Forty-two, Jiang Moqing

“You mean to say, Jiang Mochen married me only because I was good to him?” Su Wan finally caught the meaning behind Jiang Moqing’s words.

“That’s not certain. Perhaps it was because you smiled at him on the street,” Jiang Moqing replied, taking a slender lady’s cigarette from her bag and lighting it.

“He once kept a mouse in his pocket for three months, just because that mouse ate his food.”

“Was it for revenge?” Su Wan frowned, asking.

Jiang Moqing smiled, pressing the cigarette to her lips, inhaling slowly and exhaling in a thin stream. “No, not for revenge.”

“I told you, it was because the mouse ate his food.”

Suddenly, Su Wan recalled that fox. She hadn’t seen it since that night.

“Did he end up killing the mouse?” she asked.

Jiang Moqing shook her head. “No, the mouse died naturally.”

“Of course, afterward, he kept an ant, because the ant had climbed onto his foot.”

Su Wan felt numb all over. “Why is he like this?”

Jiang Moqing laughed again. “Who knows?”

“I used to never dare look at him.”

“I was afraid that one day, if our eyes met, we’d imprison each other.”

“Each other?” Su Wan seized upon the key word. “What do you mean ‘each other’? You have this problem as well?”

Jiang Moqing took a deep drag, closing her eyes as the smoke dispersed slowly in her lungs. “Not as severely as he does.”

So, she did have it.

Su Wan suddenly regretted rushing into marriage. “You two are such a match, why aren’t you together?”

At that, Jiang Moqing laughed aloud. “Two sick people torturing each other?”

“We already dislike ourselves enough. To find someone just like us—wouldn’t that be seeking death?”

As she spoke, she took Su Wan’s hand, gently caressing her face. “Su Wan, I’ve seen the way he earnestly cared for that mouse and that ant. As long as you don’t leave him, he will treat you very, very well.”

“But if you do, you’ll witness just how mad he can become.”

A chill ran down Su Wan’s back. “Why should I believe you?”

Jiang Moqing smiled, took another drag, and leaned closer, exhaling smoke in Su Wan’s face. “Because he and I are the same kind of person.”

As she finished, the cigarette burned to its end. She pressed the glowing tip into an exquisite costume, then reached into her bag and produced a piece of pristine, snow-white mutton-fat jade. “A meeting gift.”

Su Wan reached out and took it.

Jiang Moqing looked at her and laughed again. “Su Wan, you really are wonderful. If I didn’t have a husband, I might try to steal you away from him.”

Her sudden, ambiguous words startled Su Wan.

Jiang Moqing laughed and patted her hand. “Don’t worry—not for now.”

“All right, let’s go. I don’t want to stay here a moment longer.”

She slipped the key into Su Wan’s hand and walked out.

Watching her head straight for the main entrance, Su Wan couldn’t help but call out, “Aren’t you going to sit a while before you leave?”

“Jiang Mochen will be back soon,” Jiang Moqing replied with a smile, turning her head. “I told you, I really dislike him.”

With that, she paid Su Wan no further mind and left.

Only after she departed did Su Wan realize her palms were slick with sweat. She gripped the key and turned to lock the door.

She didn’t know why, but she suddenly felt weak all over, not wanting to move.

Carrying the washbasin, she returned to her room and sat there the entire afternoon.

When Jiang Mochen came back, dusk had already fallen.

He was carrying a large pile of things—all clothes, shoes, hairpins, and ribbons for Su Wan.

He immediately noticed her odd state. “What’s wrong?”

Startled from her thoughts, Su Wan shook her head quickly.

Only then did Jiang Mochen take a lunchbox from his bag. “This is Chen’s famous spicy chicken. You should try it—everyone says it’s delicious.”

Once she took it, he pulled two golden keys from his coat pocket.

“Grandfather said we should buy two apartments in the city and live together.”

“You bought apartments?!” Su Wan was astonished.

She wondered how Jiang Mochen could have so much money for that. Didn’t his adoptive father owe a lot of debt?

Jiang Mochen seemed to notice her suspicion, but he didn’t explain. He simply said, “Yes. Your name is on the deed.”

As he spoke, he produced an exquisite porcelain jar, opened it, and pushed it toward her. “This is sweet soup. They say it’s very good.”

“How do you have so much money?” Su Wan was not willing to be brushed off.

Seeing he couldn’t avoid her question, Jiang Mochen replied, “Don’t worry. I earned it through proper means.”

No matter how hard she thought, Su Wan couldn’t imagine how Jiang Mochen could have made so much money so quickly.

“You—” She wanted to ask more.

But Jiang Mochen suddenly interrupted, “Tomorrow, go tell Grandfather we should move as soon as possible.”

Su Wan anxiously grabbed his hand. “No, you need to explain.”

“We don’t have to move to the city; I can earn money slowly. You can’t do anything foolish.”

Now she worried Jiang Mochen had sold a kidney or something, since the money otherwise made no sense.

Jiang Mochen, helpless, sat down again. “Actually, I paid off my adoptive father’s debts long ago. Those two men the other day weren’t debt collectors.”

“I did a little business, stole some of someone else’s clients, and they came looking for trouble.”

“At the time, I just wanted to trick you into leaving.”

He turned and took out the eight thousand yuan Su Wan had lent him, placing it on the table.

“I never thought you’d really be willing to lend me money.”

Su Wan stood dumbfounded, overwhelmed by all that had happened that day.

“Wait, you… are you telling the truth?”

Jiang Mochen nodded earnestly. “I’m sorry. I didn’t think it through at the time.”

It truly was an unexpected delight. Su Wan’s anxiety was swept away by happiness.

“So you even know how to keep something in reserve now!” Su Wan laughed, giving him a playful shove.

But Jiang Mochen’s gaze suddenly sharpened as he noticed the bracelet on her wrist. “That bracelet…”

Su Wan raised her hand. “Your sister came today. She gave it to me.”

He stared at the bracelet intently. “What did she say?”

Frightened by his reaction, Su Wan faltered. She hadn’t believed Jiang Moqing’s words at first, but now Jiang Mochen’s expression made her doubt.

“Um… she said a lot of strange things. I don’t really remember.”

“She said she was quite satisfied with me and gave me this bracelet.”

Su Wan looked at him, puzzled. “What’s wrong?”

Jiang Mochen’s expression finally softened. “She’s not a good person. In the future, if you see her, keep your distance.”

Su Wan asked curiously, “Did you have a falling out?”

“No,” Jiang Mochen replied.

“Then why do you two avoid each other?” Su Wan pressed.

“I dislike her,” Jiang Mochen answered.

The same answer. Jiang Moqing had also said she disliked Jiang Mochen.

Could it really be as Jiang Moqing said—two people so alike, both detesting themselves?