Chapter 23

Xue Miaoyun was somewhat displeased by Cang Ling’s arrival. However, she hadn’t expected him to leave the reception room right after greeting them. He simply disappeared after the brief exchange.

Soon enough, Xue Miaoyun came face to face with her former fiancé, whom the original owner had always longed for—Song Zhuanguo.

He wasn’t bad-looking, but it would be an overstatement to call him handsome. With the added benefit of his military uniform, he could barely be considered decent-looking.

“…You, you say you’re Miaoyun?” Song Zhuanguo was stunned. This incredibly beautiful woman couldn’t possibly be Xue Miaoyun.

Xue Miaoyun’s expression was cold. “I have photos of my father and mother. Would you like to see them?”

Song Zhuanguo paused for a moment. He did remember Xue Miaoyun’s mother, who was indeed a stunning beauty. Many people in the village had commented on it, and his mother had once insulted her as a “fox spirit.”

“Miaoyun, are you here because something happened at home?” Song Zhuanguo felt uneasy, glancing at the aloof and beautiful Xue Miaoyun and the man sitting next to her.

Xue Miaoyun frowned. What was he trying to imply? Was he pretending to be clueless?

“The Song family is no longer of concern to me,” she said flatly. “The purpose of my visit is simple. When my mother arranged the marriage between our families, she exchanged tokens. I’ve already returned the one from your family, but I have yet to receive the token from the Song family. I learned from the village secretary that it is with you, so I had no choice but to come here personally.”

Upon hearing this, Song Zhuanguo’s expression stiffened, and he felt a sense of panic.

He knew full well how unreliable his actions had been. However, the Xue Miaoyun in his memory wouldn’t dare to…

“Miaoyun, I… I can’t remember where I put it. I’ll need some time to look for it.”

“Ha.”

Before Xue Miaoyun could respond, Xiao Zixuan, who was sitting beside her, couldn’t hold back and let out a harsh laugh.

“Captain Song, your words are quite dishonest. I’ve heard from many people that you gave your current partner a jade pendant. She’s been showing it off for quite some time,” Xiao Zixuan said without sparing Song Zhuanguo’s face. He was displeased by the way the man had been looking at Xue Miaoyun.

Song Zhuanguo’s face turned a deep shade of red. He hadn’t expected this person to know so much, and to say it so openly.

He glanced at Xue Miaoyun, and seeing her still looking indifferent, he realized she must have already known.

“May I ask who you are?” Song Zhuanguo was no saint. His words carried an edge of hostility.

“Me? I’m Miaoyun’s friend. I know she’s been wronged, so I came to accompany her and demand an explanation,” Xiao Zixuan said without hesitation, casually using the word “friend” as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

Xue Miaoyun twitched her lips. This person was too familiar for her liking, but she had no intention of exposing him at that moment.

“Ah-hem. Brother Song, if it were for something else unimportant, I would have no problem giving it to you as a wedding gift. But this jade pendant is a family heirloom from my mother’s side, so it cannot be given away.”

Song Zhuanguo felt that the Miaoyun before him was completely different from the one he remembered. The way she spoke in such a formal and refined manner was something he had never heard from her.

But this new side of Xue Miaoyun was graceful and noble, like the daughter of a wealthy family.

“I’m sorry. I’ll have someone fetch it right away,” Song Zhuanguo said, realizing that this was the best course of action. He silently thanked himself that this matter hadn’t caused a scene. Resolving it quietly was the best solution.

Xue Miaoyun was satisfied with this.

Just as Song Zhuanguo stood up to arrange for the item, he saw Zhao Meihua rushing toward him, and a bad premonition flooded his mind.

“Song Zhuanguo, I heard your rural ex-fiancée is here looking for you. What is it? Too hungry to get by and here to mooch off you? Or are you trying to cling to her again?” Zhao Meihua’s voice was shrill, like the screeching sound of metal scraping against metal.

“What nonsense are you talking? How are you here?” Song Zhuanguo frowned as he looked at the sharp-faced Zhao Meihua.

“Why can’t I be here? Where is she? What, is she too scared to face me?” Zhao Meihua demanded, attempting to push past him into the reception room.

Song Zhuanguo looked around at the people coming and going, his expression grim. He was a man who valued his reputation, and Zhao Meihua’s unreasonable behavior made him feel embarrassed.

As he thought about Xue Miaoyun inside, a surge of regret filled his heart.

This caused him to immediately grab Zhao Meihua.

“Stop causing trouble. I have something to discuss with you.”

“What is it? Whatever it is, forget about it for now. Let me see which shameless woman is bold enough to come look for you after you’ve already broken off the engagement. Is she crazy and desperate for a man?” Zhao Meihua, blocked in her path, grew even angrier.

“What’s wrong? Too scared to come out and face people? Come out, let’s see what kind of shameless woman this is.”

Zhao Meihua’s voice was as loud as a bell, drawing the attention of many onlookers.

Inside the room, Xiao Zixuan was already very irritated and was about to stand up to walk outside.

But Xue Miaoyun stopped him. “What are you doing? Are you going to argue with a shrew?”

“Then should we just let her say whatever she wants outside?” Xiao Zixuan disagreed, feeling that this could harm her reputation.

“I’ll go myself,” Xue Miaoyun said, feeling a headache coming on. She wasn’t good at arguing with people, but the item she needed was in the other woman’s hands.

Xiao Zixuan looked at her slender frame. “I’ll go with you. You did say she’s a shrew. If things turn physical, you’ll be at a disadvantage.”

Xue Miaoyun glanced at him but didn’t speak.

She opened the door and saw a man and a woman tangled together, along with a crowd of onlookers not far away.

Her appearance immediately silenced the entire scene.

Her extraordinary beauty stunned everyone, especially Zhao Meihua.

Xue Miaoyun was used to this kind of attention. She looked at Zhao Meihua, who must be the daughter of the high-ranking official who had taken a liking to Song Zhuanguo, as mentioned by Li Dacui.

Zhao Meihua wasn’t bad-looking, but her high cheekbones, upward-slanted eyes, and slightly large mouth, combined with her yellowish skin tone, gave her a sharp, mean look.

Seeing Xue Miaoyun’s beauty, Zhao Meihua couldn’t hide her jealousy.

A cold glint flashed in her eyes, and without warning, she lunged forward, her hand aimed at Xue Miaoyun’s face.

It was so sudden that Song Zhuanguo didn’t manage to stop her in time. Xiao Zixuan didn’t expect her to make a move either, and by the time he tried to intervene, it was already too late.

Xue Miaoyun didn’t panic. She had been watching Zhao Meihua and had seen the malicious intent in her eyes, so she knew the other woman wasn’t up to anything good.

Just as she was preparing to teach Zhao Meihua a lesson and considering how much force to use, she felt a heavy weight on her shoulder as someone pulled her away from the scene.

Zhao Meihua missed her target and slammed into the doorframe instead.

“Ah!”

Xue Miaoyun turned her head slightly, and it was Cang Ling.

“Are you hurt?” His voice was calm and steady, sounding completely unflustered.

“Thank you, I’m fine.” Xue Miaoyun took a step forward, distancing herself.

“Meihua.” Song Zhuanguo hurried over to help her.