Cheating Again and Again

Lin Xuan: "Just tell them I'm busy and can't get away."

The Jiang family will come knocking again soon—no rush. Right now, tormenting Lin Li takes priority.

"Yes, I'll go inform them right away," Lei Hui nodded.

He took his phone and returned to Grandpa Jiang.

"Grandpa Jiang," Lei Hui said politely, "Our boss is currently occupied and likely won’t have time to meet with you."

Grandpa Jiang nodded. "No matter. We’ll head back for now."

He instructed his bodyguards to leave the gifts behind before departing.

As they stepped out of Skyline Corporation, Jiang Manting asked, "Grandpa, are we going home now?"

"Tingting, take a walk with me," Grandpa Jiang replied.

"Alright."

Jiang Manting supported Grandpa Jiang as they strolled.

A rich, tantalizing aroma drifted into Grandpa Jiang’s nostrils, making him halt abruptly. His gaze locked onto a street vendor’s stall selling sweet and sour meatballs.

The vendor noticed his interest and called out, "Sir, these are made with my secret recipe. They smell heavenly and taste even better—tangy, sweet, and never cloying."

Grandpa Jiang swallowed hard, his mouth watering at the description.

The vendor grinned. "Care for a serving, sir? Only ten yuan."

Grandpa Jiang was about to agree when Jiang Manting cleared her throat pointedly beside him.

Reluctantly, he tore his eyes away.

"Never mind. I’ll pass."

"All these restrictions—what’s the point of living if I can’t enjoy anything?" Grandpa Jiang grumbled.

Jiang Manting sighed helplessly.

As they wandered, Jiang Shuqin and her friends happened to walk toward them.

Their eyes met.

Grandpa Jiang’s grip on his cane tightened instantly.

Jiang Manting felt his body stiffen and followed his gaze—only to freeze at the sight of Jiang Shuqin.

Her pupils contracted in shock.

Why did this woman look exactly like her late aunt, Jiang Shuqin?

As a child, she’d once stumbled upon a photo while flipping through Grandpa Jiang’s books.

When she asked who it was, he’d explained it was her aunt—but that she was dead. He’d then cut up the photo and tossed it into the trash.

Had her aunt not died after all?

Jiang Shuqin’s fingers clenched around her handbag.

"Shuqin, do you know him?" one of her friends asked.

"No."

Jiang Shuqin averted her eyes and walked past Grandpa Jiang without another glance.

She had no brother. No father.

They’d forced her out of the Jiang family—she owed him no acknowledgment.

"Grandpa," Jiang Manting whispered, "She looks exactly like Auntie. Didn’t you say she died?"

Or was it just an uncanny resemblance?

But given Grandpa’s reaction and the woman’s startled expression, it seemed unlikely they were strangers.

"Yes, she’s dead," Grandpa Jiang said, suppressing the grief in his eyes. "The moment she abandoned the Jiang family for Lin Chang, I lost that daughter."

Jiang Manting frowned.

There was clearly more to the story.

Seeing her grandfather’s sorrow, she didn’t dare press further.

"Let’s go home, Grandpa," she suggested softly.

"Alright. Let’s go."

Grandpa Jiang turned away, his expression smoothing into calm detachment as he watched Jiang Shuqin’s retreating figure.

Jiang Shuqin, meanwhile, had lost all interest in shopping. She called her driver to pick her up.

"Shuqin!" One of her friends suddenly pointed at a car. "Isn’t that your husband? Why is he—"

Jiang Shuqin followed her finger—and her world shattered.

There was Lin Chang, pinning a woman against the car in a heated kiss.

Lately, he’d been using exhaustion as an excuse to avoid intimacy.

And yet here he was, devouring another woman.

Rage ignited in Jiang Shuqin’s chest.

She stormed over, yanking Lin Chang away before grabbing the secretary’s hair.

"You little bitch! How dare you seduce my husband?" she shrieked. "I’ll kill you!"

"Ah—!" The secretary desperately shielded her face.

Lin Chang froze.

What was Jiang Shuqin doing here?

Ever since Wang Yajun was imprisoned, his patience with Jiang Shuqin had worn thin. Her hysterics now only fueled his disgust.

He seized her arm and shoved her aside.

"Enough of your tantrums!"

Tears streaked Jiang Shuqin’s disheveled hair as she jabbed a finger at him. "Lin Chang! Wasn’t your promise to never betray me again? And now—what, you won’t touch me but will kiss some slut in public?"

Lin Chang stayed silent.

He couldn’t be bothered to humor her anymore.

Jiang Shuqin wiped her face. "I gave up the Jiang family for you! Everything I’ve sacrificed—how could you do this?"

"Without the money I brought from the Jiangs, would Starlight Group even exist? Would you be some big-shot CEO?"

She’d believed he’d stay faithful.

First Wang Yajun, now this.

He’d been cheating all along.

Lin Chang hated when she threw the Jiang family in his face. "You gave me money, Jiang Shuqin, but I’ve funded your lavish lifestyle for years. That money’s long gone."

"I tolerated you out of respect. But if you want a scene, don’t expect mercy."

"You—!" Jiang Shuqin’s eyes bulged.

Lin Chang had no more words. "Get lost!"

He shoved her to the ground, then drove off with his secretary.

Jiang Shuqin sat in the dirt, wailing. "Lin Chang! Come back! You can’t do this to me!"

Her vision burned red.

If she’d stayed with the Jiangs—if she’d remained their prized daughter—would he have treated her this way?

No. Maybe she never should’ve married him.

But there were no second chances. Her father and brother would never take her back.

Jiang Shuqin staggered to her feet.

No.

She hadn’t lost. She wouldn’t regret.

She still had capable daughters. And Lin Li!

They’d take care of her.

Meanwhile, Lin Xuan’s side:

Lin Li was now bruised and swollen from the beating.

Despite his injuries, he gritted his teeth, refusing to make a sound.

Lin Xuan raised a brow. "Lin Li, I’ll admit—you’ve got spine."

Lin Li forced his eyes open—swollen to slits.

"Lin Xuan," he spat, "Don’t celebrate yet. As long as I’m alive, I’ll return every ounce of humiliation tenfold."

"Tsk, tsk, tsk." Lin Xuan sneered coldly. "If you still don’t cry out where I’m about to hit, I’ll respect you as a real man."

"Lin Xuan, what the hell are you trying to do?"

A sense of unease rose in Lin Li’s heart.

Lin Xuan raised an eyebrow. "To hit a snake, you strike seven inches. The place I’m aiming for is naturally a man’s weakest spot."

Lin Li’s pupils constricted.

The spot Lin Xuan meant—could it be…