Shen Nanzhi stood at the doorway, a complicated emotion rising in her heart.
Memories from her past life surged violently in her mind—those overlooked details now became painfully clear one by one.
Before marriage, every birthday was arranged by Grandpa Jiang. Although there was no cake, it was still decent enough.
But after her marriage in her previous life…
She never celebrated a single birthday again.
At that moment, a tired voice 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 previous life.
The same man who, together with his mistress, had killed her and dumped her body in the wilderness.
She slowly turned around, her eyes like two deep cold pools, fixed tightly on that familiar yet unfamiliar face.
A monstrous wave of hatred surged from her heart like a blazing fire, rushing straight to her head.
Her fists clenched tightly, nails digging deep into her palms, as if she wanted to engrave that hatred into every drop of her blood.
On her way back, Shen Nanzhi had imagined countless scenes of meeting Jiang Feng again.
She thought she would rush at him like a madwoman and strangle him.
She also imagined smashing things at him, or stabbing a knife straight into his heart.
She even imagined screaming at him, tearing off his hypocritical mask, exposing his relationship with Su Mian, and reclaiming her nursing school admission letter.
But she never imagined that she would stand so calmly in front of him.
Jiang Feng looked at Shen Nanzhi’s eyes, and a wave of panic rose in his heart.
He had never seen her like this before.
Cold. Hateful. As if she wanted to tear him apart piece by piece.
He didn’t understand.
He had only failed to return in time for the wedding—why did she hate him to this extent?
Moreover, yesterday she publicly changed grooms and chose a disabled man in a wheelchair, humiliating him in front of everyone.
They should be even.
Thinking this, the guilt he had just felt instantly vanished.
He looked at her, opened his mouth, wanting to explain yesterday’s events.
But when he met her venomous gaze, all words seemed frozen in his throat.
He stepped forward, trying to ease the tension between them.
But Shen Nanzhi reacted as if avoiding a plague, quickly stepping aside and walking straight into the courtyard.
Seeing her decisive back, Jiang Feng’s unease grew stronger, almost swallowing his reason.
He knew that once she entered the house, it would be even harder to explain.
Without thinking further, he blurted out, “Zhizhi, do you think Lu Xiangyang really wants to marry you?”
“He’s just playing with you!”
“He’s disabled, impotent, mentally twisted—he just wants to vent his frustrations. Saying he’d marry you yesterday was just to embarrass you and make you a joke!”
He knew her well—only by saying this would she stop and listen.
And indeed, Shen Nanzhi stopped.
She turned around, looking at Jiang Feng, her eyes filled with rage and hatred.
But Jiang Feng didn’t care.
A triumphant smile appeared on his face.
However, that smile froze before it could fully form.
“Slap!”
Shen Nanzhi struck him hard across the face.
The force was so strong that half of Jiang Feng’s face swelled instantly.
“Jiang Feng, you disgust me!”
Her voice trembled with hatred.
“You are nothing! Lu Xiangyang is a thousand times, ten thousand times better than you!”
“You’re trash! Marrying you was the stain and humiliation of my entire life!”
…
Shen Nanzhi unleashed every curse she knew, pouring all her hatred onto him.
Aunt Wang rushed out upon hearing the noise. Seeing the slap mark on Jiang Feng’s face, she trembled with anger.
She shot Shen Nanzhi a sharp look, grinding her teeth.
Great, you really can’t stop causing trouble.
Thinking of Lu Xiangyang’s instructions from last night—not to let Shen Nanzhi be bullied in the compound—she feared things would escalate.
She immediately grabbed Shen Nanzhi’s arm and pulled her toward the house, though she couldn’t stop complaining.
“Shen Nanzhi, do you have no sense? Arguing outside like this—do you think it’s something to be proud of just because you dumped your groom yesterday and married our young master instead?”
Shen Nanzhi said nothing, letting herself be pulled inside, her entire body cold and silent.
But before entering, she turned back and glared fiercely at Jiang Feng.
Jiang Feng covered his swollen face, eyes burning with rage.
He still couldn’t understand.
The girl who once followed behind him, softly calling him “Brother Jiang Feng” and saying she would only marry him…
How had she become someone else entirely?
Just because he was late, she married a disabled man?
He thought she was just acting out of anger.
And he knew—she hadn’t even registered her marriage with Lu Xiangyang yet.
That confirmed his assumption.
Earlier, he had rushed to stop her, hoping to explain everything and promise a grand wedding tomorrow.
But she didn’t even give him a chance, and instead looked at him with such deep hatred—as if they had a blood feud.
Could it be because he stole her nursing school admission letter?
At that thought, guilt flickered in his heart.
He sighed in frustration and followed the others inside.
The moment he stepped in, he felt a sharp gaze.
He looked up.
It was Shen Nanzhi.
He instantly brightened—she must be regretting it and wanting to apologize.
Excited, he walked toward her.
“Zhizhi, I know you’re angry. I didn’t mean what I said just now. You didn’t even let me explain.”
“Alright, go ahead.” Shen Nanzhi’s voice was cold.
Jiang Feng smiled instantly.
She’s forgiven me.
She still loves me!
“Zhizhi, I was negotiating a big deal yesterday—a 100,000-yuan contract. Once I sign it, I’ll give you a grand wedding!”
His voice was loud, not only for her but also for everyone in the compound.
In this era, even a 10,000-yuan deal was unimaginable.
A 100,000-yuan contract was beyond belief.
A servant from the Jiang family spoke up.
“Nanzhi, Young Master Jiang is doing all this for your future. He even lowered himself to apologize. Don’t be so unreasonable anymore.”
Everyone once again stood on the moral high ground, blaming Shen Nanzhi for being ungrateful.
Even Aunt Wang said sternly:
“Nanzhi, you’re just an orphan. You’re not worthy of my young master. Even if he can’t walk, you still don’t deserve him. While Jiang Feng still loves you, you should hurry and register your marriage with him.”
“In this compound, everyone comes from influential families. Only the Jiang family took you in because of your father’s kindness. Only Jiang Feng is willing to marry you.”
Shen Nanzhi understood that Aunt Wang disliked her, but these words weren’t entirely wrong.
This compound was full of powerful families. People like Lu Xiangyang, a factory director, were only here due to the Lu family’s influence in the capital.
Everyone knew Shen Nanzhi had only entered because of Grandpa Jiang’s favor.
“And yesterday she even held a wedding banquet with Lu Xiangyang. Thankfully, Jiang Feng is magnanimous enough to forgive her and still agrees to register tomorrow.”