Chapter 88: Want It?

Jiang Yuan ran out of the Jiang household and was soon gone from sight.

Granny Jiang followed behind her. Looking out over the wide street, she said uneasily to Madam Qian, “Second Daughter-in-law, go after Yuan Yuan at once. If anything were to happen to a young lady like her, what then?”

At that, Madam Qian grew even angrier. She gave a cold snort. “What could happen? Mother, don’t forget: only by sending Yuan Yuan away can our family have a son.”

As soon as those words left her mouth, Granny Jiang unexpectedly fell silent.

Bai Yan was hiding behind Madam Zhao. Zhao turned around, looked at the little girl, and reached out to pat her head. “Girl, if you regret it now, it’s not too late.”

Bai Yan looked baffled, tilting up her small face. “Huh?”

“See that? That old woman is terrifying. Why don’t you and Jiang Chengyan get divorced? Become our daughter instead—his little sister!” Madam Zhao kept winking at Bai Yan.

“I don’t have a thing for incest,” Jiang Chengyan said, pinching the flesh at the back of Bai Yan’s neck and drawing her to his side. “Their family is poor. If you went there, you wouldn’t live well.”

Bai Yan pouted.

“Jiang Chengyan, what’s the point of being like this? The girl has no real feelings for you—she’s only after your money.” When Madam Zhao spoke to Jiang Chengyan, she did not sound like a mother at all. She sounded more like an enemy.

Jiang Chengyan lazily lifted his eyelids. “Even so, I’m richer than you.”

“Fine, you little plague, get lost,” Madam Zhao snapped.

“Third Madame, we should go home.” Jiang’s father smiled toward Bai Yan, whose eyes were round with fright. “Don’t be afraid. Your mother is talking nonsense.”

“What do you mean nonsense?” Madam Zhao exclaimed. As she headed out, she rose onto her toes and reached for Jiang’s father’s ear.

Bai Yan stared blankly as the couple left, then looked up at Jiang Chengyan’s ear.

Jiang Chengyan turned his head and saw that his little wife was gazing at him imploringly.

“Want it?” His voice was low.

Bai Yan nodded hard.

The corner of the man’s mouth lifted. Then, in the next instant, he bent down, making it easy for Bai Yan to touch his ear.

Bai Yan reached out and tugged at it, then, in a babyish but fierce voice, began imitating Madam Zhao again: “I... I... what do you mean nonsense?”

“Sweetheart, why do you start stuttering whenever you get fierce?” Jiang Chengyan said as he straightened and led her inside.

“What does stuttering mean?” Bai Yan asked, shaking his arm.

Jiang Chengyan then mimicked her haltingly: “I... I... I...”

Bai Yan instinctively lifted a foot to kick his leg, but Jiang Chengyan seemed to have eyes in the back of his head. He turned at once, caught her leg with one hand, and pinned her directly against the door panel.

“Little stutterer.” His deep eyes fixed on Bai Yan, and before long her little face had gone red.

Just as Bai Yan was staring at him in dazed fascination, a thunderous voice suddenly burst in from outside: “Damn it!”

“What does ‘damn it’ mean?” Bai Yan’s mind was once again filled with a hundred thousand whys.

Jiang Chengyan’s expression changed instantly. He yanked Bai Yan behind him with one hand and said to the burly man in front of the house, “One must not gaze upon what is improper.”

“Your old tree blooming is something else. By the way, what did you say to me? Your grandmother wants to marry Jiang Yuan off to me?” Zhao Chiujiu had been busy at home and only now found a moment to come over.

“Yes.” Jiang Chengyan nodded. “Interested?”

“No interest.” Zhao Chiujiu waved a hand. “Carry on.”