Chapter 21

Chapter 21: Tangtang Is My Future Wife, Your Sister-in-Law Jiang Shixu's expression was cold and stern as he replied, "We broke up long ago. He's my ex now." "You don't mind?" Qin Yan asked again. "Everyone has a past." Jiang Shixu played his cards calmly, his gaze sweeping over coolly. "Haven't you ever been in a relationship?" Qin Yan rubbed his nose. "I have. It's just that you've never been in one—she's your first love, but you're not hers. You really don't mind?" "I don't mind." Jiang Shixu's pitch-black pupils were filled with tenderness. "As long as I can be with her, that's already a blessing." "Tsk tsk." Zhou Zheng'an chuckled. "What a romantic soul." After the round of cards ended, Jiang Shixu glanced at his watch and stood up. "It's about time. Let's go." Today, Jiang Shixu had prepared a welcome banquet for Ruan Chutang. Beneath the dazzling, shimmering neon lights, a blue Bentley slowly came to a stop in front of the most luxurious five-star hotel in Jiangcheng. The evening breeze brushed by gently, carrying wisps of coolness. Chutang opened the car door and stepped out. "Tangtang, over here!" Zhou Xueluo stood at the hotel entrance, smiling as she waved at Ruan Chutang. With that, she quickly walked forward. Behind her followed Chutang's other close friend, Chen Yuanyuan. "Xueluo, Yuanyuan, you're here." Chutang stepped forward in her lambskin high heels, smiling as she greeted them. "Finally decided to come back?" Chen Yuanyuan pretended to be upset, pouting as she glanced at her. "I thought you'd forgotten all about us." Chutang's brows curved into a smile as she replied cheerfully, "I came back because I missed you. What, not welcome?" "Hmph, always with the sweet talk." Zhou Xueluo affectionately linked arms with Chutang, her eyes crinkling with a smile. "Yuanyuan talks about you every single day. She's the first to welcome you back." Her two good friends—one was gentle and well-mannered, refined and sensible, while the other was quirky and lively, outgoing and spirited. Zhou Xueluo continued, "You're going to get engaged to Shixu-ge. That's wonderful." Chen Yuanyuan looked at Chutang with a hint of concern. "Tangtang, you... are you doing this willingly?" Chutang laughed and flicked Chen Yuanyuan's forehead. "What are you thinking? If I weren't willing, who could force me?" Both of her close friends knew she'd had a boyfriend in Haicheng, though she hadn't introduced him to them yet. Over the past three years, Chutang had occasionally shared bits of her relationship with them, but this time, she hadn't mentioned the breakup to her friends. Zhou Xueluo asked, "So you broke up with Gu Zechuan?" "Yeah, I directly blocked him on all his contact methods. He should know what I mean." Chen Yuanyuan tilted her head and asked Chutang, "How did you suddenly come to your senses?" A trace of mockery flickered in Chutang's eyes. "He treated me as a substitute." "What?" Chen Yuanyuan was shocked. "That bastard, who does he think he's looking down on? Our Tangtang is amazing—he's the one who's blind!" Zhou Xueluo was equally furious. "Good riddance! That man isn't worthy of you!" Ruan Chutang's limpid, autumn-water-like eyes held no emotion at all. "It's all in the past. Let's not talk about it. Let's head up—Shixu-ge and the others are already waiting upstairs." The three of them entered the hotel. The manager personally came to lead the way. "Miss Ruan, Miss Zhou, Miss Chen, please follow me." The three followed the manager to a private room in the Chinese restaurant on the fourth floor. The manager bowed and opened the door for them. "Please, come in." In early October, the temperature in Jiangcheng had already begun to drop. The weather was a bit chilly. Chutang wore a cream-colored lightweight trench coat over a light-colored blouse, paired with mid-calf lambskin high heels. Her wavy hair was casually draped over her shoulders, giving her an overall look of cool elegance with a touch of mature charm. "Chutang-meimei, you're finally here." Qin Yan was the first to come up and greet her. "Three years no see—you've gotten much prettier." Chen Yuanyuan rolled her eyes. "Bro, can you not be so greasy?" Qin Yan let out a "tsk" and pretended to be displeased. "Kid, do you even know how to talk? How is this greasy? This is clearly high-EQ social communication." "Boring." Chen Yuanyuan pulled Chutang toward the inside. "Tangtang, let's go. Ignore him." Zhou Xueluo obediently walked over and sat down beside Zhou Zheng'an. "Brother." "Mm." Zhou Zheng'an gave a slight nod. Chutang sat down beside Jiang Shixu. "Shixu-ge, sorry to keep you waiting." Jiang Shixu's voice was very gentle. "No, we just arrived too." With that, his gaze shifted to the girl beside him. "Why aren't you greeting her?" His tone carried a faint trace of reproach. The girl who was called out pouted and spoke reluctantly, "Miss Ruan, hello." Jiang Shixu's gaze swept over coldly, his brows furrowing. "And this is?" Chutang tilted her head slightly, a hint of curiosity surfacing in her apricot-colored eyes. Jiang Shixu's voice was indifferent. "My sister, Xu Jingxuan." Oh, so this was the Jiang family's adopted daughter, Xu Jingxuan. Chutang had heard of her, but this was the first time she'd actually met her. The Jiang family's adopted daughter had never been kept at the old residence, and in recent years she'd even been sent abroad to study. It was unclear when she'd come back. "Jingxuan, Tangtang is my future wife and your sister-in-law. Is this the attitude you use to greet her?" A cold light flickered in Jiang Shixu's eyes, his voice low and imposing. "Who taught you that?" "I'm sorry, brother." Xu Jingxuan apologized immediately. "Who should you be apologizing to?" Jiang Shixu narrowed his eyes slightly, the pressure in the air dropping several degrees. "Sister-in-law, I'm sorry." Xu Jingxuan turned to apologize to Chu Tang, her attitude sincere enough. "It's fine, it's fine. We're all family, no need to be so formal." Chu Tang waved her hand, a flicker of awkwardness passing across her face. Why did their first meeting have to be so unpleasant? They'd be sisters-in-law from now on. Her limpid, water-like eyes turned to Jiang Shixu. "Shixu, don't be so fierce." Almost instantly, the coldness in Jiang Shixu's eyes receded. He gave Chu Tang a faint smile. "Alright." Xu Jingxuan took all of this in. Beneath the dining table, her hand clenched tightly into a fist. "Why does Miss Xu look so pale?" Chen Yuanyuan said with exaggerated concern. "Should I have someone take you to the hospital?" Xu Jingxuan composed her expression and said coldly, "No need." Chen Yuanyuan rolled her eyes, let out a light scoff, and muttered through clenched teeth, "What a phony." Although she had never crossed paths with Xu Jingxuan before, her sixth sense told her that this Xu Jingxuan was no pushover. Xu Jingxuan's hostility toward Chu Tang was plain to see. Chen Yuanyuan whispered her complaints about Xu Jingxuan under her breath—no one else could hear, but Qin Yan, sitting right beside her, caught every word. Under the table, he gently tugged at Chen Yuanyuan's arm. "Come on, give her a break. She's Shixu's sister after all. Show some respect." Chen Yuanyuan winced, whipped her head around, and shot Qin Yan a fierce glare while simultaneously digging her nails into the flesh of his arm—payback delivered on the spot. "Try that again and see what happens," Chen Yuanyuan hissed through gritted teeth, her gaze vicious. Qin Yan yelped in pain. "I'm wrong, I'm wrong! Little miss, let go—you're killing your big brother!" Just then, someone pushed the door open and walked in. "Sorry I'm late—traffic was a nightmare."