Xu Xiangsi’s heart tightened: “What are the conditions?”
Long Peiye looked at her and said, word by word, “Marry me. Because of the special nature of my work, you must come with me to the island to accompany the military after the marriage.”
“Go to an island?” Xu Xiangsi was stunned, her beautiful almond-shaped eyes widening in surprise.
Joining the military? Going to an island?
This is not what she had envisioned—finding a place to rely on in Shanghai and settling down peacefully!
Her mind raced. islands… etc!
She suddenly remembered that in the original story, the place where her maternal grandfather’s family was sent to the countryside was a remote island in the south!
Although she doesn’t know if they are the same person, at least they live nearby, and if there is an opportunity in the future, she can try to take care of them!
Once the thought crossed her mind, Xu Xiangsi made up her mind almost immediately.
She raised her head, her eyes resolute: “Okay! I promise you! We’ll go to the island!”
Anyway, it’s better than going to the countryside or going to Hong Kong to die!
Long Peiye seemed surprised that she agreed so readily, a hint of astonishment flashing in his dark eyes.
Xu Xiangsi cleared her throat and asked again, “Then, regarding the compensation…”
She still wanted to make things clear to avoid future disputes.
Long Peiye waved his hand, a faint smile playing on his lips: “No need for payment.”
“Huh?” Xu Xiangsi was taken aback again.
What’s wrong with this man? Does he not want money? What’s he after?
Long Peiye’s lips curled up: “My family is pressuring me to get married, they’re forcing me to go on blind dates every day. A fake marriage with you will shut them up and give me some peace and quiet.”
He paused, then added, “It’s a win-win situation.”
I see!
This made her feel much more at ease.
“When should we register?” Xu Xiangsi pressed, afraid that things might change if she delayed.
Long Peiye said decisively, “Meet me at the Civil Affairs Bureau at nine o’clock tomorrow morning. Bring your household registration book and single status certificate.”
Xu Xiangsi nodded vigorously: “Okay! It’s a deal!”
With the matter settled, Xu Xiangsi felt a great weight lifted off her shoulders, as if a heavy stone had finally been lifted from her heart.
She stood up, a genuine smile appearing on her face for the first time in days: “Then it’s settled. I’ll head back now. See you the day after tomorrow!”
“See you the day after tomorrow.” Long Peiye nodded slightly.
Xu Xiangsi left the state-run restaurant with light steps, her back view exuding a sense of joy.
She had barely stepped out of the restaurant when a young man in a similarly worn military uniform suddenly darted out from another table in the corner and was in front of Long Peiye’s table in a few steps.
“Hey Lao Long! You’re something else!” The man plopped down in the seat Xu Xiangsi had just been sitting in, lowering his voice and his tone full of surprise.
This man was none other than Lao Li, the comrade-in-arms whom Long Peiye had arranged to meet.
Old Li winked and said, “I saw you chatting so enthusiastically with that lesbian, so I didn’t want to interrupt. Tsk tsk, that lesbian is really pretty!”
Long Peiye glanced at him, said nothing, picked up the enamel mug on the table and took a sip of water.
Old Li chuckled, then changed the subject and his expression became serious.
“But Lao Long, I have to remind you, I overheard that female comrade saying something like… ‘capitalist grandfather,’ ‘sent down to the countryside,’ her class background doesn’t seem very good!”
“You’re a soldier, with a bright future ahead of you! Marrying someone with a problematic family background, isn’t that just asking for trouble? Will the organization approve it?”
“If this affects you, it could be the end of your career! You’d better think this through!”
Long Peiye put down the enamel mug and remained silent for a moment.
Just when Lao Li thought he would reconsider, Long Peiye suddenly smiled.
“Old Li,” he began, his voice calm, “some things are always worth it.”
“Worth it?” Old Li’s eyes widened, looking at him with a “Are you crazy?” expression. “What could be worth gambling your future on? You’ve never been the kind of person who gets distracted by pretty women!”
In his memory, Long Peiye was calm, composed, and clear-headed, better than anyone else!
Long Peiye raised his hand and said, “Welcome to read this book at kelexs.com!” He then lightly punched Old Li on the shoulder.
“Alright, stop worrying about me. Hurry up and eat, then get out of here!” he said with a hint of mockery.
Old Li could only purse his lips helplessly after being interrupted like that.
“Alright, alright, I can’t be bothered with your mess! Don’t come crying to me if you get hurt later!”
Despite saying that, he still picked up his chopsticks and began to devour the food.
…
Meanwhile, as soon as Xu Xiangsi stepped into her home, she saw her father, Xu Rongchang, her stepmother, Lin Jiaoyan, and her stepdaughter, Xu Jingjing, gathered around several large camphor wood chests, engrossed in “counting” something.
Xu Xiangsi recognized those boxes at a glance; they were her mother’s dowry from back then!
She was furious, but a cold smile curved her lips.
“Oh, everyone’s here?” Xu Xiangsi said lazily, her voice not loud, but it successfully made the three of them stop in their tracks. “You all seem to know a lot about what my mother left behind!”
Xu Rongchang suddenly raised his head, his square face turning bright red, and he looked like he was about to explode.
Xu Rongchang shook off her hand and pointed at Xu Xiangsi’s nose, cursing.
“Xu Xiangsi! What kind of attitude is this! Your mother has been dead for so many years, so naturally everything she left behind is mine! It’s none of your business if I’m taking stock of my own things! You’re becoming more and more unruly and ignorant!”
Xu Xiangsi sneered, not even bothering to glance at him.
Seeing this, Lin Jiaoyan quickly stepped in to smooth things over, her voice gentle and sweet, as if it could be squeezed to release water.
“Xiangsi, your dad was just being anxious. Don’t take it to heart. We’re all family, why bother with so much?”
A family?
Xu Xiangsi sneered inwardly.
What a wonderful “family”!
Is this family so brazenly plotting to steal the dowry her mother left her? Is this family so eager to kick her out and seize everything she has, including the engagement?
In the original book, Xu Xiangsi accidentally fell into the sea and drowned on the ferry her family took to Hong Kong. Now that I think about it, the word “accidentally” is a huge exaggeration!
If she dies, wouldn’t Xu Jingjing, this “kind and innocent” good sister, be able to rightfully take her place and go to Hong Kong in style as the future young mistress of the Song family?
After all, the original book portrays Xu Jingjing as an untainted white lotus flower, and the words “truth, goodness, and beauty” seem tailor-made for her.
Pooh!
She transmigrated and received the original owner’s fragmented and frustrating memories, only to realize that there was no such thing as truth, goodness, and beauty! She was nothing but a scheming, manipulative, and scheming woman!
The original owner of the body, Xu Xiangsi, was portrayed by the author as spoiled, willful, and brainless, serving only to highlight the beauty of the female lead!
Take Xu Jingjing’s little leather shoes, for example. She bought them not long ago, but she’s been hinting that she wants them every few days.
The original owner saw that she liked it, so she gave it to her directly.
And what was the result?
Xu Jingjing turned around and started crying to her friends in the compound, saying that Xu Xiangsi had “gifted” her her worn-out shoes, and that she had a condescending attitude of giving alms.
Over time, the original owner’s reputation as “arrogant, domineering, and mean-spirited stepsister” spread!
In the original owner’s memory, there were countless instances of such distorting the truth and secretly sabotaging others!
Thinking about all this, Xu Xiang was so angry he wanted to grind his teeth!
Just then, Xu Jingjing, who had been keeping her head down and playing the role of a gentle little sister, also spoke softly.
“Sister, don’t be angry.”
She raised her head, revealing a pitiful little face, her voice soft and pleading.
“These things left behind by Aunt Yun naturally include a share for my sister. After all, my sister is Aunt Yun’s only bloodline. Besides, our whole family was able to go to Hong Kong this time thanks to my sister. We are all going to stay with my sister’s fiancé, Mr. Song Shengze.”
Xu Xiangsi crossed her arms, and upon hearing this, she merely raised an eyebrow, her mocking smile deepening.
She mimicked the spoiled young lady’s demeanor from the original owner’s memories, raising her chin slightly and looking down with disdain.
“Oh? So you know you’re going to live with my fiancé because of me? Then where did you get the nerve to yell at me and point fingers earlier?”