Сhapter 21: Yuаn Нezhi is Tеn Thousаnd Тimеs Веttеr Thаn Yе Yuсhеn
Jiang Li stoоd at a distancе, wаtching thе sсеnе unfоld with a саlm, indiffеrent gazе.
In hеr pаst life, when Ye Yuсhen wаs late for thе marriаge рrоposаl, the Jiang cоuрlе hаdn’t uttered а singlе wоrd оf comрlaint. Тhey сared mоre abоut Ye Yuchen; Jiаng Li wаs mеrelу а tool for рolitiсаl marriagе. Her fеelings didn’t mаttеr.
Yuаn Hеzhi’s hand on hеr shoulder tightеnеd slightlу. “You look unhappy.”
Leаning аgainst his firm, broad chеst, Jiаng Li’s beautiful, deliсаte face was filled with worry. “Originally, the one engaged to you was my sister. If she and Ye Yuchen can’t get married, what if she turns around and tries to take you from me? Husband, please keep your eyes only on me, okay? Don’t look at other women, or my tears will flood this entire house.”
Yeah, right.
Men love to hear sweet words. If you ever stop saying them, they’ll think you don’t love or care about them anymore.
Promises of eternal devotion and lifelong partnership only exist in literature. Whether Yuan Hezhi loved her or not, Jiang Li truly didn’t care. But she needed to ensure she always held a place in his heart so her life would remain comfortable.
Yuan Hezhi never distinguished people by gender but by their value—men and women were the same in his eyes.
Since he had married Jiang Li, of course, she was the only woman in his eyes.
“A person’s energy is limited. You already keep me busy enough. I have no interest in whether other women eat broccoli or not—it’s repetitive and meaningless.”
Jiang Li’s heart skipped a beat. How strange—Yuan Hezhi hadn’t even said anything sweet, so why was her heart racing?
Jiang Li, oh Jiang Li, you’re so pathetic! A single casual remark from this feudal patriarch, and you treat it like a love confession? You’re too desperate! Don’t let this happen again!
Jiang Song’er was still making a scene. This was her home, and with her doting parents by her side, she felt free to act recklessly.
Jiang Deming had intended to scold Jiang Song’er, but she had a point—Ye Yuchen’s wings had hardened.
Jiang Deming said, “Stop making a fuss. How dare you accuse Yuchen of having no manners? I think you’re the one with no manners!”
Jiang Song’er wanted to say more, but seeing her father’s murderous glare, she swallowed her words.
Wasn’t Brother Ye a devoted husband? Why was he late on the day of the marriage proposal?
In her past life, Jiang Song’er had married first, so she wasn’t home when Ye Yuchen came to propose.
She had little interaction with Ye Yuchen, looking down on him for his humble origins. She had even used Yuan Hezhi to belittle Ye Yuchen in front of Jiang Li.
That’s right—she didn’t understand Ye Yuchen at all. Had she made a mistake by choosing to switch marriages in this life?
Madam Jiang felt sorry for her daughter and wiped Jiang Song’er’s tears. “Let’s go back to the room to touch up your makeup.”
Jiang Song’er protested, “After all this commotion, why bother with makeup…”
Catching sight of Jiang Li out of the corner of her eye, she pulled her sister into the room. “My sister is good at makeup—let her touch it up for me!”
Yuan Hezhi watched Jiang Li’s retreating figure, his gaze turning colder.
Seeing this, Madam Jiang quickly tried to smooth things over. “The sisters are close. They haven’t seen each other in three days—they must have things to talk about privately.”
Inside the room.
Jiang Song’er crossed her arms and looked Jiang Li up and down. Seeing her fair, clean neck and collarbone, her mood suddenly improved.
Yuan Hezhi was impotent. Whoever married him would end up walking the same path she had in her past life.Suffering from Yuan Hezhi’s emotional neglect, pressured by the elders of the Yuan family, with every move watched by the Yuan family servants—despite being the eldest daughter-in-law of the Yuan family, she had not a shred of dignity. No amount of money could make up for the suffocating resentment in her heart.
Jiang Song’er remarked, “It seems you haven’t had it easy under Yuan Hezhi’s control either.”
Jiang Li remained silent, tacitly acknowledging it.
Even if they were half-sisters, let alone stepsisters, it was best if everyone’s lives were roughly the same. If she had been living well in the Yuan family, it would have inevitably provoked Jiang Song’er’s jealousy and retaliation.
Jiang Li was too soft, making Jiang Song’er feel that bullying her was no fun. “Aren’t you angry that Ye Yuchen was late for the marriage proposal?”
Jiang Li looked bewildered. “Why should I be angry?”
Jiang Song’er: “…” She had forgotten—Jiang Li hadn’t been reborn.
“I meant hypothetically. If Ye Yuchen were proposing to marry you today and he was late, would you be angry?”
Jiang Li thought seriously for a few seconds before shaking her head. “The marriage proposal is important, but human life is even more important. If Ye Yuchen is so responsible toward a stranger, he would be even better to his wife and family. If he only cared about the proposal and ignored a life, I’d think him cold and heartless.”
That’s what she had thought in her past life. Clearly, she had overestimated Ye Yuchen.
Jiang Song’er found some truth in Jiang Li’s words. Brother Ye was kind and responsible—she shouldn’t have been so harsh on him earlier.
“Brother Ye is wonderful; there’s no need for you to say that. Jiang Li, do you regret swapping marriages with me?”
Seeing Jiang Li fall silent, Jiang Song’er’s expression brightened, her mood growing even more cheerful.
“Regret is useless now. You should focus your efforts on Yuan Hezhi, get him to spend more money on you. Money is all he can give you anyway.”
No, that’s not true. The words of rebuttal rose to Jiang Li’s lips, but she swallowed them back.
Yuan Hezhi was ten thousand times better than Ye Yuchen. At the very least, he respected her—her calligraphy and paintings, accompanying her shopping for bags, and even thinking her walk-in closet was too small, promising her a larger one.
But there was no need to say any of this to Jiang Song’er.
Lunch was at the Jiang residence. Yuan Hezhi’s schedule was tight, so he left for the company without eating, only reminding Jiang Li to eat well and not be picky.
Jiang Li obediently agreed, but she’d still be picky—after all, he wouldn’t see it anyway~
Her appetite was quite good, but everyone else’s seemed rather poor.
Jiang Deming had discussed with Ye Yuchen that the marriage proposal would be rescheduled for tomorrow, insisting he be punctual to avoid embarrassment for both families.
Jiang Song’er suggested, “Just in case, maybe I should go home with Brother Ye today to make sure he’s on time.”
Ye Yuchen: “…”
Madam Jiang: “…”
Jiang Li: “…”
Jiang Deming held back his frustration, patiently teaching her, “Being too eager isn’t good for business; patience is key to achieving great things. You’re about to get married—you should know what to say and what not to say.”
Jiang Song’er brushed it off. “Then I’ll at least see Brother Ye off.”
Seeing her father’s troubled expression, Jiang Li repeated the comforting words she had said to Jiang Song’er earlier, emphasizing how Ye Yuchen’s actions today showed kindness.
Madam Jiang looked pleased. If only her own daughter had said such things, they wouldn’t have had such an unpleasant encounter with Ye Yuchen.
Jiang Deming felt something was off and texted his secretary to investigate Ye Yuchen’s whereabouts for the day.
Having witnessed Ye Yuchen’s growth, he understood him better than most.Those who climb up from the bottom use their own backbone and dignity as stepping stones. Ye Yuchen might have been kind in the past, but the current him has nothing to do with kindness.
Jiang Deming even suspected that Ye Yuchen hadn’t been in a car accident at all—he had simply grown confident enough to break free and no longer wanted to marry into the Jiang family.
Seeing that her goal had been achieved, Jiang Li bid her parents farewell and left in the Yuan family’s car.
She never found out who Ye Yuchen’s white moonlight was before her death, nor did she have the ability to investigate it herself. So, she decided to let her father help her uncover the truth.
After returning to the Yuan residence, Jiang Li slept until evening. At this point, she still had no idea what twisted demands Yuan Hezhi would make—like a goodnight kiss, for instance…