Chapter 28

Chapter 28

Jin Ran was shy, but only just.

Once she truly embraced something, her confidence would soar in tandem.

For instance, at this very moment, she wore a silver gown that restricted her stride, looking as beautiful as an angel descended from the moon. Yet, her true intention was to stun everyone and prove them wrong.

Proving them wrong... Since Jin Jing wasn't here, that would have to wait. But receiving a few admiring compliments was certainly achievable.

Jin Ran was brimming with the joy of sharing.

Originally, she had planned to seek out the house staff. She had a few "old sisters" among the villa’s employees with whom she got along well. They often chatted, and though she was mostly a listener, she always provided plenty of melon seeds and peanuts. The female staff also enjoyed sharing a bit of daily gossip with her.

Unexpectedly, she bumped into Jiang Mingsuo the moment she stepped out.

Jin Ran blinked, her mind instantly made up.

Who cared who she shared with? She hadn't thought it through earlier, only wanting praise, forgetting that in others’ eyes, she was now Mrs. Jiang, living in luxury.

A lady showing off her beautiful evening gown to the house staff would give off an air of aloofness, as if she were above it all.

Only Jin Ran knew that her bank account held a mere ¥200,000.

“How do I look?”

She smiled, walking up to Jiang Mingsuo and twirling a few times, just like a heroine in a TV drama.

Alas, the fishtail gown hugged her waist and hips too tightly to truly flare out, but a subtle, elusive fragrance suddenly wafted through the air.

Jiang Mingsuo’s breath hitched for a moment before he nodded. “Not bad.”

Jin Ran’s smile widened. She thought Jiang Mingsuo had excellent taste. Noticing he was wearing a dark blue suit, her eyes lit up. It’s often said that many men look good in clothes, but those who can truly carry a suit are the real deal. The slightest ill fit could make them look like bank tellers or insurance agents.

Clearly, Jiang Mingsuo was not among them.

His sharp shoulder lines extended outward, making his figure appear even more upright. The subtle taper at the waist accentuated his lean build. His hair was meticulously styled, combed back, and every movement exuded an awe-inspiring, mature charm. She didn’t hold back either, giving him a thumbs-up: “You look exceptionally handsome today too.”

The two stood facing each other.

They were so close that Jiang Mingsuo couldn’t help but notice the admiration in the woman’s eyes.

Unlike the forced, disgust-laced smiles from before, her gaze was now clear and luminous, pure without a trace of impurity.

The corners of her eyes tilted up slightly, her lashes thick like butterfly wings. Under the light, her irises shimmered with a faint amber glow, like exquisitely crafted crystal, making one want to hold and treasure them.

Thinking this, he acted on it.

His fingertip gently brushed against her eyelashes, and the soft curve trembled rapidly. Jin Ran laughed and leaned back to avoid his touch: “Don’t, I just had my eyelashes permed. You’ll ruin them.”

He paused, not continuing the motion. Instead, his finger moved downward, pointing vaguely at her neck: “It’s a bit bare.”

Hearing this, Jin Ran blinked.

Did he mean what she thought he meant?

She didn’t feel possessive about other people’s money, but if someone offered, there was no reason to refuse. Even though the original owner’s walk-in closet was already filled with countless accessories, she still said with feigned regret: “I also think it’s a bit bare. None of the necklaces I have seem quite right.”

Jiang Mingsuo: “I’ll have Assistant Wang bring some over.”

His casual tone and the lavish generosity instantly made him even more attractive in her eyes!

So she decided not to fuss about him smudging her mascara.

Just then, Jiang Xuli arrived, fashionably late.

Although he had no interest in such occasions, if he didn’t show up, people might speculate that he was deeply unhappy about his father’s marriage. Not only did Jiang Xuli not want to become a topic of gossip, but Jiang Mingsuo wouldn’t allow such a thing to happen either.

Seeing the young man, Jin Ran’s eyes lit up again.

What was up with this father-son duo? Each of them could debut as celebrities right away!

The cool, young man wore a proper suit, his tall and slender frame looking neat and crisp. With one hand in his pocket and the other hanging casually at his side, his posture was lazy yet dignified, every inch the young nobleman.

Noticing Jin Ran’s gaze, Jiang Xuli glanced at the woman a few times but frowned in confusion: “Isn’t it too tight? Won’t you throw up when you eat later?”

Jin Ran: “...”

She took back her earlier praise. The son was still the son—his sense of aesthetics couldn’t compare to his father’s: “Oh, I’m not a bottomless pit. I don’t eat three bowls of rice in one meal.”

Jiang Xuli, the bottomless pit who ate exactly three bowls of rice per meal: ???

He couldn’t help but look at his dad, hoping to find some support, but the man said calmly: “Yeah, I don’t eat that much either.”

Jealousy, pure, unadulterated jealousy!

The young man’s face flushed red with anger, but deep down, he wasn’t actually upset.

The reason... perhaps this time, he didn’t sense any disdain in his father’s words.

There was even a touch of humor.

The next day, Jiang Xuli deliberately wore his school uniform and lingered at the school gate, hoping to salvage his pride, only to find that Jin Ran didn’t show up!

Jin Ran, who had taken a day off, happily slept in for two extra hours.

By the time she got up, everyone had already left the house. She enjoyed a sumptuous breakfast alone and then set off to check out the location for the teacher recruitment exam at Liushiliu Primary School.

The place was a bit remote, so Jin Ran took a taxi. On the way, she couldn’t help but muse about how time flew.

Unknowingly, she had already been here for over a month. Perhaps because every day was busy and fulfilling, she hadn’t had time to think about her previous life.

After personally confirming the exam location, Jin Ran headed back. The round trip cost her 200 yuan, which made her heart ache. The last bit of nostalgia vanished entirely—only the successful could afford nostalgia. Her journey was far from over; she still needed to keep striving.

Once home, Jin Ran asked the butler for the driving school coach’s contact information and went ahead to handle everything for signing up for driver’s license classes.

By evening, when Jiang Mingsuo and Jiang Xuli returned home, the three of them got dressed up and drove to the Jin family estate.

Meanwhile, the Jin family old residence was embroiled in turmoil.

Grandpa Jin sat silently at the seat of honor. The old lion’s body was tired, but the gaze he revealed when lifting his eyelids still made the younger generation tremble.

After a long pause: “I remember saying not to try any sneaky maneuvers.”

Jin Deguo was somewhat displeased: “Dad, it’s Jiang Mingsuo who’s too greedy. He took everything for himself! With such a big appetite, isn’t he afraid of choking?”

“Then what do you want to do?” Grandpa Jin said expressionlessly. “What we seek is cooperation, support from behind the scenes, not for you to use them to skin them, eat their flesh, and drink their blood!”

"Those from the fourth branch have already been imprisoned. What, do you want to end up with them?"

Everyone immediately fell silent.

No one had expected Jiang Mingsuo to be so ruthless.

Even in such a chaotic place abroad, he managed to send people to prison, even going so far as to use himself as part of the trap. Before, the Jin family had been blinded by resentment, unable to see the truth clearly, but now, thinking back, they couldn’t help but shiver with fear.

After a while, Jin Deguo said, "But the invitations have already been sent out. What else can we do now?"

Grandpa Jin sighed wearily, "Make sure the two of them don't meet. Also, keep a close eye on Xiaojing. Don’t let her do anything foolish again!"

By the end of his sentence, Grandpa Jin’s eyes were filled with a frosty glare.

No matter how much he doted on his granddaughter, when it came to the family’s interests, she had to take a back seat.

Everyone agreed and left the study, each with their own plans.

"The old man is making a mountain out of a molehill. Xiaojing is just concerned about Ran Ran. As a younger sister, she stole her older sister’s marriage, and now she isn’t even helping the family. How is that fair!"

Jin Dezhu felt embarrassed by his older brother’s words. "They say a married daughter is like water poured out—impossible to take back. That wretched girl doesn’t even listen to me anymore."

In truth, when had he ever cared about this daughter? It was only because the Jin family had suddenly encountered difficulties, and Jin Ran had firmly insisted that Jiang Mingsuo would become the future richest man, that father and daughter had conspired to steal the marriage.

Initially, this alliance had indeed brought the family many benefits. But recently, Jin Ran had started to brush things off, and now she acted as if his words meant nothing at all.

This infuriated Jin Dezhu.

Jin Deguo frowned, cutting off his train of thought. "Enough. Let’s stop the reporters first and offer them some hush money."

If this blew up, it would be hard to contain.

/

Jin Ran knew nothing of these matters.

Grandpa Jin lived in the old mansion in the west. By the time the three of them arrived, the banquet had just begun, and there weren’t many guests in the main hall.

Upon receiving the news, Grandpa Jin immediately had them brought to him.

Jin Ran had initially been worried about giving herself away, but it turned out the old man didn’t care much for his granddaughter. After asking her a few simple questions, he dismissed her, seemingly wanting to discuss important matters with Jiang Mingsuo.

Her birth father seemed to want to say something, but Jin Ran had no desire to engage with him further. She grabbed Jiang Xuli, who was about to leave. "Weren’t you saying you’re hungry? You’re not familiar with this place—let me take you to get something to eat!"

Jiang Xuli: "?"

When had he ever said that?

Full of doubt, wondering if she was bringing up the "glutton" thing again, Jin Ran had already hooked her arm through his. The young man’s body stiffened, and whether from lack of strength or unpreparedness, he let himself be dragged away like a little chick.

Night had fallen, and the banquet hall was brightly lit. The smooth marble floor reflected a dazzling glow.

Guests dressed in haute couture gowns gathered in small groups, some raising glasses for a light drink, others chatting and laughing softly. Each wore a perfectly practiced social smile. Waiters carrying trays of drinks moved among them, observant and attentive, refilling glasses just as they were about to empty.

As soon as the two stepped out of the study, they attracted quite a few glances.

Jin Ran was the second daughter of the Jin family. Before marriage, she had been something of a celebrity in their circles—though not for good reasons. She was known for being sharp-tongued, extravagant, and excessive. Compared to her elegant cousin, the socialites looked down on Jin Ran and avoided her whenever possible.

So even though the woman before them seemed somewhat different in demeanor, everyone recognized her at once. The young man with her, however, was unfamiliar.

Those who were quick to connect the dots, recalling Jin Ran’s marriage to Jiang Mingsuo, had already guessed his identity.

And they couldn’t help but feel slightly surprised.

When news of Jin Ran’s marriage to Jiang Mingsuo first broke, it had stunned many, especially those wealthy young women who had secretly admired Jiang Mingsuo. They were furious, unable to understand why he would choose Jin Ran.

Later, when they heard Jiang Mingsuo had left on a business trip just days after the wedding, everyone thought they had uncovered the truth.

Some said the Jin family had done Jiang Mingsuo a favor and used it to force his hand. Others claimed it had nothing to do with the Jin family—that Jin Ran had used underhanded methods to force the marriage. Regardless of the version, they all pointed to the same conclusion: Jiang Mingsuo did not like Jin Ran.

With this in mind, the guests at the banquet gradually began to feel a sense of amused interest.

After all, the young man looked thoroughly annoyed, as if he was deeply dissatisfied…