A pond full of blooming flowers, an ultimate addiction.

The next day, Jiang Yang led Wang Ruozhi to the old house early in the morning to serve tea to Grandpa Jiang. According to custom, at noon, Jiang Yang accompanied Wang Ruozhi back to her parents' home for lunch.

The relatives who stayed at the Jiang family's house also left after lunch. After playing a game of chess with Grandpa Jiang, Jiang Yi went upstairs to rest, but was stopped by Jiang Guoqing who was waiting outside the door.

"Is there something you need?" Jiang asked calmly.

"What kind of attitude is this?" Jiang Guoqing dropped his hypocritical mask, his dissatisfaction evident in his words.

Is there anything I can help you with?

“You should know where things are between you and Chi Ruiche now. Your sister likes Chi Ruiche.” Jiang Guoqing controlled his emotions.

"In what capacity are you asking me this?"

"Jiang Yi, recognize your place and stay away from Chi Ruiche. Don't try to take your sister's place." Jiang Guoqing saw the two being intimate yesterday and didn't confront her out of consideration for his reputation. But today, with no one around, he had to give Jiang Yi a warning.

“What is my identity? Are you mistaken? Miss Jiang is the only one. Please don’t try to make me back down by suppressing me.” Jiang Yi spoke each word clearly, her voice as cold as if it had been soaked in snow water. “I’m not a child anymore. This trick won’t work on me.”

"Snapped--"

Jiang Guoqing raised his hand and delivered a resounding slap to Jiang Yi's face. The slap was heavy, filled with violence and anger. His eyes were glaring at her, and his fists were clenched as if he wanted to tear Jiang Yi to pieces.

Jiang Yi felt her face being slapped hard by a strong hand. She almost staggered from the force of the blow, and her face instantly burned with a searing pain.

"What are you doing?" Cui Xiuling rushed over upon hearing the noise. Seeing Jiang Yi's swollen face, she instantly understood. She stood in front of Jiang Yi to shield her.

"Is this the good daughter you've raised? She doesn't know her place. I'm her father, it's my duty to discipline her." Jiang Guoqing was furious and pointed his finger at her, cursing.

"If you don't want your dirty deeds to become public knowledge, stay away from Jiang Yi. At worst, we can just break up. Without your father, you're nothing." Cui Xiuling was no longer weak. She put away her ridiculous views on love and her self-esteem and glared at him angrily.

Jiang Guoqing approached them, completely ignoring Cui Xiuling's threats.

"Try it. Once Jiang Xue's identity as an illegitimate daughter is revealed, she will only become a laughing stock. Xu Xinping interfered in someone else's marriage. Not to mention the Chi family, even the most prestigious families in Xijing would not marry a woman like that."

"You vicious woman." Jiang Guoqing had been holding Cui Xiuling in his grip, convinced that she wouldn't dare, as she cared most about her pride.

“There’s no need to show mercy to a beast like you.” Cui Xiuling said with disdain. “Get out. Otherwise, when your father gets out, you probably won’t even get your share of the profits.”

Jiang Guoqing left feeling humiliated, and Cui Xiuling hugged Jiang Yi with heartache, saying, "I'll go get some ice."

"I'm not in pain." Jiang Yi patted Cui Xiuling's back, feigning strength, and forced a smile.

Cui Xiuling hurriedly wrapped the ice cubes in a towel and applied them to Jiang Yi's face. Her hands trembled slightly, unable to hide her pity.

"Mom, I'm fine. You don't need to feel guilty. It doesn't matter what he says." Jiang Yi's smile revealed endless sorrow, which was heartbreaking to see.

“My daughter has grown up.” Cui Xiuling covered her face and wiped away her tears, then forced a smile in response.

Jiang Guoqing's slap left his cheek swollen. To avoid his grandfather noticing, Jiang Yi and Cui Xiuling packed their things quickly that afternoon and returned to the city. Since last year, Jiang Guoqing had never returned. After Jiang Yang bought a new house, only Cui Xiuling and the maid lived in the huge villa.

"Are you with Xiao Che?" Cui Xiuling handed her a glass of milk. Jiang Yi hadn't eaten much that evening.

"Ah."

"It's all good." Cui Xiuling sat on the edge of the bed. "Does the Chi family know?"

"I hadn't thought that far ahead." Jiang Yi realized that the two of them had been self-centered lately, but these problems were unavoidable.

“You’re still young, but for Xiao Che’s age, the Chi family has already started making plans.” Cui Xiuling saw through the marriages of these scions of prominent families.

"I'll think about it carefully."

"have a rest."

Because of Cui Xiuling's words, Jiang Yi had no sleep. She had thought about marrying Chi Ruiche, but she had never asked Chi Ruiche about it.

Jiang Yi called Chi Ruiche back, but no one answered.

"Click—"

A clap of thunder sounded at that moment, and a sudden downpour began. Jiang Yi was startled by the thunder and dropped the milk cup in her hand.

Jiang Yi clutched her chest, the suffocating pain making her miserable. Her hands clenched so tightly that her fingertips turned white, and the immense pain caused her to groan softly.

She dialed the phone countless times, but no one answered. She had a bad feeling.

"Abu, are you with Che?" Jiang Yi knew that Chi Ruiche wouldn't not answer the phone for no reason.

“My boss and I were socializing at Jin’ao. He drank quite a bit and went to a private room to rest.” Abu lay in another room, with a girl in his arms.

"Okay, I understand." Jiang Yi was downcast, but the pain had subsided. She kept checking her phone, hoping for something.

At this moment, Chi Ruiche in Jin'ao tore off his restraints and rinsed himself repeatedly with cold water to relieve the heat in his body. He had been careless today and was forcing himself to calm down to avoid being noticed by anyone with ulterior motives.

"咚咚-"

Just then, there was a knock on the door. Chi Ruiche was so agitated that he ignored it.

The door opened, and the girl tiptoed in. She heard the sound of water coming from the bathroom and mustered her courage to enter.

"Che." The sweet, delicate voice sounded a bit forced.

"Liang Simin." Chi Ruiche turned off the shower, his eyes flashing with anger, his brows furrowed, his chest heaving violently, his rage reaching its peak.

"Che, let me help you." Liang Simin took off her clothes, revealing a seductive expression and her sexy figure.

"Get out." Chi Ruiche's face was flushed red, his fists clenched so tightly that the veins on his arms bulged. His eyes seemed to be spitting fire, burning away the "enemy" in front of him.

Disregarding her image, Liang Simin rushed forward and hugged Chi Ruiche, frantically probing him. She knew she only had one chance, and she would never back down.

Liang Simin's seductive voice rang out: "Che, you need me, don't refuse me." Her body rubbed against his, and her originally cold body gradually became hot.