Chapter 13: Guard Against Fire, Theft, and Best Friends

In Wang Yingzhi’s eyes, Huang Minwei was the daughter-in-law she truly desired. In the month since I married Jiang Ruohe, I had only seen her twice. The first time was on our wedding night, when instead of Jiang Ruohe, she showed up and berated me harshly, using the most offensive language, even insulting my long-deceased mother.

The second time was when I had a miscarriage. Because Jiang Mingzhe had scolded her, she came to see me, but upon learning that I had harmed Huang Minwei’s child, she immediately threw the chicken soup in my face.

Wang Yingzhi picked up the pink ceremonial dress that Aunt Liu handed her and held it against me for a moment.

“This is the latest high-neck ceremonial dress. It really suits you. Hurry up and change into it.”

Wang Yingzhi explained that Jiang Ruohe’s aunt, Jiang Ting, had returned to the country. To welcome her sister-in-law, she was hosting a welcome party at a hotel and had invited some socialites she was close with.

I looked at Wang Yingzhi but did not take the dress from her. She quickly added that Jiang Ting wanted to meet me.

“Your aunt said she really wants to see what Ruo He’s wife looks like, so she asked me to bring you along.”

Although I knew it was a trap, Wang Yingzhi was, after all, my mother-in-law in name. Refusing would seem inappropriate.

“Alright.”

I changed into the dress and followed Wang Yingzhi into the venue. She enthusiastically introduced me to the socialites as her daughter-in-law.

After making the rounds, Wang Yingzhi told me that Jiang Ting would arrive at the hotel in half an hour and took me to the lounge to rest.

Soon after, Wang Yingzhi received a phone call and said Jiang Ting had arrived.

“I’ll go greet her first and arrange for you two to meet later.”

I nodded in agreement. After Wang Yingzhi left, I sat alone on the sofa to rest. Half an hour passed, and she still hadn’t returned. Considering that Jiang Ting had already arrived and I was the younger generation, I decided to go meet her first.

I went downstairs to the venue and saw Wang Yingzhi chatting with the socialites alongside a woman as elegant and dignified as herself.

I walked over slowly and called out, “Aunt.” Jiang Ting paused for a moment but continued talking to the socialites. Being ignored like this made me feel very awkward.

A flicker of amusement crossed Wang Yingzhi’s eyes as she called out to Jiang Ting.

“This is Ruo He’s wife, Yu Xiaowan.”

Only then did Jiang Ting turn to look at me, giving me a brief, indifferent glance.

“Isn’t Ruo He’s wife named Minwei? How…” She turned to Wang Yingzhi.

The surrounding socialites all looked at me. Wang Yingzhi forced an awkward smile and said, “It’s a long story.”

“Ruo He was drugged and somehow ended up with Minwei’s best friend…”

Wang Yingzhi’s words made the socialites look at me strangely, likely thinking that I was the one who had drugged Jiang Ruohe.

Jiang Ting suddenly laughed and said, “It really is a case of guarding against fire, theft, and best friends.”

“Yes, yes,” the others around her chimed in.

Though I felt deeply humiliated, I understood that I had to keep my emotions in check. Arguing or refuting them would only make the Jiang Family a laughingstock. If I remained in the Jiang Family, aside from Grandfather, no one would treat me kindly.

Seeing that I showed no reaction, Wang Yingzhi glanced at me and changed the subject.

Just then, I heard someone behind me call out, “Mom.” Jiang Ting quickly turned around.

“Mom, the necklace I bought for Aunt is missing from the lounge.”

I was about to turn around when I heard the girl pointing at the back of my neck and saying the necklace was around it.

I shuddered and quickly turned to face the girl opposite me, who appeared to be about eighteen or nineteen years old and was glaring at me angrily.

“Yi Chen, are you misunderstanding your sister-in-law?” Jiang Ting asked.

“How could that be? This is something Aunt specifically asked me to buy for her.”

No wonder Wang Yingzhi had given me a high-necked ceremonial dress she had set this trap for me all along.

“Xiao Wan, Ruo He and I have always treated you so well in the past. I never expected you to be greedy to this extent.” Wang Yingzhi no longer concealed her disgust toward me and was the first to step forward and accuse me.

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