Jiang Ci leaned lazily against the back of the sofa, his long legs casually propped up, exuding an air of careless arrogance. His chin was slightly raised, and the subtle rustling sound in front of him made the tips of his ears flush uncontrollably with heat.
His thin lips curved into a mocking sneer. “Getting changed right in front of me? Su Yue, you really are something. You’ve no shame at all, do you?”
Su Yue didn’t seem affected by his sarcasm. In the past, she was used to hurried schedules and had changed clothes in front of assistants and stylists without a second thought. Without blinking, she calmly pulled the soft, rosy-pink dress over her figure and smiled at him, her tone relaxed, “You can’t see anyway.”
Jiang Ci’s jaw tensed, his expression visibly darkening. The tip of his tongue pressed against the roof of his mouth in frustration. This woman—she was deliberately bullying him for being blind!
Su Yue reached behind her back to pull up the zipper of the dress, only for it to get stuck halfway. She tugged at it a few more times, but it didn’t budge.
She turned slightly and glanced toward the man sitting on the sofa. His expression didn’t look too pleasant.
Her voice softened, tinged with helplessness, as she said earnestly, “Jiang Ci, can you help me zip this up? It’s stuck.”
Jiang Ci chuckled coldly, his lips curving. “You’re asking a blind man to zip you up?”
Su Yue’s lips curled with amusement. Of course, he wasn’t actually blind. If he were, she wouldn’t dare tease him like this. But that wasn’t something she could say aloud. Instead, she coaxed him with a warm voice, “I really can’t reach it on my own. I’ll hold the fabric for you, just pull the zipper for me, okay?”
Jiang Ci raised a brow, a trace of playfulness in his tone. “Are you asking me for help now?”
“Yes, I’m begging you. Will you help me?” Her tone was soft but sincere. If he refused, she would have to call her mother in for assistance.
Jiang Ci let out a low chuckle. He found her coaxing quite interesting. “Come here,” he said, lowering his long legs from the sofa.
Su Yue walked over obediently. To make it easier for him, she squatted down in front of him, then turned around and straightened her back. “It’s ready.”
Jiang Ci had been sitting upright, but at her movement, he leaned forward slightly. A sweet, milky fragrance wafted from her body, subtly clinging to the air between them. His fingertips brushed against the thin, silky fabric of her dress, soft and delicate to the touch. For a second, he rubbed his fingers over it unconsciously—why were women’s clothes always so soft?
Finally locating the zipper, he pulled it upward in one smooth motion.
“All done,” he said.
Su Yue turned her head, only to realize how close he was. Her shuiling eyes—clear and bright—met Jiang Ci’s. His eyes, although unfocused, were striking. Deep, pitch-black, and hauntingly beautiful. What a pity such eyes had lost their sight.
She smiled gently. “Thank you.”
Jiang Ci didn’t respond, but his fingers, still hanging by his side, seemed to recall the lingering sensation of that delicate fabric.
Su Yue stood up and tugged gently at her dress. It fit perfectly.
The dress ended just at her knees, revealing her pale, well-shaped legs—slender yet proportioned. Paired with the soft, blush-pink hue of the dress and strappy white heels she’d chosen earlier, her whole appearance was fresh, elegant, and quietly dazzling.
Moments later, a tall, lean man entered with Jiang Ci’s outfit. His expression was cold, his demeanor respectful. He came and left as silently as a shadow.
Su Yue received little Haohao’s outfit and knelt down to hand him the small formal suit.
“Do you want me to help you get dressed?” she asked gently.
“Haohao can do it by himself.” The little guy puffed out his chest, took the suit, and scurried off into the bathroom, closing the door behind him with a determined thud.
When he emerged again, he had transformed into a little gentleman. The small tailored suit fit him perfectly, and he looked like an adorable little prince.
Su Yue squatted down and smiled warmly, “Haohao looks so cute today.” She reached out to ruffle his hair, then helped him fasten the buttons of his blazer.
Hearing someone praise him as cute for the first time, the little boy’s dark eyes instantly lit up. His lips pressed together tightly, barely containing his joy. After a brief moment of squirming pride, he bashfully covered his reddened ears and muttered fiercely, “Haohao has always been cute!”
Then, in a flustered attempt to escape the moment, he spun around and bent down to tease the little cat, Coriander.
Su Yue chuckled softly, recognizing his shyness. “Come on, let’s go see if your dad is ready.”
Haohao patted Coriander’s head gently and explained in his babyish voice, “Wait here obediently. Don’t run around. Eat on time.” Then, satisfied with his instructions, he let Su Yue take his hand and left.
But the moment Su Yue saw Jiang Ci after he changed, she was momentarily stunned.
He wore a black, slim-cut suit that accentuated his tall, lean frame. A crisp white shirt peeked out from underneath, buttoned all the way up to the collar, lending him a cold, ascetic elegance. With his head slightly lowered and one hand adjusting the cuff of the other, he looked sharp, noble—and breathtakingly handsome.
If he weren’t blind… if he weren’t disfigured… how unbearably attractive would this man be?
“Daddy is so handsome!” Haohao released Su Yue’s hand and trotted over to Jiang Ci. His little hands didn’t dare wrap around his father’s leg, so he just tugged gently at the hem of his coat, gazing up in awe.
“Daddy, so handsome,” he said in a small, proud voice. Then, with his cheeks puffed out shyly, he added, “Haohao is also handsome. Super handsome!”
Su Yue nodded with a chuckle. “Xiao Haohao is right.”
Hearing that, Jiang Ci raised his chin slightly and the corners of his lips curled into a rare, amused smile.
Downstairs, Su Jindong and Fang Ru had already changed and were waiting.
Fang Ru beamed with pride as she watched her daughter walk down the stairs gracefully, her presence radiant. Meanwhile, Su Jindong’s eyes darkened as they landed on Jiang Ci, who was holding Su Yue’s arm.
His stare sharpened like a blade, silently slicing toward Jiang Ci with hostility. He scoffed coldly, “A dragon robe can’t make a man a prince.”
No matter how good-looking a blind, disfigured man was, what was the use?
He had never approved of Su Yue marrying Jiang Ci. In the past, he hadn’t had the chance to meet him face-to-face. But now, with Jiang Ci showing up at their door, how could he possibly contain the half-year’s worth of repressed fury?
He let out another contemptuous snort.
Jiang Ci, not one to be outdone, replied slowly, “Well, some people wear a dragon robe and still look like fools.”
Su Jindong’s face darkened instantly.
Fang Ru quickly stepped in to mediate, worried the two men might come to blows. “Yueyue is ready now. Let’s go.”
Today was the wedding banquet of the Guo family. In City B, the Guo family was among the most elite circles of wealth and power, especially the old patriarch, Mr. Guo, whose name once dominated the upper echelon. Today, his grandson was getting married, and the event had attracted the city’s most distinguished families.
The venue, Mingsheng Hotel—owned by the Guo family itself—was already crowded. Outside, a collection of high-end luxury cars gleamed under the sunlight, resembling an exhibition of famous brands.
Inside the hotel, dazzling crystal chandeliers illuminated the lavish decor, making everything seem even more opulent. Guests, clad in sleek suits and exquisite makeup, mingled as the rich aromas of gourmet cuisine and perfume filled the air.
At the entrance, Su Jindong and Fang Ru led the way. Su Zhi followed behind at a more relaxed pace, while Su Yue held Jiang Ci’s hand with one hand and little Haohao’s with the other.
Haohao’s round eyes darted around excitedly. Everything was new and fascinating to him—the architecture, the sparkling chandeliers, the delicate desserts. His eyes sparkled with each discovery.
But not long after the family stepped into the lobby, they became the center of attention.
All eyes were drawn—particularly to Jiang Ci.
Even with his disfigured face, Jiang Ci’s tall, commanding figure stood out like a beacon. Whispers quickly spread.
“Is that… Jiang Ci?”
“Am I seeing things? Why would he show up here?”
Ever since his accident, Jiang Ci had vanished from public life. Control of the Jiang family’s Hengyuan Group had quietly shifted to his younger brother, Jiang Muhang. And the once-feared Jiang Ci… had disappeared for over half a year.
Now, here he was—appearing at a high-profile wedding banquet, calm and composed.
The crowd buzzed with curiosity and disbelief.”It’s Jiang Ci,” someone laughed in a low voice, their tone laced with mockery. “I heard he’s been hiding out at the Jiang residence ever since he went blind. His face looks like a ghost now—no wonder he’s afraid to show himself.”
Another guest leaned in with a conspiratorial smirk. “It’s not just his appearance. I don’t think he’s hiding because he’s ashamed of how he looks—he’s afraid of revenge. You remember how vicious he used to be? Crushing his competitors, driving them bankrupt. They say some went mad, others just died. With that kind of past, if he doesn’t hide, it’s a miracle he’s still alive.”
A middle-aged man in a gray suit let out a snort of derision, eyes gleaming with schadenfreude. He had once tried to cozy up to the infamous Jiang Ci when the man was at his peak, but Jiang Ci had arrogantly brushed him off, never even sparing him a glance. And now? That same aloof madman had become a pathetic shadow of his former self.
“Once the terror of every wealthy family in City B, and now reduced to this? Hiding in some broken corner of the Jiang estate. I heard he even married Su Jindong’s daughter from the Su family. A disfigured blind man and a stupid, fat, dark-skinned girl… honestly, they’re a match made in heaven.”
A ripple of laughter followed—cold, cutting.
“But wait—who’s that woman holding Jiang Ci’s hand? Isn’t the Su family’s daughter supposed to be ugly?”
…
The whispers and laughter followed them all along the corridor.
Elsewhere, Lin Sihong—wife of the Shen family, who had tried to mock Fang Ru in the boutique that day but ended up embarrassed by Su Yue—had arrived early at the wedding banquet. Her husband, Mr.Shen, walked her into the venue with rare attentiveness.
Yet Lin Sihong’s heart simmered with bitterness. Mr.Shen had been cold to her lately, ever since that vixen of a mistress came into the picture. She smoothed her hair and forced a smile.
“Look, there’s Fang Ru,” she said lightly. “Truly enviable. Her husband still looks at her like she’s the only woman in the world. I need to learn from her—how, after all these years, she still holds Su Jindong’s heart.”
“What’s the point of learning?” Mrs. Chen sneered, adjusting the diamonds on her wrist. “Everyone knows Su Jindong’s tastes are… unique. He likes that woman’s weird lips and squinty eyes. Tch.”
“Exactly,” another wealthy lady chimed in with a scoff. “Beautiful women practically throw themselves at him, but he publicly called them ugly! Said they couldn’t compare to even Fang Ru’s toes. That Fang Ru must’ve saved the galaxy in her past life to land someone like Su Jindong.”
Lin Sihong let out a breath of satisfaction. So what if Fang Ru still had Su Jindong’s love? These wealthy wives had never accepted her and still treated her like a joke.
Suddenly, someone leaned closer and whispered, “Speaking of blindness… isn’t Fang Ru’s son-in-law that blind man from the Jiang family? Look—over there, is that Jiang Ci?”
“It is! But then where’s Fang Ru’s daughter?”
Lin Sihong turned her head—and froze.
The woman holding Jiang Ci’s hand… was Su Yue.
Her brows creased. She had just seen Su Yue a few days ago—how could Fang Ru’s daughter be so beautiful now? Back then, she’d sneered, saying that even if Su Yue slimmed down and prettied up, she’d still be leagues below her own daughter, Qingqing.
But looking now… Lin Sihong nearly ground her teeth in disbelief. Su Yue’s beauty eclipsed Qingqing’s by miles.
At that moment, Su Jindong was busy socializing, taking Fang Ru and their son Su Zhi to greet other guests. When he turned back to check on his daughter, he saw her handing Jiang Ci a drink, then thoughtfully giving him a wet tissue to wipe his hands.
“Yueyue, come here,” he called with a warm smile. “I’ll introduce you to a few elders.”
“Okay, Dad.” Su Yue smiled and turned to Jiang Ci and little Haohao. “I’ll be back soon. Don’t walk around, okay? Jiang Ci, stay here. Haohao, stay close to your dad. Got it?”
Jiang Ci raised a brow, his tone languid. “Su Yue, are you treating me like a child?”
“No,” Su Yue replied softly, lips curving, “I’m just afraid I won’t be able to find you again.”
The sharp edges in his expression smoothed slightly, and he gave a light snort.
Beside him, Haohao was sipping orange juice with his chubby cheeks puffed out. He nodded obediently, “Haohao knows!”
Fang Ru, standing some distance away, had once imagined the surprise these socialites would feel when they saw her daughter. But now that she was witnessing it in person, a sense of happiness she hadn’t felt in years bloomed inside her. Especially when she saw Mrs. Chen’s expression twist like she had just swallowed a lemon. That bitter face was worth all the years of anger Fang Ru had swallowed down.
“Your daughter has changed so much…” Mrs. Chen barely managed to keep her smile from cracking.
Fang Ru straightened her back with pride. “My Yueyue just blossomed late. But with her foundations, I always knew she’d grow into her looks. Now she’s grown up and lost the weight—of course she’s beautiful.”
“Heh… yes, of course…” Mrs. Chen and her group nearly choked on their own envy.
Time ticked on, but the wedding banquet still hadn’t begun.
Xiao Haohao licked his lips again and set his glass down. Then, with furrowed brows and a slight shift in his little body, he whispered to Jiang Ci, “Dad, Haohao needs to pee.”
Jiang Ci tilted his head down to face him. “Is it urgent?”
Haohao nodded solemnly, both hands clutching his belly. “A little bit.”
“Alright,” Jiang Ci said, rising to his feet and offering his hand. “Hold my hand. You lead the way.”
Haohao’s big round eyes sparkled with joy. His father was letting him hold his hand—something no one else was allowed to do! Carefully, the boy reached out and wrapped his tiny fingers around Jiang Ci’s. “Daddy, Haohao’s holding your hand.”
A waiter pointed them toward the restroom, and the pair began walking down the quieter corridor. The air was cooler and far more refreshing than the stuffy banquet hall.
Haohao trotted forward on his short legs, clutching Jiang Ci’s hand and guiding him with all the seriousness of a tiny escort. His chubby cheeks glowed with a mix of pride and responsibility.
But suddenly, a mocking voice broke the stillness.
“Well, well, isn’t this Jiang Ci?”
A man stepped out from the side, his tone sharp with ridicule. “The mighty Young Master Jiang… reduced to a blind man, needing a little brat to show him the way. Isn’t it just pathetic?”
Haohao flinched, his lips quivering. He glanced up at the strange adults, then squeezed his father’s hand tighter. He wanted to run—but more than that, he wanted to be brave and finish what he started.
“Don’t leave, Young Master Jiang,” the man sneered, flicking a cigarette to the ground and crushing it underfoot. “It’s been so long. Let’s catch up. Heard you’ve been holed up at the Jiang estate since going blind. What’s today—Turtle Emerges from Shell Day?”
He grinned, then gestured to the other men nearby, motioning them forward with an arrogant wave.