Lu Xiangyang froze for a moment.
In an instant, the question pulled him back to two days ago.
That day, he heard Shen Nanzhi say she was going to marry him.
He was overjoyed.
Every detail of that wedding had been prepared with perfection.
His love for Shen Nanzhi was passionate and sincere.
“Those betrothal gifts were originally meant to be her dowry,” Lu Xiangyang said slowly, his voice carrying a barely noticeable tremor.
At that time, he had already planned that if Shen Nanzhi really married Jiang Feng, those major gifts would be delivered to her through Old Master Jiang.
That was why everything for the wedding had been prepared, except for the traditional gold jewelry.
A phone suddenly rang.
Wang Dashan quickly answered it.
After a while, he hung up, looking troubled as he glanced at Lu Xiangyang, hesitating to speak.
Lu Xiangyang’s face darkened. “Stop hesitating. Speak.”
“Mr. Xu said… Jiang Feng took Comrade Shen to sign a contract at noon.”
Wang Dashan’s voice grew softer and softer, his head lowered.
Lu Xiangyang clenched his fist slowly, veins bulging on the back of his hand.
He tried hard to suppress his anger.
“What identity did Nanzhi go there as?”
“Jiang Feng introduced her… as his wife,” Wang Dashan stammered. “Comrade Shen didn’t object.”
Crack.
The fountain pen in Lu Xiangyang’s hand snapped in two.
A wave of anger filled the office instantly.
“Get out!”
Lu Xiangyang’s roar was deafening.
Wang Dashan was worried about him, but he also understood his temper.
He quietly left the office and closed the door.
But he didn’t leave. He stood guard outside.
Faintly, he could hear questions coming from inside: why, why…
An hour later, Lu Xiangyang left work early.
This was the first time since he started working at the food factory that he left early to go home.
As soon as he stepped into the family compound, he heard a voice that made his heart tighten.
Jiang Feng’s excited voice said, “Breeze, I’ve signed the contract. Let’s go, we’ll get the marriage certificate right now.”
Lu Xiangyang felt as if he had been struck by lightning, instantly losing the courage to enter. He said to the person behind him, “Dashan, back to the factory.”
Wang Dashan didn’t move and lowered his voice. “Don’t rush. Let’s hear what Comrade Shen says.”
He had called back in the afternoon to ask.
Wang Auntie had assured him that Shen Nanzhi would not marry Jiang Feng.
He also wanted to know whether Shen Nanzhi had been speaking in anger, or if she truly did not want to marry Jiang Feng.
In the courtyard.
Shen Nanzhi seemed not to hear anything. She parked her bicycle and walked straight toward Lu Xiangyang’s house without looking back.
Jiang Feng, seeing her distant figure, was consumed by anger.
He strode forward and grabbed her wrist.
“Breeze, did you even hear what I said? I’ve signed the contract. You must go get the certificate with me!”
Shen Nanzhi struggled free, hatred in her eyes. “Jiang Feng, let go of me! I said I won’t marry you!”
“Shen Nanzhi, don’t go back on your word. Don’t force me,” Jiang Feng’s eyes were red, his grip tightening as if he had lost control. “Today, whether you want it or not, you’re going.”
Every word seemed squeezed out through clenched teeth, as if long-suppressed rage was about to erupt.
Shen Nanzhi struggled, gritting her teeth. “Jiang Feng, I said I would rather die than marry you.”
Jiang Feng’s face turned dark. He tightened his grip on her wrist as if he wanted to crush it.
Shen Nanzhi winced in pain, struggling desperately, but it was useless.
Just as she was about to be dragged away, she suddenly broke free with all her strength and ran toward a nearby tree.
The crowd gasped!
They thought she was about to crash into the tree.
At the moment her head was about to hit it, she suddenly wrapped her arms tightly around the trunk, as if it were her only lifeline.
The onlookers were stunned, and the murmurs grew louder.
After learning that Jiang Feng had secured a major contract, no one dared to mock him anymore. Instead, they began criticizing Shen Nanzhi for being ungrateful.
“Mr. Jiang has already signed a contract, and she still refuses to marry him?”
“She’s not refusing—she’s stuck. She already held a wedding banquet with Factory Director Lu two days ago, and now she’s going to get a certificate with Mr. Jiang. That would ruin her reputation.”
“So she wants both men? Keeping them both hanging?”
Jiang Feng’s expression became extremely ugly upon hearing this.
“Breeze, I told you this morning—once I sign the contract, you marry me. There’s still time to go to the civil affairs bureau. Come with me now.”
He suddenly yanked her wrist again.
Shen Nanzhi’s eyes reddened with pain, but she still clung tightly to the tree, refusing to let go.
She knew she couldn’t hold on much longer.
Her only hope now was to convince the crowd to help her.
“Jiang Feng, I said I would rather die than marry you. You were the one who said the contract was a birthday gift for me.”
Her voice trembled with tears as she looked at the crowd, hoping for help.
“Everyone, don’t be misled. The person I want to marry is Lu Xiangyang!”
“You’re saying I’m misleading people?” Jiang Feng gritted his teeth. “Shen Nanzhi, don’t act innocent. I know exactly what you’re thinking.”
“I’m telling the truth. Believe it or not, let go of me!”
She struggled desperately, looking toward Wang Auntie.
Jiang Feng saw this and, determined not to let what happened in the morning repeat itself, raised his hand and struck toward her face.
At that moment, Wang Dashan rushed over pushing a wheelchair.
“Stop!” Lu Xiangyang shouted angrily, his face filled with urgency and rage.
Wang Dashan kicked out like lightning.
Jiang Feng, though trained, was no match for Wang Dashan’s speed. He was kicked and sent flying.
He nearly dragged Shen Nanzhi down with him.
Lu Xiangyang quickly threw his briefcase at Jiang Feng’s arm, forcing him to release her.
Shen Nanzhi staggered and lost her balance.
Just as she was about to fall to the ground, she closed her eyes, waiting for the pain.
Lu Xiangyang wheeled forward and wrapped a strong arm around her waist.
She fell into his firm chest, smelling a faint mint scent.
Her forehead brushed against his lips.
A warm sensation spread, and her heart trembled.
“Are you alright?”
Lu Xiangyang’s voice was deep and magnetic, a hint of warmth flashing in his eyes.
Shen Nanzhi shook her head, her mind swirling.
Even after he let go, she didn’t notice.
She was still immersed in that warmth, unable to pull herself out.
“You’re really shameless!”
Suddenly, a sharp voice broke the brief silence.
“In public like this, hugging and even kissing—this is disgraceful!”
Shen Nanzhi snapped back to reality and realized she was still sitting on Lu Xiangyang’s lap. Her cheeks flushed as she quickly stood up.
Murmurs filled the air again.
“Shen Nanzhi really has no shame. She’s still sitting on his lap even after he let go.”
“Disgusting, she’s disgraceful! She’s embarrassing all women!”
Several women looked at her with disdain and cursed her.
Lu Xiangyang’s face darkened. His sharp gaze swept over the crowd like a blade, silencing them instantly.
The scene fell quiet.
“I’ve already held a wedding banquet with Nanzhi. It’s not your place to interfere or talk nonsense,” Lu Xiangyang said coldly.
His icy gaze then fell on Jiang Feng, who was lying on the ground. His tone carried a threat.
“Jiang Feng, if you ever use that contract again to force Nanzhi into marriage, I will immediately make you lose this client.”