Сhарtеr 6: Shаring a Bed Аftеr Marriаge
Jiang Li: “I hаvе nо оbjесtions tо thе first аnd sеcond рoints. You’ve reсеived аn ехсеllent еlitе еducatiоn, hаve brоad exрeriеnce, and аre willing tо helр mе make dеcisions when nееdеd. I shоuld thank yоu.”
“Вut thе third рoint… Do wе havе to sharе a bed аfter marriаge?”
Sharing a bеd.
Jiаng Li’s wоrds werе sоft, spoken а bit slowlу, hеr voicе sweet уet lасking strеngth, evеn her breаth carriеd а frаgrant sweetness.
How could shе еven sound seductivе just bу talking?
Yuan Hеzhi, with оne hand in his pocket, responded with a light, dignified tone, his attitude resolute about sharing a bed.
Jiang Li: “What if I’m unwilling?”
She wanted to say she was willing, but her mind suddenly refused to cooperate.
Yuan Hezhi narrowed his eyes, his handsome face cold and fierce. He said nothing, looking utterly furious.
Jiang Li’s heart raced. With his authority and imposing presence, his anger was terrifying. She urged herself not to upset him.
So she stood on tiptoe and kissed the man’s chin, the little dimple on her cheek sweet as honey. “I’m willing. I was just joking earlier.”
Yuan Hezhi’s expression softened. He didn’t like others joking, but his wife wasn’t just anyone. Indulging her occasionally was fine.
“Let’s go back.”
“Oh.” Jiang Li scratched her arm and turned to leave.
Unexpectedly, Yuan Hezhi suddenly grabbed her arm. The black glove tightened around the girl’s fair, tender skin, a scene both alluring and domineering.
Jiang Li looked at him, puzzled.
Yuan Hezhi: “Your skin is too delicate. Don’t scratch so hard. Go back and spray some floral water.”
Jiang Li: “Even with floral water, it still itches. Scratching feels better.”
Yuan Hezhi gently rubbed the pink mosquito bite on her skin, then suddenly let go.
His hot-and-cold attitude left Jiang Li too intimidated to speak.
Yuan Hezhi: “Tomorrow, I’ll send someone with some effective ointment. Apply it, and it won’t itch anymore.”
With that, he left.
Jiang Li watched the rear of the black Ferrari and pouted. Her future master was truly hard to please.
The next day.
Upon learning that the Yuan family would send betrothal gifts the following day, Jiang Deming hurriedly called back his wife and daughter, who were far away in Paris.
After nearly ten hours on the plane, Madam Jiang looked somewhat weary and planned to sleep after lunch.
Unexpectedly, Madam Yuan paid a visit.
This Madam Yuan wasn’t Yuan Hezhi’s biological mother but his stepmother, Song Wenhui. In her forties, average-looking and slightly plump, her smile felt warm and approachable.
Madam Jiang stood at the villa entrance to welcome her, not daring to slight this Madam Yuan.
While Yuan Hezhi was studying abroad, Song Wenhui had climbed into his father Yuan Liangjian’s bed. The year after marrying Yuan Liangjian, she gave birth to a son. Who would dare underestimate her cunning and tactics?
Madam Jiang said warmly, “What brings you here?”
Madam Yuan smiled warmly. “Tomorrow, our family will come with betrothal gifts. I came to scout the way and meet Hezhi’s bride. That child is called Jiang Li, right?”
“I think I’ve seen her at a banquet before—a quiet, well-behaved girl. Unfortunately, I can’t quite remember her face.”
After they sat down in the small parlor, Jiang Li also entered and greeted them.
In her past life, when she went to the Yuan family to keep Jiang Song’er company, she often saw this Madam Yuan—kind, amiable, and seemingly compassionate.Jiang Song’er appeared respectful to Madam Yuan on the surface but rolled her eyes behind her back, revealing the strained relationship between mother-in-law and daughter-in-law.
Madam Jiang signaled Jiang Li to sit on the single sofa closest to Madam Yuan.
After Jiang Li took her seat, Madam Yuan looked her up and down and praised, “You’re truly beautiful. I heard you excel at writing delicate calligraphy in the ‘hairpin flower style’?”
Jiang Li replied, “Yes, my best friend is the daughter of Elder Liu. Thanks to her, I practiced calligraphy with Elder Liu since childhood.”
Elder Liu was skilled in both regular and cursive script. Two years after his passing, his calligraphy works rose in value to five or six million per piece. If Jiang Li debuted under the title of Elder Liu’s disciple, her own works would be worth at least several hundred thousand.
Madam Yuan’s eyes filled with admiration, seemingly very pleased with Jiang Li, and she said gently, “The elderly matriarch of our family, Hezhi’s grandmother, is a devout Buddhist. She enjoys reading and copying sutras in her spare time. You could spend more time accompanying her when you have the chance.”
Upon hearing this, Madam Jiang quickly added, “Since the matriarch enjoys copying sutras, and A Li writes such beautiful calligraphy, why not copy a few sutra books as a gift for the matriarch to show filial piety?”
Madam Yuan listened, smiling without a word, as if in agreement yet indifferent.
Jiang Li imitated Madam Yuan’s expression and smiled along.
Madam Yuan: ?
Jiang Li meant nothing by it; she was simply reminded of something.
The Yuan family had many male descendants, and among the younger generation, there were no girls. A few years ago, a baby girl was finally born, but she was frail, frequently hospitalized, and eventually received a critical condition notice from the hospital.
The matriarch dearly loved this baby girl. She practiced Buddhism, adhered to a vegetarian diet, and prayed daily for her granddaughter, but the child still passed away despite medical efforts.
The matriarch fell ill afterward, abandoned her Buddhist faith, even dismantled the small family shrine, and forbade anyone in the household from reciting sutras.
Considering the timing, the Yuan family should currently be dismantling the small shrine. If Jiang Li were to marry into the family and gift the matriarch sutra books, she would be violating a family taboo—essentially inviting disaster!
Jiang Song’er, despite her arrogance and daring to roll her eyes at Madam Yuan, would never dare disrespect the matriarch behind her back. This showed how formidable the Yuan family matriarch was—even dragons and tigers had to bow before her.
Madam Yuan’s scheme was truly cunning. If Jiang Li hadn’t been reborn, she would have surely suffered greatly.
Madam Yuan’s smile didn’t reach her eyes as she asked, “Miss Jiang, what are you smiling about?”
Jiang Li replied, “I’m just happy. Thank you for the suggestion, Madam. I’ll prepare this gift for the matriarch.”
Madam Yuan said, “Hezhi knew I was coming today and asked me to bring you something. I’ve never seen him care so much about any girl before, which shows how genuinely fond he is of you.”
She glanced subtly at Madam Jiang and Jiang Song’er before handing a beautifully wrapped bag to Jiang Li.
Across from them, Jiang Song’er frowned, unable to contain her agitation, and craned her neck.
After marrying Yuan Hezhi, Butler Wang gave her an unlimited black card to buy whatever she wanted, but in five years of marriage, Yuan Hezhi never gifted her a single thing.
Yuan Hezhi, born into nobility, was aloof and proud, with no one truly in his heart—not even his wife.
Why would he gift Jiang Li something in this lifetime?
Jiang Song’er dug her sharp manicured nails into the sofa.
Madam Jiang glanced at her, thinking it was too late for regrets now.
Jiang Li opened the bag, took out a small, plump white jar, and said happily, “It’s an anti-itch ointment that also prevents mosquito bites.”Jiang Song’er breathed a sigh of relief and pointed without any courtesy, “A bottle of anti-itch ointment—like tossing scraps to a beggar. Is that really worth your excitement?”
She had thought it contained jewelry worth millions. It seemed Yuan Hezhi didn’t hold Jiang Li in high regard either.
Madam Jiang patted her daughter’s hand and scolded angrily, “Watch your words! You have no manners at all!”
Then she made her daughter apologize to Madam Yuan.