Thirty-five, we're getting married.

Su Wan brushed her hair back, looking at him calmly. “You really are my jinx. Nothing good ever happens when I run into you.”

Last time, he’d caused her to lose her bicycle; now, he’d made her lose her shoe.

Chen Tianyu straightened up in embarrassment. “That’s only because you don’t cooperate.”

Su Wan let out a cold laugh, turned, and began hopping toward the shoe store, holding onto the wall for support.

Chen Tianyu hurried over to steady her. “Just wait here. I’ll go and buy you a new pair.”

Hopping like that was truly exhausting, especially in high heels—she couldn’t get far at all. Su Wan didn’t bother to be polite; she simply told him her shoe size and let him go.

After searching all around, Chen Tianyu finally managed to find another pair in the same color. He returned looking sheepish. Su Wan didn’t hold it against him. Standing on one foot for so long had left her leg numb and aching.

She braced herself against the wall and squeezed her foot into the new shoe. Chen Tianyu crouched down, holding the shoe in place and fastening the strap for her.

Once she’d put on the new shoes, Su Wan flexed her aching leg and tossed the old one into the trash.

“We’re even now.” With that, she picked up her clothes and started to leave.

But Chen Tianyu followed behind her. “How did you escape that day?”

Su Wan looked back at him. “Why—so you can learn from it and deal with me more easily next time?”

“That’s not what I meant,” Chen Tianyu said, a little embarrassed.

“Did Chimu give you any trouble?”

Su Wan couldn’t figure out what he wanted. If he was trying to show concern, why hadn’t he done it sooner?

She eyed him suspiciously. “You’re not still hoping I’ll help get rid of Wang Luo, are you?”

“No,” he replied, looking rather downcast. “I just want to know where Wang Luo might have gone.”

Su Wan simply stared at him in silence.

“After you left that day, Wan Jun went off with Wang Luo too…” He hesitated, unable to bring himself to say the words “eloped.”

“We’ve searched everywhere we can think of, but we still can’t find them.”

Su Wan was about to say she didn’t know, but just then the system’s notification chimed: “The story has reached a new node. Please help the heroine’s brother find her to advance the plot.”

Su Wan’s head throbbed at the thought. If even her family couldn’t find the heroine, how was she supposed to?

Just as she was at a loss, the system suddenly supplied a location.

Su Wan repeated it: “There’s a cemetery next to No. 1 High School. Try searching there.”

Chen Tianyu’s eyes widened at her words. “A cemetery?!”

He couldn’t imagine his little sister—who was even afraid of thunderstorms—living by a cemetery with a man.

His gaze instantly grew sharp. After thanking Su Wan in a low voice, he turned and hurried off.

Su Wan watched his retreating figure and couldn’t help but click her tongue. “Tsk, tsk, tsk. Wang Luo is about to walk straight into the inferno.”

[Not quite. The two of them have already crossed the point of no return, and after this, he’ll get to marry Chen Wanjun just as he wished.]

“Huh? So I actually helped them?”

[Don’t flatter yourself. You’re just a tool for advancing the plot.]

The system never missed a chance to put her down.

But Su Wan didn’t mind. After all, she was about to marry her dream man.

She picked out a suit for Jiang Mochen at the men’s shop and stood at the mall entrance, waiting for him in high spirits.

When Jiang Mochen arrived, he was laden with bags—bedsheets, covers, a washbasin, toothpaste and toothbrushes, a big bag of wedding candies, and several pieces of women’s clothing and shoes.

“All this is for me?” Su Wan was a little surprised.

Jiang Mochen nodded. “We’ll buy a wardrobe and vanity after we move.”

He set everything down at his feet, then pulled a delicate, palm-sized box from his pocket and handed it to Su Wan.

It was a white leather box, tied with an exquisite bow.

Su Wan opened it and found a wristwatch inside. The watch face was finely designed—a blue background accented with elegant golden markers, exuding both nobility and mystery. She could tell at a glance that it wasn’t cheap.

“Why did you buy this? I don’t really need a watch.”

Jiang Mochen bent down to pick up all the bags again. “It’s your betrothal gift.”

With that, he took the things from Su Wan’s hands and strode off.

Su Wan hurried to catch up.

Since she’d already accepted everything, she might as well put the watch on her wrist. “Does it look good?”

Jiang Mochen nodded. “It does.” His gaze, however, flitted deliberately to her shoes.

On the way back, he remained silent, though his thoughts ran wild.

She’d changed her shoes.

Did she not like the old ones? But she’d looked so happy when she tried them on.

For some reason, he just couldn’t stand those shoes.

They parted ways at the intersection.

As soon as Su Wan entered the courtyard, Su Chen let out a cry of shock. “My goodness!!”

Su Wan spun before him. “Well? How do I look?”

Su Chen nodded, mouth half-open. “You’ve gotten so much slimmer!”

“And a watch!” He grabbed Su Wan’s hand and examined it carefully. “Wow, that looks expensive.”

Su Wan grinned. “Jiang Mochen bought it—it’s my betrothal gift.”

Su Chen was amazed. “He can afford a watch like that?”

“Don’t underestimate him.”

At this, Su Chen grew indignant again. “Look at you! You’re not even married yet and you’re already taking his side. What’ll happen after you marry him?”

“Who’s she siding with?” The old man’s voice suddenly rang out behind them.

Su Wan turned and saw her grandfather standing on the balcony, face beaming with joy.

She ran over and hooked her arm through his. “Grandpa, look! Don’t I look nice?”

“Beautiful!” he said, pride shining in his voice.

“Starting tomorrow, we’ll begin preparations. The wedding must be lively and grand.”

Su Chen chimed in, “Exactly! Let the Wang family see that even without Wang Luo, my sister can have a glorious wedding!”

The village was always abuzz with gossip, and it wasn’t long before word spread that Su Wan had returned in a red dress.

Aunt Wang, stooped from working the fields, saw a crowd chatting under the old pagoda tree as she came back.

“Oh, you should have seen it—Su Wan in a red dress and high heels, looking so modern!”

“She’s slimmed down and looks even prettier now, just like a city girl.”

“And Jiang Mochen carried a mountain of things. When he passed by, he even gave my youngest some wedding candy.”

“Sigh, their match is set. Meanwhile, my boy’s still running wild and naked in the fields.”

“Your son’s still young, there’s no rush.”

“…”

Aunt Wang didn’t hear another word. She hurried toward the Su house.

Inside, the Sus were all sitting in the courtyard, chatting noisily about the wedding, the air filled with laughter and cheer.

Peeking through the open gate, Aunt Wang saw Su Wan in her red dress, perched on high heels, her hair braided to the side. Her skin was fair to begin with, but the crimson dress made her glow all the more.

Thinking of her nephew, still missing, Aunt Wang’s heart filled with anger. She glared fiercely at the Su family’s open gate, then turned and marched toward the Wang house.