When the Villain Falls Madly in Love with Herself - Chapter 17

For over half a month after that, Jiang Congyue scheduled nearly all her business meetings at the racetrack or the golf course.

This caused an uproar in business circles. Everyone whispered that Chairman Jiang was truly old but vigorous, still so fond of sports at his age.

Even more outlandish rumors spread if you could secure a meeting at either of these venues, flatter his adopted daughter Jiang Le at just the right moment, and get Chairman Jiang in a good mood, the deal was practically guaranteed!

In truth, Jiang Congyue had publicly introduced Jiang Le years ago, but she had shielded her daughter so fiercely that Jiang Le had remained undisturbed.

Only now was Jiang Le’s strikingly beautiful face finally exposed to the scrutiny of the business world.

Chairman Jiang, you really know how to raise children! General Manager Wang gushed, his face plastered with a sycophantic smile. Look at my own good-for-nothing kids… sigh, just thinking about them makes me blush with shame!

Jiang Congyue lazily propped her chin on her hand, reclining in a lounge chair. Yet her gaze remained glued to Jiang Le, who was practicing her golf swing nearby.

Hearing this, Jiang Congyue’s lips curved into a slight smile as she said casually, General Manager Wang, you’re being too modest. Everyone has their own ambitions, after all. My daughter here is just naturally curious and eager to try everything. Fortunately, she picks things up quickly.

This effortless display of humblebragging nearly choked General Manager Wang. He clenched his fist under the table, forcing down his irritation. Fine, for the sake of the project, I’ll endure it!

Rubbing his hands together, he pressed on, My youngest daughter also enjoys golf and is about the same age as Miss Jiang. Perhaps… we could arrange for them to play together? Young people like having company, it makes things more lively.

Jiang Congyue finally shifted her gaze from Jiang Le, giving General Manager Wang a cool, detached look. Though her expression remained calm, a subtle hint of aloofness flickered in her eyes. She offered a perfect, yet impersonal, professional smile. Thank you for your kind offer, General Manager Wang. However, my daughter is rather solitary and doesn’t enjoy interacting with strangers. We wouldn’t want to trouble your daughter.

Without waiting for his reaction, she rose gracefully and strode toward Jiang Le in the center of the practice area.

General Manager Wang was utterly stunned, his face frozen in disbelief. We were just having such a pleasant conversation! How could she turn on me so abruptly? This shift in attitude is downright bizarre!

Jiang Le finished a set of exercises, fine beads of sweat glistening on her forehead. She instinctively reached up to wipe them with the back of her hand.

Hey, your hands are dirty! Jiang Congyue swiftly slapped her hand away and, as if by magic, produced a soft silk handkerchief. She carefully dabbed away the sweat from Jiang Le’s face and forehead, her movements so gentle, as if she were wiping a priceless treasure.

Though they were practicing indoors, Jiang Le’s cheeks flushed with a healthy, rosy glow from the exertion. She took a sip of water from the bottle Jiang Congyue offered and asked casually, Finished talking so soon?

Mm, all done, Jiang Congyue replied, tucking the handkerchief away and naturally hooking her arm through Jiang Le’s. Let’s go. I’ll take you to that newly opened private kitchen restaurant. I heard the food is exceptionally authentic.

General Manager Wang, unwilling to give up, tried to approach them again to plead his case. But the moment he shifted his foot, an icy, razor-sharp gaze swept across him like a blade.

A shudder ran through him, and cold sweat instantly drenched his back. When he looked again, the docile girl standing beside Jiang Congyue was now focused on organizing her golf bag, her expression utterly meek. It was as if that terrifying glare had been nothing but his imagination.

General Manager Wang, is there anything else? Jiang Congyue turned back at the opportune moment, her face still wearing that flawless, gentle smile.

General Manager Wang’s throat tightened. He knew this was definitely not the time to bring up business. Forcing a smile, he waved awkwardly. No… nothing else, Chairman Jiang. Please take care.

It seemed the rumors couldn’t be trusted after all. Not just anyone could get a big advantage by flattering the right person.

Watching the pair leave, General Manager Wang belatedly realized how absurd it was he had actually been intimidated by a single glance from a teenage girl? What in the world was going on?

But the truly mind-boggling events were yet to come.

The sun blazed fiercely, but its heat paled in comparison to the tsunami of excitement unleashed by the release of the national college entrance exam results!

When that name, accompanied by an impossibly high score, firmly secured the top spot in the national science rankings, the entire public sphere erupted!

The next day, nearly every major media outlet plastered the same name across their headlines

Genius Girl Jiang Le Crowned National Science Champion!

Jiang Group Heiress Takes the Crown Scholarly Brilliance Meets Noble Lineage!

Unveiling Champion Jiang Le The Extraordinary Journey of a Low-Profile Academic Prodigy

As the media frenzy intensified, netizens practically turned the Jiang Group inside out, digging up every detail they could find.

At the eye of the storm, Jiang Le herself, aside from the overwhelming praise, left the public with only a slightly aloof and cool face in her official ID photo.

Her past experiences were tightly guarded by Jiang Congyue, firmly suppressed beneath the dazzling honor, perfectly fitting the image of a low-profile genius.

From that moment on, Chairman Jiang’s exceptional parenting ceased to be mere empty flattery. It became an ironclad truth, sanctified by the golden aura of the top scholar!

The Jiang Group’s prestige soared to unprecedented heights thanks to this suddenly emerged top scholar heir. The immense commercial value and social influence she brought dwarfed all of Jiang Congyue’s past successful business strategies.

Jiang Le took a deep breath, swiped across her phone screen, and closed the news notification featuring her big headshot.

Tsk, looks a bit ugly, she muttered under her breath. If I’d known, I wouldn’t have stayed up so late the night before the photo shoot.

She lifted her head and glanced around. She was in Jiang Congyue’s office on a mid-level floor of the Jiang Group headquarters, a room with a panoramic view. Today, her equestrian and golf lessons had been canceled, and Jiang Congyue had told her to wait here.

Through the massive floor-to-ceiling windows, the city skyline shimmered in the sunlight. The glare was intense, and Jiang Le instinctively squinted. In the next moment, with a swift whoosh, the heavy curtains were drawn shut, sealing off the outside world.

Immediately afterward, a light but firm flick struck her smooth forehead.

Daydreaming again, little prodigy? Jiang Congyue’s amused voice rang out.

The office door swung open again, and the Jiang Group’s core executives and top members of Jiang Congyue’s private legal team filed in, their expressions grave.

On the expansive desk, in addition to the usual documents, lay an unusually thick stack of meticulously bound folders.

Jiang Congyue nodded toward the files, gesturing for Jiang Le to open them, just as she had once asked her to dismantle that sausage grill.

A silent expectation hung in the air.

Jiang Le’s brow furrowed slightly as she obediently flipped open the top files. Bold titles immediately caught her eye Share Transfer Agreement, Real Estate Gift Deed, Family Trust Beneficiary Rights Modification, Overseas Asset Transfer Confirmation…

The figures listed after each item were dizzyingly large. Combined, their value would catapult her into the ranks of the world’s wealthiest individuals.

An unimaginably vast fortune lay bare before her.

So, Lin Qingyu’s stammered company matters that day had been about this.

Such an unconditional, all-encompassing transfer…

Jiang Le’s fingers trembled almost imperceptibly as a wave of panic washed over her.

She jerked her head up, her bewildered gaze colliding with Jiang Congyue’s gentle, understanding eyes. That gaze, like a sea-calming pillar, miraculously soothed the turmoil in her heart. She took a deep breath, slowly regaining her composure.

Continue

Under the solemn gaze of the board members and legal team, Jiang Le picked up the pen and, with utmost solemnity, signed her name—Jiang Le—on the document that held the power to change countless lives. The ink flowed, covering the original signature of Jiang Congyue.

As the ceremony concluded, the crowd silently withdrew, leaving only the two women facing each other in the vast office.

Jiang Congyue finally broke the silence. She stepped closer to Jiang Le, her usual mischievous smile softening into a profound tenderness. Lele, she said, her voice low and clear, I know you’ve always wanted to be a worthy successor. I’ve been looking forward to that day too. But I don’t want my expectations to become a thorny yoke around your neck. They should be a laurel wreath crowning your head.

She reached out and gently smoothed a nonexistent wrinkle on Jiang Le’s shoulder. I want you to understand that inheriting all this doesn’t require you to meet anyone else’s standards. Because you are the standard. No matter who you become, you deserve to possess it all.

This is merely a reward for all your years of hard work.

When Jiang Le signed those astronomically priced documents earlier, her fingertips felt icy, her heart hollow, devoid of any sense of reality.

But now, hearing Jiang Congyue’s resolute words, her heart felt like it had been struck by a honey-coated iron hammer. Beneath the dull ache, a subtle, indescribable sweetness began to seep in.

Over the years, Jiang Congyue had tirelessly repeated to her what was worthwhile, what was necessary, and what constituted worthiness.

You deserve it. You are needed. You are worthy.

Jiang Congyue was the source of all her courage and confidence, the gentle yet unwavering support behind her, the foundation that would never crumble.

Jiang Congyue… Jiang Le wrapped her arms around Jiang Congyue’s waist, lowering her gaze. Her thick eyelashes trembled violently, her voice so dry it barely escaped her throat. Do people… do people all die?

A long sigh came from above. Lele, everyone dies.

A wave of overwhelming sorrow choked Jiang Le’s throat, distorting her voice into a sob. Can’t we… not die?

The woman across from her chuckled softly, a mix of helplessness and indulgence in her tone. She gently pulled Jiang Le into her arms, patting her back like soothing a child. Is Lele being a little clingy?

Jiang Le clung tightly to Jiang Congyue’s sleeve, burying her face in the crook of her neck. Her muffled voice, unusually vulnerable, pleaded, Can you… not be so good to me?

But this time, Jiang Congyue didn’t respond with her usual sweet words or playful banter. Instead, she simply tightened her embrace around the girl in her arms and whispered in her ear, her voice barely audible, Why am I so good to you…? You’ll understand someday.

These words struck Jiang Le’s heart like a stone thrown into a deep pool, sending a thousand waves crashing through her mind. You’ll understand someday? What does that mean?

She jerked her head up, reaching for Jiang Congyue’s sleeve to demand an explanation. But before she could speak, a cool finger gently pressed against her lips.

Shh… Jiang Congyue gazed at her tear-streaked face, her smile still gentle, yet tinged with an inscrutable detachment, as if guarding a monumental secret. It’s a secret… one I can’t reveal yet.

She raised her hand and tenderly wiped away the tears at the corner of Jiang Le’s eyes with the pad of her finger, her touch as light as a feather’s brush.

Jiang Le silently tugged at the corner of her mouth, an indescribable loneliness settling in her heart.

Jiang Congyue certainly had a lot of secrets.

Jiang Congyue 28