Just then, Jiang Chunhua came over with a jar of Snow Cream.
Standing beside her, Chen Xiaomeng immediately put on the airs of an elder sister and began lecturing Qiao Qingyan earnestly.
“Qingyan, as your older sister, I have to give you a few words of advice. Mom told me the Xiao family’s having a hard time. Jinye’s mother is in poor health and has to take medicine all the time. His younger sister isn’t mentally well either. Jinye doesn’t even have a proper job—he just hunts for a living. You should be more considerate of your husband and stop spending money so freely.”
“Look at your brother-in-law. Even though he works at the radio station with a respectable job and earns over sixty yuan a month, I still budget every penny. As women, we can’t be so selfish. We have to think more about our husband’s family.”
Qiao Qingyan was completely speechless. She looked at Chen Xiaomeng as though she were talking nonsense.
Before she could respond, Xiao Jinye let out a cold chuckle and spoke first.
“Who told you my family’s struggling?”
Chen Xiaomeng curled her lips.
“Jinye, I understand that men care about saving face, but don’t overdo it. Your mother takes medicine year-round. Whatever little money you make from hunting all goes toward supporting your family, and you live frugally yourself. I know exactly how your family gets by in Nanjiaping Village. I’m only saying this for your own good.”
“Have you ever lived in my house?” Xiao Jinye asked calmly.
Chen Xiaomeng was instantly speechless.
His eyes turned cold as he sneered.
“So you know my family’s situation better than I do? What are you, a rat hiding in my house? Couldn’t steal anything worthwhile, so now you’re jumping around spreading gossip?”
Chen Xiaomeng’s face flushed crimson with anger.
“Xiao Jinye! I’m your elder sister, at least. Watch your mouth!”
“I only acknowledge you because my wife calls you her sister. If my wife doesn’t, then in my eyes, you’re worth less than a rat.”
Watching Chen Xiaomeng get thoroughly humiliated, Jiang Chunhua could barely suppress her grin.
Chen Xiaomeng had never been talked back to like this before. Her face twisted with rage.
Qiao Qingyan couldn’t help feeling grateful that Xiao Jinye was helping her in front of everyone. He was playing his role so convincingly.
Suppressing the fury in her heart, Chen Xiaomeng suddenly scoffed.
“You’ve only been married a few days, and you’re already so lovey-dovey? Before Qingyan married you, she refused no matter what. I even heard you didn’t come home on your wedding night. Seems like you weren’t happy with this marriage either.”
Qiao Qingyan’s heart skipped a beat.
Chen Xiaomeng really wasn’t easy to fool.
Fortunately, Xiao Jinye reacted quickly.
“That’s because I thought I was marrying you. That’s why I didn’t want to come home.”
As he spoke, he naturally wrapped an arm around Qiao Qingyan’s shoulders and looked lazily at Chen Xiaomeng.
“Looks like your information network isn’t very reliable. I fell in love with my wife at first sight. Since we got married, we’ve been sweeter than honey. Can’t you tell she’s already put on a little weight from living so happily?”
Smiling, he reached over and pinched Qiao Qingyan’s chin, squeezing her lips into a little “O.”
Although she wasn’t exactly pleased with such a frivolous gesture, seeing Chen Xiaomeng’s face turning green with jealousy, she decided to cooperate.
She affectionately slipped her arm around his.
“Forget it, Brother Jinye. Let’s go home.”
Brother Jinye?
Xiao Jinye lowered his gaze to her delicate face, his eyes flickering.
To be honest…
Half his heart had gone numb.
He quickly answered, “Alright.”
Picking up the shopping net, the two of them bid Jiang Chunhua goodbye and walked out together.
Chen Xiaomeng gritted her teeth, glaring at their intimate backs as flames of fury burned in her eyes.
In her previous life, after marrying Xiao Jinye, he had never even touched her.
Those indifferent eyes had never once looked at her with warmth.
Could it be…
That in just a few days, he had fallen for Qiao Qingyan?
No.
Impossible.
Chen Xiaomeng knew there had always been another woman hidden in Xiao Jinye’s heart—a woman he had loved for years.
No one could ever replace her.
Even in her previous life, when she cheated on him and cuckolded him, he hadn’t gotten angry or cared in the slightest.
Aside from disgust toward her, she’d never seen another emotion in his eyes.
She was certain the two of them were only pretending to be affectionate in front of her.
She’d just wait and see how long they could keep up the act.
After leaving the supply and marketing cooperative, Xiao Jinye tied the shopping bag to the bicycle’s front frame.
He swung onto the seat, while Qiao Qingyan naturally climbed onto the back, lightly gripping the hem of his shirt.
Several seconds passed.
The bicycle still hadn’t moved.
She asked softly, “Aren’t we going?”
He looked back at her.
“Say it again.”
“Say what?” she asked, confused.
“What you called me just now…”
Which part?
Qiao Qingyan searched her memory.
The more she thought about it, the deeper her brows furrowed…
“Xiao Jinye, are you leaving or not?” she demanded, half embarrassed and half annoyed.
He snorted lightly.
“I was only joking. I knew you’d turn your back on me after using me.”
Looking at his broad back, Qiao Qingyan unconsciously smiled.
Originally, she’d thought Xiao Jinye was cold and impossible to get along with.
But now, he didn’t seem nearly as gloomy as she’d imagined.
Around him, she found herself relaxing more and more.
As they rode along, they chatted casually.
“Thank you for helping me put on that act just now,” she said.
“Your sister doesn’t seem to want you living well.”
“Yeah. The more she can’t stand seeing me happy, the better I’ll live.”
“Does she bully you often?”
“Actually… before I married you, she and my stepmother even wanted to sell me to an old bachelor in our village.”
The bicycle screeched to an abrupt stop.
Thrown forward by the sudden braking, Qiao Qingyan instinctively wrapped her arms around his waist. Her cheek bumped into his back, making her wince.
“What was that for?” she complained softly.
Xiao Jinye’s face had gone frighteningly dark.
After a long silence, he slowly started pedaling again.
“Sorry. There was a big pothole ahead.”
“Oh…”
Afraid of falling off because of his rough riding, she didn’t let go of his waist.
When they got home, Qiao Qingyan saw her mother-in-law weaving bamboo baskets in the courtyard.
Seeing her son and daughter-in-law return, Zeng Yumei quickly put down her work and greeted them with a warm smile.
“You’re back! I’ve already finished cooking. We’ve just been waiting for you.”
Xiao Jinye carried everything inside.
Glancing at the purchases, Zeng Yumei asked, “Did you get all the cigarettes, liquor, candy, and tea?”
“Yes, everything’s bought.”
“Good. Good.”
Qiao Qingyan glanced at the bicycle outside.
“Will we still need the bike tomorrow?”
Xiao Jinye nodded.
“Of course. I’ll ride you back tomorrow.”
“Okay.”
The family then sat down together and enjoyed a warm, harmonious meal.
Meanwhile, Chen Xiaomeng wandered around town to kill time until Jiang Runsheng got off work and came to pick her up.
The moment she saw him, she threw herself into his arms and burst into tears.
Jiang Runsheng looked uncomfortable and quickly glanced around.
For some reason, being hugged in public by a woman he wasn’t even proud of made him feel deeply embarrassed.
“What happened?”
He gently pushed her away.
“Brother Runsheng…”
Wrapping her arms tightly around his waist again, Chen Xiaomeng complained tearfully,
“I ran into Qingyan today.”
Jiang Runsheng froze but remained silent.
Grinding her teeth, she continued,
“Your wife got bullied today. Do you know that?”
“How did she bully you?”
“It’s all because of you. Because we’re together now. She acts generous on the surface, but she’s secretly holding a grudge. She’s always been jealous of me…”
Hearing that, Jiang Runsheng’s heart leaped with hope.
“Really?”
He knew it.
Qingyan hadn’t been completely indifferent to him.
On the contrary…
She cared about him deeply.
Chen Xiaomeng nodded.
“Yes. At the supply and marketing cooperative, she humiliated me in front of everyone!”
The more she thought about it, the angrier she became.
“And your sister just stood there watching without helping me at all.”
“But, Brother Runsheng, it’s not because she loves you that much.”
“It’s only because I took away what belonged to her. She’s upset and resentful because I stole something that was supposed to be hers.”
With just a few carefully chosen words, she quietly shattered the tiny fantasy growing in Jiang Runsheng’s heart.
“Brother Runsheng…”
She whispered softly,
“In this world, I’m the only one who truly loves you with all my heart.”
That night, Chen Xiaomeng murmured those words beside Jiang Runsheng’s ear.
Earlier that day, she had bought the same Snow Cream Qiao Qingyan used. A faint, delicate fragrance drifted from her body.
Under the dim yellow glow of the light bulb, she knelt beside the bed, tilting her head up as she did everything she could to please the man before her.
Jiang Runsheng reached over and switched off the light.
He didn’t want to look at her face.
Less than two minutes later, a few muffled breaths came from the darkness.
His rigid back trembled slightly before slumping weakly.
Chen Xiaomeng stared blankly for a moment before climbing onto the bed.
No matter how much she continued trying to entice him afterward, Jiang Runsheng showed no further response.
In the darkness, she heard his hoarse, exhausted voice.
“Xiaomeng… I’m sorry…”