Chapter 34: Why would I feel sorry for her?

Hearing Jiang Yue say this, I was quite astonished.

Had she finally come to her senses? Or did she feel that I, Chu Jianghe, was not as unbearable as she thought? Perhaps everything I had done for her had finally moved her. I did not know; her thoughts were difficult to guess, and I had no desire to try. But regardless, even if she were to kneel before my tombstone now and repent, I would never forgive her.

Yes, perhaps all of this was just my own wishful thinking. But she had been too cruel to me. On the very day I died, she was still off playing lovey-dovey with her "white moonlight." No matter what, I was still her husband in name; this was blatant infidelity.

Forget it. I was already dead, so what did it matter?

Throughout the rest of the afternoon, Jiang Yue remained busy in her office. The company was not doing well, and she was quite anxious, even with her father’s enterprise acting as a safety net. However, I knew her character well; she would never ask her father for help unless it was an absolute last resort. She was a woman of immense pride, both in her personal life and in her work. She did have a softer side—for instance, when she was with Cheng Jun—a gentleness that made me wonder if she suffered from a split personality.

At eight o’clock in the evening, after she had been working overtime, Cheng Jun called. Seeing his name on the screen, she immediately set aside her work and answered.

"Hello, Jun-ge."

"Are you still working overtime at the office?"

Jiang Yue sounded surprised. "How did you know?"

"Of course I know. I also know that your company is facing some trouble." Cheng Jun said with concern, "Stop working for now. No matter what, you have to eat. I’m already downstairs."

Jiang Yue agreed immediately, shut down her computer, grabbed her bag, and hurried out of the office.

Had she ever been this eager to see me? There was a time, perhaps, during the first year, when things were quite good. We really had been happy once, but I later realized that she had only been trying to keep me around while her heart remained entirely with Cheng Jun.

Downstairs, Cheng Jun was standing by his car door. When he saw her emerge, he immediately opened the door for her. Once she was inside, he said, "Look at how haggard you’ve become from all this work. No matter how busy you are, you have to eat. Have you forgotten about your stomach issues?"

Jiang Yue instantly transformed into a gentle young girl. She smiled softly and said, "I got so busy I lost track of time. If you hadn't called, I wouldn't have even realized it was eight o'clock."

Cheng Jun sighed softly. "You! You were the same way in the past, always forgetting to eat while studying. That won't do."

Jiang Yue smiled tenderly again. "How did you know I was working overtime?"

"Because I love you, I know everything you do."

I ask you, what woman could withstand such concern? Even a high-and-mighty female CEO like Jiang Yue, who usually looked down on everyone, would fall for it. I could only conclude that Cheng Jun truly understood women too well.

Cheng Jun took Jiang Yue to a beautiful restaurant, ordered her favorite dishes, and meticulously insisted that she eat more. As they ate, Cheng Jun asked, "By the way, Yueyue, have you found a solution to what's happening at your company?"

Facing Cheng Jun, Jiang Yue held nothing back; she even shared trade secrets without hesitation.

"There is an idea. We might need to change our traditional operating approach as an advertising company. This is the digital age, and we should lean toward new media."

Cheng Jun nodded thoughtfully. "That is true. That’s why the first thing I did when I returned to the country was to buy into a media company. Although I’m only a small shareholder, I believe it will certainly achieve great things in the coming years."

Jiang Yue nodded in agreement. "Your vision is indeed far-reaching. I’ve been too limited in my thinking; I hadn't looked that far ahead."

"Not at all, Yueyue, you flatter me. I’m also fighting a desperate battle; whether I succeed or fail depends on this one move."

Jiang Yue suddenly set down her chopsticks, as if struck by a thought, and looked up at Cheng Jun.

"Jun-ge, you just mentioned you bought into a media company. I suddenly thought, could we perhaps collaborate?"

Oh, Jiang Yue, has your brain been kicked by a donkey? Cheng Jun has been dancing around this for so long—isn't he just waiting for you to say exactly that? But the person involved is often the most blinded; Jiang Yue had no idea that this was all a trap Cheng Jun had set for her.

Cheng Jun replied quickly, "That is possible, but... Yueyue, I am just a small shareholder with limited influence." He paused, then added, "How about this? I’ll go over there tomorrow to discuss it and see if a collaboration is feasible."

Jiang Yue pondered for a moment, appearing to reach a decision. After a while, she asked, "What is your current stake?"

"Three percent. It's the smallest share."

"Then how much more do you need to invest to have a controlling voice?"

It’s over, it’s all over, Jiang Yue! You are truly finished!

Cheng Jun was waiting for exactly that sentence, you silly girl. Damn it, why do I feel a pang of sympathy for her? I should be saying, "Serves you right!" Yes, exactly—serves you right for being deceived. When the time comes, you won't even have a place to go to cry.

Cheng Jun put on a troubled expression and said, "Yueyue, I understand what you mean, but... is that really necessary?"

Cheng Jun was a master of playing hard to get. From the very beginning, he had been weaving a massive web, just waiting for a big fish like Jiang Yue to swim into it.

Jiang Yue was insistent. "It is necessary, and very much so."

"Jun-ge, I’m not thinking about a short-term collaboration. I want you to become the largest shareholder of that media company so that we can merge later and plan for the long term."

I have to admire Jiang Yue’s business acumen; her logic was sound. The problem was Cheng Jun—he was scamming you!

Cheng Jun looked thoughtful for a moment, then nodded. "That is a good idea, but Yueyue, the investment might be quite large!"

"It’s fine. I like taking on challenges."

"Well, since you put it that way, I do have a channel to acquire some shares, enough to reach a 51% stake."

"Roughly how much money would that take?"

Cheng Jun frowned. "It’s hard to say, but I can give you an estimate. It should be between forty and sixty million. That should be enough to secure it."

Jiang Yue frowned as well, thinking for a moment before finally nodding. "Alright, then go and look into the specifics. I think this is a necessary step to take."

Are you stupid, Jiang Yue? You don't even investigate it properly, yet you’re just going to hand him tens of millions so foolishly. You really are a "big genius."

But from Jiang Yue’s perspective, she loved Cheng Jun so much—just as I used to love her—so how could she ever imagine that this was all a scam?

I can only say it serves you right. The way you treated me is exactly the way someone else will treat you. And that someone happens to be the person you love the most.

When the day comes that you learn the truth, I hope you won't jump into the river to end your life like you did last time. Because that would pollute the water!