Chapter 6: Old Debts of the Heart?

Wen Zongfu cast a few sidelong glances at her, which prompted Jiang Mi to turn her head. Her gaze was clear and candid as she looked at him, yet her eyes lacked the bashful shyness typical of a new bride.

From this, Wen Zongfu understood: she was not head-over-heels in love with him. Rather, she was simply accepting of the marriage, indifferent to who the groom might be.

This realization left him feeling somewhat unsettled, as he had entirely forgotten that he himself had originally been opposed to the marriage and had even planned to call it off.

It was only when the car pulled up to the two-story white house owned by the Wen family in the city that Jiang Mi truly realized how well-off they were.

She spotted Mrs. Wen, whom she had met when the woman came to the village for the initial matchmaking. Dressed in red, Jiang Mi took the initiative to link her arm through Wen Zongfu’s and walked into the house with poised grace. Behind them, firecrackers popped incessantly; the Wen family had invited many relatives, and a banquet was spread out through the alleyway.

When the guests saw the newlyweds, they all looked over with smiles. At that sight, the bride’s striking appearance took many of the relatives by surprise.

The well-tailored red dress accentuated Jiang Mi’s slender waist and graceful figure—she was thin, yet not frail. With her healthy, rosy complexion, bright eyes, and pearly teeth, she stood beside the tall, handsome Wen Zongfu, making for a perfectly matched pair.

Mrs. Wen was immensely satisfied, seeing that her rebellious son allowed his wife to hold his arm so docilely; it was clear the boy had taken a liking to her. She had been right—no matter how much he initially opposed the match, one look at the bride and the rascal had changed his mind. It was just as well; had they stuck with the original choice, Jiang Caiyuan—who was rounder and less attractive than Jiang Mi—there was no telling what kind of trouble the boy might have stirred up.

In her delight, when Jiang Mi poured the tea and changed her form of address, Mrs. Wen not only gave her the prepared red envelope but also slipped the jade bracelet from her own wrist onto Jiang Mi’s.

Jiang Mi’s wrist was slender and fair, and the jade bracelet looked stunning on her. Startled, she looked toward Wen Zongfu, feeling a bit unsure.

The quality of the bracelet was clearly exceptional. She…

Wen Zongfu stared at her jade-like wrist for a moment before shifting his gaze. He cleared his throat and said with a straight face, "It's a gift from Mother. Just wear it and don't worry."

With her husband’s approval, Jiang Mi smiled sweetly and thanked her mother-in-law.

The new bride was beautiful yet composed. Despite being a village girl, she was gentle and polite, outshining even the city girls in every way, and possessed a unique temperament that no one else had.

"No wonder young Wen is so willing to be a good husband this time," they whispered among themselves. "It turns out he found such a beautiful wife."

He was clearly being led by his new bride; as they made the rounds to toast each table, Wen Zongfu was remarkably cooperative.

Mrs. Wen leaned over to Director Wen and whispered, "Old Wen, we made the right choice with this daughter-in-law. She can handle our unruly son."

Director Wen also felt the new bride did them credit. He had been skeptical when his wife insisted on a village girl, thinking that with the Wen family's status, they shouldn't have to settle for someone from the countryside with no worldly experience. But his wife had told him the new bride had finished high school—she was an educated woman. He mused that they would eventually have to arrange a job for her, but there was no rush; the priority was for her to settle into their home life.

"Brother Wen, it’s your big day! And your wife is so beautiful, you’ve got to have a few more drinks!"

Wen Zongfu was a generous drinker. When they reached the table of his friends, he laughed and cursed at their teasing, "Get lost, all of you! Cut the act."

"Brother Wen, I’ll toast you first!" Taking advantage of the festive occasion, his friends grew bold and came forward one by one to offer toasts.

Seeing the heavy scent of alcohol on Wen Zongfu, yet noting that his expression remained clear, Jiang Mi didn't try to stop him. She simply stood by his side, smiling softly.

However, she keenly felt a gaze filled with hostility.

When she looked over, she met the sharp eyes of a capable-looking young woman.

Her smile faded slightly. A second later, the woman stood up with a glass in hand and said, "Miss Jiang, I’m an old classmate of Zongfu’s. Let me toast you."

She downed the drink in one gulp and waited for Jiang Mi to follow suit. The people at the table exchanged awkward glances, and some even tugged at the woman’s sleeve.

"Bai Yi, the bride has already had quite a bit to drink. You should go easy on her."

"Is it a crime to toast the bride?" Bai Yi frowned, staring fixedly at Jiang Mi.

Jiang Mi finally understood the scrutiny and hostility behind the woman’s actions. She cast a fleeting glance at Wen Zongfu—a relic of a past romance?

She curled her lips into a smile, one with an ambiguous meaning. "Fine, why wouldn't it be?"

She picked up the glass in front of her and drank it clean. The strong liquor went straight to her head, leaving her cheeks flushed, yet her demeanor remained strong as she met Bai Yi’s gaze with unflinching candor.