Chapter 64

Chapter 64

He Xiaoyun said to Lu Sheng, “President Lu, this photo cannot be leaked. I will investigate the people behind it. The hotel is your territory, so I’ll leave it to you. You can contact me directly with any news.”

Lu Sheng nodded without objection.

Ling Sheng’s face was still pale. Although he didn’t know the details, he quickly realized that this was more than just simple retaliation. He quickly composed himself and said to He Xiaoyun, “President He, I’m sorry that my personal affairs have affected company business.”

The total investment in this project was at least tens of billions. He Xiaoyun had mentioned some of it to him. If problems arose because of him and Jiang Chen, the responsibility would be too great.

He Xiaoyun’s frown eased a little when he heard his words, “You don’t need to worry about these things. These are just some petty tricks. Even if we don’t get the deal in the end, it will only be a loss of labor and time costs for me since it hasn’t even started yet. However, if this matter is exposed, it will have a greater impact on the Jiang family.”

He Xiaoyun had approached Jiang Chen’s grandfather for this project. Regardless of how the project turned out, the Jiang family’s generations of reputation couldn’t be ruined by a scandalous affair.

Jiang Chen came out from backstage wanting to talk to Ling Sheng, but Jiang Jian, who had rushed over, pulled him away. He watched as He Xiaoyun took Ling Sheng away.

Jiang Jian pulled him into an empty lounge. When it was just the two of them, he no longer needed to hide his emotions. Jiang Jian rested his forehead with his fist in frustration, calmed down a little, and said directly, “You two break up immediately.”

Jiang Chen refused without thinking, “No.”

Jiang Jian hadn’t lost his temper at Jiang Chen for a long time. He couldn’t even remember the last time, but this time he was truly angry. “Do you know what the situation is now! Do you think that releasing that photo is to let everyone witness your love? Then why didn’t they release it sooner or later, but at this time! The contract with He Corporation is the day after tomorrow. This time it was a collaboration facilitated by Grandpa. At that time, no one will care whether you love each other or not, they will only think it’s a scandalous transaction! At that time, not only me, but Dad, even Grandpa will be implicated!”

Moreover, they didn’t know if the other party had other photos or other tricks up their sleeves. This was no longer just a matter of emotions.

Jiang Chen pursed his lips. He also knew the stakes, but he couldn’t bring himself to break up with Ling Sheng!

“You dating someone, whether it’s a man or a woman, is your own personal matter. I can’t interfere, but if it threatens the family, it’s absolutely not allowed! This relationship you have now must end immediately!” Jiang Jian spoke decisively, leaving no room for negotiation. “Did you hear me!”

Jiang Jian took Jiang Chen to another lounge, where Jiang’s father and mother were sitting.

Jiang’s mother was patting Jiang’s father’s back to soothe him, but as soon as Jiang’s father saw Jiang Chen, he grabbed the tissue box from the table and threw it at him. Jiang Chen didn’t dodge, and the tissue box hit him directly on the head.

“Don’t hit him, ask about the situation first!” Jiang’s mother quickly stopped Jiang’s father, who was about to get up and hit him. “Calm down, ask first!”

“What’s not clear? Isn’t that photo clear enough? Isn’t the shame I’ve suffered clear enough?!” Jiang’s father’s face was flushed with anger. He slapped his own face and pointed at Jiang Chen with a trembling finger. “Being a homosexual, and making it known to everyone, now the whole of Jiang City knows, are you satisfied?!”

Jiang’s mother didn’t know how to persuade him. She still hadn’t accepted what had happened tonight. She didn’t know how her son had suddenly gotten together with a man.

But things were far from that simple. At this point, he had to be honest with Jiang’s father about everything, because it involved more than just a love affair.

After Jiang Jian explained everything, Jiang’s father’s eyes were murderous when he looked at Jiang Chen. He jumped up in anger, and before Jiang’s mother and Jiang Jian could stop him, he slapped Jiang Chen in the face, staggering him and almost knocking him down.

This was the first time Jiang’s father had hit Jiang Chen, and with such force.

Jiang’s mother screamed in fright and rushed to hug Jiang Chen, only to see his face swelling up immediately, his mouth and tongue hitting his teeth, and blood flowing instantly.

“What are you doing! Are you trying to kill him?!” Jiang’s mother looked panicked, grabbed a tissue from the side and pressed it to Jiang Chen’s face. “Why is there so much blood? Let’s go to the hospital.”

Jiang’s father had indeed used a lot of force. His own hand was numb and even trembling slightly. “I should have beaten him to death so he wouldn’t have caused such a big mess!”

Jiang Jian quickly pried open his mouth and saw that only his lips and the tip of his tongue were broken. The blood looked scary, but there was actually nothing serious. Only then did he feel a little relieved and said, “Dad, now is not the time to assign blame. Let’s think of a way to solve the problem first.”

“I’ll solve him first!” Jiang’s father sat down, panting heavily, and after a while, he calmed down a little. “Call Lao Wang and have him come pick us up now. I can’t stay here any longer.”

“Dad…” Jiang Chen opened his mouth vaguely, just about to say something, when Jiang’s father glared him back.

“Don’t call me Dad!” Jiang’s father got angry as soon as he heard him speak. “From today on, you’re not allowed to go anywhere without my permission. Stay at home obediently!”

There was silence in the car. Jiang Chen also calmed down from the shock and panic. Because Ling Sheng had always been reluctant to go public, they were actually very careful outside. That kiss was his spur-of-the-moment idea. It should have been taken the second before he let go of Ling Sheng, when the spotlight shone over. If that person had other photos, they wouldn’t have just sent them this one. So this photo should have been taken by chance, not by stalking.

Jiang Jian called his wife and said that he had some business today and would stay here tonight. He wouldn’t go back. He had already put the gift in the closet. He originally wanted to give her a surprise, but he could only let her find it herself.

Jiang Chen listened on the side, feeling extremely envious.

He also hoped to spend Valentine’s Day with Ling Sheng so openly. Today was their first Valentine’s Day together, but it had turned out like this.

As soon as Jiang Jian hung up the phone, he saw Jiang Chen with an envious expression, but he didn’t even have the mood to tease him, only gave him a roll of his eyes.

As soon as they got home, He Xiaoyun’s phone call came. Jiang Chen’s phone was confiscated, so he could only contact Jiang Jian. They had found the person who made the transaction.

“The person who delivered the USB drive was a boy named Wang Mingan. He was also at H University before, but now he’s on leave. It’s not clear yet whether he took the photos. We only know that he brought them. The rest is still being investigated. The truth should come out within three days.”

Jiang Jian said, “Thank you, President He. We still need to find the person who took the photos as soon as possible. I’m worried that he has more than just this one photo.”

He Xiaoyun said, “I know, don’t worry. Whether it’s for the Jiang family or for myself, I’ll see this through to the end.”

Jiang’s father also finished his phone call and came out of the study. He glanced at Jiang Chen, who was sitting on the sofa applying ice to his face, snorted coldly, and asked Jiang Jian, “What did they say?”

Jiang Jian repeated He Xiaoyun’s words directly.

Hearing the name Wang Mingan, Jiang Chen’s face changed immediately. He said, “Wang Mingan pursued Ling Sheng before, and even worked as a model at Eternity, but because his private life was too messy, he was exposed and took leave. He knows about me and Ling Sheng. Did he take that photo?”

Jiang’s father said angrily, “Whether he took it or not, you’re the one who caused this!”

Jiang Jian said, “Dad, this is clearly more than just a matter of revenge. This Wang family is not even among the competitors for the development project. They shouldn’t even be qualified. There must be someone behind them pushing this.”

He wanted to downplay the matter between Jiang Chen and Ling Sheng as much as possible, but Jiang’s father was much smarter than him. He heard it as soon as he heard it. He glared at Jiang Chen fiercely, as if he was about to step forward and hit him. Jiang’s mother stopped him, and he sat back on the sofa. He breathed a few breaths in silence before his tone calmed down slightly. “Break up.”

Jiang Chen hadn’t moved at all even when Jiang’s father was about to hit him just now, and he hadn’t thought of dodging. But at this time, he stubbornly said, “No, Dad, I like him!”

Jiang’s father tapped his finger hard on the photo. The solid wood coffee table was knocked “thud, thud, thud.” “Is this a matter of whether you like him or not? Ling Sheng, a mere city head, was actually able to attend the wedding banquet of the president of He Corporation. Who doesn’t know how good their relationship is among the people who attended the banquet today? He Xiaoyun is a homosexual, who doesn’t know that? I didn’t care about this originally, it’s someone else’s private affair, but I don’t see Ling Sheng’s relationship with him as being so innocent. The development project was finalized with He Corporation after your grandfather came forward. Once your relationship is exposed, what will others say? You don’t care about yourself, you don’t care about us, then have you thought about your grandfather?”

The president of He Corporation let a homosexual friend seduce the Jiang family’s grandson to win the development project. This kind of news has both highlights and excitement, and it can instantly detonate public opinion. At that time, the cooperation will not be successful, but it will make both families lose face.

Jiang Chen suddenly thought that if there was no development project, that would be great. If there was no development project, He Xiaoyun would not come, and it would not involve so many messy things. Wouldn’t they not have to face these things?

But without He Xiaoyun, he and Ling Sheng might not have developed so quickly, and these things were not under his control at all.

Jiang Chen shook his head. He had already come, so thinking about these things was useless. Facing the current problems was the most important thing.

“Dad, things are already like this, let’s think about a solution first.” Jiang Jian glanced at Jiang Chen, signaling him to say something gentle.

Jiang Chen also knew that this was not the time to act impulsively, whether for the sake of the Jiang family or for Ling Sheng, so he lowered his head and softened his tone. “I’m sorry, Dad, I didn’t expect things to get to this point.”

Jiang’s father was experienced and knowledgeable after all. Although he had a temper at home, after realizing the seriousness of the matter, he immediately withdrew from his emotions. After all, it was his own son who had caused the trouble, and he couldn’t ignore it.

“Ling Sheng has always been reluctant to let Xiao Chen go public, so they are relatively restrained. This one was also taken accidentally. He Xiaoyun said that he can find the person who took the photo tomorrow, and see if there are any other photos.”

Jiang’s father said coldly, “They’re still restrained and this kind of thing still happened? Jiang Chen doesn’t need to take care of this matter. Stay at home obediently until the matter is resolved.”

Jiang Chen said anxiously, “I still have to prepare for my thesis defense, and…”

Jiang’s father was unmoved. “Now I may not even be able to go out. Do you know the seriousness of the matter!”