She called Jiang Shixu.
He answered quickly, his voice gentle. “Tangtang, do you like those three dresses?”
“Yes,” Ruan Chutang replied. “Which one do you think looks best?”
Jiang Shixu seemed to chuckle on the other end of the line, his tone affectionate. “Didn’t I say if you like them, just buy them all? I’ve already asked my assistant to reserve all three.”
“So fast? I only just sent them not long ago.”
Jiang Shixu: “I was afraid they might sell out if we waited too long. These are limited edition.”
“Mm, thank you for taking care of it, Shixu-ge.”
“Tangtang, you’re my fiancée now. We’re family—don’t talk about trouble or not.”
That was true, but she still hadn’t fully stepped into the role of fiancée. In Ruan Chutang’s heart, Jiang Shixu was still the neighbor’s older brother who patiently tutored her.
“By the way, Tangtang, it’s not convenient to take taxis when you go out in Haicheng. I bought you a car—the paperwork is just done. Give me an address, and I’ll have someone drive it over.”
Hearing this, Ruan Chutang felt deeply embarrassed.
Back when she ran away from home to avoid the arranged marriage with Jiang Shixu, Ruan Shaodong had frozen her cards. There was no way Jiang Shixu didn’t know about that.
In Haicheng, she truly had no car, no house, living the life of an ordinary working person.
Although her two best friends had offered to “sponsor” her earlier, Chu Tang had refused.
She had only accepted a sum from her best friends during the first two months as a transition, but once her job stabilized, she stopped taking money from them.
And she had repaid that initial amount bit by bit after receiving her salary.
Even though she had come to Haicheng specifically to escape the arranged marriage with him, Jiang Shixu not only didn’t blame her but was even buying her a car.
A wave of shame washed over Ruan Chutang, and her grip on the phone tightened.
“No need, taking taxis is quite convenient for me.”
Jiang Shixu’s voice carried a hint of barely noticeable hurt. “Tangtang, being so polite with me—is it because you still don’t want to go through with the arranged marriage?”
Chu Tang instinctively shook her head, only realizing moments later that they were on a phone call. Jiang Shixu couldn’t see her expression or gestures.
She explained softly, “No, Shixu-ge. Since I agreed to the marriage, I’m definitely willing in my heart. I just thought that since I’ll be returning to Jiangcheng in a few days, there’s no need to buy a car now.”
Jiang Shixu replied, “It’s fine. When you return to Jiangcheng, I’ll have someone drive the car back.”
“But…” Ruan Chutang still wanted to refuse.
“Aren’t you going to the neighboring city for a court hearing in a few days? Having a car will be more convenient.”
Ruan Chutang was surprised.
“How do you know I’m going to the neighboring city for a hearing in a few days?”
“I saw a post on your social media two months ago.”
Ruan Chutang was taken aback.
The hearing in a few days had indeed been scheduled two months ago—September 25th, at the intermediate court in the neighboring city.
Back then, she had casually posted on her social media, joking about a “business trip vacation.” After the hearing, she planned to go to the neighboring city for a bowl of the spicy rice noodles she had been craving and visit some famous landmarks.
Jiang Shixu’s voice carried a gentle smile. “Having a car will be much more convenient. After the hearing, you can even visit nearby scenic spots.”
At that moment, Jiang Shixu stood before the floor-to-ceiling window of his top-floor CEO office in the corporate tower, overlooking the city’s sea of lights, his eyes soft with tenderness.
God knows how much he wanted to buy her cars, houses, and send her money three years ago when he learned how difficult Tangtang’s life was in Haicheng.
But he lacked the proper standing—if he rashly sent her gifts, she would definitely refuse them.
Fortunately, times have changed. Now that she has agreed to marry him, he finally has the rightful identity to give her presents.
After hearing Jiang Shixu’s words, Ruan Chutang was momentarily stunned, feeling deeply moved.
It was like a small stone dropping into the calm lake of her heart, sending ripples spreading outward.
Her social media posts were only visible for three days, and sometimes she would forget what she had shared after a while. Yet Jiang Shixu remembered so clearly.
Gu Zechuan never paid attention to the things she posted.
Sometimes, even after she had clearly told Gu Zechuan in advance where she was going on a business trip, he would still call on the day to ask why she wasn’t in Haicheng.
She had mentioned many times before where she wanted to travel with Gu Zechuan, but he never took it to heart. Places she wanted to visit with him two years ago still remained unvisited.
So this is what it feels like to be cared for.
Ruan Chutang no longer refused and gave the address of Gu Zechuan’s villa.
Jiang Shixu said, “You should be there tomorrow morning, right? I’ll have someone drive the car over in the morning.”
“Yes, I will.”
Not long after hanging up, Gu Zechuan returned, together with Chen Wan.
When they entered, Ruan Chutang was watching TV in the living room on the first floor.
Ruan Chutang glanced at them out of the corner of her eye but said nothing.
Gu Zechuan didn’t speak either, but Chen Wan was the first to greet her: “Miss Ruan, we meet again.”
Ruan Chutang leaned lazily on the sofa, her eyes fixed on the legal program on TV, offering no response.
Chen Wan wasn’t bothered and walked over with a smile, sitting down on the sofa. “Miss Ruan usually likes watching these kinds of shows, huh?”
Gu Zechuan tossed out a “I’m going to take a shower” and headed upstairs, though it was unclear who he was addressing.
“You saw that video, didn’t you?” As soon as Gu Zechuan left, Chen Wan immediately dropped her smile and changed her expression. “Zechuan loves me.”
Ruan Chutang didn’t care who Gu Zechuan loved. She merely nodded without even turning her eyes. “Mm-hmm, got it.”
This dismissive attitude annoyed Chen Wan, who didn’t bother hiding the disdain in her eyes. “You’re quite good at pretending to be calm. Let’s see how long you can keep it up.”
Ruan Chutang said coldly, “Not as good as you.”
“Hmph.” Chen Wan snorted coldly, stood up, and walked upstairs. “Zechuan, I’ll shower with you.”
After saying this, she turned back and gave Ruan Chutang a provocative smile, but unfortunately, Ruan Chutang didn’t even look at her.
During dinner, Gu Zechuan and Chen Wan sat on one side, while Ruan Chutang sat alone on the other.
The housekeeper, Aunt Zhang, placed a plate of blanched choy sum on the table. “That’s all the dishes.”
Ruan Chutang frowned at her. “Aunt Zhang, why are all the dishes like this today?”
Baby bok choy, lettuce, water spinach, choy sum, broccoli, and cold cucumber salad.
Every single dish was vegetarian, all green and glaringly so—not a single meat dish in sight.
Gu Zechuan said calmly, “These are all dishes Chen Wan likes. She loves vegetables.”
“Loves vegetables?” Ruan Chutang replied with a half-smile. “Seems more like a hint that I’m being cheated on, doesn’t it?”
“Ruan Chutang! What nonsense are you spouting again?” Gu Zechuan’s face flushed with anger. “You can eat whatever you want, but don’t talk recklessly!”
Ruan Chutang stared at Gu Zechuan’s neck, where the hickey was particularly glaring.
Chen Wan had deliberately planted that “strawberry” there for her to see.
Ruan Chutang smiled brightly at the man across from her, who was flushed with anger. “Don’t you know in your heart whether I’m talking nonsense or not?”
Gu Zechuan said with a dark expression, “Eat it or not, it’s up to you. Also, Chen Wan has nowhere to stay, so she’ll be living here for the next few days. We might be eating vegetarian meals often from now on. If you can’t stand it, cook for yourself.”
There was clearly a housekeeper—it would only take a little extra effort to prepare two more dishes—but Gu Zechuan wouldn’t allow it. If she remembered correctly, Gu Zechuan wasn’t particularly fond of vegetarian food. This was clearly meant to embarrass her.
To make her feel uncomfortable, Gu Zechuan was going all out, even willing to eat vegetarian meals with Chen Wan every day. It was truly a case of hurting the enemy a thousand while losing eight hundred himself.
Ruan Chutang knew he was still angry about the watch incident, but she had no intention of explaining herself, nor did she want to lower her head and apologize.
She wasn’t the one in the wrong.
She put down her chopsticks and stood up to leave.
If she couldn’t eat here, so be it. Who didn’t know how to order takeout?
The next day, Jiang Shixu had someone drive the car over.