Chapter 25: I Did Not Mean To

Wei Xifeng spoke rapidly, "Of course he remembers. Forget twenty years—even if fifty years pass and he becomes an old man, he’ll still remember. If he doesn’t, I’ll use my fists to make sure he does." As he spoke, he raised his sandbag-sized fist, the muscles of his long arm bulging with vigorous power—ferocious and savage.

"What else could he look like? A poker-faced guy, not as handsome as me." Wei Xifeng’s words were laced with jealousy, determined to outdo Fu Siye. "Teacher, tell me, am I more handsome?"

Jiang Liwu couldn't help but smile. Fu Siye had indeed been a little poker-face since childhood—cool and reserved, speaking with such serious gravity that he seemed like a tiny adult. It was a charming contrast.

Seeing that Wei Xifeng was showing no signs of letting it go, Jiang Liwu quickly said, "Yes, yes, you’re more handsome." Her gaze toward Wei Xifeng was as doting as if she were looking at a child.

Wei Xifeng didn't miss the glimmer of nostalgia for Fu Siye in the depths of Jiang Liwu’s eyes. "Teacher, do you miss him?"

Jiang Liwu replied, "Hmm, a little."

Wei Xifeng automatically translated that to "a whole lot."

He fell silent for a moment, then, as if suddenly remembering something, he said, "There’s an auction at the Underworld City in a few days. Fu Siye has been sent an invitation, so he will definitely be there. I’ll take you."

Qiao Yiran couldn't hear everything clearly, but she grasped the crucial information: Jiang Liwu wanted to see Fu Siye, and Wei Xifeng, to please her, had taken the initiative to offer to take her to the auction.

Why did Jiang Liwu want to see Fu Siye? Wasn't she in love with Wei Xifeng?

Wei Xifeng actually didn't mind at all that Jiang Liwu wanted to go see another man. If it were her, she didn't even know how Wei Xifeng would have punished her.

However, did this not prove that while Wei Xifeng seemed to value Jiang Liwu on the surface, he didn't actually like her that much? Otherwise, how could he lack such intense possessiveness toward her?

His possessiveness toward her was overwhelming. In his eyes, her entire being belonged to him—her breath, her heartbeat, her thoughts. He forbade her this and prohibited her that, his tyranny beyond all reason.

If Wei Xifeng weren't so coercive, if he were willing to give her some freedom and weren't so fierce toward her, perhaps she wouldn't want to escape him so badly, Qiao Yiran thought, biting her lip.

...

"Bang—!!"

The sound of objects crashing and glass shattering rang out sharply, followed by an uproar.

When Jiang Liwu rushed over, she saw Wei Xifeng and Qiao Yiran standing amidst the wreckage.

Wei Xifeng’s eyes were bloodshot, his gaze murderous as he gripped Qiao Yiran’s slender arm with such force that it seemed he might snap it. "You broke the frame."

Wei Xifeng was consumed by a manic rage, his brows dark and brooding; he was clearly triggered and showing signs of another episode.

Qiao Yiran’s vision blurred with tears, which streamed down her delicate face. She shook her head frantically. "I didn't mean to!"

Jiang Liwu walked closer and saw that their family photo had been smashed to pieces, with several footprints imprinted on the image of herself.

"Didn't mean to?" Wei Xifeng swept his hand, flinging Qiao Yiran toward the floor.

Qiao Yiran let out a startled scream, but a second later, she was pulled back just in time by Jiang Liwu.

"Xiaofeng, she already said she didn't mean to. Don't get worked up." Jiang Liwu was worried that the frequency of his episodes would cause his condition to deteriorate.

Seeing Jiang Liwu approach, Wei Xifeng tried his best to suppress his temper, but his expression remained grim. Why was it that his hard-won happiness was so easily destroyed by others?

"Why were you in my room?" Wei Xifeng glared at Qiao Yiran with the savage, predatory intensity of a beast.

After steadying herself, Qiao Yiran stammered under his gaze, "I came to find you, but you weren't here. As I was about to leave, I tripped and knocked over the frame. I really didn't mean to."

Qiao Yiran had taken the initiative to find him?

That was rare. In the past, it was always Wei Xifeng commanding Qiao Yiran, and she would only approach him reluctantly.

Wei Xifeng’s expression did not improve. "Stay in your room and stop wandering around."

Qiao Yiran kept her head down, clutching her white dress tightly, her shoulders shaking as she sobbed.

"Let her go tend to her wounds first," Jiang Liwu said, noticing a cut on Qiao Yiran’s lower leg that was currently bleeding.

Uncle Wang nodded to the servants, and they immediately took Qiao Yiran to find the family doctor.

Qiao Yiran was stunned. She hadn't even realized she was hurt. Looking down, she saw the blood and only then felt the stinging pain.

As she left, Qiao Yiran glanced at Wei Xifeng, then began to limp, looking incredibly frail and pathetic.

Wei Xifeng knelt down to pick up the photo from the pile of shattered glass, but Jiang Liwu grabbed his hand to stop him.

Seeing this, Uncle Wang immediately ordered the servants to clean up the mess.

"Uncle Wang, are there backups of the photo and the frame?"

"Yes," Uncle Wang replied quickly. "We have plenty of photos, and we had several extra frames custom-made."

Jiang Liwu gave Wei Xifeng a reassuring smile. "Xiaofeng, let’s set it up again."

Wei Xifeng’s eyes trembled, and his mood finally lifted. "Okay," he said in a husky voice.

Uncle Wang quickly brought a new frame containing the familiar photo of Wei Xifeng making a heart shape.

Since placing it on the cabinet made it prone to being knocked over, Wei Xifeng chose to hang the frame on the wall this time—and he hung it high up.

Jiang Liwu stood with her arms crossed, watching as Wei Xifeng insisted on hanging the frame himself without help.

When he climbed down from the ladder, Jiang Liwu offered him another smile.

Seeing Jiang Liwu’s warm smile, Wei Xifeng was completely pacified, the agitation within him thoroughly suppressed.

...

When Jiang Liwu found Qiao Yiran, the family doctor had just finished dressing her wound and left.

Qiao Yiran looked at Jiang Liwu, who had come looking for her, and pressed her lips together. "I already said I didn't mean to." She rested her hand on the bandaged area, looking like a stubborn, fragile deer.

Qiao Yiran felt a bit impatient; regardless of whether Jiang Liwu believed her, she was sticking to her story.

"Actually, you don't need to be hostile toward me." Jiang Liwu leaned against the sofa, her arms still crossed. With her slender waist and long legs, she radiated an aura of lazy composure.

Qiao Yiran froze, her expression shifting slightly before she forced a stiff smile. "Miss Jiang, you’ve misunderstood. How could I be hostile toward you? I’d be happy to help you, but it seems you’ve already made your choice and don't intend to leave the Wei estate, so you no longer need my help."

Jiang Liwu replied, "I am staying to treat Xiaofeng's illness. My relationship with him is not what you think."

Qiao Yiran said, "You don't need to tell me what your relationship with Wei Xifeng is; I’m not interested. I am neither Wei Xifeng’s wife nor his girlfriend."