Jiang Yuning paused mid-sentence, her lips tightening bitterly. She had wanted to refuse, but after thinking it over, staying for half a year was still far better than being sent back to her parents’ home on the very day of the wedding.

Even though… her reputation was already ruined beyond repair.

During this time, she didn’t expect Xiao Liye to like her at all. After all, a man like him—young, successful, and already running such a large business—wouldn’t fall for her even in ten years, let alone six months.

She only wanted to quietly stay for a while, save some money, and slowly persuade her parents.

If her parents agreed not to rush her into remarriage after a divorce, she would continue helping run the family pastry shop.

But if they still pressured her as before, she would go somewhere else and try her luck.

Xiao Fangdong also felt somewhat relieved and said to her:

“Xiao Ning, just stay here peacefully for these six months. If he bullies you, tell me.”

Jiang Yuning nodded:

“Okay, Uncle.”

Xiao Liye glanced at her sideways. Seeing how readily she agreed, he let out a cold snort.

So she really did plan to stay.

He had thought she would refuse immediately. Instead, she was this compliant—clearly scheming with his father’s support, probably planning to use these six months to actually turn this fake marriage into a real one.

He would never let that happen. He would make sure she left within half a year.

The house had nine rooms. The three on the far right belonged to Xiao Liye. The middle three were for the eldest brother, Huo Zhaoqing, and his wife Wang Xiangmei. The left three belonged to the second brother, Huo Zhaoqing, and his wife Li Chunyan.

Xiao Fangdong and Lin Meifeng usually lived with Xiao Liye, but recently Lin Meifeng had gone to take care of their youngest daughter, who was about to give birth and had no mother-in-law to help, so she wasn’t home.

After settling things, Xiao Fangdong left and went to the backyard vegetable garden.

Jiang Yuning didn’t dare stay around Xiao Liye. After a moment’s hesitation, she walked into the house.

Broken bowls and shards were still scattered across the floor. Thinking of how he had smashed everything in a rage earlier, she had no intention of cleaning up his mess and went straight into the room.

Seeing her ignore the mess, Xiao Liye frowned:

“What, are you blind? You don’t see the broken glass on the floor? You’re not going to clean it up?”

Jiang Yuning still felt a lingering fear of him, but even so, she replied softly:

“You broke it yourself, you clean it. I don’t owe you anything.”

Xiao Liye raised his brows slightly, surprised.

“Wait—weren’t you silent when I was just scolding you? I thought you were the easy-to-bully type.”

“I just look harmless. That doesn’t mean I’m stupid.”

Xiao Liye frowned, still confused by her reaction. By logic, if she wanted to cling to him, she should be trying to please him—what was this attitude?

He didn’t believe it and ordered again:

“Go. Bring me a basin of water to wash my feet.”

Jiang Yuning immediately felt defiant:

“My husband is dead. I don’t even know who that water would be for.”

Xiao Liye choked slightly, then retorted:

“Then what am I to you?”

“A stranger,” she answered quickly.

Xiao Liye was completely speechless.

He exhaled slowly, suppressing his frustration:

“Then what are you doing in a stranger’s house?”

“I’m only a stranger to you. Not to your father. I’m staying here.”

Xiao Liye nearly laughed from anger.

Before he could say more, she turned to leave. In the next moment, a large hand grabbed her arm and pulled her back into the room. Before she could react, she was pushed onto the bed.

She froze, eyes wide, watching as Xiao Liye leaned over her. His strong arms braced on either side of her head.

He was too close—she could clearly feel his hot breath brushing against her pale face.

Then she heard his low, ambiguous voice:

“So tonight… is supposed to be our wedding night.”

Jiang Yuning’s pupils contracted. Her face flushed hot as fire. Her hands tightly gripped the bedsheet beneath her, panic flooding her entire body.

Xiao Liye didn’t miss her nervous reaction. He frowned slightly, then sneered as if remembering something:

“You already married another man and were with him for so long. Trying to have children and all that—what, now you’re acting innocent?”

Her face grew even hotter. She lifted her leg to kick him, but before she could move, Xiao Liye pressed one knee between her legs, not heavily, but enough to completely restrain her.

The heat of his body transmitted through thin fabric, making her feel uncomfortable and trapped.

Jiang Yuning held her breath, her heart racing wildly, her long lashes trembling slightly.

Xiao Liye said nothing, just looked at her with a half-smile. He seemed indifferent, but his gaze was completely fixed on her face.

Beautiful.

Too damn beautiful.

Even without makeup she was this stunning.

If she dressed up a little, who knew how breathtaking she would look.

If he were her first man, she’d probably be too weak to even get out of bed—let alone jump into a river.

The atmosphere turned faintly tense and ambiguous. Jiang Yuning’s anxiety deepened as she stammered:

“You… get… get off me.”

Xiao Liye snapped out of his thoughts, stood up, and scoffed:

“You really think I’d touch you? Dream on. A widow who couldn’t even have a child after being married so long—what would I even want from you?”

Jiang Yuning bit her lip. She wanted to argue back, but after thinking it through, someone of his status looking down on her made sense.

She realized she should try to explain things properly and ease the tension, so she sat up and said calmly:

“Even though I was married for over a year… we never consummated the marriage. And my body should be fine. Everything is… normal.”

If she were uglier, Xiao Liye might have believed her.

But he had already looked into her family situation.

Jiang Zhiming didn’t have any secret lover. On their wedding night, faced with a clean and beautiful woman, any normal man—even without love in an arranged marriage—would still have consummated it first.

Not touching her at all for so long? That made no sense.

As for the lack of children, it was hard to say whose fault it was—but considering the rumors that she had “driven her husband to death,” it was hard to believe she was completely innocent.

Of course, he would never say out loud that she was beautiful enough to make even him feel something.

Instead, he scoffed coldly:

“That kind of nonsense might fool other men, but not me. What, are you trying this hard just to get me to sleep with you?”