Jiang Xingyao was genuinely moved to tears.
“Mm. I understand, Dad.”
After dinner, Xu Xiangmei had already prepared hot water for her bath.
When Jiang Xingyao returned to her room, she found the bed and desk neat and spotless.
Her heart, which had wandered for two lifetimes, felt exceptionally grounded and peaceful at that moment.
It was like a lonely boat that had battled through wind and waves, endured countless dangers, and finally reached a warm harbor.
She slept soundly without dreaming.
The next morning, after breakfast, Jiang Xingyao went to the Civil Affairs Bureau.
About ten minutes later, Xie Jingsi stepped out of a Mercedes.
He wore a black suit and had a tall, lean figure.
His exquisite features and sharply defined face made him even more handsome than the most popular Hong Kong movie star.
His expression, however, was cold. He merely gave Jiang Xingyao a casual glance.
Although he felt that she seemed somewhat different from the last time they’d met, he didn’t pay much attention to it and walked straight inside.
The principle was simple: if the enemy didn’t make a move, she wouldn’t either.
Xie Jingsi didn’t speak, and neither did Jiang Xingyao.
After they obtained their marriage certificates, they walked out of the Civil Affairs Bureau.
Xie Jingsi took two thick stacks of cash from the car and handed them to Jiang Xingyao. Judging by the amount, there seemed to be around 20,000 yuan.
“Our marriage is entirely the result of our two grandfathers sacrificing us for the sake of their friendship.
“Other than money and the title of Fourth Young Madam of the Xie family, there’s nothing else I can give you. I hope you understand your position clearly.
“If you don’t know your place and start entertaining delusions, I have plenty of ways to make your life worse than death.”
If Jiang Xingyao had been an outsider watching this scene, she would probably have cursed him out in righteous indignation.
But she was the person involved, and that was a completely different matter.
In an era when the average monthly salary across all of Beijing was less than 200 yuan, her handsome husband had casually handed her 20,000 yuan.
What more could she possibly ask for?
This was a stroke of incredible luck—a fortune falling straight from the heavens!
Jiang Xingyao couldn’t have been more satisfied, but she didn’t dare let it show too obviously.
She accepted the money and obediently nodded.
“Don’t worry, Young Master. I understand. You and I are both victims of this arrangement. I’ll be a good daughter-in-law to the Xie family, and I absolutely won’t interfere in your affairs.”
Xie Jingsi was somewhat surprised.
He had thought she was nothing more than a foolish, fragile pretty face.
He hadn’t expected her to be so understanding.
“A’Si!”
Suddenly, a woman approached with swaying, graceful steps.
“Are you done here? I came to pick you up.”
She wore a water-green dress trimmed with gold, ten-centimeter high heels, and a pair of earrings the size of fists.
Her sensual lips were an unnaturally vivid red, as though she had just eaten a child.
She reached out to take Xie Jingsi’s arm, but he subtly stepped out of her reach.
She then turned and smiled at Jiang Xingyao.
“You’re the little girl A’Si just registered his marriage with? I’m A’Si’s girlfriend, He Min. What should I call you, little sister?”
Although she wore a smile, Jiang Xingyao could still see the disdain and smugness in her eyes.
Jiang Xingyao smiled as well.
“Big Sister, my name is Jiang Xingyao.”
“Mm. You’re a little poor and a little unsophisticated, but at least you’re obedient.
“Just thinking about a pretty little thing like you having to marry into the Xie family and sleep alone after marrying my A’Si makes my heart ache.
She took out another stack of cash and handed it to Jiang Xingyao.
“Here, take these 3,000 yuan. Consider it a wedding gift from your big sister. Go buy yourself some pretty clothes and some nutritional supplements to build up your health.
“A’Si is afraid I’ll suffer and can’t bear to have me give birth, so the important task of carrying on the Xie family line can only be entrusted to you.”
Every word carried the condescending generosity of a wife bestowing a favor upon a concubine.
She expected Jiang Xingyao to become furious from humiliation.
Instead, Jiang Xingyao happily accepted the money.
“Thank you, Big Sister.”
Xie Jingsi couldn’t stand watching anymore.
He lit a cigarette and slipped one hand into his trouser pocket. His voice wasn’t loud, but the contempt and chill in it were unmistakable.
“Jiang Xingyao, do you have no dignity at all when it comes to money?”
Jiang Xingyao blinked innocently.
“Young Master, why would you say that? Is it because I didn’t cry, threaten to kill myself, or slap Big Sister?
“But everything I’m doing is simply following your warning from earlier.
“My husband brought his girlfriend with him on the very day we registered our marriage. That’s already humiliating enough for me. If I made a scene in public on top of that, wouldn’t that be even more embarrassing? Wouldn’t I be throwing away the last shred of dignity I had?”
Xie Jingsi: “…”
This was the first time anyone had ever left him completely speechless with a retort.
“Oh, right, Young Master. I didn’t finish what I was saying earlier. As for that matter of carrying on the family line, I’m afraid I really can’t do it.”
Xie Jingsi raised an eyebrow.
“What? You’ve learned the art of playing hard to get at such a young age?”
Jiang Xingyao answered with complete seriousness.
“No, Husband. Your girlfriend has AIDS! No matter how greedy or lustful I am, even if I were madly in love with you, I wouldn’t dare gamble with my life.”
Xie Jingsi’s expression barely changed. He merely glanced at her as though she were a maggot.
“A’Si, don’t listen to her nonsense!”
The little bit of composure He Min had been desperately trying to maintain collapsed instantly.
“I… I’m still a virgin! I’ve never even been with a man. There’s no way I could have that kind of disease. She’s deliberately trying to slander me in front of you. A’Si, you can’t fall for her tricks!”
Jiang Xingyao puffed out her cheeks, looking somewhat aggrieved.
“Big Sister, I’m telling the truth. Could it be that you don’t even know yourself? In that case, you’d better go to the hospital and get yourself checked.”
“You wretched girl, shut up!”
He Min completely lost her composure. Her eyes reddened as she turned toward Xie Jingsi.
“A’Si, you’re just going to stand there and let her slander me?”
Xie Jingsi exhaled a ring of smoke, his tone light and indifferent.
“It’s a trivial matter. Your health is more important. Go to the hospital and get yourself checked.”