I Married His Younger Brother

When a humble, studious girl meets the charismatic but manipulative Chen Ziang, her life becomes a whirlwind of love, betrayal, and revenge. Navigating heartbreak and transformation, she learns the true cost of love and finds strength in unexpected places.

The Year I Met Chen Ziang

I was eighteen the year I met Chen Ziang.

My family had always been poor, with little worldly experience. Only my mother understood the value of education. Under her unwavering supervision for ten years, I broke through barriers and became the only student from our small town to be admitted to a prestigious university.

Back then, I thought my life would follow the path of other students from humble backgrounds—studying diligently to achieve academic success and changing my family's fate through my own efforts.

But then I met Chen Ziang, who would completely rewrite my destiny.

A country girl who had never seen the world, and a handsome, experienced rich boy—two people who should never have belonged in the same universe—were brought together because Chen Ziang lost a game of Truth or Dare. That became the game I would hate most in my life.

Having lost the game, Chen Ziang, standing nearly six feet tall, approached my desk.

In his hand was an imported drink I had never tasted before. He placed it gently on my desk and suddenly leaned down toward me.

His beautiful eyes gazed at me intently, his pink lips slightly curved, and in a mesmerizing voice, he softly asked, "Flower, would you be my girlfriend?"

The question sounded like it came from another world, and I could hardly believe what I was hearing.

Looking at the handsome face so close to mine, I nervously adjusted my bowl-cut hair and pushed up the red-framed glasses on my nose, trying to hide my flushed cheeks.

"Well?" he asked.

Chen Ziang looked at me with such sincerity that I knew the answer was on the tip of my tongue. I nodded slightly and opened my mouth to say one word.

"Get lost."

I heard explosive laughter from the back of the classroom. Someone mocked him, "Who said Flower would go cross-eyed at the sight of you?"

"Hahaha, Young Master Chen, your day has finally come! I thought there was no one you couldn't win over!"

I glanced up at Chen Ziang and saw his face had turned ashen. He stared at me and mouthed the words:

"You'll regret this."

To be honest, I was terrified. I thought he might get someone to beat me up.

So when I received a note from Chen Ziang during evening study hall asking me to meet him on the rooftop after class, I was so scared I hid in the bathroom and didn't dare go. But I never expected Chen Ziang to be so persistent. For three consecutive days, he called me over after every class.

I was forced to run to the bathroom after each class until Friday's PE lesson, when Chen Ziang cornered me just after I'd bought an ice cream. Only then did I realize he wasn't going to hit me.

He dragged me to a small grove of trees. I was terrified, with only one thought in my mind:

My ice cream was going to melt.

While I was still wondering if eating the ice cream would make Chen Ziang angrier, he suddenly spoke.

"Why?"

"Huh?"

"Don't you like me? Why did you reject me?"

"Who told you I like you?"

"Then why do you keep turning around in class and staring at me?"

"Um... I was looking at the clock. I just wanted to see how much time was left before class ended. Besides, my glasses aren't strong enough, so I have to look at everything for a long time."

"You!"

Seeing Chen Ziang angry made me even more afraid. I trembled as I held out my ice cream to him.

"Here... take this. Don't be angry."

Chen Ziang looked at me, and I couldn't understand the meaning in his eyes, but those eyes were indeed beautiful. And I had lied to him.

I didn't care about when class would end. I just wanted to see how his eyes could be so beautiful. But to admit that out loud? Impossible.

That would be too embarrassing.

But Chen Ziang seemed determined to push the issue. He didn't take the ice cream but instead grabbed my hand.

"I don't care about any of that. I'm just asking you one thing: will you be my girlfriend or not?"

The warm sensation of his hand on mine was wonderful. The scene was like something from a teen drama I'd watched ten times over. What innocent young girl wouldn't be moved?

But when I opened my mouth, the words of acceptance I had intended to say were swallowed back.

"My mom doesn't let me date."

"We're practically family already. Your mom is like my mom. What's there to worry about?"

With that, Chen Ziang pulled me by the hand out of the grove.

Outside, I saw his group of friends watching us and making a commotion. Chen Ziang's best friend teased him playfully.

"Young Master Chen still has what it takes." "Wow, he actually won over our class genius." "Impressive, impressive!"

"Cut the nonsense. From now on, call her 'sister-in-law.'"

With that, those guys stood up straight and shouted in unison, "Sister-in-law!" My legs nearly gave out, but I managed to force a smile at them before running away.

Chen Ziang chased after me, calling out:

"Hey! Your ice cream!"

I don't know what came over me, but I shouted back:

"It's your ice cream now!"

I heard even more laughter behind me. From that moment on, my ill-fated relationship with Chen Ziang truly began.

Having grown up under my mother's strict supervision for over a decade, I had never been to any entertainment venues. I could count on one hand the number of times I'd eaten at restaurants in all those years.

When he heard this, he was shocked. He smiled, patted my head, and said he would make up for everything I had missed all these years.

God knows how powerful those words were. During vacations, he would take me traveling, deceiving our families. He took me to fancy revolving restaurants and on shopping sprees at malls.

Like a naive girl who had never seen the world, I completely surrendered under his patronage. He became my idol who seemed to know and understand everything, while I felt I had nothing to offer by his side.

I would save all my living expenses to buy things he liked, even if it meant eating just one packet of instant noodles a day. I could only try to compensate for my insecurities by being good to him. But this cycle, once the novelty wore off, drove our relationship into a dead end.

Soon, Chen Ziang began to look down on me.

During an inter-department social event, a girl who caught everyone's attention appeared in our sight.

Her name was Bai Jiaqi. She knew how to apply makeup and dress well, and she was an art student. Her captivating artistic temperament made many boys in our class fall for her, including Chen Ziang.

During that period, he complained that my clothes were unfashionable, my red glasses were ugly, and even that my underwear was too old-fashioned.

I was naive enough to try to please him by using my limited living expenses for a complete makeover, only to be told I was "a crow trying to imitate a swan."

At the time, I didn't know who the "swan" was, until I saw the necklace from Chen Ziang's desk hanging around Bai Jiaqi's neck. Then I knew who Chen Ziang's "swan" really was.

That was Chen Ziang's first attempt at cheating, but it didn't succeed.

Chen Ziang broke up with me to show his determination, but he didn't expect that Bai Jiaqi was a player herself. Chen Ziang's game was too weak, and all the living expenses he gave her went straight into her purse. It wasn't until Bai Jiaqi transferred to study abroad that he came to his senses.

Then he came back asking to reconcile with me. Without a doubt, being the lovesick fool I was, I readily agreed.

From that point on, both our lives began to change.

During his time studying art, Chen Ziang embarked on one cheating adventure after another.

From my initial breakdowns and scenes to eventually feeling numb, it only took me three years.

I thought about leaving him, but habits had become deeply ingrained, and every time we broke up, Chen Ziang would always find my weakness. He would cry, make scenes, and even threaten suicide to get back together. I truly couldn't bear to leave him. He was my first love, and I naively believed his words, believed that he was just being playful for now.

He said I was his first love, but he felt the world was too big and feared that after marriage, there would be no excitement left.

So he wanted to play enough now and would settle down later.

I said I wanted to try that too.

But he said men and women were different—I would lose out, but he wouldn't.

Even with such twisted logic, I believed him. My mind must have been waterlogged back then.

I actually believed that he would grow up someday.

Under his brainwashing, I developed the qualities of a "main wife." Once, I directly confronted him and a girl at a hotel entrance. Calm as a madam, I told the girl, "He has a girlfriend. You should leave."

The girl left, cursing under her breath, while Chen Ziang and I entered the hotel.

After all, the group-buy deal had already been paid for. Couldn't let it go to waste.

Another time, a girl called in the middle of the night, calling him "husband" and asking him to come rescue her quickly.

I took the phone and said, "Your husband is in my bed right now. You should call the police."

The most serious incident was when a girl got pregnant and desperately wanted Chen Ziang to marry her. The matter became so big that even Chen Ziang's parents found out.

They rushed over, only to see me calmly taking out money to pay for the girl's abortion and telling her what a scumbag Chen Ziang was.

"I've already had three abortions for him. You've only had one. Don't be so stubborn, girl."

The girl slapped me while crying, took the money, and left.

I calmly touched up my makeup and greeted Chen Ziang's parents. That was the first time Chen Ziang's parents knew of my existence. By then, we had been together for six years.

After that, Chen Ziang finally restrained himself.

His younger brother, Chen Zichen, repeated a year and then got into the same university as us, becoming my junior.

With both sons in Beijing, Chen's parents decided to buy a house in Beijing for Chen Ziang's marriage. So a year later, when Chen Ziang graduated, I also successfully received an annual salary offer of 300,000 yuan from the Fortune 500 company where I had interned for a year and a half. We could finally start talking about marriage.

But on the day our parents met, despite my best efforts to prepare nice clothes and expensive gifts for my parents, it couldn't hide the class gap between our two families.

Chen's parents looked at my parents with a strong sense of superiority as they watched them put the communal serving spoons in their mouths.

Their faces showed disdain, and even the way they looked at me became contemptuous.

They politely negotiated and asked for my parents' opinions.

They said they were asking, but our opinions couldn't really influence them at all.

The Chen family would buy the house, but it could only be in Chen Ziang's name. I would help pay the mortgage with Chen Ziang, and when we had a child, the house would be put in the child's name.

The bride price would be 200,000 yuan, but Chen's mother implied that this money was just to save face for my parents and had to be returned. As for the wedding, it wouldn't be a grand affair, and we would get our marriage certificate after buying the house.

This completely disregarded me. My parents were about to slam the table in protest, but I gently stopped them.

I agreed to all of Chen's parents' conditions. Looking at Chen Ziang, who hadn't said a word, my thoughts were simple: as long as I could walk the final step with him, it would be fine.

We had weathered so many storms already. What was there to fear in the future?

And so, I became the Chen family's daughter-in-law.

At my parents' insistence, they didn't take a penny of the bride price. Instead, they gave me the 200,000 yuan they had saved their entire lives as my dowry.

My mother didn't say much, just that she hoped I would be happy. I told her that Chen Ziang was my happiness.

I moved into the 90-square-meter apartment the Chen family had bought inside the Third Ring Road. Chen Ziang decided to continue his studies for a master's degree, specifically at the Academy of Fine Arts. The whole family supported him, and I couldn't be an exception.

I served my in-laws at home, took care of his younger brother, washed Chen Ziang's clothes, delivered his meals, worked tirelessly as a maid, and still worked hard at my job. I slept only five hours a day, living in my fantasy world, thinking this was what a beautiful married life looked like.

Many colleagues envied me for having a childhood sweetheart who had grown up to be a handsome, wealthy husband.

At times like these, I would just smile. I couldn't tell them that I had never been after anything from Chen Ziang. For all these years, Chen Ziang had been extravagant, and throughout college, I had used my scholarship money and part-time job earnings to supplement his expenses. Even now, I was paying the monthly mortgage of over 10,000 yuan.

He was still studying, and I had to subsidize his large expenses every month.

More crucially, Chen Ziang had been busy since starting his master's degree, and we still hadn't gotten our marriage certificate.

Yet I had no complaints about any of this, until one day when I saw that person. I knew then that everything was over.

Such a familiar figure. After all these years, she still looked like an elegant white swan—noble, reserved, graceful, and composed.

She stood beside Chen Ziang, looking like a perfect match, impossible to look away from.

At that moment, I was covered in oil stains, carrying hot food, and rushing with my brother-in-law Chen Zichen to deliver a meal to him, only to see this scene at the school gate.

I was at a loss, like a child who had done something wrong. It was Chen Zichen who patted my hand, bringing me back to my senses.

"Let's go, Flower. Don't look anymore."

This kid never called me "sister-in-law" or by my full name, always strangely calling me "Flower." He was so disrespectful. But seeing how calm he was, I couldn't help but wonder.

"You knew about this already?"

Chen Zichen didn't speak, only saying softly:

"Let's go. Even if you go over there now, it won't make any difference. My brother will say a few words, and you'll believe him anyway, won't you?"

He was right. I would believe him. But while I might believe others, I would never believe Bai Jiaqi.

Because she was the initial crack in my relationship with Chen Ziang, the name he cried out countless times when drunk, and the first person who had deeply hurt Chen Ziang.

For her, Chen Ziang was different.

But after imagining countless ways I should respond, I still slunk away, making sure to drop Chen Zichen back at school first.

He looked at me with concern and only said, "Don't be too hard on yourself," before I shooed him away.

Driving alone, I was so distracted I nearly had an accident.

When I finally made it home, I looked in the mirror at this oil-stained woman and realized I had never been that radiant.

I suddenly made a decision. With my in-laws away traveling for a month, I took the savings I had been setting aside to pay off the mortgage early and began a radical transformation.

I got double eyelid surgery, replaced my glasses with contact lenses, styled my hair into sexy waves, learned to apply makeup, got a gym membership, and started a crash diet.

A month later, I threw out all the old clothes I'd worn for years and replaced them with stylish outfits from magazines. Looking at my completely transformed self, I still couldn't feel happy.

The feeling was as heavy as when Chen Ziang had said I was "a crow trying to imitate a swan" back in high school.

But I stubbornly wanted to try anyway.

That evening, my in-laws were returning from their trip, and Chen Ziang, who hadn't been home for a month, would also be coming for dinner.

I wore a beautiful outfit and prepared a table full of dishes, waiting for their return.

When Chen Ziang arrived, he stared at me for a full ten seconds before finally grasping my shoulders with delight in his eyes, saying, "Honey, you look beautiful."

I shyly welcomed everyone to the table, though Chen Zichen seemed unenthusiastic, looking at me with what seemed like disappointment.

That night, Chen Ziang unusually didn't return to school. I put on my newly bought silk nightgown and gently embraced him.

"Ziang, when are we going to get our marriage certificate?"

Chen Ziang's body noticeably tensed, and he seemed nervous.

"Honey, why bring this up again? Didn't we agree to wait until after I graduate?

Besides, we can buy another house then and move out on our own, which would also save us from the hassle of a second property."

"But I want to have your child."

Chen Ziang turned to face me, holding me tenderly.

"There's no rush. You're at a critical point in your career. Getting pregnant now would affect that."

I thought about it and agreed, dropping the subject. Instead, I gazed at him with starry eyes—a technique I'd learned. God knows how much homework I'd done this past month.

Chen Ziang couldn't resist such an approach. He picked me up and threw me onto the bed, but just as he was about to join me, his phone rang.

He answered naturally. I faintly heard someone on the other end say "miss you." After hanging up, I knew he was going to leave.

"Something's come up. I need to go back to school."

"Are you sure you want to leave now?"

I put on an act, hoping he would stay.

I didn't want our years of love to be no match for Bai Jiaqi. I couldn't believe that all my efforts would be defeated by her simple "miss you."

"Be good. I'll come back tomorrow."

With that, Chen Ziang left without any hesitation. When I heard the door close, I could no longer hold back my tears.

"Looks like you failed."

I looked up to see Chen Zichen watching me with regret. I grabbed the blanket to cover my revealing nightgown.

"Get out!"

Chen Zichen shook his head.

"You really are hopeless. Think about it—what good could he be up to, leaving in the middle of the night like this?"

Hearing this, I couldn't sit still anymore.

Although I knew Chen Ziang's long absence from home must have something to do with Bai Jiaqi, I kept comforting myself that Bai Jiaqi had tricked him once, and he wouldn't fall for it again.

I didn't want to believe he was such a terrible person. After all, we'd been married for so long, and I'd given him so much. I couldn't believe he would do this.

"Still comforting yourself? Let's see how you comfort yourself when you have nothing left."

Chen Zichen turned to leave, and his words stabbed me. Years of accumulated grievances flooded over me like a tidal wave, making me lose control.

I grabbed my car keys and went after him. Years ago, I had spent a lot of money installing a remote start and preheating system for Chen Ziang's car so he wouldn't have to warm it up in winter. It was convenient—one tap on my phone would start it.

This feature also had an additional function: it could track the car's location.

I had always helped him warm up the car, and Chen Ziang had no idea about this. I had never wanted to use this function, but today, like a wounded animal, I needed to see the storm behind the paper-thin window.

I knew that the barriers built over all these years were no longer solid.

I followed Chen Ziang's location to the entrance of the Bulgari Hotel. How ironic—the best hotel Chen Ziang had ever taken me to was a $600-per-night Sheraton on special offer. For a place like this, costing four or five thousand a night, I was perhaps not worthy in his eyes.

I deliberately gave the front desk the wrong name for Bai Jiaqi, claiming I was a visitor looking for Bai Jiaqie.

"Miss, do you mean Bai Jiaqi?"

"I think so. Which room?"

The receptionist was cautious and said she needed to call her. I nodded, watching as she dialed the number: 6520. Before the call connected, I hung up.

"I made a mistake. My friend just texted me that he hasn't arrived yet and asked me to wait here. Could you book me a room?"

"Of course, miss. What type of room would you like?"

"May I take a look?"

"Certainly."

I went up to the sixth floor and chose a room closest to 6520. I pressed myself against the wall, feeling like a clown.

But the hotel's soundproofing was too good; I couldn't hear anything.

I opened the curtains, thinking it would be a waste not to use such an expensive room.

To my surprise, I discovered a small balcony outside the window—the perfect spot for eavesdropping. Their room had the window open, and I could faintly hear their conversation.

I turned off all the lights in my room and stood quietly on the dark balcony, shamelessly eavesdropping.

"Ziang, be gentle."

"Don't move, I might cut your skin."

Chen Ziang was actually cutting Bai Jiaqi's nails—something I couldn't even imagine him doing for me.

I tried to comfort myself: it's nothing, this doesn't mean anything.

But another voice inside me screamed:

How can you say this is nothing when things have gone this far!

"Ziang, will you always be good to me?"

"Of course. After all these years, haven't you seen how I feel about you?"

"I don't believe it."

"I told you long ago that I like you. You said if I still liked you after seven years, we could be together. It's been seven years now. I studied art for you, got into graduate school for you. If this doesn't prove my feelings, I don't know what will."

These words struck like lightning, shattering my world completely.

My heart sank rapidly. I had to hold onto the railing just to stand.

My best youth, my best seven years—I had lived for him until I lost myself, while he trampled on my sincere heart to chase his moonlight. How ironic and ridiculous. At that moment, my long-standing persistence and selfless devotion turned into bitter resentment. I finally understood what it meant for a heart to ache to this degree.

Because I loved him, I forgave him again and again, waiting for him.

Compromise after compromise, I thought my sacrifices would earn his understanding and reciprocation. Instead, all I got was his reckless trampling and humiliation.

Seven years—these seven years proved he loved her. And what about me?

"But I heard you've been dating that Flower girl all this time."

"You know how charming I am. She couldn't resist and kept clinging to me. It's quite normal."

So that's what he called it—clinging. After all these years of washing his clothes and cooking his meals, it turns out I was just "clinging" to him.

"I don't believe you unless you prove it to me."

"I'll prove it to you right now."

The disgusting, intimate sounds of the two gradually became audible.

I couldn't listen anymore. I couldn't bear it anymore. There was only one thought in my mind: I wanted to burst in and kill them both!

I rushed recklessly toward the door.

But as soon as I opened it, I was startled to see Chen Zichen standing at the doorway. Before I could react, he pulled me back into the room.

"What are you doing?"

"I was afraid you might do something stupid."

"Let go of me! I'm his rightful wife. I'm going to destroy them!"

"And then what?"

"What do you mean, 'then what'?"

"Then continue this nameless, unofficial life with Chen Ziang, turning yourself into a haggard old woman?"

"Of course not! I want to divorce him!"

"Divorce? Do you two even have a marriage certificate?"

This question completely crushed me. I sat on the floor, hugging my knees and sobbing.

Chen Zichen comfortingly patted my shoulder.

"Flower, he's not worth it."

"Why? Isn't he your brother?"

"Though we share blood, I don't have such a brother. He disgusts me."

I wiped my tears and stood up.

"Let's go home. I'll have my parents sort this out."

Chen Zichen's face suddenly turned as if he'd eaten something terrible.

"You really don't have a brain, Flower."

"What do you mean?"

"Forget it. Stay here tonight. You'll understand tomorrow."

At the time, I didn't know what Chen Zichen meant.

He dragged me to the balcony, where we listened to the sounds of that despicable couple all night.

"My brother has quite the stamina. He's not like this with you, is he?"

"You!"

I raised my hand to hit him, but he caught it.

"Don't be angry. I'm doing this for your own good. I'm helping you strengthen your resolve and making sure you'll never forget how this feels."

Chen Zichen was right. Even though I had forgiven Chen Ziang for everything else over the years,

This time, I could never forgive him.

Especially the next day at noon, when I saw Chen Ziang's family and Bai Jiaqi's family having an engagement dinner at the restaurant.

I could imagine Chen Ziang being shameless, but I never thought my once-respected in-laws could be so despicable.

They were having an engagement dinner, discussing Chen Ziang and Bai Jiaqi's marriage. What did that make me? A maid?

From behind a screen, I heard Chen's parents eagerly calling Bai Jiaqi "daughter-in-law" and pushing a new Cartier bracelet onto her wrist.

They also took out a bank card, saying the one million yuan was the bride price, and that they had already bought a wedding house in the East Third Ring Road.

They said the wedding would be as grand as possible, ensuring their daughter-in-law wouldn't be wronged.

They also mentioned they had checked the calendar for an auspicious date to get the marriage certificate, and would add her name to the house deed immediately after. At that moment, I realized how ridiculous I had been all these years. It wasn't that they didn't understand—they simply never respected me from the beginning.

Chen's parents urged Bai Jiaqi to rest well during her pregnancy and not to attend school for now.

Pregnancy? Bai Jiaqi was pregnant?

She was pregnant and still carrying on like that last night? Did these two have any conscience?

But that wasn't the most disgusting part. The most sickening was the conversation between Chen Ziang and his parents when Bai Jiaqi's family went to the restroom.

"Ziang, hurry up and get rid of that one at home."

"Mom, she's been with me for so many years. I need to find a way to make her leave on her own."

"You can wait, but can my grandson wait? Besides, it's her own fault for not taking care of herself at such a young age, ruining her own body."

Well, well. I had only ever been with Chen Ziang, and somehow that made me someone who didn't take care of myself.

"Mom, don't worry. Let me think about it."

"Stop thinking. I say we give her some money and let her go!" This was from Chen's father, whom I had always thought was a reasonable person. I never expected him to be so despicable.

"Why should we? She's been eating our food and living in our house all these years. She's been punching above her weight for so long, that's enough. She doesn't get a penny. If necessary, I'll find an excuse to drive her out. How hard can that be?"

What kind of people were they? I couldn't believe I only realized this today.

My blood began to boil. I returned home and assessed my situation, only to find I had nothing. No marriage certificate, no legal rights. The house was in Chen Ziang's name, but I was paying the mortgage.

Our marriage was known only to friends and relatives. Now, being thrown out, I was left with nothing. This was the price of stupidity. I couldn't help but mock myself. Should I just give up like this? Should I waste ten years for such a miserable outcome?

No, absolutely not.

I had to make this family pay the price they deserved.

But how could I fight against them?

After thinking all afternoon, I realized I had no options. No matter what I did, Chen Ziang would never get a marriage certificate with me. After much consideration, I found only one angle:

Chen Zichen.

I knew he was different with me. He might like me, but I wasn't sure.

If I got together with him, it would be the biggest blow to Chen Ziang and his parents.

But...

Thinking of those clear eyes, I didn't know if I should use him.

While I was hesitating, a WeChat message from Chen's mother finally solidified my decision.

"Daughter-in-law, your father and I need some money. Do you have any savings?"

This was how they had tricked me out of my dowry before. I couldn't believe that even as they were about to throw me out, they still wanted to squeeze my last drop of blood.

I put down my phone, and a crazy plan gradually took shape. I was going to turn the Chen family upside down!

I replied to Chen's mother, saying that next week my parents would be selling some land and would transfer 300,000 yuan to my account, which I could then give to her.

"That's wonderful, daughter-in-law. Consider it a loan from me. I'll pay it back soon."

I smirked coldly. Such greed—we'd see if she could accept this money when the time came.

That weekend, no one was home. I had worked overtime for five straight days to distract myself, to the point where even my manager was worried and urged me to take a break.

The Chen family was busy preparing for their future daughter-in-law and had no time to pay attention to the house.

On Saturday noon, while I was formulating my plan, I received a WeChat message from Chen's mother asking me to make dinner for Chen Zichen.

I knew my opportunity had arrived.

I took a deep breath, threw my clothes by the bathroom door, and went inside. I spent two hours there, spraying perfume, applying body lotion all over, and cleverly putting on natural-looking makeup. I wrapped the shortest towel around my chest, barely covering anything. Looking at myself in the mirror, I wasn't satisfied and added a bit more blush.

When I heard the door unlock and saw the young silhouette in the reflection, I knew it was time.

I sprayed some water on my face, gathered my courage, and casually hummed a tune as I opened the bathroom door and walked out.

Then I heard footsteps stop. Turning around, I saw Chen Zichen standing about three feet away, looking at me with surprise, his eyes full of admiration.

"Zichen, you... you're back already?"

I pretended to be nervous as I bent down to pick up my clothes. I knew perfectly well that from his angle, Zichen would see quite a view.

I picked up my clothes and stood up, my hair deliberately brushing against his chest, then "lost my balance" and fell into his arms.

I clearly saw Chen Zichen's face turn red as he held me tightly.

"Zichen, what... what are you doing? Your parents aren't home... don't be impulsive."

Such powerful seduction. Chen Zichen cupped my face and kissed me deeply.

"Zichen... let me go..."

My weak, powerless voice added a touch of coquettishness—deliberately, of course.

Sure enough, Chen Zichen carried me straight to his room, gently placed me on the bed, pinned down my hands, and looked at me intently.

"Flower, you're so beautiful."

I blushed, suddenly feeling hesitant. I began to struggle.

"You... let me go."

"Not a chance."

Chen Zichen was more aggressive than I had imagined. Just as the final defense was about to be breached, I nervously called out to him. My conscience wouldn't let me deceive this young man.

"Zichen, you know I..."

"I know, and I'll take responsibility."

What followed was a storm of passion.

I hadn't expected it to go so smoothly. We spent a shameless day and night together, and by Monday, I went to work with wobbly legs.

The feeling was both strange and wonderful.

Meanwhile, Chen Ziang wasn't idle either. He was figuring out how to drive me away.

But I had to strike first.

I had someone investigate Bai Jiaqi's background. Woman's intuition told me this girl wasn't simple.

Sure enough, my efforts paid off. Through my high school teacher, I found the school Bai Jiaqi had transferred from, traced her previous home address, and finally learned her secret from former neighbors.

It turned out Jiaqi was born into a single-parent family and lived in difficult circumstances. Since high school, her mother had sent her to study art under a vice-principal of a large art training school—her so-called "godfather." In reality, they had been together since then. After neighbors found out, the mother and daughter transferred schools to escape the scandal.

Bai Jiaqi's overseas education was also funded by this "godfather."

So from college through her return from studying abroad, Bai Jiaqi had been pretending to be a delicate little princess from a wealthy family, claiming her father had died early and left her a fortune, when in reality she was nothing but...

Even more laughable was that this "godfather" was very good to Chen Ziang and had brought Chen Ziang and Bai Jiaqi together. The situation was clear.

Bai Jiaqi must be pregnant and looking for a father for her child.

And this "godfather," to protect his reputation, had groomed Chen Ziang to be the fall guy.

What a show, how entertaining.

Knowing all this added more ammunition to my plan.

I went directly to Bai Jiaqi. Her smug expression turned to fear as I produced one photo after another.

"I beg you, don't tell the principal's wife. It would ruin him."

Such true love! If I didn't know that her entire family worked under the principal, I might have been moved.

"I won't marry Chen Ziang. Please let me go."

"No, you will marry him, and it must be a grand wedding."

"What do you mean?"

"Nothing much. The Chen family has been so good to me, I'm just collecting some interest."

I handed Bai Jiaqi a folder, telling her which planning company to use for the wedding. It was my best friend's company, and she would rip off the Chen family, splitting the profits with me fifty-fifty—just enough to offset the dowry money Chen's mother had swindled from me.

But that wasn't nearly enough. There was also the house I'd been paying the mortgage on for so long. I had to get back everything I'd invested.

So, with interest, I demanded two million yuan from Bai Jiaqi.

"You're quite the ruthless woman."

"We're two of a kind. I'll be waiting for your good news. Otherwise, prepare for disaster."

After saying goodbye to Bai Jiaqi, I went home. My mother-in-law was still thinking about those few hundred thousand yuan. I deliberately stalled, and seeing that time was running out, she decided to temporarily give up.

That evening, the family finally confronted me.

Chen Ziang pretended he had gambling debts and told me to leave him.

I acted heartbroken and finally left in tears.

I could imagine them calling me stupid after closing the door, but I wasn't in a hurry. His time to cry would come.

Bai Jiaqi moved quickly. Somehow, she got Chen Ziang to transfer the property rights to her. She took out a loan and gave me two million yuan, telling me it was done and we were even, and not to let Chen Ziang know the truth. I readily agreed, destroying all the evidence in front of her while inwardly laughing at her naivety.

I could let her go, but I would never let Chen Ziang off the hook.

After saying goodbye to Bai Jiaqi, I got into Chen Zichen's car. This young wolf had been very clingy lately.

"Have you made up your mind? Once we go, there's no turning back."

"I've already decided. Just don't regret it yourself."

The car stopped at the civil affairs bureau. In ten minutes, we had our marriage certificate.

Just thinking about the expressions on the faces of the three Chen family members when they saw this gave me an inexplicable sense of satisfaction.

The next day was Bai Jiaqi and Chen Ziang's wedding. I dressed up glamorously and entered the venue on Zichen's arm. Chen's mother's face turned green when she saw me, but being busy, she couldn't make a scene. She could only pull Chen Zichen aside to question him. Chen Zichen calmly said a few words, and I saw Chen's mother jump up in anger, about to rush at me, but Chen Zichen pulled her back halfway.

I don't know what Chen Zichen said to his mother, but she didn't come to make trouble for me, though her eyes were red.

I watched the despicable couple get married without crying or making a scene. Chen Zichen simply grabbed the bridal bouquet and knelt on one knee to give it to me, causing quite a stir. I accepted it with a smile and passionately kissed my young wolf, who smiled brilliantly. Chen Ziang's expression was also quite spectacular.

I didn't disrupt the wedding because I needed to let Chen Ziang get everything he wanted, only to shatter it all later.

So I planted a small private detective near Bai Jiaqi.

One night, when the pregnant Bai Jiaqi was meeting her old lover, I had the detective deliberately call Chen Ziang, saying his car was blocking the detective's car at a certain hotel.

Bai Jiaqi had taken the car, and the word "hotel" would naturally make Chen Ziang suspicious.

So Chen Ziang rushed to the hotel, and a pre-arranged hotel staff member obediently told him the room number.

When Chen Ziang kicked open the door, I imagine his feelings were similar to mine that night on the balcony.

Chen Ziang went berserk and started fighting with Bai Jiaqi on the spot.

The private detective sent the video of the three people fighting to Chen Ziang's work group chat. I even had him kindly blur out Bai Jiaqi and the principal.

Thinking about how firmly that green hat was now fixed on Chen Ziang's head made me happy for him.

But this wasn't the last gift I had for Chen Ziang.

Chen Ziang did a paternity test, and sure enough, the child wasn't his. He caused a scene at the school, and the principal couldn't continue in his position. But the principal's wife was tough. She took Bai Jiaqi away, telling her to raise the child until it was two years old, then leave Beijing, leaving the child for her to raise. The principal's wife couldn't have children, but she promised to treat this child well.

Chen Ziang called to ask if I had known all along. I just smiled and hung up.

You think you've reached heaven, but you don't know that other people are hell.

The next day, I showed up with the property deed and told Chen Ziang to get out of the house. That's right—Bai Jiaqi had mortgaged the house and couldn't repay the loan, so I bought it. I was back. Chen's parents nearly killed me, this evil person who had turned their family upside down.

It was Chen Zichen who stood in front of me, scolding his unreasonable family on my behalf.

In the end, Chen's parents were thoroughly chastised. At that moment, I finally understood what it felt like to be protected.

Chen Zichen gave me unprecedented care and affection, finally making me someone who was cherished.

I only wanted to take back what was mine; I didn't want to destroy them completely. After all, Chen's parents were still my in-laws.

Chen Zichen's silver tongue was quite impressive. He attacked Chen's parents all afternoon from ideological, moral, and legal perspectives.

He said none of this was Flower's fault—they had done it all themselves. Flower had worked like an ox for so many years and hadn't wronged anyone.

Chen's parents finally witnessed Chen Zichen's determination. In the end, they agreed to buy us another house as an exchange, and this one would be returned to them.

The first thing Chen Zichen did when buying the house was to put only my name on it.

"Why?"

"No reason. I just want you to feel secure."

"Do you know that at the beginning, I was just using you..."

"I know, and I'm glad you did."

With that, Chen Zichen pushed me down again. That's the downside of having a young boyfriend.

A year later, Chen Ziang was still living a messy life. Because he was two-timing, he almost became a eunuch. But none of that mattered to me anymore.

Because I was pregnant, watching Chen's parents bustle about, I realized that in-laws' attitudes toward you are actually related to your husband. At first, Chen's mother tried everything to break us up—crying, making scenes, even threatening to hang herself. But Chen Zichen remained firmly unmoved. When his mother cried, he cried too. When she threatened to hang herself, he cut his wrist, saying he'd go keep her company.

After half a year, Chen's mother ran out of options.

At first, she was bossy with me, but Chen Zichen would just pull me away. Later, to get Chen Zichen to visit more often, she didn't dare be mean to me anymore. That's when I finally understood: as long as one person firmly chooses you, the days ahead will all be blue skies.

I'm very grateful that after all the twists and turns, I finally found my own happiness.

(The End)