Standing at the doorway, Shen Nanzhi felt a complicated surge of emotions.
The memories from her previous life churned in her mind, and all the details she had once ignored suddenly became painfully clear.
Before her marriage, Elder Jiang would always organize her birthdays every year. Although there was no cake, it was still decent enough.
But after she got married in her previous life…
She never had a birthday again.
At that moment, a tired voice suddenly came from behind her:
“Zhizhi, you’re back.”
Shen Nanzhi’s body trembled violently.
She knew that voice too well.
It was Jiang Feng—her husband in her past life.
The same man who, together with his mistress, had ruined her and left her to die in a deserted wilderness.
She slowly turned around, her eyes dark and deep like an abyss, locking onto his familiar yet unfamiliar face.
A wave of hatred surged up like a raging fire.
Her fists clenched tightly, nails digging deep into her palms, as if she wanted to carve that hatred into her very blood.
On the way back, she had imagined countless scenarios of meeting Jiang Feng again.
She thought she would rush at him like a madwoman and strangle him.
Or smash something into his head, or stab a knife straight into his heart.
Or curse him mercilessly, tear off his hypocritical mask, expose his relationship with Su Mian, and reclaim her school admission letter.
Yet she never expected that she would stand so calmly in front of him.
Jiang Feng, meeting her gaze, felt a surge of unease.
He had never seen Shen Nanzhi like this before.
Cold. Full of hatred. As if she wanted to tear him apart piece by piece.
He didn’t understand.
He had merely missed the wedding because of work—why did she hate him to this extent?
Moreover, she had already publicly changed grooms yesterday, choosing a disabled man, humiliating him in front of everyone.
In his mind, that should have evened things out.
Thinking of this, the guilt he had felt vanished completely.
He stepped closer, trying to explain yesterday’s incident—
But the moment he met her poisonous gaze, his words froze in his throat.
He moved closer again, trying to ease the tension.
But Shen Nanzhi immediately stepped back as if avoiding filth, then walked straight into the courtyard.
Seeing her resolute back, Jiang Feng’s unease deepened.
He knew that once she entered the house, it would be even harder to explain.
Without thinking, he blurted out:
“Zhizhi, do you really think Lu Xiangyang actually wants to marry you?”
“He’s just playing with you!”
“He’s disabled, impotent, mentally twisted—he’s using you to vent his frustrations! Yesterday’s marriage was just to embarrass you and make you a joke!”
He was certain that only by saying this could she stop and listen to him.
And indeed, Shen Nanzhi stopped.
She turned around, her eyes full of rage and hatred.
But Jiang Feng didn’t care.
A smug smile appeared on his face.
However, before it could fully form—
“Slap!”
A sharp slap landed across his face.
“Jiang Feng, you’re disgusting!”
Shen Nanzhi’s voice trembled with rage.
“You’re nothing! Lu Xiangyang is better than you a thousand times, ten thousand times!”
“You’re trash! Marrying you would be the biggest stain and joke of my life!”
…
She cursed him with every harsh word she could think of.
The surrounding servants rushed out after hearing the commotion. Seeing the red slap mark on Jiang Feng’s face, they became agitated and immediately took his side, criticizing Shen Nanzhi without restraint.
Jiang Feng, instead of stopping them, actually felt a trace of satisfaction.
But soon, something felt wrong.
Their words sounded like sympathy—but also ridicule.
Mocking him for being unable to control Shen Nanzhi.
Mocking him for losing to Lu Xiangyang.
He was being compared to a cripple.
Rage surged through him.
“Shen Nanzhi, don’t push your luck!”
His voice exploded.
Then, gritting his teeth, he said word by word:
“I’m giving you one last chance. Go get your marriage certificate with me now.”
“Dream on!”
Shen Nanzhi’s eyes burned with fury.
Jiang Feng could no longer hold back.
He grabbed her wrist and dragged her toward the gate.
“Let go! Let go!”
She struggled violently, but his grip only tightened.
Her wrist quickly turned red.
Seeing this, she shouted:
“Aunt Wang! Help me! If he drags me away, Lu Xiangyang will become a laughingstock!”
Hearing this, the crowd began whispering again.
Aunt Wang finally snapped.
She grabbed a broom and swung it hard at Jiang Feng.
Caught off guard, he was hit twice.
In rage, he grabbed the broom and snapped it in half.
Then, throwing it aside, he pointed at Shen Nanzhi:
“Shen Nanzhi, I’ll give you three minutes. Change your clothes, bring your documents, and come register the marriage with me.”