Chapter 34: He’s Just That Useless
The man’s expression was dark as he grabbed Jian An’s wrist, forcibly pulling him off the bed. “What are you pretending to be sick for? How could Xiao Yan’s victory party be complete without you? Come with me!”
When Shen Yunheng returned with the water, the hospital room was already empty. Only a solitary IV tube hung by the bed, and the bedding was a mess.
He hurriedly dropped the water kettle and ran out. He called the man’s name several times in the hallway, but received no response. Finally, he learned from the nurse’s station that Ji Songting had taken him away.
What on earth was that man going to do to Jian An?!
Shen Yunheng instinctively clenched his fists, his knuckles making a “crack-crack” sound as if protesting his current inner rage.
The phone in his pocket suddenly rang.
He hesitated for a moment and swiped to answer.
Mother Shen’s complaining voice came from the other side: “Why haven’t you come to Yan-yan’s party yet? I know all about you helping someone else accuse him of plagiarism. You’re being a very irresponsible brother. Hurry over and apologize to Yan-yan!”
“Mom, I have urgent business to attend to. I’m not going to his party. As for whether he plagiarized, you can ask him yourself. I’m hanging up.”
With that, before Mother Shen could reply, he hung up without hesitation and left the hospital.
Where on earth would Ji Songting take Jian An?
He drove all the way with an uneasy mind. Usually, he could handle even the most difficult work problems with ease, but he had never been in such a state of disarray as he was now.
Without realizing it, that person had already become deeply rooted in his heart, more important than his own life.
The Ji Villa.
Shen Yunheng rang the doorbell. The maid who came to open the door didn’t understand the purpose of this important figure’s visit and said nervously:
“Shen-zong, is there something you need from our Ji-zong?”
“Where is Jian An? Is he in the villa right now?”
The maid shook her head and said truthfully: “No. However, Ji-zong did bring Mr. Jian back just now to change into formal attire, and then they left in the car again.”
Formal attire? Could it be they went to the victory party?
Shen Yunheng thanked her politely and turned to leave.
Yaoshi Five-Star Hotel.
At the banquet, Jian An was dressed in a pure white formal suit. It made his skin look even fairer, like snow. His exquisite features, however, looked very depressed and uneasy at this moment.
He tightly gripped the hem of his clothes and quickened his pace to follow behind the man. The people around him continued to cast strange looks. The shining liquid in the wine glasses made him feel inexplicably terrified.
Ji Songting in front suddenly stopped. His forehead bumped squarely against the man’s broad, sturdy back, making him stagger a step.
Jian An rubbed his brow and hid behind him, carefully peeking half a head out to look at the people coming to offer a toast.
It was the Shen couple and Shen Chuyan.
Shen Chuyan was leaning on Mother Shen’s arm. Catching a glimpse of the person behind him from his peripheral vision, the expression on his face stiffened. The corner of his mouth twitched into a cold smile, then he said joyfully: “Brother A-Ting, you’re finally here! I’ve been waiting for you for so long!”
Ji Songting nodded, his eyes as gentle as water. The gaze he turned toward him was full of doting and love.
Father Shen raised the wine glass in his hand and said with appreciation: “Ji-zong is truly young and promising. To become an investor for Venice at such a young age—come, I must have a drink with you!”
“Alright. I will drink Chairman Shen’s wine. You’ve worked hard to raise Xiao Yan to be so outstanding and sensible.”
Ji Songting casually took the red wine from the table beside him, lightly clinked glasses with him, and tilted his head to drink it all in one go.
“Hahaha! In the end, it’s also because Yan-yan works hard himself. We’ve spoiled him since he was a child, yet he isn’t willful or spoiled. We feel all our efforts over the years were worth it.”
Father Shen patted his son’s shoulder with deep emotion, a look of pride on his face. He then added: “Finally, I hope the relationship between the Shen and Ji families lasts a long time—mutual benefit and win-win cooperation!”
“As it should be.”
Ji Songting spoke indifferently, but his gaze remained fixed on Shen Chuyan, making the other’s heart race.
Although Mother Shen noticed the two making eyes at each other, she didn’t push her son forward. Instead, she looked somewhat embarrassed.
After all, she knew full well that Ji Songting had already entered a marriage alliance with the Jian family. Even if her son shared feelings with this man, she would certainly not encourage Shen Chuyan to become a third party.
She let out a silent sigh and gently pulled her son. “Yan-yan, let’s go over there and host your Uncle Tang.”
Shen Chuyan was clearly reluctant to leave. He pushed his mother toward his father and said perfunctorily: “You guys go first! I’ll be there in a bit! Don’t worry about me!”
Mother Shen: “Sigh, you child…”
Father Shen took her arm and pulled her forward, advising: “Forget it, forget it. Let’s go. The child is grown and has his own ideas; we won’t meddle blindly.”
Watching his parents and others laughing and talking, Shen Chuyan finally felt at ease to approach the man. He reached out to grab Jian An’s clothes and smiled with an ambiguous meaning:
“Hey! Caught you, Brother Xiao An~ Why are you hiding in the back? Don’t be shy; this is my victory party.”
This sudden movement forced Jian An to reflexively shrink back. He stood a distance away from him and remained silent.
Seeing this, Shen Chuyan’s previously high spirits felt a bit flat. His beautiful eyes filled with grievance as he said:
“A-Ting, Brother Xiao An is ignoring me. Is he blaming me for plagiarizing his painting? But I really didn’t…”
Ji Songting placed a hand on his shoulder. His heart softened instantly, and he hurriedly comforted him:
“Xiao Yan, you don’t need to blame yourself. He’s just that useless; he doesn’t know anything except underhanded methods.”
Beside them, Jian An bit his lip tightly. Hearing these words, his face turned deathly pale, and a deep pain appeared in his eyes.
He struggled to move his legs and turned to leave, but Shen Chuyan didn’t intend to let him go. He pulled him straight to a booth, his voice sweet but hidden with malice:
“Don’t go, Brother Xiao An~ It’s rare to be this happy tonight. It’ll be such a damper if you leave. Let’s play a game! But what should we play?”
“How about blindfolded shooting?”
A profligate male voice suddenly came from behind.
Ji Songting had always been extremely disgusted by this arrogant voice; he could tell who it was even with his eyes closed.
Shen Chuyan, however, was startled. He jerked his head around and saw Jian Yufeng and Jian Tangli walking over leisurely.
It was one thing for the Jian daughter to come, as the relationship wasn’t too awkward, but why was Jian Yufeng joining in the fun?!
He quickly composed his nervous emotions. The smile on his face remained, though it had become stiff. He said with interest:
“Oh? That could work. But wouldn’t normal shooting props be too boring? There’s no challenge.”
Jian Tangli immediately suggested: “Use eggs! Then tie a person to a chair. The egg must hit the bullseye. If it hits the person, it counts as a loss.”
“I think that works! Sounds fun.”
Shen Chuyan’s eyes suddenly lit up. He then looked conflicted and said: “A-Ting, but who would be willing to be tied to the chair? And… isn’t playing like this a bit bad?”
“It’s fine. Xiao Yan’s happiness is the most important thing. As for the person… him, then. After all, he plagiarized your painting.”
Ji Songting’s eyes narrowed. He pointed without hesitation at the despondent Jian An in the booth.
Shen Chuyan was a bit excited. He leaned over and smiled wickedly. “Brother Xiao An, then I’ll have to trouble you for a bit~”
“Pfft, hahaha!”
Jian Yufeng let out a contemptuous laugh and tutted, “Ji-zong really takes ‘good care’ of this brother of mine~”
Hearing this, Ji Songting let out a cold snort.
The atmosphere seemed to be filled with a faint smell of gunpowder. Jian Tangli was eager to play the game: “Let’s go play in a private room! There are too many people here; people who don’t know would think we’re bullying someone.”
Jian An was held by the arms by the two siblings and dragged away. He had no power to resist. He could only cry out in a raspy voice:
“What do you want to do? I don’t want to play!”
However, because the booth was too far from the crowd, no one heard his cries. He could only let them handle him.
In the dim private room, Jian An’s hands and feet were tied, and he was firmly bound to a chair, unable to move.
His mouth was also sealed with tape. A pair of melancholy peach-blossom eyes were slightly moist, tears shimmering. He looked very pitiful.
Shen Chuyan stood not far away, his eyes covered with a black cloth. Facing the bullseye, he held an egg in his hand and said:
“Brother Xiao An, pardon me! My skills might not be good; I’ve never played a shooting game before. Bear with me for a bit~”
With that, he raised his arm, but he deliberately used no force and threw low. It landed squarely on Jian An’s head. The yolk and egg white instantly flowed all over his face.
Smelling the fishy stench on his cheek, Jian An’s stomach churned. His beautiful face was covered in filth.
Those eggs, which seemed to have very little weight, hurt intensely when they hit his skull, as if he had been struck by a thousand-pound boulder.
He had never suffered such extreme humiliation.
Crystal tears fell from his cheeks continuously like pearls from a broken string. The face that should have been beautiful and handsome now bore a trace of despair and pain.
After hitting him with three consecutive eggs, Shen Chuyan finally took off the black cloth reluctantly. He blinked with feigned regret. “Sigh, I really don’t know how to play!”
“My turn, my turn!”
Jian Tangli snatched the black cloth from him and put it on. She weighed the egg in her palm, the corners of her mouth arching with confidence.
The young Jian daughter was famous for being competitive and unreasonable. The eggs didn’t hit the person on the chair; instead, they hit the bullseye one by one.
Jian An suffered a bit less because of this.
Apart from Jian Tangli, the other two played the game with entirely vengeful and mocking hearts.
Ji Songting sat on the sofa with his legs crossed. His eyes were as deep as a dark sea, so black their depths couldn’t be seen. The corners of his eyes were curled playfully, and his expression radiated an inscrutable evil and coldness.
He just stood by like an outsider, watching Jian An suffer humiliation. He even felt a shred of pleasure, yet images of the man entangled with Shen Yunheng still surfaced in his mind, and the jealousy in his heart grew even stronger.
Jian Tangli stood with her hands on her hips, admiring her results:
“You guys are so stupid! Such a simple shooting game and you couldn’t hit even one? I’m the best after all!”
Just as she finished speaking, the door to the private room was suddenly pushed open. The newcomer’s voice was filled with rage and trembling:
“What are you doing to Xiao An?!”
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