“What? Can’t stand it already?” Jian Ning couldn’t care less. She clapped her hands and looked at him coldly.
Lu Changzheng was momentarily stunned by her gaze. In the past, she would never have dared to look at him like this. What had gotten into her today?
“Jian Ning, I’ve already agreed to marry you. What more do you want?”
Lu Changzheng glared fiercely at Jian Ning as if she were some insatiable woman.
How ridiculous. Clearly, it was Lu Changzheng who wanted everything.
He wanted Lin Hongyun, his White Moonlight, and he also wanted Jian Ning to willingly clean up his messes, take care of his parents and family, all so he and Lin Hongyun could live it up outside without a care!
Lin Hongyun immediately stepped forward, wiping her tears as she spoke softly, “Ningning, don’t be angry. If you’re unwilling, I… I’ll just leave.”
As she spoke, Lin Hongyun made as if to leave.
But the next second, her hand was caught by Lu Changzheng.
Lu Changzheng gazed at her affectionately and declared solemnly, “Hongyun, you don’t have to go anywhere.”
Then, he turned to Jian Ning, his expression tinged with disgust and contempt. “Jian Ning, today I’m only marrying my elder brother’s wife into the family. Her own family won’t take her in, and everyone recognizes her as part of our Lu Jia. What is a woman like her supposed to do? Are you really determined to drive her to her death?”
After a pause, he continued, “If you can’t even be this tolerant, then there’s no need for us to get married at all!”
Lu Baishun and the rest of the Lu family stood by watching the scene unfold.
Although Lu Baishun was somewhat displeased with what Lu Changzheng had done, it wasn’t for Jian Ning’s sake. Rather, he felt that Lu Changzheng shouldn’t have kept it from him!
Besides, bringing Lin Hongyun into the household was just a matter of adding an extra pair of chopsticks.
Jian Ning had just overturned the table in front of everyone, showing no respect for their Lu family.
A woman like her really needed to be taught a lesson and taken down a peg.
“Fine, let’s not get married then!”
Jian Ning directly tore off the floral hairpiece from her head and stomped on it fiercely. Then, she lifted her head coldly, staring at Lu Changzheng as she enunciated each word clearly: “Lu Changzheng, listen well! You can marry whoever you want. I’m not putting up with this anymore!”
Hearing this, Lu Changzheng’s face instantly changed.
In the past, if he so much as frowned, Jian Ning would yield and obediently do as he said.
But today, Jian Ning was openly defying him. Was she really not afraid that he would abandon her?
Lu Baishun stepped forward, signaling the matchmaker with a glance. The matchmaker immediately went to pull Jian Ning. “Dear bride, don’t be so angry. Marriage is no joke. You can’t act so recklessly!”
“Jian Ning!”
Lu Baishun suppressed his anger and looked at Jian Ning. “What Changzheng did today was indeed excessive, but you’ve already vented your anger by overturning the table. Don’t push it any further. Let’s proceed with the wedding properly and not give outsiders a reason to laugh at us.”
“They’ll be laughing at your Lu family. What does that have to do with me?” Jian Ning sneered.
Seeing that Jian Ning refused to back down, Lu Baishun turned and glared at Lu Changzheng.
“Changzheng, your elder brother and his wife’s matter can be discussed later. Today, you will marry Jian Ning properly!”
“Dad!”
“Enough! Say no more! Do as I say!”
Lu Baishun’s eyes bore down with authority as he glared at Lu Changzheng, giving him a look that said not to mistake the priorities.
Lu Changzheng shot a hateful glance at Jian Ning.
This woman is truly so cunning and manipulative—she would do anything to achieve her goals.
He had genuinely thought she had changed her mind just moments ago, but it turned out she was only trying to force him into submission.
Well, well, what a scheming woman!
Lin Hongyun tugged at Lu Changzheng’s hand, her eyes red-rimmed. “Changzheng, don’t worry about me. Today is your and Jian Ning’s joyous occasion. You… you should listen to your father. I… I’ll be fine.”
Her expression, one of extreme restraint, tugged at Lu Changzheng’s heart, making him ache with pity.
Jian Ning couldn’t help but clap her hands. “Bravo! What a performance! With acting skills like yours, it’s a shame you’re not in the movies!”
“Jian Ning, don’t go too far! You’ve already achieved your goal—what more do you want?”
Lu Changzheng glared at Jian Ning with bloodshot eyes, as if she were his mortal enemy—fierce and venomous.
Just then, Lin Hongyun suddenly walked over to Jian Ning. “Jian Ning, I beg you, please stop making things difficult for Changzheng. It’s all my fault. If you want to blame someone, blame me. If you want to hit someone, hit me!”
No sooner had she finished speaking than a sharp slap landed squarely on her face.
Jian Ning had put all her strength into that slap, nearly sending Lin Hongyun tumbling to the ground.
Lin Hongyun froze in shock.
She had only intended to provoke Jian Ning and pretend to be pushed down, but she never expected Jian Ning would actually dare to strike her?
However, after a moment, she snapped back to reality, covering her cheek with tears streaming down her face. “Go ahead, hit me. If hitting me can ease your anger, then hit me…”
Lu Changzheng was furious. He immediately stepped forward, shielding Lin Hongyun behind him, and raised his hand to strike Jian Ning.
Jian Ning dodged to the side, avoiding the blow, then leaped up and slapped him hard across the face.
A sharp crack echoed, and the surroundings fell into instant silence.
Everyone stared in disbelief, their faces filled with shock and incredulity!
Jian Ning had hit Lin Hongyun? And she had also struck Lu Changzheng?
Wasn’t she madly in love with Lu Changzheng? Wasn’t she afraid he wouldn’t marry her, always swallowing her pride and enduring humiliation?
Jian Ning shook her slightly sore wrist and said, “I hadn’t planned on hitting anyone, but since you insisted on asking for it, I had no choice but to oblige!”
Lu Changzheng was first stunned, then glared at Jian Ning with uncontrollable rage. “Jian Ning, I’m going to teach you a lesson today!”
Originally, he hadn’t wanted to lay a hand on her, but she had gone too far—he had to discipline her!
The other members of the Lu family also moved to assist, ready to pin Jian Ning down so Lu Changzheng could strike her.
A woman like her deserved to be taught a lesson!
Jian Ning swiftly pulled Lin Hongyun into her arms and pressed a pair of scissors against her. “Take one more step, and I’ll gouge her eyes out.”
“No!”
Lin Hongyun turned pale with fright, looking anxiously at Lu Changzheng. “Changzheng, Changzheng, save me!”
The previously aggressive members of the Lu family, seeing this, froze in place, too terrified to advance.
If it were the old Jian Ning, they wouldn’t have been afraid, but this Jian Ning had gone mad—they didn’t dare take the risk.
“Jian Ning, do you realize the consequences of what you’re doing?” Lu Changzheng’s tension and distress were impossible to conceal.
Jian Ning couldn’t help but sneer coldly, laughing at her own foolishness. How had she failed to see in her previous life that Lu Changzheng’s feelings for Lin Hongyun were no longer merely those between a brother-in-law and sister-in-law!
“Consequences? What, are you trying to threaten me by refusing to marry?”
Just then, Director Liang from the neighborhood office was called over. Upon entering and seeing the scene in the courtyard, she was startled. “Jian Ning, put down the scissors! Let’s talk this through properly!”
Seeing Director Liang arrive, Jian Ning actually felt more at ease.
She looked at Director Liang, her eyes reddening as she spoke with a choked voice, “Director, the Lu family has gone too far in bullying me. You must stand up for me!”
“What exactly is going on here?”
Jian Ning continued, “Today was supposed to be my wedding day with Lu Changzheng, but he actually wants to marry two branches of a family! How can I possibly go through with this marriage!”
“What? Marry two branches of a family?”