“I’m choosing a silk scarf for General Shen,” Jiang Yunqiao said. “We had a delightful conversation. Master An truly has good taste, marrying such a clever and considerate wife.”
An Jin put his arm around my shoulder. “Miss Jiang is too kind.”
I hadn’t expected this potential storm to be diffused so easily. Although An Jin and Su Hui hadn’t done anything inappropriate, my mother’s temper normally meant chaos. But she only glanced at Su Hui and said nothing.
I breathed a sigh of relief. An Jin appeared calm, but his palms were sweating.
However, right after leaving the shop, my mother pulled me home and locked An Jin outside, throwing out a cryptic remark.
“Yao Yao, a man who’s not fully committed is not worth keeping.”
I could imagine An Jin’s awkward desperation outside, scratching his head and calling out. Who would have thought my mother’s real strategy was yet to come?
I brought soup to An Jin, laughing heartily, until an embarrassed and angry An Huilang carried me inside, claiming he wanted me to experience whether he needed a “supplement.”
The competition’s final day was approaching.
According to the schedule, my big brother’s mechanism technique competition was first, while Anjin’s hunting competition was later. Anjin had no thoughts of winning, so he felt no pressure, but it was different for my big brother. This competition was crucial for his future with Miaoyin, and he was determined to give his all.
Mother sensed my brother’s dedication to a girl, which made her feel gratified, and she encouraged him to study diligently. She even visited, mentioning there were mice at home causing strange noises at night, so she wanted to bring Yuan Xiang back to catch them and avoid disturbing my brother’s studies. However, Yuan Xiang, whether due to spring awakening or homesickness, was restless at the An residence, often startling me awake with strange sounds. Mother, feeling helpless, went to the pharmacy for arsenic, but it proved ineffective.
Author’s Note: Yesterday, I watched a documentary about a nineteen-year-old girl who met a handsome man online, fell in love, and became pregnant within a month. She believed her love was profound, but the man disappeared, and when she attempted suicide during a video call, he remained indifferent.
