The Secret of Second Marriage

I got a little angry, and my tone turned cold: "Uncle, do you mean I should take the blame for President Jiang? I might go to jail. And my accounting license will be revoked for life."

You want me to admit that I falsified accounts and embezzled company funds. That's a serious charge, and I'm sorry... I probably can't do what you want!

Instead of confronting me directly, Mr. Jiang said with a hint of guilt, "Ms. Jiang, I admit that Jiang Hui is my son, and I still side with him in my heart."

Although I manage a huge conglomerate, as the chairman of the company, I very much hope that my son will take over our family business in the future.

However, many veterans within the group are against it... Therefore, Jiang Hui cannot afford any mishaps; I must protect him!

"If you're willing to help, I'll compensate you for all your losses. Don't you want to develop a career in the entertainment industry? I'll give you lots of resources in the future and make you famous, how about that?"

I gave a bitter smile. How could he possibly compensate me for this loss? If I agreed, I might go to jail. Once I got out, my reputation would be ruined. What kind of business could I possibly start?

This is a stain, nailed to the pillar of shame. My character is questionable. Even after I get out of jail, which company would dare to hire me?

I took a sip of water, took a deep breath, and my mind was filled with memories of my past with President Jiang. When my ex-husband was convicted of infidelity, President Jiang helped me time and time again, and I was truly moved.

I once solemnly promised him that if there was anything he needed me to do, I would help him with anything, as long as it wasn't like this.

But now things have gone wrong, and this is a huge problem. The price I have to pay is too heavy.

I didn't say anything.

Mr. Jiang realized that his request was a bit unreasonable and apologized, saying, "Ms. Jiang, I'm sorry, I was selfish to make this unreasonable request."

But I still hope you can help Jiang Hui. Don't worry, I've contacted people in the court. Even if you really transferred company assets, as long as the company doesn't pursue it, and I personally lend you the money and return it to the company account.

"We'll wait for the court to file a lawsuit, dragging this out a bit. I can assure you that you'll only lose your accounting certificate; you won't go to jail or have any criminal record... Can you give me some time?"

I suddenly felt a pang of sadness: "So, you're going to have someone sue me soon, is that it?"

Jiang Zemin said, "You're one of us. You're just going through the motions, putting on a show for outsiders."

I said, "Let me think about it."

I didn't touch a single bite of the exquisite food on the table.

I walked out of the private room, feeling lost and disoriented. Old Jiang asked me from behind, "Miss Jiang, did you really love my son? Isn't loving someone about being able to give everything for them?"

"...I'm sorry, but as my father, I hope you can help Jiang Hui and buy me some time to save him."

"I see"

Two clear tears streamed down my face. I choked out four words and left the upscale restaurant.

Late at night, the wind on the street blew my long hair. I didn't know what to do. Should I help President Jiang or not?

Perhaps this is the reality of a complex society: when faced with conflicts of interest, human nature tends to back down.

I am unwilling to send myself to hell for President Jiang, never to rise again.

I picked up my phone, intending to call Juan, but then I remembered that Juan was currently preoccupied with her husband's affair and didn't want to bother her with such trivial matters.

I called Mr. Jiang again, but there was still no answer.

This is the first major hurdle I've encountered since I started dating Mr. Jiang. Is this the end of our relationship?

"Manga"

I heard a voice calling from behind me.

I turned around and saw Shen Xing.

He stood behind me, walked over, and gently said, "What are you doing here? Why are you crying? Where's President Jiang? Hasn't he treated you well?"

"That's my business, it's none of your concern."

I've been feeling very upset.

He said, "Don't be stubborn. I tipped the waiter, and he told me about the conversation he overheard. Is Jiang Hui's father causing you trouble? What kind of trouble does he want you to take the blame for? Don't believe a word those old hands say, or you won't even know how you died!"

"I told you, my affairs are none of your business!"

I wiped away my tears, not wanting to show a hurt expression in front of Shen Xing.

Seeing this, Shen Xing said, "You're still so stubborn, so stubborn it's worrying. Jiang Man, I told you you and President Jiang aren't a good match. Why don't you consider being with me?"

"President Jiang is in trouble now, and you want me to abandon him and be with you? What kind of person would I be?"

I stared into Shen Xing's eyes and said, word by word, "I, Jiang Man, may not have any other skills, but I do have a bottom line. No matter what, I will not leave President Jiang when he is in the most difficult time. He has helped me."

After I finished speaking, I turned around and left without looking back.

"Sis, that's not what I meant. I was just joking with you. I've been filming a lot lately and haven't been getting much sleep. I feel like I'm living in a daze, so I misspoke. Please don't mind."

Shen Xing realized he had said the wrong thing and quickly caught up with me.

He said, "Don't be angry. You probably didn't feel like eating properly inside. Are you hungry? I'll treat you to some street food."

I didn't want to talk to him at first, but after walking a few steps, I got really hungry, so I came back and said to him, "Let's go eat, it's my treat."

We randomly picked a lively roadside stall or open-air food stand to have a late-night snack.

I ordered barbecue, a plate of fried rice, and a bottle of beer. I sat in front of the stall, trying to figure out how to save President Jiang.

I made many phone calls to my former teachers, classmates, and acquaintances in the court whom I have known for many years, asking them what I could do to help Mr. Jiang in this case.

The answers are all hard to say.

Shen Xing wore a mask and hat, his fair and clean skin glowing. He was dressed in a white tracksuit, and every move he made exuded the handsomeness of a star.

He placed a plate of barbecue on the table, ladled a bowl of fried rice for me in a small bowl, placed it in front of me, and then took out a disposable cup, poured a glass of beer, and handed it to me.

He said, a little jealously, "Sis, I know you care about him, but he can't go hungry. Eat something, and then we'll figure out how to get him out of there."

I haven't had barbecue in a long time.

While eating my barbecue, I asked Shen Xing, "What did you do at that restaurant?"

"The company arranged a performance for me tonight. I was playing the piano on stage when I saw you walk into the restaurant halfway through. Then I saw you come out of the private box with red eyes. Sis, you don't know how many fans were screaming at me like crazy, but you didn't seem to notice me at all from the moment you came in until you left?"

Shen Xing said to me with a hint of disappointment, "Ha, I thought that once I became a big star, you would fall in love with me?"

"Come on, I'm way past the age of idolizing celebrities."

I say.

I don't want to be a fangirl anymore.

Shen Xing and I ate barbecue and drank until after midnight, and I was a little tipsy.

I said, "I'm going back."

Shen Xing offered to take me home, but I politely declined.

I know he's a fairly famous male celebrity now, and he can no longer completely control his schedule. While we were having barbecue, his phone kept ringing. I didn't need to guess; I knew it was his manager urging him to go back.

Shen Xing gave me a deep look and said, "Man, if you really have no other choice, you can come to me, but promise me, never hurt yourself for any man."

I'm a man too, listen to me. If President Jiang also condones you taking the blame for him to get him out, then that man is a hypocrite and doesn't deserve your love at all!

Because someone who truly loves you would never bear to hurt you!

"You talk like you're some kind of expert at dating?"

I say.

I hailed a taxi on the roadside, and Shen Xing stood by the roadside until the car drove away, seeing me off. His expression remained serious, not like a younger brother, but more like a man who was genuinely worried about me.

I went back to the neighborhood. Tangtang went to stay with Grandma Jiang today.

Mr. Jiang is not home; I am the only person in the huge room.

I have insomnia.

……

The next morning, I called Brother Yuxiang and asked him how his investigation of Su Xiaohong's information was going.

After Yuxiang answered my call, he wanted to tell me about this.

I drove straight to his company to see him.

His company is located in an office building, where he rents several offices on the third floor. As it is a newly established company, it only has a dozen or so employees.

However, all those employees were tall and strong.

When the company's assistant heard that I was a friend of the boss and his wife, he made me a cup of tea and asked me to sit on the sofa and wait for them to come back.

I waited until almost 1 p.m., and my assistant bought me a boxed lunch at noon.

I felt quite embarrassed.

It wasn't until after 1 p.m. that Yuxiang returned to the company with a group of his brothers.

Their company's decor has a strong江湖 (jianghu, a term referring to the world of martial arts and chivalry) vibe. In the living room outside the office, there is a statue of Guan Yu and several banners hanging on the walls.

Yu Xiang was very happy to see me and said, "Hey girl, you're here. How's my new company? I got a job this morning. A girl broke up with her ex-boyfriend, but he keeps chasing her and threatening her downstairs at her company."

I just took some guys over and pretended to be the girl's boyfriend. We talked to that jerk of hers ex-boyfriend and told him to get lost or he'd make him regret it next time we met!

He was so scared he wet himself; he probably won't dare bother that girl again.

"That's great, society needs righteous people like you."

I say.

Yu Xiang said, "Haha, I wouldn't call myself a righteous person, but our company has pretty good values. First, we don't accept clients who are mistresses. Second, we don't violate laws or regulations. Third, we don't do anything against our conscience."

I said, "Brother Yuxiang, I came to see you today because I need your help with something."

"you say"

Yuxiang sat on the sofa and asked me.

While drinking, I told Yuxiang about what had happened.

Yu Xiang is a very responsible middle-aged man. After listening, he had a heavy expression on his face.

He showed me the information he had found and said, "I found that woman, Su Xiaohong. This is her address. She was also an actress, but she's washed up."

She opened a flower shop. What's the address? What's the street number and the house number? You can go look for her.

"Thanks"

I say.

With the address Yuxiang gave me, I was ready to go find that woman immediately to find out what was going on.

But Yu Xiang suddenly said to me, "Man, I can't really say anything about President Jiang's matter. But my advice to you is... you have to go with the flow... Girl, in a dangerous situation, the first thing you should do is protect yourself."

Jiang Hui got into trouble; he has an entire company, and his father vouched for him. You're just a divorced woman with a child. If something happens to you, who will help you?

"That being said, I will do my best to get President Jiang out."

My eyes flickered slightly, and I spoke with a firm tone.

"Girl, don't become another love-struck fool."

The older brother said.

With my older brother's words still in my mind, I went to a flower shop to see Su Xiaohong.

What shocked me was that Su Xiaohong was exceptionally beautiful, the kind of radiant and elegant beauty. She was wearing a colorful dress, had long curly hair, and was arranging bouquets at the entrance of the flower shop.