Jiang Chenyu's face was cold and unyielding as he looked at his phone and instructed his assistant, "Acquire the Gu family."
His assistant, clearly surprised, asked, "President, which Gu family?"
"My father-in-law's family," Jiang Chenyu said, deliberately locking eyes with Gu Nuannuan as he said it, ensuring she understood the weight of his words.
The fiery anger that bubbled within Gu Nuannuan exploded in that moment. *On our wedding night?* Her disbelief turned into fury as she clenched her fists, feeling the insult sting her. She inhaled sharply, her temper flaring, and before she could stop herself, she spat, "Jiang Chenyu, you're nothing but a shitty business emperor!"
Jiang Chenyu's eyes flickered with surprise, not expecting such a brash outburst. "You—"
But before he could respond, Gu Nuannuan, driven by her boiling rage, stormed out of the wedding room without looking back. She didn't care about the ornate dress she was still wearing or the spectacle she was about to cause. Her mind was set on finding Jiang Lao. He had promised her something, and she was determined to confront him.
She ran through the large corridors of the Jiang mansion, grabbing a passing servant. "Where's Mr. Jiang?" she demanded breathlessly.
The servant, startled by her sudden appearance and the anger radiating off her, stammered, "H-he's in the bedroom."
"Where is that?" Gu Nuannuan asked again, her tone urgent.
The servant pointed in a direction, her hands shaking slightly. But before Gu Nuannuan could rush off, she found herself face-to-face with a poised, dignified woman emerging from the shadows. The woman's clothes and bearing radiated an air of authority and refinement, and Gu Nuannuan instantly recognized her—Wei Aihua, Jiang Chenyu's sister-in-law, the mayor's wife.
Wei Aihua dismissed the servant with a glance and crossed her arms as she eyed Gu Nuannuan with mild disapproval. "Running around like this on your wedding night?" Wei Aihua's voice was sharp. "What do you need to talk to Father about?"
Gu Nuannuan couldn't meet her eyes for long but mustered up the courage to respond, "He didn't do what he promised me."
Wei Aihua raised an eyebrow, glancing between Gu Nuannuan and Jiang Chenyu, who had just emerged from the room. Her expression softened into a cold smirk as she addressed them both. "The bride leaves the room on her wedding night, and the groom doesn't bother to stop her. Are you trying to make a spectacle of yourselves?"
Jiang Chenyu's patience was wearing thin. "Sister-in-law, this is none of your business," he said curtly, his tone leaving no room for argument.
Wei Aihua's expression stiffened at his dismissal, and without another word, she turned on her heel and walked away, her posture stiff with indignation.
Gu Nuannuan didn't wait a second longer. She followed the servant's earlier directions, heading straight to where Jiang Lao's bedroom was located. As she approached, the housekeeper intercepted her, looking puzzled at the sight of both the bride and groom outside of the wedding suite. "Second Young Master, Second Young Madam," the housekeeper began hesitantly, "shouldn't you be in the wedding room? Why are you here?"
Gu Nuannuan, still fuming, replied, "I need to speak with Mr. Jiang. He's broken his word."
The housekeeper looked conflicted, unsure whether to allow her to disturb the elder Jiang at this hour. "The master has already gone to bed. Perhaps you should discuss this in the morning."
But before any decision could be made, a voice called out from behind the doors. "Housekeeper, send them to the study."
Jiang Lao's voice, despite its aged timbre, held authority. The housekeeper quickly stepped aside, gesturing for them to proceed.
Five minutes later, Gu Nuannuan and Jiang Chenyu sat in Jiang Lao's study. The tension between the newlyweds was palpable—Gu Nuannuan was still simmering with anger, while Jiang Chenyu watched her with a mixture of curiosity and mild amusement. He hadn't expected her to rush to her father so quickly after his threat.
Jiang Lao entered, wearing a robe and a coat thrown hastily over it. His eyes moved between his son and his daughter-in-law before he settled into his chair. "What is this about?" he asked, his voice heavy with exhaustion.
Gu Nuannuan didn't hesitate. She stood up, her voice unwavering despite the weight of the room. "Mr. Jiang, you promised me that the Jiang family would never go after my family. But now, your son wants to acquire the Gu family."
Jiang Lao glanced at Jiang Chenyu, who was lounging on the sofa with an air of nonchalance. He knew his second son well—he could already guess what had happened.
He turned back to Gu Nuannuan, his tone softer. "Go back to your room, Nuannuan. I'll speak with Chenyu."
Her anger, still simmering, kept her rooted to the spot for a moment. But she knew better than to push any further tonight. Reluctantly, she turned to leave, but before exiting, she made one final statement. "If you don't keep your word, Mr. Jiang, then I won't keep mine."
Her words hung in the air like a challenge before she left the room.
Once she was gone, Jiang Lao turned his attention fully to his son. "Withdraw the order, Chenyu. Don't touch the Gu family."
Jiang Chenyu's eyebrows lifted slightly. "Father, what hold does she have over you?" His tone was light, but there was a sharp edge to his curiosity.
Jiang Lao's face darkened at his son's insolence. "Jiang Chenyu, don't make me repeat myself. If you dare go after the Gu family again, I will deal with you personally."
The rare display of severity from his father made Jiang Chenyu pause. His interest piqued, he leaned forward, eyes gleaming with curiosity. "Now I'm even more curious. What secret is there between you and the Gu family?"