Jiang Yuning felt deeply uncomfortable under his unblinking stare. Thinking of what he had said earlier, she gently shook her head and said softly:

“No need. Being in the same space as you… I’m afraid I might bring bad luck to my husband.”

The smile on Xiao Liye’s face froze. He frowned slightly and looked at her again, as if trying to figure her out.

At that moment, Jiang Ping spoke up with a hint of meaning:

“Miss, you’re already calling him your husband? Honestly, among all the girls who like our boss, you’re the most straightforward.”

Jiang Yuning was about to explain when Xiao Liye’s handsome face broke into a faint smile again. He said, slightly embarrassed:

“We’ve only just met. Calling me ‘husband’ is a bit too soon. And as for bringing bad luck—that’s nonsense.”

Jiang Yuning’s face flushed red. Her mind went blank, and she couldn’t speak.

Her stunned expression, despite her striking beauty, looked unexpectedly innocent and a little dazed.

Xiao Liye kept his eyes on her, the corners of his lips lifting slightly. In a gentle tone, he said:

“If I said something wrong, you don’t need to be scared. I’m known for having a good temper and a good personality—I won’t scold you. Don’t worry.”

Jiang Yuning was speechless. She looked at him with slightly disbelieving eyes, as if wondering how he could say something like that.

If she remembered correctly, the one who had been smashing things and kicking chairs in the house earlier was him. The one speaking so harshly before turning around was also him.

Did he misunderstand what “good temper and good personality” meant?

Time passed. Jiang Ping was shocked that Xiao Liye would even say something like that—but more importantly, he was usually a man who valued efficiency. Work reports were always kept to the point, yet now he was actually staying here, not moving.

He silently thought the girl was probably going to become the future “boss lady,” and quietly left without disturbing them.

Xiao Liye didn’t rush her for an answer. By the time most people had already left, he glanced at the sky—it was already nearing evening—and said with an uncontrollable smile:

“Why don’t we have dinner together first? I’ll take you home afterward.”

Just then, two villagers who worked at the factory came rushing in for the evening shift. Seeing Jiang Yuning, they said with regret:

“Liye, your temper is really good. Your father married you off to a little widow, and you’re still letting her stand in front of you without hitting her.”

“That’s right. If you’re nice to her, she’ll probably cling to you later—you should cut it off quickly.”

“What kind of nonsense marriage is this? With your conditions, you could have any girl you want. Why pick a widow?”

Xiao Liye’s smile faded. He looked back at Jiang Yuning and asked slowly:

“So… you’re my… wife?”

Jiang Yuning looked apologetic and stammered:

“Sorry… your father asked me to come bring you back…”

She was so nervous under his gaze that her voice broke and her face turned bright red.

Xiao Liye’s expression darkened again. He said coldly:

“What? You expect me to go back with you and sleep with you? Do you really think I’d look at you that way?”

Without caring about how embarrassed she looked, he warned the two villagers:

“Don’t spread nonsense. I don’t acknowledge this marriage.”

The two men immediately nodded in fear.

Jiang Yuning felt utterly humiliated. After a moment, she said hoarsely:

“Then… let’s go back and tell them the wedding doesn’t count.”

Xiao Liye paused—clearly surprised at how straightforward she was—but quickly regained his cold expression.

“Don’t try anything funny, or don’t blame me for being rough.”

Jiang Yuning clenched her hands slightly but didn’t want to argue in public. She turned and walked out first.

“Don’t worry,” she said softly. “I won’t.”

Xiao Liye still felt a strange irritation in his chest, as if he had been played. He followed behind her, occasionally glancing at her back.

Such a beautiful woman—

How did her husband ever bear to just die like that?

The two walked one after the other in silence. When they arrived at the newly built brick house in Xiao Family Village, they saw Xiao Fangdong.

Jiang Yuning immediately said:

“Uncle, I think Xiao Liye and I… it’s better to stop this. We’re not suitable.”

Xiao Fangdong panicked:

“Why not suitable? Did he say something to you? Don’t take it to heart—that’s just his personality.”

Xiao Liye immediately became unhappy:

“She agreed herself. If she wants to leave, let her leave. I didn’t force her.”

Xiao Fangdong replied:

“You didn’t force her? But you’ve been putting her down the whole time—how could she not say that?”

Xiao Liye sneered:

“If I don’t put her down, should I be praising her instead?”

As he spoke, his gaze swept over her from head to toe:

“There are… things worth praising.”

Xiao Fangdong was speechless.

Jiang Yuning’s face burned red with humiliation, but she still said politely:

“Uncle, let’s just treat this as my family causing trouble. I’ll leave now…”

Xiao Fangdong interrupted:

“How is this causing trouble? It’s not trouble. You’re a good child—don’t mind him. If he doesn’t agree today, I’ll beat him until he agrees.”

He raised his hand to hit Xiao Liye, but Xiao Liye dodged aside.

“She already knows we’re not suitable. Stop forcing it.”

His voice was loud, and people in nearby houses leaned out to watch.

Someone said:

“Fangdong, forget it. Even normal men wouldn’t agree to this marriage. Let the girl go.”

“Exactly. If you force it, Liye might just chase her off angrily—then you’ll be even more embarrassed.”

“What do you mean girl? She’s already been married over a year and still hasn’t gotten pregnant. People say she drove her husband to death…”

Jiang Yuning’s eyes turned red. She was only nineteen, and facing all these judging stares and Xiao Liye’s rejection, she felt deeply hurt.

At that moment, Xiao Fangdong snapped back at them:

“Mind your own business! If you can’t speak properly, then shut up!”

Xiao Liye also said coldly:

“And listen carefully—keep your mouths shut about this. If I hear anyone spreading it to the county, don’t blame me for being ruthless.”

The crowd immediately fell silent.

Xiao Fangdong, still unwilling to give up, sighed:

“Her father saved my life. That’s why you exist today, and why you can run such a big business now. If you have any conscience, even if you don’t like her, try living with her for a while. Otherwise, I won’t be at peace even after I die.”

Jiang Yuning lowered her head:

“Please stop arguing. It was my family’s mistake. I’ll pack up and leave now.”

Just then, Xiao Liye said coldly:

“Fine. We’ll try living together then. I’ll tolerate her for at most half a year. After that, she leaves on her own—don’t force me to get rough.”