Chapter 35 Jiang Li, Are You Out of Your Mind!

With Jiang Li present, Xu Anan managed to regain her composure quickly. Even though Jiang Li was naturally unruly and never took Jiang Yu seriously, she believed that when it came to certain matters, he could distinguish right from wrong. After all, destroying her would serve Jiang Li no purpose.

Yet, Jiang Li grew even more reckless.

One hand gripping her slender waist, he pulled her into his embrace, while the other seized her chin, crushing her cherry lips in a fierce kiss.

The moment their lips met, Xu Anan was utterly stunned.

Before she could react, he forcibly pried open her lips, an invasion that allowed no refusal, wild and relentless, tasting of fragrant sweetness.

It was as if he wanted to mark every inch of her with traces belonging only to him.

Xu Anan’s mind went blank, her body rigid, her waistline taut as a bow.

Sensing Jiang Li’s intentions to go even further, Xu Anan desperately struggled, but how could she possibly overpower him?

He held her down effortlessly with one hand.

Rip—

The harsh sound of fabric being torn echoed!

Like a punishment, Jiang Li lowered his head and bit fiercely on the graceful, pale curve of her swan neck, making her tremble with pain.

He’s gone mad—truly mad!

And Jiang Yu was still watching!

Her heart pounded violently, like a drumbeat that wouldn’t cease. Xu Anan felt doomed and gave up struggling, her mind in chaos, wondering how to deal with the aftermath.

She didn’t even notice when Jiang Li released her.

“Hiss…”

Jiang Li leaned back, pain from his fractured ribs causing beads of sweat to form on his forehead, his face pale. He sneered, “Already scared?”

Indeed, now was not the time for strenuous activity.

Xu Anan finally came to her senses, hurriedly sat up, grabbed a jacket and zipped it to the top, hiding herself in a corner.

“Jiang Li, are you insane!”

“What’s the point in hiding now?” Jiang Li pushed aside his hospital gown, noticing blood seeping through the bandages, yet his face remained expressionless as he ate.

When there was no sound of knocking, Xu Anan found it odd and peeked outside—

Somehow, Jiang Yu had already left.

She checked her phone—no missed calls from Jiang Yu.

She was certain she’d seen him outside the door while Jiang Li pressed her down. Was Jiang Yu so intimidated by Jiang Li that he didn’t dare trouble her?

That didn’t seem right.

Even if Jiang Yu wouldn’t provoke Jiang Li, he wouldn’t easily let Xu Anan off.

Knock knock.

The hospital room door was knocked, and Xu Anan jumped up like a startled bird.

“Come in.”

Only after Jiang Li gave permission did the person outside enter.

It was the doctor, arriving on schedule to change Jiang Li’s medication. Xu Anan breathed a sigh of relief and glanced outside again, but Jiang Yu was nowhere to be seen.

“Oh my, Second Master, how did your wound reopen?” the doctor exclaimed.

Xu Anan turned to look and saw the blood-soaked bandages. Though it looked tragic, she had no sympathy for Jiang Li.

This was a case of suffering brought upon himself!

After the medicine was changed, Jiang Li lay down again, eyeing Xu Anan with a half-smile: “Look at you—no fun at all.”

“I have no interest in games that risk my life,” Xu Anan replied, still uneasy, as if she were holding a ticking time bomb.

And the instigator of her unrest was enjoying himself, utterly relaxed.

He deserved a slap or two.

Jiang Li clicked his tongue, saying nothing.

The medication’s effect was kicking in, draining his energy to spar with Xu Anan. He closed his eyes and soon fell asleep.

After much thought, Xu Anan decided to call Jiang Yu herself. There was no escaping him, so why not face the storm head-on?

Ring ring ring…

After a while, the call was answered.

“Xu Anan, weren’t you acting tough just now? Do you realize your mistake now? If you apologize to Yue’er, I might reluctantly forgive you.”

Normally, upon hearing this, Xu Anan would retort immediately.

But she was confused.

She couldn’t have been mistaken—the person outside the door was Jiang Yu.

“Did you… come looking for me just now?”

“Where did you go?” Jiang Yu had indeed looked for Xu Anan, intending to coerce her into taking the fall for Ning Xiyue, but he couldn’t find her.

“I’m not at the hospital anymore.”

“In any case, if anything negative about Yue’er appears online, you must step forward to clarify. Otherwise, don’t blame me for being ruthless with the Xu family.” With that, Jiang Yu hung up.

Xu Anan gripped her phone, uncertainty swirling in her heart.

Knock knock.

This time, it was Jiang Li’s assistant who entered, handing over a tablet and placing it on the table in front of Xu Anan. “Miss Xu, please take a look. All the profiles of the debutantes participating in the beauty pageant are here.”

The assistant knew Xu Anan was with Jiang Li, so he brought the materials directly.

Tomorrow was the day of the pageant.

Xu Anan rubbed her forehead.

The old master was serious.

“Alright, I’ll take a look.”

“The old master said, please review them and narrow it down to ten candidates. Tomorrow will be the final round of interviews,” the assistant explained.

Xu Anan lifted her chin slightly. “Second Master is still asleep. Let’s wait until he wakes.”

The assistant shook his head. “The old master said the first round doesn’t require Second Master’s input. It’s up to you.”

“So please give me the list now, so I can report back.”

Xu Anan felt her head spin. Who was really choosing the bride? Why did she feel like the imperial wife selecting concubines in ancient times?

No matter—she’d already been paid, so she’d do as instructed.

The news that the Jiang family was selecting a partner for Jiang Li had sent shockwaves through Shanghai. Nearly every eligible debutante had submitted her profile.

Who wouldn’t want to marry the most powerful and wealthy man in Shanghai?

And this man was not only rich and powerful but more handsome than a movie star.

Looking at the statistics on the tablet—one hundred thousand profiles—Xu Anan’s headache intensified. “Is there really that many debutantes in Shanghai?”

“There are candidates from other cities, even abroad.”

“How long will it take me to review them?”

“Just glance through. If someone catches your eye, that’s the right match,” the assistant relayed the old master’s words verbatim.

Xu Anan was exasperated and couldn’t help but complain, “Isn’t Second Master the one getting married? What does it mean if I pick someone who suits me?”

The assistant didn’t understand either, but the old master insisted.

“He said he trusts your judgment and that a woman’s intuition is the sharpest.”

“Fine, then if I pick a tigress—a woman who’ll beat Second Master day and night—he shouldn’t blame me, right?” Xu Anan scrolled through the profiles, chatting idly.

Hearing no response from the assistant, Xu Anan continued teasing, “I’m not joking. Only a tigress can keep Second Master in line.”

“Assistant Wang, don’t you agree?”

Wang’s assistant broke out in cold sweat, not daring to reply.

Then a low, chilly voice sounded: “Xu Anan, do you have a death wish? Shall I find you a butcher, since you two would be a perfect match?”