Chapter 7 This rough guy is also… an old man?!

“…” Jiang Wan’s expression froze. Could it be that Fu Jingchuan was upset and went drinking because the Jiang family didn’t marry off their real daughter to him, but instead shoved a fake one his way?

The more she thought about it, the more irritated she felt.

“Fu Jingchuan, if you don’t want this marriage, then go tell your grandfather yourself. Tell the Jiang family you don’t want me. You want Jiang Shanshan.”

Facing this drunken, seemingly not-fully-conscious man, Jiang Wan suddenly didn’t feel like holding back. Thinking she sounded fierce, she furrowed her delicate brows and let out a few annoyed huffs—but in Fu Jingchuan’s ears, her voice was soft and sweet, like a kitten scratching gently at his heart. It tickled… and stung a little too.

His breath grew heavier, and then he let out a low laugh—but clearly had no strength left. His long, dark eyes were already starting to close.

Jiang Wan gritted her teeth and tried her best to haul him inside. But then, little Fu Chen suddenly spoke up. He grabbed Fu Jingchuan’s large hand, trying to stop her.

“What are you doing?! My dad never sleeps in that room! He sleeps over there!”

“…” Jiang Wan blinked and followed Fu Chen’s pointing finger. That room… looked like a woodshed?

“There! Dad sleeps there!!”

This little rascal, for some reason, was being extremely stubborn. He tugged on Fu Jingchuan’s hand, trying to pull him toward that woodshed.

Jiang Wan’s face flushed red. Frowning, she snapped at Fu Chen, “Enough! If you’re so capable, then you do it!”

Seriously. He’s just a little bean sprout, what’s he acting so tough for? Didn’t he realize his dad was built like a tiger? No ordinary person could move him!

Still, Jiang Wan thought it over. If she dragged this man into her room, where was she going to sleep tonight?

And thinking about how Fu Jingchuan had murmured Jiang Shanshan’s name earlier, she suddenly felt a surge of strength!

Holding her breath, she hoisted the mountain-like man onto her shoulder. Thankfully, Fu Jingchuan still had a bit of awareness left and cooperated with her movements. After a heroic effort, she finally managed to get him into the woodshed.

Once inside, Jiang Wan was surprised to find the room wasn’t too bad. Though bundles of twigs and straw for firewood were stacked in the corners, there was a kang bed built from bricks. On top of it, the quilt was folded into a perfectly neat square—clearly the work of a disciplined soldier like Fu Jingchuan.

She tossed him onto the kang, and he promptly rolled over and fell into a deep sleep. His heavy breathing echoed loudly in the small room.

Only then did Jiang Wan start to feel puzzled.

At the door, Fu Chen and Fu Xiaoyan were peeking in. Fu Chen stared at her with wide black eyes, like Fu Jingchuan was the Tang Monk and Jiang Wan was the demoness trying to eat him.

He frowned and stared straight at her. “Hey! Why aren’t you coming out yet? My dad’s trying to sleep!”

“…” Who cared about staying with this drunk man?! Jiang Wan let out a cold snort, then stood up. Just as she reached the doorway, Fu Chen quickly shut the door behind her.

Jiang Wan frowned but still asked, “Hey, kid.”

“You just said… he used to sleep here too?”

“He didn’t sleep with the auntie he married before?”

Fu Chen stood up straight, hands on his hips. “Nope! My dad never sleeps in the same room with those women!”

“…” Why not? Wasn’t she his wife too?

Jiang Wan didn’t understand. Could it be… this rugged guy was actually… a virgin?!

No way, right??

With that towering build, bulging muscles, and bronze-toned skin… he didn’t look like someone who was… uninterested in that sort of thing.

But the topic was way too inappropriate for kids, so she didn’t ask further. Instead, she turned around and bolted the courtyard gate shut again.

“Go to bed, both of you. It’s dark out—if you stay outside too long, the big bad wolf might come and snatch you up~” Jiang Wan yawned.

Tsk. This body was way too weak. Even after sleeping so long, she still felt exhausted. She didn’t even bother looking for a wax candle or kerosene lamp—just went back to bed.

Behind her, Fu Chen stuck out his tongue and made a face. “I’m not scared of the big bad wolf! My dad will beat it up!”

Jiang Wan ignored him and shut the door.

She fell asleep again, but her dreams were nonstop.

One moment she was back in her past life, sitting alone in an empty office, working overtime on a computer. The next moment she was newly awakened, hearing the Jiang couple sighing at the edge of the bed.

Then came memories from the original owner’s life—like how Jiang’s mother used to persuade her to study, take night classes, and aim for the college entrance exam, so she could help arrange a good job for her. But the original owner would always throw a tantrum, saying she hated studying, that reading made her sleepy, and that since her parents were rich, why couldn’t they support her forever?

Even in the dream, Jiang Wan was speechless.

The original owner really had no sense of independence or drive—it was no wonder no one liked her compared to the real daughter. The real one had taught herself a lot, was diligent and capable.

After returning to the Jiang family, she got up early every day to make breakfast for the whole household. And after cooking, she always had to put on a pitiful expression, standing there with her eyes downcast, saying softly:

“I’m not tired at all. I’m used to doing these things.”

“As long as Dad, Mom, and little sister like it, that’s all that matters!”

The moment she said that, Father and Mother Jiang would feel even more heartache for their biological daughter. They’d sigh repeatedly—how much hardship had this child endured? From now on, they had to make it up to her.

Maybe it was because there wasn’t a single happy thing in those dreams, or perhaps it was just the after-effects of being newly reborn and not fully adjusted yet. But when Jiang Wan opened her eyes again, it was still dark outside.

In the quiet countryside beyond, faint sounds of roosters crowing and dogs barking could be heard.

And then—splashing water?

Water?

Jiang Wan suddenly sat up straight. Rubbing her eyes, she pushed the door open and stepped into the courtyard.

The silvery-white moonlight hadn’t yet faded. In a corner of the yard sat a well. A man, shirtless, was scooping water with a large, calloused hand and dumping it over his head.

The short stubble on the back of his head glistened with water. His honey-colored skin was coated with a soft sheen under the moonlight. Scars crisscrossed his back, and as the water ran down, his firm, well-defined muscles tensed and released with every motion.

“…”

Jiang Wan unconsciously swallowed, suddenly feeling… a little thirsty.

She hesitated, wondering whether she should go over to the well for a drink—when the man suddenly sensed the gaze behind him.

He spun around sharply. His long, dark eyes glinted with a sharp, alert light—like a beast lurking in the wild mountains!

The intensity made Jiang Wan’s heart skip a beat.

“…It’s you.”