Chapter 330: False Counter-Accusation
"You’re going to... ’satisfy’ me?"
Jiang Xinghai clapped. "Lingxue, that’s not an unreasonable request. I accept."
"What request?" Shen Lingxue was a little lost.
Jiang Xinghai grinned slyly. "The literal meaning, of course. No need to spell it out."
"..."
Shen Lingxue paused. It took her a second to connect his words to her offer to cook, and then she caught the hidden meaning. Her face instantly flushed with embarrassment. "You’re awful! I meant I was going to make you noodles with a fried egg! Where did your mind go?!"
"Right? And I said I accept," Jiang Xinghai said, playing dumb.
Shen Lingxue looked thoroughly unamused. "Fine, I’m not cooking anymore. You can make dinner tonight. There are frozen dumplings in the fridge. Go boil them."
"You’re trying to get pregnant; you can’t eat something so simple. Let me make a few proper side dishes," Jiang Xinghai said with a goofy grin.
Shen Lingxue seemed to recall something she’d looked up online the previous night and shook her head. "Forget it, I’ll cook. You need to eat more lean meat during this time. You should get some rest."
"You know what kind of shape I’m in, don’t you? I don’t need meat to ’replenish’ myself," Jiang Xinghai replied, shaking his head.
"Even the best physique can have its weak days. You’re not made of iron." Shen Lingxue walked to the fridge and started planning what dishes to make.
Jiang Xinghai helped out, and together they made six small dishes before sitting down in the dining room to eat.
"My parents should be arriving soon," Shen Lingxue said, glancing at the time. It was already 8:30 PM.
Central State and Jizhou were over seventy kilometers apart, but an hour was plenty of time to make the drive.
After they finished eating, Shen Zhengye and Qiao Huimin drove back.
Once the four of them were together, they started discussing the day’s events.
"The Shentu family acts so despicably, and now they have the audacity to blame us? Those inhumane bastards. We absolutely cannot let them get away with this." Shen Zhengye’s heart churned with anger after hearing the whole story.
Fortunately, while he and Qiao Huimin were in Central State, Jiang Xinghai, Shen Lingyin, and Su Yanyun had already worked out a detailed plan.
"As for the lawyer’s letter, I’ve already contacted some friends in the legal field. They’ll come to the company tomorrow to handle it," Shen Lingxue added.
"I’m still worried. After all, our AM just held its press conference for the Anti-Aging Cream today, and tomorrow the Shentu family’s Youmei Company is holding one too. They’re obviously trying to sabotage AM Company. If their event goes smoothly, it will be very bad for us," Shen Zhengye mused.
"As the saying goes, it would be rude not to return the gesture."
Jiang Xinghai said seriously, "Don’t worry, sir. Within three days, the Shentu family will pay the price and lose everything."
"Jiang, are you planning to solve this with force?" Shen Zhengye asked.
"Carrot first, then the stick," Jiang Xinghai said, the corners of his mouth turning up in a slight smile.
Both their AM Company and the Shentu family’s Youmei Company were holding press conferences that would be live-streamed by the media.
So, this matter was destined to continue escalating.
Within three days, when AM Company’s Intermediate Anti-Aging Cream officially launched, they would deal a heavy blow to the Shentu family.
As for the lawyer’s letter, Jiang Xinghai hadn’t been worried for a second.
On the surface, the legal team Shen Lingxue found would handle it.
Behind the scenes, the Central State Martial Arts Department would apply its full pressure.
"Jiang, how about you have a few drinks with me?" Shen Zhengye said, pulling Jiang Xinghai back to the dining table.
"A few drinks sounds good." Jiang Xinghai was always game.
While the mother-daughter pair of Qiao Huimin and Shen Lingxue were busy reheating dishes in the kitchen, the two men started drinking with just a plate of peanuts between them.
"This brand of Three Whips Wine is pretty good. Let’s drink up!" Shen Zhengye poured one cup after another, matching Jiang Xinghai drink for drink.
Jiang Xinghai touched his forehead with a wry smile. "Sir, drinking too much of this medicinal wine isn’t good for you. A little bit is fine for enjoyment."
"It’s not that much, not that much..."
Shen Zhengye put an arm around Jiang Xinghai’s shoulder, glanced back at the kitchen, and whispered, "Qiao Huimin can’t get enough of me these days."
Jiang Xinghai gave him a look that said, ’I get it.’
"Let’s keep drinking."
They clinked glasses and drank toast after toast. Though plenty of peanuts were left on the plate, they had already finished an entire bottle between them.
A short while later, a tipsy Shen Zhengye shook his head. "No more, no more. Your aunt and I are going to bed. You two should turn in early as well."
"Yes, you two get some rest." Qiao Huimin gave Jiang Xinghai a meaningful look and made a "go for it" gesture.
Jiang Xinghai was stunned by her gesture. ’Is she trying to sell her own daughter?’
Shen Lingxue pretended not to see, but when she turned her head away, her face was completely flushed.
Only after Mr. and Mrs. Shen Zhengye had left did Shen Lingxue turn back around.
"Aren’t you going to bed?" Shen Lingxue asked, her eyes full of affection.
Without another word, Jiang Xinghai strode forward and swept Shen Lingxue up in a princess carry.
Shen Lingxue’s gaze was like a clear spring in springtime, pure yet shy. The blush on her cheeks resembled a blooming spring flower, enchanting and delicate. Her slender fingers gently toyed with the hem of her clothes, as if seeking a special kind of reassurance.
She knew that according to Jiang Xinghai’s plan, he would be leaving Jizhou tomorrow.
That night, Jiang Xinghai was as wild as ever.
And Shen Lingxue completely let go, giving everything she had...