Chapter 4: Such a handsome guy, she likes him, but it’s a pity that he’s not her type

Back in Daping Village, Ruan Xiangxiang had no idea that Gu Rongqing was already on his way home.

The next morning, she freshened herself up and prepared to change into something clean before leaving the Gu family and starting her new life.

Looking at the washed-out, faded dress in her hands, Ruan Xiangxiang felt nothing but disgust. That wicked stepmother, Zhang Lingyu, had taken the 300-yuan bride price and still hadn’t been willing to buy her a proper dress. Instead, she’d packed up Ruan Mengmeng’s worn-out old clothes and sent them along.

No way was Ruan Xiangxiang going to wear those.

Fortunately, Mother Gu had already prepared everything her third son would need for marriage—clothes, pants, and more, all neatly set aside. She had surprisingly good taste too; the clothes she had picked out were youthful and stylish. When buying them, she’d been thinking, These are for my future daughter-in-law, so most were in festive colors.

Ruan Xiangxiang picked a red V-neck puff-sleeve dress. Her fair skin looked even more radiant and delicate against the color.

Her waist was so slender that the dress was a bit loose, but thankfully it came with a belt. She tied it into a beautiful bow, instantly giving herself a graceful, hourglass figure.

She carefully combed her thick chestnut-brown hair. Naturally wavy and voluminous, she had no intention of tying it up—it looked best loose. Her bouncy waves paired with the dress made her look like she had walked straight out of an ‘80s Hong Kong movie.

After getting dressed, she stood tall and walked a few steps in front of the mirror. The reflection was stunning—graceful, confident, and full of feminine charm. Even Ruan Xiangxiang herself was delighted with what she saw.

Unlike the original owner of this body, who used to hunch over to hide her curves, Ruan Xiangxiang felt no shame in embracing her figure. This body was a gift—why hide it when she could proudly show it off?

Thinking of this, she suddenly remembered the voice she heard in her mind yesterday. She tried calling out with her thoughts:

“Little sister? Are you there?”

But nothing answered. It seemed like that voice had just been a dream after all.

Just then, Mother Gu came knocking again—bringing food.

When she saw the newly dressed-up Ruan Xiangxiang, Lu Wenhua was momentarily stunned. She almost wanted to shout, Heavens, is it even possible for someone to look this good in real life?

“Xiang… Xiangxiang, I never thought that dress would suit you so well. You look absolutely beautiful,” Lu Wenhua said sincerely, though her heart ached a little.

Such a beauty… who on earth would be worthy of her? she thought. Still, she couldn’t give up just yet. Since Xiangxiang’s family didn’t treat her well, she might not have anything to go back to. Maybe, if she reasoned with her kindly, the girl might decide to stay?

“Aunty, if you have something to say, just say it,” Ruan Xiangxiang said with a smile, noticing how nervous she seemed.

Lu Wenhua took a deep breath, as if mustering courage. “Xiangxiang, the more I look at you, the more I like you. Are you really unwilling to stay and be my daughter-in-law? Aunty won’t lie to you—my third son is doing quite well in the military. He sends money home every month. Just this month, he sent 120 yuan. And my son… well, he’s tall and not bad-looking. Not as pretty as you, of course, but he’s decent. What do you say? Will you stay and be my daughter-in-law?”

She looked at Ruan Xiangxiang expectantly.

Ruan Xiangxiang hesitated. “Aunty, I think you’re a very good person too. But marriage is a lifelong commitment. If two people have no emotional foundation, there’s no way it could turn out well.”

What she really thought was: Aunty, I’m really sorry, but your son is impotent. I don’t want to be a living widow!

Of course, she couldn’t say that out loud—it would be far too hurtful.

Unexpectedly, Lu Wenhua spoke first. “Girl, I know my third son isn’t… capable anymore. Sigh. I didn’t consider things carefully. Here, take this money—you probably don’t have any on you right now. This is Aunty’s fault.”

Ruan Xiangxiang hadn’t expected Mother Gu to offer her money, especially after the family had already paid 300 yuan as a bride price. Now the bride didn’t want to stay, and she was still willing to compensate her?

Still, she couldn’t marry a man she’d never even met—especially one who was disabled.

“Aunty, thank you. You’re truly a good person. I really don’t have any money on me right now, so I’ll accept this for now—but please consider it a loan. Once I get home and have some money, I’ll send it back to you.”

She took the money gratefully. There was no need to put on airs—she had absolutely nothing at the moment. Her first priority after returning to Shendu would be to confront Zhang Lingyu and Ruan Chenghong and demand her rightful money. She’d pay Mother Gu back then.

“Girl, what are you saying? You don’t need to pay me back,” Lu Wenhua said, eyes misting over—not out of sorrow for the money, but thinking about her poor son who would likely never marry.

She had to accept it now—no girl would be willing to marry her son anymore. This time they’d nearly lost a life. She wouldn’t dare arrange anything recklessly again.

The two of them kept insisting—one trying to return the money, the other refusing to take it back—and this back-and-forth carried on from the room all the way into the courtyard.

At that very moment, a military jeep was pulling into Daping Village.

After speeding all the way home, they had finally arrived.

Gu Rongqing’s heart was in his throat. A girl had hit her head on a pillar in his house. No matter how this happened, the Gu family bore responsibility.

Whatever demands the other side made, he would agree. What mattered most was handling this properly.

As soon as he entered the village, Gu Rongqing noticed countless eyes watching him. Clearly, they were all curious onlookers.

And of course—something like this happening in the Gu household was bound to get the villagers gossiping.

“There’s Rongqing! You’re back?”

“Rongqing, thank goodness you’re home. You’d better hurry back and take a look!”

However, Gu Rongqing quickly realized that something didn’t quite match what he had imagined.

Normally, if there had been a funeral in any household in the village, the neighbors would’ve dropped everything to help out—no one would be standing around chatting like this.

With a sliver of hope in his heart, he stepped harder on the gas and pulled into the family courtyard—only to find none of the mourning scene he had dreaded.

The heavy weight pressing on his chest all the way home instantly lifted.

Click!

The car door opened, and a long leg in military uniform stepped out.

Gu Rongqing looked up—and froze.

Right under the eaves of the house stood a woman in a flowing red dress. He stood there dumbly, eyes fixed on her, even forgetting to take his other leg out of the car.

The world around him seemed to fall into silence as he stared.

Snow-white skin, a slender waist that looked like it could be wrapped in one hand, and long, softly curled hair cascading down her back that only made her figure appear even more delicate.

Her face—without a doubt—was the most exquisite he had ever seen. And her eyes, as blue and dazzling as sapphires, seemed to carry a magical allure, impossible to forget at first glance.

The only imperfection, if it could even be called that, was a small, fingertip-sized red scar on her forehead. But as the saying goes, “a flaw does not mar the jade”—even the scar somehow looked refined on her.

He had traveled to many places and seen people of all races. But even among full-blooded blond, blue-eyed Europeans, he had never seen someone whose features were as harmoniously striking as hers.

Ruan Xiangxiang, of course, also saw the man stepping out of the car.

With just one glance, she screamed internally:
How can someone be this handsome?!

Model-like face, broad shoulders, trim waist, long legs—textbook inverted triangle body shape! He looked to be about 185cm tall, with perfect proportions. The military uniform hugged his body in all the right places, hinting at well-defined muscle underneath.

What a fine man… totally my type!

Too bad… he’s dysfunctional!

No! No! No!

Ruan Xiangxiang, snap out of it!

Being handsome won’t feed you! The heavens blessed you with a killer face and body—not so you could waste it on a sexless marriage!