Chapter 60: Madness Beyond Reason

Looking at Su Qingli in this state, Jiang Hao felt a pang of pain in his heart.

Su Qingli was exceedingly beautiful, the kind of woman who could only be described as stunning. Her figure was impeccable, and she kept herself immaculately clean. Though her clothes were never extravagant, they were always fresh and neat, making her stand out in any crowd. It was no wonder that, back in university, she was the campus belle whom countless male students vied for.

Even now, Pan Yixuan, the eldest son of the Pan family, still couldn't let her go. He was obsessed with breaking up Jiang Hao and Su Qingli, dreaming of marrying her into the Pan family.

But now Su Qingli was so wretchedly disheveled, soaked from head to toe. Jiang Hao had never seen her in such a sorry state before.

Despite his heartache, Jiang Hao's face remained expressionless.

He turned away, his tone cold. “Didn’t you say before that you’d never come looking for me again? So why are you here now? Have you forgotten your own words so quickly?”

Standing outside the villa’s gate, Su Qingli kept her head bowed in silence.

After a long while, she finally spoke. “You must have heard about the fire in our family’s medicine warehouse, haven’t you?”

Of course Jiang Hao knew. When the Su family had come to view the house that day, Su Tianming had received the call right in front of him. Besides, the fire at the Su family’s warehouse was the largest blaze in Maple Leaf City that year, causing tremendous losses for the Su family. The story had long since made the news.

Even if Jiang Hao cared nothing for the Su family, he would certainly have heard about the fire.

He felt a certain satisfaction at their misfortune. The Su family had always treated him like less than a dog, and now they had suffered such a heavy loss—this was nothing but just deserts.

“I already know. But what does your family’s warehouse fire have to do with me?” Jiang Hao asked icily.

Su Qingli’s shoulders trembled, her voice tinged with the threat of tears. “We’ve lost two hundred and twenty million. Everyone in the family is scraping together money to cover the gap, but so far we’ve only managed to gather a hundred million. We’re still short by a hundred and twenty million…”

Before she could finish, Jiang Hao cut her off coldly. “Why are you telling me this? Do you expect me to help your family? Do you think that’s possible? Su Qingli, can you be a little more clearheaded? We’re about to get divorced, and you still come to me for help. Don’t you find that laughable?”

With that, he turned to head back inside.

Suddenly, Su Qingli burst into tears, crying out to his retreating back, “My grandmother wants me to go to the Pan family, to beg Pan Yixuan for help. She wants to trade me for Pan family’s support. Do you really want to see me married off to that Pan Yixuan?!”

At these words, even the sound of the rain around them seemed to soften.

Jiang Hao stopped in his tracks, though he didn’t turn around.

Su Qingli went on, “Jiang Hao, I know you hate me. But you wouldn’t just stand by and watch another man defile me, would you? Your heart isn’t that hard—am I right?”

Jiang Hao wanted to turn and shout his denial, but he couldn’t.

She was right. Though he was filled with resentment toward her, they had been together since university, and had shared years as a couple. They weren’t even formally divorced yet; by law, they were still husband and wife.

How could he possibly stand by and watch her fall into Pan Yixuan’s arms? No man could bear to see such a thing.

Jiang Hao sighed, walked over, and opened the villa gate.

“Come inside first,” he said, pulling Su Qingli into the yard.

Inside the main house, Jiang Hao sat quietly on the sofa.

The hundred-inch television was on, and the variety show inside occasionally burst into laughter, but Jiang Hao was more aware of the sound of water coming from the bathroom.

Su Qingli was showering in his bathroom.

She hadn’t brought an umbrella when she arrived and was soaked through. Without a hot shower and clean clothes, she’d catch a cold for sure. That was why Jiang Hao had let her use his bathroom.

After more than ten minutes, Su Qingli emerged, her hair still wet, beads of water clinging to the ends.

She was wearing Jiang Hao’s clothes now—a loose jacket and a pair of jeans. Since she was so slender, the clothes looked baggy on her.

“Dry your hair,” Jiang Hao reminded her.

But Su Qingli shook her head and sat down on the sofa beside him.

“Would you like something to drink? There’s hot milk in the kitchen,” Jiang Hao offered.

Su Qingli said nothing. After a moment, she looked at Jiang Hao and said, “Our family’s in crisis. If we can’t find help from another family, we won’t survive this disaster. That’s why my grandmother decided to send me to Pan Yixuan.”

“That was your grandmother’s idea? To use you as a bargaining chip for Pan family’s support—what does she take you for?” Jiang Hao’s voice was cold.

He had never cared for the Su family, even felt nothing but animosity toward them. Now, his impression of them had fallen even lower.

The Su family had always mocked and belittled him, never treating him as one of their own. In the eyes of some, he was worth less than the family’s pets.

But at least he was an outsider. Their attitude, however harsh, was not without reason.

Su Qingli was different. She was family, Old Lady Su’s own granddaughter. Yet now, with disaster at their door, they would sacrifice her, sending her off to the Pan family like some harlot, trading her body for support.

It was unspeakably cruel.

If this really was Old Lady Su’s idea, then the Su family was truly beyond redemption.

Su Qingli shook her head. “It was Su Tianming who first suggested it. No one else had a better plan, so Grandmother agreed.”

“You don’t want to go to Pan Yixuan?” Jiang Hao asked.

“Of course not. You know better than I do what kind of man Pan Yixuan is. He’s a spoiled playboy, the worst of the worst. I’d sooner die than marry him!” she replied without hesitation.

“So you’ve come to me? What makes you think I have the power to save your family? And what makes you think I’d be willing to help you?”

Jiang Hao’s mouth curled into a mocking smile.

Su Qingli’s expression immediately dimmed. She lowered her head, as if she no longer dared to meet his eyes.