The Substitute Bride and the Cripple

Tang Qiu’s livid glare sent the crowd dispersing. These people simply hadn’t been taught proper manners. She made no apologies for yelling at them, not when they deserved every ounce of her fury.

The bad-tempered grandmother from earlier looked as if she wanted to continue arguing, but a stare from Jiang Shaocheng intimidated her into silence, and she scurried off with the child in her arms.

With the crowd gone, Tang Qiu knelt by Jiang Shaocheng’s side. “Don’t pay them any mind,” she said comfortingly. “Those ignorant people are good for spewing nonsense and nothing else.”

Jiang Shaocheng cupped her head with one hand. “You’re really not bothered by my scars?”

Tang Qiu’s brow pinched together. She didn’t like the way he spoke about himself. “They don’t bother me,” she insisted. “I’m a bastard, and you’re a young master, but you don’t look down on me for it, do you?”

He looked doubtful, so she lifted her head and kissed him. She wouldn’t allow him to feel inferior because of his scars; she was an illegitimate child, and thought no worse of herself for it. What was so unnatural about that anyway? But she didn’t know what would be the right thing to say, and so she had resorted to such a move to prove her sincerity.

Jiang Shaocheng stared back at her, slightly dazed, before saying, “I don’t look down on you. And I trust you when you say that you don’t despise my scars.”

Tang Qiu smiled brightly. He Lei trailed after them, looking blankly at his young master. No wonder this woman was such a treasure to him. Not only was she unafraid of his scars, she even possessed the courage to kiss him.

Back in the mansion, Jiang Shaocheng watched Tang Qiu’s figure from the sofa, his eyes softening. But when he turned to face He Lei, his gaze was hard and cold.

“Next time, you will obey her, same as you would me. Have I made myself clear?”

Caught off-guard, He Lei nodded his head vigorously. He didn’t dare rouse the young master’s wrath. He knew the kinds of torture Jiang Shaocheng inflicted on people–even if no one else did.

Tang Qiu prepared four dishes and one broth. Jiang Shaocheng swallowed an experimental mouthful, and his eyes lit up, clearly enjoying the taste.

“How is it?”

Jiang Shaocheng raised his gaze to see Tang Qiu staring at him, a gleam in her wide, expectant eyes. “You’re an excellent cook,” he replied with a soft curve of his mouth.

Tang Qiu blushed at his praise. She placed more food onto his plate. “I’m glad to hear that. You can have it any time you like in the future.”

He Lei was standing to the side, observing them. His eyebrows lifted. The young master was obsessed with cleanliness! He was on edge, wondering how to deal with the young master’s inevitable temper, when Jiang Shaocheng picked up the food Tang Qiu had put on his plate and ate it, like nothing was wrong. He blinked in confusion.

Jiang Shaocheng continued to sample her cooking, making note of how her smile never left her face. She was pure of heart, if a little naive at times. ƒ𝓇e𝙚𝔀𝐞𝚋𝓃𝐨𝘷e𝙡.𝒄𝗼m

Tang Qiu had waited a long time to say this, and now her opportunity was finally here. Injecting what she hoped was a cajoling tone into her voice, she asked, “I’m still a student, dear. I have class tomorrow. May I attend?”

Jiang Shaocheng had reviewed the information he had uncovered about her, and he knew she was a second year student in the medical faculty of A University–the most prestigious university in the country. “Of course. But I have one request.”

Tang Qiu heaved a sigh of relief at his agreement. “What is it?”

“Can you live with me instead of on campus?”

She nodded instantly. She had promised him she would take care of him; she hadn’t been planning to continue staying on campus anyway.

“What about you?” Jiang Shaocheng asked with a raised brow. “Feel free to tell me any requests you have.”

“I don’t have any!”

Stroking her head, Jiang Shaocheng said, “Don’t be in a rush to answer. Take some time to think about what you need before getting back to me.”

“Okay.” She was already grateful that he had allowed her to continue with her studies. She would study hard, and who knows, she might even be able to help heal him in the future!

Later at night, Jiang Shaocheng finished showering. He spared a glance at the master bedroom, then pushed his wheelchair over to the guest bedroom, where he knocked on the door.

Tang Qiu opened the door while drying her tresses, looking adorable in a pair of panda-themed pajamas. “Yes?”

“Would you rather come to the master bedroom, or have me come over here?”

Tang Qiu didn’t respond. She eyed him, trying to decipher his meaning.

“We are married. We should sleep together.”

“Oh?” Tang Qiu’s mind went temporarily blank. The thought had never occurred to her.

“You would prefer not to sleep with me?”

Jiang Shaocheng’s gaze dropped to the floor. Tang Qiu couldn’t bear the sight of his disappointment. He was a cripple. He could hardly have sex with her, even if he wanted. Besides, she had promised to take care of him. Sleeping with him was no big deal, was it?

She moved to push his wheelchair. “No, you misunderstood me. It doesn’t matter, let’s go to the master bedroom.”

When they reached his chambers, Tang Qiu took in their surroundings. The room possessed a subtle aura of power; starkly furnished in black and white, and utterly spotless, if lacking any touch of human warmth.

“Qiu, come here.”