"Oh!
"So it really is Jiang Ye and Xie Zhiqing in here..."
Upon seeing the two inside the room, both fully clothed with only slightly disheveled hair, Wang Laidi, who had burst in first, found the word "affair" stuck in her throat, unable to utter it.
She felt frustrated: If only she'd arrived earlier, perhaps she would have caught them in a compromising position.
Xie Jiaojiao crossed her arms over her chest, accentuating her already prominent bosom. Her doe-like eyes, glistening with anger, fixed on Wang Laidi.
"What about Jiang Ye and me? Why don't you continue?"
Wang Laidi had always accused her of being a seductive vixen, luring men away.
But look at that man—pockmarked, hunchbacked, and shorter than her. She'd have to be blind to fancy him.
Caught without evidence, Wang Laidi tried to retreat, but Xie Jiaojiao's words stopped her. Looking at Xie Jiaojiao's attractive face and especially her full chest, Wang Laidi blurted out in a moment of anger:
"A man and a woman, alone together—who knows what indecent things you're up to?"
Just then, Jiang Xiu, who had been pushed aside by the crowd but managed to squeeze back in, was stunned by the scene.
She had specifically bought a potent aphrodisiac meant for sows, yet these two stood there, fully dressed.
It didn't make sense.
Thinking of Su Yu, who always looked at her gently and spoke of the exciting world beyond, Jiang Xiu's eyes flashed with determination.
Regardless of whether Xie Jiaojiao and the wealthy Jiang Ye had done anything, today she had to tie them together.
Feigning innocence, she said, "Auntie, maybe they just had something to discuss?"
"Discuss? More like discussing under the covers," someone in the crowd jeered.
Xie Jiaojiao had mixed feelings about Jiang Xiu.
In her dreams, Jiang Xiu had caused her to lose her innocence, leading to frequent harassment by the village bachelors. Yet, it was also Jiang Xiu's father, Captain Jiang Tao, who had sternly reprimanded the unruly villagers, allowing her some peace.
Later, with her father's help, Jiang Xiu recognized the true nature of Liu Niannian and Su Yu, apologized to her, and advised her to leave the scumbag and her scheming cousin Liu Niannian, and to settle down with Jiang Ye—a reliable man she had carefully chosen.
But at that time, blinded by infatuation, she was determined to marry Su Yu, ignoring Jiang Xiu's advice, leading to her downfall.
Even now, Xie Jiaojiao couldn't fully trust Jiang Xiu. Who knew if she had truly changed or was still trying to sow discord?
After all, she had once harmed her.
Collecting her thoughts, Xie Jiaojiao held Jiang Ye's hand firmly and declared, "Comrade Jiang Ye and I are in a relationship. We found a private place to talk—what's the problem?"
At the doorway, Liu Niannian and Su Yu paused.
While Liu Niannian seemed pleased, the usually composed Su Yu couldn't accept this.
Su Yu didn't like Xie Jiaojiao, but seeing his former admirer now in the arms of a rustic man from a wealthy family made him uncontrollably angry.
It was a challenge to his manhood!
Pushing through the crowd, Su Yu frowned at Xie Jiaojiao, his gaze akin to that of a parent scolding a misbehaving child. He began lecturing:
"Jiaojiao, I don't like you, but you shouldn't degrade yourself by choosing a country bumpkin to spite me."
"This won't get my attention; it'll only make me think less of you."
"Come back and explain everything. I might overlook this foolishness."
Xie Jiaojiao was speechless.
Her entire family had a strong military background, so she was raised among rough men.
Perhaps that's why, one winter day on her way to school, she was captivated by Su Yu, who stood under a plum tree in a white shirt, earnestly reciting from a book.
His scholarly aura enchanted her youthful heart, leading her down a path of no return.
When Su Yu went to the countryside, she followed. When he had no money, she emptied her pockets to support him and his other woman...
Looking back now, Xie Jiaojiao realized how pretentious Su Yu had been.
Raising their clasped hands, she declared, "I'm not being foolish. Comrade Jiang Ye and I share the same ideals and are developing a closer revolutionary relationship."
Su Yu still didn't believe her. After all, Xie Jiaojiao had liked him for years and even followed him to the countryside. How could she suddenly fall for someone else?
But he had to admit—he was indeed upset.
Still, Su Yu remained arrogantly confident, thinking Xie Jiaojiao's actions were just a ploy to get his attention. Using a condescending tone, he said, "Jiaojiao, leave him. I'll give you a chance to pursue me!"
After saying this, Su Yu confidently raised his chin, believing Xie Jiaojiao would stop her antics and come running back to him.
However, Jiang Ye's fist was the response he received.
"Trying to steal my woman right in front of me? Do you think I'm dead?"
Jiang Ye had heard the rumors about Xie Jiaojiao, but having faced societal scorn himself, he had keen eyes. He had been observing her reactions and could tell she had no feelings for this "white-cut chicken" man.
He didn't care about the past. Since he had already been intimate with her and she was willing to be with him, he wouldn't allow anyone to bully her—no, his wife.
He only cared about the future!
Jiang Ye's sudden punch caught everyone off guard, eliciting gasps. Xie Jiaojiao quickly grabbed his hand.
Dazed and on the ground, Su Yu saw this and smugly glanced at Jiang Ye, thinking, "See, Jiaojiao still cares about me. She'll scold him for hitting me."
But in the next moment, Su Yu's eyes widened in shock, his jaw dropping.
Xie Jiaojiao was gently blowing on Jiang Ye's hand, her face filled with concern. "Does it hurt?"
Seeing this, Su Yu's face turned ashen, his gaze dark and menacing, as if Xie Jiaojiao had betrayed him.
Jiang Ye raised an eyebrow, leaned down, and whispered into Xie Jiaojiao's ear, "It hurts. A kiss from you will make it better."
While saying this, Jiang Ye didn't forget to shoot Su Yu a wild, defiant look—like saying, "You wanna mess with me? Go ahead."
Su Yu's anger flared up, boiling all the way to his head. He was about to lose his temper and curse when suddenly, a pair of hands gently grabbed his arm and helped him to his feet.
He turned his head and saw Liu Niannian, her eyes full of concern. The raging fire in Su Yu's chest instantly cooled down, and his usual refined, gentlemanly demeanor returned.
Sure enough, it was someone like Niannian—this gentle, understanding, and educated woman—who was truly worthy of his love.
That empty-headed pretty face of Xie Jiaojiao's wasn't worthy of him in the slightest.
Hmph. He would remember this humiliation today. From now on, he would ignore Xie Jiaojiao's attempts at flattery and wouldn't give her even the slightest kindness.
Still, as he thought this, Su Yu couldn't help but steal a glance at Xie Jiaojiao from the side of his arm linked with Liu Niannian's.
Xie Jiaojiao, he thought, you've gone too far... I—I…
Before the harsh words in his heart could escape, he caught sight of Xie Jiaojiao exchanging glances with that rich landlord's son, her calm face stirring with new emotion.
Good. Very good.
Playing hard to get?
Xie Jiaojiao, you win.