Qin Siyue immediately nodded in agreement, her tone condescending. "Mrs. Long is right. Just look at her—she has the face of a seductress. Poor Shijie, being bewitched by her. If I hadn't insisted he marry Lanlan, he'd surely have fallen for this vixen's trap. Anyway, wishing all students good luck on their exams," she added sarcastically, mocking Tang Mianmian further.
"Exactly, Aunt Long! You can't let women like her seduce your family's men," Yan Youlan chimed in, seizing the opportunity to fan the flames.
"Of course not! Our Long family has strict rules. Women like her will never be allowed through the door," Zhu Wenyi declared coldly.
Qin Siyue laughed and took Yan Youlan's hand. "Come on, Lanlan, let's not waste time around someone like this. It would only lower our status. You don't want the stench of trouble on you."
"You're absolutely right, Mom," Yan Youlan agreed, shooting Tang Mianmian a disdainful glance. "Tang Mianmian, crawl back to Lin City where you belong."
The group of women left, laughing and mocking her, while Tang Mianmian stood frozen, fuming silently.
She kept telling herself not to care, not to let these barking dogs get to her. But no matter how hard she tried, anger burned hot in her chest.
Yan Youlan, you're going too far!
If not for last night's events, Tang Mianmian would have lashed out fiercely.
Instead, she took a deep breath and decided to ignore them. She reassured herself, Don't stoop to their level. It's not worth it.
Turning away, she planned to find An Yi and leave the mall as soon as possible. She was about to call him when a deep voice interrupted her thoughts.
"Tang Mianmian?"
She turned toward the source of the voice and saw none other than Long Yejue, her new husband. His sharp brows furrowed slightly.
"You? What are you doing here?" she asked, startled.
Long Yejue's previously good mood dimmed at her tone. "Why? You're not happy to see me?"
"No…" Tang Mianmian began, questioning his knack for misinterpreting her words. "I'm just surprised, that's all."
"Surprised? I'm your husband now. Should it be surprising to see me?" he asked, his tone edged with displeasure.
Tang Mianmian deflated under his sharp gaze. "I'm just not used to it yet, okay? Don't take it so seriously."
"Don't take it seriously? Are you saying you're not serious about this?"
"…" Can you stop twisting my words?!
"Sir, why are you here?" An Yi appeared just in time, saving Tang Mianmian from her predicament. She shot him a grateful look.
"Finished shopping?" she asked quickly, attempting to change the subject. "Let me carry some of the bags."
An Yi held the bags behind his back. "No need, ma'am. I'll take care of them."
Long Yejue raised a brow at her attempt to evade him, his lips quirking slightly. "Let's go. An Yi can take the bags back. You're coming with me for lunch."
"So early?" Tang Mianmian asked reflexively.
His expression darkened. "I'm hungry. Is that a problem?"
"…No," she muttered, feeling utterly defeated.
In the car, Tang Mianmian couldn't shake the awkwardness. Sitting beside a stranger—who also happened to be her husband—made her feel incredibly self-conscious.
Was this all just a strange dream?
"What do you want to eat? Western or Chinese?" Long Yejue asked, glancing at her briefly.
"Anything's fine," she replied halfheartedly, not knowing how to respond.
His brows arched slightly. "How about the Insect Feast then?"
"Insect Feast?!" she exclaimed, horrified. "No way!"
The Insect Feast was a notorious specialty at a local restaurant, featuring dishes made from all kinds of bugs.
It was the type of dining experience that should repel anyone, yet it had gained a cult following among the wealthy. Inviting someone to the Insect Feast was seen as a show of status, with patrons boasting about their daring culinary adventures.
The mere thought of it made Tang Mianmian's skin crawl. Shaking her head furiously, she said, "I'd rather eat instant noodles at home!"
"I was joking," Long Yejue said, his lips curling into an amused smile, clearly satisfied with her reaction.
Tang Mianmian realized he was teasing her and turned to stare out the window, refusing to engage further.
However, he seemed to misinterpret her silence as anger. Without warning, he slammed on the brakes, bringing the car to an abrupt stop in the middle of the street.
Tang Mianmian lurched forward from the momentum, nearly hitting the dashboard. If not for Long Yejue grabbing her arm, she might have hurt herself.
"Thanks," she murmured, her face flushed as she tried to pull her arm away.
But he didn't let go. His phoenix eyes narrowed slightly as he studied her expression.
"W-what is it?" she stammered, flustered.
"Nothing. I thought you were angry," he said, his tone casual.
"Why would I be? I'm not that petty," she replied, tugging her arm again.
But he still didn't let go, prompting her to blurt out, "Can you let go of my hand, please?"
Long Yejue chuckled softly before finally releasing her.
Just as she exhaled in relief, he suddenly leaned over and pressed a kiss to her lips.
It was brief but deliberate, leaving her frozen in shock. Her wide eyes stared at him like a startled deer, her heart racing uncontrollably.
His lips curved into a satisfied smile. "Not bad. Now I know what to treat you to for lunch."
Tang Mianmian: "…"
Was that a kiss, or a taste test?
Still reeling, she followed him into a restaurant. The traditional decor was simple and elegant, a stark contrast to the usual modern luxury.
Yet she could still feel his lingering presence, his kiss replaying in her mind like a vivid memory she couldn't shake.
Surrounded by lush greenery, Tang Mianmian found herself momentarily captivated.
In a city dominated by stark modernity, this place was like a rare patch of green amidst a sea of red.
Even the air seemed purer, carrying a sense of tranquility that was almost otherworldly.
It felt as clean and serene as the impression this man had given her at times—untouched and clear.
"This place is amazing," she exclaimed, unable to hide her wonder. "How did you even know about it?"
Hearing the amazement in her voice, Long Yejue's mood improved noticeably. A faint, rare softness curved his lips. "A friend of mine owns it. Do you like it?"
Tang Mianmian nodded, her smile sweet as her eyes drank in the surroundings, her attention captured by the enchanting view.
If only there were a bit of mist, she thought. It would be like stepping into a fairyland.
"Jue?" a clear voice called from behind them, breaking the serenity.
Long Yejue turned, his expression impassive.
The voice grew more cheerful as the figure approached. "It really is you! Long time no see."
"This is my friend Su Xi," Long Yejue said, introducing the owner of the serene space.
Tang Mianmian greeted Su Xi with a polite handshake, her smile courteous. "Your place is wonderful—so full of charm."
"Thank you," Su Xi replied with a gentle smile, though her eyes lingered on Long Yejue with subtle curiosity.
Without hesitation, Long Yejue continued the introductions. "Su Xi, this is my wife, Tang Mianmian."
Su Xi froze, visibly taken aback. Her gaze darted between the two of them, then settled on Long Yejue, searching his face for confirmation. "You're married?"
"Yes," he affirmed without hesitation, his tone steady and certain.
"Why didn't I hear anything about it? Have I really been out of touch for so long?" Su Xi laughed, a touch of self-reproach in her tone.
It was clear that Long Yejue's sudden marriage had genuinely startled her.
Tang Mianmian offered a small, awkward smile, unsure of how to respond.
What could she say? That they'd only met once before getting married? Or that she'd agreed out of desperation to avoid a lawsuit?
Neither explanation seemed appropriate, nor did they reflect well on Long Yejue. She opted to stay silent, letting her husband take the lead.
Long Yejue remained unfazed. "We just got married recently, so we haven't announced it yet. You're the first to know."
"Really? Then I'm honored," Su Xi said warmly. "This meal is on me—order anything you like."
"Then we won't hold back," he replied with a rare, relaxed smile.
Tang Mianmian couldn't help but notice how different he seemed. Was this the same man she had just started getting to know?
As they moved into a private dining room and Su Xi left to attend to other customers, Long Yejue's usual cold demeanor returned. Tang Mianmian's earlier observation solidified—he had only been warm toward Su Xi, not her.
"This place specializes in vegetarian dishes. Take a look at the menu and order whatever you'd like," he said casually, pouring himself a cup of tea.
Tang Mianmian's appetite dimmed. Distracted by her own thoughts, she randomly chose a few items, then pretended to sip tea and admire the view.
Long Yejue glanced at her several times, puzzled by the sudden shift in her demeanor. Just moments ago, she had been in high spirits.
Women. Truly impossible to understand.
He had brought her here hoping they might grow closer, yet now she seemed distant.
When the dishes arrived, they both remained largely silent, sipping tea as if participating in a quiet contest.
Finally, Long Yejue broke the silence, his tone tinged with skepticism as he examined the dishes. "Sweet, spicy, sour… Are you sure your stomach can handle this mix?"
Tang Mianmian glanced at the table and realized that in her absentmindedness, she had chosen an array of extreme flavors—some overly sweet, others fiery hot or intensely sour.
Just looking at them made her stomach churn.
She laughed awkwardly. "I'm not very good at ordering food."
There was no way she would admit she'd been too distracted to pay attention to the menu.
"It's fine. Next time, tell me what you like, and I'll order for you," Long Yejue said, unfazed. His deep eyes held a flicker of tenderness—faint but unmistakable.
"I like everything," she blurted out without thinking.
The surprised look on his face made her realize she had exposed her inner foodie. Scrambling to explain, she added, "I mean, I'm not picky. I'm easy to take care of."
His thin lips curved upward, amusement dancing in his eyes. "Good. Easy to take care of is ideal."
"…"
Why did that sound so… strange?
"I noticed you enjoyed bamboo shoots and tofu yesterday. Let's get a few more dishes featuring those," he said, flipping through the menu.
The casual way he said it left Tang Mianmian feeling slightly unsettled.
It was as if they had known each other for years.
She smiled bitterly at the thought. She and Su Shijie had dated for four years, yet he still didn't know her favorite foods. On the other hand, she had memorized his preferences down to the smallest detail.
Thinking of Su Shijie soured her mood further. She nodded indifferently, murmuring, "Anything's fine."
Long Yejue was a man of few words, but every sentence carried weight. That was the impression he gave her.
They ate in relative silence, though he occasionally placed food on her plate.
Feeling obligated to reciprocate, Tang Mianmian awkwardly placed food on his plate in return.
It was her first time doing something like this, and she couldn't shake the sense of awkwardness.
Long Yejue, however, seemed to enjoy it, his gaze flicking back to the menu. "I like radishes."
"…"
If you like them, can't you take them yourself?!
Grinding her teeth in frustration, she begrudgingly placed a radish on his plate.
After the meal, Long Yejue was the first to break the silence. "Don't you have anything you want to ask me?"
Tang Mianmian hesitated, her mind racing. There were so many questions she wanted to ask, but she didn't know where to start. She didn't want to seem presumptuous.
Finally, she settled on the most pressing question.
"Why did you marry me?"