Zhang Qiang froze the moment he heard that Feng Jiaojiao was getting married that day and immediately took off running.
What was going on?
Everything had been fine when he left. He had only taken a week off, yet the woman he liked had already gotten married!
He had to see it with his own eyes.
The educated youths were also getting ready to head to the An family for the wedding feast.
“Ah, we’re really in for a treat today. We haven’t had meat in ages. Thanks to Educated Youth Feng, we’re finally going to have a proper feast!”
Xiao Zhifeng was already drooling at the thought of all the delicious food.
“Don’t remind me. What are we going to do if Qiangzi comes back?”
Zhao Gang and Li Hongyu had been worried about this all along.
Everyone knew Zhang Qiang liked Feng Jiaojiao. He had always treated her with exceptional care. Although the two had never officially dated, everyone knew Zhang Qiang had been pursuing her.
“What else can we do? If the sky wants to rain and a girl wants to get married, nobody can stop it. They’re getting married willingly. Besides… after what happened, what other choice did they have?”
Xiao Zhifeng knew Zhang Qiang would probably be heartbroken for a while, but there was nothing anyone could do.
Suddenly, a figure rushed past them.
“Wait! Was that Zhang Qiang?”
“Quick! Stop him!”
Zhao Gang was older and more experienced with people. He immediately realized that if Zhang Qiang rushed over like this, he could ruin Feng Jiaojiao’s reputation.
He took off after him, with Xiao Zhifeng and Li Hongyu following close behind.
The three of them chased Zhang Qiang down and finally managed to block his path.
“Let me go!”
Zhang Qiang wanted to find Feng Jiaojiao and demand an explanation.
Why had she gotten married so quickly?
Did she really have no feelings for him at all?
“You’ve lost your mind!”
Zhao Gang wrapped his arms tightly around Zhang Qiang.
“Brother, don’t stop me!”
“Are you trying to ruin her life?”
Zhao Gang grabbed Zhang Qiang by the collar and stared straight into his eyes.
“I…”
Of course Zhang Qiang didn’t want that.
“Come with me!”
Zhao Gang forcibly dragged him away.
Once they reached a secluded place, Zhao Gang finally released him.
“What exactly are you trying to do? If you rush over there like this, have you thought about what kind of situation you’re putting Feng Jiaojiao in?”
“Today is her wedding day! Do you really want her to hate you for the rest of her life?”
“I don’t.”
Zhang Qiang crouched down and buried his face in his hands.
His love had ended before it had even begun.
Zhao Gang crouched down beside him.
“Zhang Qiang, whether you like it or not, sometimes it’s just fate. A lot has happened while you were gone…”
Zhao Gang explained everything that had happened between Feng Jiaojiao and An Jianjun.
Zhang Qiang felt even more regretful.
He shouldn’t have gone home this time.
“Zhang Qiang, if you truly love Feng Jiaojiao, then don’t interfere with her life. An Jianjun is a good man. Honestly, within a ten-mile radius, he’s probably the person most suited to her.”
“Think about it carefully. Is she really better off with you, or is An Jianjun a better match for her?”
Zhao Gang was only telling him the truth.
Zhang Qiang was a decent man too, but he was impatient and prone to acting on impulse.
With Feng Jiaojiao’s personality, An Jianjun was the better match.
He was patient and tolerant, had a promising future as a soldier, and received a decent allowance. With An Jianjun around, nobody would dare bully Feng Jiaojiao easily.
With her beauty, an ordinary man might not even be capable of protecting her.
“Calm down and think about it. Besides, love isn’t something that can be one-sided. Since Feng Jiaojiao willingly married An Jianjun, that means she doesn’t have feelings for you.”
“She has never given you any special response either. You should know that better than anyone.”
Zhao Gang saw things clearly.
Feng Jiaojiao had always treated all of them equally. She had never shown Zhang Qiang any special affection.
If he went over there now, all he would accomplish was embarrassing both himself and Feng Jiaojiao.
Zhao Gang patted him on the shoulder and quietly stayed beside him until he had calmed down.
After a long while, Zhang Qiang finally stood up.
“Thank you, Brother Zhao. You’re a true friend.”
Zhang Qiang loved Feng Jiaojiao, but he didn’t want to hurt her.
Perhaps they truly weren’t meant to be.
“Are you still coming to the wedding feast with us?”
“Of course. Why wouldn’t I? I want to see whether she’s doing well.”
The two of them walked out from the corner.
“Qiangzi!”
Xiao Zhifeng and Li Hongyu had been standing outside to keep watch. They were worried that someone might overhear their conversation and spread rumors afterward.
“Thank you, guys. I won’t forget this.”
Zhang Qiang was grateful that they had stopped him.
He was impulsive, but he wasn’t stupid. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have been able to make several hundred yuan trading on the black market.
“We’re brothers who sleep on the same kang. Don’t be so formal.”
The group eventually went to the An family’s wedding feast.
Qin Siyu arrived in the courtyard and stared at the bright red paper decorations on the windows.
They were painfully glaring to her.
“You guys go find seats first. Save me a place. I’m going to see Jiaojiao.”
“I know. You two are such close sisters.”
Zhao Meili clearly thought Qin Siyu was being fake.
Doesn’t she get tired of wearing that mask all the time?
Wang Yan tugged at Zhao Meili.
Why does she always have to run her mouth?
“Siyu, go ahead. We’ll save you a seat.”
Qin Siyu headed toward the newlyweds’ room.
“Jiaojiao, can I come in?”
Inside, Feng Jiaojiao frowned slightly when she heard Qin Siyu’s voice.
She’s really everywhere.
“Come in.”
“Jiaojiao, I came to see you. You’ve been busy getting ready for the wedding these past few days, and we haven’t had a proper chance to talk.”
Qin Siyu glanced around the room, a trace of darkness flashing through her eyes.
“Who knew getting married would be this exhausting? There’s so much to do.”
Feng Jiaojiao looked at her.
“What’s wrong? Is there something you wanted to tell me?”
Qin Siyu hesitated.
“Well… I… I saw Zhang Qiang just now.”
“He… he’s back.”
She deliberately brought up Zhang Qiang while calculating when An Jianjun would likely come over.
“If he’s back, then he’s back. What does that have to do with me?”
Feng Jiaojiao immediately became alert.
So this is what she’s here for.
She’s trying to drive a wedge between me and An Jianjun.
“Jiaojiao, Zhang Qiang has liked you for so long. And… he’s always treated you so well. You really don’t have any feelings for him?”
Qin Siyu continued pressing.
Feng Jiaojiao practically rolled her eyes.
On my wedding day, she’s asking me this kind of question?
What a great ‘friend.’
“Tch. Lots of people like me. Does that mean I have to like every one of them?”
“Besides, I never asked them to treat me well. And I always bring them good food, don’t I?”
“To me, he’s just a fellow educated youth I happen to live with. There’s nothing more to it.”
Qin Siyu’s lips tightened when she saw that Feng Jiaojiao wasn’t taking the bait.
There’s plenty of time.
“Jiaojiao, it’s time for us to go out and toast the guests.”
An Jianjun had arrived.
With his sharp hearing, he had naturally heard everything the two women had been talking about.
“I have to go toast the guests now. Siyu, you should go eat before all the seats are taken.”
Feng Jiaojiao calmly looked in the mirror and fixed her hair.
“I’ll go find Wang Yan and the others. I’ll come back to see you when I have time.”
Qin Siyu could sense that Feng Jiaojiao was treating her differently now.
She couldn’t figure out what had changed.
An Jianjun entered the room just as Qin Siyu was leaving.
The two passed each other.
An Jianjun didn’t even spare Qin Siyu a glance.
He simply walked past her, took Feng Jiaojiao’s hand, and said,
“Let’s go.”
Qin Siyu turned around.
When she saw the two of them holding hands, her eyes turned icy.
She then walked away and returned to the banquet.
Feng Jiaojiao and An Jianjun stepped outside together to receive everyone’s blessings.
The groom was tall, handsome, and rugged, while the bride was beautiful and charming.
The pair looked absolutely perfect together.
They went from table to table, raising their glasses and toasting the guests.
Everyone happily offered them their congratulations.
Zhang Qiang also witnessed the scene.
Looking at Feng Jiaojiao, who seemed even more radiant than before, his heart ached.
Perhaps…
Jiaojiao truly deserved someone better.