Chapter 2: Lu Yaozu, I Don’t Like You, and I Will Not Marry You

Jiang’s father was also smiling. He looked at his daughter, then at Lu Yaozu—happy, but with a touch of melancholy.

His daughter had grown up. So soon, someone was already coming to propose marriage.

He only had one daughter. Just thinking that she would be married off so soon made his heart ache a little.

Lu Yaozu was also looking at Jiang Xiaoci, his smile appearing refined. He had a gentle and scholarly appearance.

His neatly styled side-parted short hair, thin lips, and sharp, calculating eyes scanned her discreetly while maintaining his gentlemanly demeanor.

He wore a blue Dacron shirt—clean, crisp, and tidy. The sleeves were rolled up neatly, and over it, he wore a brand-new, well-tailored gray Zhongshan suit.

Coming from a good family, Lu Yaozu looked especially presentable in such attire.

He carried a number of gifts, and as he set them down, he smiled at her while occasionally chatting politely with Jiang’s father.

Jiang Xiaoci’s mind, however, had gone blank. She stood frozen in shock, unable to believe her eyes.

This scene… why was it exactly the same as in her dream?

Even the clothes Lu Yaozu was wearing matched the dream proposal she had lived through.

Lu Yaozu continued speaking, and everything he said felt eerily familiar—so much so that she could recite his words before he said them. In fact, the moment he opened his mouth, she already knew what he was going to say next.

“Xiaoci, I’ve come to propose to you. I like you and hope you’ll marry me,” he said—just like in the dream. The words, the tone, even the slight curve of his lips were identical.

Realization struck her, and Jiang Xiaoci’s body trembled uncontrollably.

Jiang’s mother thought she was just overwhelmed. After all, she was only eighteen—a child, really—and it was normal to overreact to a marriage proposal.

Feeling both heartache and amusement, Jiang’s mother pulled her daughter to her side and gently chided, “Silly girl. Usually so clever, why are you acting so dumb today? Boys marry when they’re grown, and girls do too—it’s nothing to be shy about.”

As she spoke, she patted the back of her daughter’s hand a little firmly.

After all, the man was still standing there. It wouldn’t do for her daughter to keep staring blankly—it would look bad. She couldn’t let her daughter embarrass herself too much in front of others.

The slight pain finally snapped Jiang Xiaoci back to reality.

She also realized then that what she thought had been a dream might have actually happened—it was real! She had been reborn!

She was back—before she had gotten married!

She blinked and bit her lip hard. The sharp pain from her lips was clear and intense.

But instead of fear, she let out a breath of relief. In that moment, it felt as if she had been born anew.

When she looked at Lu Yaozu again, her expression was calm, but her eyes were filled with complexity.

Though Lu Yaozu maintained his gentle and polite demeanor, he noticed her blank and awkward state. A flicker of disdain and criticism crossed his eyes.

She really was as dumb as Miaomiao had said.

Bai Miaomiao had mentioned before that although Jiang Xiaoci, like her, had gotten into high school, it was only because she was a “slow bird flying early” and her family had spent a lot of money on tutoring. She wasn’t actually smart.

Though these were his thoughts, Lu Yaozu still smiled at her politely.

Jiang Xiaoci couldn’t help but sneer internally. This man, Lu, truly had a good-looking face. No wonder he had managed to deceive both her and her parents, causing her family to suffer so terribly.

“Yaozu, don’t just stand there. Come, sit down,” Jiang’s mother greeted warmly.

Lu Yaozu responded and sat next to Jiang’s father. Jiang’s mother deliberately pulled her daughter to sit opposite him.

The two young people now sat face to face. Jiang Xiaoci kept her gaze down and remained silent.

Lu Yaozu smiled at her. In his eyes, her demeanor lacked any youthful liveliness or charm—she looked dull and wooden.

Though she was indeed quite pretty, with fair, slightly rosy skin…

In this era where many couldn’t eat or dress properly—and few could afford skincare—such a complexion was rare.

Her long hair flowed down to her waist, and her appearance was serene and elegant. But her foolish demeanor completely wasted that elegance.

Lu Yaozu thought privately: If it weren’t for Bai Miaomiao’s poor family background, and the strict opposition from his family, he would never have considered marrying Jiang Xiaoci.

Compared to the gentle, affectionate, and lively Bai Miaomiao, Jiang Xiaoci was nothing.

Since arriving, she hadn’t even said a full sentence.

If it were Bai Miaomiao, she would’ve been calling him “Brother Yaozu” in a sweet tone, clinging to him attentively.

Thinking of the lovable Bai Miaomiao made Lu Yaozu even more frustrated.

He also remembered how Bai Miaomiao once told him that Jiang Xiaoci’s family might be capitalists—not good people.

If everyone else was so poor, how did her family have so much money and such good living conditions?

They must have exploited the hard-working labor class and the working people.

When Bai Miaomiao had said this, she was righteously indignant. Though delicate like a white lotus, she had raised her arm in anger, standing up for the suffering workers.

He could still remember her shouting with righteous fury, “Those damned capitalists!”

Unfortunately, Bai Miaomiao had no solid proof—just suspicions.

But she was such a gentle, kind girl and loved him so much. She wouldn’t lie to him.

Besides, she and Jiang Xiaoci were high school classmates—she knew her well and must’ve known things about her family.

Lu Yaozu trusted Bai Miaomiao and believed in her purity and goodness. He truly liked her.

But that affection couldn’t overcome his family’s firm opposition.

So now, he could still suppress his true feelings, make small talk with the Jiang family, and look at Jiang Xiaoci with “affection” as he made his proposal.

“Xiaoci, I really like you. I’ve come to propose sincerely,” Lu Yaozu said in a gentle tone.

But to Jiang Xiaoci, his words sounded like a devil’s curse.

The familiarity of it all sent chills through her. Her hands clenched involuntarily, and her face turned pale.

Same words, same person.

This only confirmed one thing—she had truly been reborn.

But Jiang Xiaoci was no longer the same naive girl who blindly believed everything she was told.

Now that she had lived two lifetimes, she wouldn’t let herself be deceived by this hypocritical man again.

But the thought of her and her family’s tragic fate in the previous life made her tremble.

What if Lu Yaozu schemed against her family again in this life—what could she do?

Jiang’s mother noticed something was wrong again. Seeing her daughter shivering, she touched her forehead with concern and asked anxiously, “Xiaoci! What’s wrong? Why are you shaking like this? Did you catch a cold from sleeping without a blanket last night?”

Jiang’s father also looked over with concern. “Sweetheart, your face doesn’t look good. Are you sick?”

Jiang Xiaoci snapped back to reality. Seeing the worried looks in her parents’ eyes made her heart ache. But it also gave her strength.

She couldn’t let them worry like this ever again!

She quickly got her emotions under control and even managed to force a faint smile as she said softly, “Dad, Mom, I’m fine. I’m just… a little cold.”

Jiang’s mother touched her forehead again and, seeing that she didn’t have a fever, relaxed. “Oh, you silly girl. Coming out of your room and not putting on more clothes.”

She chuckled, glancing at Lu Yaozu, thinking her daughter had hurried out to meet him. Smiling, she went to the room and brought out a coat for her daughter.

Lu Yaozu didn’t show any reaction on his face, watching the warm family interaction while inwardly sneering.

Jiang Xiaoci was so pampered. Unlike Bai Miaomiao—her family was poor, and she’d had to take care of everything on her own since childhood.

Compared to her, Jiang Xiaoci was nothing.

Still, he forced a smile and said, “Uncle Jiang, Auntie Jiang, don’t worry. If Xiaoci marries me, I’ll definitely take good care of her.”

Papa and Jiang’s mother smiled, but Jiang Xiaoci coldly smirked. Looking at Lu Yaozu, her expression was calm and distant—something never seen before.

Her eyes were full of vigilance and disgust. Without any pretense, she said bluntly:

“Lu Yaozu, I don’t like you, and I will not marry you. Also, I know you’ve been in a relationship with Bai Miaomiao all along. You suddenly coming here to propose—is it because your family doesn’t approve of you two being together?”