Chapter 6

“Miss Xia, she just called me a dog.”
Xiaomin, hiding behind Xia Xue like a lackey relying on her master’s power, showed no shame—because Lin Wanting’s accusation was absolutely true.

“Lin Wanting, you’ve changed so much I hardly recognize you.”

Lin Wanting smirked. “Oh? So I’m supposed to keep doing things the way you want? Let me see what you bought.”

In their tug-of-war, the shopping bag tore open, and two red garments fell to the ground. Lin Wanting picked them up, eyeing them with mock admiration.

“Still know to buy patterned ones, huh? Looks like there’s a happy occasion coming. Who’s the lucky groom? Don’t tell me it’s Wang Xing?”

She guessed it was Wang Xing, though she didn’t understand why he was in such a rush to marry. In her previous life, Xia Xue had seemed shrewd, but in this life, she was clearly head-over-heels and not thinking straight.

Xia Xue clapped loudly, her whole demeanor radiating smug triumph. “That’s right—it’s Wang Xing.”

Lin Wanting pulled a long face and feigned a whiny, tearful tone.

Gu Qingqing, who had just arrived, didn’t know what had happened, but still supported Lin Wanting’s arm.

“Miss, why don’t we just go home? It’s so hot—you might get heatstroke.”

The air was full of drifting fluff, irritating enough to make moods swing unpredictably. Xia Xue sneezed.

Lin Wanting spread out the clothes, let them “accidentally” drop to the ground, and then ground them under her heel.

“Xia Xue, whether it’s servants or boyfriends, you’re only fit to pick up trash.” She stuck out her tongue in a mocking face.

Xia Xue was livid. How could Lin Wanting treat her brand-new clothes like garbage?

“Lin Wanting, this time you’re in the wrong. You were the one who broke up with Wang Xing, so if I marry him, there’s no need for you to get jealous. In fact, I’m inviting you to be my bridesmaid! You must come early.”

“I wish you two eternal love—may you be locked together forever. But bridesmaid? Not a chance. Absolutely not.”

In Xia Xue’s mind, Lin Wanting was clearly jealous, regretting her decision…

In truth, Lin Wanting was secretly overjoyed. Xia Xue had indeed lost her head in love, just like Lin Wanting had in her past life.

“Lin Wanting, you’ve got no spine! Coward.”

No matter how Xia Xue tried to provoke her, Lin Wanting only smiled faintly. From this moment on, she would never give Xia Xue any more leeway—Xia Xue was an enemy, standing firmly on the other side.

Lin Wanting turned and went to browse other stalls. Xia Xue crouched down to inspect the ruined clothes—Lin Wanting had grown bolder, even daring to bully her now.

Xiaomin trailed after her. Xia Xue, still fuming, glanced at her and grew even angrier. People might call her “taking over” Wang Xing, but looking at it now, she wondered if she was just a fool.

Gu Qingqing asked, “Miss, are we really going home without buying anything?”

“Not buying.”

Gu Qingqing was baffled. Her mistress’s moods swung like a roller coaster, and she didn’t dare say more.

Meanwhile, Lin Haifeng woke from his nap, went into the study, and saw everything exactly as it had been. Otherwise, he might have suspected Qiao Yilan had discovered some secret and blurted her earlier worried words.

Sitting at his desk, he took out paper and pen, wrote a letter, and placed it in the safe.

Then, without eating, he left again.

Qiao Yilan had given up trying to control him. Once someone’s heart wandered, there was no going back.

When Lin Wanting returned, she slammed the door and locked herself inside, putting on an act of being upset.

In reality, she was lying on the bed, kicking her legs in delight. She hadn’t expected things to go so perfectly. Once Xia Xue and Wang Xing were bound together, she would make them taste real suffering.

【System: Please complete today’s sign-in!】

Lin Wanting tapped “Sign in now.”

Ding! “You have a reward waiting to be claimed.”

She opened it and out came a white wedding dress with a matching veil.

“Oh my god—it’s not my wedding, so what kind of reward is this?”

Since she was alone in her room, she picked it up to try on. In her past life, her wedding had been rushed, and her chosen dress had been hideously ugly.

This gown wasn’t a poofy ballgown but a sleek, modern-style dress—something she’d never seen before.

She slipped it on quickly, added the veil, and could only think of one word: breathtaking.

“I’m so beautiful—I must marry a prince!” She was still the radiant, confident girl who believed in love.

She took it off and decided she would wear it on her wedding day, hiding it in the bottom of her wardrobe.

Meanwhile, Xia Xue went straight to Wang Xing’s house to see him. It was her first visit, and unfamiliar with the route, she had to ask several friendly locals before finally arriving at his door.

Her first impression: he really was from a poor family. If she married him, could she really live in this environment? She doubted she’d ever get used to it.

“Is Wang Xing home?”

Seeing Xia Xue, Wang Xing rushed out to greet her—he absolutely couldn’t let her go inside, or she might lose the will to marry him.

“Xia Xue, what brings you here? You’ve been crying?”

He led her to the riverside, which made for a better date setting.

“Wang Xing, look—my new clothes were ruined by Lin Wanting.”

Wang Xing wondered if Lin Wanting was actually jealous. Did she still have feelings for him?

“Don’t lower yourself to her level. But… now that you’ve seen my house is so run-down, do you…”

Xia Xue hesitated. Dreams were dreams, but reality was reality. Seeing his home with her own eyes left her uneasy.

This was the place Lin Wanting had endured for seven years, only to end up dying miserably.

“Honestly, Wang Xing… it’s a bit more than I expected.”

She had never been to the countryside before, and people often romanticized the “rustic charm” of rural life—until reality proved harsh.

Afraid she’d change her mind, Wang Xing quickly promised they would live in the city after marrying, and only hold the ceremony in the village for form’s sake.

In truth, he couldn’t even afford rent in the city. He assumed Xia Xue would be like the old Lin Wanting—love-struck, willing to sacrifice and accommodate him.

Xia Xue didn’t stay long before returning to the city. The more she thought about it, the more she remembered Lin Wanting’s remarks about his home. She must have visited before—was the poverty why she refused to marry?

But she couldn’t bear to give up such a handsome man. Torn, she went to ask Xiaomin.

Xiaomin, of course, put it nicely: “Miss, as long as he’s ambitious and you’ve got money, isn’t that a win-win?”

That made Xia Xue realize—she could invest in a small business for him.

“Then why did Lin Wanting suddenly call off the wedding?”

“She just didn’t have the fortune for it! With her spoiled temper, who could stand her? Those two were always breaking up and making up. Who knows—she might regret it someday.”

“Really? She never mentioned that to me…”