Chapter 21: Aversion

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Qiao Yuyan knew that with Huo Lingchen’s nearly obsessive need for control, there was no need to ask—he would never agree to this.

She blinked innocently. “Why tell brother-in-law?”

“We’re married,” Jiang Yunxi explained with a smile. “Taking the doctoral entrance exam is such a big deal; I can’t possibly keep it from him.”

Qiao Yuyan asked again, “What if brother-in-law finds out? Would he oppose it?”

Without hesitation, Jiang Yunxi replied, “No, Lingchen has always supported me doing what I love.”

A cold sneer formed deep in Qiao Yuyan’s heart. That was hardly certain. This was precisely Huo Lingchen’s cunning—he could suppress people so flawlessly that everyone would believe he was acting in his sister’s best interest.

“Look, sister, brother-in-law is already so busy. He’s responsible for such a huge company. If he knew you were preparing for the exam, he’d definitely be distracted trying to take care of you,” she offered a seemingly reasonable excuse, gently persuading her. “It’s better to quietly work hard first, and once you pass, surprise him. Wouldn’t that be better?”

The more Jiang Yunxi thought about it, the more sense it made. If she didn’t pass, there would be no need to disappoint Lingchen or cause him unnecessary worry.

She smiled and nodded. “Alright, let’s do that.”

“Then, sister, shall we go find some study materials?” Qiao Yuyan felt relieved after successfully convincing Jiang Yunxi. As long as Jiang Yunxi agreed, there was no need to worry about her changing her mind.

“No need. I’ll just contact my senior sister,” Jiang Yunxi said, picking up her phone.

The call connected quickly. After greeting, Jiang Yunxi explained her intention: “Senior sister, I want to take the doctoral exam next year...”

Before she could finish, Qiao Yuyan already heard the excited voice on the other end.

Jiang Yunxi tightened her grip on the phone, her eyes involuntarily reddening. She spoke for a long time before finally ending the call.

Putting down the phone, she stared at the table for a long moment, then choked out, “Yanyan, I think I’ve disappointed a lot of people.”

“How could that be, sister?” Qiao Yuyan held her cold hand. “No one blames you; everyone just wants the best for you. If you really feel guilty, just work hard and don’t let everyone’s hopes down.”

Seeing Jiang Yunxi still low in spirits, she changed the subject. “Were you able to find the materials?”

Jiang Yunxi nodded. “Senior sister told me to come to the affiliated hospital of Chen University. She and senior brother already have ready-made books.”

“That’s good,” Qiao Yuyan suggested. “Shall we go after lunch? The sooner, the better. The earlier you get the materials, the sooner you can prepare.”

“But...” Jiang Yunxi hesitated. “The driver hasn’t come back yet. How will we get there?”

Qiao Yuyan glanced toward the garage and pointed at the black Cayenne inside. “No need to wait for the driver. We can drive ourselves.”

Jiang Yunxi looked even more troubled. “Yanyan, I don’t know how to drive.”

“You haven’t gotten your driver’s license yet?” Qiao Yuyan was surprised. Five years ago, when she returned, Jiang Yunxi had already enrolled in driving school. With her abilities, it was impossible she hadn’t passed in five years.

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“I was going to learn,” Jiang Yunxi said with some regret, “but Lingchen told me driving was too dangerous. We have a driver at home, so there’s no need. I didn’t insist.”

Qiao Yuyan frowned. While having a driver meant her sister usually didn’t need to drive, knowing how to drive and needing to drive were two different things.

Suddenly, she recalled a scene from the original story.

Three years later, Jiang Yunxi and Huo Lingchen had the most intense quarrel since their marriage. It was during that fight that Jiang Yunxi first thought of escaping from Huo Lingchen.

When Huo Lingchen sensed her intention to divorce, he locked her away in the old family home in the mountains.

Jiang Yunxi tried everything to escape, but because she couldn’t drive—even though the car keys lay plainly on the table—she couldn’t take the car to flee.

In the end, she had to run on foot, but how could legs outrun a car? She was caught and dragged back shortly after.

Qiao Yuyan couldn’t help but speculate: Perhaps Huo Lingchen had long anticipated this and deliberately forbade her from learning to drive.

Regardless, Huo Lingchen’s domineering behavior—professing love but clipping his loved one’s wings and keeping her under his control—filled Qiao Yuyan with contempt.

Pulling her thoughts back, she smiled. “It’s alright, I’ll drive.”

“You can drive?” Jiang Yunxi asked in surprise.

“Of course,” Qiao Yuyan lifted her chin proudly. “Not just cars, I can fly planes too.”

Jiang Yunxi smiled and shook her head, thinking her childish boast wasn’t serious.

After lunch, Jiang Yunxi called the housekeeper, Aunt Wang. “Aunt Wang, give me the Cayenne keys.”

The housekeeper hesitated. “Madam, you want to use the car? But the driver hasn’t returned yet, so...”

Jiang Yunxi said, “It’s fine. Yanyan can drive, so no need to trouble the driver.”

Aunt Wang stood still, then took out her phone to seek Huo Lingchen’s approval.

Qiao Yuyan’s lips curled into a cold smile. What was this? The lady of the house couldn’t even decide to use her own car?

The call connected, and Aunt Wang told Huo Lingchen that Jiang Yunxi wanted the keys.

After hearing something from the other side, Aunt Wang looked evasive and embarrassed.

Jiang Yunxi didn’t notice, but Qiao Yuyan instantly understood. She strode forward, snatching the phone, and coquettishly pleaded, “Brother-in-law, can I borrow your car for a little while?”

Huo Lingchen’s voice hesitated, then replied impatiently, “Why do you need the car?”

“To take sister out,” Qiao Yuyan detected the undisguised dislike in his tone and smiled even brighter. “Brother-in-law, I’ll only use it for half a day.”

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Huo Lingchen was even more displeased hearing that Qiao Yuyan wanted to take Jiang Yunxi out and was about to refuse.

Qiao Yuyan seemed to have expected this. She sighed feignedly, “Brother-in-law, you’re the CEO of a big company. You wouldn’t be so stingy as to refuse a car, right? But if you really don’t want to lend it, just say so. I’m not unreasonable. Worst case, I’ll rent a car for us. Renting isn’t expensive—only a few hundred a day, and if you pick a cheaper one, just a few dozen.”

She pulled up the rental company’s price list on her phone and loudly read off the costs on speaker.

Huo Lingchen’s ready “No” was silenced by her words. If the news got out that his wife rented a car to go out, how would he save face?

“Just one car. What’s there to be stingy about? Take it,” Huo Lingchen said through clenched teeth, his voice cold as ice. Before Qiao Yuyan could respond, he hung up.

Qiao Yuyan returned the phone to Aunt Wang with a beaming smile, linking arms with Jiang Yunxi. “See? Brother-in-law is so generous; he wouldn’t refuse such a small request.”

“You always love to make a fuss,” Jiang Yunxi said, taking the keys from Aunt Wang as they walked toward the garage. “The car’s usually unused. Lingchen wouldn’t be stingy.”

Jiang Yunxi had always lived a sheltered life, moving steadily through school and university. Even when she took a break from school later, she mostly stayed home, with little social experience. She hadn’t noticed the subtle atmosphere just now.

The two sat side by side in the car. Qiao Yuyan expertly drove out of the garage.

Unconsciously, she caught a glimpse of admiration in Jiang Yunxi’s eyes through the rearview mirror.

The Cayenne slowly rolled along the community road. Qiao Yuyan casually asked, “Sister, do you still want to learn to drive?”

“Yes,” Jiang Yunxi’s eyes brightened. “You look so cool driving.”

“Then I’ll teach you!” Qiao Yuyan seized the moment.

Jiang Yunxi lowered her gaze, thinking for a moment before shaking her head. “Forget it. If Lingchen finds out, he’ll worry again.”

“It’s okay, sister,” Qiao Yuyan switched tactics. “Just learn for fun. You don’t have to drive on the road. We can find an empty lot where you can enjoy it safely.”

Knowing her sister well, it didn’t take long for Jiang Yunxi to nod in agreement.

Her eyes curved into crescent moons.

Having a driver’s license wasn’t the point; what mattered was that Jiang Yunxi learned to drive.

Qiao Yuyan feared that if the story went off the rails again, and Huo Lingchen locked Jiang Yunxi away, at least she would have some basic driving skills—not be forced to flee on foot with no escape, as in the original tale.