Jiang Mianmian's ears went blank.

She stared intently at the ceiling, her small hands gripping the bedsheet tightly, her knuckles white.

Although she still had a headache, the whole thing was already taking shape in her mind—

She was betrayed by Gu Zihan.

She managed to dodge Gu Zihan's drink, but she didn't expect that Gu Zihan would pay someone to do things for her.

The handkerchief covering her mouth and nose had this disgusting medicine on it!

Then……

Then she didn't even know who had assaulted her!

Jiang Mianmian's eyes were fixed, and soon large tears rolled down from the corners of her eyes and landed in her ears.

She didn't sleep a wink that night.

The phone had the family phone number, the younger brother's phone number, and a message from Xia Zhi.

She composed herself and fought back one by one.

Her parents and younger brother were home, and she told them that everything was fine, she was just too tired, so she slept in her school dormitory.

She grinned as she said this, afraid they would notice her voice was off, so she lied and said she had a cold.

Then she called Xia Zhi.

Xia Zhi sensed something was wrong and hurriedly asked her what was wrong. Jiang Mianmian remained silent for a long time before finally unable to hold back and telling her everything in one breath, her voice choked with emotion.

"This is outrageous!" Xia Zhi roared on the other end of the line. "We can't let Gu Zihan get away with this!"

Jiang Mianmian gave a wry smile. Why wouldn't they "let it go"? Should she call the police?

To be honest, she was a little scared. After all, this was not something to be proud of, and with everyone knowing about it, she would be troubled by these rumors forever.

But I really can't swallow this anger if I don't call the police.

"Mianmian, shouldn't you first find out... who the man you had sex with is?"

“I…” Jiang Mianmian bit her lip, “I don’t know.”

"Then who took you to the hospital?"

Jiang Mianmian was taken aback. Yes, how did she end up at the hospital?

Was it delivered by the hotel staff?

But if the hotel staff finds out she has been assaulted, they will definitely call the police first and then take her to the hospital.

But the police didn't come. According to the two nurses, she was brought here by her "boyfriend"...

Jiang Mianmian jolted awake and abruptly rolled over and got out of bed!

She shone her phone's light onto the hospital registration card on the bedside table. Besides her name and the name of the nurse on duty, it also had the name of a family member accompanying her…

Her fingertips traced the words over and over.

Huo Yu!

Jiang Mianmian's eyes widened, her heart felt as if it had been hit hard by something heavy, and her mind went blank.

...

She was discharged from the hospital and went home the next day.

It happened to be a weekend, and she always made sure to go home for dinner every weekend after starting university.

Her parents went to buy her favorite dishes early in the morning. The small supermarket was closed for the day, so Jiang Xiaowei also took leave from her tutoring class to help her parents with housework and wait for her to come back.

Every week on this day, the Jiang family celebrates like it's New Year's Day, and she's like a New Year's picture doll, not having to do anything while the whole family revolves around her.

Jiang Mianmian loves this family very much.

Her parents doted on her and spoiled her, her younger brother respected and indulged her, and whenever she encountered something unpleasant outside, the first thing she thought of was going home.

Because her home is the warmest and safest harbor.

However, the atmosphere at home is a little different today.

Although her parents still put all the good food into her bowl as always, the usually lively dinner table was silent today.

Jiang Xiaowei lowered her head and ate her rice, occasionally stealing a glance at Jiang Mianmian before lowering her head again.

"What... happened to you?"

Jiang Mianmian put down her chopsticks, vaguely feeling that this matter was related to her.

She forced a smile, looked at her family, and asked softly, "Are you hiding something from me? Why are you doing this? You've started forming cliques as soon as I left for university?"

The parents exchanged a glance, their expressions somewhat grave.

Jiang Mianmian deliberately pouted.

"If you don't tell me, I'm not eating!"

"Go ahead and say it..." Dad looked at Mom and said in a low voice, "She'll find out sooner or later anyway."

"I won't say it!" Mom's eyes reddened. "I can't bring myself to say such a thing!"

“Su Aiqian! You…”

"Jiang Youcai! No one would harm their own daughter like this! I've never heard of such a thing!"

"you……"

Jiang Youcai stared wide-eyed, wanting to say something but unable to utter a word.

Jiang Mianmian was completely confused and couldn't help but feel nervous. "What are you talking about?"

Su Aiqian couldn't hold back her tears, which streamed down her face. "In short, I don't agree! We're both rich, and we both love money. We have money, so why can't we protect my precious daughter! If the Gu family continues to pressure us like this, I'll fight them to the death!"

"mom!"

Jiang Mianmian went over and hugged her tightly, and Su Aiqian cried like a child in her arms.

Jiang Xiaowei sighed and said, "Sister, just now, before you came back, the Gu family came... They insist on arranging a marriage for you. If you don't agree, they will..."

Jiang Mianmian frowned. "What's wrong?"

"Let's just close our little supermarket down!"

"What?"

Jiang Mianmian was panting heavily.

Last night's nightmare is still fresh in my mind, but I never expected that Gu Zihan would have even more despicable methods today!

"Sister," Jiang Xiaowei said in a hoarse voice, her eyes red, "you must not agree! The Gu family is going too far, using marriage as a threat!"

"Exactly! Who do they think they are?" Su Aiqian retorted, wiping away her tears. "My daughter won't be manipulated by anyone! If the supermarket doesn't want to open, it doesn't have to, but... nobody can touch my daughter!"

"Hey, Jiang Youcai! Say something!"

Both mother and son were indignant, but Jiang Youcai sat there with his head down, not uttering a word.

He certainly didn't want to trade his daughter for the supermarket.

But he knew how shrewd the Gu family was. This small supermarket wasn't big, and it usually only sold mid-to-low-end daily necessities, but it was the family's livelihood!

The family's food, drink, and daily needs depend on this small shop.

If they don't agree to the Gu family's conditions, they will not only starve, but they will also have nowhere to settle down in the entire Jiangzhou.

Is it what he wanted to see his family flee their home like refugees?

"Huang Youcai!" Su Aiqian smacked him on the head hard. "Say something!"

"What are you talking about?" Jiang Youcai said impatiently, stubbing out his cigarette in the ashtray and muttering, "You...you have a better way? The Gu family...we can't afford to offend them."

"Can't you act like a man for once?!" Su Aiqian retorted angrily. "The Gu family is not to be trifled with, and neither is your Jiang family! Many years ago, among the wealthy families in Jiangzhou, there was the Jiang family, but not the Gu family!"

"Alright, I'm just a distant relative of the Jiang family..."

Jiang Youcai lit another cigarette.

He took a deep breath, and slowly exhaled a smoke ring that enveloped his weathered and helpless face.