"Your thoughts are all written on your face." Murong Cheng's dark eyes flowed with a hidden light.
Jiang Shiyu covered her face. Was it? Could she be seen through so easily?
By the time they arrived at the Gu residence, it was already half past seven. The sun had set, and the sky was a riot of colors, like a beautiful painting.
It had only been a few days since the last incident. Jiang Shiyu stood by the car and took a deep breath.
Her hand was taken by Murong Cheng.
"With me here, no one can bully you."
The man's voice was reassuring.
"Mm!" Jiang Shiyu nodded and followed Murong Cheng into the Gu residence.
"Master, Madam, Miss Xia is back!" Sister Wu called out towards the hall.
As Jiang Shiyu and Murong Cheng entered the foyer, Jiang Dehai and his stepmother, Li Mei, came out to greet them, their faces plastered with fawning smiles.
"Mr. Murong! It is a true honor to have you grace our humble abode today!"
Jiang Dehai's first action was not to greet Jiang Shiyu, but to extend his hand for a handshake with Murong Cheng.
Murong Cheng remained still for a moment, his gaze cold and aloof. "Mm, hello."
His attitude was far from that of a father-in-law, excessively indifferent.
Seeing Jiang Dehai falter and sheepishly retract his hand, Jiang Shiyu felt a surge of amusement and a sarcastic twitch of her lips.
"No need for pleasantries. I'm hungry. Let's eat!"
"Yes, yes, please come in, please come in!" Although Jiang Dehai showed a fleeting moment of displeasure, he quickly concealed it out of respect for Murong Cheng and invited them in.
The dining table was laden with a feast, a spread of chicken, duck, fish, and meat, a balance of savory and vegetarian dishes, and even numerous seafood items. A large round table was filled to the brim, almost overflowing.
A cold smile flickered in Jiang Shiyu's heart.
This was a level of treatment she had never experienced in her twenty-three years of life.
This family was truly opportunistic!
As everyone took their seats, Jiang Yuru had yet to appear. Just as Jiang Shiyu was wondering, a figure gracefully entered the dining room.
Jiang Yuru was dressed elaborately, with exquisite and vibrant makeup. She wore a strapless dress with a low neckline, revealing half of her décolletage. Her hair was styled in large waves, and her walk was graceful and alluring.
Jiang Shiyu, who was drinking water, spat out a mouthful of water upon catching sight of Jiang Yuru.
Murong Cheng smiled helplessly, took out a few tissues, and wiped Jiang Shiyu's mouth.
His eyes did not even glance at Jiang Yuru.
Jiang Yuru had spent the entire day dressing up and had rushed to the beauty salon immediately after work for treatments and makeup. Despite her efforts, she had managed to arrive just in time. She had expected to capture Murong Cheng's attention, but this man wouldn't even look at her!
Absolutely impossible!
Jiang Yuru was unwilling to give up. She sat directly to Murong Cheng's right, feigning weakness, almost stumbling, and leaned towards Murong Cheng. She said softly, "Mr. Murong, it's a pleasure to meet you. My name is Jiang Yuru..."
Murong Cheng shifted slightly, subtly evading Jiang Yuru. He said coldly, "If you hadn't said anything, I would have thought you were a hostess from somewhere."
Jiang Yuru, who had been blushing shyly, turned pale instantly upon hearing Murong Cheng's sharp words.
Jiang Shiyu let out a chuckle.
Jiang Dehai and Li Mei's expressions turned grim.
They dared not act out with Murong Cheng present.
"Sister, you're dressed so provocatively. Knowing we're having dinner, one might think you were a hired dancer, here to entertain us!"
Jiang Shiyu's sarcasm was undisguised.
Jiang Yuru's face turned a mottled red and white, like fireworks, a truly spectacular sight. Even her thick foundation couldn't hide it.
She had assumed that Jiang Shiyu and Murong Cheng had only been married for less than half a month, and their relationship was still unstable.
Although Jiang Shiyu was good-looking, Murong Cheng had been alone for over twenty years, so how could he have developed feelings for Jiang Shiyu so quickly?
She had used all her tricks today, but unexpectedly...
The thought of this sent waves of anger surging through Jiang Yuru's heart.
"Sister, how can you insult me like this? I merely dressed up because brother-in-law is here. How can you see me this way? Your disposition has been bad since childhood, and you haven't changed after all these years. You've truly disappointed Mom and Dad!"
As soon as Jiang Yuru finished speaking, she put on a tearful act.
Jiang Dehai and Li Mei doted on Jiang Yuru the most. Seeing her wronged, they chimed in, scolding Jiang Shiyu.
"Idiot! Look at what you've done! You've been of bad character since childhood, and now you're bullying your sister in front of Mr. Murong!"
"It's my fault for spoiling this child. Husband, please don't be angry. Although Shiyu's character is not good, she is still your daughter..."
Li Mei truly lived up to her reputation as a master manipulator, falsely accusing her of all sorts of things.
If it weren't for Murong Cheng today, but Mu Rufeng, he would have believed them long ago!
Murong Cheng showed no outward emotion, emitting an aura of chilling coldness. He did not stop or refute what Jiang Dehai and Li Mei were saying. Instead, he took out his phone and made a call.
"Help me acquire Decheng and replace Decheng's chairman..."
His words struck like lightning from a clear sky.
Not to mention Jiang Dehai, Li Mei, and Jiang Yuru, even Jiang Shiyu was stunned into silence.
"What? You want to acquire Decheng?"
"I'll buy it for you to play with. Decheng was your maternal grandfather's life's work. If you want to be chairman, it's yours. If you find it tiring, you can just give it up."
Murong Cheng said this nonchalantly.
He was also domineering and powerful.
Jiang Shiyu was bewildered. "What did you say?"
"Decheng is being bought for you to play with."
To play with?
Jiang Shiyu almost fainted.
Upon hearing this, Jiang Dehai and Li Mei stopped their scolding.
They were dumbfounded.
What was going on?!
They had said so many bad things about Jiang Shiyu, so why was this man unfazed? Was he blind or deaf?!
Not only did he not dislike Jiang Shiyu, but he was also going to buy Decheng for her to play with?!