Chapter 124: Tonight, I’m Sleeping Alone!

“Watch your words? That’s new—this is the first time anyone’s told me to be careful with my speech,” Jiang Lie said, a bright smile lighting up his unruly handsome face. “Why don’t you tell me exactly which words of mine were careless, so I can be more mindful?”

It was just the phrase “our home” earlier!

Xu An’an muttered silently to herself, feeling too embarrassed to argue with Jiang Lie in person—she didn’t want him to think she was trying to strong-arm him, like some third party demanding recognition.

Turning away, she said, “If you don’t think you need to watch your words, there’s no point me telling you. You have to realize it yourself before you can change.”

“No amount of talking from others will help,” Jiang Lie mused, sensing some truth in her words, so he let it drop.

“This way, my room’s this way,” he said.

As the owner of Rose Manor, Jiang Lie naturally had his own private room.

Thinking about how she slept beside Jiang Lie almost every night, always being tossed about and exhausted, Xu An’an refused firmly, “I’m sleeping alone tonight!”

The manager trailing behind wished he could disappear on the spot. Were the boss and his wife really arguing?

“Why?” Jiang Lie raised an eyebrow.

Xu An’an ignored him and asked the manager to lead the way. “Find me a room far from his, somewhere quiet.”

The manager broke out in a cold sweat. This was a battle between gods; the little guy would suffer!

He decided to follow Xu An’an’s wishes. Judging by how the boss allowed his wife to pick rare roses, the wife held the real power in this household.

“This way, please.”

Watching Xu An’an throw a tantrum, Jiang Lie couldn’t help but chuckle, yet indulged her. “Are you sure? Don’t regret it later. Rose Manor is huge, and there are no other guests right now. If something supernatural happens tonight, don’t be scared and come running to me.”

The manager was embarrassed. Boss, talking like that won’t make the lady happy.

Thomas should be doing a full 360-degree kneel-and-apologize instead. But no matter, just beg forgiveness from the wife first.

After all, your own wife—you don’t need to preach lofty morals. If you win but make her unhappy, what’s the point?

Marrying her means cherishing her; otherwise, stay single. Why bring someone home just to fight?

The manager thought Jiang Lie had it all figured out, but he just didn’t know how to make him understand.

It wasn’t meddling; when the wife’s happy, the boss is happy, and those who serve them are sure to be rewarded handsomely!

With this in mind, the manager made a silent resolve.

After escorting Xu An’an to the room farthest from Jiang Lie’s, the manager said, “Madam, there’s something I’m not sure if I should say.”

Called “madam,” Xu An’an felt a pang of guilt.

“Actually, I’m not your real madam.”

The manager paused, then understood—they were in the middle of an argument.

His own wife was the same; whenever angry, she denied their relationship. He understood this well, so it didn’t stop him from continuing.

“Madam, the boss isn’t trying to upset you on purpose. If he didn’t love you, why would he halt business at Rose Manor so no other guests disturb you?”

“Rose Manor has been open for over five years, yet the boss never brought any other woman here.”

“You know Rose Manor is famed as the perfect spot for couples, but the boss only brought you—what does that mean?”

Xu An’an was a bit confused, unsure of the manager’s intention, but seeing his sincerity, she played along. “What does it mean?”

The manager smiled confidently, “It means the boss only loves you!”

Xu An’an gave a half-hearted smile. “Alright, I’m going to sleep now.”

Bang!

The door closed in front of the manager.

He rubbed his nose. “Did I say something wrong?”

“No, you didn’t,” a sudden voice startled him.

Jiang Lie had quietly followed along.

He nodded approvingly. “I’ll give you a raise later. Go get some rest.”

The manager was ecstatic. “Thank you, boss!”

Handing Jiang Lie the master key card, he happily left.

Inside the room, Xu An’an nibbled on rose-flavored cake while watching a drama. Spotting a plot hole, she instinctively turned to complain to Jiang Lie—only to remember he wasn’t there.

Instantly, she deflated.

Somehow, she didn’t realize when Jiang Lie had woven himself into every corner of her life, making his presence feel indispensable.

Better take a bath and sleep early to stop overthinking.

Soaking in the bathtub, Xu An’an closed her eyes comfortably. Suddenly, she heard a noise outside and recalled Jiang Lie’s words, goosebumps rising all over.

She’d heard every manor had its share of unspeakable occurrences.

Could there be something here too?

Should she go find Jiang Lie?

...

Upon learning that Jiang Yu was about to marry Xu An’an, Ning Xiyue rushed back overnight from her film set, deliberately got drunk at a bar, and had Jiang Yu pick her up.

Seeing her so heartbroken, Jiang Yu felt bad too.

He took Ning Xiyue to a hotel.

After being intimate, Ning Xiyue nestled against Jiang Yu, softly sobbing, “Ah Yu, after tonight, let’s never see each other again.”

“If anyone finds out, An’an will definitely be furious.”

Jiang Yu sighed helplessly, “Yue’er, you should understand my predicament and how I’m trapped.”

“Even marrying Xu An’an is just a stopgap measure.”

“You are still the one I love most.”

“Now about the internal news at Jiang Corporation…”

He trailed off.

Ning Xiyue’s eyes darkened. Having slept with him so many times, and now he wanted to keep secrets from her? How selfish!

Lowering her lashes, she sighed softly, “It’s alright. If you think I shouldn’t know, then don’t say it. I understand.”

“After all, I’ll never truly be part of the Jiang family.”

“It’s just that I don’t have the good fortune Xu An’an has—having such a lucky mother who once inadvertently saved the old master. Otherwise, how could she stand by your side? You’re so outstanding, so brilliant.”

Seeing Ning Xiyue’s tearful expression, Jiang Yu felt heartbroken.

But when it came to the engagement with the Xu family, he was still angry. “Honestly, this marriage isn’t truly Xu An’an’s. After all, it was Shen Ying who saved grandpa, so it should’ve been Xu Wanwan marrying me. Xu An’an must have used some trick—that’s why I still despise her.”

Ning Xiyue was hearing this for the first time; a dark gleam flashed in her eyes.

Jiang Yu went on, “It’s not a big deal, just that Jiang Corporation plans to select a new vice president. My uncle is too extreme, so they want to make him feel some pressure.”

“And I’m very likely the candidate, so I can’t go against great-grandma’s wishes at this critical moment.”