Jiang Runsheng was drunk out of his mind.
Two men supported him on either side as they staggered into the bridal chamber.
Chen Xiaomeng had already washed up. The dim yellow light bulb cast a hazy glow over the room, making her complexion appear even duller.
Seeing Runsheng being brought in, her cheeks instantly flushed. She hurried forward to take the heavily intoxicated man from them.
After teasing the newlyweds with a few jokes, the two men tactfully closed the door behind them and left.
Supporting him to the bed, Chen Xiaomeng bent down and helped remove his shoes and socks.
“Brother Runsheng, how are you? Do you feel sick?”
Brother Runsheng…?
In his drunken haze, Jiang Runsheng automatically imagined the voice belonged to the soft, sweet girl who had occupied his heart.
Half-opening his bleary eyes, he gently caressed Chen Xiaomeng’s face and murmured,
“You’re so beautiful…”
Heat rushed to Chen Xiaomeng’s ears. She shot him a shy, coquettish glance.
But before she could enjoy the moment, he finished his sentence.
“Qingyan… you’re so beautiful.”
It felt as though a bucket of icy water had been dumped over her head.
Patting his face angrily, she said,
“Brother Runsheng, I’m not Qiao Qingyan! Look carefully! I’m Chen Xiaomeng. I’m your wife.”
“Qingyan…”
Completely oblivious, Jiang Runsheng wrapped a large hand around her waist.
“Qingyan… I like you so much…”
Chen Xiaomeng shoved his hand away, biting her lip in fury.
Staring into empty space, hatred surged in her eyes.
Qiao Qingyan, you little bitch… I hate you!
Her chest rose and fell violently as she clenched her fists.
After a long while, she forced the malice from her eyes and looked back at the handsome, drunken face lying on the bed.
Brother Runsheng… you can only belong to me.
Once we’re truly husband and wife, one day you’ll realize that I’m thousands of times better than that little bitch Qiao Qingyan.
She slowly took off her clothes and switched off the light.
Half-conscious, Jiang Runsheng felt a soft body press against him.
Qingyan…
It’s Qingyan… the woman I love.
He grabbed her wrist and rolled over, pinning her beneath him.
“Qingyan… I’m sorry… I was wrong… Please… forgive me…”
Enduring the humiliation of being mistaken for another woman by her own husband, Chen Xiaomeng wrapped her arms around his neck and shyly whispered,
“Brother Runsheng…”
This was their wedding night.
No matter what, the woman he was holding now was her.
They would have children together.
In the future, he would earn promotions and rise through the ranks, and she would be the only woman by his side.
Lost in fantasies of their perfect future, Chen Xiaomeng desperately convinced herself to believe it.
The night stretched on in silence.
Only the sound of intertwined bodies and uneven breathing filled the room.
Everything was finally falling into place…
Just as things seemed about to go further—
The man suddenly cursed under his breath in the darkness.
The next second, his entire body went limp, collapsing weakly onto the bed.
Chen Xiaomeng froze.
She sat there in stunned silence, unable to process what had just happened.
She had secretly overheard her mother talking about such matters before.
She knew what men were supposed to be like when overcome with desire.
But…
She hadn’t even felt anything yet.
How had it ended so abruptly?
What was going on?
More importantly…
She was still wearing her underwear.
Chen Xiaomeng immediately switched on the light.
The room brightened instantly.
Sitting up, she glanced toward Jiang Runsheng’s trousers.
It looked…
…like a wilted pickled cucumber.
Could it be…?
Impossible.
Frowning, Chen Xiaomeng shook her head, forcefully suppressing the absurd thought.
In her previous life, Brother Runsheng had married Qiao Qingyan.
The two of them had looked so happy together.
How could something like that be possible?
She refused to think in that direction.
Brother Runsheng must only be like this because he’s drunk.
The next morning, a veil of mist lingered over the village, while thin streams of smoke curled from the chimneys.
Half-asleep, Qiao Qingyan felt something lightly brushing against her cheek.
It tickled.
“Stop it…”
she mumbled drowsily, waving it away.
But the mischievous brushing continued.
Finally, she opened her sleepy eyes and found Duoduo standing beside the heated brick bed with a naughty grin, tickling her face with a tiny feather.
Qiao Qingyan caught the little girl’s chubby hand and smiled mischievously.
“Got you, you little rascal…”
The chubby girl burst into giggles and pointed excitedly toward the window.
“Brother! Brother!”
Qiao Qingyan instantly woke up.
“Your brother’s back?”
Duoduo ignored her. She pushed open the inner room’s door and skipped off to play with her little clay dolls.
Qiao Qingyan hurriedly got dressed, quickly smoothed her hair, then quietly climbed off the kang.
Tiptoeing into the main room, she hid behind the doorway and secretly peeked outside.
In the courtyard, her mother-in-law, Zeng Yumei, was standing opposite a tall, powerfully built young man.
Even from the side…
His profile was strikingly handsome.
Sharp, well-defined features.
A high nose.
Deep, piercing eyes.
Healthy wheat-colored skin.
He looked rugged, masculine, and undeniably handsome.
So… this is Xiao Jinye?
He looked nothing like the scruffy, uncouth hunter she had imagined.
His expression was cold and stern.
A pair of short boots covered his feet.
His trousers accentuated his long, straight legs.
Broad shoulders.
A wide back.
Beneath his simple black shirt, the firm outlines of powerful muscles could be seen.
His entire body radiated raw strength—
The kind of man who looked capable of knocking down a bull with a single punch.
Qiao Qingyan quietly shook her head.
She looked down at her own tiny frame, then back at the towering man.
As expected of a hunter…
Standing there, he’s like a mountain.
Every inch of him screams power.
Goodness… that physique is terrifying.
Fortunately, the rumors say he’s… lacking in that department.
Otherwise, with a body like that…
She didn’t dare let her imagination continue.
Just then, the conversation in the courtyard drifted over.
“You ungrateful boy! I told you yesterday was your wedding day! Why didn’t you come home?”
Xiao Jinye frowned.
“Mom, why did you arrange a wife for me without asking? I already told you I’m not thinking about getting married right now.”
Qiao Qingyan blinked.
So… he was forced into this arranged marriage too.
“Should I just stand by and watch you stay a bachelor for the rest of your life?” Zeng Yumei snapped.
Irritated, Xiao Jinye ran a hand through his hair.
“I still have to go up the mountain later. I won’t be coming back for the next few days.”
“What?”
Zeng Yumei stared at him.
“You’re planning to leave your new wife home alone? Son, what on earth is wrong with you?”
“Mom, I know the girl you married me to is from the Qiao family.”
He paused before speaking frankly.
“But I don’t like her.”
Behind the door, Qiao Qingyan unconsciously tightened her grip on the doorframe.
Xiao Jinye continued,
“I can’t spend my life with someone I don’t love. And I certainly can’t sleep on the same kang with a woman I don’t have feelings for.”
Zeng Yumei smacked his arm in frustration.
“You… you’re really going to drive me crazy…”
Seeing that his mother was genuinely upset, Xiao Jinye’s expression softened.
He lowered his head slightly.
“Mom… don’t be angry.”
Lowering her voice, Zeng Yumei asked,
“Tell me honestly… is there already a girl you like?”
Xiao Jinye pressed his lips together.
After a long silence, he answered with a single word.
“Yes.”
“Who is she?” Zeng Yumei immediately demanded.
Hidden behind the door, Qiao Qingyan found herself just as curious.
She perked up her ears, waiting for his answer.