Chapter 2
I opened Doubao again.
“Doubao, what does it mean when someone who’s supposedly hard to win over suddenly gets really enthusiastic?”
Doubao replied instantly:
[1. They want something from you and have a specific ulterior motive.
[2. They’re using you to provoke someone else or get back at an ex.]
It advised me to slow down and not get fully invested straight away.
My heart jolted.
Whoa. How could people be so devious?
Without Doubao, I’d have been used as someone’s prop.
But so what? One way or another, I was marrying into the Jiang family.
Which meant I had to get Jiang Muye.
“Doubao, how do I get a guy like that wrapped around my finger?”
Doubao: “Oh, this is my specialty.”
“This kind of guy is least impressed by someone pouring out their heart and chasing after him. The harder you work to please him, the faster he’ll get bored.”
“Here are a few effective tactics: 1. Don’t match his enthusiasm. 2. Don’t rush to define the relationship or push him for promises. 3. Pull back a little. Cool things down and make him worry he might lose you.”
“It comes down to this: don’t go wild when he runs hot, and don’t panic when he runs cold.”
“Go get him, babe. Good luck!”
My confidence immediately shot through the roof.
Please. As if I couldn’t handle you.
I picked up my phone and replied to Jiang Muye: “Okayyy. Let’s see how you do.”
His reply came instantly. “Yes yes yes! I’ll give it my all!”
Me: “Okay, I’m going to sleep. My sister’s engagement party is tomorrow.”
Jiang Muye: “Yes yes yes, go to sleep. Don’t worry about me. I’m just a little excited right now. (p≧w≦q)”
Me: “…Good night, then.”
Jiang Muye: “Good night, good night~”
The next day, at the engagement party.
I stood beside my sister like a knight.
“Sis, watch the step.”
“Her dress? I’ll hold it up. You can go do something else.”
“Your bag. Give it here. I’ll carry it.”
“Sis, take my arm going downstairs.”
My sister looked helpless. Dad, meanwhile, kept coughing loudly beside us. “I’m her father!”
With that, he shoved me aside and tucked my sister’s hand into the crook of his own arm.
Reluctantly, I stepped back. Sure, you’re her father. Aren’t you special.
“Sis, I’m right behind you. If you need anything, just tell me…”
Before I could finish, Jiang Xubai appeared in front of us. “Zhixing, if you need anything, just tell me.”
My sister nodded shyly. “Okay.”
My entire sense of purpose shattered.
Why did everyone keep stealing my job?
Dad handed my sister over to Jiang Xubai, then went to exchange pleasantries with his future in-laws, dragging me along.
Feeling dejected, I trailed behind him with my head drooping.
After listening to both sides heap compliments on each other, I heard Dad ask, “Where’s your younger son?”
Mr. Jiang looked awkward. “That boy… he’s a wild one…”
Before he finished, cries of surprise rose through the banquet hall.
“Oh! Who’s that? He’s gorgeous.”
“Isn’t that the younger Jiang son? Doesn’t he usually wear a leather jacket and ride a motorcycle? Why’s he in a suit with his hair styled today?”
“Exactly. If I didn’t know better, I’d think this was his engagement party.”
“The Jiang brothers really must be close.”
Mr. Jiang’s mouth twitched. Clearly, he wasn’t used to his son’s outfit either.
I followed everyone’s gaze.
Jiang Muye stood at the entrance to the hall in a bespoke black suit, his hair meticulously combed. Tall and straight, he looked every inch the polished young gentleman.
A completely different person from the show-off in a bath towel in last night’s video.
He held his head high, searching the crowd.
When he looked our way, his eyes lit up, and he started toward us.
But a group of young men from wealthy families intercepted him.
“Holy shit, Muye, it really is you.”
“What got into you? You’re looking awfully respectable today.”
“Yeah. Anyone would think you were meeting your future in-laws.”
Jiang Muye pushed through his noisy childhood friends, still scanning our side of the room.
But I was nowhere to be seen.
The corners of his mouth sagged. “Fuck off. All of you, fuck off.”