Just as Su Yue appeared, holding Jiang Haoyan’s hand and Jiang Ci’s hand, a hush fell over the chattering guests.
“Oh, Fang Ru, this is your daughter. When I saw her before, she was quite strong. I didn’t expect to be so tall and thin now,” a woman chuckled.
“It’s incredible, Fang Ru, She’s a fairy, right? My darling, she’s even more beautiful than a star on TV.”
“The daughter of a wealthy family is different. Look, this skin is so white that it looks like it will glow.”
Many guests sighed in admiration. Fang Ru’s daughter, they agreed, looked nothing like her mother. She was fair and delicate, more exquisite than a flower. Fang Ru, they thought, was truly blessed to have given birth to such a beautiful daughter.
Lin Nuan, witnessing Su Yue’s entrance, felt a surge of indignation. She had hoped to see Fang Ru’s daughter even uglier than her mother, but the reality was far from her expectations. Her hand trembled, and she placed her cup down heavily on the coffee table. She had always considered herself the happiest among her classmates, having been the pretty, high-achieving class girl who married a wealthy businessman. Yet, years later, she’d heard that Fang Ru, the “black, ugly, and earthy” girl, had married even better than her, living a life envied by all women. How could she not be angry?
“Come and sit down quickly, you can have dinner later,” Fang Ru said, her face beaming with joy at the sight of her daughter.
“Where’s Dad?” Su Yue asked, looking around.
“He and Su Zhi went to get the cake for me,” Fang Ru explained. It could have been delivered, or a servant could sent, but Su Jindong and their son had insisted on getting it themselves, calling it a gesture of sincerity.
Lin Nuan scoffed, her eyes falling on the tall man beside Fang Ru’s daughter. “Hey, this is Fang Ru’s son-in-law.” Her gaze fixed on the scar on Jiang Ci’s face. She couldn’t help but laugh, instantly drawing everyone’s attention to him. Fang Ru’s son-in-law turned out to be disfigured? Heh, no matter how beautiful your daughter is, she’s still married to a disfigured man. Other guests noticed too, silently forming their own conclusions.
“Yes, this is my son-in-law. Yueyue, don’t stand, bring Jiang Ci over here and sit here.” Fang Ru, momentarily forgetting her earlier grievance for her daughter, warmly invited them.
Just as Su Yue reached for Jiang Ci’s hand to lead him to the sofa, Sister Feng hurried over. “Madam, a lot of gifts have been sent outside the door, say yes…” Sister Feng glanced at Jiang Ci.
“It was sent by me. It’s a birthday present for my mother-in-law,” Jiang Ci stated calmly.
Fang Ru smiled. “I’m already very happy when you come to see me.” She turned to Mrs. Feng. “Let someone move them in.”
And so, to the astonishment of everyone present, tall staff members in black suits began carrying in large gift boxes, stacking them in the living room in an endless stream. What had sounded like “a lot of gifts” was now an overwhelming pile.
“Oh my God, this pile of gifts is worth a lot of money! What’s in it?”
“Fang Ru’s son-in-law really has filial piety. If my son-in-law gave me a birthday gift to be filial to me, I would wake up laughing in my dreams!”
“Men don’t need to be too good; just be nice to themselves. At first glance, Fang Ru’s daughter is being pampered in the palm of his hand. Otherwise, how could a son-in-law please his mother-in-law like this and be so filial?”
“I was thinking just now that Fang Ru’s daughter is a pity to marry. I didn’t expect that the family is the happiest.”
Many guests compared him to their own sons-in-law. Even if their own were good-looking, they were often lazy and ungenerous. What good was a handsome face if you couldn’t eat it? This man, despite his disfigured face, had brought hundreds of gifts. Ordinary people couldn’t afford this! It was fortunate that the Su family’s house was large enough to contain such a vast quantity.
The sheer volume of gifts from Jiang Ci stunned all the guests. Even Lin Nuan, whose eyes had been fixed on him with disdain, now burned with envy. When Fang Ru randomly opened a few boxes, revealing precious gemstone necklaces and priceless jade jewelry, Lin Nuan’s face turned crimson.
“When did you buy the birthday present?” Su Yue whispered, tightening her arm around Jiang Ci’s. She hadn’t even noticed a car full of gifts behind them.
“This morning,” he replied. He’d simply made a phone call and instructed his subordinates to clear out the jewelry in the mall.
“Why did you give so much?” She had prepared a gift for her mother, but Jiang Ci’s gesture was overwhelmingly grand.
Jiang Ci merely gave her a faint look, offering no explanation.
When the last gift box was moved in, even Fang Ru was dumbfounded by the towering pile. She hadn’t expected Jiang Ci’s generosity. “You child, how can you buy so many gifts?” She could see that each piece was a treasure, and this collection must have cost a fortune. “It’s too expensive.”
Jiang Ci twitched the corners of his mouth. “It should be.”
“Oh, Fang Ru, don’t reprimand your son-in-law; he really knows how to honor the elders,” many guests chimed in, their eyes filled with envy. They wished their own daughters would find husbands like him, willing to give so generously to their mothers-in-law.
“That’s right, I wish one day my daughter will be like your daughter, married so happily, than I will be satisfied.”
“My God, Fang Ru, your birthday present in this room cost a lot of money…”
Everyone has vanity, and hearing their son-in-law praised so effusively, Fang Ru beamed with delight. She recalled how her own mother had praised Jiang Ci repeatedly, despite his external appearance, for his good character. Fang Ru looked at Jiang Ci with newfound satisfaction.
Just then, Su Jindong and Su Zhi returned with the cake. Seeing the departing staff outside, they were filled with questions and hurried into the room.
“What’s going on?” Su Jindong asked, taking in his sight the room filled with gifts.
“You’re back. Yueyue and Jiang Ci came with their child. The gifts were sent by Jiang Ci. This child is too generous.” Fang Ru smiled.
What? So many birthday gifts from Jiang Ci? Father and son both stared at Jiang Ci in surprise. Seeing Fang Ru’s satisfied expression and hearing the guests’ praises, Su Jindong huffed indignantly. Was this comparing him, the father-in-law?
“Ruru, all my cards are yours, you can buy whatever you like.” Su Jindong quickly set down the cake and pulled out several black cards, stuffing them into Fang Ru’s hand. His wife was his, and this pile of “broken gifts” couldn’t compare.
“Hey!” The guests gasped again. Lin Nuan’s face was so red, it seemed her eyes might bleed with envy. Her husband ran a company, but it paled in comparison to the vast Su family group. Her husband, though not fat, was balding and paunchy, a typical middle-aged man. He was also incredibly frugal, giving her little money beyond household expenses.
Yet, here was Fang Ru’s husband—handsome, in a well-tailored suit, looking like a college student. More importantly, he was wealthy and clearly adored Fang Ru, practically throwing his family fortune at her, with an expression that dared her to spend it all! Lin Nuan couldn’t comprehend it. He must be blind, or have terrible eyesight, to love Fang Ru so much.
“Mom, I don’t have any money like Dad and Jiang Ci, but I will be filial to you. I am your best gift,” Su Zhi chimed in, his words sweet and charming. Combined with his handsome looks, the guests looked at Fang Ru with renewed envy.
A handsome husband, a beautiful daughter, a charming and coaxing young son, and a son-in-law who knew how to honor his mother-in-law—Fang Ru must have saved the galaxy in her last life to be so incredibly happy. Everyone sighed, reflecting on how Fang Ru, once the most inconspicuous and “ugliest” in their class, had become the object of their deepest envy.
After showing his filial piety to his mother, Su Zhi turned to Su Yue. “Sister, I miss you so much.” He opened his arms, ready to embrace her.
The next second, Jiang Ci grabbed him by the collar and pulled him back. Jiang Ci frowned, sternly stating, “Can’t hug.”
“This is my sister! Can’t I hug her?” Su Zhi protested, glaring.
Jiang Ci’s large hand was already around Su Yue’s waist. “No way!”
Su Zhi gnashed his teeth, wishing he could fight Jiang Ci.
“Stinky boy, come here, don’t quarrel with your sister and your brother-in-law,” Fang Ru called Su Zhi over. A friend’s daughter was asking him about the college entrance examination.
Su Zhi was extremely reluctant. His sister had just arrived, and he wanted to chat with her. “Sister, when I ordered the cake, I specially chose the mango flavor, and asked the cake shop to add more cherries on it.” Su Yue loved cherries, and he remembered her recent mango cake preferences. “Sister, Do I did a good job as a younger brother.” Su Zhi glanced proudly at Jiang Ci, then remembered Jiang Ci was blind, so he addressed Su Yue loudly.
It was Jiang Ci who liked the taste of mango, but Su Zhi had misunderstood. Su Yue looked at her younger brother with a fond smile. “Okay.”
Affirmed, Su Zhi left with a satisfied grin.
“Do you like to eat cherries?” Jiang Ci suddenly asked Su Yue.
Su Yue paused, then smiled. “Yes.”
Jiang Ci glanced at her, his eyes lingering on her beautiful, bright red lips, and said nothing more.
During the meal, the atmosphere was peaceful. Whether it was his wife’s birthday, or the praise from his rural relatives, Su Jindong seemed particularly inclined to challenge Jiang Ci.
“Can you drink?” Su Jindong calmly poured wine for Jiang Ci. “Come, have a few drinks with me.”
Jiang Ci twitched the corners of his mouth, looking at the liquor in the glass.
“I just ate, what wine did you drink?” Fang Ru glared at Su Jindong. Su Jindong, holding his wine glass, rushed to explain to Fang Ru: “I am a father-in-law, and drinking with my son-in-law is a way to build a relationship. Besides, wine reveals character. I want to see what our son-in-law will do when he gets drunk.”
“Then you can’t drink too much. So many guests are here; it’s ridiculous,” Fang Ru warned.
“Ruru, don’t worry, I’m measured.” Su Jindong half-squinted at Jiang Ci. He was still not entirely satisfied with this son-in-law, but he had no choice but to accept his daughter’s decision. Still, his lingering resentment needed an outlet. “Jiang Ci, do you want to drink?”
“Father-in-law has spoken. As a son-in-law, how could I be so embarrassed to say no?” Jiang Ci picked up the almost full glass of wine with a relaxed demeanor.
“Dad, just take it easy,” Su Yue interjected, worried they would get into a drinking contest.
Look, they haven’t even had a drink yet, and my daughter is already defending him. Su Jindong felt a pang of bitterness. The girl he had doted on and protected was now being claimed by another man.
“Don’t worry, I’ll keep a check on our dad,” Jiang Ci said, catching sight of Su Jindong’s exasperated look. He hooked his lips, his slender fingers turning the white jade cup. He slowly drank the wine.
The cup was empty when he set it down. The glass of liquor had been nearly full. Seeing Jiang Ci’s expression unchanged, Su Jindong’s eyes flashed with admiration, and he too, drained his glass.
Su Yue turned her attention to Jiang Haoyan. The little boy was eating a chicken leg, his mouth covered in sauce. “You can’t just eat chicken legs, but also vegetables.” Su Yue brought him a variety of dishes. The little guy was becoming more and more picky, just like Jiang Ci.
“Haohao likes to eat chicken drumsticks,” Xiao Haohao insisted, believing drumsticks were the best food in the world and he could eat many of them.
Su Yue smiled, stroking his head. After he finished his chicken leg, Su Yue glanced at Jiang Ci. He was calmly holding his wine glass, chatting idly with Su Jindong. She worried, but he wasn’t just drinking.
“Let’s go, I’ll take you to wash your hands,” Su Yue said, patting Xiao Haohao, whose hands were covered in sauce.
Jiang Haoyan obediently jumped off his chair and followed Su Yue on his short legs.
In the bathroom, Su Yue asked the little boy to rinse his hands first, then squeezed hand sanitizer onto them. “Rub your hands well.”
Xiao Haohao rubbed his hands together, creating a flurry of white bubbles. Su Yue placed her hand on the sensor for the water, then took his small hands and rubbed them clean.
“Haohao’s hands are small,” Xiao Haohao said, standing on tiptoe at the sink, watching Su Yue wash his hands, his big eyes twinkling.
Su Yue squeezed his two chubby little hands. “Yes, Xiao Haohao’s hands are small. When you eat more rice and vegetables, your hands will get bigger and taller.”
Xiao Haohao pouted. Haohao doesn’t like to eat vegetables.
“Let’s go, we’re going out. After dinner, there will be a big cake to eat,” Su Yue said, pulling tissues to dry his hands.
“Haohao wants to eat cake!” Xiao Haohao’s dark eyes lit up again, filled with pure joy.
When she returned to her seat, Su Yue noticed that most of the bottle of liquor on the table had been consumed. This was high-proof liquor!
“Dad, don’t drink anymore. Drink any more, and the bottle of wine will run out,” Su Yue quickly pleaded, sitting down.
Su Jindong’s handsome face was already flushed, clearly drunk, and his hand holding the cup trembled slightly. Yet, when he saw Jiang Ci opposite him, his face unchanged, still calmly holding his wine glass, he gritted his teeth and drank another half glass. This time, his face turned even redder.
Fang Ru, who had been chatting with guests, noticed Su Jindong’s inebriated state, his eyes wandering. “I told you not to drink so much; you have to listen!” Her son-in-law hadn’t fallen, but her husband had.
“Su Zhi, hurry up and help Dad to rest,” Fang Ru commanded, glaring at her son, who was watching the scene unfold.
“Oh.” Su Zhi put down his chopsticks and walked over to help his drunk father. Tsk, I didn’t expect this cheap brother-in-law to drink so well. Dad got drunk by him instead.
Su Jindong glared at Jiang Ci. “I’m a little uncomfortable. Let’s go to rest first, and we’ll continue tonight.”
“Dad, let’s go, let’s go,” Su Zhi urged, looking at Jiang Ci’s composed face, drinking white wine as if it were water. He knew his father was no match for Jiang Ci.
After seeing Su’s father being helped away, Su Yue leaned closer to Jiang Ci. “Have you had a few drinks? Will you feel uncomfortable?”
Jiang Ci raised his eyes to look at her, his face devoid of expression, making it impossible to tell if he was drunk.
“I’ll cut the cake with mom later. and, I’ll take you to have a rest first,” Su Yue said, noticing a slight redness in his dark eyes.
“Yeah,” Jiang Ci responded, his gaze dropping again.
Su Yue bid farewell to Mother Su, asked Xiao Haohao to follow obediently, then led Jiang Ci upstairs.
This was the second time Jiang Ci had stepped into Su Yue’s boudoir. Sitting on the large, soft bed, he could only feel Su Yue’s scent lingering in the air.
Su Yue poured a glass of water for Jiang Ci. “I’ll ask someone to prepare some hangover remedy. If you sleep for a while, will you have a headache?” He must be uncomfortable after drinking half a bottle of white wine with her father.
“I drank five glasses of white wine and three glasses of red wine,” Jiang Ci, who had been sitting with his head lowered, said lazily.
“Huh?” Su Yue paused, turning from the window she was opening. She looked at him, frowning. “Why did you drink so much?” When she had gone upstairs with him just now, his footsteps were steady, and his expression hadn’t changed—he looked perfectly sober. Was he truly that good at holding his liquor?
“What you said,” Jiang Ci raised his head, his dark eyes moist. He pulled the corners of his lips into a smile. “Being bullied by your father-in-law, you have to endure it, and you will compensate me.” He added slowly, “Su Yue, you have to compensate me eight times.”