Jiang’s father smiled as well. He looked at his daughter, then at Lu Yaozu, his expression a mixture of joy and melancholy.
His daughter had grown up.
So soon, a young man had come to ask for her hand in marriage.
She was his only child. The thought that she would soon belong to another family made it hard for him to let go.
Lu Yaozu looked at Jiang Xiaoci with a refined smile that matched his scholarly appearance.
His neatly combed side-parted hair was impeccably groomed. He had thin lips and lively eyes that subtly sized her up while pretending not to.
He wore a crisp blue synthetic shirt, spotless and well pressed.
The sleeves were neatly rolled up, and over it he wore a brand-new gray Zhongshan suit made of good-quality fabric.
The Lu family was fairly well-off, and dressed like this, Lu Yaozu looked especially distinguished.
He carried quite a few gifts, setting them down one by one while smiling at her and chatting politely with Jiang’s father.
Jiang Xiaoci, however, felt as if her mind had gone completely blank.
She stood there in stunned disbelief, unable to trust her own eyes.
How…
How could this scene be exactly the same as the one in her dream?
Even the clothes Lu Yaozu was wearing were identical to those in the marriage proposal she had experienced in that dream.
Lu Yaozu continued speaking.
Every word was so familiar that she could practically recite it from memory. In fact, the moment he opened his mouth, she already knew what he would say next.
“Xiaoci, I’ve come to ask for your hand in marriage. I like you, and I hope you’ll marry me.”
Exactly the same words.
The same tone.
Even the slight upward curve of his lips was identical to what she had seen in her dream.
Realizing something, Jiang Xiaoci’s body began trembling uncontrollably.
Jiang’s mother thought her daughter was simply overwhelmed.
After all, she was only eighteen—a young girl experiencing a marriage proposal for the first time. It was only natural for her to react unusually.
Feeling both amused and affectionate, Jiang’s mother pulled her daughter to her side and wrapped an arm around her.
“Silly girl,” she chided with a smile. “You’re usually so clever. Why are you acting so dazed today? Men and women all grow up and get married eventually. There’s nothing to be embarrassed about.”
As she spoke, she patted Jiang Xiaoci’s hand with a little force.
After all, the young man was still standing there. It wouldn’t look proper if her daughter kept staring at him in a daze. She couldn’t let her daughter embarrass herself in front of guests.
The slight sting from the pat finally brought Jiang Xiaoci back to reality.
And at that moment, she realized…
What she had experienced before wasn’t a dream at all.
It had really happened.
She had been reborn.
She had returned to the time before she got married.
She blinked, then bit her lip hard.
The sharp pain was vivid and unmistakable.
Instead of fear, relief washed over her.
In that instant, it felt as though she had been given a new life.
When she looked at Lu Yaozu again, her expression had calmed, though her eyes remained complicated.
Lu Yaozu maintained his refined and courteous appearance, but seeing her standing there blankly, a trace of disdain and criticism flashed through his eyes.
She really was just as Miaomiao had described—
She looked rather stupid.
Bai Miaomiao had once told him that although Jiang Xiaoci had managed to get into high school like she had, it was only because she had worked much harder than everyone else, and her family had spent a great deal of money hiring tutors.
In truth, she wasn’t particularly intelligent.
Those thoughts remained hidden in his heart as he smiled at her politely.
Jiang Xiaoci couldn’t help sneering inwardly.
This man named Lu truly had a handsome face.
Otherwise, he never could have deceived both her and her parents, ultimately bringing her entire family to such a tragic end.
“Yaozu, don’t just stand there. Come, have a seat,” Jiang’s mother greeted warmly.
Lu Yaozu acknowledged her and sat beside Jiang’s father.
With deliberate intent, Jiang’s mother pulled her daughter over and seated her directly across from him.
The two young people now faced each other.
Jiang Xiaoci lowered her eyes and remained silent.
Lu Yaozu smiled as he observed her.
To him, she possessed none of the liveliness or charm expected of a young girl.
She simply looked dull and wooden.
Her appearance, however, was undeniably attractive.
Her skin was fair with a delicate rosy glow.
In an era when many people still struggled to eat their fill and few could afford skincare products, such flawless skin was exceedingly rare.
Her long black hair reached all the way to her waist.
She had a serene, gentle beauty with refined, elegant features.
Unfortunately, that foolish, vacant air about her ruined what should have been an exquisite appearance.
He couldn’t help thinking that if Bai Miaomiao’s family hadn’t been so poor—and if his own parents hadn’t objected so fiercely—he would never have considered marrying Jiang Xiaoci.
How could this dull, wooden girl possibly compare to the gentle, affectionate, bright, and lively Bai Miaomiao?
Since he had arrived, Jiang Xiaoci hadn’t managed to say even one complete sentence.
If it were Bai Miaomiao, she would already be sweetly calling him “Brother Yaozu” over and over while attentively fussing over him.
Thinking of Bai Miaomiao’s gentle and lovable nature made Lu Yaozu feel even more frustrated.
He then remembered something else.
Bai Miaomiao had once told him that Jiang Xiaoci’s family seemed to be capitalists—not good people at all.
Otherwise, why was everyone else so poor while her family had so much money and lived so comfortably?
Surely they had earned it by exploiting the hardworking laboring masses and the working class.
As she had said those words, Bai Miaomiao had been filled with righteous indignation.
Though she appeared delicate and pure like a white lotus, she had raised her arm passionately, speaking up for ordinary workers and the common people.
He still clearly remembered her crying out in both anger and helplessness:
“Those evil capitalists!”
The only problem was…
She had no evidence whatsoever.
Still, Bai Miaomiao was such a gentle, kind-hearted girl, and she loved him so much.
She would never lie to him.
Besides, she and Jiang Xiaoci had been classmates in high school. She undoubtedly knew quite a bit about Jiang Xiaoci’s family.
Lu Yaozu trusted Bai Miaomiao.
He believed wholeheartedly in her innocence and goodness.
And he truly loved her.
But that love ultimately couldn’t overcome his parents’ firm opposition.
So despite his true feelings, after exchanging pleasantries with Jiang Xiaoci’s parents, he turned toward Jiang Xiaoci with deep affection in his eyes and confessed once more.
“Xiaoci, I truly love you. I’ve come sincerely to ask for your hand in marriage.”
His voice was exceptionally gentle.
But to Jiang Xiaoci…
It sounded like the curse of a devil.
Those familiar words sent a chill through her entire body.
Her hands unconsciously clenched into fists, and the color drained from her face.
The same words.
The same man.
Everything confirmed beyond any doubt that she had truly been reborn.
But she was no longer the innocent Jiang Xiaoci who believed whatever people told her.
Having lived two lifetimes, she would never again be deceived by this heartless man’s fabricated display of affection.
Yet when she thought of the fate awaiting both herself and her parents…
She couldn’t stop trembling.
Their previous lives had ended in utter misery.
What about this lifetime?
If Lu Yaozu secretly schemed against the Jiang family again…
What could she possibly do?
Jiang’s mother noticed her daughter’s strange behavior once more.
Seeing her shivering nonstop, she finally became worried and reached out to feel her forehead.
“Xiaoci! Xiaoci, what’s wrong? Why are you shaking so badly? Did you kick off your blanket last night and catch a cold?”
Jiang’s father also looked over with concern.
“Daughter, I was wondering why your complexion has looked so pale. Are you coming down with something?”
Jiang Xiaoci snapped back to reality.
Seeing the worry and concern in her parents’ eyes, her heart ached.
At the same time, her resolve hardened.
She couldn’t let them worry like this ever again.
She quickly steadied her emotions and even forced a faint smile.
“Dad, Mom, I’m fine. I’m just… a little cold.”
Jiang’s mother felt her forehead and, finding no fever, finally relaxed.
“Oh, you child. You came out of your room without even putting on another layer.”
She smiled as she spoke, glancing at Lu Yaozu.
Assuming her daughter had rushed out because she was eager to meet him, she returned to the bedroom, fetched a coat, and gently draped it over Jiang Xiaoci’s shoulders.
Lu Yaozu showed no reaction on his face.
Watching the warm interaction between the family members, however, he felt nothing but contempt.
Jiang Xiaoci was far too delicate.
Unlike Miaomiao.
Miaomiao’s family wasn’t well-off, so she had learned to do everything herself from a young age.
She wasn’t spoiled by her parents the way Jiang Xiaoci still was.
Compared to Miaomiao…
Jiang Xiaoci was inferior in every way.
Even so, he smiled against his true feelings and said,
“Uncle Jiang, Aunt Jiang, don’t worry. If Xiaoci marries me in the future, I’ll definitely take good care of her.”
Father and Jiang’s mother both smiled.
Jiang Xiaoci, however, let out a cold laugh.
She looked directly at Lu Yaozu, her expression colder and more distant than ever before.
Her eyes were filled with vigilance and disgust.
Without the slightest hesitation, she said,
“Lu Yaozu, I don’t like you, and I will never marry you.”
“And I know you’ve been dating Bai Miaomiao all this time.”
“So tell me—did you suddenly come here to propose because your family refuses to let the two of you be together?”