Chapter 2: The Marriage Proposal

“Boss, I didn’t know you would be here today. If I had known, I wouldn’t have...” Lu Shaojun’s voice trembled, filled with flattery and desperation.

Jiang Yan remained expressionless, merely nodding slightly.

Shen Qingyao sensed something was wrong.

Very wrong!

She leaned into the man’s embrace and whispered, “Wait, aren’t you Lu Shaojun?”

Jiang Yan caught a faint, pleasant fragrance, indescribable yet alluring.

The little cat in his arms was still sulking, tugging at his arm and swaying.

The man’s thin lips parted slightly, lowering his voice beside Shen Qingyao’s ear. “I’m sorry to disappoint you, Miss Shen. I am Jiang Yan.”

A thin sheen of sweat appeared on Shen Qingyao’s forehead. She forced herself to stay composed and distanced herself from Jiang Yan.

This is bad… so bad…

She had intended to intercept Lu Shaojun but ended up bringing back a stranger instead?

Shen Qingyao glanced at Jiang Yan again.

No wonder he didn’t match the image of Lu Shaojun from the book.

Shen Dongsheng, who had been silent all along, looked at Lu Shaojun. “What leader?”

Just as Lu Shaojun was about to speak, Jiang Yan interrupted, “I’m not a leader. Like Lu Shaojun, I’m just trying to make a living in the army.”

The two men’s eyes met briefly, and Lu Shaojun quickly nodded in agreement.

Hearing Jiang Yan’s words, Shen Dongsheng’s expression softened considerably.

“Come in, all of you. Don’t just stand at the door making a spectacle.”

Wang Guihua, however, scowled angrily and pulled Shen Mengyi aside.

Originally, Lu Shaojun was standing by the door, but when Jiang Yan stepped forward, he quickly moved aside.

Shen Qingyao immediately took Jiang Yan’s hand and seated him at the head of the table.

If Lu Shaojun could call him “boss,” this man must have some merit too.

Maybe marrying him wouldn’t be so bad after all—and he was quite handsome.

At least she wouldn’t let history repeat itself.

On the table lay some sunflower seeds and candies, with a few yellowed newspapers wrapping some pastries.

Shen Qingyao grabbed a handful of seeds, cracking and spitting the shells onto the floor with an air of authority.

“So, how’s your conversation going? We’ve come just in time, right? Hope we didn’t interrupt any serious talk about marriage?”

She spat a seed shell near Lu Shaojun’s feet. Shen Mengyi hurried over, glaring fiercely at her.

“Shen Qingyao!”

“What’s wrong? I’m not deaf.”

Shen Qingyao popped a seed into her mouth, spat again, this time onto Shen Mengyi’s clothes.

Shen Mengyi recoiled in disgust. “Today’s my big day. Why are you bringing a stranger here?”

A stranger?

Shen Qingyao looked at Jiang Yan.

The man beside her sipped his tea calmly, as if he hadn’t heard a thing.

---

Shen Qingyao tilted her head, smiling sweetly. “Is this family only allowed to have one wedding? Why can’t I get married too?”

Upon hearing this, Wang Guihua could no longer hold back. “What marriage? You’re just causing trouble!”

She tugged on Shen Dongsheng’s arm, signaling him to say something.

But Shen Dongsheng remained silent, standing quietly to the side.

Wang Guihua was fierce and domineering; everyone in the Shen household listened to her.

She showed nothing but disdain towards Shen Qingyao, the stepdaughter, who had spent years unloved by her father and mother, only cherished by her grandmother.

Slamming her palm on the table, Shen Qingyao stood up.

“Shen Mengyi’s wedding isn’t trouble? Believe me, the man I marry is ten thousand times better than hers!”

“Trouble!”

Shen Dongsheng slapped Shen Qingyao’s face hard, shocking Wang Guihua and Shen Mengyi.

“When your mother passed away, she told me to raise you properly. Is this how you repay her by sinking so low?”

Shen Dongsheng spoke sharply, wagging his finger at Shen Qingyao.

Her left cheek burning with pain, Shen Qingyao spoke clearly and with resilience.

“If you really cared about my mother, you wouldn’t have married that shrew Wang Guihua less than a year after she died.”

“You—”

Shen Dongsheng, enraged, lifted his hand again, but Jiang Yan stood and shot him a glance.

“Father-in-law, let’s talk properly.”

Jiang Yan’s tall figure seemed to immediately diminish Shen Dongsheng’s anger. His deep, magnetic voice echoed through the room.

“To be honest, I came today to propose marriage, though I was a bit unprepared.”

“Even a proposal has rules,” Wang Guihua said with a scowl. “How dare you show up unannounced? How much dowry are you offering? What about the three essentials?”

Lu Shaojun was startled and quickly stopped Wang Guihua from speaking further.

Dowry and the three essentials were, of course, not a problem.

“Auntie, as long as there’s love, isn’t money irrelevant?”

Lu Shaojun winked at Wang Guihua.

“What’s wrong with your eyes?” Wang Guihua tilted her head, feeling something odd.

“No money? How can you get married without money? Sister, you’re really sinking low.”

Shen Mengyi sneered, proudly lifting her head.

Watching their quarrel, Jiang Yan remained impassive, his expression colder, more distant.

“How much dowry do you want?”

Jiang Yan turned and pulled Shen Qingyao tightly into his arms.

Oh my!

This man really knew how to back her up.

She had feared being laughed at, but now…

She linked her arm through Jiang Yan’s. “Of course, the three essentials must be included. As for the dowry, I want 888.”

---

“Fine, we’ll go with your terms.”

Jiang Yan’s eyes gleamed with a smile full of adoration.

“888?”

“The factory director’s daughter’s dowry was just over 600. You think you’re worth 888?”

Wang Guihua and Shen Mengyi burst into laughter, nearly doubled over.

Shen Mengyi had always been beautiful, and Lu Shaojun’s military allowance wasn’t small, so he could barely manage a dowry of five hundred.

This stranger was boasting about 888 plus the three essentials. What a joke!

Not only Wang Guihua, but even Shen Qingyao didn’t believe it.

This was the 1970s, after all.

This man could lie without flinching.

If he weren’t in the army, he should be an actor.

Shen Qingyao inwardly ridiculed him but found herself stealing another glance at him.

Jiang Yan caught her gaze and smiled faintly.

Her left cheek was slightly swollen and red. Jiang Yan frowned, then gently touched it with concern.

Shen Dongsheng watched everything, his face growing pale.

The man’s fingers were cool, and Shen Qingyao could feel the sting on her face easing.

She turned her head and nestled into the man’s embrace.

“Sorry, little sister. This time, your sister is going to be happy first.”

Shen Mengyi looked at Lu Shaojun, who dared not utter a word, staring down at his shoes.

Silence fell as everyone stewed in their own anger.

The effect was perfect, and Shen Qingyao was very satisfied.

But they needed to leave quickly before her secret was exposed.

“Dad, you guys keep talking. I’ll show him out.”

Finding an excuse, Shen Qingyao tugged Jiang Yan toward the door.

Jiang Yan’s legs were long, but he willingly let her pull him along, as if deliberately slowing his pace.

Once downstairs, Shen Qingyao immediately shook off his hand.

The man looked at his suddenly empty arm, a trace of loneliness in his eyes.

“You acted well just now.”

“Do you think I was acting?”

Jiang Yan’s dark eyes shone brightly. Shen Qingyao inexplicably felt uneasy.

“Sorry, I thought you were Lu Shaojun. Just pretend I never mentioned marriage, okay?”

Her heart fluttered nervously, but the man sighed.

“Marriage is not something I consider a joke.”

Huh?

That can’t be right.

Shen Qingyao hugged herself tightly and stepped back several paces.