“Love letters? I wrote them to Cao Xinrou?”
He took the letters and skimmed through several pages at once, his expression darkening visibly by the second.
The air around them seemed to freeze, falling into a heavy, oppressive silence.
“These letters… I didn’t write them.”
For some reason, hearing this made Ning Xi’s chest suddenly relax.
She stayed silent, waiting for Jiang Chengbei to continue.
Unexpectedly, he suddenly shut the door and leaned in, his tall, upright body closing the distance between them.
He pressed her gently against the wall.
Every breath she took was thick with his masculine scent, and she could even feel the heat radiating off him.
Wait, why is he suddenly doing a “kabedon”?
Jiang Chengbei lowered his head, leaning over halfway, his eyes fixed on Ning Xi’s delicate face, his tall figure enveloping her under his chest.
“So, you’ve been ignoring me because of these absurd letters? Ning Xi, in your heart, am I a scoundrel cheating on two people at once?”
His voice was calm, steady but Ning Xi instinctively felt that he was angry.
She pressed herself closer to the wall, her almond-shaped eyes wide. “Y-you’re too close, I…”
He wouldn’t hit her, would he?
Jiang Chengbei didn’t answer. Instead, he lifted one hand and slid it between Ning Xi and the wall, placing it gently against her back.
“The wall’s cold. Don’t lean against it.”
So… he was worried she’d catch a chill.
Ning Xi exhaled in relief. His sudden concern made her heart race, her cheeks flushed. After a moment, she spoke softly.
“I didn’t think so badly of you… it’s just that…”
She didn’t know if it was jealousy, but her heart felt sour.
She was too embarrassed to say it outright, but Jiang Chengbei, suddenly realizing, had a hint of joy creep into his eyes.
The little girl cared about him!
He almost laughed out loud but forced the corner of his mouth down, lowering his tone again.
“You don’t trust me.”
Ning Xi thought: Guilty as charged.
She had no experience coaxing people, so even after saying “I trust you” several times, Jiang Chengbei remained gloomy. Finally, she grabbed his collar, stood on tiptoe, and kissed him.
Though it was just on the cheek, it was enough to send Jiang Chengbei floating.
After leaving the room, the warmth of that soft touch lingered on his face.
Jiang Yanyan had been waiting for them to argue. She looked left and right, saw no quarrel, and grew anxious. When her second brother finally emerged, she couldn’t resist checking.
“Second Brother, Ning Xi didn’t fight with you, right?”
Jiang Chengbei narrowed his eyes. “Do you really want to see us argue?”
“N-no.”
Jiang Yanyan froze, feeling the chill of his gaze. Her back went cold, and instinctively, she tried to run but was stopped just a few steps out.
“Did you give her the letters?”
Jiang Yanyan stiffly turned around, forcing a nod despite her fear.
“Second Brother, you can’t treat Xinrou like this. She’s already twenty-five because of you you can’t just ignore her.”
Jiang Chengbei’s temper flared.
“You’re a fool! You believe everything people say!”
Ning Xi had called someone a pig-brain, now her brother did the same. Jiang Yanyan felt wronged and, cross with herself, shouted loudly.
“What did I say wrong? You’re the one who betrayed Xinrou!”
Her shouting alarmed the whole family.
Tian Guilan rushed out.
“Yanyan, what nonsense are you talking about? Betraying Cao Xinrou? Explain yourself.”
In front of everyone, Jiang Yanyan didn’t hide anything and recounted the whole story.
“Xinrou has been waiting for Second Brother to marry her, but he turned out to be heartless!”
“Second Brother, now that you’ve been exposed, you must give Xinrou an explanation!”
Zhou Qinglian, eager to see some family drama, added fuel to the fire.
“Tsk tsk, Chengbei, this is your fault. How could you toy with a young girl’s heart? You’re all from the same village! If this spreads, everyone will ridicule our Jiang family.”
Her sarcastic tone made Tian Guilan’s blood boil.
She spat at Zhou Qinglian.
“Don’t talk nonsense! My son is nothing like that.”
“The evidence is right in front of you, and you still won’t admit it?”
Sister-in-laws clashing, a war was about to erupt.
At this moment, Ning Xi stepped forward, standing beside Jiang Chengbei with a firm tone.
“I believe these letters weren’t written by Chengbei. We won’t take the blame for this. Jiang Yanyan, call Cao Xinrou here. Let’s clear this up face-to-face.”
“Alright,” Jiang Yanyan said, regaining some confidence.
“And if these letters really were written by my second brother?”
“I’ll hand him over to Cao Xinrou!”
“Wait here, I’ll go now.”
With Ning Xi’s assurance, Jiang Yanyan quickly ran to fetch Cao Xinrou. She imagined her sister-in-law-to be’s triumphant smile, thinking that after this, Cao Xinrou would treat her even better.
Soon, Cao Xinrou arrived.
The moment she entered, she saw Ning Xi standing close to Jiang Chengbei. One tall, one petite; one firm, one gentle more perfect than any magazine photo.
Her eyes turned red with jealousy.
Suppressing her rage, she walked slowly forward and looked first at Tian Guilan.
“Aunt Tian, why did you call me?”
Tian Guilan took her hand warmly.
“Xinrou, be honest with me. Were these letters really from Chengbei? Don’t worry, if he wronged you, I’ll make sure you get justice.”
Although Cao Xinrou was older, she was diligent and practical, from a poor peasant family, handling farm work with skill a wife like that was perfect for a real household.
It seemed the universe had handed her a pillow since Ning Xi was displeased, Cao Xinrou appeared, and with prior correspondence with Second Brother, Ning Xi, as a later contender, had to step aside.
Order in love must respect first come, first served.
Ning Xi watched silently as Tian Guilan took charge.
No need to force anyone if the letters weren’t from Jiang Chengbei, she had no obligation to Cao Xinrou.
All the shouting and fussing was pointless.
Hearing Tian Guilan’s assurance, Cao Xinrou’s eyes glistened with emotion.
She nodded vigorously.
“Yes, these letters were indeed written by Chengbei.”
Jiang Yanyan immediately felt triumphant, arrogantly looking at Ning Xi, mouthing “Get out.”
Ning Xi didn’t give her a single glance. Calmly, she said:
“How can you prove the letters were written by Jiang Chengbei, and not by someone deliberately impersonating him to toy with your emotions?”
At these words, Cao Xinrou’s heart sank.
Considering Jiang Chengbei’s two-faced attitude letters vs. real life she had a bad premonition.
Could it be… these letters really weren’t written by Jiang Chengbei?
Someone had been corresponding with her under Jiang Chengbei’s name for two years who could it be?
No, there was no one else!
At this point, the only person who could have written the letters was Jiang Chengbei.
For her lifelong happiness, she had to take a risk, to fight for a bright future.
She clenched her hands tightly.
“I recognize Chengbei’s handwriting. These letters are from him.”
Hearing this, Tian Guilan looked directly at Jiang Chengbei.
“Chengbei, you must explain to Xinrou.”
“I can’t.”
Jiang Chengbei refused decisively, his voice almost icy.
Tian Guilan wanted to argue further, but the elderly Old Man Jiang, who had been silent until now, tapped his cane firmly. His aged face was stern anyone who knew him could tell he was angry.
“I’d rather trust outsiders than my own child. Eldest daughter-in-law, well done!”