Jiang’s mother felt Chen Ming had a promising future, and she was quite pragmatic. She believed he could make her daughter happy, so she smiled and said, "If you get along well, engagement is just a matter of time."

Jiang Chaoge pursed her lips, then looked at Chen’s mother and softly said, "I’m sorry, Aunt Chen, I can’t get engaged to Chen Ming. I don’t have feelings for him, and we can’t be together."

Ah... Chen’s mother was stunned.

Jiang’s mother immediately retorted, "Chaoge, what’s wrong with you? Weren’t you just saying you wanted to get to know each other better a few days ago?"

At this point, Jiang Chaoge had nothing to hide. She said calmly, "We weren’t planning to be together. Chen Ming isn’t my type."

Jiang’s mother was not happy and said with displeasure, "Then what type do you like?"

Jiang Chaoge pressed her lips together and remained silent.

After a long pause, Chen’s mother stood up, smirking coldly, "Actually, I heard some rumors, saying that Chaoge is pursuing Mr. Wang and visiting the hospital every day. I dismissed it as gossip, but now I think it might be true..."

Looking at Chen’s mother’s expression, Jiang Chaoge knew the facade had been dropped. She had never thought highly of Chen Ming’s mother, who always seemed snobbish. Now it seemed choosing not to be with Chen Ming was the right decision. Since the masks were off, there was no need for politeness, so she spoke very calmly, "Aunt Chen, those are indeed just rumors, but it’s true that I’m in a relationship with Mr. Wang."

This statement also shocked Jiang’s mother.

Regarding Jiang Chaoge and King Jingyao’s affair, she neither agreed nor supported it. It’s not that she didn’t want her daughter to marry well, but she knew too well how much this path would cost—

If a man like King Jingyao could love, it would be wonderful. If it was a union of interests, what awaited would probably be nothing but neglect. To merely maintain mutual respect would be the best outcome. By contrast, a sincere and well-situated man like Chen Ming was who Jiang’s mother had in mind. So at this moment, she was inevitably unhappy and immediately scolded her daughter, "Chaoge, apologize to Aunt Chen."

She frowned, "As for your thing with Mr. Wang, I don’t agree."

Although she’s a woman, she knew well enough that relying on Jiang Bin wouldn’t end well for Chaoge; it was too dangerous.

Jiang Chaoge, usually filial, was stubborn now and unwilling to comply, merely offering a faint smile at Chen’s mother.

Chen Ming’s mother felt both angry and humiliated. Having only one son, who had turned out well, she had always been feeling good about herself. Now learning her son was stood up by Jiang Chaoge for Mr. Wang made her very displeased, in a sarcastically bitter way.

She calmed down, knowing not to completely ruin the relationship, and put on a very strange smile, returning to her usual warm demeanor, "Chaoge, your matters are not for me to decide. Auntie can only wish all your dreams come true. As for the matter with Chen Ming, let’s just drop it; it’s Chen Ming’s misfortune."

Hearing this, Jiang Chaoge followed the implied understanding, knowing well the relationship wouldn’t be the same. However, Jiang Chaoge wasn’t too concerned, as she never looked up to Chen Ming’s mother.

Politely seeing them off, she turned back to find her mother’s face gloomy beyond measure. There had been guests just now so she couldn’t act up, but now she had already prepared a feather duster in her hand, "Chaoge, go kneel in front of your dad’s photo."

Jiang Chaoge rubbed her forehead, "Mom, what era are we in? Who still does this?"

She lowered her hand, then gently massaged her mother’s shoulders, while softly persuading, "Why don’t you agree? Mr. Wang is just in his forties, a bit older than me, but he looks young and handsome..."

Jiang’s mother sneered, "You’re just after his power and influence, aren’t you?"

Jiang Chaoge admitted it. She sat on the sofa, raising her head to look at her mother, "Mom, have we been living well all these years? Dad passed away early, and living by the Jiang family, we’ve always had to watch others’ faces. Do you really think this kind of life is good?"

Jiang’s mother was silent for a long time before she put down the feather duster and slowly sat on the sofa, dazed, "Chaoge, I won’t forget. It’s exactly because of this I hope you can marry a good man, so you don’t have to live under others’ eyes in the future. But Mr. Wang is beyond our reach, Jiang Bin isn’t a good man, you shouldn’t cooperate with him anymore."

Jiang Chaoge was unmoved, trying her best to persuade her mother, "Mom, I’m working on a project, and projects need investors. For a 5 billion project, where would you find someone so easily agreeing and letting me take full charge?"

Her mother looked at her, "Jiang Bin values you this much? Isn’t that being used?"

Jiang Chaoge lightly smiled, "Mom, such things are mutually beneficial, it’s nothing. What’s important is whether one can profit from it."

Hearing this, her mother felt slightly reassured, but after a while, she turned her mind, "Chaoge, does this project have something to do with Mr. Wang?"

Jiang Chaoge’s heart skipped a beat, then she forced a smile, "Mom, what are you thinking? A project is a project, and Mr. Wang is Mr. Wang. How could they be connected?"

Her expression was complex, and her mother, knowing her daughter very well, immediately understood, but she knew she couldn’t stop it because at this point, Chaoge was acting like she was possessed.

She just sighed lightly, "Chaoge, you’re very smart; you’re so smart that you’ve gained too much and think everything can be achieved through means. But remember this old saying from mom: whatever is forced is not sustainable. Not to mention, doesn’t Mr. Wang seem quite fond of the Bo Family’s girl? Why is he willing to let go? Because he knows there’s no point in seizing something..."

Hearing this, Jiang Chaoge felt very unhappy, gripping the hem of her clothes, "This is different."

"What’s different? At my age, I see things very clearly. A man like Chen Ming is one for a good life. If you can’t capture Mr. Wang’s heart, not even his person will stay with you."

Jiang’s mother spoke earnestly, but how could Jiang Chaoge listen at this moment?

She couldn’t help but say, "Mom, the project has already started, and Mr. Wang values this project very much. I will have some contact with him, more or less. This has nothing to do with feelings, it’s just... business interactions."

"And the matter with Chen Ming doesn’t seem to affect your business dealings with Mr. Wang, does it?" Jiang’s mother still didn’t quite agree.

Since Chen Ming was mentioned, Jiang Chaoge decided to be honest with her mother, "I have no feelings for Chen Ming, and I don’t think he’s a passionate man."

"Living as a couple should be practical. Those flowery words sound nice, but you’ll regret it later. I see Mr. Wang as a romantic," Jiang’s mother glanced at her daughter.

Jiang Chaoge remained silent for a long time.

The mother and daughter were silent for a while, and Jiang’s mother finally sighed softly, "Alright, you’re not young anymore, and you’ve seen a lot outside. Unlike me, who knows nothing. Some things you have to decide for yourself, but you’ll have to bear the consequences in the end."

Listening to these words, Jiang Chaoge felt her heart soar, "Mom, thank you, you’re the best."

Jiang’s mother’s face was deliberately stern: "What’s so good?! I think your decision isn’t good. Chen Ming is such a nice person, I say you’ll regret it later."

"I won’t." Jiang Chaoge held her mother’s shoulder, "I know you and Auntie Chen have a good relationship. Next time I’ll personally invite her for dinner as an apology... Actually, Chen Ming and I aren’t what you think. We’ve never been, I have no feelings, and neither does he. He should be interested in that Song Beauty now, the one we saw at the restaurant last time."

Jiang’s mother shifted her body: "Really? That girl looked very delicate and beautiful, maybe she doesn’t fancy Chen Ming."

Jiang Chaoge smiled a bit, "She doesn’t."

Jiang’s mother murmured, "What are girls thinking these days? Chen Ming is such a good kid, hardworking, ambitious, resilient, healthy. Whichever girl marries him would be lucky."

Jiang Chaoge quietly glanced at her mother, thinking she... was overthinking a bit.

But, fortunately, she managed to navigate through it, at least giving some explanation to the old lady...

Jiang Chaoge believed that although she wasn’t favored by the old lady, because of the project and due to Wang Jingyao’s involvement, the old lady compromised somewhat. So besides visiting the hospital, she also went to show some diligence to the old lady. She even inquired with a lawyer if the assets Wang Jingyao gave to Gu Anxi could be recovered as marital property. Of course, the best lawyer in the industry told her—

Impossible!

Jiang Chaoge’s disappointment was secondary, the main issue was that this news reached Wang Jingyao’s ears.

At this time, it was just one night away from discharge, and the secretary-general personally helped his boss pack his things—

During the hospital stay, they received precious supplements worth a fortune, from sky, land to sea, enough to be overwhelming... The secretary-general looked through each item, feeling a bit of a headache.

Looking up, he saw his boss lost in thought.

The secretary-general smiled and asked, "Reluctant to leave the hospital? Your health has greatly improved."

Wang Jingyao still seemed deep in thought, so the secretary-general said, "You seem thoughtful, perhaps it would be good to decide how to distribute these supplements."

Wang Jingyao didn’t immediately regain his senses, his eyes fell on the documents in his hands, and he casually said, "Keep a few, send some to the old gentleman and old lady, and the rest to the little rascal. Give her the big ginseng too, it’s almost autumn, and she’s still young, she should nourish herself."

After he finished speaking, Secretary-General Wang was silent for a long time.

When his boss looked up, frowning, he asked, "Jingchuan, what’s wrong with you?"

Wang Jingchuan smiled lightly, "Nothing, it’s just... are you sure to send these to Little Gu, what if she doesn’t accept?"

Upon hearing this, Wang Jingyao remembered that he had already cut ties with the little rascal... for a moment he felt awkward, then after contemplating, he casually said, "Then send some to Old Lin, his health isn’t good, he needs nourishment too."

The secretary-general laughed; sending them to Old Lin, Old Lin would surely understand, wasn’t it essentially sending them to Little Gu? Besides, is there anything that can’t be given away? So many people want them?

That Dr. Jiang who visits every day, didn’t Mr. Wang consider her once? How can he have goodies and not think about that person?

Secretary-General Wang half-jokingly said, making Wang Jingyao frown, "Chaoge? Isn’t she healthy?"

Then he recalled the earlier news, and he sneered, "She’s full of energy, she’s meddling in things she shouldn’t."

(3200 words, another Chapter at ten past ten, should be a burst update on June 6~~)