Jiang Siyu instinctively pulled her hand back, but seeing the gazes of everyone around her, she could only steel herself and step forward to choose.
If she didn’t buy, she would lose face badly today.
Jiang Siyu’s attention was entirely on Jiang Shutang, and she didn’t even notice Gu Zhengnan standing nearby. But Ye Yiyi, who was off to the side, couldn’t hold her composure any longer.
From a distance, she had thought the man looked familiar, and now that she was closer, she confirmed it was indeed Gu Zhengnan.
Gu Zhengnan standing together with Jiang Shutang, appearing in a place like this—what did that mean? It meant the two had an unusual relationship.
After being slapped in the face that day, she had gone home and complained to her family for a long time, even asking them to contact the Gu family immediately to arrange an early matchmaking meeting.
But the Gu family had said they were putting off the matchmaking for now. Because of that, she had cried all night.
Still, she figured that since Gu Zhengnan was now working back in the country and they were at the same unit, there would be plenty of opportunities to interact. At worst, she could take things slowly.
She, Ye Yiyi, had family standing and looks to boot. There was no way Gu Zhengnan would choose that ruined woman over her.
Little did she expect that just as she had that thought, she would run into the very person right here.
Jiang Siyu stood there looking at the watches, a thin layer of sweat forming on her forehead.
Buying a watch wasn’t just about having money—you also needed Waihuiquan. But she didn’t have any on her. Although her family was much better off than Jiang Shutang’s, this kind of thing wasn’t so easy to come by.
And of course, Jiang Shutang was right there fanning the flames. “Cousin, go on and buy it already. What’s the matter? Don’t tell me you can’t afford it?”
Jiang Shutang was already extremely beautiful, and when she deliberately spoke in that sweet, coquettish tone, it was simply irresistible.
The male customers nearby heard the commotion and couldn’t help but turn their gazes over. Upon seeing such a beautiful female comrade, their eyes went wide.
Gu Zhengnan noticed and couldn’t help but furrow his brow slightly.
Did this woman have any idea how alluring she was?
Jiang Siyu had lost all face and was now furious with embarrassment.
“I can’t afford it? Can you? Do you even have Waihuiquan? Why are you running your mouth here? I really don’t know where you get your sense of superiority. At your age, you don’t even have a man, dragging along three brats on your own. Instead of wasting time mocking others, you’d be better off working more overtime to earn some money.”
After saying this, Jiang Siyu felt smug again.
She had been jealous of Jiang Shutang since childhood. After all, Jiang Shutang was so beautiful—all the boys in the compound had liked her back then.
For that reason, she had often led the bullying against her younger cousin when they were kids.
People in the compound also said that with Jiang Shutang being so pretty, she would definitely find a rich man in the future.
But who would have thought that before Jiang Shutang could even be matched for marriage after coming of age, she had somehow lost her chastity and given birth to three bastards.
Jiang Siyu naturally took pleasure in her misfortune. Heaven had given Jiang Shutang such good conditions, yet she simply didn’t have the sense to make something of herself.
Jiang Shutang didn’t bother trading barbs with her. She pointed a slender finger at the counter.
“I want this one. Please wrap it up for me.”
The moment Jiang Shutang finished speaking, Jiang Siyu burst out laughing.
“Stop pretending, will you? Can you even afford it? Is it fun wasting the sales clerk’s time?”
The sales clerk didn’t know who to listen to for a moment, but thinking that since Jiang Shutang had said so, she probably did intend to buy, she began packaging the watch.
Just then, Gu Zhengnan pulled out his wallet from his pocket and took out Waihuiquan, handing them to the sales clerk.
Jiang Shutang looked triumphant, her charming face carrying a hint of satisfaction.
“Sorry, I don’t have Waihuiquan. But my man does.”
After saying this, Jiang Shutang gritted her teeth, did some mental preparation, and then brazenly hooked her arm through Gu Zhengnan’s.
“Oh, and cousin, you probably don’t know yet—I’m getting married next Monday. Make sure to come. Let me introduce you—this is my fiancé. He works at Yanjiuyuan.”
Jiang Siyu was dumbfounded. She looked at Jiang Shutang, then at Gu Zhengnan, her face full of disbelief.
Although the two matched well in appearance, Jiang Shutang was just damaged goods. Her father had said that even a widower wouldn’t want someone like Jiang Shutang. What good was being pretty? With three sons in tow, who had the money to raise her kids for her?
But now Jiang Shutang was getting married, and to such an outstanding male comrade at that—how was that possible?
Jiang Shutang must have hidden all her sordid affairs and tricked this man into marrying her.
Otherwise, what man would be willing to marry a woman like that?
Jiang Siyu’s expression turned ugly, and Ye Yiyi beside her was even more unsteady on her feet.
She had never imagined the two would progress so quickly—already at the stage of discussing marriage.
What was Gu Zhengnan thinking? Did he only look at looks when choosing a wife?
For the sake of Jiang Shutang’s face, he was willing to raise another man’s children?
“Comrade, could we speak privately for a moment? I have something very important to tell you—you’ve been deceived!”
Jiang Siyu was anxious. If Jiang Shutang lived well, that would be worse than death for her.
Her life was already completely ruined, and she could never turn things around.
If she hadn’t run into this, so be it. But since she had, she naturally had to expose Jiang Shutang’s true colors.
Gu Zhengnan was a straightforward man who didn’t understand all the subtle scheming, but Jiang Siyu’s malice was practically dripping off her.
He didn’t particularly like Jiang Shutang, but he disliked vicious women like this even more.
“No. If there’s nothing else, move aside. I need to take my fiancée to pick out jewelry.”
Gu Zhengnan instinctively shielded Jiang Shutang and said coldly.
At that moment, Jiang Shutang thought this man was absolutely dashing!
No matter what, today he had given her an incredible moment of vindication—enough to drive her cousin up the wall.
Jiang Siyu’s face instantly turned uglier than if she’d eaten shit. Unwilling to let it go, she simply shouted out in front of everyone.
“She’s nothing but a pair of worn-out shoes! She got pregnant before marriage and popped out three sons. If you marry her, you’ll regret it!”
Ye Yiyi beside her quickly nodded in agreement. “Brother Gu, marriage is no small matter. You must think carefully. I don’t know what kind of love potion this woman has fed you, but if you marry her, you’ll definitely regret it!”
Watching the two of them hopping around in desperation, Gu Zhengnan merely lifted his thin lips.
“What does that have to do with you?”
Gu Zhengnan wasn’t good with words, but what he said was incredibly satisfying.
With that, he ignored them and directly led Jiang Shutang to the jewelry section.
Jiang Shutang hadn’t felt this good in years. For the past six years, she’d been living in humiliation, but today she finally held her head high.
The more she thought about it, the more delighted she felt. She even deliberately turned around and made a funny face at the two of them.
Jiang Siyu was about to explode. “Yiyi, this man is the one you like, isn’t he? How did he end up mixed up with my cousin?”
Ye Yiyi looked as miserable as if she’d lost a parent. “I only just found out she’s your cousin. That vixen of a cousin of yours is utterly shameless. Does she even deserve to marry Brother Gu?”
Jiang Siyu thought about Gu Zhengnan’s status and felt like the sky was falling.
If Jiang Shutang could marry a man like that, wouldn’t she be lording it over her in everything from now on?
Jiang Shutang couldn’t be bothered with what they were thinking. She picked out two more pieces of jewelry before finally preparing to leave.
And just like that, Jiang Siyu and the others watched helplessly as Jiang Shutang got into Gu Zhengnan’s car.