Chapter Four

But when she realized she was hearing Song Shiwei's inner thoughts, her feelings grew even more complicated.

She had never thought much of this daughter-in-law from the countryside. Usually, they were merely on nodding terms, and she herself had a naturally sour face. Whenever she wasn't smiling, she looked like a living King of Hell. Could Song Shiwei be cursing her in all sorts of creative ways inside her head?

If she heard Song Shiwei cursing her, wouldn't she get so angry she had a heart attack?

But that wasn't the case. This new daughter-in-law seemed to be silently praising her.

[Aaaah! Mother-in-law is so gorgeous! Such a radiant beauty.]

[She just looks a little sour-faced. I don't dare get close. Oh well, aren't wealthy matrons usually really unapproachable?]

[Sigh, does she know what's going to happen to her later?]

*[...]*

Every day, Mrs. Jiang listened to her daughter-in-law's inner thoughts.

Sometimes she was very annoying, but sometimes she was rather cute, and Mrs. Jiang's attitude toward this daughter-in-law gradually began to change.

Perhaps she could try getting along with her. They didn't have to be as close as mother and daughter, but at least they could treat each other with the courtesy of honored guests.

That was why she had brought Song Shiwei to this high-society banquet today: she wanted to let her see more of the world.

Mrs. Jiang recalled the gossip she had just feasted on at close range. Why did it feel as though she was the one getting an eye-opening experience instead?

She also involuntarily recalled what she had heard her daughter-in-law say a few days earlier, and an ominous feeling immediately came over her.

But before Mrs. Jiang could think it through, the auction officially began. She simply stopped dwelling on the matter and beckoned Song Shiwei to come sit beside her.

Extremely reluctantly, Song Shiwei put down the little cake in her hand and slowly, unwillingly shuffled toward Mrs. Jiang.

[Boo-hoo, little cake, I can't bear to leave you.]

[There's gossip to feast on beside my beautiful mother-in-law, but I'd rather feast on little cakes.]

Song Shiwei approached Mrs. Jiang looking ready to cry. Mrs. Jiang dug at her ears, whose eardrums were aching a little from all the noise, then summoned a server and told them to get Song Shiwei a little cake.

Only then did a smile appear on Song Shiwei's face. Her eyes sparkled like those of a beautiful Persian cat, and Mrs. Jiang suddenly wanted to reach out and pet her, though her mind was still on the gossip Song Shiwei had mentioned.

There was gossip around her?

"Mrs. Jiang, why didn't your husband come today?" Mrs. Li, who was beside her, suddenly spoke up. "It's been ages since you two attended an event together, hasn't it?"

"He's rather busy," Mrs. Jiang said politely.

In truth, she couldn't stand his lethal sense of style. Bringing him out was embarrassing.

"Men always have so many excuses sometimes. My husband insisted on putting off an international conference just to come with me. Honestly." Mrs. Li unconsciously put a hand to her forehead and casually gave a wry smile, looking as proud as could be.

Mrs. Jiang couldn't even be bothered to respond. Mrs. Li was good in every other respect and very capable, too, but she loved flaunting her marital bliss whenever she had nothing else to do. Whoever she caught, she had to show it off to them, slipping in a few subtle put-downs to make herself stand out.

Unfortunately, Mrs. Jiang had been assigned a seat beside her today, and now she had become the poor sucker Mrs. Li had grabbed to show off her marriage to.

"Mrs. Jiang, let me tell you, whether a man loves you depends on whether he's willing to put thought into winning your heart." Mrs. Li grabbed Mrs. Jiang's hand and launched enthusiastically into her story. "I'm telling you, my husband is so clingy. Every day..."

Mrs. Li went on and on, and Mrs. Jiang was nearly annoyed to death. Could this hopeless romantic please disappear from her world? She ought to watch out-flaunting love made it die faster.

[Who's this auntie? Mrs. Li, the peerless sucker with a romance-addled brain?]

[Still grinning with all those teeth showing, when your husband has already put five, six, seven, eight green hats on your head.]

While Mrs. Li was talking, a woman's voice rang out in her head, and she abruptly stopped.

Mrs. Jiang let out a long breath, silently snarking to herself. What had she said? Flaunting love made it die faster.

The others had already feasted on gossip with Song Shiwei once earlier. Now, hearing her voice again, they all perked up. Here came the gossip! Here came the gossip!

"Why are you all looking at me?"

Mrs. Li thought someone was playing a prank. They were probably deliberately pranking her because they were jealous that she had such a good husband.

Her husband loved and cared about her so much. He would never cheat.

She dug at her ears but seemed to get nothing out. Instead, that voice appeared again.

[Let me see who he's cheating with. His secretary, the girl next door, a department manager... Wait, why is there husband-and-husband fiction here too? President Li and her younger brother?!]

Author's note:

A mindless feel-good story. If anything makes you uncomfortable, please leave right away. Tossing flowers, tossing flowers, tossing flowers~

Chapter 4: Chapter Four

◎At his age, he was actually chasing thrills like the youngsters.◎

[Wait!!! Have I wandered into the wrong channel?!!!!! I'm just a female college student who hasn't seen much of the world!]

Song Shiwei's piercing shriek nearly shattered the wealthy guests' eardrums. At the same time, their worldviews shattered too, and they couldn't help looking at Mrs. Li with some sympathy.

Her husband and her younger brother?? A brother-in-law and his wife's younger brother??? Wasn't that in-something-cest?

Mrs. Li was now absolutely certain that she had heard the Jiang family's new daughter-in-law. She stared fixedly at her, but Song Shiwei's mouth wasn't moving at all. She was sitting perfectly upright, like a primary school student hoping for praise from the teacher.

She had only just dismissed her suspicions when, the very next second, another explosion went off in her head.

[They've been together for years? Mrs. Li is a gay man's wife! Mrs. Li really has it rough.]

Song Shiwei relished the gossip. This enormous melon nearly stuffed her to death, and she plunged headfirst into the melon field, completely unaware that everyone's gazes had landed on her.

Mrs. Li was now seething with anger. As far as she was concerned, she had never offended the Jiang family's new daughter-in-law. She had never expected her to fabricate such an absurd lie to make a fool of her.