The Substitute Bride and the Cripple

Chapter 81: Still in Pain from Last Night

“Young Mistress, just go with him. I’ll handle things here,” He Lei interrupted, seeing the two of them argue. His scalp was about to explode.

“But my senior was injured…” Tang Qiu blamed herself; Ning Mufan had been completely innocent.

“I can stay behind to make sure he’s okay, Young Mistress. The young master’s bodyguard is anxious to leave too… Your husband is waiting for you…” He Lei urged.

Only when Tang Qiu heard that her husband was waiting for her did she move to follow the masked man. However, he gripped her too hard. She frowned and said, “Let go, you’re hurting me!”

Jiang Shaocheng, who was wearing a mask, didn’t know that she was injured. She was wearing a coat that didn’t belong to her; he would have ripped it from her shoulders if it wasn’t inappropriate. He just wanted to take her away quickly. However, her resistance just made him even angrier. He tightened his grip.

Seeing the two of them leave, He Lei retracted his gaze and stared coldly at Ning Mufan. “Young Master Ning, I remember issuing you a reminder to stay away from my young madam. I assume your ears are still functional enough to understand simple instructions?”

Ning Mufan stood up straight, clutching his neck. He sneered disdainfully. “You’re just Jiang Shaocheng’s lapdog. What right do you have to order me around? Tang Qiu is his wife—not his belonging. Why can’t she have friends of her own? I really feel sorry for her.”

“A friend whom you also want to sleep with? Young Master Ning, I understand if you like my young mistress, but your interest in her is still unacceptable. Her husband is not someone to be trifled with. Don’t test my young master’s patience again and again. You won’t be able to withstand the consequences,” He Lei mocked.

Ning Mufan clenched his fists. Maybe his feelings for Tang Qiu were born of the superficialities of youth—but he wasn’t about to give her up. “Jiang Shaocheng is just a cripple who doesn’t have long to live. He can’t give her happiness at all. Do you really expect me to believe that you care about her?”

He Lei looked at him coolly. “That’s a discussion for after my young master’s death. As for you—you have no right to be near her. Even as a friend, you should know your limits. You’ll pay dearly for what you’ve done!” He turned and left.

Tang Qiu followed the masked man to a hotel. Her arm hurt terribly, but no matter what she said, the man refused to listen.

“Tang Qiu, who gave you the guts to come here and find another man?” the man roared.

Tang Qiu shook off his hand and frowned angrily when she saw the red mark on her wrist. He was just her husband’s bodyguard. Who was he to scold her? “You have no right to question me, and I don’t owe you an answer!”

......

“You’re avoiding my question. Do you really have feelings for Ning Mufan?” Jiang Shaocheng was about to lose his mind from rage.

“Whether I have feelings for him or not has nothing to do with you. I want to see my husband!” Tang Qiu said coldly.

“You…” Fury swarmed Jiang Shaocheng’s vision, bathing the world in red.

“Stop arguing. The young mistress wants to see her husband. Let the young master talk to her.” He Lei pulled Jiang Shaocheng back and reminded him that he was still wearing a mask.

Jiang Shaocheng took a few deep breaths. The image of his wife sleeping in another man’s bed continued to taunt him, blinding him with fury. He turned and slammed the door behind him. Tang Qiu and He Lei were shocked.

What terrible anger!

He Lei coughed lightly and advised, “When you see the young master later, talk to him properly. Even if some things can’t be explained clearly, try not to be angry with him.” Then he went out.

Her husband’s health was poor. Why would she be angry with him?

After a while, the door opened and Jiang Shaocheng wheeled himself in.

Tang Qiu’s eyes lit up when she saw him. She ran to him and squatted down. “Dear, I missed you so much.”

“You missed me?” Jiang Shaocheng stared at her coldly. For a moment, he really couldn’t tell if she was lying. Had the years shaped her into a remarkable actress, or did she truly possess that much mental fortitude? She had just eloped with another man and been caught by him. Now she was offering him sweet nothings in place of an explanation?

Jiang Shaocheng reached out to touch her beautiful face. He yearned to tear off her two-faced mask and make her confess the truth. When she had said that she liked him, were those just lies meant to win his favor? “Did anything happen last night that you want to tell me about?” He wanted to ask exactly what had transpired between Ning Mufan and her, but he couldn’t bear to utter that man’s name—and he wasn’t sure he wanted to hear her answer.

Tang Qiu’s thoughts traveled to that encounter in the dark last night, and all her grievances came spilling out. “So many things. I’m still in pain. That man, he…” She couldn’t wait to rant about all the awful things that had happened. However, a roar interrupted her before she could continue.

“Shut up, Tang Qiu!”