Jiang Qianfeng had lost count of how many times he had slapped himself; he only knew that by the end, there was a metallic, coppery taste in his mouth.
The taste was deeply unpleasant and nauseating.
Before long, he began to dry-heave, doubling over. Seeing this, Qi Yuzhen and Jiang Yi stepped forward to support him, their eyes red and faces full of concern.
The mother and daughter had witnessed the full extent of Jin Shengshi’s power, and now they dared not make a sound. However, after the retching subsided, Jiang Qianfeng seemed to realize something. With a swollen face, he pleaded, "Xiaolai, Dad truly knows he was wrong. If you still hold any anger or resentment in your heart, just say it. Today, I will certainly give you an explanation."
With Jin Shengshi there to back her up, Jiang Lai certainly wouldn't miss this opportunity to flaunt her borrowed power. She continued to sob, looking aggrieved.
"Dad, are you telling the truth?"
Jiang Qianfeng nodded immediately. "Of course it's the truth."
Jiang Lai choked back a sob. "I have already registered my marriage with Asheng. Are you still going to force me to marry Gao Zhan?"
To the three members of the Jiang family, these words were like a thunderbolt.
With Jin Shengshi present, how could they possibly have the audacity to suggest that Jiang Lai marry Gao Zhan? That would be akin to seeking their own death.
However, just because they couldn't afford to offend Jin Shengshi didn't mean they could afford to offend Gao Zhan. At that moment, Jiang Qianfeng’s heart was in his throat; his eyes darted around uneasily as he struggled to choose his words.
"Xiaolai, now that you and Shengshi have registered your marriage, you are naturally no longer fated to be with the young master of the Gao family. But... but the Gao family..."
Jiang Lai stopped sobbing and asked with great interest, "But what about the Gao family?"
Jiang Qianfeng replied, "Our Jiang family cannot afford to offend the Gao family. I am afraid that only if Shengshi steps in can we dispel Young Master Gao’s feelings for you. Otherwise, in the future, our Jiang family will..."
He spoke vaguely and hesitantly, but anyone who wasn't a fool could understand what he meant—he was simply hoping that Jin Shengshi would step in to protect the Jiang family.
Jian Yue had originally intended to stay quiet and watch Jiang Lai’s performance, but he was truly disgusted now. Jiang Qianfeng wanted it both ways. He was so hypocritical it made one want to retch.
"Director Jiang, according to what I’ve learned, you just went to the Gao family's private room to discuss business—the very marriage between my sister-in-law and Gao Zhan. I assume the Gao family promised you quite a few benefits?"
"If you are afraid of the Gao family coming after you in the future, why don't you just return the benefits you received?"
Jiang Qianfeng fell silent. "..."
Seeing this, Jian Yue chuckled.
"Director Jiang, you are quite amusing. Since you are so reluctant to part with the benefits the Gao family promised you, doesn't your family have another unmarried daughter? Why don't you just marry her to Gao Zhan instead?"
At these words, the expressions of the three Jiang family members turned ghastly. Jiang Yi completely forgot her status as a socialite, her emotions flaring up. "Assistant Jian, this is a family matter for the Jiangs!"
The implication was clear: it was none of his business.
The farce had gone on long enough for Jin Shengshi, who was now bored.
He cast a subtle glance at the dainty woman in his arms before speaking in a languid tone: "The engagement between me and Jiang Yi is officially dissolved."
"As for the Gao family, the Jiang family should handle the explanation and resolution yourselves."
"Whatever pressure your family faces afterward has nothing to do with me, Jin Shengshi. But there is one thing I need you to remember: I married Jiang Lai, not the Jiang family."
"Therefore, your attempts to have it both ways will not work with me."
"From this day forward, Jiang Lai is under my protection. If you dare to be insolent toward her again, you had better weigh whether or not you can afford the price you will have to pay."
With these words, he effectively cut ties with the Jiang family.
Originally, being chosen for an alliance with Jin Shengshi had been a golden opportunity for the Jiang family. Once the two families were wed, their interests would be bound together. With the Jin family as a towering tree for shade, the Jiang family could have lived in comfort. But now, after such a declaration, Jin Shengshi was clearly kicking them to the curb.
Jiang Qianfeng could not accept this result.
He roared, his face twisted in a hideous expression, "Even if Jiang Lai doesn't have the blood of the Jiang family in her veins, she was raised by us for eighteen years! You’ve married our daughter, yet you want to kick our family aside? Is that how a son-in-law acts?"
As he pushed his luck, Jin Shengshi remained indifferent, only finding him incredibly noisy.
But just then, Qi Yuzhen also spoke up, looking at Jiang Lai with tears in her eyes. "Xiaolai, please persuade Shengshi."
"All these years, even if we haven't achieved greatness raising you, we have certainly put in the effort. We are family, and family should support one another. I was even planning to prepare your dowry just now."
"But... are you really going to be this heartless toward the Jiang family?"
To be honest, Jiang Lai had seen this "good cop, bad cop" routine from them for so many years that she was sick of it. Besides, would she ever be short of the measly dowry Qi Yuzhen could provide?
Her eyelashes fluttered, and she smiled sweetly, asking with an innocent air, "Have either of you considered cutting ties completely?"
"..."
Silence.
A heavy, eerie silence fell over the room. For a full two minutes, the only sound in the private room was their breathing. No one had expected Jiang Lai to say such a thing.
Even Jin Shengshi had not anticipated it.
The Jiang family wasn't at the top of the hierarchy, but they were still considered wealthy in Jing City. As the adopted daughter of the Jiangs, even if she wasn't favored, people in the circle would usually show some restraint, not daring to bully her too easily for fear of offending the family.
But if she severed ties, she would be all alone. Anyone with a bit of power could move against her, and she would have nowhere to run.
They were married, yes, but it was only a three-year contract. Was she so confident that no one would dare touch her after three years?
In that moment, Jin Shengshi felt a new layer of curiosity toward her.
Very well. She had started to use his influence to fight back.
But the fact that her counterattack was so extreme was certainly unexpected. If this had been in the past, Jiang Qianfeng and Qi Yuzhen would never have taken her words seriously, but now, because she was attached to Jin Shengshi, times had changed. The two of them panicked visibly.
Jiang Qianfeng: "Jiang Lai, don't make such jokes!"
Qi Yuzhen: "Xiaolai, we understand you're angry with us, but you can't just talk about severing ties like that."
Jiang Lai, of course, knew they would never agree.
Since she already knew that, she couldn't be bothered to waste any more breath on them.
After a deliberate yawn, she slumped into Jin Shengshi’s arms as if she had no bones. "Husband, I’m sleepy~"
Hearing this, Jin Shengshi gave Jian Yue a look.
Receiving the signal, Jian Yue immediately began shooing them out. "Director Jiang, my sister-in-law needs to rest. Please leave quickly."
"..."
After the three of them left, begrudgingly, Jiang Lai showed no intention of moving from Jin Shengshi's arms.
Seeing this, the man chuckled. "You are certainly good at riding the tiger to terrorize others."
"Tiger" sounded too harsh, Jiang Lai corrected.
"I’m not riding a tiger; I’m a fox relying on the tiger's might."
A fox suited her much better.
Jin Shengshi didn't argue about the phrasing. Instead, as she smiled secretly, he reached out with his index finger and hooked her chin.
"No reward for me?"