Volume One, Chapter Six: Of Course You Can Repay Her Debt on Her Behalf

Han Jingyue decided to find an opportunity to talk with Jiang Heng. Even if they couldn’t be a couple, did that mean they couldn’t be friends? There was no need to make their relationship so tense.

But the entire afternoon, Jiang Heng didn’t glance at her once, leaving her no chance to speak.

With no other option, she wrote a note and asked Gong Huimin to deliver it for her.

Gong Huimin strutted over to Jiang Heng triumphantly. “Here, this is from Jingyue.”

Jiang Heng rolled his eyes. “Not interested. Take it away.”

Gong Huimin snapped back, “Young Master Jiang, enough is enough! Jingyue already apologized; what more do you want?”

Jiang Heng sneered coldly, “She’s not sorry. She just lost her wallet and servant, so now life’s uncomfortable for her. Fine, don’t worry anymore. I said I’m not interested—that’s final.”

“How can you be like this? You started it and then abandoned her. Are you even human?” Gong Huimin shouted indignantly.

Her outburst drew the attention of the others nearby. Though no one openly pointed fingers, the hushed whispers soon became audible even to the two involved.

“Don’t go slapping labels on me!” Jiang Heng mocked. “Abandoned her? How did I ‘start it’ anyway? What exactly did I do to her?”

“That’s just giving up halfway! Learn to use words properly instead of throwing them around,” Jiang Heng scoffed.

“Oh, by the way, since you’re so eager to be the messenger, here, give this to Han Jingyue,” Jiang Heng said, pulling out a sheet of paper and handing it to Gong Huimin.

Gong Huimin pursed her lips disdainfully, thinking, *You’re so arrogant, and yet you still make me play messenger?*

She had wanted to tease Jiang Heng a bit more, but seeing how coldly he had treated Han Jingyue these past few days, she hesitated. If she stirred up trouble now, it might backfire on her.

“Fine, I’ll deliver it for you this once,” she said with a sly smile. “If Jingyue forgives you, how do you plan to thank me?”

Jiang Heng rolled his eyes. “Suit yourself. If you don’t want to go, I’ll go myself.”

“Hmph, I’m not going to argue with you.” Gong Huimin twisted her body, snatched the note, and swaggered over to Han Jingyue, deliberately speaking loud enough for others to hear, “Here, Young Master Jiang sent this for you. How are you going to thank me?”

Everyone inside the room overheard her. A few young girls gathered around, teasing Han Jingyue, “Hurry and open it! Let’s see what sweet words Young Master Jiang wrote.”

Han Jingyue felt a flicker of pride but protested aloud, “I shouldn’t…” Yet her hands betrayed her, steadily unfolding the paper.

But as soon as the note was opened, their expressions changed dramatically, and Han Jingyue collapsed onto the table, sobbing uncontrollably.

Gong Huimin slammed the note down on Jiang Heng’s desk, furious. “What do you mean by this?”

Jiang Heng glanced at her. “Don’t you get it? It’s a bill! Over the past two years, I’ve given her dozens of gifts worth hundreds of spirit stones. If she’s not sincere about us, she should at least return the gifts.”

“You…”

“What’s ‘you’ for? Do you expect me to give away everything for free?” Jiang Heng stood up and flung the note at Han Jingyue. “Within three days, either return the items or refund half the spirit stones. Then we’re square. Otherwise, though I may be worthless, the Jiang family is not to be trifled with. You know the consequences.”

Gong Huimin stomped her foot. “Jiang Heng, are you really this heartless?”

“That’s ridiculous. Paying debts is only fair. What’s heartless about that?” Jiang Heng staggered out.

Everyone in the room was stunned, casting bewildered looks at Han Jingyue. What had she done to offend her most loyal supporter so deeply?

“I—I don’t know! I don’t understand why he changed, why he suddenly became like this! *Sob!*” Han Jingyue cried.

All those things had been taken by her parents, exchanged for spirit stones and materials given to her brother Han Jingning. She had nothing left. How could she repay him?

News of the situation soon spread to the Talisman Academy, and Gu Lan rushed over anxiously, worry etched on his face.

“How can he treat someone like this? I’m going to confront him!” Gu Lan said, burning with indignation.

Jiang Heng suddenly appeared. “Looking for me? Planning to help her pay the debt? Fine, anyone can pay. Spirit stones are spirit stones—no big deal.”

Gu Lan thought bitterly, *I don’t have any spirit stones!*

“Jiang Heng, are you even a man? You can take back gifts you’ve already given?” Gu Lan asked those nearby. “What do you all think?”

“Yeah! Jiang Heng, who takes back gifts once they’re given?” others chimed in.

Jiang Heng gave a cold glare at the hecklers. “Why not? I gave her those things because I wanted to marry her. But she wasn’t willing; her heart was set on this man.”

He pointed at Gu Lan with a sneer. “I bet a lot of that money was spent on you too, right?”

A murmur of disdain swept through the crowd as they looked at Gu Lan.

Gu Lan felt uneasy; he had indeed accepted some gifts from Jingyue.

“Then it makes sense for you to repay part of it, doesn’t it, Junior Brother Gu Lan?” Jiang Heng smiled slyly.

“You’re lying. That’s not true at all,” Gu Lan stubbornly denied.

Jiang Heng ignored him. “Whatever. If you don’t want to help, fine. I’ll still hold Han Jingyue responsible. She treated you so well, yet you have no sense of duty. Doesn’t that say something about her judgment?”

Gu Lan clenched his fists so tightly veins bulged, glaring fiercely at Jiang Heng.

“You don’t have to be like that!” Jiang Heng shrugged. “If you agree to help pay Han Jingyue’s debt, I’ll be generous—ten years to repay it. You say you can’t come up with a few hundred spirit stones in a year; what about ten years? Don’t tell me you can’t make that much in ten years?”

Gritting his teeth, Gu Lan finally said, “Fine, I’ll do it.”

“Words aren’t enough—put it in writing!” Jiang Heng smiled coldly.

Han Jingyue hurriedly stood up. “Gu Lan, this has nothing to do with you. Please don’t get involved!”

Gu Lan’s hand trembled slightly.

Jiang Heng nodded approvingly. “Good, you have responsibility. Better to suffer yourself than let a man suffer. You’re a good woman. Too bad you don’t like me. What a pity!”

Han Jingyue bit her lip. “Jiang Heng, are you really going to force me? I already said I’m still young and don’t want to think about this now. Am I wrong?”

“No, you’re not wrong! Return the gifts I gave you, and we’re done. From then on, we go our separate ways and leave each other alone,” Jiang Heng said with a roguish grin.

“I…I don’t have the money to pay you back!” Han Jingyue said meekly.

“No problem. He’s willing to help,” Jiang Heng said with a smile. “See how good I am? I even tested a man’s true feelings for you. If he’s willing to pay back that much, it shows he really likes you. You’d better cherish him!”

Hmph. If you like him, then I wish you both a long and happy life together.

I’m eager to see how you manage to be happy every day.