Take her as my wife

Zhou Xiuping was waiting at the elevator entrance. When she met Jiang Ni, the old lady kindly took her hand and deliberately complained, "Nini, you've become even more beautiful. You never come back to see your grandma."

Jiang Ni followed her into the lobby, replying, "I'm busy with work."

Besides, Zhou Xiuping has Jiang Yan and Jiang Ze with her, so she doesn't really need her. Otherwise, since they're both in Yicheng and Zhou Xiuping has a driver to pick her up, why doesn't she come to see her? It's all just polite talk.

She had a good relationship with Zhou Xiuping when she was young, but Zhou Xiuping didn't like Li Yuwen. Later, Jiang Qiaonan married a new wife, Lin Jiao, who gave birth to a pair of "normal" children who were sweet-talking and clingy. As a result, Jiang Ni and Zhou Xiuping gradually drifted apart.

After Li Yuwen's suicide, Jiang Ni became withdrawn for a long time. Jiang Qiaonan was busy with business and could only send her to a psychologist, but the 14-year-old Jiang Ni was almost molested by an unscrupulous doctor.

Around that time, Jiang Ni was diagnosed with the same mental illness as Li Yuwen—emotional detachment, impaired empathy, and avoidance of intimate relationships.

Looking back now, it's clear that as long as Jiang Ni left the Jiang family's "growing environment," she would have gradually changed.

When Jiang Ni saw Jiang Qiaonan again, she felt completely unfamiliar with him.

Jiang Qiaonan pointed to the side: "You're here. Go say hello to your Aunt Lin and your younger siblings."

The father and daughter had very similar personalities: taciturn, calm, and rational. They didn't exchange many small talk or pleasantries. Jiang Ni nodded and walked over to Lin Jiao.

Jiang Yan and Jiang Ze will be starting junior high school after summer vacation. The two siblings are more like Lin Jiao, talkative and a bit spoiled. When Jiang Ni arrived, they were arguing over something, which looked like a gift from a guest.

Among this group of people were not only Lin Jiao, Jiang Yan, and Jiang Ze, but also several familiar relatives. When they saw Jiang Ni arrive, someone said sarcastically, "Oh, it's rare for the young lady to show her face. I heard that the old lady personally called to invite her."

Someone chimed in, "Nini, how come I suddenly heard about you canceling your engagement a few months ago? I heard that Tan Yan got a female student pregnant, is that true?"

Tan Yan had no contact with these people at all; these so-called "hearsay" were mostly things that these relatives had asked about out of boredom.

I just wanted to watch the excitement.

"I don't know. If you're interested, Auntie, you can spend more money to check again," Jiang Ni poured herself a glass of champagne, not letting them bully her with words. "It's just that Uncle's company is currently under investigation by the tax bureau. If they find out something, I suggest you keep this money to plug the hole."

"you--"

Lin Jiao tried to smooth things over, "It's a nice day, and there are so many guests. Let's not say too much... Nini, it's been so long! How have you been? Your father misses you."

Jiang Ni put away her cold expression and said politely, "Everything is fine. He's busy with work, but with you and his younger siblings by his side, I'm at ease."

Jiang Yan and Jiang Ze were always lukewarm towards her, their older sister, and even a little naturally jealous.

After all, there was a room in the family villa filled with Jiang Ni's past awards and certificates. Although Jiang Qiaonan didn't explicitly praise Jiang Ni, he would sometimes say things like, "Your older sister would have known how to do this in third grade," when tutoring the two siblings with their homework.

The school they attended also had Jiang Ni's record of honors, and the teachers would compare them with Jiang Ni, always saying, "If the older sister is so smart, the younger brother and sister must be just as good."

In reality, there's a huge difference; you can't find many geniuses in a school who can skip grades.

Naturally, they became even less affectionate towards Jiang Ni, and the two children stared at her as if she were an enemy.

Jiang Ni regretted coming back.

What was even harder was yet to come. Zhou Xiuping was determined to introduce her to potential partners, so she called her away and took her to several men.

In Zhou Xiuping's eyes, the young talents are all men over thirty. They are successful in their careers, that's true, but none of them deserve the title of "handsome".

Jiang Ni's mind was filled with the image of Tan Wen she had just seen, Tan Wen in a suit and tie.

Oh no, how did she become a member of the "looks-matter" club who only judges people by their appearance and doesn't consider their inner qualities?

However, after chatting with these men for a while, Jiang Ni still couldn't feel their inner charm. She politely declined all their requests to add her as a private WeChat friend.

Zhou Xiuping asked, "I think these women are quite similar in appearance to the university professor you had your eye on before, and their careers are even better. Why didn't you choose any of them?"

Jiang Ni thought to herself, although Tan Yan is not as handsome as Tan Wen, he is not on the same level as these men, is he?

She gave an excuse: "Grandma, I don't want to be in a relationship right now."

Zhou Xiuping asked worriedly, "Do you still have feelings for that man? Nini, that family is not a good match. If you marry into their family, you'll only be bullied and manipulated by them."

"I don't have that idea; I'm just focused on my work right now."

Before Zhou Xiuping could say anything more, a voice suddenly broke into their conversation: "Oh dear, Grandma, you're worried that our Nini won't be able to get married? You have no idea how many men are pursuing our Nini."

Turning around, I saw Wen Rong.

Wen Rong grabbed Jiang Ni's arm and said to Zhou Xiuping, "I need to talk to Nini about something. Could you lend her to me for a while?"

Jiang Ni was relieved and followed her to a less crowded place.

"Didn't you say you weren't coming?" Wen Rong asked curiously.

"When Grandma makes a phone call, we have to give her face," Jiang Ni explained.

Wen Rong took out a cigarette, lit it, and pouted, "You're just as soft-hearted as your mother... Tsk, never mind that, my old man is dying. The doctor issued a critical condition notice this morning. It'll probably be over in the next day or two. I'll be counting on you then. I have to make that little vixen cough up all the money she didn't deserve..."

Jiang Ni listened quietly, her gaze falling on the garden downstairs, her eyes slightly open.

It was Tan who asked.

Tan Wen, dressed in a bespoke suit, squatted in front of a flower bush, holding a peeled sausage in his hand. He waited patiently, and then a kitten cautiously peeked out from the flower bush.

This scene sent a shiver down Jiang Ni's spine.

Tan Wen possessed a passionate and flamboyant quality that she lacked, as well as a calm and collected demeanor that she admired.

And... many, many more advantages.

It seems that liking Tan Wen isn't so hard to understand anymore.

Or rather, "liking Tan Wen" is an easy thing to do.