Chapter 24: Ultimately, She Was Owed

Old Master Wen was furious, his expression so dark it seemed as if ink could drip from his face.

Wen Yan dared not speak another word, casting a timid glance toward Wen Jinghuai. Though he longed to explain that he and Jiang Zhixuan were in love, the old man’s piercing gaze rendered him speechless, the words caught in his throat. Since childhood, Wen Yan had known that the old man did not care for him. Had it not been for Wen Jinghuai’s support over the years, he would likely have withered away in some forgotten corner long ago.

"Very well, you may go now. I understand," Wen Jinghuai said with a low chuckle. He stood up and positioned himself in front of Wen Yan, shielding him from the old man’s gaze.

Feeling as though he had been granted an amnesty, Wen Yan nodded quickly to Wen Jinghuai. "Big brother, Grandfather, I won't disturb your rest any further." He then scurried away as if his feet were greased.

Only after the sound of the door closing had faded did Old Master Wen look at Wen Jinghuai. "You knew, and yet you indulged him in this?"

Wen Jinghuai said nothing. He walked toward the kitchen to pour a glass of water. When he returned, the old man glanced at the glass in his hand and let out a cold snort. Wen Jinghuai sighed softly, placed the glass on the side table near the old man, and sat down in a nearby armchair.

Old Master Wen had always looked down upon those who lacked integrity. A broken engagement replaced by another—what would others think of the Wen family?

"Grandfather, I know you are angry, but there is no benefit in forcing another person into this." The reason the old man had despised Wen Yan’s mother was that Wen Yan’s father had once broken a betrothal. Although that incident had been smoothed over, many insiders still remembered it.

"But..." the old man began, but Wen Jinghuai interrupted him.

"Grandfather, haven't you met her? She lived next door to us at the time." He paused, then added, "A person like her was never suited for Wen Yan."

His words instantly brought to the old man's mind the young woman he had seen that night: dressed in a cheongsam, her eyes filled with a faint, lingering melancholy. She was much like a girl from the Jiangnan region, elegant in every gesture. Looking back at Wen Yan, he had to admit, the boy was indeed lacking.

"I have truly failed her," Old Master Wen sighed, picking up the glass from the table for a sip. The request made by Jiang’s parents back then was simply for Jiang Mian to marry into the Wen family; they had asked for no commercial support in return. Now that the tides had turned, everything had fallen into chaos.

When Jiang Mian woke up the next day, her face was puffy. Because of what Jiang Zhouyi had said the night before, she hadn't been able to sleep until late, eventually getting up to work on her sketches. A pile of discarded drafts lay scattered across the floor; she stepped on them, then kicked them aside with her foot. Not a single one was useful.

She felt much lighter after a bath. The family, fearing she might not show up, had been messaging her one after another. As she applied her skincare products, she stared at her phone, her gaze lingering on the name "Wen Jinghuai" in her chat history.

They were going to meet again. Jiang Mian felt a sense of frustration. She realized that since the engagement had been switched, the frequency with which she encountered Wen Jinghuai seemed to have increased. Two people who once had no connection were now becoming intertwined. She just wasn't sure if that was for the better or the worse.

After changing into casual clothes and sending a brief "Got it" to Jiang Zhixuan, Jiang Mian grabbed her shoulder bag and left. She had no desire to attend this meal, so there was no need to put on a show.

If she hadn't run into Wen Jinghuai at the entrance of Juyuan Pavilion, she might have felt much more at ease. Since they were no longer total strangers, she had to stop and offer a slight nod. "Mr. Wen."

The man lowered his gaze. The young woman before him kept her head slightly bowed, her eyelids drooping with exhaustion. Her long hair fell loosely behind her, and due to her movement, a few stray strands had fallen across her face. She reached up to tuck them away, and as if sensing something, she looked up slowly.

Wen Jinghuai looked away at that exact moment. As he walked forward, he didn't forget to remind her, "Miss Jiang, there is no need to be so formal." She always addressed him as "Mr. Wen," which made him seem somewhat cold and unapproachable.

The two entered Juyuan Pavilion one after the other and waited by the elevator. The silver doors were polished to a mirror finish, and as they stood there, they could see their own reflections clearly. Jiang Mian’s eyes flickered, and she found herself looking at the reflection of Wen Jinghuai.

The man was still wearing a black shirt today—not much different from before, except for a pocket on the chest. At the collar, he had pinned a cross-shaped fluid-style brooch. Under the overhead lights, the tiny diamonds embedded in it caught the shimmer. When Wen Jinghuai raised his hand to check his phone, Jiang Mian noticed a matching pin on his right cuff, though it was smaller and featured a tiny star. He didn't seem like a typical corporate executive or business owner.

Setting aside what she already knew, most people would likely just see Wen Jinghuai as a very elegant young man. He did, indeed, possess a certain youthful charm.

The elevator doors opened, and they stepped inside. A floor-to-ceiling mirror lined the back wall, and they stood with their backs to it. Within seconds, they reached the fourth floor.

The lobby outside was bustling, and as soon as they arrived, a staff member in uniform approached them. "Good evening, do you have a reservation?"

"Yes, for room 4302," Wen Jinghuai said with a slight nod, speaking softly.

Jiang Mian followed behind him, glancing to both sides. Juyuan Pavilion seemed quite busy today, with most patrons accompanied by their families. She lowered her eyes; long ago, her parents had brought her here too, though the restaurant hadn't been as prosperous back then.

Inside the private room, Wen Yan had already been sitting with Jiang Zhixuan for quite a while.

"A-Yan, should we order a few more dishes? Do you think Big Brother might not like what we picked?" Jiang Zhixuan pushed the leather-bound menu toward Wen Yan with a smile. Jiang Zhouyi sat to the side, silent, looking down at his phone. Jiang Mian hadn't replied to his messages.

When Wen Jinghuai pushed the door open, Jiang Mian snapped out of her thoughts and followed him into the room. Jiang Zhouyi looked up, a momentary flicker of confusion in his eyes, before he stood up with a smile. "Mr. Wen, what a coincidence that you and Jiang Mian arrived together."

No one answered him. Jiang Mian caught a glimpse of him, a flash of disgust hidden in her eyes. She simply walked over, pulled out a chair, and sat down, placing her bag on the empty seat next to her. Jiang Zhouyi glared at her, but said nothing; seeing Wen Jinghuai sit down, he followed suit.

Observing his older brother’s demeanor, Wen Yan felt a cold sweat break out on his back for no apparent reason. He grabbed the menu and slid it onto the glass turntable in front of Wen Jinghuai, his voice low. "Big Brother, would you like to see if we need to add anything?"

The bright yellow tablecloth draped over Jiang Mian’s lap, concealing her hands, which were tightly clenched, hidden from everyone's sight.