When the Villain Falls Madly in Love with Herself - Chapter 29

When Jiang Le woke, morning light streamed through the sheer curtains, bathing the bedroom in a soft glow. She stirred slightly, hearing the steady rhythm of Jiang Congyue’s breathing beside her.

This was the first time she’d seen Jiang Congyue still asleep beside her, her profile softened by the morning light.

Memories of the previous night flashed through Jiang Le’s mind, her earlobes warming slightly. She carefully rose, afraid of waking the other woman, but as she swung her legs off the bed, a hand caught her wrist.

Where are you going? Jiang Congyue’s voice was hoarse from the hangover, her eyes still half-closed, yet she had already gripped Jiang Le’s wrist with surprising precision.

Jiang Le froze, startled that Jiang Congyue had woken up so quickly.

With a gentle tug, Jiang Congyue pulled her back onto the bed, her arm naturally circling Jiang Le’s waist. Please, just lie with me a little longer.

Are you trying to get me to skip work? Jiang Le chuckled.

Mmm, Jiang Congyue murmured, burying her face in the crook of Jiang Le’s neck, her voice muffled. Shouldn’t I want to spend time with my girlfriend?

The word girlfriend made Jiang Le’s heart skip a beat. They had never explicitly defined their relationship before. She turned to face Jiang Congyue, meeting her gaze earnestly. Are you sure?

Jiang Congyue finally opened her eyes fully, their clarity belying her recent awakening. She gently stroked Jiang Le’s cheek. I’ve never been more certain.

Those words were like a key unlocking the final barrier in Jiang Le’s heart. She nestled closer into Jiang Congyue’s arms, listening to her steady heartbeat, feeling an unprecedented sense of peace.

For breakfast, Jiang Congyue, feeling too lazy to cook, ordered takeout. As they sat at the table, Jiang Congyue expertly opened the containers and pushed Jiang Le’s favorite shrimp dumplings toward her.

What are your plans for today? Jiang Congyue asked, pouring Jiang Le a cup of soy milk.

Jiang Le was about to answer when her phone suddenly rang. She glanced at the caller ID and frowned slightly.

What’s wrong? Jiang Congyue noticed her change in expression.

Lin Yueying, Jiang Le replied curtly, answering the call.

Lin Yueying’s voice was unusually serious on the other end. Jiang Le, I need to meet you. It’s about my brother’s little honey.

Jiang Le exchanged a glance with Jiang Congyue before saying calmly, Just tell me now.

It’s not something I can discuss over the phone. Meet me at our usual spot in an hour, Lin Yueying said before hanging up.

Jiang Le looked up at Jiang Congyue, seeking her opinion.

What is it? Is there something you need me to handle? Jiang Congyue asked with a smile, as if she hadn’t heard their conversation.

Jiang Le’s expression flickered briefly before she set her phone down and continued eating breakfast. No need. I can handle it myself.

Jiang Congyue smiled faintly. Alright.

An hour later, Jiang Le met Lin Yueying at a café in the city center. Lin Yueying was dressed in a sharp black suit, her usual flippant demeanor replaced by a solemn air.

Get straight to the point. What’s going on? Jiang Le asked bluntly.

Lin Yueying pulled a file from her bag and slid it across the table. Take a look at this first.

Jiang Le opened the file. Inside were a woman’s profile and a photograph. When she saw the photo, her pupils constricted slightly. She jerked her head up, glaring at Lin Yueying.

You’re investigating me?

The photograph showed a girl in a floral white dress, smiling brightly, her arm wrapped around someone’s.

The girl in the photo was none other than Li Xin.

And the arm she was holding belonged to Jiang Le.

Lin Yueying shook her head gently, moved the photo aside to reveal the information underneath. Su Wen, 25 years old. The woman my brother met three years ago.

Her voice remained calm as she pointed to the photo on the right side of the page—the woman who had bumped into Jiang Le yesterday.

What’s your point? Jiang Le’s anger subsided, her fingers tapping absently on the table.

I initially wanted to investigate this woman’s background, but I unexpectedly discovered a large sum of money had been transferred into her bank account. I followed the trail from there, Lin Yueying continued, flipping through the file.

The next photo showed an unfamiliar face.

Lin Yueying continued, This woman is the one my brother was so desperate to marry. And that massive sum of money came from her.

What does this have to do with me? Jiang Le asked impatiently, her time too valuable to waste on such trivial matters.

Lin Yueying raised a hand, signaling her to remain calm. Similarly, this woman’s bank account also received a large transfer.

Jiang Le frowned.

And that transfer came from Li Xin. Lin Yueying slid the photo toward Jiang Le. When I continued investigating this child, I unexpectedly traced her back to the Yuancheng Sunshine Welfare Home. Chairman Jiang, that name must be familiar to you, isn’t it?

And Li Xin, before her death, seemed to have a very close relationship with you, Chairman Jiang.

What are you trying to say? Jiang Le finally focused her gaze on Lin Yueying’s increasingly manic face.

Su Wen seems to be deeply obsessed with you. In her madness, she often mutters your name, saying things like, ‘Lele, save me.’ Lin Yueying grinned, continuing, Now that I’ve made myself so clear, Chairman Jiang wouldn’t still try to distance yourself from her, would you?

Jiang Le felt a wave of discomfort. Li Xin, my interactions with her were minimal, let alone with Su Wen. Anyway, I’m leaving now.

As she turned to leave, Lin Yueying chuckled. I hope Chairman Jiang isn’t lying. After all, she stole the Lin Clan’s trade secrets. It’s hard not to suspect your involvement. If that’s the case, you’ve brought a wolf into the house, and my brother’s sins would be far greater.

Jiang Le scoffed softly. So that’s what this is about.

If she guessed correctly, whether true or false, Lin Yueying would ultimately twist it into reality.

A provocation.

How about this, Chairman Jiang? You and I join forces to completely ruin my brother. With our friendship, the future cooperation between the Jiang Corporation and the Lin Clan would reach new heights. Lin Yueying smiled, dangling the prospect of mutual benefit before Jiang Le.

Tsk, why are both siblings talking about friendship? I don’t think I have any deep bond with either of them.

Jiang Le chuckled lightly and waved her hand. Sorry, there’s no need for that.

As Jiang Le stepped out of the café, the afternoon sunlight pierced her eyes, causing a slight ache.

Lin Yueying’s words pierced through her like fine needles, stabbing into the memories she had tried to bury.

Li Xin.

A name that hadn’t been spoken in ages, along with the Yuancheng Sunshine Welfare Home…

She slid into her car but didn’t start the engine immediately. Her fingers drummed unconsciously on the steering wheel as her gaze drifted through the windshield to a distant, indistinct point.

Su Wen… Li Xin…

After a moment of silence, she unbuckled her seatbelt, got out, and walked silently toward the pharmacy.

When Jiang Le opened the door, she was greeted by a familiar aroma. Jiang Congyue, wearing an apron, peeked out from the kitchen, a spatula still in her hand.

You’re back? I tried making your favorite sweet and sour pork ribs following a recipe, she said with a smile.

Jiang Le stood in the entryway, barely an arm’s length away, yet the distance felt like an unbridgeable chasm.

Li Xin was a strategist, and she’s also Su Wen now… What should have been a question transformed into a flat statement before it even left her lips.

So, it all began with Li Xin.

So, Li Yan, you found her as a replacement for me? Jiang Le lowered her head in disappointment, her shoulders slumping as she avoided Jiang Congyue’s gaze.

Jiang Congyue closed the distance in a few quick strides, cupping Jiang Le’s face and gently patting her cheeks twice. If Yan Yan heard you say that, she’d definitely be upset with you.

Jiang Le tugged at the corners of her lips, forcing a smile.

Realizing she couldn’t deceive her, Jiang Congyue wrapped her arms around Jiang Le and whispered firmly, Yes.

You’ve always tried to keep me from seeing Li Xin. Is it because of the scar on your lower back? Jiang Le tilted her head back, her gaze fixed intently on Jiang Congyue’s eyes, as if trying to extract all the answers from her gaze.

Oh, dear, Jiang Congyue sighed, wanting to pull away but instead carefully smoothing Jiang Le’s hair. How did you get so clever, darling? I can’t hide anything from you.

But the scar is gone now, Jiang Le murmured, her fingers tracing the smooth skin of Jiang Congyue’s lower back as she nestled against her neck.

Jiang Congyue, usually so composed, gasped sharply, her body stiffening. She tried to step back, but Jiang Le held her firmly in place.

Jiang Congyue, you’ve kept so many secrets from me. No matter how clever I am, I can’t possibly guess everything. I can’t guess it all.

I can let you keep your secrets, but not if it means you getting hurt.

Jiang Le looked up, her eyes dark with a fierce intensity. She grabbed Jiang Congyue’s hand and, before the other woman could react, dragged her upstairs.

Jiang Congyue’s heart raced. No one knew better than she what was about to happen. Forced to follow Jiang Le’s lead, she tried to defuse the tension with a nervous laugh. Lele, don’t be so hasty. Let’s talk this out calmly.

But Jiang Le, radiating a palpable aura of menace, ignored her attempts at conciliation, wordlessly dragging her deeper into the house.

Finally, she pushed open the innermost door at the end of the hallway. The room was identical to the master bedroom, except for one addition

An iron chain fastened to the foot of the bed.

With a grim expression, Jiang Le shoved Jiang Congyue onto the bed and swiftly clamped the chain around her ankle.

Even in this moment, Jiang Congyue managed a flippant remark. Heh, black’s a bit ugly. I actually prefer blue.

Then, she was completely pinned to the bed.

Jiang Le casually pulled two pills from her pocket.

My darling still enjoys these little games, Jiang Congyue said, eyeing the white pill in Jiang Le’s hand with a smile as she reached for her hand.

But Jiang Le seized both her hands, pressed the pill into her mouth, and, fearing Jiang Congyue wouldn’t swallow, pinched her cheeks and kissed her deeply.

This kiss was unusually passionate, tinged with anger. Jiang Le relentlessly pushed the pill further in, while Jiang Congyue stubbornly resisted.

The bitter taste of the medicine filled their mouths, both women grimacing at the bitterness. Yet the bitterest thing in that moment wasn’t the pill itself.

In the end, Jiang Congyue swallowed the pill.

When they parted, they stared at each other in silence.

Jiang Congyue forced a wry smile. I just indulged in a little nap today, and you immediately seized the opportunity.

No, it’s because you never refuse my requests, Jiang Le sighed, pressing their foreheads together. Letting me meet Lin Yueying alone… you’re secretly planning to handle Li Xin yourself again, aren’t you?

Didn’t you say that ‘playing’ isn’t just about pleasing one person, but about making us both happy? By the same logic, love shouldn’t be a burden carried by one person alone, should it?

Jiang Congyue, I don’t want you to suffer so much. You don’t even know how to take care of yourself. Let me do it, okay? I know how to love you.

Sleep now, Jiang Cong whispered, gently covering Jiang Congyue’s eyes.

In the past, her pain had stemmed from seeing Jiang Congyue as too perfect, constantly fearing she would lose her. But Jiang Congyue was just a few years older.

She had crowned Jiang Congyue a goddess with her selfless love, forgetting that she was merely mortal, flesh and bl00d.

Jiang Congyue had realized it first she wasn’t some unattainable moon in the sky, but a joy within reach.

They both deserved happiness.