Volume One, Chapter 10: Rabies Virus Secondary Infection Agent

Jiang Hui was dressed in the latest camellia pearl strap dress from Madame Xiang’s collection, the tender pink hue making her complexion look even more delicate. Her long wavy hair was loosely braided into a side ponytail, the end tied with a pink ribbon. A sparkling diamond necklace graced her neck—her whole look was refined and opulent, though her model-perfect face carried an unmistakable artificiality.

When she saw Jiang Ning, Jiang Hui’s casually placed hand on the sofa tightened unconsciously. Jiang Ning, however, maintained her ever-present sweet smile, completely ignoring Jiang Hui’s gaze. There was no helping it—beauty naturally bred resentment. Two hours spent before the vanity, endless outfit and jewelry combinations, yet none of it could match someone born beautiful who only needed to splash their face with water. Wasn’t that infuriating?

Jiang Ning placed the gift boxes on the coffee table and pulled Lu Cheng down to sit beside her. “Lu Cheng brought these for you.”

Lu Cheng sat close, his long legs stretched out naturally, his gaze sweeping indifferently over the two across from him. He offered a polite smile, holding just the right amount of distance.

Compared to the pair’s calm, Cao Huixian’s distaste was written plainly on her face. She leaned back from the gift boxes as if afraid of contamination, her disgust all too obvious.

“Sister Liu.”

Sister Liu, who was serving dishes, came over at the sound. “Ma’am?”

Cao Huixian lifted her chin. “Take those to the utility room.”

Once the items were removed, she added, “Wipe them down well and disinfect them.”

Jiang Ning felt neither anger nor embarrassment—in fact, she was a bit amused. The gift boxes were nothing special, a random assortment she’d grabbed at the supermarket, cheap but practical. No matter how good the gift, if it came from her, it always ended up in the utility room, eventually to be distributed to the servants during a clear-out. She’d spent five figures on clothes for Lu Cheng and just five hundred on these gifts—this was just sensible living: save where you can, splurge where you must.

They had hardly warmed their seats when the doorbell rang. In a heartbeat, Cao Huixian’s face transformed into one of warm enthusiasm, giving Jiang Hui a nudge. “That must be your Brother Chenghong, go open the door.”

At the mention of “Brother Chenghong,” Jiang Ning’s beautiful eyes narrowed slightly.

Lu Cheng, sensitive to her mood, caught her hand and placed it on his knee, idly playing with her fingers. “Who’s that?”

Jiang Ning’s lips curved in a mocking smile. She instinctively returned the gentle caress, her meaning pointed. “A stage-two rabies carrier.”

“Oh…” Lu Cheng drew out the sound, instantly understanding. He pinched her fingertip slightly. “Did you rinse your mouth after?”

He was full of little intimate gestures, affectionate yet never overstepping. Jiang Ning laughed coquettishly, playing along, the image of a newlywed couple.

Across from them, Cao Huixian glared, her eyes practically spitting fire at their display. She gulped down several mouthfuls of water to douse her irritation.

Du Chenghong entered, and when he saw the two nestled together, he too felt a flare of anger. But it passed in a flash.

He knew Jiang Ning had gone behind everyone’s back to register a marriage, but it didn’t matter—today’s dinner was not about meeting the new son-in-law. As long as the Jiang family didn’t acknowledge it, the marriage certificate was useless. Jiang Zhaoyuan had made it clear: only he could be the Jiang family’s eldest son-in-law. As for the bite she’d given him, he’d collect with interest sooner or later. What belonged to him would be his—time was on his side.

No one understood men better than men. With just one glance, Lu Cheng saw right through Du Chenghong’s intentions.

Cao Huixian’s face blossomed into a sycophantic smile. “Chenghong, come, have a seat.”

Du Chenghong smiled and took a seat in the single sofa. Cao Huixian wanted to say more, but Du Chenghong turned to Jiang Ning, his gaze flicking briefly over Lu Cheng, pretending ignorance. “And this is…?”

Before Jiang Ning could answer, Lu Cheng stood up and extended his hand warmly. “Isn’t this Young Master Du? What a coincidence, meeting again.”

Hand in hand, Du Chenghong looked puzzled. “Do you know me?”

Lu Cheng replied, “You’re a regular at my shop. What, change the setting and you don’t recognize me anymore?”

He was perfectly deadpan, every nuance and half-joking tone utterly convincing.

Cao Huixian’s gaze flicked between the two men. She hadn’t expected Lu Cheng to know Du Chenghong. Then again, with the Du family being top-tier in Jiangcheng real estate, and his uncle a high-ranking official, Du Chenghong was a well-known figure in Tongcheng. It wasn’t surprising if they’d met. If he was a regular, then it was just a shopkeeper-customer relationship—after all, the customer is always right.

Du Chenghong withdrew his hand, fiddled pretentiously with his sleeve, and casually displayed his luxury watch, lifting his chin in a show of superiority.

“Oh? What kind of shop do you run?”

Lu Cheng perched on the armrest beside him, draping an arm naturally over his shoulder.

Du Chenghong, annoyed, shrugged him off. But Lu Cheng, as oblivious as an old fool, simply draped his arm back again. “Young Master Du, here to patronize us again?”

He put a slight emphasis on “again.”

Jiang Ning watched from the side, her gaze lowered, a smile playing about her lips, thoroughly enjoying the spectacle. From the moment Lu Cheng claimed Du Chenghong was a “regular,” she knew he was setting a trap. Pity some people had the brain capacity of a peanut and couldn’t see it coming.

Du Chenghong suppressed his glee, pushed up his gold-rimmed glasses, and turned a friendly smile toward Jiang Ning. “No problem at all. For Jiang Ning’s sake, it’s nothing. Money? I have plenty of that.”

Then he turned smugly to Lu Cheng. “What’s your shop called, and where is it? I’ll drop by.”

His face bore a sneer, the very picture of a man dispensing favors from on high. How pitiful. A man like this still dared to dream of marriage—what gave him that confidence? Just his pretty face?

Pathetic!

He’d show Jiang Ning the difference between a successful man and a useless waste.

Lu Cheng responded, “It’s the Pleasure Adult Club on Huamei Road.”

He thumped Du Chenghong’s chest with his fist. “What’s wrong, getting shy in front of everyone? Come on, we’re all men here, you know how it is, right?”

That last “right?” was directed at Cao Huixian and Jiang Hui.

The moment he mentioned the Pleasure Adult Club, Cao Huixian’s face darkened. Jiang Hui, wild in private but always playing the good girl at home, feigned shyness and turned away, though her gaze never left Lu Cheng. This Lu Cheng—handsome, interesting. Then her eyes slid to Jiang Ning, and the disgust there was almost tangible. She had never heard of Jiang Ning having anyone like this around her. As expected, she kept all the good things to herself.

Du Chenghong realized he was being made fun of and shoved Lu Cheng away with his elbow. “What nonsense are you spouting? Adult club? I’ve never been there.”

He really hadn’t, and his hasty denial only made him look guiltier.

Lu Cheng clicked his tongue and settled back beside Jiang Ning. “You’re not very forthright, are you? That wasn’t your attitude when you asked me for the ‘special performance oil’ last time.”

His manner and tone were so convincing, he could have won an Oscar for Best Actor.

Jiang Ning fanned the flames. “Special performance oil?”

Lu Cheng answered naturally, “Yes.” Then he turned to Du Chenghong. “I just don’t get it—why wouldn’t regular oil do? You had to have the special stuff. Young Master Du, are you… having trouble?”

He made up lies with a straight face, fully embodying the art of rumor-mongering.

By sheer luck, Chu Heng’s tacky adult club had come in handy at just the right moment.

Du Chenghong, face flushed, stammered, “No, I—That’s not true—you’re making things up…” The words tumbled out in a weak, ineffectual mess. He was both angry and mortified, and couldn't decide which rumor—“adult club regular,” “special performance oil,” or “having trouble”—he should try to refute first. In this situation, whichever he addressed would only make things worse; to say nothing would seem like admission.

This was Lu Cheng’s trap, airtight and inescapable.

Jiang Ning stifled her laughter to the point of internal injury. Across from her, the three wore expressions so vivid and varied she could hardly take it all in.

Just then, a deep voice cut through the commotion, instantly silencing the room.

“What’s all the excitement about?”

Jiang Zhaoyuan came down the stairs in a gray home suit. The soft, gentle fabric did nothing to blunt the sharpness of his shrewd aura.