17 Red Bean Paste

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That kick from Qiao Yuyan snapped Huo Lingchen out of his hypnotic state. He realized his hidden intentions had been exposed and lay on the ground, gasping heavily. After a moment, he forced himself up, sneering as he looked up at Qiao Yuyan. "I provide her with everything she needs, so she doesn’t have to struggle outside like others for a living. Isn’t that love?"

"Who do you think you are?" Qiao Yuyan bent down and grabbed his neck. His face quickly flushed deep red from the difficulty breathing. "Jiang Yunxi is so outstanding, yet you lock her at home just to satisfy your selfish desires. Is that your idea of love?"

Seeing Huo Lingchen struggling to catch his breath, his complexion turning from red to purple, Qiao Yuyan finally threw him aside. He crashed heavily onto the floor but still glared fiercely at Qiao Yuyan, his eyes nearly popping out. He snarled, "What’s so great about being a doctor? Even if she earned a doctorate, so what? The little salary she earns in a year isn’t enough to buy her current clothes. You don’t understand anything, so stop bossing around."

Qiao Yuyan looked down at him from above. It was clear he knew nothing about his sister. She had no interest in debating money or lofty ideals with him. Coldly, she said, "Make him forget tonight."

Auri responded immediately, stepping forward without regard for Huo Lingchen’s struggles. He grabbed his hair and lightly shook a finger in front of his eyes.

Qiao Yuyan watched for a moment, her gaze drifting over to the wedding photo on the desk beside her. She turned and picked up the frame. Inside, Jiang Yunxi smiled brightly, beautiful and radiant.

Her outstanding sister had been admitted to the top university in Xia Country, Chenxing University, at fifteen. She majored in Clinical Medicine and completed her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in just six years. She was accepted as a doctoral candidate at Chenxing and was widely regarded with high hopes.

Such a dazzling, promising sister had given up her dreams for this man, becoming a full-time housewife. Yet he so belittled her ideals and pursuits, betraying her sincere love for him.

Qiao Yuyan gripped the photo frame tightly. Although she longed to hit Huo Lingchen, he was still the protagonist of this world. Before her sister completely slipped from the original story’s control, she could not act against him.

She placed the frame back and looked at the dazed Huo Lingchen on the floor. Just wait—he wouldn’t have it easy.

With Auri’s final command, Huo Lingchen slowly closed his eyes and fell into a deep sleep.

“All done, Boss,” Auri said, setting Huo Lingchen’s head down and standing up.

“Good work,” Qiao Yuyan nodded. “You guys can head back now.”

An Chen, who had been shrinking in the corner, saw Qiao Yuyan’s dark expression and dared not joke anymore. He quietly followed Auri out of the study.

Qiao Yuyan cleaned up the room thoroughly. Before leaving, she glanced at Huo Lingchen lying on the floor and, after some thought, turned off the air conditioning.

If he ended up lying on the carpet all night in the cold air and caught a chill, her sister would have to take care of him. She was not willing to cause her sister such trouble.

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The next morning.

Huo Lingchen woke up to a knock at the door. He blinked sleepily, feeling disoriented. When he realized he was lying on the carpet, alarm hit him.

He sat up, holding his head, feeling a sharp headache and a vague sense that he was forgetting something important. He shook his head, trying to clear his mind.

“Lingchen, are you up?” Jiang Yunxi called softly from outside the door.

Inside the room, Huo Lingchen used his hands to push himself up, trying to stand. But his muscles ached all over, and every movement sent sharp pain through him. Worse, there was a pungent smell of urine clinging to him.

“Lingchen?” Jiang Yunxi grew anxious after no response and raised her voice, calling for a servant to bring a key.

Huo Lingchen’s heart sank. He didn’t want anyone to see him in such a pitiful state. Hastily, he called out, “I’m up. I’ll take a shower. You go ahead and eat first.”

“All right, I’ll wait for you to have breakfast together,” Jiang Yunxi replied, relieved, then footsteps faded away.

Huo Lingchen exhaled deeply, propping himself up with his hands. His arms were too weak from the pain to support much weight.

After struggling for a while, he barely managed to stand and staggered into the study’s bathroom, eager to strip off his filthy clothes.

Facing the mirror, he carefully inspected his body. There wasn’t a single bruise or swelling—only a cut on his palm from a sharp object, the blood already dried.

How did he get that wound? His brows furrowed as he racked his memory, but last night’s events remained a blur.

Had he blacked out from drinking?

After trying in vain to recall, he decided to set it aside.

He turned on the hot water, letting the shower wash away the grime and ease his aches.

Once cleaned thoroughly, the discomfort vanished as if it had been an illusion.

He pushed aside the lingering doubts and dressed, leaving the study.

At the staircase, he saw two women in the dining room. His body tensed instinctively, muscles tightening.

For some reason, every time he saw his wife’s sister, Qiao Yuyan, he felt an intense aversion.

“Lingchen,” Jiang Yunxi was talking with Qiao Yuyan when she caught sight of Huo Lingchen. She quickly stood and took his hand, but suddenly noticed something odd. She pulled his hand up and exclaimed, “What happened to your hand?”

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“I don’t know where I scratched it. It’s healed now,” Huo Lingchen said, gently squeezing Jiang Yunxi’s hand with his own, leading her to the dining table.

Still worried, Jiang Yunxi examined his hand carefully, flipping it over. Seeing the wound had begun to scab over, she finally relaxed.

Qiao Yuyan, waiting nearby, softly called, “Brother-in-law.”

Huo Lingchen glanced up briefly and gave her a perfunctory nod before sitting at the head of the table.

“This morning, Aunt Wang told me you finished a whole bottle of whiskey,” Jiang Yunxi said as Huo Lingchen sat, reproachful. “Really, why do you drink so much?”

Huo Lingchen was momentarily stunned. He hadn’t realized he drank that much, which explained why he remembered nothing.

He looked at Jiang Yunxi’s worried face and replied, “I was in a bad mood last night. It won’t happen again.”

Feeling guilty for causing her husband’s bad mood, Jiang Yunxi lowered her head.

Huo Lingchen smiled faintly, picked up a piece of hawthorn cake, and placed it on Jiang Yunxi’s plate. Softly, he said, “Let’s eat.”

Jiang Yunxi said no more, picking up a piece and nibbling it gently.

Huo Lingchen glanced at her and asked softly, “Is today’s hawthorn cake not good? Why are you eating so slowly?”

Jiang Yunxi swallowed the red bean paste filling and smiled gently. “No, it’s delicious.”

Qiao Yuyan cast a sidelong glance at Huo Lingchen and snorted quietly. Looks like last night’s beating was too light.

As Jiang Yunxi prepared to take another bite, her body unexpectedly leaned sharply to the left. She bumped into Qiao Yuyan, causing the hawthorn cake on her chopsticks to fall to the floor.

Jiang Yunxi, ignoring the fallen cake, quickly steadied Qiao Yuyan. “Yanyan, what’s wrong?”

“I’m fine, sister, just didn’t sit properly,” Qiao Yuyan replied plaintively, sitting upright. She looked at the displeased Huo Lingchen, her eyes reddening, tears welling as if about to cry. “Sorry, brother-in-law, for disturbing you.”

“It’s fine,” Huo Lingchen said with tightened brows, his tone cool as he reached for the hawthorn cake again.

Suddenly, Qiao Yuyan smiled faintly at him.

Though bright and innocent, the smile sent a chill deep into his heart.

His expression changed abruptly. With a loud snap, he put down his chopsticks and said to Jiang Yunxi, “I’m going to work now.”