The CEO's Woman Chapter 4 A Boring Show

The storm raged fiercely outside, with the sound of rain relentlessly pounding against the windowpanes.

Another crash of breaking glass echoed, accompanied by Lu Shi's ragged breaths. Whiskey and pure resentment laced the air around her as she seethed, a desperate urge to unleash her fury and inflict pain upon someone overwhelming her.

"AHHHHH!!!" A piercing scream tore through the night, followed by a torrent of enraged curses.

"HOW DARE SHE!? How dare she show me such blatant disrespect?"

Then, a chilling, almost mad laughter erupted from her.

"Jiang Yue, oh Jiang Yue! Very well! Let the games begin!"

...Meanwhile, Jiang Yue was sound asleep in her room, utterly oblivious to the turmoil.

The sun had climbed high in the sky by the time Jiang Yue finally roused herself from bed. Without delay, she reached for her phone and dialed Wang Bolin, informing him of her day's plans. Staying another moment within the confines of the Jiang's Mansion felt unbearable.

While the estate was officially hers, a pervasive sense of negativity clung to its walls, a burden she felt no need to carry.

A quick wash of her face and a brush of her teeth were followed by a choice of a knee-length black flared dress. Clutching her duffel bag, she made her way out of her room. However, fate, it seemed, had other intentions for Jiang Yue's morning. As she reached the foyer, her father's voice boomed, eliciting an involuntary eye-roll.

'It's barely morning, and my luck has already run out,' she mused internally.

"Hey! Are you even listening to me?" Jiang Chanming’s voice reverberated through the hall.

His words snapped Jiang Yue back to the present. She glanced at her father, his sharp features unchanged. Honestly, she wouldn’t describe him as handsome, even if asked. Now that she thought about it, she couldn't find any trace of resemblance between them.

"Hey! Are you deaf? Ignoring me, are you? Hah! Is this what happens when you stay abroad?" Her father exploded, his words sharp. Jiang Yue tried to recall what he had said moments before, but nothing came to mind. She wondered why she had become so absent-minded lately.

"Sorry, I didn't hear you," Jiang Yue replied, shrugging as she continued her walk down the hall without breaking stride.

"Good! Very good! You truly show your ungrateful nature. The heavens must be punishing me for raising you so poorly. You're a rotten apple in this family! How utterly embarrassing. You're just like your mother!" Her father's voice dripped with venom.

"Dear, please calm down. Yue'er must be tired from her flight yesterday. She simply forgot to inform you," Lu Shi's shrill voice cut in, attempting to placate her husband.

A subtle smile touched Jiang Yue's lips. She stopped walking, her gaze falling upon the couple seated in the dining hall. She sensed a dramatic performance was about to unfold.

"Yue'er, come here. I didn't have the servants call you because I knew you'd be tired. Come, sit with us and eat," Lu Shi said, her face beaming as she gestured invitingly.

Jiang Yue complied, taking a seat opposite Lu Shi. Remaining silent, she waited for the servants to present her with utensils before beginning to eat. She was, in fact, quite hungry.

"So, are you planning to go back abroad? You should really stay and continue your studies here. I’m sure the elder Mr. Wang will understand," Lu Shi continued, her smile unwavering. Jiang Yue felt an urge to applaud the woman's acting prowess, wondering why Lu Shi hadn't pursued a career on the stage.

"I intend to stay here permanently," Jiang Yue replied.

"Magnificent! Don't worry. I'll handle all the arrangements. It might be a bit late to start school, but I’m sure we can manage. What do you think, dear? Why don't you give the headmistress of Xin City's International School a call?" Lu Shi turned her attention to Jiang Chanming. As anticipated, Jiang Chanming's face contorted as if he had just tasted something foul. His brow furrowed, and anger flared in his eyes.

Jiang Chanming was acutely aware of Jiang Yue's intelligence. She had, after all, been hailed as a prodigy during her elementary school years. The thought of Jiang Yue attending the same school as Jiang Mian filled him with dread, knowing she would undoubtedly eclipse her.

"It's nearly the end of the year. The school won't be accepting any new enrollments at this time, especially with the national examinations approaching," he stated, his voice laced with undisguised anger. This daughter of his was becoming more defiant with each passing day.

Following Wang Rou's passing, Jiang Yue had immediately requested her maternal grandfather to send her overseas, a move to escape her birthplace and the ensuing grief. She subsequently changed her phone number, cutting off all contact. She had not attended his wedding to Lu Shi, nor had she offered any well wishes in the three years that followed.

He still found himself questioning the drastic change in Jiang Yue's behavior. She had once been so eager for his attention, constantly by his side.

"Hmm... My grandfather has already made arrangements," Jiang Yue stated calmly. Jiang Chanming couldn't help but clench his jaw. He suspected the Wang patriarch was scheming to isolate his daughter, likely driven by a desire to protect Wang Rou's inheritance.

"Wonderful! That's truly excellent news. I'll inform Jiang Mian immediately; she can offer you assistance. Will you also be residing in the dormitories? That would be absolutely perfect-"

"Jiang Mian?" Jiang Yue interrupted Lu Shi's enthusiastic speech.

"Ah, you haven't crossed paths with her yet. She's my daughter, and your own blood-related sister," Lu Shi responded with an expansive grin. While Jiang Mian might not possess the same striking beauty as Jiang Yue, Lu Shi took pride in her daughter being the top student in her school. She eagerly anticipated witnessing how her daughter would handle this seemingly ungrateful child. Furthermore, the headmistress was her cousin, fueling Lu Shi's excitement at the prospect of Jiang Yue's future distress.

"Oh," Jiang Yue replied, her tone betraying a distinct lack of interest. Her brief response caught Jiang Chanming off guard. He had fully expected Jiang Yue to erupt in a tantrum. He remained silent, his gaze fixed upon her, unable to fully comprehend this daughter of his. She seemed to harbor a deep resentment towards him, as if privy to his affair with Wang Rou.

The mere thought of Wang Rou ignited his fury. The fact that Wang Rou had unreservedly transferred all her assets to Jiang Yue felt like a profound insult to him, her husband. He forcefully suppressed his simmering anger, vowing to retrieve at least some of the company shares and properties.

While Jiang Chanming was engrossed in his malicious plotting, Jiang Yue chose to finish her meal with haste. The anticipated drama unfolding before her was proving to be disappointingly dull. She felt a significant sense of letdown.

"I will not be staying here, nor in the dormitories. I intend to return tonight to collect some of my belongings," she announced, rising from her seat. With a decisive strut, she exited the house, making no effort to await their responses. She eventually made her way to the parking lot adjacent to the opulent mansion. A wave acknowledged Wang Bolin, who was standing beside a sleek, tinted black BMW. She then handed him her duffel bag before gracefully entering the car.

"Ensure this bag reaches Grandfather as soon as we arrive," she instructed Wang Bolin as the car began to pull away from the mansion's gates.