Chapter 4: I Don’t Mind That She’s Crazy

Song Xueyan rushed back and saw He Lian talking to her parents.

Even though the man was covered in mud, he couldn’t hide the arrogant pride in his bones. He leaned lazily against the armrest of the wooden chair, casually running a long finger over the end of his eyebrow. Hearing footsteps, his pair of phoenix eyes swept over nonchalantly.

Song Xueyan’s heart skipped a beat, and she grew secretly nervous.

Jinzhou was located in northern China, far beyond what a small place like Yangcheng could compare to. The He family was an aristocratic house situated at the very center of Jinzhou—an orthodox family that had endured for two centuries over ten generations. Their descendants were spread across the business, political, and military sectors, dominating both the legal and underground worlds.

She had often heard her parents say that the He family had been entrenched for so many years that they had long established an economic closed loop in Jinzhou. No matter how much money was spent externally, it would ultimately flow back into the He family’s pockets.

Not to mention that He Lian had struck out on his own, co-founding Dingsheng Group with the young master of the Shen family, which handled many of China’s core security projects. On top of that, there was “Fortress”—the peacekeeping union stationed in the overseas gray zone.

Because of this, Song Xueyan felt extremely fortunate.

Who would have thought that the dignified Crown Prince of Jinzhou would actually fall for Jiang Yu’s “random scribbles”?

Otherwise, relying solely on her grandfather’s relationship with Old Master Duan, she could hardly imagine ever having the chance to speak face-to-face with He Lian in this lifetime.

The last time she brought it up among her circle of close friends in Yangcheng, everyone had been green with envy.

Song Xueyan thoroughly enjoyed this kind of flattering attention.

Riding on the back of Jiang Yu’s paintings, she had leaped to fame, becoming the “most outstanding painter” in He Lian’s eyes.

She had gained both fame and fortune.

And perhaps one day, she might even win He Lian for herself.

“Xueyan, come over and sit.”

Su Xunying waved at her.

Only then did Song Xueyan snap out of her reverie, walking over with restrained steps to take a seat.

In just those few steps, He Lian’s eyes never left her.

Song Xueyan pinched her fingertips, feeling increasingly overjoyed inside. She even intentionally reached out to smooth the hem of her cheongsam.

He Lian lazily withdrew his gaze.

A dignified young lady raised in a secluded mansion who loved wearing cheongsams could actually create abstract paintings so completely detached from mimicking nature?

What a massive contradiction.

Don’t tell me this Song Xueyan is a lunatic too?

One lunatic and one fool.

No wonder Old Man Song died of anger so early on.

Song Qian was extremely respectful to He Lian. He pushed a teacup forward and inquired about the purpose of today’s visit. Other than coming to see Xueyan, he couldn’t think of any other reason.

Duan Jingyue was still thinking about Jiang Yu’s small, pretty face, so he hurriedly took over the conversation: “It’s nothing. Last time when Grandpa Song passed away, I couldn’t free myself up due to some matters. I felt deeply inappropriate about it, so I asked my uncle to bring me here to apologize.”

Song Qian’s smile stiffened slightly.

Matters? What matters? Fooling around with a bunch of women back in Wancheng?

Aware of the awkwardness, Duan Jingyue picked up his teacup, just about to take a sip…

“Jingyue wants to break off the engagement with Jiang Yu.”

“Hiss—”

Duan Jingyue shivered from being scalded, looking at He Lian in complete shock.

What was wrong with his uncle?

Couldn’t he see that he had already changed his mind?

With those looks, even if Jiang Yu was crazy, he’d accept her!

“Uncle?”

Duan Jingyue tilted his head, blinking frantically to send a subtle hint.

However, He Lian’s neck seemed to be poured out of concrete; he didn’t look at him at all.

Song Xueyan froze slightly: “Mr. He… did you come today just for this matter?”

He Lian glanced over, seemingly seeing right through her, and said casually: “I heard Miss Song is going to retire her paintbrush in three months. As your art fan, I express my deep regret.”

Song Xueyan’s cheeks flushed red as she realized she had been impolite just now. But having received a satisfying answer, she couldn’t help but pinch her fingers and lower her head bashfully.

She knew He Lian had come for her today.

He then turned to the Song couple and said: “Jingyue is a scoundrel and isn’t worthy of Jiang Yu. I am here on behalf of his parents this time. If you two have no objections, let’s just call off this marriage.”

His tone was a habitual notification.

Overbearing, almost like a command.

Song Qian and Su Xunying exchanged a glance, a pleasant surprise washing over them instead.

They couldn’t wait to break off the engagement!

Xueyan still had to rely on her!

Besides, the old man had left all of the Song family’s assets to Jiang Yu. If they let Duan Jingyue marry her away, the children of the Song family’s third branch would end up starving.

Who knew where that lunatic had hidden the old man’s handwritten will anyway.

“I see.”

Song Qian didn’t hide his relief at all: “Actually, Mr. He doesn’t need to be so polite.” He let out a sigh, “Well, given Ah Yu’s condition, it really is better for her to stay with the Song family so we can take care of her.”

Duan Jingyue was as anxious as an ant on a hot pan.

He was practically half a son to He Lian!

A lunatic like Jiang Yu—could she ever find a better match than him?

What was wrong with this Song couple?

Refusing to climb the high branch handed right to them?

“It’s fine, really.”

He still tried to fight for himself: “I don’t mind that she’s crazy.”

Song Qian gave an awkward laugh: “…”

Eagerly rushing to marry a lunatic.

This guy definitely had something wrong with him.

“Jingyue, there’s something you don’t know,” Su Xunying interjected at just the right moment, taking over the conversation. “Ah Yu’s mother was my father-in-law’s adopted daughter. She insisted on marrying a madman, which led to Jiang Yu also having mental…”

“I know!” Duan Jingyue declared shamelessly, “Jiang Yu is a lunatic, but I don’t care!”

Su Xunying froze for a moment.

Duan Jingyue tugged at the person beside him: “Uncle, I really don’t mind!”

He Lian squinted at him.

A wave of winter frost swept through those phoenix eyes.

A few seconds later, his expression returned to one of helpless resignation.

After all, he was the one who had cuckolded this foolish nephew of his.

“Forget it, Jingyue.”

He Lian stood up calmly: “Forced love never turns out sweet.”

A completely baffled Duan Jingyue: “…”

Whether it’s sweet or not, the one hugging her was you.

How the hell would he know!

The Song couple also hurriedly stood up.

Song Qian was exceedingly polite: “Mr. He, since it’s already this time, why don’t you stay for a meal before leaving?”

Song Xueyan also looked at him with an expectant gaze.

Yet, her heart was filled with anxiety.

He Lian was always tied down with official duties; he would likely decline.

“Alright.”

To everyone’s surprise, the man gave a slight nod.

Song Xueyan’s worries turned into joy. Seeing this, Su Xunying gently added, “Lunch will take some time to prepare. If Mr. He doesn’t mind, why not let Xueyan show you around the estate?”

He Lian nodded once more.

Song Xueyan was overjoyed, but Su Xunying gave her a light tug.

Only then did she realize that while hitting and scolding Jiang Yu earlier, paint had gotten onto the back of her cheongsam. She hurriedly called a maid over to help her change.

He Lian watched her leave, then suddenly said, “Then I’ll just look around on my own first?”

How could the Song couple dare to stop him?

Duan Jingyue followed his uncle toward the backyard, just about to question why he had insisted on breaking off the engagement, when he saw He Lian suddenly spin around and run rapidly toward the south!

“Uncle?!”

—

The southern courtyard was sparsely populated, and the servants tacitly kept their distance from here.

Arriving at the small wooden building, He Lian’s brow was tightly furrowed.

He stared at Jiang Yu, who was dangling from the drainpipe.

He had chatted with the Song couple in the main hall for at least twenty minutes.

Had this idiot just been hanging there the entire time?

Though looking at it this way, he had managed to figure out Jiang Yu’s escape route.

From the drainpipe to the locust tree outside the window.

A idiot acting like a monkey.

He Lian took a deep, heavy breath.

His priceless, noble body had actually been ruined by someone like this!

“Jiang Yu!”

He Lian barked sternly.

Jiang Yu didn’t move, her face completely calm as her back remained turned to him.

He actually came over.

That works out perfectly.

Taking advantage of the situation, she stretched her leg out.

The hem of her skirt, already a size too small, was blown upward by the wind.

From this angle—

The bases of He Lian’s ears instantly flushed a burning red.

She wasn’t wearing anything underneath!

This utter idiot!!!

“Uncle! Where are you!”

Duan Jingyue’s voice approached from a distance.

He Lian grew frantic with panic—he had never been this flustered even when surrounded by fierce bandits!

He quickly took off his suit jacket and jogged over. He tried reaching up, but there was still a short distance between him and Jiang Yu. His 192 cm height was completely useless right now.

And being so close, the view was all too clear.

He Lian’s hands were trembling.

Veins bulged along the back of his hands like winding vines.

“Uncle?”

Duan Jingyue’s voice sounded so close it felt right beside his ear.

He Lian’s eyes darted around. The exact moment Duan Jingyue rounded the corner, he grabbed a nearby branch of the locust tree, intending to use the lush green leaves to pin down Jiang Yu’s skirt.

Perhaps because he was in too much of a hurry, he used a bit too much force.

Snap!

It whipped right across Jiang Yu’s butt.

“Mm…”

Jiang Yu suddenly let out a soft, delicate groan.

He Lian’s entire body went rigid, his whole face flushing red from the intense shock.

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