really said that? Something else must have happened, right?" Jiang Yang felt that such words could be seen as mere play-acting or taken seriously, depending on how the recipient chose to view them.

Su Muyun looked at Jiang Yang with a mournful expression. "Yes. Just then, a waiter entered the room carrying a tray of fruit. I hadn't ordered room service, but I assumed it was a complimentary gift from the bar. As he set the tray on the table before us, he suddenly pulled a small knife from the tray and lunged straight at me!"

"At that moment, your first instinct was to shield me, pulling me behind you. As you dodged, the knife slashed across your chest. I grabbed a glass from the table and smashed it into the waiter's face. My men, hearing the commotion, rushed in and pinned him to the ground."

As she spoke, memories began to surface for Jiang Yang, though he felt as if she had left out some details. He could accept that he might have worked as a part-time model for money, but was he really capable of such heroism to take a blade for her?

Su Muyun’s fingertips gently traced the scar on Jiang Yang’s chest. Her eyes locked onto his. "Look, you even proposed to me."

She continued, "You were willing to die for me. I hesitated before, but now I’ve made up my mind. Let’s get married. I’ve already bought this bar; I’ll use it as my dowry."

Jiang Yang was stunned. So, she had bought the bar for him? How could he possibly accept such a gift?

Su Muyun leaned in slightly, intending to kiss him. Jiang Yang quickly turned his head, dodging her alluring lips. "Wait, Muyun. I told you before—I am truly married. My wife’s name is Wang Ruolan."

No sooner had he spoken than he felt a chill on his face. Su Muyun had splashed the contents of her wine glass onto him. "When you told me you’d kneel on a washboard for me, why didn't you mention you had a wife? Now that I’ve bought the washboard and prepared the dowry, you suddenly have a woman?"

Jiang Yang wiped the red wine from his face. "I'm sorry, Muyun. Please, let me explain."

Su Muyun grabbed his shirt, her eyes rimmed with red. "I don't want to hear it! If you have a wife, divorce her. I’m not exactly 'new' myself, so I don't mind that you’re 'second-hand.' Don't we make the perfect match?"

Jiang Yang fell silent. He knew Su Muyun’s feelings were genuine, and he wondered: if he had truly been willing to take a knife for this woman, could she have been the person he intended to confess to that night? He had to admit, he was wavering. He wasn't sure if he held deep feelings for her, but as she had been touching him earlier, his body had betrayed his resolve.

"Muyun, I'm sorry. I can't give you an answer right now. Since losing my memory, many things are unclear to me. I need time to find the answers."

Su Muyun’s expression stiffened. She took a deep breath and shoved him away. "Fine, we agreed on a month. Take your time to think about it." She turned her back to him, refusing to look his way.

Jiang Yang took one last look at her slender back, then quietly closed the door and left the room.

Standing alone for a moment, Su Muyun suddenly grabbed a glass from the table and hurled it at the door. "You ungrateful bastard!"

For years, she hadn't dared to trust those around her, let alone open her heart to anyone. She had to be cautious with everything, or as a woman in her position, her life would be forfeit. Yet, this man—someone who should have had nothing to do with her world—had broken into her life while she was completely off guard.

Her love had been rekindled, and the fire was burning fiercely. But she soon discovered that she was far from the only woman who wanted Jiang Yang. It was too late to turn back now; she realized that with every encounter in the bar, she had fallen deeper and deeper.

She wanted this man!

She also knew that unlike competing with gangs for business, you couldn't take a man by force; a forced melon would never be sweet. Jiang Yang might provide emotional value for money for a time, but to make him truly hers required more than just wealth. His bottom line might be low, but he had his principles.

Using some schemes was necessary; after all, her rivals were no pushovers.

When Jiang Yang exited the room, the two large men at the door were startled to see his shirt torn to shreds and his face covered in wine stains. They exchanged a knowing look. Since Sister Su had been so impatient to get things done in the private room, it was clear this man was their future boss. They nodded and bowed subserviently. "Take care, Brother Yang."

Jiang Yang had too many acquaintances here. In his current state, he had to cover his face and leave via the quieter routes, not even bothering to look for Chen Hao. He saw Chen Hao and Yao Tingting deep in conversation from afar; it would be rude to interrupt them now.

He caught a taxi at the entrance and headed for Sunshine Apartments.

As he got in, the driver glanced at his shredded shirt and curled his lip. "Young man, it’s fine to go to bars, but don't play too rough."

Jiang Yang’s mouth twitched. He felt the driver had misunderstood, so he offered a sheepish smile. "It was a penalty for losing a bet."

The driver nodded. "I understand. The 'penalty of impulse,' right?"

Jiang Yang remained silent. He just wanted to get home before anyone else saw him and drew the wrong conclusions.

The car stopped downstairs at Sunshine Apartments. Jiang Yang checked the surroundings through the window to ensure no one he knew was nearby before carefully stepping out. Just as he was about to hurry into the building, a woman behind him called out his name: "Jiang Yang!"