Jiang Yiran's eyes darted around, and tears were already welling up.

Jiang Qiaoqiao frowned, realizing at a glance that Jiang Yiran had no interest in Huo Beixiao, but was trying to string him along.

She said directly, "Jiang Yiran, if you're willing to switch back, I have no objection. I don't mind at all that Qin Haiyang is secondhand goods you've used. Anyway, I'm a man, I won't lose out!"

As soon as Jiang Qiaoqiao finished speaking, Jiang Yiran, who had just tried to keep Huo Beixiao in suspense with ambiguous words, instantly changed her expression.

The surrounding guests also started talking about it.

What did the bride's sister mean by that?

"What do you mean? Even if they didn't explain it clearly, can't you see it clearly even if you don't have eyes? Where do you think those red marks on the bride and groom's necks came from?"

Summer is a time when people wear light clothing.

Jiang Yiran and Qin Haiyang were reckless this morning, leaving quite a few marks on their bodies.

At this point, someone pointed it out, and everyone's attention turned to the necks of the two men.

Huo Beixiao naturally saw it too.

His face instantly turned as cold as water.

Jiang Yiran couldn't keep up the act any longer. She took Qin Haiyang's arm and said, "Comrade Huo, I've already made myself perfectly clear. Even if we were engaged before, we're now married and have nothing to do with each other. Please don't bother me anymore."

"Okay!" Huo Beixiao squeezed out a word through gritted teeth, then added, "If you encounter any difficulties in the future, you can come to me."

After saying that, he turned around and got on his bicycle.

Jiang Qiaoqiao wanted to follow, but Jiang Yiran whispered in her ear, "Sister, your wife is so kind to me. She's so good to me, she'll definitely be even better to you. Don't forget your little sister when you have a good life in the future!"

Jiang Qiaoqiao smiled slightly, the corners of her lips curving upwards. "Of course I won't forget you."

She would replace the fruit knife that had stabbed her in the heart in her past life with countless dull knives, and slowly cut away Jiang Yiran's flesh.

*

"get off."

She and Huo Beixiao remained silent the entire way.

Huo Beixiao spoke in a deep voice only after the bicycle returned to the family compound and stopped in front of the staff building.

Jiang Qiaoqiao deftly picked up her bag and got off the bicycle.

Huo Beixiao parked his bicycle and opened the door for her. "You'll live here from now on. I'll give you 100 yuan a month for living expenses."

One hundred yuan was quite a lot in those days.

After saying that, he turned to leave.

Jiang Qiaoqiao grabbed him, "You don't live here?"

Huo Beixiao's brows furrowed tightly, his deep eyes fixed on her. "You really want to be my husband?"

"Whether I like it or not, we are husband and wife now," Jiang Qiaoqiao said solemnly.

“I told you, it was Jiang Yiran who wanted to arrange the marriage exchange. I couldn’t stop her, and I was powerless to resist.”

"Now that we've got our marriage certificate, even if you don't want to be husband and wife with me, you should at least tell me your plans so I can make the necessary arrangements."

Huo Beixiao eventually followed her into the room.

Huo Beixiao lived in the staff quarters of the cement factory.

A five-story tenement building.

Huo Beixiao lived on the first floor. After entering, there were two rooms. The outer room had a water tap, a coal stove in the corner, some pots and pans, a cutting board, a cupboard, and a square table.

Jiang Qiaoqiao and Huo Beixiao sat facing each other on either side of the square table.

Jiang Qiaoqiao looked at Huo Beixiao with her bright almond-shaped eyes, but showed no intention of speaking.

After a long silence, Huo Beixiao looked at her and asked directly, "Are you willing to get a divorce?"

"Now?" Jiang Qiaoqiao stared at Huo Beixiao with wide, surprised eyes.

She had feelings for Huo Beixiao, but not to the point where she couldn't live without him.

They just got married, and if they divorce right away...

Although China has now entered a period of reform and opening up, public security is still relatively chaotic, and society remains harsh on women.

She wants to start her own business.

Single women doing business are easily harassed.

Men with impure motives will swarm around divorced women like flies.

Jiang Qiaoqiao looked into Huo Beixiao's eyes. "Divorce is fine, but not now. We just got married. If we divorce now, people outside will spread all sorts of rumors. How am I supposed to live then?"

As Jiang Qiaoqiao spoke, she didn't know why, but a wave of sadness welled up in her heart, and her eyes reddened.

Huo Beixiao looked at her reddened eyes and felt a surge of irritation.

He didn't care who he married originally.

But last night, after he finished repairing the machines in the factory, he had a long dream while he was dozing off.

In her dream, Jiang Yiran married him, but he was only focused on work and neglected her. They eventually divorced, and the man Jiang Yiran remarried was a scoundrel who beat and verbally abused her every day.

Later, in the dream, Jiang Yiran was taken to the execution ground and executed by firing squad.

He didn't dream about what exactly happened in the middle, but he knew that Jiang Yiran was executed by firing squad because she had killed someone.

He guessed that Jiang Yiran might have been unable to endure the domestic violence from her second husband, so she killed him in a fight.

When he woke up, he felt that the dream was incredibly real. He felt depressed and filled with guilt towards Jiang Yiran.

So he quickly packed his things and went to the Jiang family to pick up the bride.

He originally thought that after marrying Jiang Yiran, he would treat her well and live a good life with her.

Unexpectedly, Jiang Yiran, who was originally engaged, was replaced by Jiang Qiaoqiao.

Huo Beixiao frowned.

My dear reader, there's more to this chapter! Please click the next page to continue reading—even more exciting content awaits!