Volume One, Chapter Six: What Do You Desire?

Jiang Yihuan's heart skipped a beat, but her expression remained unchanged. She slowly and deliberately tidied the dressing table, pretending not to hear the voice.

Zhou Jingmo stood up slowly, his expression calm as he looked at Shen Wuyang. "Good morning, Wuyang sister."

Jiang Yihuan paused mid-stroke as she applied lipstick. Suddenly, she found herself annoyed by the greeting "good morning" and resented being called "sister."

Shen Wuyang felt nothing unusual between them, as Jiang Yihuan had often been close to Zhou Jingmo since childhood. She also knew that Zhou Jingmo frequently visited Jiang Yihuan during her years abroad.

This made her extremely jealous because Zhou Jingmo always treated her with indifference.

Shen Wuyang stepped into the bedroom, intending to cozy up to Zhou Jingmo.

But as soon as she crossed the threshold, Jiang Yihuan's gaze instantly turned icy cold.

Without hesitation, Jiang Yihuan grabbed a vase from the upper right corner of the dressing table and hurled it straight at Shen Wuyang.

With a loud crash, the vase shattered at Shen Wuyang’s feet, fragments scattering everywhere.

Startled, Shen Wuyang clutched her chest with one hand and pointed angrily at Jiang Yihuan with the other. "Are you crazy? Why are you suddenly losing your mind and throwing a vase at me? Aren't you afraid of hurting me?"

She was afraid she might not succeed in hurting Shen Wuyang enough.

Jiang Yihuan half-lidded her eyes and said, "Get lost."

Shen Wuyang glared at Zhou Jingmo in frustration, hoping he would intervene.

"Jingmo, look at her! This is going too far!"

"Hmm, it is a bit excessive," Zhou Jingmo replied evenly, raising his eyes to Shen Wuyang. "Shouldn’t you knock and get the owner's permission before entering someone else’s bedroom? Yihuan values etiquette; remember to knock next time."

Shen Wuyang's face flushed pale and red in turns. "Jingmo, aren’t you being biased? This is my home, not Jiang Yihuan’s. Do I need to knock before entering my own room?"

Zhou Jingmo’s gaze darkened. "What did you say?"

Startled, Shen Wuyang stepped back. Though Zhou Jingmo usually appeared gentle and refined, always smiling during daily interactions, his anger was terrifying.

She timidly apologized, "Sorry, Jingmo."

Zhou Jingmo’s voice turned cold. "Apologize to Yihuan, not to me."

"You want me to apologize to her?" Shen Wuyang widened her eyes in disbelief.

She had always looked down on Jiang Yihuan since childhood.

She had bullied Jiang Yihuan plenty until Jiang Yihuan went abroad.

Now being asked to apologize to Jiang Yihuan was worse than death to her.

Especially since she felt she had done nothing wrong; this was her own home.

Zhou Jingmo’s eyes grew colder, devoid of any smile. "Do I need to repeat myself? Apologize."

Shen Wuyang’s face burned red, and she was truly afraid of Zhou Jingmo’s fury.

Reluctantly, she muttered an apology and turned to leave.

The harshness in Zhou Jingmo’s eyes gradually faded as he lowered his gaze to Jiang Yihuan and asked with a smile, "Happy now?"

Jiang Yihuan glanced at him with half-lidded eyes and said indifferently, "So-so."

She hadn't forgotten what happened at dinner yesterday. If Zhou Jingmo hadn’t crushed that cup, Shen Wuyang should have been lying in a hospital bed by now.

"Ah... that’s not good. How about I help you teach her a lesson?"

Jiang Yihuan looked at him with a faint smile, "Isn’t Shen Wuyang also your sister? Shouldn’t you like a well-behaved sister like her more?"

Her voice was cold and flat.

But to Zhou Jingmo, it sounded like a child pouting for attention.

His features softened, a clear smile playing on his lips. "You’re my only sister. Don’t be jealous, okay?"

Jiang Yihuan sneered. "Which eye of yours sees me as jealous? You’ve had long-term business dealings with Shen Qiming, investing billions annually in his projects. Such a good partner—you’re willing to watch me destroy him?"

"What if I want to fatten the fish before I kill it for you?"

Jiang Yihuan frowned. "You’re helping the Shen family gain more benefits. What do you want from helping me?"

Zhou Jingmo affectionately twirled a strand of her hair behind her ear. His slender fingers barely brushed her ear, sending a shiver down her spine.

"What do you think?"

"I don’t know."

"If I help you deal with the Shen family, will you never marry and stay by your brother’s side forever?"

Jiang Yihuan tilted her head, "As your sleeping companion?"

"That title does sound better than bedmate."

Zhou Jingmo leaned closer and kissed her cheek softly, showing no hesitation, nor concern about being seen by the servants.

Jiang Yihuan laughed absurdly.

What on earth made her think Zhou Jingmo was different with her, that there was love involved?

Perhaps a relationship without burdens, like bedmates, was what Zhou Jingmo truly desired.

After all, with Zhou’s father around, their relationship could never be made public.

In fact, this was fine.

This way, she wouldn't have to worry about a reckless, outspoken devil blurting out in an inappropriate moment that he loved her.

Jiang Yihuan suppressed her smile and said seriously, "Fine."

Zhou Jingmo was momentarily stunned, then his smile stiffened. "I’m joking."

Jiang Yihuan stared at him expressionlessly. "No, you’re serious."

Zhou Jingmo slowly straightened, a crack appearing in his demeanor as he sneered, "Do you think I’m helping you just to coerce you into bed?"

Jiang Yihuan smirked sarcastically, "Isn’t that so?"

Zhou Jingmo spun her chair toward himself, then bent over her with a dark, stormy expression. "What if I want more than that?"

Jiang Yihuan mocked, "What you want and what I can give are probably just that. Otherwise, what else do you want?"

Zhou Jingmo restrained his anger. "Don’t speak to me in that tone."

Jiang Yihuan looked at him coldly, a hint of derision in her eyes. "Or do you want love? You want to get love from a twisted madwoman like me? Isn’t that ridiculous, my dear brother?"

She deliberately emphasized the word "brother."

Once, she cherished this title, but now she hated it with equal intensity.

Bang!

Zhou Jingmo kicked over the nearby bookshelf, scattering magazines and books all over the floor.

The servants in the corridor heard the noise and hurried over to check. "Miss..."

"Get out!" Zhou Jingmo barked without turning his head.

The servants shrank back and quickly left.

Mrs. Shen also heard the commotion and came upstairs. Halfway there, she saw the servants emerging from Jiang Yihuan’s room with panic on their faces.

"What’s going on? Why the hurry?"

"The second young lady and Young Master Zhou had a fight," a servant said. "They won’t let us in."

Mrs. Shen glanced at Jiang Yihuan’s room. "Understood. Carry on."

After saying that, she turned and went downstairs.

In this household, only Zhou Jingmo still showed any concern for Jiang Yihuan.

If a rift appeared between them, Jiang Yihuan would be like a grasshopper after the autumn harvest, unable to cause any real trouble.

After all, she was young and only knew how to throw tantrums.

Jiang Yihuan looked into Zhou Jingmo’s eyes, seeing none of the old ambiguous feelings—only pure, blazing anger.

Zhou Jingmo took a deep breath, forcing down his rage. "I said, don’t speak to me in that tone. You’re not crazy—you’re my sister."

Jiang Yihuan toyed with the buttons on Zhou Jingmo’s shirt with slender, graceful fingers, her voice soft and melodious.

"If you don’t think I’m crazy, then it only proves you’re no better than me. After all, which brother would sleep with his sister? Otherwise, why didn’t you refuse me that night in New York?"

"Because I—"