The morning sun crept across the windshield of Jiang Yeming's car as he pulled up in front of Lan Yueran's company. He glanced at her out of the corner of his eye. She had been quiet the entire drive—too quiet. Her usual composed demeanor now seemed guarded. Her fingers fidgeted slightly, and though she pretended to scroll through her phone, Jiang Yeming could tell her thoughts were elsewhere. He didn't ask. He just sat in silence, pretending to wait for something on his own phone.
Ten minutes passed. He was about to start the car again when a familiar silhouette stepped out of a black sedan. Jiang Yeming's jaw tightened. Everbright Zhao. Lan Yueran's cousin—a man with the arrogance of a peacock and the soul of a viper.
"What's he doing here?" Jiang Yeming muttered under his breath, his gaze sharpening.
He waited as Everbright walked through the main entrance of the building, adjusting the cufflinks on his overpriced suit like he owned the place. The way he moved, so entitled, so condescending—it made Jiang Yeming's blood boil. Was he here to bully Lan Yueran again?
Without wasting another second, Jiang Yeming unclipped his seatbelt, stepped out of the car, and made his way to the company gate.
"I'm Lan Yueran's husband," he told the security guards calmly. "I need to see her. It's urgent."
The guards hesitated, recognizing him from previous visits. After a quick exchange, they let him in.
Jiang Yeming made his way to Lan Yueran's floor and crept toward her office. The door was slightly ajar, and he could hear voices inside. Quietly, he slipped his phone out of his pocket and hit record.
"…I don't know how you even show your face around here," Everbright's voice sneered. "Do you think opening your legs and seducing clients for contracts is admirable? You're disgracing our family."
There was a moment of silence, then Lan Yueran's quiet voice: "Get out of my office."
"Oh, I will," Everbright chuckled. "But don't forget—Grandfather may have pampered you, but I'm the one he believes in. One word from me, and you'll be out of this company like a stray dog."
That was enough.
Jiang Yeming flung the door open, his eyes blazing. Everbright turned, startled, and instantly sneered.
"You?" he scoffed. "The jobless son-in-law?"
Jiang Yeming grabbed him by the collar and yanked him away from Lan Yueran.
"Don't ever come near my wife again." His voice was calm, but his eyes… his eyes were deadly.
Everbright tried to slap him, but Jiang Yeming caught his wrist mid-air and twisted it slightly.
"I'm not the coward you think I am," Jiang Yeming said coldly. "Touch me again, and I'll make sure you regret it."
Lan Yueran was speechless. She had never seen Jiang Yeming like this—fierce, protective, unflinching. Her cousin staggered back, his expression a mixture of shock and humiliation.
"You'll regret this," Everbright spat before storming out of the office.
Jiang Yeming turned to Lan Yueran, his expression softening. "Don't worry. I'll handle him."
She didn't respond, still processing what had just happened.
Later that day, back home, Jiang Yeming entered his room and picked up his phone. He dialed Lan Guangsheng—Lan Yueran's grandfather.
"Grandfather," he said. "We need to talk about Everbright."
"What about him?" Lan Guangsheng sounded surprised.
"He came to Yueran's office today and insulted her. Called her disgusting things. Threatened her job."
"Nonsense," Lan Guangsheng said. "Everbright would never—"
Jiang Yeming sent the audio recording. A few seconds later, there was silence.
"…I will speak to him," Lan Guangsheng finally said, voice tight with restrained anger.
"Make sure you do," Jiang Yeming replied, ending the call.
That evening, he drove back to pick up Lan Yueran. She got into the car, and silence filled the space between them.
"How was work?" Jiang Yeming asked.
"Fine," she replied quietly.
"I reported Everbright to your grandfather."
"That won't solve anything," she said, her voice bitter.
"Why not?"
She looked out the window. "Grandfather has always favored him. Everbright is the 'talent' that will save the family business."
Jiang Yeming gripped the steering wheel tighter. "Then let him. But he will not harm you again. I promise."
She glanced at him, her expression unreadable. "You're… different lately."
"Maybe I just got tired of watching you suffer."
When they got home, Lan Yueran made for the kitchen, but Jiang Yeming stopped her.
"I'll cook tonight. You've had a long day. Just rest."
"But I should—"
"I like doing this," he said, already putting on an apron. "Let me."
While Jiang Yeming cooked, Everbright was at home, pacing in fury. His phone buzzed. It was Lan Guangsheng.
"You humiliated my granddaughter?" his grandfather shouted. "You will apologize—first thing tomorrow!"
Everbright hung up, furious. He vented to his parents, Yu Yanyun and Lan Weizhao.
"That useless girl is ruining everything!" Everbright snapped.
"She's trash, just like her husband," Yu Yanyun hissed.
But Lan Weizhao, more calculating, frowned. "We need Grandfather's favor. Apologize, do it right."
They agreed, reluctantly, and prepared a cheap gift—less than $200 in value.
The next morning, Jiang Yeming woke early. After his meditation and a quick shower, he made breakfast. Chen Ailin ate quickly and left. For Lan Yueran, he prepared something special—golden-fried egg buns, soy milk, and fresh fruit.
She woke late, stretching. When she entered the kitchen and saw the meal, she blinked.
"You made this?"
"Of course."
Before she could reply, there was a knock at the door. Jiang Yeming stood.
"Just keep eating. I'll handle this."
He opened the door to find Everbright, Yu Yanyun, and Lan Weizhao standing stiffly.
"What do you want?" Jiang Yeming asked, arms crossed.
"We came to apologize," Everbright muttered.
Yu Yanyun sneered. "Get out of the way. We want to talk to Lan Yueran."
"You don't belong here," Jiang Yeming replied. "And we don't accept trash."
He slammed the door in their faces.
Back inside, Lan Yueran raised a brow. "What was that?"
Jiang Yeming shrugged. "Nothing. Enjoy your meal."
But the knocking continued. Finally, Jiang Yeming opened the door again.
"Either apologize properly or leave."
This time, their expressions were different. Beaten. Bitter. But desperate.
Everbright knelt down. "I'm sorry."
Yu Yanyun and Lan Weizhao followed, lowering their heads.
Jiang Yeming watched them a moment, then said, "Take your cheap gift and get out. When I think about forgiving you, I'll call."
They left, faces red with shame. In the car, they shouted and cursed Jiang Yeming, but deep down, they knew the tide had changed.
Back in the house, Lan Yueran took another bite of her breakfast, smiling faintly.
"Did you enjoy that?" Jiang Yeming asked.
She nodded. "I did."
"I meant what I said," he murmured. "No one touches you again."
As he turned to go, she stood and stepped toward him. Then, without a word, she wrapped her arms around him.
Jiang Yeming froze. Her body was warm, her breath soft against his chest. He didn't know what to do.
But for the first time, he didn't feel alone. And neither did she.