Cheng Jili strolled over leisurely, coming to Jiang Shi’s side, his long arm wrapping around her waist.
“Mrs. Cheng, you’re being so blatantly partial. How are you planning to make it up to me tonight?”
Jiang Shi, “…”
Sure enough, he had heard her.
Old Mrs. Shen pursed her lips. “You rascal, don’t you dare bully our girl Jiang.”
“Grandma Shen,” Cheng Jili raised an eyebrow, “you can’t abandon all sense of right and wrong just because she happens to be partial to your grandson.”
Grandma Shen let out two hearty laughs. “You little scoundrel, you haven’t changed one bit since you were a child!”
“He may be a scoundrel, but he dotes on his wife!” said the auntie who had spoken earlier. “That bag of Jiang Shi’s is no ordinary thing—Jili gave it to her, didn’t he?”
The women nearby chimed in agreement. “Of course he did. Jili has always been generous. That engagement ring on Miss Jiang’s hand made plenty of wives green with envy back then.”
Everyone turned their gaze to Jiang Shi’s hand.
It was a sapphire ring with a pure, flawless color, set in a frosted platinum band engraved with delicate vine patterns.
On ordinary days, she found it inconvenient to wear while working, so she kept it at home. It was only on occasions like today that she would take it out.
Thinking back on her marriage to Cheng Jili, Jiang Shi unconsciously rubbed the ring band.
Cheng Jili’s grandfather and her maternal grandfather had been close friends for years. The first time he met Jiang Shi, he had sighed with emotion, saying she looked exactly like her mother did as a child.
Grandpa Cheng doted on her greatly, instructing Cheng Jili to take good care of her, and even pushed for their marriage during Jiang Shi’s senior year of college.
At first, her grandfather had disagreed.
For one, the Cheng family was vast and influential, and he worried his granddaughter would be looked down upon after marrying in. For another, Yu Xianzhi was domineering, and he feared Jiang Shi would be bullied.
Jiang Shi didn’t want to go against her grandfather’s wishes, nor did she want to force Cheng Jili into a marriage he didn’t want.
Until one day, Cheng Jili took out a ring and asked her, “Do you want to marry me?”
Jiang Shi froze, her cheeks flushing. “You… are you doing this willingly?”
Cheng Jili tilted his head, smiling with a roguish yet candid air. “Who could force me?”
She thought, Cheng Jili must like her at least a little.
Two people who liked each other being together would surely be happy, right?
After that, her grandfather’s concerns were cast to the winds. Her heart and eyes were filled with nothing but Cheng Jili, and she got their marriage certificate the moment she graduated from university.
Looking back now, if she had listened to her grandfather, she wouldn’t have ended up in such an empty-shell marriage.
“Girl Jiang? Why are you spacing out?”
Old Mrs. Shen’s gentle call pulled her thoughts back.
“I’m fine, Grandma Shen.”
Cheng Jili’s gaze fell on her trembling lashes, and his arm around her waist tightened slightly.
Just then, a commotion arose at the entrance.
Yu Xianzhi walked in, followed by the Cheng family’s attendants, drawing the eyes of all the guests present.
The Cheng family’s standing in Jingbei was no less than the Shen family’s, so Old Mrs. Shen naturally stepped forward to welcome her.
Cheng Jili accompanied her at the side, while the other ladies also composed themselves and moved forward to greet her.
Jiang Shi took the opportunity to slip away.
Things had gotten too tense with Yu Xianzhi at the hospital yesterday. Meeting again now would only bring another round of awkwardness, and she simply didn’t have the energy to deal with it.
There was still some time before the birthday banquet officially began. On the side, a self-service buffet area had been set up, laid out with various snacks and drinks for guests to tide them over.
Not many people were there—it was the perfect place to hide and enjoy some peace.
Jiang Shi walked over quietly, picked up a pure white porcelain plate, and helped herself to two small cakes.
Just then, a thick Beijing accent came from behind her. “Yo, isn’t this Big Tongue? Long time no see!”
She didn’t need to turn around to know who it was.
Shen Mochuan’s younger brother, Shen Yaochen.
When she first came to Jingbei, her Mandarin wasn’t standard—she couldn’t distinguish N from L. Whenever she went to the Shen residence, Shen Yaochen would tease her, chasing after her and calling her “Big Tongue.” Because of this, Mochuan-ge had scolded his younger brother plenty of times.
Once, Cheng Jili happened to witness it.
Without a word, Cheng Jili walked up and slapped Shen Yaochen across the face.
The memory flashed through her mind in an instant. Jiang Shi couldn’t be bothered to argue. She held her plate and tried to step away.
But Shen Yaochen wouldn’t let it go. He circled around to block her path. “I heard Cheng Jili is hardly ever home, gives you the cold shoulder—must be driving you crazy with loneliness, huh?”
Jiang Shi looked up. “Who told you that? Cheng Xiaoxiao?”
“Does it matter? As long as it’s true.” Shen Yaochen’s gaze roamed over her face. “The way Cheng Jili treats you, he’s definitely got someone on the side. You shouldn’t just sit around either—why not consider me? I’d definitely be better than him.”
“…Are you out of your mind?”
He used to bully her all the time, and now he was saying things like this. Had his brain been caught in a door?
“What’s wrong with me?” Shen Yaochen looked unconvinced. “I’m at least the second young master of the Shen family. Am I not good enough for you?”
Jiang Shi was speechless. “I’m the one who’s not good enough for you, alright? Now get out of my way.”
But he stood firmly in front of her. “Drop the act. You only married Cheng Jili to get into a wealthy family, right? Whatever Cheng Jili can give you, I can give you too. Being with me is better than being a widow, isn’t it?”
Truth be told, he’d always thought Jiang Shi was pretty. But the prettier he found her, the more he wanted to bully her.
Now that he’d grown up and seen all those dazzling socialites in high society, he still felt that Jiang Shi’s cool, aloof type was more alluring.
Jiang Shi hadn’t wanted to cause a scene at Old Mrs. Shen’s birthday banquet, but she couldn’t take it anymore. She lifted her foot and stomped hard on Shen Yaochen’s instep.
She was wearing high heels—the thin stiletto drove down with considerable force.
“Hiss!” Shen Yaochen sucked in a sharp breath of pain, his expression darkening instantly.
His playful demeanor vanished completely. A hint of malice crept into his eyes as he stared at Jiang Shi.
He glanced around, spotted the chili sauce on the table, grabbed it, and squeezed it directly onto the plate in Jiang Shi’s hands.
He knew Jiang Shi preferred mild flavors and couldn’t eat spicy food at all. He raised his chin provocatively. “What’s wrong? Angry? Go ahead, hit me!”
“…Idiot.”
Jiang Shi clenched the plate in her hands.
A surge of impulse rose in her heart—she wanted to smash the plate into Shen Yaochen’s face.
However, when she caught sight of Cheng Jili walking toward them from the corner of her eye, the impulse mostly fizzled out.
Forget it.
If she really made a scene, Cheng Jili might not take her side.
She didn’t like conflict anyway. After her parents passed away, she endured what she could to avoid causing trouble for her grandfather.
Seeing the newcomer, Shen Yaochen wiped the smile off his face and greeted politely, “Jili-ge, good evening.”
He was afraid of Cheng Jili, but knowing Jiang Shi wasn’t favored, he didn’t think his earlier behavior was inappropriate—he even felt a bit smug.
Cheng Jili ignored him.
His gaze lazily swept over Jiang Shi’s plate, then shifted to the chili sauce bottle in Shen Yaochen’s hand.
His deep, dark eyes suddenly turned cold.