Chapter 22: Jiang Yuan: I can be even more outrageous

“You... you're lying!” Wang Xinyue trembled with rage. “There are plenty of people chasing after me!”

Jiang Yuan met her indignant gaze and grinned. “You have a piece of vegetable stuck in your teeth.”

Wang Xinyue immediately covered her mouth.

The smile on Jiang Yuan's lips deepened.

Cao Laoting shot a secret glare at Jiang Yuan, cursing inwardly: *You little brat, so sharp-tongued!*

Deng Rui felt immensely satisfied seeing Jiang Yuan leave Wang Xinyue speechless. However, in front of Cao Laoting and her husband, she couldn't make it too obvious.

She feigned a reprimand: “Jiang Yuan, you can't be so rude.”

“Grandma, Little Aunt isn't being rude.” A childish, soft voice rang out. A small, trembling face spoke with great seriousness. “They were the ones bullying Mama first!”

“Yeah, Brother is right! Little Aunt is right too!” Momo chimed in from the side, nodding her small head vigorously.

Not wanting to argue with Jiang Yuan any further, Cao Laoting pivoted the conversation toward Jiang Die's fraternal twins.

“Those two little ones of Jiang Die's are truly well-behaved.”

Deng Rui replied with a beaming smile, “It's all because Xiaodie raised them well.”

“Raising two kids all by herself must be incredibly hard for Jiang Die.” Cao Laoting stared at Jiang Die, calculation hidden in her eyes. “When she goes out to look for a partner, people will surely look down on her for having two kids. It really isn't easy.”

Jiang Die listened quietly, offering no response.

Deng Rui and Jiang Dashan exchanged a glance.

Cao Laoting continued, “I watched Jiang Die grow up. It breaks my heart to see her struggling so much!”

“That's true. I wonder how we can help her,” Cao Laoting's husband, Wang Hui, chimed in.

Wang Xinyue added, “You could introduce a partner to Sister Jiang Die.”

Cao Laoting's eyes lit up, and she clapped her hands. “That makes sense! I happen to have a cousin who is looking for someone.”

Jiang Yuan's family: “...”

*So that was the scheme all along?*

Cao Laoting said enthusiastically, “My cousin is an honest man, quite handsome, has a car and a house. His only flaw is that he's divorced and has a son. But since Jiang Die is also divorced with two kids, they'd be a perfect match.”

Deng Rui had absolutely no intention of becoming relatives with Cao Laoting, so she remained silent.

Jiang Dashan didn't speak either.

As the subject of the conversation, Jiang Die pursed her lips, her expression cold and indifferent.

“Why aren't any of you saying anything?” Cao Laoting asked with a chuckle. “This is a wonderful opportunity.”

Jiang Yuan suddenly spoke up: “Auntie Cao, how old is this cousin of yours?”

Deng Rui's heart skipped a beat. She didn't want to think the worst of her daughter, but Jiang Yuan's behavior today was truly suspicious. She had uncharacteristically invited Jiang Die over for dinner—was she collaborating with Cao Laoting to set her up?

“My cousin is only about ten years older than Jiang Die.” Cao Laoting's fleshy face was full of smiles. “As the old saying goes, an older man knows how to cherish his wife better.”

Jiang Yuan: “Don't give me 'about ten years.' Be specific.”

Cao Laoting's eyes flickered slightly. “He's just in his early forties. They say a man is in his prime at forty-one.”

Jiang Yuan gave her a half-smile and a sidelong glance. “And where is his house located?”

Cao Laoting: “He built a small three-story villa back in his hometown.”

Jiang Yuan: “And what kind of car does he drive?”

Cao Laoting: “He just bought a Yadea electric scooter. He picked the most expensive one in the shop.”

Jiang Yuan summarized: “Oh, so he has a rural farmhouse, a crappy electric scooter, and he's nearly twenty years older than my sister.”

She didn't give them an ounce of face.

Deng Rui's racing heart settled. Her daughter wasn't as bad as she had feared.

After hearing Jiang Yuan's words, Cao Laoting snapped irritably, “How can you call it a crappy scooter? He bought the most expensive one in the shop; it cost several thousand!”

“Hilarious.” Jiang Yuan rolled her eyes. “With those conditions, you actually have the nerve to come to my house? Stop dreaming! My sister is excellent; don't try to introduce any trash to her.”

“Excellent, my foot,” Cao Laoting sneered. “What kind of decent girl gets knocked up before marriage?”

“She had two kids and the man is nowhere to be found. Has she been with so many men that she doesn't even know who the father is?”

Deng Rui stood up abruptly, furious. “Cao Laoting!”

Cao Laoting's expression changed slightly. She covered her mouth, realizing she had said too much. “Deng Rui, dear sister, I didn't mean it like that! Please don't misunderstand!”

As the words fell, a glass of water was splashed directly into her face.

Jiang Yuan's slender fingers gripped the cup. Her voice was icy, and her eyes held a chilling light. “Your mouth is so filthy, it needs a wash.”

Startled, Cao Laoting jumped to her feet.

Wang Xinyue scolded, “Jiang Yuan, you've gone too far!”

“This is 'too far'?” A mocking curve appeared on Jiang Yuan's lips. “If you don't get out now, I'll be even more 'too far' in a moment.”

Having said that, she looked at Blueberry.

A smart cat doesn't need its owner to speak twice.

Blueberry understood Jiang Yuan instantly. Her crystal-blue eyes narrowed, and she gave a powerful kick with her hind legs—

The cat traced a beautiful arc through the air, leaping precisely into her owner's arms.

Holding the fluffy ball, Jiang Yuan flashed a friendly smile at Cao Laoting.

“Auntie Cao, my kitten accidentally peed on you this afternoon. Who knows, she might accidentally pee on your face next.”

Cao Laoting's face turned ghastly. She gritted her teeth in resentment and, unwillingly, led her husband and daughter away.

Walking to the door, Jiang Yuan watched their retreating, dejected figures and called out loudly, “Auntie Cao, my kitten is always welcome!”

At those words, Cao Laoting walked even faster, nearly tripping over her own feet.

Jiang Yuan closed the door and looked at Jiang Die, her eyes filled with concern. “Sis, Cao Laoting is just talking nonsense. Don't listen to her.”

“I know,” Jiang Die smiled. “It's a good thing you were here today, Yuanyuan.”

“Yes, she said everything I couldn't bring myself to say.” Deng Rui nodded in agreement. “She was my mouthpiece tonight.”

“I've hated her for a long time,” Jiang Yuan frowned.

It was Cao Laoting's big mouth that had spread the news of Jiang Die's unplanned pregnancy, adding lies and exaggerations to ruin her reputation.

Zhan Zhan and Momo watched Jiang Yuan quietly, their small heads filled with great confusion. *Why has the mean Little Aunt become so nice?*

Not just the two little ones, but Jiang Die and Deng Rui were also puzzled.

As the person involved, after seeing her sister's family off, Jiang Yuan didn't go home immediately. Instead, she stayed downstairs in the residential complex to greet the local animals.

The appearance of the "meat mole man" had made her vigilant. Jiang Yuan asked the animals to keep an eye on Jiang Die's family. If any bad people tried to bully them, they must help.

Having received Jiang Yuan's "bribe," the animals were practically ready to beat their chests and promise to complete the mission.

Only then did Jiang Yuan feel at ease returning home.

Before going to sleep, she set her alarm for the next day to avoid missing her appointment.

Lanwan Park was about three kilometers from Jiang Yuan's home. Fearing Sunday traffic, she planned to take Deng Rui's electric scooter.

“Mom, where are your keys? I need to head out for a bit.”

“You're going out on an electric scooter?” Deng Rui was extremely surprised. “Aren't you a precious little princess who can only travel in a BMW?”