"Number 09, please come to Window 1 for your service..."
With the announcement coming again from the public address system of the Civil Affairs Bureau, Yu Xia, her hands clutching the small No. 9 ticket, heads excitedly for Window 1 with the handsome and suave man beside her. "Yiwen, it's our turn now!"
She is about to step into the blissful sanctuary of marriage with her boyfriend of three years. Her heart overflows with joy; her radiant smile hangs on her beautiful face, refusing to fade away.
"No! You two cannot marry!" A fierce and abrasive voice suddenly pierces their ears. Following this, a stout, dark-skinned middle-aged woman storms into their sight. "I disagree with this marriage!"
Jiang Yiwen's handsome face shows a hint of confusion, "Mom, didn’t you agree before? Why the sudden change of heart?"
Zhou Xiufen raises her head haughtily. She looks at Yu Xia with her nose raised, then she abruptly pulls Jiang Yiwen aside. "I got reliable news this morning. Our neighborhood will be demolished by the end of the year. I revealed this news to Xiao Hui's family right away, and they immediately agreed to the marriage between you and Xiao Hui. Xiao Hui is on her way, you can get your marriage certificate with her soon..."
Zhou Xiufen, spewing out words like a machine gun, her wrinkled face displaying overconfidence and pragmatic calculation.
Yu Xia is stunned!
So, the Jiang family wants to call off the wedding?
The joy that once spread across her features has vanished in the blink of an eye!
"Number 09, please come to Window 1 for your service..."
The call from the microphone sounds again, even the staff of the Civil Affairs Bureau fear that the newcomers might miss their number, repeatedly reminding, "Is No. 9 there? Is No. 9 there?"
"No more! We're not getting married! Skip, Skip!" Zhou Xiufen shouts loudly in the lobby.
"Jiang Yiwen, is this your intention too?" Yu Xia grinds her back teeth, a cold light flutters but her eyes, her mouth curling into a sneering smile.
“I- …”
"Of course! Jiang Yiwen isn't a fool. Why would he marry a penniless girl from the countryside like you, when he could marry Xiaohui, a rich and beautiful lady?" Zhou Xiufen scorned at Yu Xia with contempt.
Then she secretly whispered to Jiang Yiwen, “Xiaohui is their family's only child. Once you marry her, won't all their wealth belong to you? Go back and get another number, and get your marriage certificate with Xiaohui today to prevent future delays. Afterwards, you guys can have a child or two, and our family will grow by two more members. We can also get a larger share of the land and demolition compensation money! If Xiaohui were to give birth to twins... our Jiang family would be so fortunate!”
As Zhou Xiufen spoke, Yu Xia watched Jiang Yiwen carefully, noticing that his usually charming eyes were now wavering. She knew Zhou Xiufen's words had moved him.
"Jiang Yiwen, think about it carefully. If you don't marry me, we'll have to cut all ties," she pronounced.
Zhou Xiufen, with a voice as harsh as the sun, despised Yu Xia’s humble background, saying, "What is there even to think about. Does anyone actually envy your tiny plot of land back in the country? Moreover, you have a useless little brother who is going to be a burden in the future. Yiwen certainly doesn't want to be the one to carry that!"
After a long hesitation, Jiang Yiwen finally spoke with a high and mighty tone, "Yu Xia, I'm not going to play the martyr for your brother."
Yu Xia was stunned, she couldn't believe what just happened!
It took her three years to finally see if he was a man or a dog!
Just then, Zhu Yunhui walked into the Civil Affairs Bureau's hall dressed in a designer outfit and carrying a luxury handbag, looking like a wealthy socialite.
Zhou Xiufen's eyes lit up as she elbowed Jiang Yiwen softly, "Look at Xiaohui. I heard that the clothes she's wearing and the bag she's carrying all cost tens of thousands. It's a good thing I told you to keep in touch with her..."
Yu Xia felt her worldview was shattered. So, Jiang Yiwen had been maintaining a connection with Zhu Yunhui all these years and she had never found out!
"Yiwen, Auntie Zhou, sorry for making you wait. Have all the messy matters been dealt with?" Zhu Yunhui walked over, wearing a fake smile and speaking arrogantly.
"Yes, it's all done," Zhou Xiufen replied, giving Yu Xia a look, "What are you still doing here? Even if you beg, Yiwen wouldn't marry you. You’re penniless, there’s nothing you can give anyway.”
Yu Xia was stunned: So, the "messy matters" Zhu Yunhui was referring to was her?
"Yiwen, go and take a queue number with Xiaohui again." Zhou Xiufen subtly hinted to her son with a look.
Watching Jiang Yiwen comply obediently with Zhou Xiufen, and merrily walked away with Zhu Yunhui, Yu Xia decisively ended this relationship in her heart.
"I'm telling you, don't dream of hanging onto Yiwen anymore. If you cause their martial bliss to falter, I won't let you, this vixen, off!" Zhou Xiufen harshly warned her. In her eyes, Yu Xia was nothing more than an enchantress, a woman of no worth, seductive but useless and man-chasing.
Yu Xia, expressionless, looked at the woman with creased, sallow skin in front of her and coldly laughed, "Rest assured, in my world, your son has been cremated and his ashes sprinkled in the sea."
"You! How dare you curse my son to die, you little bitch?" Zhou Xiufen's eyes bulged, raising her arm to smack Yu Xia's delicate face.
Yu Xia might look frail but she was no pushover – her black belt in taekwondo wasn't just for show.
She swiftly caught Zhou Xiufen's wrist, flinging it with strength, causing her to almost stumble.
"Mom, are you alright?" Jiang Yiwen and Zhu Yunhui had just returned from taking the number; they caught her in time.
"This bitch actually hit me! If it wasn't for my son finally coming to his senses, marrying her would've been a disaster for Jiang's family!" Zhou Xiufen brazenly twisted the truth, playing the victim card.
"Yu Xia, direct any anger at me!" Jiang Yiwen shielded Zhou Xiufen behind him, sternly confronting Yu Xia, "I hope we can part ways amicably! Making a scene won't change anything."
"Don't you know what kind of person your mother is? She threw the first punch! And there is no 'good ending' here, only 'dead and gone'!" Yu Xia's normally sparkling eyes were now icy-cold.
"Well, I hope you mean it. I surely don’t want to see you pestering Yiwen in the future," Zhu Yunhui chimed in with a forced smile, her hostility clear.
Yu Xia returned her with a hollow laugh, "I did not expect to waste three years on a rotten B-tree. Since you want it for recycling, I'll give it to you for free."
Zhu Yunhui's smile froze.
Jiang Yiwen, livid with shame, retorted, "You! Who are you cursing?"
Yu Xia lifted her thin eyelids and glanced at him, "Was my insult not clear enough?"
In the next instant, she raised her hand and slapped him firmly on the face. The sharp, crisp noise stunned everyone present.
"Is it clear now? You fooled me for three years; I paid you back with one slap. We are even!"