Chapter 48: What Sin Have I Committed!

Xu An’an’s laughter was infectious, like a rainbow after rain, or more like summer sunlight—brilliant and dazzling. She laughed so hard she swayed with mirth, barely able to catch her breath, clutching her stomach as she gasped for air.

Ning Xiyue’s face flushed an ugly shade, her anger boiling over. She longed for Jiang Yu to stand up for her. But in the next moment, even Jiang Li laughed.

“You’re not a mongrel; you’re more of a clown—absolutely ridiculous.”

Each word landed like a blow, grinding Ning Xiyue’s already trampled dignity deeper into the mud, and then stomping on it for good measure. She lowered her gaze, hatred flaring in her eyes. But she placed all this humiliation squarely on Xu An’an, convinced that if Xu An’an hadn’t refused to give up the passenger seat, none of this would have happened!

Looking from Xu An’an’s radiant smile to Ning Xiyue’s tear-stained face, Jiang Yu felt a surge of irritation. It seemed as if Ning Xiyue’s light had dimmed considerably.

Sensing Jiang Yu’s gaze, Jiang Li said coolly, “Jiang Yu, since Miss Ning is your friend and she’s not feeling well, you’d better take care of her. Best send her to the hospital—get her head checked.”

Jiang Yu responded at once, “Yue’er, come on, I’ll take you to the hospital.”

Having reached the end of her patience, Ning Xiyue scrambled into the back seat, buried her face in her knees, and sobbed. Jiang Yu, startled, hurried to start the car. He remembered Jiang Li hated women who cried.

With a stomp on the gas, the car vanished in an instant.

Jiang Li leaned lazily against the car, glancing at Xu An’an. “It seems your fiancé has already forgotten you.”

Xu An’an, well aware of Jiang Li’s prowess, decided it was best to avoid quarreling with a man. She obediently got into the car.

But she couldn’t help but admit—the Rolls-Royce Phantom was truly the stuff of men’s dreams. Even women would stop in their tracks to admire it. Its exterior was powerful, flashy, and imposing; the interior was just as impressive.

Even Xu An’an, who had few material desires, couldn’t help but steal a few more glances. Money really was wonderful, but being born with a silver spoon was even better!

“If you’re willing to work hard, you can have what you want too,” Jiang Li remarked flatly as he started the car.

This car was something he’d bought with his own money. Many people had seen how much the old master doted on him, but only very few knew why he was found and brought back at all.

In the city of Hu, the formidable Master Jiang could have found any illegitimate son he wished. Would he entrust the vast Jiang family business to someone out of guilt? The old master, who had built his fortune from nothing, was not one to be ruled by emotion.

If Jiang Li hadn’t demonstrated extraordinary ability, he would have remained an ordinary person his whole life.

Thinking of this, a cold glint flashed in Jiang Li's eyes.

Returning to the Jiang household, he wanted only to reclaim everything that belonged to his mother. As for his father...

“Red light!” Xu An’an cried out urgently.

The screech of brakes startled pedestrians on both sides of the street. The impressive Rolls-Royce Phantom came to a halt just before the crosswalk.

Xu An’an, pressed against the seatbelt, patted her chest in annoyance. She wondered, if a car like this crashed into the barrier, which would give way first—the barrier, or the car? After all, such luxury cars were worth a fortune.

“Second Master, are you... are you all right?” Xu An’an swallowed back the retort that almost escaped her lips. She didn’t want to go down with him in an accident.

Jiang Li’s expression remained calm. He wasn’t sure why his thoughts had wandered.

“I’m fine.”

Xu An’an hardly believed him. A pedestrian had nearly stepped into the street, paralyzed by fear, only able to move with the support of a companion.

The companion scolded, “You have to wait until the light is green all the way before crossing—even at the last second! What if you really got hit?”

When the light turned green, the car moved on. Seeing Jiang Li’s grim face, Xu An’an wisely kept silent, gripping her seatbelt tightly.

Out of the corner of his eye, Jiang Li noticed her nervous gesture—it reminded him of a little hamster, and his mood lightened a little.

At last, they reached the entrance to their apartment complex, but the night watchman refused to let them pass. He had never seen such a striking luxury car before.

The old man peered over his reading glasses. “Which building are you in?”

“Uncle!” Xu An’an rolled down the window.

The old man recognized her at once, his eyes crinkling in a smile. “Ah, it’s An’an! Have you brought home a boyfriend? What a handsome young man! You really are blessed.”

Xu An’an felt awkward—this was not a blessing she wanted. “Uncle, please let us through. He lives here too—just moved in this morning. You didn’t see his car go out.”

Satisfied, the old man opened the gate, and Jiang Li parked the car.

Xu An’an intended to get out and leave immediately, but the thought of sharing an elevator with Jiang Li made her uneasy. “Second Master, which building do you live in?”

“Right across from you.” Jiang Li locked the car, then strode toward the elevator.

Xu An’an’s mouth twitched. What kind of fate was this?

She fished out her keys to open the door, but just as she was about to close it, Jiang Li slipped in without the slightest courtesy, causing her to slam the door with more force than intended.

“Second Master, I thought you lived across the hall?”

“I bought the whole complex.” Jiang Li shrugged off his suit jacket, tossed it aside, then loosened his tie and undid a few shirt buttons, removing his watch as well.

He acted as if he owned the place.

Xu An’an wanted to say she’d move out at once, but she’d signed a ten-year lease with the landlord. With her mother still unwell, she didn’t want to leave. She’d signed for so long to avoid future rent hikes. Moving would mean paying five times the penalty—a thought she quickly suppressed. Though she had some savings, her mother’s medical expenses were enormous.

“Would you like me to give you my bedroom, Second Master?”

“No need. I only sleep on half the bed.” Jiang Li messaged his assistant to bring over fresh clothes and some household essentials. He even transferred money to Xu An’an.

What was there left for Xu An’an to say?

Still, sharing a home with a man...

Xu An’an retreated into the open kitchen, pretending to fetch some water, and glanced at the man on the sofa, flipping through TV channels with the remote in hand.

Moonlight spilled through the floor-to-ceiling windows, draping Jiang Li in a soft halo, while the dust in the air shimmered like scattered starlight. His features were sharply defined, brows like swords and eyes like stars, his frame equally impressive.

Well—she’d just have to sleep here.

Having convinced herself, Xu An’an took her pajamas and went to shower.

Half an hour later, drying her wet hair, she saw Jiang Li putting away the toiletries his assistant had delivered into the bathroom.

Their toothbrushes—one pink, one black—stood together in a single cup.

Xu An’an paused, momentarily stunned.

It looked for all the world like a couple’s shared life.

Noticing her lingering in the doorway, Jiang Li arched an eyebrow languidly and gestured, “Come in—I happen to need someone to scrub my back.”