Chapter 510: Chapter 510: Announcing the Engagement in the Newspaper
The next morning, Su Shuochi woke up to find his darling wife gone from his arms, and he broke out in a cold sweat.
"Huh? Where’s Jiaojiao?" Su Shuochi searched all around the bedroom, naked, but couldn’t find her.
’Did she get up before me? This has never happened since my leg healed.’
Su Shuochi washed up as fast as he could, and the moment he ran downstairs, he was greeted by a delicious aroma.
He immediately saw several breakfast dishes on the dining room table—and they were all his favorites.
"Shuo Ci, you’re awake! Come and have breakfast," Gu Jiaojiao said with a smile as she untied her apron and greeted him.
"Wifey, why didn’t you wake me when you got up? And you made such a lavish breakfast all by yourself. You’re just trying to make my heart ache for you, aren’t you?"
As he spoke, Su Shuochi rushed over and hugged his darling wife tightly from behind. The feeling of being so cherished by his beloved made him incredibly happy.
Even though Gu Jiaojiao’s back was to him, she could still feel his burning gaze on the back of her head.
He was just as he was when they first met—a blazing fire that had swept into her heart with the force of an unstoppable wildfire.
It was an unstoppable force, and the bliss of being so loved enveloped her.
Gu Jiaojiao reveled in her husband’s scorching, passionate love and cherished his meticulous care.
But she also wanted to do something special for him once in a while, to touch his heart and make him love her even more.
So she said gently, "You were... busy... until the middle of the night. I wanted to let you sleep in a little.
You have to go back home in a few days, and there’s so much to arrange at the factories, so I got up early to make breakfast for you."
"Wifey, it’s so wonderful to have you... You—" ’You fainted. I was worried you’d be even more exhausted.’
But Su Shuochi could only repeat those words in his heart, not daring to say them aloud for fear of making her angry out of embarrassment.
But the tacit understanding between husband and wife let Gu Jiaojiao know what he was thinking. When she saw him falter, she knew he was too embarrassed to say it out loud.
’Any other woman, after a night like that with him, would definitely not be able to get out of bed the next day.’
’But she was different. She had spiritual spring water.’
’Drinking it didn’t just promote longevity and beautify one’s appearance; it could also cure all poisons and even reshape one’s bones and muscles.’
’Applied externally, it could heal wounds in an instant. Saving a life with this water would be easy.’
’Even a paraplegic could stand up immediately after a few sips of spiritual spring water, not to mention she had taken a bath in the Spiritual Spring after waking up.’
’Something so heaven-defying had to be kept a tight secret, or it would bring nothing but trouble. Innocence is a crime when one possesses a treasure, after all.’
’That’s why, when she treated Mu Ziquan, she made his wounds heal slowly, ensuring he experienced the pain of rehabilitation before he could finally stand.’
As these thoughts crossed her mind, she couldn’t help but tease, "Shuo Ci, what’s wrong? Are you so moved you’re about to cry?"
Su Shuochi was stunned by her question. He really was so moved that his eyes were brimming with tears, and he’d been too embarrassed to let her see.
Since his wife had guessed, he immediately turned her around to face him. The moment their eyes met, he couldn’t resist kissing her.
Her jet-black eyes always held a spirited light, making her seem delightfully mischievous, and he simply couldn’t get enough of her.
Often, she seemed more like a little wolf cub in sheep’s clothing, but he deeply adored every side of her.
It wasn’t the first time Gu Jiaojiao had seen him get teary-eyed, but she still found it endearing. "Alright, let’s hurry and eat breakfast before it gets cold."
"Mm." He kissed her soundly a few more times before finally letting go.
After breakfast, the couple went their separate ways for the day: Gu Jiaojiao to school, and Su Shuochi to the factory.
Over the next few days, Su Shuochi was incredibly busy, having to arrange everything for both factories in advance.
Every time he came home, a hot meal prepared by Gu Jiaojiao would be waiting for him. His wife’s abundant love filled him with an overwhelming sense of bliss.
During this time, news of Mu Ziquan and Xiao Jiyan’s engagement spread throughout the Imperial City. From major avenues to back alleys, everyone was talking about it.
The Xiao Family and the Mu Family were both considered top-tier clans, so with their joyous event on the horizon, the news was naturally published in the newspapers.
Anyone who read the papers knew about it, and the story quickly became the talk of the town.
Busybodies compared their appearances and heights, concluding that the two were indeed a perfect match.
In the past, Mu Ziquan had drawn screams from countless smitten young women, but ever since his injury left him paralyzed, he was rarely mentioned.
But there was no shortage of jealous people saying that the marriage alliance between the Mu Family and the Xiao Family was only because Mu Ziquan was a cripple and had to settle for a Xiao.
Someone whispered, "If the Young Master of the Mu Family weren’t a cripple, why would he ever marry a woman from the Xiao Family?"
But someone would immediately retort that even as a cripple, the Young Master of the Mu Family was still worthy of Xiao Jiyan because he was incredibly handsome.
Another would chime in, "Xiao Jiyan is beautiful and talented. It’s only natural for Mu Ziquan to like her and marry her."
In short, while some people were full of envy, jealousy, and hate, many others were completely unconcerned.
Many men who admired Xiao Jiyan felt it was an injustice to her. ’Mu Ziquan never used to give Xiao Jiyan the time of day. He’s only willing to get engaged to her now because he’s a cripple and has no other choice.’
’Why does he get to be the Xiao Family’s son-in-law even as a cripple, when I come from a good family and am perfectly able-bodied?’
’Why can’t I win her heart? It feels terrible!’
Some people said Mu Ziquan didn’t like Xiao Jiyan, but others countered that even if he didn’t, Xiao Jiyan must be very much in love with him.
And why was that? Because she had stood by him and never left his side even after he was crippled, something everyone in the residential compound had seen with their own eyes.
But most people simply felt they were a perfect match—a talented man and a beautiful woman, a true golden couple, a golden couple!
...
Lin Sisi stared at the news in the paper, her face ashen. She had never imagined that Mu Ziquan would stand up again.
’And now he’s actually announcing his engagement to another woman in the paper. My cousin must be heartbroken, too.’
’Her family’s connection to Mu Ziquan was a distant one, through her maternal grandmother’s side being vaguely related to the Mu Family.’
’But that hadn’t stopped her from adoring him since childhood. The problem was, her cousin, Bao Tingting, considered Mu Ziquan her own personal prospect.’
’She didn’t dare say anything openly, but she would secretly trail after her cousin to the Mu Family’s home just to catch a few more glimpses of him.’
’After he was paralyzed, her cousin Bao Tingting began to look down on "that cripple," but she, Sisi, still wanted to marry him.’
’She tried to get close to him, to show him she cared, but he had a foul temper and wouldn’t allow her anywhere near him.’
’Lin Sisi couldn’t accept that a cripple would have the audacity to look down on her, so she had gradually given up on him.’
’So why did he have to announce his engagement in the paper? Was it just to spite me!’
’It must be because the Xiao Family is more powerful and richer than our Lin Family.’
Extremely furious, Lin Sisi immediately called Bao Tingting. "Hello, I’m looking for Ms. Tingting."
"Oh, Sisi, is that you? Ms. Tingting went to her classes at school. Don’t you have school today?" the Lady of the Bo Family said gently over the phone.
