The CEO’s Cannon-Fodder Ex-Wife (7)
Jian Heng’s birthday party was held at a private estate on the outskirts of the city.
The autumn night sky was as clear as ink, dotted with sparse stars.
The main building of the estate was brightly lit. Figures moved behind the floor-to-ceiling windows, while melodious jazz music drifted onto the lawn, blending with the sound of the fountain.
When Ning Xin entered the banquet hall with her arm linked through Jiang Xiao’s, she immediately felt countless eyes turning toward them.
She calmly raised her eyes and precisely located Jian Wei among the crowd.
Jian Wei stood beneath the crystal chandelier, dressed in a pale pink haute couture gown. Tiny diamonds adorned the hem, shimmering faintly under the lights.
Her hair had been carefully styled into loose, lazy waves, and her makeup was more refined than usual. Her lips were painted a gentle dusty-rose red.
“Brother Jiang Xiao, Sister Ning Xin.”
Jian Wei walked toward them with a sweet smile, but her gaze lingered only on Jiang Xiao’s face.
“You’re here.”
“Happy birthday to your brother.”
Jiang Xiao handed the gift to a waiter nearby, his tone polite yet distant.
“Thank you.”
Jian Wei bit her lip before turning her gaze toward Ning Xin.
“Sister Ning Xin, you look really beautiful tonight.”
Ning Xin was wearing a black backless evening gown. Its design was extremely simple, yet it perfectly outlined her figure.
Around her neck was a high-quality pearl necklace, accompanied by matching pearl earrings. Under the lights, they gave off a warm, lustrous glow.
“So do you.”
Ning Xin smiled, but her fingers lightly hooked into Jiang Xiao’s palm.
It was only a subtle movement, yet it made Jiang Xiao glance sideways at her.
A sly glint flashed in her eyes, as if she were saying: Cooperate with me.
Jiang Xiao’s brows moved slightly. His arm naturally wrapped around her waist, drawing her a little closer to him.
The action made the smile on Jian Wei’s face stiffen for a moment.
“Where’s Jian Heng?” Jiang Xiao asked.
“My brother is over there talking to his friends.”
Jian Wei barely maintained her smile.
“Should I take you over?”
“No need. We’ll go ourselves.”
Ning Xin spoke softly.
“Go greet the other guests. You’re the birthday boy’s sister today, so you don’t need to go out of your way to take care of us.”
Every word clearly drew a line between them.
Jian Wei opened her mouth, but in the end, she only nodded.
“Then… make yourselves comfortable.”
When she turned and walked away, her back looked somewhat frail.
Jiang Xiao watched her leave, his brows furrowing almost imperceptibly.
Ning Xin squeezed his hand.
“What kind of expression is that?”
“Nothing.”
Jiang Xiao withdrew his gaze.
“I just think she’s… a little strange today.”
Ning Xin raised a brow.
“You’re paying quite a lot of attention to her.”
Jiang Xiao lowered his head to look at her but did not answer directly.
“Are you jealous?”
“Why would I be jealous?”
She looked up, her eyes filled with an open smile.
“The contract is very clear. If you have someone you like, you can ask for a divorce at any time.”
“But before that happens, you’re my legal husband.”
She paused before adding:
“At least in public, you belong to me.”
She said it with complete confidence.
Jiang Xiao didn’t pay attention to her mention of the contract and simply assumed she was joking.
“Got it, Mrs. Jiang.”
The two of them walked toward where Jian Heng was standing.
Along the way, they encountered quite a few familiar faces, exchanging greetings, toasts, and polite conversation.
Jiang Xiao kept Ning Xin by his side the entire time. His hand was either around her waist or holding hers.
Ning Xin cooperated as well, occasionally leaning against his shoulder to whisper something or straightening his already perfectly arranged tie.
Every gesture looked naturally intimate. To those who were paying attention, however, it was a silent declaration.
The married couple had a good relationship.
From a distance, Jian Wei watched them, the glass of champagne in her hand untouched for a long time.
The ice melted, and droplets of condensation slid down the glass, soaking her fingertips.
“It must be hard, right?”
A voice sounded beside her.
Jian Wei turned her head. It was a familiar young lady from their social circle, her eyes filled with sympathetic understanding.
“I understand. Liking someone who doesn’t have you in their eyes…”
“I don’t.”
Jian Wei instinctively denied it, but her voice trembled slightly.
The young lady patted her shoulder without saying anything else, leaving her with a meaningful look.
Halfway through the party, the dance floor opened.
The band switched to a soothing waltz.
At that moment, Jian Heng walked over with a glass of wine in his hand, a carefully measured hint of drunkenness on his face.
“Jiang Xiao, Ning Xin, thank you for coming.”
“Happy birthday.”
Jiang Xiao clinked glasses with him.
“Thanks.”
Jian Heng downed his drink in one go. His gaze shifted between Jiang Xiao and Ning Xin before he suddenly smiled.
“Come to think of it, we’ve known each other for so many years, yet I’ve never seen you dance.”
“Ning Xin, has he ever danced with you?”
Ning Xin shook her head and looked at Jiang Xiao, her eyes carrying a questioning look.
Jiang Xiao shrugged.
“I’m not good at this.”
“Perfect. I’m not good at it either.”
Jian Heng said, “But my sister has studied ballet for more than ten years. She’s an excellent dancer. Weiwei!”
He waved toward Jian Wei in the distance.
Jian Wei hesitated before walking over.
“Brother?”
Jian Heng wore a troubled expression.
“Originally, Weiwei was supposed to dance the opening dance with me.”
“But unfortunately… I twisted my ankle just now, so I can’t dance.”
As he spoke, he lifted his trouser leg. Even through his sock, his ankle did indeed look somewhat swollen.
“Brother Jiang Xiao, could you fill in for me?”
The air suddenly fell silent.
ćHost, did Jian Heng deliberately injure himself for his sister?ć
“What a good brother.”
Ning Xin laughed inwardly.
Jiang Xiao frowned.
“Jian Heng, this isn’t appropriate.”
“What’s inappropriate about it?”
Jian Heng’s smile remained unchanged. Lowering his voice so that only the three of them could hear, he said, “Do me a favor, brother. Weiwei has been practicing for a long time just for today’s opening dance with me.”
“I don’t trust any other man. So it’ll have to be you.”
He looked at Ning Xin with a sincere expression.
“Ning Xin, you don’t mind, do you?”
Ning Xin held her wine glass, gently rubbing her fingers against its surface.
She looked at the cautious anticipation in Jian Wei’s eyes, then at the seemingly casual yet actually tense expression on Jian Heng’s face…
Ning Xin lowered her eyes, the faintest curve appearing at the corners of her lips.
“Sure.”
She raised her eyes and smiled gracefully.
“It’s just one dance. I’m not that petty.”
Jiang Xiao abruptly looked at her.
Ning Xin met his gaze. There was no particular emotion in her eyes, and she maintained her composed smile.
The system asked her in her mind:
ćHost, why did you agree?ć
“I have to give her a little taste of sweetness. Only then will she find it harder to let go.”
After hearing her answer, Jiang Xiao’s pupils contracted slightly.
“Go.”
“It’s just doing someone a favor.”
Ning Xin gently pushed him.
“Don’t keep Weiwei waiting too long.”
Jiang Xiao looked at her, a complicated emotion flashing through his eyes.
In the end, he put down his wine glass and extended his hand toward Jian Wei somewhat sulkily.
“Please.”
Jian Wei’s eyes instantly lit up.
She placed her hand in Jiang Xiao’s palm, her fingertips trembling slightly.
The two walked toward the dance floor.
The band appropriately changed to a gentle slow waltz.
Ning Xin remained where she was, watching the pair on the dance floor.
Jiang Xiao’s steps were indeed somewhat unfamiliar, but his posture was elegant. Jian Wei, meanwhile, was as light as a butterfly. Her pink skirt blossomed as she spun, like a flower in full bloom.
It was a beautiful sight.
If one ignored Jiang Xiao’s rigid back and the deliberate distance he maintained.
“You really are generous.”
Jian Heng walked over to her and handed her another glass of champagne.
Ning Xin accepted it but didn’t drink.
“What else could I do? Make a scene in public and let everyone laugh at us?”
“Could that be your purpose?”
Looking at her calm profile, Jian Heng suddenly asked:
“Are you really that confident?”
“Confident about what?”
“Confident that Jiang Xiao won’t fall for her.”
Jian Heng’s gaze fell on the dance floor.
“Weiwei has known him for so many years. Their emotional foundation isn’t something you can compare with.”
Ning Xin gently swirled her wine glass, watching the tiny bubbles of champagne rise.
“Jian Heng,” she said, her voice not loud but perfectly clear, “feelings aren’t about who came first, and neither is marriage.”
“Besides, if he really had something for your sister…”
“Why am I the one who is Mrs. Jiang now?”
Jian Heng’s expression changed slightly.
“I know you care about your sister.”
Ning Xin turned to look at him, her expression calm to the point of being almost cold.
“But some things can’t be forced.”
“The harder you push, the stronger the backlash will be.”
“Youā”
“Also,” Ning Xin interrupted him, a polite smile on her lips, “after tonight, don’t arrange this kind of scene again.”
“I don’t mind, but Jiang Xiao will.”
“And if he’s unhappy, it won’t be good for the Jian family.”
Her words were blunt. Jian Heng’s expression darkened completely.
On the dance floor, the music was nearing its end.
Jiang Xiao released Jian Wei’s hand and stepped back half a pace, his movements polite and distant.
A trace of disappointment flashed through Jian Wei’s eyes, but she still maintained her smile.
“Thank you, Brother Jiang Xiao.”
“You’re welcome.”
Jiang Xiao turned and walked straight toward Ning Xin.
He walked very quickly, as though he were escaping from something.
The moment he returned to Ning Xin’s side, the first thing he did was take her hand and squeeze it tightly.
“Done dancing?”
Ning Xin asked in her usual tone.
“Mm.”
Jiang Xiao’s voice was slightly hoarse.
“Let’s go.”
“Already?”
“Mm. I’m tired.”
Ning Xin didn’t ask any further questions. She nodded toward Jian Heng.
“Then we’ll take our leave first. Happy birthday.”
Jian Heng forced a smile.
“Take care.”
As they stepped out of the banquet hall, the night wind greeted them, carrying a chill.
Jiang Xiao released Ning Xin’s hand, took off his suit jacket, and draped it over her shoulders.
“Cold?”
He asked.
“I’m fine.”
Ning Xin gathered the jacket around herself. His warmth and the faint scent of aftershave still lingered on it.
The two walked silently toward the parking lot.
After getting into the car, Jiang Xiao did not start the engine immediately. He simply held the steering wheel and stared straight ahead.
“Why did you agree?”
He finally asked.
Ning Xin turned her head toward him.
Jiang Xiao looked at her, an emotion in his eyes that she couldn’t quite understand.
“You knew what Jian Heng’s purpose was. Why did you still agree?”
“He really was injured. He just didn’t want to disappoint his sister.”
“It’s only one dance. It’s harmless.”
“Harmless?”
Jiang Xiao repeated the word, his tone somewhat cold.
“Ning Xin, we’re husband and wife.”
“I know.”
Ning Xin looked at him.
“That’s why I trust you.”
Those words left Jiang Xiao stunned.
“I trust that you know where to draw the line. I trust that one dance won’t change anything.”
Ning Xin reached out and gently brushed her fingers over his slightly furrowed brow.
“I dared to agree because I have confidence in you.”
“Weiwei is Jian Heng’s younger sister. To you, she’s probably like a younger sister too.”
Jiang Xiao caught her hand and held it in his palm.
After a long while, he let out a quiet laugh.
“Heh, you really do understand me.”
“Basic professionalism between partners.”
Ning Xin smiled as well.
Seeing her smile, Jiang Xiao suddenly leaned over and kissed her.
The kiss carried the scent of wine and the emotions that had yet to fade.
When it ended, he rested his forehead against hers.
“Don’t do that again.”
“Do what?”
“Push me toward someone else.”
Jiang Xiao’s voice was low.
“Even if it’s only an act.”
Ning Xin blinked.
“You’re unhappy?”
“Mm.”
Jiang Xiao admitted it frankly.
“So don’t do it again.”
Ning Xin was stunned for a moment before breaking into a smile.
“Okay.”
The car drove away from the estate.
In the rearview mirror, the lights of the banquet hall gradually faded into the distance.
Meanwhile, inside the banquet hall, Jian Heng stood by the floor-to-ceiling window, watching the black car disappear into the night.
Jian Wei walked over to him, her eyes still slightly red.
“Brother…”
“Weiwei,” Jian Heng said without turning around, “give up.”
“But…”
“No buts.”
Jian Heng turned around and looked at her.
“After Jiang Xiao left just now, he sent me a message.”
Jian Wei froze.
“What did he say?”
Jian Heng took a deep breath and slowly said:
“He said, ‘Jian Heng, I’m married. Some things should stop here.'”
He paused before adding:
“He also said, ‘Ning Xin is my wife. She is now, and she will be in the future.'”
Jian Wei’s face instantly turned pale.
“Brother…”
“So give up.”
Jian Heng reached out and gently patted her shoulder.
“Brother will help you on the condition that you can be happy, not that you end up being hated.”
He looked out the window, his expression complicated.
Some boundaries, once crossed, could never be restored.
The Jian family could not withstand the pressure from the Jiang and Ning families either.
*
Meanwhile, inside the moving car.
Ning Xin leaned back in her seat with her eyes closed, while the system was reporting in her mind:
ćJian Wei’s emotional breakdown level has reached 95%. Jian Heng’s alert level toward you has increased by 10%, but his favorability toward Jiang Xiao has decreased by 20%.ć
“It decreased again?”
“What about me?”
ćMonitoring shows that the male lead’s favorability toward you has already reached 85%.ć
The corners of Ning Xin’s lips curved upward.
Boiling the frog slowly… the water was already beginning to get hot.
She reached out and gently touched Jiang Xiao’s hand resting on the gearshift.
He turned his hand over and intertwined his fingers with hers.
“If you’re tired, sleep.”
He said, “I’ll wake you when we get home.”
“Mm.”
Ning Xin closed her eyes again.
