novelraw Chapter 060 The Lion's Territory
Chapter 060 The Lion's Territory
Saturday afternoon.
The apartment was quiet.
The humidifier was emitting white mist.
Wen Ning nestled on the sofa, a picture book spread out on her lap.
Jiang Ci was cutting fruit in the kitchen.
The reassuring sound of chopping vegetables gave Wen Ning a false sense of peace and tranquility.
Until the doorbell rang.
"Ding-dong—"
Very polite, two rhythmic sounds.
Jiang Ci wiped his hands and walked out of the kitchen.
"I'll go open it."
Wen Ning didn't think much of it.
This is Jiang Ci's private property, and very few people know about it. It's probably because Zhang Annian delivered some documents or a courier.
however.
The instant the door opened.
The temperature in the air dropped sharply.
The person standing at the door was neither Zhang Annian, who was wearing a hoodie, nor the deliveryman.
Instead, he was a man wearing a dark gray bespoke suit with a cashmere overcoat draped over his shoulders.
She was carrying two beautifully packaged gift boxes.
A driver carrying even more supplements followed behind.
Zhou Xu.
Jiang Ci's hand was still on the doorknob.
The moment he saw Zhou Xu, his eyes turned cold.
It was like a lion that was resting suddenly smelling the scent of an intruder.
"President Zhou."
Jiang Ci stood blocking the doorway, showing no intention of moving aside.
"How did you find this place?"
Zhou Xu smiled.
That smile was the kind of composure that comes with a superior position, a smile that carried a hint of looking down on someone.
"If I want to find it, there's no place in City A I can't find."
His gaze went past Jiang Ci's shoulder and into the room.
"I heard Ningning is sick, so my mother asked me to come and see her."
Hearing the sound, Wen Ning peeked out from the sofa.
The moment she saw Zhou Xu, she was so startled that she dropped the sketchbook in her hand.
"Big...Big Brother?"
Zhou Xu's gaze fell on Wen Ning.
She looked fairly well, wrapped in a thick blanket, and there were anti-collision stickers everywhere in the room.
His gaze softened slightly.
"Since you're here, won't you invite me in for a seat?"
Zhou Xu looked at Jiang Ci.
Jiang Ci pursed his lips.
Despite his disgust, these were Wen Ning's family in name only.
He turned to the side.
"Please come in."
……
In the living room.
The atmosphere was eerily suffocating.
Zhou Xu sat on a single sofa.
The driver left behind a mountain of tonics (all top-grade bird's nest and fish maw) and then drove off.
Jiang Ci sat at the other end of the main sofa.
Wen Ning huddled in the middle, like a little white rabbit caught between two ferocious beasts.
"Ningning."
Zhou Xu spoke first.
He looked around the apartment that had been transformed into a "cocoon".
A hint of barely perceptible contempt flashed in his eyes.
"Is this the life you chose?"
His tone was calm, yet every word he spoke was piercing.
"Living in such a small 100-square-meter apartment, and not even having a nanny?"
"I heard she fainted and had to go to the emergency room a few days ago?"
Wen Ning gripped the blanket tightly.
"Big brother, this house is really nice... and Aci is very good to me..."
"good?"
Zhou Xu sneered.
He turned his head, his gaze piercing straight at Jiang Ci.
Mr. Jiang.
"Is this what you call 'pampering'?"
"You want her to start a business with you, living in fear and anxiety? You want her to lose control of her emotions and end up in the hospital because of your messy affairs?"
Jiang Ci placed his hands on his knees, clenching them into fists.
The nail is digging into the flesh.
Zhou Xu's words were like salt sprinkled on his still-healing wounds.
It was his fault for not protecting her.
This is a fact.
"The Zhou family cherishes their daughter like this, not someone you'd treat so badly."
Zhou Xu stood up and straightened his cuffs, which were not wrinkled.
Looking down from a high vantage point.
"Your current abilities are not enough to provide her with stability."
"If even her physical health cannot be guaranteed, I wouldn't mind taking her back."
"After all, even if the Zhou family raises a useless person, they can still ensure she lives a carefree life."
This sentence.
This touched Jiang Ci's sore spot.
Take it back?
Take her away from him?
"Bang."
Jiang Ci suddenly stood up.
The movement was too hasty, and it knocked over the water glass on the coffee table.
He ignored the spilled water.
Take a step over it.
He reached out and put his arm around Wen Ning's shoulder.
Pull hard.
He pulled her into his arms.
That is absolute possession.
Absolute defense.
He raised his head and met Zhou Xu's gaze.
that moment.
All the gentleness and forbearance in his eyes had vanished.
Instead, it has become an extremely strong and chilling form of aggression.
Like a lion whose territory has been invaded, baring its fangs.
"President Zhou."
Jiang Ci's voice was soft, yet chillingly cold.
She is my girlfriend.
Whether she's happy or not is up to her.
"As for whether I can provide her with a stable life, that's my business."
He stared intently at Zhou Xu, refusing to budge an inch.
"President Zhou not only meddles in other people's business, but he also oversteps his bounds."
"This is my home."
"It's also her home."
"She's not going anywhere."
Wen Ning leaned against him.
She could feel his chest heaving violently, and the hand gripping her shoulder, almost crushing her bones.
He was trembling.
Because of anger.
More so because of fear.
Zhou Xu looked at the short-tempered young man in front of him.
His eyes flickered slightly.
He saw the obsession in Jiang Ci's eyes.
That kind of madness—willing to fight the whole world just to keep Wen Ning.
a long time.
Zhou Xu withdrew his gaze.
I hope you will remember what I said today.
He didn't press the matter further.
He turned and walked towards the door.
"Ningning, if you feel wronged, come home anytime."
"No need to see me out."
Jiang Ci coldly uttered two words.
The door closed.
The lock clicked shut.
It blocked the view of the outside world.
Jiang Ci seemed to have all her strength drained away, and her body swayed.
But he did not let go of Wen Ning.
Instead, they hugged each other even tighter.
He turned around.
He buried his face in the crook of her neck.
The arm felt like an iron clamp, squeezing Wen Ning until she felt a little pain.
Don't listen to him.
His voice was muffled, with a suppressed tremor.
Don't believe him.
I will try my best.
"I will make a lot of money, and I will give you the best of everything in the world."
"Don't go with him..."
Wen Ning felt a sharp pain in her heart.
She raised her hand and hugged his broad back.
she knows.
Zhou Xu's arrival completely ignited the deepest unease in Jiang Ci's heart.
He is afraid.
He was afraid that he really was like Zhou Xu said, unable to give her a future.
I'm afraid she'll really dislike how "small" this place is and miss the "big" Zhou family home.
This is the pain of being torn between inferiority and self-esteem.
It is pushing him toward an even more extreme direction.
"I'm not leaving."
Wen Ning gently coaxed him.
"I'm right here."
Jiang Ci raised his head.
Those eyes were bloodshot.
He looked at her with a stubborn and crazed gaze.
"I will prove them wrong."
"I am no worse than anyone else."