Mr. and Mrs. Chen were old hands at this; what was there not to understand?

Seeing their daughter-in-law’s bashful expression, they understood everything.

The old couple tactfully refrained from asking any more questions.

After breakfast, Wang Xinxin insisted on doing the dishes.

A new bride traditionally doesn’t return to her parents’ home for the first three days. Instead, she had to accompany Mr. and Mrs. Chen to meet the rest of the Chen family.

It was a chance to get her bearings and become familiar with everyone.

But when they arrived at the home of Mrs. Chen’s cousin, the door was shut in their faces.

"Xiu Li, what are you doing?"

Mrs. Chen gazed at the closed door, her brow furrowed slightly as she called out.

"Our Manman has already been driven away by Chen Zhengnian. You shouldn’t be here. From now on, let’s just pretend we don’t know each other."

The speaker was Chen Xiuli, Mrs. Chen’s cousin.

She was also Chen Man’s adoptive mother.

She had doted on Chen Man since childhood and had always assumed Manman would marry Chen Zhengnian. She never imagined Zhengnian would turn around, send Manman away, and then marry another woman.

The voice from behind the door made the smile on Mrs. Chen’s face freeze.

"Xiu Li, what do you mean by that?"

Mrs. Chen took two steps closer. "Manman made a mistake. Zhengnian sent her away for her own good. How is that ’driving her away’?"

"For her own good?"

Chen Xiuli sneered from behind the door, her voice suddenly rising.

"If he really wanted what’s good for her, he would have let her marry Zhengnian! Our Manman has waited for him for so many years, dreaming of becoming a part of the Chen Family ever since she was a little girl."

"And now what? Your son marries some woman who came out of nowhere and throws Manman away to that godforsaken place. You tell me, with your hand on your heart, is that fair?"

Wang Xinxin’s hands clenched the hem of her clothes, her knuckles turning white.

Standing beside Chen Zhengnian, she could feel his body instantly go taut, like a fully drawn bowstring.

The sunlight fell on his chiseled profile, casting it in shadow.

"Aunt Xiu Li."

Chen Zhengnian spoke, his voice deeper than usual but firm.

"Who I marry is my decision. And what Chen Man did was enough to land your whole family in hot water."

"Your decision?"

Chen Xiuli’s voice broke into a sob.

"If your mother hadn’t promised me that Manman was the Chen Family’s chosen bride-to-be, would I have let her quit her job to come back here? Now you all just go back on your word! What do you take our Manman for?"

The door suddenly creaked open, revealing Chen Xiuli’s red, swollen eyes. Her gaze was ice-cold as it bore into Wang Xinxin.

"And you," she spat, "some woman who came out of thin air to steal another’s man. Doesn’t your conscience bother you at all?"

"Why should I feel guilty? Men and women get married. It’s perfectly normal. Are you still living in the past?" Wang Xinxin shot back, refusing to be polite.

’Is every Tom, Dick, and Harry going to give me a hard time now?’

Chen Xiuli’s face flushed crimson, choked speechless by Wang Xinxin’s comeback. She pointed a trembling finger at her, unable to form a word.

A few coughs echoed from the shadows behind the door. It was Chen Xiuli’s husband, who had remained unseen until now. "Alright, that’s enough," he finally said in a deep voice. "Don’t make a scene."

Mrs. Chen quickly tried to mediate. "Xiu Li, the young ones have their own destinies to follow. As for Manman..."

"Don’t mention Manman to me!"

Chen Xiuli violently shoved the door half-open, tears streaming down her face.

"Do you have any idea how much she’s suffering over there? She called me yesterday, crying that she wanted to come home! How is she supposed to come back to this? The family she hoped to marry into since she was a little girl now has another woman in her place!"

Chen Zhengnian’s Adam’s apple bobbed. He had no desire to continue speaking with Chen Xiuli.

"Uncle," he said, addressing the man in the shadows, "I stand by my handling of Manman’s situation. She brought this upon herself."

He stepped in front of Wang Xinxin protectively. "We’re leaving."

The moment they turned to leave, Wang Xinxin could feel the stare at her back, sharp as a needle.

Mrs. Chen sighed and hurried to catch up, muttering, "What a mess... Xiu Li has just gotten fixated on this one point..."

As they exited the alley, the sunlight suddenly felt harsh.

Chen Zhengnian stopped and turned to her, his eyes apologetic. "I’m sorry. You shouldn’t have had to deal with that."

"I’m fine."

Wang Xinxin shook her head, the fire in her chest still smoldering. "It was clearly Chen Man who was in the wrong, but now suddenly *we’re* the bad guys."

"She always felt that Zhengnian should be hers," Mrs. Chen sighed. "Xiu Li and her husband always treated it as a done deal. We tried to reason with them countless times, but they just wouldn’t listen."

Just as they were speaking, an orderly came running from a distance, saying he had business for Chen Zhengnian. Zhengnian turned to his parents.

"Something urgent has come up, I have to go back. Mom, please take Xinxin to Third Uncle’s house. I’ll head over as soon as I’m done."

Mr. Chen nodded. "Go on, be careful on the way."

Chen Zhengnian looked at Wang Xinxin again, his eyes filled with worry. "Don’t take it to heart."

Wang Xinxin smiled at him. "Don’t worry, I’m not that fragile."

Wang Xinxin took a deep breath as she watched Chen Zhengnian’s retreating back.

Mrs. Chen patted the back of her hand. "Don’t mind what Xiu Li said. She’s just heartbroken over Manman and speaks without thinking. Most of the Chen family relatives are very reasonable, like your Third Uncle and Aunt. They’re wonderful people."

The door to Third Uncle’s house was wide open. He was sitting in the courtyard, sorting vegetables. When he saw them arrive, he immediately stood up. "Sis! Xinxin! You’re finally here. Quick, come in and have a seat."

Third Aunt came out of the house to greet them, wiping her hands on her apron with a welcoming smile plastered on her face. "Xinxin’s here! Let your auntie get a good look at you. Such a lovely girl!"

She took Wang Xinxin’s hand and led her inside. "Don’t just stand there. It’s cool inside. I just cut up some watermelon."

As they all sat and chatted, Wang Xinxin stood to pour some water. She turned and bumped right into a young girl, spilling the warm water all over herself.

"You’re the one who stole Brother Zhengnian? The one who pushed Manman out?"

The speaker was Third Uncle’s youngest daughter. She and Chen Man had been close friends since they were children.

The water trickled down her collar, and she frowned instantly.

The girl looked to be about fifteen or sixteen, her hair tied in a ponytail. Her eyes were wide with a look of pure indignation.

"Chen Lan! What are you doing!"

Third Aunt’s voice shot up. She threw her apron onto the table and rushed over to grab her daughter.

"Apologize to Xinxin right now!"

"I won’t!"

Chen Lan shook off her mother’s hand, craning her neck stubbornly as she glared at Wang Xinxin.

"She’s the one who ruined Manman and Brother Zhengnian’s engagement! Poor Manman was driven out to the countryside, while she gets to prance around in new clothes as the Chen Family’s new bride!"

Wang Xinxin clutched the damp, cold fabric of her shirt, the anger she’d just suppressed flaring up once more.

’Chen Man again. Anyone would lose their temper after being put through this because of that woman time and time again.’

"Chen Zhengnian and I were properly and formally married."

Wang Xinxin’s voice was calm yet forceful. "As for Chen Man, if she were truly so innocent, she wouldn’t have been sent away. You’re young and may not understand, but surely you can still tell right from wrong?"

"You’re lying!"

Chen Lan stamped her foot in frustration. "Manman said you were the one who used dirty tricks..."

"That’s enough!"

Third Uncle slammed the vegetable basket onto the ground, his face dark as he stared at his daughter.

"This is grown-up business. It’s not your place to interfere! Apologize to Xinxin immediately, or you can go to your room. You’ll be grounded!"