Chapter 424 She Actually Wore a Skirt

Chapter 424 She Actually Wore a Dress

Soon enough, the wedding banquet arrived right on schedule.

Jiang Yu had practically bundled herself up like a snowball—braving this weather was truly a real challenge.

He Tingyue watched her shiver despite being wrapped up and couldn’t help but say, "Maybe we shouldn’t go?"

Her eyes widened. "No way, we have to go!"

There was such juicy gossip about the Jiang family—how could she miss it?

When she got home that night and told He Tingyue about it, he had no reaction at all. Instead, he scolded her for being reckless and letting her feet turn purple from the cold.

Jiang Yu puffed out her cheeks, feeling completely deflated.

The Jiang family had decided to host the banquet in the courtyard instead of a restaurant.

Since it was nearby, they walked there together.

When they arrived at the Jiang residence, it wasn’t long before the bride made her grand entrance.

Someone suddenly exclaimed loudly, "She’s actually wearing a dress! Isn’t she cold? Goodness, I’m wearing four layers, not even counting my winter coat, and I’m still freezing my butt off!"

How could Wu Jingyi not be cold? Her face was turning blue, even with makeup on.

Her whole body was stiff—but that was from holding herself stiff because of the cold.

If she didn’t hold herself rigid like this, she’d definitely start shivering, and how embarrassing would that be?

Just looking at her made Jiang Yu feel cold, and she winced.

"Good lord, Jingyi, you’re risking your life for beauty! How can you wear a dress in the middle of winter?" Jiang Yu deliberately raised her voice, causing quite a stir.

Only then did Wu Jingyi notice her, her eyes nearly popping out of her head.

Hadn’t Jiang Yu said she was going to wear a dress?

If Jiang Yu hadn’t said that, Wu Jingyi wouldn’t have insisted on wearing a dress in this freezing weather—her bones were practically frozen stiff.

"You—!"

Wu Jingyi was furious beyond words, nearly choking on her anger.

Lin Yue’s face was full of disapproval. She had already taken a dislike to Wu Jingyi before she even entered the house.

"Jingyi, you’re being too reckless. How could you wear a dress? It’s so cold right now—a woman's constitution can’t handle this kind of chill."

Others quickly agreed.

"Yes, yes, no matter how much you love beauty, you shouldn’t joke about your health."

Wu Jingyi was like having to swallow a bitter pill—she couldn’t voice her suffering.

She really hadn’t planned to wear a dress at first—it was all Jiang Yu setting her up.

Seething with resentment, she had wanted to have it out with Jiang Yu, but then she heard Jiang Chenghuai bark out,

"Mingrui, get your wife inside!"

Jiang Mingrui was somewhat reluctant as he perfunctorily supported Wu Jingyi into the house.

Seeing his expression, Wu Jingyi sneered and fumed with bitter amusement.

"Who are you giving that attitude to? Today is our wedding day. Suck it up! Don’t think you’re the only one who didn’t want to marry—I didn’t want to marry either."

Jiang Mingrui groused, "Then why did you marry?"

Wu Jingyi shot him a withering look and ignored his question.

Of course, it was for mutual benefit.

"I’m freezing my ass off. Go get me two cups of wine."

Jiang Mingrui couldn’t bear to stay in the same room with her either, feeling as though it was a betrayal to Lin Yue.

He got up and left, returning with a whole damn bottle of wine for Wu Jingyi.

By the time Lin Yue entered with a few relatives, Wu Jingyi’s cheeks were flaming red—she was already drunk.

Lin Yue felt embarrassed and masked her revulsion, turning to apologize to the relatives.

"She must have been frozen earlier. Otherwise, how could she be drunk at this hour? Everyone, please go out and enjoy the feast."

Wu Jingyi was a big shot in the factory, so no one dared to criticize her.

After the banquet ended, Lin Yue helped usher out the guests. Turning back, she saw Jiang Chenghuai, completely drunk, and felt a migraine brewing.

"Help your father into the house."

Jiang Mingrui hadn’t drunk and was stone-cold sober.

He lifted Jiang Chenghuai and helped him inside, but only as far as the front room, refusing to take him further.

Lin Yue was puzzled. "What are you doing?"

Jiang Mingrui said, "God damn wedding night. I don’t want to sleep with Wu Jingyi—I want to sleep with you."

Lin Yue was at a loss for words. She didn’t quite understand Jiang Mingrui’s obsession with her.

Was it just because of that one time we slept together?

"Fine, have it your way."

On his wedding night, Jiang Mingrui felt content holding Lin Yue as they slept.

Even though by morning, they would have to go back to pretending.

While they slept soundly, Jiang Chenghuai felt his mouth dry and his bladder full. Groggily, he blundered back toward the house to find the piss pot to relieve himself.

After finishing, he stumbled back toward the house but ended up entering the newlyweds’ room instead.

In the darkness, he could only make out a figure on the bed. Mistaking her for Lin Yue, he didn’t give it a second thought and slid under the blankets.

Ever since learning Lin Yue was pregnant, they had stopped sharing a bed.

Tonight, perhaps due to the alcohol, he felt a drunken urge and started thrusting against the woman beside him.

...

Jiang Yu went to the Jiang family for drinks and returned with a headache.

She had wrapped up snugly, yet somehow still caught a chill.

“That’s what you get!” He Tingyue scolded gently as he supported her.

“You can’t handle the cold, yet you still insisted on tagging along!"

Jiang Yu coughed twice, her throat burning. She burrowed into him, her nose too stuffy to breathe.

“I’m already suffering—don’t lecture me. It’s so uncomfortable.”

He Tingyue felt her forehead; it wasn’t too hot, just a slight fever.

“Take your medicine, sleep it away, and you'll feel better. I’ll stoke the kang hotter.”

Jiang Yu clutched at him, not letting go. "Hold me, and I won’t feel cold."

"I still need to call in before coming back to stay with you."

Jiang Yu refused petulantly, clinging to him stubbornly.

He Tingyue finally called Tong Fang over to ask for leave on his behalf.

Tong Fang: "...Brother Yue, what reason should I give? That your wife is sick and you need to stay home to take care of her?"

He Tingyue glared daggers at him. "Come here, I’ll teach you."

Tong Fang quickly backed away. "No need, no need—I know what to say."

Seeing he didn’t go to work, Jiang Yu chuckled weakly and peeled back the covers, urging him to join her.

"If you don’t hold me, I can’t sleep."

When sick, Jiang Yu was extra needy, and He Tingyue indulged her, climbing into bed to hold her.

She was like a little furnace, burning up all over, and with the heated kang beneath them, he was breaking a sweat.

Yet Jiang Yu sighed contentedly, grumbling about why the world had to have a season like winter.

He Tingyue patted her back. "Sleep it away—you’ll feel better when you wake up."

Jiang Yu yawned and, under the medicine’s effect, drifted into a drowsy slumber.

Some time later, she stirred awake.

She lifted her heavy eyelids, her voice gravelly.

"What’s going on?"

He Tingyue touched her forehead and let out a relieved breath.

"Your fever’s gone. Aunt Xu came by—said your mom is here."

Jiang Yu covered a yawn, rubbing sleep from her eyes.

"It’s not her first visit—why the fuss?"

Xu Lihua said, "Somehow, your mom crossed paths with Jiang Ningning, who was back at her parents’ place today."

"Jiang Ningning?" Jiang Yu wrinkled her nose, suddenly catching a whiff of drama.

Still feeling weak, she leaned on He Tingyue to sit up and took a few sips of warm water from his hand to soothe her throat.

Xu Lihua watched in amazement. He Tingyue usually appeared so aloof—no one would have guessed he could be so attentive to his wife.

"The roads are slippery from the snow. Jiang Ningning had a run-in with your mom, fell to the ground, and wouldn’t let her go, demanding money."

A woman like Wang Meili would never cough up money for Jiang Ningning.

She immediately grabbed Jiang Ningning, insisting on meeting her parents—as if she were scolding a student.

Jiang Ningning also yelled that she’d get her dad and brother to back her up, so the two headed straight for the Jiang family.

Once inside, all hell broke loose.

They actually saw Wu Jingyi and Jiang Chenghuai under the same blanket!

Jiang Ningning hadn’t visited her family in a long time and hadn’t attended yesterday’s banquet, so she didn’t recognize Wu Jingyi. Thinking she was some homewrecker, she made a scene, and neighbors rushed over to catch the adulterers.

After gathering a crowd, Lin Yue and Jiang Mingrui emerged from the next room, half-dressed.