Chapter 6 "I'm not a good drinker."...
Wen Lingshuang wasn't a perfectionist. She didn't mind if others had scars or tattoos. The reason she used a tough and rude attitude was that she felt it was difficult to say that she was giving him ointment. Giving him a tie could be considered a return gift, but giving him ointment? She couldn't exactly say that she felt sorry for him because she saw the scars on his hands.
But she didn't expect Jiang An to be so direct.
Three inches below the abdomen.
It doesn't prevent it from being used.
Who cares if that thing even works!
Wen Lingshuang's face flushed slightly. She tried her best to appear calm, but her trembling fingertips betrayed her wildly beating emotions. She put her hands behind her back, picked up her phone from the table, and turned to leave. At first, her steps were light and steady, but after she turned past the screen in the tea room and could no longer see Jiang An, her steps became hurried, as if she were being chased, and she ran back to her bedroom in a great stride.
Tan Zhu was lying on her bed playing on her phone when she heard the noise and turned around to see Wen Lingshuang running in with a flushed face.
She turned sideways to look at him, then asked with a smile, "Did the gift delivery go smoothly?"
Wen Lingshuang didn't say anything, walked to the sofa next to her and sat down, holding her phone and looking at something.
Seeing that she remained silent, Tan Zhu got up and walked to her side. He bent down and looked at her. He saw a picture on the screen, a picture of a half-open window with blue sky and white clouds. He exited the picture and the nickname displayed was: Jiang An.
These days, there are still people using their real names as their WeChat names.
Wen Lingshuang turned to look at the enthusiastic Tan Zhu and said, "He's like my dad; his WeChat name is his real name."
Tan Zhu smiled and said, "Then you should thank me."
"?"
"Fortunately, it's not called something like 'Wealthy Flowers in Bloom,' 'Abundant Harvest Year After Year,' 'Tranquil Tea Fragrance,' or 'Reversing the Flow of Time.'"
"..."
Listening to Tan Zhu utter each word, Wen Lingshuang got goosebumps all over. "What the hell is he? He's older than my dad."
"Is your uncle as good-looking as your brother-in-law?" Tan Zhu asked with a smile, one hand on her shoulder. "You went to give him a gift, why did you come back with such a beaming face?"
"Really?" she asked, feigning modesty. "You must be seeing things."
After saying that, she tapped her phone screen. "It's ten o'clock. I'm going to sleep."
Wen Lingshuang had a very regular schedule. She would go to bed at 10 p.m. sharp and get up at 7 a.m. for breakfast. But today, she didn’t know if it was because Jiang An was staying at her house and was just a wall away from her, but she found it hard to fall asleep. While she was tossing and turning, her phone on the bedside table suddenly lit up. The faint light was magnified infinitely in the dark space, waking Wen Lingshuang up.
She opened her eyes, picked up her phone, and saw Jiang An's chat box pop up on the screen.
Jiang An: [Your cousin came to see me earlier and said you have to clock in at the company every day. I'll come pick you up when I have time.]
Wen Lingshuang's heart tightened when she saw the message.
That brat Tan Zhu!
Wen Lingshuang: [Is there anything else I want to tell you?]
The chat box keeps showing "typing..."
After waiting for about ten seconds, Jiang An replied: [That's all, goodnight.]
Wen Lingshuang looked at the message he sent and unconsciously gripped her phone tightly.
It was absolutely intentional.
In retaliation for her not responding, he fled in disarray.
Frustrated, he slammed his phone on the cabinet and buried his head under the covers.
The stars and moon hung in the night sky, birds flew past the window, and before she knew it, Wen Lingshuang gradually fell asleep. Although she was asleep, she was half asleep and half awake. In her hazy state, the surrounding environment changed. The bedroom became a pavilion in the water town of Jiangnan, the white floor tiles became wooden patterned tiles, and the dampness of early spring drifted in through the open window. It was a kind of coldness that was only found in Jiangnan.
She stepped onto the ground and walked to the window. Dark clouds covered the sky, and mountains stretched endlessly. The air was filled with the fresh scent of tea from the mountains. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. Suddenly, she heard a sound coming from afar.
Birdsong.
It's a bird call made by a person.
Opening my eyes and gazing into the distance, I saw a little boy with a buzz cut, wearing a thin T-shirt, baggy jeans, and standing on the hillside of a tea plantation not far away.
Along the Tianshan Mountains, his figure blended into the tea plantations and the dark clouds.
Like a silent mountain.
He raised his hand and waved to her.
Wen Lingshuang smiled, lifted her skirt and ran downstairs. As she ran, she looked down and saw a pair of small feet that belonged to a five or six-year-old child. By the time she reached the first floor, those small feet were wearing white transparent stilettos, and had become the size of a mature woman. The world spun around, and the environment changed accordingly. The tea plantation had become her current home.
Jiang An appeared before her, wearing a black shirt and the tie she had given him.
He asked her if she was still angry.
She couldn't quite put her finger on it.
They retreated step by step.
He approached step by step.
When she retreated to the corner with nowhere left to go, Jiang An's aura enveloped her, and then his lips covered hers, sealing her lips tightly. Even so, he did not conquer her; the faint scent of mint was as rich and mellow as the aroma of tea that filled the mountains.
Her smooth, glossy fingers unconsciously curled up.
Seemingly sensing her nervousness, he tightened his grip on her hand and placed it on his shoulder.
How the kisses became so intense and passionate, so inseparable, is now impossible to recall. All that remains is the sound of firecrackers going off downstairs, shattering the enchanting dream.
I groggily opened my eyes; it was already bright outside.
Because of that damned Jiang An.
*
August 20th is the official ancestral worship day of the Wen family. As dawn broke and the typhoon gradually subsided, the ancestral hall was already brightly lit and bustling with people. The main ancestral hall is a magnificent building that has been carefully renovated and integrates traditional architectural styles with modern structures. It retains the ancient charm of flying eaves and carved beams and painted rafters, while also being equipped with advanced constant temperature and humidity, fire protection and security systems to protect the countless ancestral tablets, genealogies and cultural relics inside the hall.
The core members of the Wen Group, representatives of various branches of the family, and their families arrived one after another. Most of the men wore tailor-made dark-colored Chinese-style stand-up collar suits, while the women wore elegant and dignified cheongsams or modified Chinese-style dresses, adorned with understated yet valuable jade and pearl jewelry.
As soon as Wen Lingshuang came downstairs dressed, she saw Jiang An standing in the ancestral hall. He was wearing a black shirt and a dark gray suit, looking low-key and composed. His height of over 1.9 meters made him stand out in the crowd.
According to the Wen family's rules, non-family members are not allowed to enter.
But Wen Jinye specially brought a few sticks of incense and had Jiang An take them into the ancestral hall to worship.
Wen Lingshuang felt a tingling sensation in her heart as she walked through the crowd into the ancestral hall.
As soon as they entered the ancestral hall, Tan Yu pulled them aside and whispered, "Sleeping so late?"
Wen Lingshuang lowered her head guiltily.
It's all Jiang An's fault. He inexplicably sent her a message before bed, and then inexplicably dreamed about our childhood, about him...
Seeing that she remained silent, Tan Yu took some incense from the side and handed it to her, gesturing with her lips, "Go, worship with Jiang An."
"ah?"
“Oh, you two are engaged, so it’s normal for you to pay respects to your ancestors.” After saying that, Tan Yu remembered something and said, “The Jiang family’s ancestral worship ceremony is in a few days. As the future Mrs. Jiang, you also have to go to the Jiang family to pay respects.”
"I'm not going..."
She grumbled a complaint, and Tan Yu pushed her next to Jiang An.
The force was so strong that she only bumped lightly against his arm.
Jiang An was bumped and looked down to see Wen Lingshuang lying beside him. Today she was wearing a white printed cheongsam, paired with a pearl necklace and pearl earrings. Her long black hair was tied up with a wooden hairpin, revealing her delicate and beautiful face. Her watery eyes were like grapes picked up from the water, crystal clear.
Jiang An raised his hand and removed a silk thread from her shoulder, saying, "Awake?"
She hummed in response, "How did you sleep last night?"
"Not very good," he laughed.
They didn't say why they weren't sleeping well.
Looking to the side, I saw that he was wearing the tie she had given him.
Amidst the rising smoke, the second uncle stood beside him and recited: "The newlyweds bow in gratitude to our ancestors for their pioneering efforts in establishing this family and for the prosperity of our clan, the peace and tranquility of our home, and for our unity and harmony."
The sound resounded throughout the ancestral hall.
After listening to about ten sentences, Wen Lingshuang's earlobes turned bright red.
Jiang An inserted the incense into the cauldron, then gentlemanly took her hand and helped her up. The two of them stepped aside.
The Wen family's ancestral worship ceremony wasn't quick; the entire family had to participate, and it would take several hours to go back and forth. Wen Lingshuang stood for a few minutes and couldn't stand anymore. She regretted not wearing flat shoes, as her feet were aching. Suddenly, she felt light and the soreness in her feet disappeared instantly. Looking down, she saw a large hand resting on her slender waist. With a gentle push, the hand lifted her up involuntarily.
"Excuse me," a deep voice came from above, "but I think this will make you feel better."
He used a bit more force, almost lifting her up completely.
Wen Lingshuang had almost never been so intimate with a man before, such close contact, such an embrace...
Her mind was in turmoil. When she looked up, she found that Jiang An wasn't doing much better.
His neck... turned red.
Visible red to the naked eye.
A 31-year-old man, has he never been with a woman before? How could a simple hug turn into such a scandal?
Jiang An didn't know why he felt hot. Ever since he moved into the Wen family's old house yesterday, his body had been burning up from time to time. If he didn't know his own constitution, he probably would have gone to the hospital for a checkup by now. So, in the end, the reason for the fever was the woman in his arms.
Her body was delicate and supple, her beauty bright and gentle.
Knowing that it was improper to do such a thing in front of so many elders, she still couldn't bear to see her suffering from leg pain.
With increased strength in her waist, she felt more comfortable and closer to him.
In the solemn ancestral hall, under the blessing of the newlyweds' ceremony, countless emotions were growing and spreading. It was as if some things had already changed the moment the incense was offered, like spring rain entering a dream. When you come back to your senses, the rain has already seeped into your lungs, your heart, and your internal organs, leaving nowhere to hide.
Seeing this, Tan Zhu, who was standing opposite, calmly took out her phone and pressed the shutter.
The two embraced for the first time amidst wisps of incense smoke and golden light streaming in from the front of the ancestral hall, falling obliquely on them. The surrounding crowd was bustling and noisy, yet they seemed oblivious to the world around them. Even their heights were remarkably well-matched, and their attire made them appear like a loving couple who had stepped out of the Republican era.
After standing for more than an hour, the ancestral worship ceremony finally ended.
Next, the Wen family will hold a grand banquet to entertain relatives and friends from all sides.
Wen Jinye sent an invitation to the Jiang family to lower the price. Around 5 p.m., the Jiang family's cars appeared at the Wen family's gate. They were all luxury cars worth hundreds of millions of yuan. There were several of them that Wen Lingshuang couldn't buy. She leaned out of the window and looked at the Jiang family members, counting their heads.
One, two, three...
More than twenty people came, all of them prominent figures, several of whom could be featured in history textbooks.
Tan Zhu lay down with her to watch, and said, "Your husband's family has come, aren't you going down?"
Wen Lingshuang frowned and nudged her with her finger, "Don't play that game."
Tan Zhu chuckled twice, "You'll have to go to the Jiang family to pay respects to your ancestors in a few days. You're new to the Wen family, but once you get to the Jiang family, you'll be their wife."
"How old-fashioned you are! What kind of daughter-in-law are you!" Wen Lingshuang turned to look at her. "I have no intention of living with my in-laws!"
There's no freedom at all!
"The Jiang family is a scholarly and prestigious family that values cultural heritage the most. Jiang An is the heir, so how could they not live together?"
Upon hearing this, Wen Lingshuang couldn't help but start thinking.
Previously, she only thought about getting control of Jiang An's finances so that he wouldn't control her or use old grievances to blackmail and torment her. She never thought about how to live after marriage. She was pampered since childhood, and she couldn't do the job of serving her in-laws.
Turning around, I walked downstairs. As I reached the steps, I saw Jiang Hanyu and his wife Yao Fei enter. The back door led to the Jiang brothers, Xu and Qi. I had seen Jiang Xu and Qi before on formal occasions; in my memory, they were tall and handsome. But perhaps because Jiang An was standing beside them, their tall and handsome image seemed to have changed...
She was lost in thought on the steps, completely unaware that Jiang An had already noticed her.
She changed out of the cheongsam she wore during the day and into a light and retro black and white long dress. Her thick, black hair cascaded down to her waist, making her look extremely radiant.
In fact, it wasn't just Jiang An; with such a bright and beautiful flower standing there, no one could fail to notice her.
When Jiang Xu and Jiang Qi looked up and saw this, a few complex and dark emotions arose in their dark eyes, but those emotions flashed so quickly that they were impossible to catch.
Jiang Xu spoke slowly, and said in a low voice, "I'll marry anyone but Wen Lingshuang."
It sounds sarcastic and strange.
Jiang An casually adjusted his cufflinks. Lon, standing beside him, couldn't help but feel worried for Jiang Xu when he saw this. Had he forgotten the punishment of losing billions of dollars in a project that was recently snatched away? How dare he provoke him again? Wasn't he afraid that if he did something again, it wouldn't just be a matter of billions of dollars?
After straightening his cuffs, Jiang An stepped forward and gestured with his chin to Wen Lingshuang, indicating that she should come down.
Seeing his actions, Wen Lingshuang subconsciously followed suit and got down.
Jiang An walked to her side and pointed to a spot not far away.
The main table had been given to the Jiang family, while the Wen family sat at a table to the side. The banquet began, and laughter, clinking glasses, and greetings filled the air. Wen Lingshuang carefully observed the overall atmosphere of the Jiang family. It was quite harmonious, with brothers being friendly and respectful. It wasn't as discordant as outsiders had speculated. At least in the eyes of outsiders, the Jiang family lived up to its reputation as a century-old family.
She turned to look at Jiang An beside her and found that he did not look like Jiang Hanyu. His features were sharp and smooth, and his temperament was mature and gentle. He lacked the ruthlessness of a businessman and had more of the scholarly air of a literati.
She probably resembles his biological mother.
There's usually a toasting ceremony at dinner parties or banquets, but most people don't dare to toast Jiang An, nor can they afford to.
Given his position, he can drink as he pleases, not as obligated to.
Ignoring all these rules and regulations, Wen Lingshuang poured some wine into a glass and handed it to Jiang An.
Seeing this, Lon was about to intervene, "Miss Wen, the master's health has been recently..."
Before he could finish speaking, Jiang An gave him a wink.
Lon swallowed the rest of his words.
Wen Lingshuang looked up at Lon and smiled, "What's wrong? Can't I offer you a drink?"
“Okay.” Jiang An took the wine she poured. “It’s just that I’m not a good drinker. I’ll talk nonsense when I drink too much.”
"Really?" Wen Lingshuang raised an eyebrow slightly. "Which man in the business world isn't a heavy drinker? My dad can drink a thousand cups without getting drunk."
Jiang An smiled and said, "It's alright, I can have a few drinks today."
Do you smoke?
"I used to smoke, but I quit."
In other words, you don't smoke or drink?
Wen Lingshuang was somewhat surprised, "Why do you want to quit?"
Jiang An picked up his wine glass and drank it all in one gulp, then said in a low voice, "I'm afraid something might happen."
"Huh?" She looked at him, puzzled. "Why are you afraid of getting into trouble for smoking?"
Jiang An didn't answer. He placed the empty glass in front of him and tapped the table lightly with his index finger, signaling her to pour him some wine.
The finger was long and sexy in the white light, and the bluish-purple veins under the skin could be vaguely seen. She picked up the wine bottle and poured wine into the glass. This time she only poured half. When Jiang An saw that she only poured half, he smiled and said, "Don't be afraid. Although I only said I would drink a few glasses, I will drink as much as you pour."
The wine that was originally poured halfway ended up being poured to a full glass.
Jiang An drank it all in one gulp again.
Seeing how readily he drank, Wen Lingshuang didn't want him to drink anymore, as too much alcohol is bad for his health.
But he saw through her intentions and could only reluctantly pour a few more glasses.
After the fifth glass, she put down the bottle and said with dissatisfaction, "I'm not pouring anymore! Do you really think I'm a barmaid who only serves you?!"
With wide, round eyes, he adopted an affected posture.
Jiang An chuckled, "Alright, thank you for your trouble, Miss Wen. What would you like to eat? I'll get it for you."
"No need, I can do it myself."
Wen Lingshuang picked up her chopsticks and added a few dishes to her bowl. She ate with excellent manners, dignified, generous, and refined. She took small bites and put them into her mouth. After eating a bite of a drunken cherry, her moist red lips were stained red, making them look full and tempting.
After eating a few bites, he saw Jiang An answer a phone call, probably about the company. He picked up the phone, got up, and walked towards the yard.
A few minutes later, Jiang Xu also got up and left, heading towards the left courtyard where Jiang An had just gone.
At first, Wen Lingshuang didn't pay attention and focused on enjoying the meal prepared by the chef her father had specially invited from France. When she was almost finished eating, she realized that Jiang An hadn't returned yet. She turned her head and saw Jiang Xu staggering in from the left courtyard, with a small wound on the corner of his mouth. It wasn't very obvious, but it was definitely not hidden.
Wen Lingshuang finally realized something was wrong. She put down her chopsticks, wiped her mouth, and got up to walk towards the courtyard.
As she reached the entrance, the camphor trees blocked most of the streetlights, and a few dappled rays of light fell from the trees. Jiang An stood by the wall, lost in thought. The light and shadow cast a lonely shadow on his figure. She steadied herself, walked towards him, and called out, "Jiang An."
Hearing the sound, Jiang An turned to look at her.
"Have you finished making the call?"
"It's over."
Why aren't you going inside to eat?
Jiang An smiled. "Just letting off the smell of alcohol."
Wen Lingshuang pursed her lips. "Why are you trying to get rid of the smell of alcohol? You're not drunk."
"Because you said yesterday that you don't like defective products and you don't like having marks on your body, I'm afraid that if I drink too much, I'll smell like alcohol."
"..."
Wen Lingshuang's face flushed again.
She bit her red lips and stepped forward, saying, "I said that on purpose."
"Um?"
"That scar of yours is quite deep. It must have hurt a lot when you got hurt, right?"
Jiang An hadn't expected her to say that, and stared at her with a dark and unfathomable look in his eyes.
“I just think that if you remove it, maybe you won’t think about when you were injured.” Wen Lingshuang looked at him and said, “Jiang An, look at me.” She raised her hand and pointed to her wrist, “I was injured before, cut by a utility knife, it hurt so much, I bled a little, and I cried all day.”
It's normal for the young lady to cry and make a scene when she's injured.
He could even picture what that excessively beautiful, excessively attractive face would look like when it cried, its face streaked with tears, looking utterly pitiful.
His heart softened little by little. He moved closer to Wen Lingshuang and whispered, "I won't let you cry anymore."
A sudden closeness, a sudden ambiguity.
Wen Lingshuang instinctively tried to back away, but a large hand gripped her lower back, just like in a dream, locking her in a corner, imprisoning her with nowhere to escape.
"you……"
"I already said it, you just didn't take it to heart."
The strong alcohol and woody scent threw Wen Lingshuang into a state of confusion, and she said, "What are you saying?"
“I said.”
"I have a bad temper when I'm drunk."
You shouldn't have come.
I shouldn't have said those things.
A note from the author:
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
