Volume One, Chapter 13: Zhou Cong Plans to Get Engaged on the Same Day as Jiang Yao

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Jiang Yao was henceforth forbidden from entering the military district. She was sentenced to two years, but since she was willing to contribute two hundred thousand yuan toward national development, the sentence was reduced to two years with a one-year reprieve.

In other words, so long as Jiang Yao behaved well and committed no further offenses during the coming year, she would not have to serve those two years at all.

A surge of fury rose in Ye Qiaoqiao’s chest.

She had never imagined that Zhou Cong would be willing to spend more than half his fortune to save Jiang Yao.

No wonder she had died so miserably in her previous life—she had been kept completely in the dark.

If she had known how deeply Zhou Cong cared for Jiang Yao, she would never have become involved with him.

Even though she had been reborn and no longer needed to marry Zhou Cong, the betrayals and wounds she had suffered in her previous life still sent an endless blaze of anger surging through her.

“Ye Qiaoqiao, I heard you’re getting engaged to that low-ranking soldier, Fu Juechuan?”

Zhou Cong’s voice suddenly came from behind her.

Ye Qiaoqiao turned and saw Jiang Yao standing beside Fu Juechuan, looking disheveled and giving off an unpleasant odor.

Yet Jiang Yao was in an extremely good mood.

Strangely good.

“Of course. My father has already spread the news. All the uncles and aunts from the compound who know us will be coming to my engagement banquet.”

Ye Qiaoqiao narrowed her eyes slightly. “Since we’re not on good terms, I won’t invite you two.”

“Of course, the main reason is that I’m worried you’ll ruin my happy occasion.”

“Very well!” Zhou Cong felt a rush of fury clog his chest. “As it happens, I have happy news for you too. I’m getting engaged to Yaoyao.”

“Brother Zhou, being able to marry you is my good fortune.” Jiang Yao seized the opportunity to cling to his arm and flatter him.

Ye Qiaoqiao suddenly understood. No wonder Jiang Yao was so happy—her scheme had succeeded. She would just have to see what kind of “happy” life Zhou Cong would lead after bringing his “white moonlight” home as his wife.

“Congratulations to you both,” Ye Qiaoqiao said with a curl of her lips.

“Fine! Fine!” Zhou Cong was beside himself with anger. He put an arm around Jiang Yao and turned toward the main road outside the military district. “Just wait. I’ll give Yaoyao a grand engagement banquet.”

All that remained was Zhou Cong’s resolute back.

Jiang Yao tightened her hold on his arm, then looked back at Ye Qiaoqiao and silently mouthed, Thank you, Miss. I’ll make sure I sit securely in the position of Mrs. Zhou.

Ye Qiaoqiao was caught between laughter and exasperation.

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She turned around and went home with light, cheerful steps.

She had thought the matter was over.

Unexpectedly, while Ye Qiaoqiao was preparing for her engagement banquet at home, her maternal uncle, Gu Jin, returned from university on annual leave. The first thing he said was, “Qiaoqiao, I heard Zhou Cong is also getting engaged to Jiang Yao on the sixteenth?”

Ye Qiaoqiao had not left the house for several days; she had been trying on her engagement clothes.

Hearing this out of nowhere, she could not help laughing. “Zhou Cong is just as disgusting as ever.”

“Rumor has it that Zhou Cong is offering an enormous betrothal gift—at least ten thousand yuan—and will also hold a lavish banquet, inviting businessmen and officials from Huai City who have dealings with the Zhou family.” Gu Jin continued speaking.

The news had spread throughout Huai City’s upper circles.

Anyone with even the slightest connections knew about the feud between Qiaoqiao and Zhou Cong.

He was clearly taking advantage of the occasion to humiliate the Ye family.

He wanted to make a mockery of Qiaoqiao for choosing the wrong man.

“Uncle, we should be happy that I’ve gotten away from a scumbag,” Ye Qiaoqiao consoled him.

Seeing his niece’s mild and good-natured expression, Gu Jin’s eyes darkened. His voice was low and gloomy. “He’s deliberately humiliating you, and you can still laugh? Everyone in the compound has heard about it too. They’re all waiting to make a joke of you.”

Gu Jin took a sip of tea and tapped his fingers lightly against the tabletop, pondering what he could do.

“I don’t care.” Ye Qiaoqiao was not surprised in the least by the news. In her previous life, Zhou Cong had secretly supported Jiang Yao’s mother behind her back, allowing her to live a life of wealth and luxury.

He had even chosen the most expensive cemetery for Jiang Yao. Every year on Jiang Yao’s death anniversary, no matter how busy he was, he would go pay his respects.

He hired someone to clean Jiang Yao’s gravestone every day.

Later, when Zhou Cong became even wealthier, whenever he saw precious jewelry and ornaments, he would secretly buy them without telling her. They were all gifts for Jiang Yao—constant reminders of her presence.

“Besides, what does this little betrothal gift amount to? Didn’t he just spend two hundred thousand yuan to get Jiang Yao out?” Ye Qiaoqiao smiled, her voice thick with scorn.

Gu Jin looked at her twice. “Tsk, tsk. I never realized you could cut straight to a person’s heart, Qiaoqiao.”

The thought of the price Zhou Cong had paid gave him a small measure of satisfaction.

“But still…” Gu Jin set down his enamel cup and crossed his legs, resting his fingers on his knee. “He’s nothing but a nouveau riche. Neither the Gu family nor the Ye family can let him make us a laughingstock.”

“This is my savings. Take it. At the engagement banquet the day after tomorrow, just say it’s the betrothal gift from Fu Juechuan.” Gu Jin handed her a passbook.

Ye Qiaoqiao had not expected her uncle to do this.

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She immediately rose to her feet and refused with a solemn expression. “Uncle! I won’t take your money.”

“Rather than giving it to me, you should take it to the hospital and get yourself examined. Don’t try to hide it from me—I know your stomach has been bothering you.”

Thinking of how her uncle had died of stomach cancer five years later in her previous life, Ye Qiaoqiao’s heart ached.

Now that she had been reborn, she absolutely could not let anything happen to him again.

Gu Jin stared at her in astonishment. “How did you know my stomach was bothering me? It’s only a minor problem. Don’t make such a fuss.”

“No, I’m going to make a fuss. If you refuse to go to the hospital, I’ll have no choice but to ask my father to persuade you.”

Gu Jin’s expression instantly twisted. He was extremely reluctant to be alone with his brother-in-law. After his sister’s accident, he had still been young and had spent six years at odds with Commander Ye. If Qiaoqiao had not been so considerate, perhaps his relationship with Commander Ye would still be strained.

Especially after Gu Jin eventually discovered that everything had been a misunderstanding on his part.

How could he not feel embarrassed?

“Fine. I promise,” Gu Jin said through clenched teeth.

Ye Qiaoqiao flashed him a bright smile.

Gu Jin shook his head helplessly. Seeing that Qiaoqiao truly did not care about such superficial matters, he sighed and decided to accept the fact that Fu Juechuan could not provide a lavish betrothal gift.

He blamed the whole affair on Zhou Cong’s deliberate provocation and decided to create some trouble for the Zhou family’s business.

Gu Jin stood up, walked out of the room, and went downstairs. Once seated on the sofa, he made a phone call.

“Old Zhao, have you heard that the Zhou family’s son is getting engaged? I’ll give you a place at the banquet. Go and cover it. Try to publicize the Zhou family’s extravagance.”

“If you can uncover evidence that the Zhou family has been evading taxes, I guarantee you’ll get a promotion and a raise.”

Old Zhao happily accepted the assignment.

In the blink of an eye, January sixteenth arrived.

Early that morning, after Ye Qiaoqiao got out of bed, she heard the commotion downstairs. Soldiers from the army’s cooking unit were setting out tables and preparing the food. Commander Ye and Fu Juechuan had agreed to hold the engagement banquet at the Ye residence.

There was no need to go to the army’s main mess hall.

“Qiaoqiao, are you awake?”