Jiang Runsheng never imagined he would run into Qiao Qingyan here.
For the past few days, he had barely eaten or slept, drowning in regret and self-reproach. He knew that, just to spite him, Qingyan had married into the Xiao family in Chen Xiaomeng’s place.
He missed her so desperately he felt like he was losing his mind.
Summer was fast approaching. That day, everyone from the township broadcasting station had been sent into the countryside, going door to door to promote fire safety awareness while also notifying villagers about the government’s grain pricing and state procurement policies.
By pure chance, he arrived at the Xiao family’s gate.
The moment he saw Qiao Qingyan, it felt as though his heart had come back to life.
Qiao Qingyan, however, was nowhere near as emotional. Her expression remained distant and indifferent.
To her, Jiang Runsheng was nothing more than an ordinary classmate now—a familiar face from the past.
Her coldness pierced his heart.
“C-Qingyan… are you doing well?”
“I’m doing just fine. You don’t need to worry about me.”
“How could you possibly be doing well? Xiao Jinye is just an uncultured, rough country man. What could the two of you even have in common?”
Qiao Qingyan was speechless.
She hated men who refused to let go and kept pestering her.
“Brother Runsheng, there’s nothing between us anymore. You’re Chen Xiaomeng’s husband now. The person you should be concerned about is her.”
“I don’t want to care about her! Why should I? I don’t like her at all!” he blurted out emotionally. “Qingyan, you know how I feel about you. I’ve loved you since we were in school. That night with Chen Xiaomeng… I’d only had a little too much to drink. She seduced me. From the beginning until now, the only woman I’ve ever loved is you.”
Qiao Qingyan sighed helplessly.
“Please stop saying things like that. I’m married now. And you’ve already married Chen Xiaomeng. Can’t we just live our own lives?”
He refused to give up.
“If you’re willing, I’ll divorce Chen Xiaomeng right now and be with you!”
Inside the house, Zeng Yumei, who had been watching everything unfold while holding Duoduo, became so anxious she paced in circles.
Qiao Qingyan nearly laughed in disbelief.
“Jiang Runsheng, are you dreaming? How many times do I have to tell you before you understand? I don’t like you. I don’t like you!”
“Then who do you like?” he demanded. “Qingyan, don’t tell me you’ve actually fallen for that crude hunter!”
Beneath the shade of a tree, Xiao Jinye had long since clenched his fists.
He had been about to walk over and drag the frail man away himself.
But when he heard those words, he froze.
His dark gaze settled firmly on Qiao Qingyan’s slender back.
She crossed her arms and answered without the slightest hesitation.
“Yes. He’s my husband. Why wouldn’t I like him?”
“He’s better than you in every way—in looks, in character, in everything. After his father passed away, he supported the entire family by himself, took care of his elderly mother, and raised his little sister. He’s a real man who shoulders his responsibilities.”
“I like him to death. I love him to death.”
“And someday, I’m going to have eight sons with him!”
Xiao Jinye slowly unclenched his fists.
A dark, unreadable emotion settled in his deep eyes.
Jiang Runsheng’s face turned livid.
He assumed Qingyan was simply saying those things to provoke him.
How could the bond they had shared since childhood disappear overnight?
Just then, he caught sight of Xiao Jinye’s tall figure standing behind her.
His heart skipped a beat.
“You’re still angry and not thinking clearly,” he said hastily. “We’ll talk about this another day.”
Then he hurried away.
Qiao Qingyan also sensed the burning gaze behind her.
Turning around, she found Xiao Jinye staring at her intently.
Feeling awkward, she forced a smile.
“You’re back?”
He strode over to her.
His expression revealed nothing.
“Mhm.”
With that single response, he walked into the house.
Hearing her brother’s voice, Duoduo immediately ran out on her short little legs.
“Brother! Brother!”
Xiao Jinye bent down, lifted her effortlessly with one arm, kissed her chubby little cheek, and carried her inside.
Qiao Qingyan’s heart pounded nervously.
When had he come back?
How much had he heard?
Had he heard everything?
Having her former fiancé confessing his love at the entrance to her husband’s home was already shocking enough.
Fortunately, the Xiao family’s house stood somewhat apart from the neighboring homes.
Otherwise, if anyone had witnessed the scene, who knew what kind of rumors would have spread and embarrassed Xiao Jinye for no reason.
A man’s pride was always important.
Even if he had no feelings for her whatsoever, surely he wouldn’t tolerate something like this.
An inexplicable sense of guilt welled up inside her.
She hadn’t done anything wrong.
Yet somehow, she still felt as though she’d done something she shouldn’t have.
Inside, Xiao Jinye placed a packet of herbal medicine on the wooden table.
“Mom, here’s the medicine I bought for you.”
Seeing her son’s gloomy expression, Zeng Yumei was afraid he had misunderstood what had happened.
She hurriedly explained,
“That young man just now came to the village to do some public outreach.”
“Mhm.”
Xiao Jinye merely acknowledged her with a quiet response.
Qiao Qingyan shot her mother-in-law a grateful look.
Xiao Jinye opened another bag filled with biscuits and White Rabbit milk candies.
Zeng Yumei smiled and beckoned to her daughter-in-law.
“Come over and have something to eat. Jinye bought these in town.”
Looking at the snacks on the table, Qiao Qingyan couldn’t help wondering.
Hadn’t Chen Xiaomeng claimed the Xiao family was so poor they barely had anything?
Yet ever since she’d married into the family, there had been meat on the table almost every day.
Now Xiao Jinye even had money left over to buy snacks.
Could Chen Xiaomeng’s information have been completely wrong?
She politely declined.
“I don’t really eat snacks. You all can have them.”
“My health isn’t good, so I can’t eat sweets,” Zeng Yumei said with a smile. “Come sit down and eat.”
With that, she picked up the medicinal herbs and headed for the kitchen.
Qiao Qingyan glanced at the snacks.
She assumed Xiao Jinye had bought them for Duoduo.
Besides, White Rabbit milk candies were expensive.
She felt embarrassed eating someone else’s treats.
Just as she was about to return to her room, Xiao Jinye’s deep voice sounded behind her.
“I bought them especially for you. You’re not going to eat them?”
She blinked.
“For… me?”
He looked at her.
“Duoduo’s already overweight. The doctor said she can’t have snacks.”
“My mom isn’t in good health either. She has chronic illnesses and can’t eat sweets.”
“So I bought them for you.”
Qiao Qingyan was genuinely touched.
She sat back down awkwardly.
“Then… thank you.”
He didn’t reply.
His face remained a little dark.
He picked up a milk candy, peeled back half the wrapper, and handed it to her.
She accepted it with another soft “Thank you.”
Looking up, she noticed Duoduo staring at the candy with longing eyes, practically drooling.
Her heart softened.
How could an adult eat candy while a child could only watch?
She felt too guilty.
But beside her, Xiao Jinye had already broken a biscuit in half and handed one piece to Duoduo.
Whether she understood or not, he solemnly lectured her,
“Look how chubby you’ve gotten. If someone threw you into the water, you’d probably float.”
“You’re only allowed half a biscuit.”
“The rest belongs to your sister-in-law.”
He gently tapped her tiny nose.
“Remember that?”
Duoduo eagerly reached for the biscuit.
Instead, Xiao Jinye deliberately raised it high above her reach.
Only after the little girl mumbled an obedient, “I remember…”
did he finally give her the biscuit.
Seeing that, Qiao Qingyan felt at ease and popped the fragrant White Rabbit milk candy into her mouth.
The rich, creamy sweetness instantly melted across her tongue.
As she slowly savored the candy, she secretly stole a glance at Xiao Jinye beside her.
Why had he bought snacks specifically for her?
“Aren’t you going to eat any?” she asked casually.
The instant the words left her mouth, a tiny thread of saliva slipped from the corner of her lips.
Flustered, she quickly sucked it back in.
Her cheeks exploded into a bright crimson.
She wished she could disappear on the spot.
Xiao Jinye quietly looked away and sat beside the wooden table.
He shook his head.
“I don’t like sweets.”
“Oh…”
“Then why did you buy them for me?”
He ignored the question.
Instead, his deep, unreadable gaze met hers.
“I heard you’re planning to have eight sons with me?”