Chapter 21

Wang Xiulian’s eyes were red with anger. She knew that living with someone holding dirt on you was never going to be easy.

But she wasn’t willing to back down. Taking a deep breath, she asked, “Did you actually tell anyone about what happened in our family?”

“You guess.”

“Think about it—ever since you got engaged to Zhanting, I’ve treated you well. I never even raised my voice at you. Why are you trying to hurt me?”

“Aunt Wang, how exactly did I hurt you? Was I the one who tied you up and dragged you to the state guest hotel to meet Director Hu?”

“Shut up!”

Wang Xiulian’s face flushed red with shame. In a hurry, she pulled out 666 yuan and stuffed it into Lin Qian’s palm.

“Lin Qian, don’t think I don’t know what you’ve been up to. You look sweet and well-behaved on the surface, but deep down you’re just jealous—jealous that your own mother favors your cousin. That’s why you’re willing to just stand by and watch your cousin marry into our family.”

“Let me tell you something. We actually want the same thing—my son needs to marry a girl with a clean background. Now that you’ve taken this hush money, I expect you to keep your mouth shut about our family. You understand the principle of using courtesy before force, right? Otherwise, I have plenty of ways to make you regret it.”

Lin Qian hadn’t expected to get such a hefty red envelope just by showing up today, but seeing how arrogant Wang Xiulian was acting, she held out her hand again.

“Lu Xiaoqin got pregnant out of wedlock. Aunt Wang, you seduced Director Hu. Uncle Lu’s wearing a green hat. These three major scandals—this little hush money you gave me doesn’t quite match their weight, does it?”

Wang Xiulian was practically fuming, her eyes nearly spitting fire. “Lin Qian, don’t get greedy!”

“You were the one who insisted on giving me hush money in the first place.”

Furious, Wang Xiulian dug around in her pockets again, turning them inside out and pulling out another 400 yuan. “Lin Qian, you need to learn to be content, understand?”

Lin Qian nodded. “I’ll remember Aunt Wang’s lesson well.”

After pocketing all the money, Lin Qian headed back to the banquet hall. She was starving—it was time to eat.

As soon as she sat down, she heard that Lu Jianguo and Lin Dawei had already agreed on the bride price for Lin Yuanyuan: 666 yuan.

Ma Guixin broke into a smile. Even though her daughter seemed a bit too eager to marry Lu Zhanting, at least the Lu family wasn’t trying to shortchange her.

Wang Xiulian followed closely behind. When she heard the bride price, her heart ached—she had just lost 1,000 yuan to Lin Qian for nothing.

It was obvious Lin Yuanyuan was the one chasing after her son. Last night, the Lu family had clearly agreed to offer only 488 yuan. She had no idea what made Lu Jianguo change his mind and raise it to 666.

Lin Qian was famished, and the food at Qingfeng Restaurant was excellent. She immediately started devouring the dishes in front of her.

Braised pork and spicy poached chicken were right within reach.

Lin Yuanyuan kept a wary eye on Lin Qian the whole time. But seeing her gorging herself without any ladylike restraint, she finally relaxed.

Lu Zhanting was seated directly across from Lin Qian. He glanced up and caught sight of her eating heartily, and couldn’t help but sneer inwardly.

Lin Qian never used to eat like this in front of him. Women really were born to put on an act.

But somehow, seeing her eat like this made her seem more vivid—almost… endearing.

Damn it!

Lu Zhanting was annoyed by his own thoughts and quickly looked away from her.

Lin Qian spotted a sweet and sour Mandarin fish dish farther away and stood up to go get some.

Ma Guixin, sitting next to her, was getting a headache just watching this. She grabbed Lin Qian’s arm and whispered, “Today is your cousin’s big day. Can’t you behave a little more properly? You look like you’ve never eaten before.”

Lin Qian replied, “So what, if I stop eating, should I start talking instead?”

Ma Guixin remembered that Lu Jianguo had only agreed to offer 666 yuan because of Lin Qian’s presence, and that softened her a little. “Fine, just eat.”

After Lin Qian had eaten her fill, the Lu and Lin families finalized the wedding details. Both sides were eager for the couple to marry soon, so the wedding was scheduled for right after the National Day holiday.

Lin Yuanyuan was overjoyed. This wedding date matched the one Lu Zhanting had originally planned with Lin Qian in their past life. She had been worried she was the only one enthusiastic about the marriage, but now it was clear the Lu family—and more importantly, Lu Zhanting—were satisfied with her. Otherwise, they wouldn’t have agreed to get married so quickly.

In the past life, Lin Qian had waited a full month after getting engaged before marrying Lu Zhanting.

But Lin Qian knew exactly what Lin Yuanyuan was so smug about, and she found it all rather laughable.

Last time, the wedding had been delayed because Lu Zhanting’s superior was out of town. The truth was, the Lu family was desperate to get him married as soon as possible, thinking that a marriage would finally get Bai Aiyun to give up on him.

After the meal, Lin Qian declined to accompany Ma Guixin home with Lin Yuanyuan, saying she needed to go job hunting.

Watching Lin Qian walk away, Lin Yuanyuan scoffed, “Auntie, do you really think she’ll be able to find a job?”

The job market was really tough. She hadn’t found anything suitable since graduating herself.

Ma Guixin snorted, “If she can’t find work, I’ll just arrange a marriage for her. No way her bride price will be less than what the Lu family gave you.”

If Lin Qian found a job and handed over all her salary, then maybe the Lin family would still keep her around.

Lin Yuanyuan wasn’t pleased. “Auntie, what are you saying?”

How could Lin Qian possibly end up with a better marriage than her?

Ma Guixin patted her daughter’s hand. “What are you thinking? The 666 yuan the Lu family is giving you—our family will give it all back as your dowry. But whatever bride price Lin Qian gets, we’ll keep it. She’ll use it to honor me and your uncle.”

“Auntie, you’re the best!”

Lin Yuanyuan felt like she’d eaten something sweet and sticky. This life, she was going to rewrite her tragic past.

Speaking of her previous life, something suddenly occurred to her. “Auntie, there’s no need to wait. That Zhang family you were telling me about—they sound pretty good. Why not go ahead and match them with my cousin?”

Ma Guixin was jolted by her words. She remembered now—the Zhang family had initially been interested in Lin Qian. She had kept that to herself, afraid Lin Yuanyuan would get jealous.

Now things were different. Lin Qian had broken off her engagement with the Lu family, and if she went to propose the match now, the Zhangs would probably accept.

Ma Guixin was already getting excited.

She said, “Yuanyuan, let’s go see your Aunt Wu right now. Tell her you and your cousin swapped engagements. If their family agrees, we’ll arrange for them to come see your cousin.”

Wu Meifen was the same woman who had been Lin Yuanyuan’s evil mother-in-law in her past life.