A Secret That Could Ruin Everything
1127 Words
Because Han Xi Cheng already knew about Jiang Qing Wan’s affair with Mu Jian Chen.
The words slammed into Jiang Qing Wan’s chest like a heavy blow.
Her face drained of color. Panic surged through her veins, making her fingers tremble as she gasped, “What… what did you say?”
Song Wan Zhi, standing nearby, clearly hadn’t caught the implication. She stepped forward aggressively, pointing a finger straight at Su Nian’en.
“You little tramp! Who the hell is Mu Jian Chen? What nonsense are you spouting now? Don’t think I don’t know you’re just trying to make excuses—”
Before she could finish, Jiang Qing Wan suddenly lunged forward, grabbing Su Nian’en by the arm and dragging her into the bedroom.
Bang!
The door slammed shut.
Song Wan Zhi was left in the hallway, her shrill curses crashing uselessly against the closed door.
Inside the room.
The moment the lock clicked into place, Jiang Qing Wan spun around, her expression twisted with barely restrained fury.
“What did you just say?” she demanded. “Mu Jian Chen? Explain yourself. Now.”
Su Nian’en bit her lip. Her gaze flickered away, her posture tense, as if she wanted to speak but didn’t dare.
“Well?” Jiang Qing Wan snapped, her patience snapping thin. “Say something!”
As if frightened by the sharpness of her tone, Su Nian’en’s composure finally crumbled. Her voice dropped into a small, hesitant murmur.
“Actually… Han Xi Cheng did find me in New York. He asked if I knew about you and Mu Jian Chen checking into a hotel together. He also asked if you two were still… involved.”
“You’re lying!”
The denial came fast and furious, cutting her off mid-sentence.
Su Nian’en immediately fell silent. But fearing Jiang Qing Wan might not believe her, she hurriedly added, her voice trembling with urgency.
“Sister, I’m not lying. He really asked me those questions. If you don’t believe me… you can ask him yourself.”
The implication hung heavy in the air.
Han Xi Cheng’s sudden appearance in the kitchen.
His deliberate closeness.
His unmistakable intention.
All of it had been aimed at Jiang Qing Wan.
As for confronting him?
Would she dare?
The blood drained from Jiang Qing Wan’s face. A moment later, fury surged back in—her complexion turning from pale to flushed in seconds. Her chest rose and fell violently as she struggled to regain control.
Watching her reaction, Su Nian’en quietly let out a breath she hadn’t realized she’d been holding.
She knew now.
Her words had shaken Jiang Qing Wan to the core.
Which meant Qin Su’s information had been accurate.
Jiang Qing Wan really was having an affair with Mu Jian Chen—behind Han Xi Cheng’s back.
Su Nian’en couldn’t understand it.
How could Jiang Qing Wan betray someone like Han Xi Cheng?
The man had everything—power, status, looks that made people instinctively lower their gaze. Compared to him, Mu Jian Chen didn’t even come close.
And yet… she had still chosen to humiliate him in secret.
The thought alone sent a chill crawling up Su Nian’en’s spine.
But no matter what crossed her mind, she didn’t dare voice a single word.
To ensure Jiang Qing Wan wouldn’t turn her attention back to her, she lowered her gaze, her expression carefully composed into something wounded and submissive.
“Sister,” she said softly, “you know I can’t afford to offend Han Xi Cheng. Or Mu Jian Chen. I know my place. I just want a quiet life. I don’t want any trouble… so please…”
“Enough,” Jiang Qing Wan snapped. “I understand.”
She turned to leave, then paused at the door, her voice dropping into a cold warning.
“Su Nian’en, listen carefully. If you say a single word about what happened today, I’ll make you regret it.”
The gentleness she usually wore like a mask was completely gone.
Su Nian’en nodded quickly, obediently, promising she would never reveal anything about Mu Jian Chen.
The door closed.
Su Nian’en leaned back against it, her knees weakening as relief washed through her body.
Jiang Qing Wan believed her.
At least for now, she was safe.
Yet unease crept quietly into her chest.
What if Han Xi Cheng decided to retaliate?
After all, Mu Jian Chen was still her fiancé—at least in name. Even though he treated her with cold indifference, even though he barely acknowledged her existence, he was still the man secretly involved with Han Xi Cheng’s woman.
How could someone like Han Xi Cheng—proud, ruthless, and accustomed to absolute control—ever tolerate betrayal?
Surprisingly, the days that followed were calm.
Too calm.
Nothing happened.
Song Wan Zhi’s treatment of her remained the same—ordering her around, treating her like an unpaid servant. No escalation. No explosion.
But that didn’t mean the pressure eased.
If anything, it shifted.
Song Wan Zhi began urging her about the marriage more aggressively. Every conversation circled back to Mu Jian Chen. The hints grew increasingly blatant.
She should get closer to him.
Find a way into his bed.
Lock things down.
Before, Su Nian’en had been able to hide behind her studies.
But now, she had graduated.
Song Wan Zhi clearly felt it was time to collect.
This wasn’t about marriage anymore. It was a transaction—turning Su Nian’en into a bargaining chip to secure benefits from the Mu family.
What Song Wan Zhi didn’t know was that Su Nian’en had been back for an entire week.
There was no way Mu Jian Chen hadn’t heard about it.
And yet…
Not a single call.
Not even a message.
Sometimes, Su Nian’en wondered if he had already forgotten she existed at all.
2:00 p.m.
Love Café.
Using the excuse of picking up jewelry for Song Wan Zhi, Su Nian’en slipped out to meet Qin Su.
“So,” Qin Su asked quietly, stirring her coffee, “what are you going to do now?”
She didn’t need an explanation. She already knew.
Song Wan Zhi was pushing her toward the Mu family as fast as possible. And with Jiang Qing Wan involved, marrying Mu Jian Chen would be nothing short of stepping into hell.
Qin Su had opposed the engagement from the very beginning.
If it weren’t for the fact that Nian’en’s father still relied on the Jiang family, Qin Su would have stormed in and slapped Song Wan Zhi across the face without hesitation.
But even now, Qin Su knew one thing for certain—
If Su Nian’en didn’t find a way out soon, she wouldn’t just lose her freedom.
She might lose herself entirely.
- Writer
