Chapter 43: The word "boyfriend" sounds rather pleasant to the ear

After the initial shock, Jiang Xiaoxiao felt more a surge of joy and schadenfreude. She didn’t expose them on the spot. Instead, she quickly took out her phone to record a short video, and sent it straight to Yan Feng.

Yan Feng received the video while he was arranging Xia Ling’s hospital discharge. It was from Jiang Xiaoxiao. He’d never had a good impression of her—a woman who grew up in the slums, sensitive and insecure, constantly preoccupied with her own status. Though they had each other on WeChat, they’d never actually spoken.

Jiang Xiaoxiao’s video showed Jiang Zhi You dining with a man, the two of them talking and laughing. Suddenly, the man leaned in and kissed her lips. Jiang Zhi You didn’t resist at all—on the contrary, she looked radiant with a smile.

A sudden pain clenched Yan Feng’s heart. His grip on the phone tightened involuntarily. He suddenly recalled the night he’d just returned to the country, when Jiang Zhi You had said she had a boyfriend. He’d thought she was putting on a show, never imagining she’d meant it literally. She really did have a boyfriend now.

A nameless fury welled up inside him. Without a second thought, he dialed Jiang Zhi You’s number.

Meanwhile, Jiang Zhi You and Bo Jin Xiu had just finished their meal and were about to leave. Her phone, resting on the table, lit up. Bo Jin Xiu clearly saw the name: Yan Feng. His expression immediately darkened.

Jiang Zhi You picked up the phone and glanced at Bo Jin Xiu, but ultimately answered.

“Is there something you need?”

Yan Feng’s voice came through the line, strained with suppressed emotion. “Jiang Zhi You, where are you right now, and who are you with?”

Jiang Zhi You chuckled. “Having dinner with my boyfriend. Anything urgent, Mr. Yan?”

A vein throbbed on Yan Feng’s forehead. He’d always assumed Jiang Zhi You was only trying to provoke him. He never imagined every word she said was true.

“Jiang Zhi You, how dare you make a fool of me like this!”

Jiang Zhi You laughed. “Yan Feng, think carefully—what exactly is our relationship?”

“Everyone knows we’re husband and wife. You’re out with another man—have you considered my reputation?”

Between them, it was only the marriage certificate that was missing. In fact, it was only because he’d changed his mind at the last moment that they didn’t get it; had Xia Ling not fainted that day, perhaps he really would have married Jiang Zhi You.

They’d already held the wedding banquet. Though the guest list was small, all those invited were the most distinguished figures in Rongcheng. In the eyes of outsiders, they were already husband and wife in every sense.

Jiang Zhi You let out a mocking laugh. “If we’re husband and wife, did you think about my reputation when you ran off with your mistress?”

Yan Feng said nothing, but his heavy breathing betrayed his anger.

Jiang Zhi You went on, “Besides, we never truly were husband and wife. Yan Feng, we’re already over. My life is none of your business.”

With that, she hung up.

When she looked up at Bo Jin Xiu, his frown had eased.

“Are you satisfied?” Jiang Zhi You asked, her eyes bright with laughter.

Bo Jin Xiu raised an eyebrow. “...‘Boyfriend’ has a nice ring to it.”

Jiang Zhi You flicked a lock of her wavy hair. “Are all men this possessive?”

Bo Jin Xiu’s brow creased again. “‘All men’... So there are others besides me?”

Jiang Zhi You couldn’t even be bothered to reply. “Childish.”

She had no idea why Yan Feng had suddenly called her like that. Was he here too? Jiang Zhi You stood and looked around, catching sight of a figure hurrying away—it was Jiang Xiaoxiao. So she was the one who’d tipped off Yan Feng. But Jiang Zhi You didn’t care. She’d never intended to hide anything from Yan Feng, and now there was even less reason to.

On the other side, after being hung up on, Yan Feng’s face darkened as he threw his phone across the room. Xia Ling happened to witness the scene. She walked over and took his arm. “Ah Feng, what’s wrong?”

Yan Feng glanced at her, his eyes icy cold. Xia Ling recoiled in fright; he had never looked at her that way before. Ever since Jiang Zhi You had played that recording in the hospital, Yan Feng had changed. Did he really suspect her? No, she had worked too hard and schemed too long to let it all go to waste now.

Her eyes shimmered with tears, her expression full of grievance. “Did I do something to upset you?”

Watching Xia Ling’s pitiful demeanor, Yan Feng’s heart was full of conflict. For the first time, he realized Xia Ling, too, could act. He hadn’t confronted her about what he’d found on her computer. He hadn’t exposed her. Partly, he thought her actions were because of him—her insecurity. And partly, the doctor had warned him that her pregnancy was unstable, and she mustn’t be agitated.

“Ah Feng, whatever I’ve done, it’s only because I love you too much. Please don’t be angry with me. I promise I’ll never do anything to make you unhappy again.”

Yan Feng’s expression finally softened. Xia Ling, delicate and helpless, had eyes only for him. Unlike Jiang Zhi You—beautiful as a rose, but wild and untamable, never willing to listen to him.

He put his arm around Xia Ling’s shoulders. “Don’t provoke Jiang Zhi You again. She’s ruthless. You can’t compete with her.”

Xia Ling still looked aggrieved. “What about my mother? I heard she’s been making a scene at the TV station these days. I’m really scared…”

“She just wants money, doesn’t she? Don’t worry, I’ll handle it.”

Xia Ling hugged Yan Feng tightly. “Thank you, Ah Feng. You’re the only one in this world who’s truly good to me.”

The next day, Xia Ling also went to the TV station. After several days of her mother’s uproar, people’s attitudes toward her had changed. Everyone understood that whether it was the online rumors about Jiang Zhi You or Xia Ling’s mother’s appearance, it was all about the battle for the prime-time host position.

But in the end, Jiang Zhi You emerged victorious.

At the morning meeting, Tang Fei announced that Jiang Zhi You would host the prime-time show. Still, since Xia Ling had signed a five-year contract with Yan’s Group on the station’s behalf and was Yan’s heir’s girlfriend, they wouldn’t treat her poorly. So, she was given the nine o’clock “News Express”—second only to the prime-time slot.

That evening, at seven-thirty, Jiang Zhi You had just left the studio when she noticed a commotion outside. Her assistant, Qianqian, waved her over excitedly. “Sister Jiang, come quick! There’s supper and milk tea!”

Jiang Zhi You walked over to find a long table set up outside the studio, heaped with all kinds of late-night snacks—sashimi, barbecue, even lobster, a dazzling array. Another table was piled high with milk tea and desserts. Many people had already gathered and were helping themselves.

Qianqian pulled Jiang Zhi You over. “These are all takeout from a five-star hotel—the manager of the Caesar Hotel delivered them himself. The taste is nothing like street food. Sister Jiang, try this mousse cake, it’s amazing!”

Jiang Zhi You glanced at the sumptuous spread, knowing it must have cost a fortune. “Who’s treating everyone?” she asked.

“It’s Ling-jie’s boyfriend, Young Master Yan from Haifeng Construction,” Qianqian replied, eating cake and gesturing toward the entrance. “He’s really good to Ling-jie—he’s already here to pick her up from work.”