Volume One, Chapter Six: He Lost Control and Turned Red with Rage

The familiar scent lingering at the man's collar was that of the laundry detergent Hosley always used—a faint woody fragrance blended with a hint of mint, fresh and clean. Suddenly, Jiang Qin recalled that Hosley had been using this detergent for the past four years. Looking at it this way, he didn’t seem like someone incapable of attachment.

Her thoughts drifted away until the ringing abruptly pulled her back. Hosley was on the phone nearby, asking the family doctor to come over. The ringing came from Jiang Qin’s phone. She fished it out and saw that the caller ID displayed the front desk, just as Hosley ended his call.

Jiang Qin swiped to answer, but a sudden sharp pain in her ankle from the glass shards made her lose focus, and her finger accidentally activated the speakerphone. Before she could turn it off, a clear voice from the front desk finished speaking in one breath—

“Secretary Jiang, a gentleman surnamed Xie just came by to leave something for you. He said it’s a gift. I’m about to go upstairs to hand over some documents. Would you like me to bring it up for you?”

Beside Jiang Qin, Hosley’s eyes darkened instantly as he slipped the phone into his pocket. A sudden shadow blocked the light. Jiang Qin turned her eyes toward the source, meeting Hosley’s deep gaze—like a cruise ship entering the abyssal depths of the ocean, waves of dark, endless blackness crashing upon her.

His look unsettled her, and at the same moment, she realized the “Mr. Xie” the front desk mentioned was Xie Youan.

Thinking swiftly, Jiang Qin said into the phone, “Thank you. That would be very helpful.”

The front desk replied it was no trouble and quickly hung up. The moment Jiang Qin lowered her phone, the man looming over her emitted a low hum.

“So this is what you call ‘ordinary’?”

Each word Hosley spoke was heavy, as if deeply betrayed—she felt as though she was the one guilty of the affair within their marriage.

Jiang Qin suddenly recalled the cold, indifferent tone Hosley had used with Li Xueqian at the supermarket last night, his icy words: “Why bother with her?”

“What right do you have to say that about me?” she retorted sharply, her heart turning to ice even as her blood surged with heat. Her mouth moved faster than her mind.

But the moment the words left her lips, regret followed—not for the sentiment, but because the defense was weak and the impact negligible; it even sounded like she was admitting to having an affair herself. It was foolish.

Yet Hosley seemed genuinely infuriated by her words.

The next second, he straightened up abruptly, sneering as he looked at her, and called her name.

“Jiang… Qin.”

She thought she saw his eyes glisten with a hint of redness. His pale skin made even the slightest emotional change visible. Jiang Qin remembered how, a year ago during their sweet moments together, she would tease him about this.

Especially at the company, when they were alone in the executive office, she would sneak a kiss on him while delivering documents. His ears and neck would flush pink instantly, and he would freeze, giving her the perfect chance to slip away.

Her phone vibrated twice in her pocket, snapping her back to the present. It was strange—though she had rested well last night, now every time she saw Hosley, her mind wandered.

Still, she comforted herself; she’d heard that’s normal during a heartbreak. It would pass with time.

Hosley left the room. Jiang Qin checked her phone—just ordinary work group messages.

Soon after, there was a knock on the door. Hosley’s assistant, He Xu, delivered a paper bag containing clean clothes.

Though He Xu’s official role was assistant, Jiang Qin knew he was Hosley’s most trusted confidant, following only Hosley’s orders.

Most likely, Hosley had noticed the wetness on her clothes before storming off and had instructed He Xu accordingly.

He Xu said nothing else and left promptly. Wearing wet clothes was uncomfortable, so Jiang Qin changed. Before long, there was another knock—this time the doctor had arrived.

Jiang Qin recognized the female doctor from Yunhai Huafu. The doctor removed the glass shards, applied medicine, and bandaged her ankle. After giving a few instructions and leaving some supplies, the doctor departed. Jiang Qin called housekeeping to clean up and soon returned upstairs.

Hosley’s business was vast, with branches worldwide; no day’s workload was ever light.

Jiang Qin entered to find Lin Xiaoyu tidying files by the bookshelf. Perhaps scolded earlier, the young woman was unusually quiet, looking somewhat pitiful.

Jiang Qin recalled Lin Xiaoyu had taken leave due to family matters and only returned to work today. Given her current state, she herself needed guidance and dismissed the idea of offering it to others.

Immersed in work, she stayed busy until the alarm rang.

As usual, Jiang Qin asked Hosley whether he preferred lunch from the hotel or the company cafeteria, so she could arrange it. He answered coldly, with lingering anger in his terse words:

“Eat out.”

Her professional smile stiffened briefly but returned soon after. “Understood, President Hosley.”

Outside, as she was about to sit down and continue working, a sudden pang in her lower abdomen stopped her.

Pausing, she realized what it meant. She opened a drawer, took out a sanitary pad, and headed to the restroom.

Coming out, Jiang Qin felt disappointed—her period hadn’t arrived. Yet when she felt this way before her cycle, it usually arrived within a day or two.

Adjusting her mindset, she returned to work. At noon, Lin Xiaoyu quietly approached and reminded her the workday was over.

“Mm,” Jiang Qin nodded, smiling. “You should eat and rest well at lunch.”

Lin Xiaoyu responded and was about to leave, but Jiang Qin, busy typing a reply, only noticed after a moment that she hadn’t gone.

“Is there something else?”

Lin Xiaoyu glanced toward Hosley’s office and lowered her voice. “The front desk just came in and placed something on your desk, saying it’s a gift for you. Then President Hosley took it inside.”

Assuming without asking was tantamount to theft; Jiang Qin was truly surprised Hosley would do such a thing.

But on second thought, it was understandable—if he was capable of an affair within marriage, this was probably trivial to him.

After saying this, Lin Xiaoyu straightened up. “I’m heading to the cafeteria. See you this afternoon.”

Jiang Qin smiled and nodded. Once Lin Xiaoyu left, her smile vanished.

After finishing the email she was composing and locking her screen, Jiang Qin stood and headed inside.

But before she reached the inner room, Hosley’s assistant He Xu’s voice called out from outside.

“Secretary Jiang, Miss Li is here. Please inform President Hosley.”

Jiang Qin froze, but before she could respond, a tall figure emerged from the inner room.

The man walked straight to the door without glancing at her, brushing past Jiang Qin as if she were invisible.

The flame burning in her chest suddenly stalled. She turned and called out to him.

“Hosley.”