After that little incident, Jiang Yiyan was in no mood to continue reading her novel.
She suddenly realized that Wen Mochuan also had Shu Yao on WeChat. No matter how the original Jiang Yiyan and Wen Mochuan’s relationship had been, they were married, so they were certainly friends on WeChat.
The three of them were all connected as friends, so when she liked Shu Yao’s post, Wen Mochuan would definitely see it too.
If Wu Jingmeng could storm over so aggressively just because of such a small thing, assuming it was a prelude to her bullying Shu Yao, then what about Wen Mochuan?
Was he thinking the same way in his heart?
Originally, she could have ignored it, but considering that they would continue living under the same roof for at least a while, Jiang Yiyan didn’t want any unnecessary friction. So she decided she would talk to Wen Mochuan about it.
It wasn’t about explaining herself or apologizing—she just wanted to tell him. If he really misunderstood, she could clarify; if he didn’t, all the better.
With that in mind, Jiang Yiyan got up, intending to head to his study on the third floor.
But as she reached the stairwell, she heard movement upstairs. Looking up, she saw a casually dressed Wen Mochuan coming down the stairs.
Jiang Yiyan remained calm, smiled at him, and said directly, “Perfect timing—you came down just when I needed to talk to you.”
Hearing his wife say she had something to tell him, Wen Mochuan’s brows furrowed instinctively.
Yet his temper was decent, and he continued down a few steps. When they were separated by only a few steps, he stopped and asked, “What is it?”
Jiang Yiyan replied, “Are you just going to stand there and ask?” Then she turned and sat back down on the sofa.
Wen Mochuan looked at her suspiciously, said nothing, and silently followed her over.
He sat on the sofa too, keeping the same distance as before.
“What is it?” he asked again.
Jiang Yiyan didn’t mind the distance between them; in fact, she thought it was quite nice.
“Wu Jingmeng came to me just now,” she said.
Wen Mochuan raised an eyebrow, waiting for her to continue.
“So?” he asked.
Facing his cool and distant demeanor, Jiang Yiyan maintained a perfect, calm smile: “She came to question me about liking Shu Yao’s post and even warned me to keep my distance and not bully her! Oh, and Shu Yao is coming back soon—you know that, right?”
It seemed to be the first time she had calmly mentioned Shu Yao in front of him.
“Mm, I know,” Wen Mochuan said. He saw no need to lie or hide, so he admitted it directly. “I saw her post.”
Jiang Yiyan continued, “So you saw my like too, right?”
“Mm,” Wen Mochuan responded calmly again.
“Then do you feel the same as Wu Jingmeng? Is my casual like some sort of provocation or insult to Shu Yao?” she asked, still calm and rational.
Unlike before, when mentioning Shu Yao would inevitably spark a big argument.
Now, she was unusually composed. Such abnormal composure made one suspect she might be plotting something bigger.
Wen Mochuan watched her quietly, trying to read any hint on her face, but found nothing.
He couldn’t guess what she was thinking.
In truth, he was thinking the same. Based on his knowledge of his wife, he knew she wouldn’t feel any goodwill toward Shu Yao.
But now, looking into her eyes and seeing her patiently waiting for his reply, he couldn’t bring himself to say the cold, absolute answer that had formed in his mind.
All he could say was: “I hope you don’t have that kind of thought.”
Yet even that response sounded harsher than the one he had meant to give.
Jiang Yiyan didn’t care.
She smiled and reassured him, “Don’t worry. As long as Shu Yao doesn’t provoke me, I won’t provoke her.”
Wen Mochuan frowned, seemingly dissatisfied with her answer.
How could Shu Yao come to provoke her?
Her words were essentially turning the tables, the guilty party accusing first.
Still, he said nothing further, only nodding calmly at his wife.
“Hope you keep your word,” he said, his attitude still cold and distant.
There was no clear anger or resentment toward her, but he was certainly not close.
It was as if… she were a stranger to him.
Jiang Yiyan knew he probably didn’t believe her, but that didn’t matter. In time, he would.
Over the next two days, Jiang Yiyan and Wen Mochuan kept busy with their own affairs, avoiding each other.
Wen Mochuan slept in the study, while Jiang Yiyan comfortably claimed the entire bedroom for herself.
Wen Mochuan dealt with company matters, while Jiang Yiyan, gradually accepting the situation, began considering her future in this world.
The original Jiang Yiyan had no job; before marriage, her father provided for her; after marriage, Wen Mochuan did. She had nothing to worry about. If there was one thing that had always obsessed her, it was how to hold onto her husband’s heart.
Otherwise, her days were spent shopping and spending money to pass time.
Life had been aimless, and only when dealing with Shu Yao did she muster any real effort.
She might never have considered what she would do if her husband abandoned her and her natal family was unreliable.
Jiang Yiyan wasn’t the original Jiang Yiyan. Though she dreamed of a life with endless wealth, she had never expected to rely on others to achieve it.
Even in her original world, with loving parents, she had imagined a family of three working together toward a modest, happy life.
Here, with God’s-eye knowledge, she knew both the Jiang family and Wen Mochuan were unreliable.
Everything had to rely on herself.
She knew she was the most reliable person here, but she wouldn’t foolishly give up what belonged to the original Jiang Yiyan. Even for the sake of her daughter Meimei, she would seize opportunities.
For example, maintaining a relationship with her natal family.
According to the novel Beloved, the original Jiang Yiyan’s worsening relationship with her father Jiang Cheng stemmed entirely from Shu Yao and her mother.
Her father resented the divorce with her mother, and when her mother passed away, Shu Yao’s mother received what should have been hers.
After her mother’s death, her father gave Shu Yao’s mother all the love originally meant for her mother, as if her mother had been a joke.
She couldn’t forgive that.
She loved her mother and could never accept Shu Yao and her mother. No matter how accommodating or kind Shu Yao’s mother was, Jiang Yiyan would not appreciate it; she might even push back harder.
Men, exhausted from work, naturally wished for harmony and peace at home.
Initially, Jiang Cheng tolerated her mischief, but over time, even he grew impatient.
Men instinctively sympathize with the weak. To him and his father, Shu Yao and her mother were the weak ones, so over time, their love leaned toward Shu Yao and her mother.
From a God’s-eye perspective, Jiang Yiyan thought no one was truly at fault.
Yet now, living in the original’s body, her emotions naturally leaned toward the original self.
From her perspective, she was a poor little girl who had lost her mother, and thus her father and brother too.
This little girl was straightforward, lacking guile, never showing weakness, and wrote her emotions clearly on her face. She acted impulsively, following her whims, naturally irritating others.
If she had been a little clever, the good hand she was dealt initially might not have ended like the original’s fate in the novel.
Having lived twenty-seven years, with five or six years in society, Jiang Yiyan had her own life wisdom.
She knew how to be smooth in dealing with people, daring in love and hate, yet able to bend when necessary.
Having spent several days here, she was gradually adapting. She decided that before Shu Yao returned, she would first visit her natal family.
That evening, after dinner, Jiang Yiyan asked Wen Mochuan, “Tomorrow I’m going to see my dad. Will you come with me?”
She didn’t really want him to go, only greeting him with the question.
Wen Mochuan seemed surprised by her decision. After a suspicious glance and some thought, he shook his head.
“I have work at the company tomorrow. I can’t leave.” He wasn’t lying, he had just closed a major client deal, and everyone was working overtime.
Though he was the boss, he led by example, working hard to motivate his employees.
Jiang Yiyan nodded calmly: “Okay, then I’ll take Meimei alone. Will Xiao Chen be needed?”
Xiao Chen was the family driver, dedicated to driving Wen Mochuan’s family.
Wen Mochuan didn’t hesitate: “Xiao Chen will drive you. Xu Ao will pick me up early tomorrow.” Xu Ao was Wen Mochuan’s assistant.
“Okay,” Jiang Yiyan acknowledged.
With business settled, there was nothing more to say, and the atmosphere instantly cooled.
Jiang Yiyan thought this was fine—matter-of-fact when necessary, separate when not.
The next morning, before leaving, Jiang Yiyan called the Jiang family to inform them.
In the Jiang family villa, Cai Wenqing saw the housekeeper, Sister Zhang, about to go out after receiving a call, and stopped her.
“So early, where are you going?” Cai Wenqing had long secured her position as Jiang Cheng’s wife.
Everyone in the house, from her stepson Jiang Xu to the staff, treated her with respect.
Seeing the question, Sister Zhang said, “Second Miss called. She’ll bring Miss Meimei home and have lunch here. I thought the ingredients at home might not be enough, so I’ll go to the supermarket nearby to buy some.” Jiang Yiyan, originally the only daughter of the Jiang family, had become the second miss after Shu Yao, who was slightly older, came to the family.
Cai Wenqing’s face immediately lit up with joy, and she turned to the just-descended Jiang Cheng: “Ah Cheng, Yiyan is coming home today.”
Jiang Cheng, already aware, instructed Sister Zhang: “Take out the seafood we air-shipped a few days ago.”
Cai Wenqing immediately added: “Yes, hurry and get it out. I remember Yiyan loves seafood the most.”