Love in the Midst of Mistaken Identities

“The dishes you have cooked today taste delicious.” Chu Jiang was never a miser when it came to complimenting his wife. This was the reason why he and his wife had not had a fight throughout their years of marriage. Chu Jiang knew how to compliment and read others’ expression.

“Really?” Song Wan asked, disbelieving. “Don’t you feel that it’s unpalatable? So hard to swallow that it makes you feel like puking?”

“Nonsense.” Chu Jiang’s face hardened in an instant. “Who dares to say it’s unpalatable? I will skin him alive!” He spat the words out in a blood lust manner. The extent of him protecting his wife was heinous.

No matter what, when one who had no prior cooking experience stayed in the kitchen every day to research on different ways of cooking—seeking their nutritional values, one would no doubt become a foodie after spending decades in the kitchen. Regardless of one’s lack of talent, one’s cooking would be described as not too bad instead of unpalatable. Who dared to be so disrespectful?

Song Wan huffed and puffed, and she turned her face away wordlessly.

“Sister Jiang!” Chu Jiang set his chopsticks down and called for the maid who had been busy. She came over and recounted everything to Chu Jiang in a whisper. His expression became worse with every second.

The Li family had really bad taste.

“Forget it.” Song Wan walked over and comforted her sullen face husband. “You don’t have to be angry.” She came over to her husband and patted his hand. “Have your meal first. It’s their loss anyway, and we can save our resources. Look, you have a whole table full of food just for you.”

Chu Jiang’s expression remained somber. Since he was young until now, he had always despised those who had gained their social status by using others. He had not been very satisfied with his current daughter-in-law because of her initial status when she married into the Chu family. She might have been perfect after she was married, but who knew what was being said behind their backs. The Li family and their son had caused a lot of trouble by using the Chu family name. Chu Jiang and his family had always turned a blind eye. Yet, now, they had the gall to pick on his wife. Would they dare to pick on him in the future?

“Wanwan...” Chu Jiang gripped his wife’s hand tightly. “I must make sure that I die after you.”

“Okay.” Song Wan listened to her husband.

“These years, you can’t depend on others. I have to protect you so you won’t be bullied. As long as I’m breathing, no one will have the chance to bully you,” Chu Jiang said heartlessly. Song Wan’s eyes began to turn red at his words.

“What nonsense are you talking about?” Song Wan glared at her husband. She couldn’t help from crying when she felt so moved by him. “Who dares to bully me? Our son is not someone to be trifled with as well. Besides, I don’t have to depend on anyone.” By who, she had meant the ‘extraordinary’ in-laws they were related to.

“We can see,” Chu Jiang sighed, “that the Li family is no on par with ours.”

Song Wan agreed to what he had just said. No matter what, the Xia family was a traditional family dating back a century, and they had the cultural deposited deeply in their roots. The Li family, on the other hand, was an upstart; and they measured everything in terms of money. Their daughter might have been well-educated yet small-minded, but she was after all married into their family. She was naturally under their protection.

The Chus had always taken care of one of their own.

Nevertheless, this time, Mrs. Li had truly offended Mr. and Mrs. Chu senior. This had led to the half-hearted treatment by Chu Lui towards her. Needless to say, something was missing between her mother-in-law and herself even though Song Wan still treated her well.

Li Manni was beginning to blame her mother again.

She picked up the phone and dialed the number. No one answered even though she waited for a long time. She dialed the number once more in disbelief.

“Why aren’t you picking up?” Du Jingtang gestured to the wailing ringtone coming from the phone. It sounded crushing and annoying.

“No time.” Chu Lui was typing on the keyboard and was wearing a bluetooth earpiece in his ear. He was analyzing the finance with a few finance managers. He had neither the time nor another ear to spare.

Du Jingtang rolled his eyes, walked over, and answered his phone.

“Hello.”

“Lui...” Li Manni asked uncertainly. This was Chu Lui’s personal phone, and yet, the voice from the other end sounded different. It wasn’t Chu Lui.

“Oh, it’s Cousin-in-law. I am Jingtang.” Du Jingtang broke into a smile. He was sure that his expression was teasing. There was no one in here. Who was he smiling at? He pinched himself in the face, and his expression froze.

“I’m looking for Chu Lui.” Li Manni did not like the fact that someone else had answered her call.

“He’s busy.” Du Jingtang rubbed his eyebrows. “The finance report from the company has been released today. He has to peruse many documents, and it will take some time before he can return your call.”

He hung up once he was done talking to prevent himself from hearing the anger in the woman’s voice. Women would occasionally throw a tantrum without a reason, and it would indeed be a handful. He was fortunate that he didn’t like women. Of course, he always seemed to be the one picking a fight while the other man, as he thought, had treated him well.

Du Jingtang hung up the phone and mouthed Li Manni’s name towards Chu Lui. Then, he returned to his seat at the other table and resumed working.

Li Manni was upset that her call had been but off. The suppressed feeling erupted from her chest.

She recalled her conversation with a few friends. If a man no longer had his woman in his mind, he would usually use the excuse that he was busy at work to cover himself. Busy? Could he be so swamped with work that he didn’t think of his home?

She picked up her purse and spent a long time to apply her makeup by the mirror before finally walking to the door. She was going to put on a pair of high-heeled shoes out of habit, but she remembered she was pregnant. Then, she put on a pair of shoes with flat soles.

At last, she left the house. She gave the chauffeur instructions to drive her to the Chu Lui’s office.

Fine. He was busy. He could be busy dating his ex-wife. She sneered internally. However, her fingers that were lacing between one another seemed to be at the brink of breaking. Gently, she rested her hand over her flat stomach as the corners of her lips curled with cold excitement. She had kicked that woman away four years ago. Now, four years later, she wouldn’t lose out to her again. Besides, she was holding the steadiest chip in her hand—she was pregnant with Chu Lui’s child. It would be best if she could give birth to a son. That would seal her status, rendering her irreplaceable.

The phone in her purse rang at this moment. She couldn’t help but jump at the sound. A feeling of unease began to engulf her from within.

She took it out and her face became ashen in an instant at the sight of the number on the screen.

The car made a sudden turn. After a while, the car door opened, and Li Manni came out of the car. She was holding her purse in her hand so tightly that her knuckles had turned white from the force.

She looked at her surroundings cautiously. When someone paid attention to her, it would cause her heart to beat rapidly. She wasn’t being a thief, but why was she acting in a guilty manner? She walked for about ten minutes putting the chauffeur far away behind her. There weren’t many people around the area. Not many people patronized this place, too. There were all sorts of rubbish and countless cigarette butts on the ground, evidence that even the cleaner had hardly made an appearance.