The Time-Limited Love and Marriage
Chapter 169

Chapter 169: Chapter 169

Fu Youhan just stared at Jiang Moxi, his eyes harboring no intention to avoid hers.

That scorching gaze made Jiang Moxi feel as though her entire face was on fire.

"Why do you care? Give me my phone back," she snapped, trying to snatch the phone from Fu Youhan’s hands.

But Fu Youhan simply raised the phone high, out of Jiang Moxi’s reach even when she stood on her tiptoes, and took the opportunity to pull her into his arms.

"Aren’t you the one who called me your distant uncle? Then I should take care of you!"

Because he also purposely leaned close to Jiang Moxi’s face, she could see the clearly defined eyelashes of the man and the dark scrutiny in his eyes.

His voice was much hoarser, as if carrying invisible hooks, inadvertently stirring emotions.

As the man’s lips drew nearer to hers, Jiang Moxi quickly pushed him away.

Pushed back, Fu Youhan then examined the photos Jiang Moxi had just taken.

"Don’t look at such things, you’ll get sty in your eyes."

While saying that, he fiddled with the phone.

Jiang Moxi panicked upon seeing this and hastily rushed to contest, "Don’t delete them, I need these pictures for Ling Ye."

"For Xiao Ye? What are you all trying to do?" Fu Youhan looked down at Jiang Moxi, his eyes probing.

Actually, he had guessed that Jiang Moxi and Ling Ye were up to something; otherwise, they wouldn’t both be serving at this charity gala simultaneously.

Unable to hide her motives, Jiang Moxi just blurted out about Ling Ye wanting to collect the remaining payment for his mother.

After hearing this, Fu Youhan’s features sharpener, his eyes and brows shot a clear warning, "You shouldn’t get involved in this sort of thing."

The adult world has its own set of rules.

If they recklessly break these rules, not only could it jeopardize Ling Yinan’s business, it might also risk their own future.

"Let him do something for his mother; otherwise, he wouldn’t feel right either."

Jiang Moxi genuinely envied the relationship between Ling Ye, his siblings, and his mother; that’s why she wanted to help.

Actually, Fu Youhan still disagreed with Ling Ye getting involved in this matter, but since Jiang Moxi spoke up for Ling Ye...

Thus, he operated the phone, deleting several rather eye-abusive photos and leaving only one where Cao Hongcai appeared intimately with a woman, whispering and giggling.

"Just leave this one. Tell Xiao Ye, if Cao still doesn’t pay up, I’ll pay him a visit."

Fu Youhan handed the phone to Jiang Moxi.

Jiang Moxi thanked him and quickly grabbed the phone, then pushed open the restroom door to leave.

As she turned back, she saw that Fu Youhan had no intention of leaving and couldn’t help but ask, "Aren’t you leaving?"

This is a ladies’ restroom after all; it would be rather awkward if someone walked in on them.

Fu Youhan smiled at Jiang Moxi, making his sharply defined face appear even more enticing.

"I need a moment, it’s been so many days since I’ve been with you."

It seemed like he was explaining to Jiang Moxi, but it also appeared more like he was flirting.

Thus, a hint of annoyance appeared in Jiang Moxi’s clear eyes.

"You could look for someone else."

"Who else could I look for, other than you?"

Fu Youhan looked at her, his slight smile was faint yet profoundly genuine.

Jiang Moxi was taken aback, wanting to counter with a mention of An Xueluo.

But at that moment, a lowered call from Ling Ye came from outside.

"Moxi? Are you in there?"

Jiang Moxi glanced at Fu Youhan, signaled him to stay quiet in here, and then left by herself.

Soon after, Jiang Moxi and Ling Ye met outside the restroom.

"Did you get the pictures?" Ling Ye asked.

"Got them. But the mistress Cao Hongcai is keeping..."

Jiang Moxi wanted to speak but stopped hesitantly, unsure whether to show the photo she took to Ling Ye.

"It’s Xuexue, I know."

Ling Ye’s words made Jiang Moxi look up in surprise.

Seeing that Ling Ye’s expression was rather calm, Jiang Moxi finally sighed in relief and sent the photo she had just taken to Ling Ye’s phone.

Ling Ye examined the two people in the photo, which was quite clear, and said, "Hmm, I’ll take this photo and go find Cao Hongcai now."

However, having walked a few steps, Ling Ye suddenly stopped: "Moxi, let’s delete this photo after I use it, don’t let it spread."

Jiang Moxi paused, then asked him, "So do you still like her?"

"I don’t like her anymore. But I still wish her well," Ling Ye said.

Lai Xueer used to be his dream, and now that the dream had ended, he still did not want to tarnish the beautiful past.

Jiang Moxi suddenly felt that Ling Ye must be a good ex-lover.

Even though Lai Xueer had ridiculed him for being poor in front of everyone back then, he had never spoken ill of her and even wished to preserve her reputation.

So Jiang Moxi agreed: "I will delete it."

"Thanks."

Then, the two of them returned to the charity gala.

On the stage, Jiang Weiwei and Jiang Sibei were playing a piece together.

Below the stage, members of the Jiang Family all wore proud expressions.

On the other side, Lai Xueer was clinging to Cao Hongcai’s arm, coquettishly saying, "The jewelry those two are wearing is really nice, I want it too."

"Alright, I’ll buy you a set in a couple of days."

Cao Hongcai pinched Lai Xueer’s collagen-filled face, his smile revealing a set of porcelain white but fake teeth.

"Brother Cai, you are so good."

Lai Xueer affectionately kissed Cao Hongcai’s wrinkly face, showing no signs of the force before that had led her to be with him.

It was on Christmas Eve night, Lai Xueer went out with some sisters to a bar and accidentally drank spiked drinks, waking up in Cao Hongcai’s bed.

Lai Xueer was devastated then, thinking about how she had been played by someone even older than her dad. She had thoughts of dying.

But then Cao Hongcai immediately gave her tens of thousands, promising to buy her bags and houses, wobbling her resolve.

Later on, Cao Hongcai indeed often took her to fancy places and even bought her a house in full, occasionally giving her various expensive accessories and bags; Lai Xueer was eventually swayed by his wealth.

Recently, Lai Xueer had been inquiring about Cao Hongcai’s net worth and upon discovering his assets worth millions, she even harbored thoughts of rising from a mistress to a more legitimate position.

Thus, after just obtaining a set of jewelry by acting coy, Lai Xueer was eager to ask Cao Hongcai if he could divorce and be officially with her.

But just as she was about to voice her well-prepared question, a familiar voice sounded near her.

"Excuse me..."

Lai Xueer looked up to see Ling Ye’s handsome face.

After a brief moment of surprise, Lai Xueer was filled with annoyance: "Ling Ye, why are you following me here?"

Now, whenever Lai Xueer saw Ling Ye, she remembered the failed relationship with Niu Wei.

By then, she had already been intimate with Niu Wei and if things had gone smoothly, she would have married into a wealthy family after graduation.

It was all because she attended the social gathering organized by Ling Ye that Niu Wei suddenly blacklisted her phone.

Lai Xueer had been resentful about this incident.

Just as she was about to climb onto another high branch, Ling Ye appeared again.

Lai Xueer felt that Ling Ye must want to ruin her good fortune with Cao Hongcai; otherwise, out of all places, why would he come here to work as a waiter and approach Cao Hongcai?

"Xuexue, do you know this young man?"

Cao Hongcai’s gaze lingered between the two.

Afraid of being misunderstood by Cao Hongcai, Lai Xueer quickly complained to him with a cry in her voice.

"He’s a stalker from our school, he has always wanted to be with me. I refused, and he has been following and threatening me..."