Bride Swap Backfire: My Cousin's Rebirth Made Us a Power Couple-Chapter 67 - 46: Nearly Exposed (Part 1)

A few days later, Chen De’an, Chen Wanqing, and Zhao Jing made their way to the county town together.

It was already November, and the air was so cold that every breath they exhaled looked like a puff of smoke.

Chen De’an’s steps grew heavier and heavier as he walked.

He was returning to his private school today. After nearly half a month of rest at home, setting out on the return journey filled him with a certain apprehension.

Another reason was the load he was carrying. He was bringing back some books, some cotton-padded clothes, and the food his family had prepared for Shou’an. It all filled a large basket to the brim, enough to make his back ache.

He wanted to ask Zhao Jing to share some of the weight, but Zhao Jing’s load was just as heavy as his, if not heavier.

Although the basket on his own back looked taller, its contents were bulky but not heavy. Zhao Jing, on the other hand, had five boxes stacked in his basket, all filled with the incense his sister had made.

Each box wasn’t too heavy on its own, but together they weighed dozens of pounds. In other words, Zhao Jing’s burden was much heavier than his.

But since they were engaged, it was only natural for him to carry his sister’s things. It was the sweet burden of a fiancé.

Halfway there, Chen De’an was already huffing and puffing. Unable to watch any longer, Chen Wanqing came over and helped support his basket from below. "I told you to exercise with Jing to get stronger, but you refuse to move. Now you see the downside of being so weak, don’t you? We’ve barely gone any distance and you’re already out of breath. I can’t imagine what would happen if a weakling like you entered the examination hall. You’d go in on your feet and be carried out on a stretcher."

A clear, pleasant chuckle sounded from the side, followed by an irritated shout. "Sis!"

The one who had laughed was, of course, Zhao Jing. 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝕨𝕖𝗯𝚗𝚘𝕧𝕖𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝕞

When he saw Chen Wanqing look his way, he met her gaze with bright eyes, looking as if he’d follow her every command. "Wanqing is right," he said. "A strong constitution is crucial for the imperial examinations. The exams are next February, so it’s not too late to start working out. De’an, how about you start exercising in the mornings and evenings?"

Chen De’an let out a sarcastic snort. "Zhao Jing, do you have to be such a suck-up? You and my sister just got engaged, you’re not even married yet. Have you seen how you act around her? You don’t have a shred of authority. Once you’re married, you’re going to be completely henpecked, aren’t you?"

Zhao Jing was taken aback for a moment, then a light blush crept up his handsome face.

He shot back without hesitation, "Call me henpecked or terrified of my wife, whatever you want. At least I have a fiancée, and we’ve even set a wedding date. Unlike you, who’s two months older than me and still all alone."

The jab had the same devastating effect as calling him a lonely bachelor, and Chen De’an instantly exploded.

"Zhao Jing, have you forgotten who I am? Single or not, I’m still your future brother-in-law! You think you can offend me and still marry my sister? In your dreams!"

"You know, if you hadn’t mentioned it, I would have forgotten you’re my future brother-in-law. How about this, De’an: call me ’Brother-in-law’ now, and later, your dear brother-in-law will compile a collection of selected texts from past Child Examinations for you."

Chen De’an was furious. He rolled up his sleeves, ready to show Zhao Jing who would be calling whom "Brother-in-law" versus "Big Bro." Seeing things were about to get physical, Zhao Jing immediately dodged behind Chen Wanqing. "Wanqing, look at him."

Chen De’an gritted his teeth in rage. "Zhao Jing, don’t be a coward hiding in your shell! If you’ve got the guts to run your mouth, then come out and face the music! If I don’t knock your teeth out today, I, Chen De’an, will take your surname!"

"Why would I want you to take my surname? I only need your sister to take mine."

If anger could take physical form, Chen De’an would have been launched into the sky by now.

His face was red and his hands were trembling with rage. Bending his arms, he started to shrug the basket off his shoulders, ready to teach Zhao Jing a lesson he wouldn’t forget.

"Alright, alright, stop fighting! Both of you, just let me have a moment of peace. You’re giving me a splitting headache."

Chen Wanqing pressed a hand to her aching head, her expression caught somewhere between wanting to laugh and wanting to cry.

’Where did these two clowns come from? How can they be such a handful?’

’De’an is one thing; he’s always been a troublemaker. But Zhao Jing has always been the very picture of a cultured, polite, and steady gentleman. How did he suddenly become so snarky? He’s even more infuriating than De’an!’

’If I were in De’an’s shoes, I’d want to beat Zhao Jing to a pulp too.’

’He’s better read than De’an, after all, so even his arguments are sharper, aimed right at the sore spots. De’an is all bluster and bravado, but in every other respect, he’s no match for Zhao Jing. He just gets steamrolled.’

Chen Wanqing openly took her brother’s side. "You’re not allowed to bully De’an anymore. Both of you, just walk properly."

As soon as the words left her mouth, the awkward tension that had been building instantly vanished.