The fake smile on Jiang Yuting’s face froze. Her hand hanging at her side unconsciously clenched into a fist, her fingernails digging deeply into her flesh.
She had not expected Wen Xi—not only was she dark, fat, and ugly, but her words were also completely merciless!
No wonder her family had been sent down. With that kind of rotten mouth, she must have offended countless people!
Her height was Jiang Yuting’s sore spot.
The thing she hated most in her life was people commenting on how short she was. Thinking of her purpose today, Jiang Yuting took a deep breath and forced herself to calm down.
Yes, she was short—but she was pretty. In terms of appearance alone, she could crush this dark, fat woman several streets over. With that body and face, she looked like a wild black bear coming down from the mountains.
That fat woman could be as tall as she wanted—what use was it? She still had parents who had been sent down, dragging her down.
“I and Song Mingyuan are already in a de facto marriage. In front of me, you’re nothing but the mistress who interfered in our relationship. A home-wrecking third party like you should know your place and behave!”
Wen Xi crossed her arms, a cold smile on her face. She couldn’t remain calm when dealing with scum like them—if she didn’t beat them, it was only because she still had some sense of discipline.
Her voice wasn’t restrained at all as she scolded the cheating couple; it echoed through the entire hallway.
The commotion drew people from other rooms, who stuck their heads out to see what was going on. The biggest gossip these days was a deputy battalion officer accused of marriage fraud.
Now the main characters of the scandal had gathered in one place—nothing else mattered, gossip came first!
“Wen Xi, don’t go too far. We came here to talk properly. Must you be so unreasonable and aggressive?”
Song Mingyuan frowned and glared at her, pulling Jiang Yuting behind him protectively.
This was the woman he had schemed for so long to marry—a woman who would greatly benefit his future career.
Wen Xi sneered, her eyes filled with undisguised mockery that seemed ready to overflow.
“What you’ve done is far worse than anything I’ve said. In terms of being excessive and shameless, I bow to you in admiration. If you’re going to return my things, then do it quickly. I don’t have time to waste words with you.”
She stood at the doorway, her broad and sturdy body blocking it completely, with no intention of letting them inside.
Her gaze toward them was cold and heavy, like a frozen lake—carrying undisguised hatred and anger.
Her attitude of complete refusal only made Song Mingyuan increasingly irritated, the frustration in his chest impossible to release.
“We came here sincerely to talk,” Jiang Yuting said again after calming herself. “With this attitude, people will only think you’re unreasonable.”
Her voice was still soft and gentle, her smile perfectly measured, as if she hadn’t heard any of Wen Xi’s insults at all.
“I know you suffered a lot taking care of the elderly in your hometown over the past few years. If you have any conditions, just say them. As long as we can meet them, we will agree.”
“But this isn’t the place to talk. How about we go inside and sit down to discuss it properly?”
Wen Xi didn’t move. “No need. Just talk here. I’m afraid you’ll kill me to silence me—at least here I feel safe.”
“Same conditions as before: return everything you took from me, compensate me for the three years I spent in the Song family. One year, one thousand. Three years, three thousand yuan. And Song Mingyuan must publish a public apology in the newspaper clarifying everything and restoring my reputation.”
At the mention of a newspaper apology, Song Mingyuan immediately exploded like a lit firecracker.
“Publish an apology? Don’t even think about it! You want to ruin me! And three thousand yuan? Why don’t you go rob a bank? Even selling you wouldn’t be worth that much!”
“You’re extorting a soldier! If you push this any further, believe it or not, I’ll send you to a military tribunal!”
His chest heaved violently, veins bulging at his temples. Both paying money and publishing an apology would ruin his reputation and future in the military.
“How did you become like this?” Jiang Yuting added with feigned sorrow. “I really regret having my parents take you in as a goddaughter. If I had known you were a biting snake, we should have driven you out long ago…”
Slap!
A sharp slap cut off his slander mid-sentence.
Half of Song Mingyuan’s face immediately swelled with five clear finger marks as his head snapped to the side.
“How can you hit people so casually…”
Jiang Yuting was about to speak when she saw Wen Xi raise her arm again, her eyes cold as ice. She quickly hid behind Song Mingyuan in fear.
Wen Xi’s phoenix eyes were utterly emotionless, filled only with chilling sharpness and warning—like a beast whose territory had been invaded, staring at a dying rat.
“Song Mingyuan, go ahead and report me for extortion. Send me to a military tribunal.”
She sneered. “Say one lie too many and you start believing it yourself? Go ahead—let’s see who ends up in the tribunal.”
“You can ignore everything I just said. Then we’ll wait for the military’s investigation results. By then, it won’t be as simple as three thousand yuan and a newspaper apology.”
Without another glance at his darkened face, she slammed the door shut, cutting off their murderous stares.
Song Mingyuan’s expression turned so dark it seemed water could drip from it. The pressure around him dropped dangerously low, rage spreading through his entire body.
He wanted nothing more than to kick down the door, throw this fat woman out of the military district, preferably all the way back to her hometown.
Chain her up and throw her into a pigpen, feed her spoiled food, beat and torture her for seven days and nights until her arrogance broke—until she knelt and begged, crying and swearing never to resist again, willingly becoming a servant for her parents.
His fists tightened, veins bulging, his bloodshot eyes fixed on the closed door.
“Brother Mingyuan!” Jiang Yuting tugged his hand gently. “That ugly woman won’t budge. What should we do? Do we really have to agree to her conditions?”
Three thousand yuan was not a small amount. She hadn’t even saved three hundred after years of work. And the two Rolex watches—imported couple watches with silver cases, deep blue dials, and delicate diamond rims—were priceless treasures in her eyes.
Each watch was worth seven or eight hundred yuan. She had always treasured hers and barely worn it.
Now she had to return them. Just thinking about losing what already sat in her possession made her chest tighten painfully.
Song Mingyuan withdrew his gaze and held her hand guiltily.
“Tingting, I’m sorry you’ve suffered with me.”
“I only now realize how lucky I am to have married you instead of that fat, black bear-like woman.”
He sighed heavily. “If she keeps being unreasonable, I’m afraid I won’t be able to give you a good life anymore.”
“What are you afraid of?” Jiang Yuting said fiercely. “My father is a political commissar. My mother says even if the sky falls, my father will hold it up for us. Let’s go—back to my father’s place!”
She shot a vicious glare at the door, then pulled Song Mingyuan away.
Those things were hers, and so was the man. She would not allow anyone to destroy her sweet, happy life.