Wei Aihua asked again, "Then why are you so sure that Gu Nuannuan doesn't want to be the mistress of the Jiang family?"
"She was forced to marry Chen Yu. Do you know why Nuannuan attacked you that day? Everyone has a weakness, and Nuannuan's weakness is her parents. Our father used her family to threaten her to marry Chen Yu. Otherwise, why would that young girl marry Chen Yu, whom she had never met?
She didn't even want to get married, so how could she want to snatch the position of mistress of the Jiang family from you? It's just an empty title, or perhaps you care too much about face and fell into Gao Rouer's trap."
"Was she forced to marry Chen Yu?" Wei Aihua's eyes trembled slightly, as if she had cleared away the fog in front of her and saw the truth.
Mayor Jiang finished speaking and lay down again. "Nuannuan, this girl, who was already our daughter, became Chen Yu's wife. Put yourself in their shoes—would the two elders of the Gu family be willing to let Nuannuan marry? I also heard that for Nuannuan, the Gu family has significantly reduced their current business dealings and only collaborates with old friends. Why? It's to show our Jiang family that the Gu family is not selling their daughter Qiu Rong by marrying her off. Aihua, we are not young anymore, and we must learn to think. We have brains to use, not to let others manipulate us."
Wei Aihua sat on the edge of the bed like a deflated balloon. After thinking carefully, she realized that most of what Gao Rouer had told her was intended to win her over and provoke her into feeling hostility toward Gu Nuannuan. Wei Aihua also remembered that Gu Nuannuan had always wanted to move out, just to avoid being involved with the Jiang family.
How could such a person have the heart to compete for an empty title?
She had been wrong.
Wei Aihua pondered this until midnight, and even after the hot water cooled, she still couldn't sleep.
The dining table was unusually quiet the next morning.
While wiping his hands with a wet towel, Jiang Lao asked Jiang Chenyu, "Are you leaving today?"
"Yes, after breakfast, I'll pack up some things and leave with Xiao Nuan."
Jiang Lao asked, "Where will you be staying?"
"The newly purchased mansion, Hanhai Mansion."
Jiang Lao nodded. He looked at Gu Nuannuan and warned her in a fatherly tone, "Don't stay away for too long. Come back often with Chenyu when you're free."
"Dad, have you not had enough of me yet?" Gu Nuannuan was in a good mood as she was about to leave, so she joked, "I'll make sure to visit regularly just to annoy you."
Jiang Lao wasn't upset by Gu Nuannuan's words; instead, he laughed out loud. "You dare to say that."
That morning, Wei Aihua remained silent.
As they were about to leave after breakfast, a sleek McLaren stopped at the Jiang family's doorstep, and a servant ran into the house to deliver the news, "Master, eldest master, eldest lady, Xiao Su is back."
"My son is back." Wei Aihua smiled and hurried to the door to greet him.
Gu Nuannuan saw the commotion at the door and figured it must be the wealthy Mr. Jiang from the Jiang family returning home.
Jiang Lao said to Gu Nuannuan, "When you and Chenyu got married, Xiao Su was traveling abroad and didn't make it home. It's a good time for you to meet him."
Gu Nuannuan nodded. She was curious to see what Wei Aihua's son looked like.
Jiang Chenyu said indifferently, "He's a troublemaker. It's fine if you don't meet him."
Gu Nuannuan shook her head. "I really want to meet him."
Jiangsu's voice could be heard outside the house, "Mom, I brought you a suitcase full of face masks. You won't be able to use them all in ten years. Dad, I bought you a suitcase of cigarettes. You can smoke them until your lungs turn black. Where's Grandpa?"
A young man with brown hair stood in the morning light, wearing earrings, rings on his fingers, and a tattoo on his thumb.
Jiangsu was dressed in a rebellious style, pointing to the suitcases on the ground as he introduced the items one by one.
He had a heroic look, with sharp features and the radiant charm of youth. His skin was a sun-kissed tan, and his eyes crinkled into a charming smile. He was the only grandson of the Jiang family, pampered by his parents and grandfather for years. He carried the aura of a carefree, wealthy young man.
Wei Aihua, full of love and longing for her son, patted him on the back. "Go inside; your grandfather is waiting for you."
"Okay, Mom. There will be ten cars coming later to deliver more things. Remember to receive them. I'm off to find Grandpa."
"Oh, by the way, your uncle is married, and his wife is also at home. Don't scare her."
"What! My uncle is home?" Jiangsu's first reaction wasn't that Jiang Chenyu got married but rather that Jiang Chenyu was at home!
He was as afraid of Jiang Chenyu as a mouse is of a cat. The moment he learned Jiang Chenyu was there, Jiangsu instinctively wanted to flee.
Since childhood, the whole family had spoiled him, but his uncle was a strict disciplinarian who scolded him every time they met.
No one else would dare hit him, but his uncle had thrown him out before.
His parents didn't mind his poor academic performance, but his uncle had punished him by making him copy test papers ten times. If he didn't finish, he got a beating.
Being afraid of Jiang Chenyu had become a reflex for Jiangsu.
"What are you afraid of? You haven't done anything wrong this time, so your uncle won't hit you," Wei Aihua said.
Inside the house, Gu Nuannuan fell silent when she heard the familiar voice outside. She would never forget that voice. "Xiao Su...is his name Jiangsu?" she asked.
Jiang Lao nodded. "Yes, you two attend the same university. You and your aunt can go together when the semester starts."
Gu Nuannuan blinked rapidly and said with a strange expression, "He, uh, might not want to go with me."
Outside, the mother and son were still bickering. "Your uncle got married; you have to meet your new aunt. Your uncle is moving out soon."
"Everyone's already seen Gao Rouer, I don't need to meet her."
"It's not her. Your uncle married someone else."
Jiangsu's sleeve was nearly torn by his mother. Hearing this, he froze. "My uncle married someone else?"
Wei Aihua nodded. "Yes, quickly go meet her. You're not a kid anymore. Your grandfather, uncle, and aunt have been waiting inside for a while."
"My uncle got married so fast?" Jiangsu shouted, as if he'd discovered a new world.
Gu Nuannuan lowered her head, feeling embarrassed. Not only did he marry quickly, but she had too.
She hoped Jiangsu wouldn't be too shocked when he saw her later.
Her odd behavior piqued Jiang Chenyu's curiosity, and he looked at his wife calmly.
Wei Aihua nodded at her son. "Yes, yes, go inside."
Jiangsu wondered what kind of woman could have captured his uncle's heart, a man as powerful as the legendary Shang King. His curiosity got the better of him, and he decided to go inside.
He let go of his mother's hand. "Mom, don't pull me. I'll go in."
Passing under the eaves, he entered the Jiang family's main hall.
Three people sat on the sofa.
At the head was Mr. Jiang, still as majestic as ever.
Next to him was Jiang Chenyu, the person Jiangsu feared most.
And then...
"Hi, Jiangsu, I'm your new aunt, Gu Nuannuan!" Gu Nuannuan raised her hand and greeted him.
"Ahhhhhhhhhhh!"