Chapter 15 She got married quietly. Could it be that she did something shameful?

In the back seat of the car, Gu Rongqing was gently massaging Ruan Xiangxiang’s wrist. His eyes sparkled as he looked at his little wife’s face, making Ruan Xiangxiang feel shy under his gaze. She couldn’t help but ask, “What is it?”

“I didn’t expect you to be so good at makeup. That bride today looked completely different from when we bumped into her at the department store the other day.”

Ruan Xiangxiang lifted her chin proudly and said smugly, “Of course! Do you even have to ask who did her makeover?”

Seeing her little smug expression, Gu Rongqing chuckled and playfully tapped her nose. This scene happened to be caught by Lu Hang through the rearview mirror, and he immediately shouted, “Whoa! You two lovebirds, stop with the public display of affection already!”

“Hehe, just focus on driving,” Ruan Xiangxiang replied unapologetically.

Lu Hang kept complaining the whole way, but the couple in the back paid him no mind and continued their display of affection, one round after another. Lu Hang’s desire to find a girlfriend reached new heights. Earlier, several aunties at the Lin household had enthusiastically introduced him to some girls, but there hadn’t been time to meet any of them. He decided that once he returned to the army base, he’d call his mother and urge her to find him a match. Ever since seeing how well Aunt Gu had arranged a partner for Qing-ge, Lu Hang firmly believed that this was a job best left to one’s mother.

The three of them chatted all the way until they stopped at a restaurant for dinner. Ruan Xiangxiang also took the chance to change her clothes. While doing the bride’s makeup in the morning, she had accidentally gotten her clothes dirty. Add to that the fact she led the charge during the red envelope scramble and ended up sweating—she was feeling uncomfortable. More importantly, being a little vain, she simply couldn’t tolerate being smelly.

By around 6 p.m., they finally arrived at the paper factory’s family housing in Shendu. Ruan Chenghong and his wife worked at the paper factory. Ruan Xiangxiang had also been a temp worker there in the past. That job had been bought using money left behind by Ruan Xiangxiang’s late mother, through a connection of Zhang Lingyu’s who was looking to sell the position. Since Zhang Lingyu had helped arrange the deal, she later claimed that she had bought the job for Xiangxiang and felt entitled to take her entire salary every month.

The original Xiangxiang, having lost her biological mother early, grew up under the neglect of her father and the oppression of her stepmother, and never dared to resist. Thinking of all this, Ruan Xiangxiang’s eyes turned sharp. Today, she planned to properly settle the score with Zhang Lingyu and her husband.

It was peak time for factory workers getting off work. They carried groceries for dinner as they chatted and hurried home to cook. The military jeep carrying the trio pulled up in front of the residential building. Cars were rare here—especially military jeeps—so people couldn’t help but slow down and gather around to see who was inside.

Ruan Xiangxiang rolled down the window and smiled at one of the curious onlookers. “Auntie Zhang, what are you staring at?”

The auntie blinked in surprise, and only after a second realized that the person in the car was none other than that “weird-looking” Ruan Xiangxiang from the Ruan family!

“Oh my! It’s you, Ruan Xiangxiang? What are you doing in a military jeep? Didn’t your stepmother say you got married? Why are you back? And who are these two young men?”

This Aunt Zhang was famous for being a gossip in the housing complex. If anything happened in the neighborhood, she’d be the first to jump in. Seeing Ruan Xiangxiang in the car now was like discovering a whole new world. As soon as she spoke, more people gathered around, all looking curious and surprised.

Ruan Xiangxiang smiled, opened the car door, stepped out, and straightened her clothes. She was now wearing that red dress she’d worn before, with a wool coat on top and white boots on her feet. She was already tall, and this outfit made her look even taller and more elegant. She carried herself with confidence, standing tall with her head held high, her whole aura radiating strength. Aunt Zhang rubbed her eyes, unable to believe this was the same hunchbacked, timid Ruan Xiangxiang from before.

Smiling sweetly, Ruan Xiangxiang said, “Auntie, I did get married! I just came back for a visit. Is my stepmother not off work yet? Oh, by the way, this is my husband, and the one in front is his comrade—they’re both from the Shandu Military District.”

Gu Rongqing had also gotten out of the car and stood beside her, politely nodding to Aunt Zhang and the others. He had a tall, strong build that exuded presence—especially now, with his military coat on, he looked even more distinguished. Standing next to Ruan Xiangxiang, the two looked like a perfect couple, as if they had stepped right out of a painting.

“Auntie, I won’t keep chatting with you. I’m going to see if my stepmother’s home—I’ve got a lot to talk to her about,” Ruan Xiangxiang said with a smile to the crowd, then turned and walked toward the Ruan family’s unit in the building.

Aunt Zhang swallowed hard. “Oh my gosh… who did Ruan Xiangxiang marry?!”
“I didn’t even recognize her! How did she suddenly get married without saying anything?”
“Who knows what happened so fast? The way she always swayed when she walked… Maybe she did something shameful and had to rush into marriage.”
“Who would’ve thought her stepmother, Zhang Lingyu, turned out to be pretty responsible—found her such a good match! Did you hear that guy is from the Shandu Military District? I saw the stripes and stars on his uniform—there were several!”
“Ruan Xiangxiang really struck gold, tsk tsk. But I don’t think she’s the quiet type—did you see how high she was sticking out her chest just now? Walking like she owns the whole street!”

A few of the older aunties were getting more and more out of line with their gossip, casting sharp, sinister glances in the direction of Ruan Xiangxiang and her husband.

“Hey! You bunch of gossiping old hens, talking bad about people behind their backs—watch out or your sons will be born without buttholes!” Lu Hang stormed out of the car, scowling as he shouted at them.

These aunties were truly shameless—actually daring to say that the sister-in-law’s stepmother was responsible. Pfft! A bunch of clueless old hags!

Caught red-handed talking smack and faced with Lu Hang in a military uniform, these usually arrogant women didn’t dare argue back. They slinked away in embarrassment, scattering in all directions.

Lu Hang hurled a few more curses at their retreating backs before catching up with Ruan Xiangxiang and Gu Rongqing.

Just as Ruan Xiangxiang and Gu Rongqing arrived at the Ruan family’s door, they heard the voice of a middle-aged woman coming from inside. Her tone was full of affection:

“Mengmeng, Mama made you some chicken soup—come drink it all up, and eat all the meat too. Just leave the chicken feet and head for your dad.”

“Mom, I’m not really in the mood for chicken. You eat the meat, I’ll just drink the soup.”

“No way. This is a free-range chicken your dad got through connections—he bought it just for you because you’re about to go off to college in Shandu. He feels bad for you. You’re such a picky eater, unlike that Ruan Xiangxiang who eats like a reincarnated starving ghost—she could down several big bowls in one sitting.”

When Zhang Lingyu mentioned Ruan Xiangxiang, her voice was dripping with disgust.

“Alright, alright, Mom—I’ll eat it. Let’s not talk about that annoying person.”

BANG!

The rotting wooden door was kicked open.

Zhang Lingyu and Ruan Mengmeng turned to see Ruan Xiangxiang standing there, her face like frost, hands in her pockets, pulling her long leg back with a cool, casual motion.