Сhаpter 2: Тhе Маtсhmaking Banquеt
Еvening.
Jiang Sоng’er knoсkеd viоlеntlу оn Jiang Li’s dооr, thеn рushed it oрen without waiting for а rеspоnsе.
Jiаng Li hаd just finishеd showеring аnd wаs apрlуing bodу lotion. Hеr fair skin wаs flawless, and аfter thе lotiоn, it lоoked еven more dеliсаtе.
A flickеr оf jеаlousy flаshed in Jiаng Song’er’s еyes. Нer skin, inheritеd from her fathеr, wаs nаturallу whеat-toned, аnd it had tаkеn yeаrs of cоsmetiс trеаtments tо achiеve a slightlу fаirеr complexion.
Hmph, еvеn if Jiang Li had stunningly beаutiful skin, it wаs useless. Hеr hеalth was poor, and in a couple of years, her hair would turn dry and brittle, and her skin would become rough and dull.
After comforting herself, Jiang Song’er curled her lips into a smile. “I have some good news for you.”
“Sister, don’t keep me in suspense. Tell me quickly. I have fifteen minutes before I go to sleep.”
Jiang Li was applying lotion to her legs. In this lifetime, she would take good care of her body—sleeping early, waking early, and eating well.
Jiang Song’er glanced at the clock on the wall. It was only nine o’clock, and she was already going to bed. Truly a sickly girl, with poor health and a short lifespan.
“Mom and Dad have invited Ye Yuchen over tomorrow, along with your future husband, Yuan Hezhi. Dress up nicely and make sure to catch Yuan Hezhi’s attention. Otherwise, how will a fake heiress like you, with no background, marry into the Yuan family?”
Jiang Li paused her hand, her fingertips pink and rounded—not a sign of good health, but from pressing too hard earlier…
“If Yuan Hezhi likes me, can I really marry into the Yuan family?” Jiang Li looked skeptical. “Even the children of prominent families can’t decide their own marriages. Does he have that much power?”
She only knew that the Yuan family valued Yuan Hezhi as their heir, but she wasn’t sure exactly how influential he was.
Jiang Song’er sneered. “You really are naive. When Yuan Hezhi was studying abroad, he was already managing the overseas branches of the Yuan Group. Now, in both the company and the family, he has the final say. Even his stepmother, who doesn’t get along with him, doesn’t dare to argue in front of him.”
Although the stepmother couldn’t control Yuan Hezhi, Jiang Song’er had suffered many hidden losses at her hands. A woman who married into the Yuan family as a stepmother was no pushover.
Of course, she wouldn’t warn Jiang Li that the Yuan family wasn’t an easy place to navigate. It would be best if Jiang Li died there.
Jiang Li pursed her lips, a soft dimple appearing on her cheek. “Thank you for telling me this, sister. Although I’ve known Ye Yuchen for many years, we’re not close, so I don’t have any reliable information to share with you.”
Jiang Song’er lifted her chin, feeling pleased. “It’s normal that you don’t understand Brother Ye. I’m the only one in the world who truly knows him. Once I marry him, I’ll be his most beloved woman.”
Watching Jiang Song’er leave, Jiang Li stood up and closed the door.
Tomorrow, she would meet Yuan Hezhi. She wondered what kind of woman he liked and what she should wear…
Early the next morning.
The Jiang household had been bustling since eight in the morning. Although the banquet was at noon, the two guests were important, so preparations had to be made early.
For example, what color flowers they preferred and what types of flowers they were allergic to.
The choice of tableware couldn’t be too plain or too flashy, or it would make the family seem lacking in refinement.
Then there was the wine to serve with the meal, the music to play, or whether to hire a pianist to perform…
Jiang Song’er and Jiang Li lived on the third floor. Jiang Song’er had four or five rooms for her clothes, bags, and jewelry, while Jiang Li only had one room.The door to Jiang Song’er’s bedroom was wide open, with people constantly coming and going. The Jiang family was flexing their financial muscle, hiring a top-tier styling team for Jiang Song’er, determined to dazzle Ye Yuchen’s eyes.
The young maid helping Jiang Li get ready gossiped, “The young lady is willingly marrying down to Ye Yuchen and making such a grand fuss about it. I really don’t know what she sees in him.”
Jiang Li said, “Stop talking. You still have to work here. One word from her and you could lose your job.”
Jiang Li stood in the hallway for a while, then walked into her own quiet bedroom. She sat at the dressing table, looking at herself in the mirror from side to side.
Her skin was fair, rosy, and glowing, so she could skip foundation and blush—just a touch of lipstick would do.
The young maid muttered, “Madam and Sir are so biased.”
Jiang Li replied, “They favor their own biological daughter, and that’s not wrong. By the way, is Jiang Song’er wearing pink today?”
The maid said, “Yes, pink. The young lady loves pink the most. I remember you used to like pink too, Miss, but ever since the young lady returned, you stopped wearing it…”
It wasn’t that she didn’t wear it, but Jiang Song’er liked pink and didn’t want Jiang Li wearing it. Madam Jiang, of course, favored her biological daughter and forbade Jiang Li from wearing pink, even making Jiang Li join them in making up for Jiang Song’er.
After marrying Ye Yuchen, Jiang Li bought many pink clothes, thinking she finally had the freedom to dress as she pleased. Little did she know that Ye Yuchen also disliked her wearing pink. He ignored her for half a month until she threw away all her pink clothes. Only then did he return home, smiling and having dinner with her as if nothing had happened.
Later, Jiang Li realized it wasn’t that Ye Yuchen disliked pink, but that his “white moonlight” loved pink. Clothes of that color were reserved only for her.
Love and indifference are truly obvious, but in her past life, she didn’t have the omniscient perspective.
Jiang Li walked into the walk-in closet and chose a little black dress.
In the full-length mirror, the young girl’s skin was snow-white, her long hair jet-black, her cheeks tinged with a delicate pink, and an ethereal aura surrounded her.
The young maid showered her with effusive praise.
Jiang Li smiled faintly. She also thought she looked good this way—at least better than her emaciated appearance in her past life.
Soon, it was noon. The sun blazed fiercely, and the flowers and plants in the courtyard were beginning to wilt.
Jiang Song’er, wearing a pink fishtail dress and a string of Australian white pearls around her neck, ran to Ye Yuchen’s car to greet him.
Madam Jiang’s lips twitched. Though she felt her daughter’s behavior was unbecoming, she ultimately said nothing.
Jiang Deming sat on the sofa reading the newspaper, calmly sipping tea, and did not go out to greet Ye Yuchen.
Although Ye Yuchen had built his success from scratch, if it weren’t for Jiang Deming stepping in to help him midway, saving him many detours, he wouldn’t have risen so quickly, owning two listed companies within a decade of starting his business.
To Ye Yuchen, Jiang Deming was half a father and half a mentor. Especially since Ye Yuchen’s father had died early, Jiang Deming held even greater weight in his heart.
Ye Yuchen walked indoors. The man was impeccably dressed in a suit, refined and elegant, greeting the Jiang couple with utmost politeness.
Madam Jiang smiled warmly, “Sit down, please. You’re not an outsider, no need to be so formal.”
She scrutinized Ye Yuchen carefully—young, accomplished, handsome, and someone she knew well. He was more outstanding than many heirs of wealthy families.
If it weren’t for Yuan Hezhi as a comparison, she would have been more than happy to marry Song’er to him.The hastily arranged matchmaking banquet today was intended to dissuade Song’er from marrying Ye Yuchen.
She knew her daughter well—competitive by nature, she would never tolerate marrying beneath Jiang Li.
As soon as Ye Yuchen took his seat, Jiang Song’er immediately sat beside him, causing the man to raise an eyebrow slightly.
He glanced around and asked, “Isn’t Jiang Li at home?”
Ye Yuchen’s words displeased Jiang Song’er, but then it occurred to her that he had previously dated Jiang Li, which explained why he cared so much about her.
With an adoring gaze, Jiang Song’er said, “Brother Ye, I’ll sit next to you during dinner tonight.”
The smile on Ye Yuchen’s face faded slightly. What was the Jiang family trying to imply?
Just as Ye Yuchen was about to ask where Jiang Li was so he could go find her, the butler hurried in and announced, “Yuan Da’s car has arrived!”
Jiang Deming stood up and walked out with Madam Jiang to greet him, a treatment completely different from Ye Yuchen’s.
At some point, Jiang Li had taken her place beside Madam Jiang, who whispered, “Go and greet Yuan Da. Learn from your sister. Unlike President Ye, who is more casual, Yuan Da comes from a noble background and values etiquette greatly.”
Under Ye Yuchen’s gloomy gaze, Jiang Li walked over. Just as she approached the Maybach, the car door suddenly swung open.
Caught off guard, Jiang Li locked eyes with Yuan Hezhi. His gaze remained sharp and profound, as if it could penetrate one’s soul, exuding an intense sense of aggression.
The black suit enveloped his tall and sturdy frame, radiating an innate nobility that kept others at a distance. He also wore a pair of form-fitting black gloves, starkly contrasting with his pale wrists—a blend of restraint and sensuality…
“Seen enough?” Yuan Hezhi lifted his gaze, his elegant and magnetic voice lingering like a small hook.
“Y-yes, I’ve seen enough.” Jiang Li was so embarrassed she wished she could vanish into the ground. As she pursed her lips, the little dimple on her cheek reappeared, deepening the intensity in Yuan Hezhi’s eyes.
This was an old fox with both power and charm. Not only could Jiang Song’er not handle him, but Jiang Li also doubted she could gain any advantage in his hands.
In truth, she could live perfectly well without marrying, and she silently prayed that Yuan Hezhi would not take a liking to her.