Xie Jingsi merely gave him a cool glance. “What does that have to do with you? You couldn’t bear to let your own daughter suffer, so you used someone else’s daughter as a substitute bride. Now that the truth has come out, you’re trying to take my wife’s betrothal gifts. With such terrible character, are you trying to make me have a talk with your superiors?”
“She…”
The words died in Shen Yunfeng’s throat.
His foolish wife had already gone to the neighborhood committee and written a statement declaring that Jiang Xingyao had no relationship with the Shen family. She had already told him about it.
If he insisted that Jiang Xingyao was his biological daughter, not only would no one believe him, but people would accuse him of coveting the betrothal gifts.
Forget it. The factory director election was right around the corner. He absolutely could not let anything else complicate matters.
“It’s a misunderstanding, all of it is a misunderstanding. Jingsi, please don’t take it to heart. Since you’ve already registered your marriage with Jiang Xingyao, we would never do something as immoral as breaking up another couple. We wish you both a happy marriage and a lifetime of harmony.”
“Dad!”
Shen Jiaoli stamped her foot.
“Shut up!” Shen Yunfeng said in a low voice. “You were the one who refused to marry him in the first place. You can’t blame anyone else now. The most important thing right now is my factory director election. You just stick to the original plan and prepare to marry into the Lu family.”
Shen Jiaoli’s eyes filled with tears. “How am I supposed to marry him? Ever since Lu Pingzhou came back, I haven’t even seen him. Every time I ask him out, he makes excuses and says he’s busy.”
“Don’t worry. Your father will find a way. The Xie family’s money came from who-knows-where. You can’t let your emotions get the better of you and rush into marrying him. There might be some huge trap waiting for you. It’s safer to marry into the Lu family.”
“I understand, Dad.”
Xie Jingsi followed Jiang Xingyao into the Jiang family home and politely greeted everyone.
“Dad… Mom, and all three brothers.”
Although he wasn’t used to calling them “Dad” and “Mom,” he and Jiang Xingyao had already registered their marriage. From now on, her parents were his parents too.
Xu Xiangmei was extremely pleased with her son-in-law and hurriedly poured him a glass of water.
“Xiao Si, sit down. Come, have a seat!”
Xie Jingsi sat down and accepted the teacup with both hands before taking a sip.
“Thank you, Mom.”
“Good, good. You two chat here. I’ll go cook.”
Jiang Qinghuai followed Xu Xiangmei into the kitchen.
“Mom, I’ll help you.”
After a brief pause, Jiang Jiandong asked, “Well, Xiao Si, how old are you this year?”
Xie Jingsi answered seriously, “Twenty-seven.”
Jiang Jiandong muttered under his breath, “A little old. You’re the same age as my eldest son.”
Although his voice was very quiet, Xie Jingsi still heard him.
In an effort to restore his image somewhat, he continued, “Our Xie family came here from Hong Kong a few years ago. Our main businesses are jewelry and household and personal care products. We also have some involvement in foreign trade and shipping.
“Besides that, I own a department store. It doesn’t make a huge amount of money, but it’s more than enough to cover Xingyao’s and my daily expenses.”
He was actually hiding quite a bit about his business. He also owned bars and karaoke establishments, as well as properties and businesses overseas.
Jiang Jiandong said, “Our family doesn’t care that much about money. As long as the two of you can understand and support each other after getting married and work together to build a good home, that’s all that matters.”
Xie Jingsi nodded.
“Don’t worry, Dad. I’ll take good care of Xingyao, and we’ll have a good life together.”
“That’s good, then. Xingyao, there’s still some time before dinner. Take Xiao Si out to the square for a walk.”
In Jiang Jiandong’s eyes, the intimacy Jiang Xingyao and Xie Jingsi had shown earlier was obviously an act. Besides, the two of them had only met three times in total, and each meeting had lasted less than ten minutes. How well could they possibly know each other?
They needed to spend some time alone together and develop their relationship.
“Okay, Dad.”
As soon as they stepped outside, Jiang Xingyao spotted a white Mercedes parked by the roadside.
She smiled and asked Xie Jingsi, “Young Master, you just said you were giving this car to me. Did you mean it, or were you just trying to piss off the Shen family?”
Xie Jingsi slipped both hands into his trouser pockets.
“Of course I meant it. It’s just a car. I, Xie Jingsi, can buy my wife a plane in minutes if that’s what she wants.”
Jiang Xingyao smiled.
“Then teach me how to drive.”
Otherwise, how was she supposed to explain later that she had suddenly learned how to drive?
“Sure.”
The two of them got into the car. Jiang Xingyao placed her hands on the steering wheel and stared straight ahead, looking every bit like a nervous beginner who had never touched a car before.
Xie Jingsi leaned over and fastened her seat belt for her.
“Come on. Start the engine. Press down on the clutch… shift into first gear, then slowly release the clutch.”
Jiang Xingyao nodded obediently, looking utterly clueless.
“Oh.”
“The engine stalled. You need to release the clutch gently.”
Jiang Xingyao obediently nodded again.
“Got it.”
“Start the engine… shift into first gear, then slowly release the clutch…”
After Jiang Xingyao followed his instructions, she looked at Xie Jingsi innocently.
“The car still isn’t moving.”
Xie Jingsi drew in a slow breath.
“Ma’am, release the handbrake.”
“Oh.”
Ten minutes later.
Xie Jingsi said, “Jiang Xingyao, stop pressing the gas pedal. You’re a beginner, yet you’re driving at sixty miles per hour. Are you trying to murder your husband?”
“Oh, okay, okay…”
But instead of easing off, Jiang Xingyao pressed the accelerator even harder. The speed climbed visibly to eighty miles per hour.
Xie Jingsi immediately straightened up, his hand instinctively gripping the seat belt.
“Jiang Xingyao, lift your right foot! Stop pressing the gas! Stop! Pull over and stop the car!”
A mischievous glint flashed through Jiang Xingyao’s eyes. She deliberately decided to tease him.
She suddenly jerked the steering wheel and yanked up the handbrake.
The car spun into a full 360-degree drift.
Jiang Xingyao had expected Xie Jingsi to scream in terror.
Instead, once the car came to a stop, he simply stared at her with a strange look in his eyes.
“With driving skills that good, Fourth Young Madam, you still pretended in front of me that you didn’t know how to drive. Were you just messing with me?”