After being diagnosed with a terminal illness, the fake heiress binds herself to a rough-looking man

Dinner was served in the large dining room on the first floor.

A white tablecloth was laid out on the long table, and Wang Ma brought out the dishes one by one.

When Jiang Yu came downstairs, Jiang Ruoruo was already seated.

Her eyes were red, and her nose was red too.

Clutching a tissue in his hand, he looked like he had just come back from a funeral home.

Jiang's mother sat next to her, patting her hand with a look of heartache.

Jiang Yu pulled out a chair and sat down.

Jiang's mother glanced at her: "What did you say to Ruoruo? She's been crying in the living room for almost an hour."

Jiang Yu picked up a piece of fish.

"I asked her what she was going to wear tomorrow, and she started crying."

Jiang Ruoruo sniffed, looking aggrieved.

"Mom, my sister said... she wants everyone to remember something else tomorrow, not my speech."

Jiang's mother put her chopsticks down on the table. "Jiang Yu!"

"That's not what I meant," Jiang Yu said, chewing on her fish, too lazy to elaborate.

The more you argue, the more chaotic things become; it's better not to argue at all.

Jiang Ruoruo dabbed her eyes with a tissue, her voice soft:

"I know my sister doesn't like the occasion tomorrow. But this is really important to me..."

I just want the family to sit together and be happy.

Jiang Yu put down her chopsticks, just about to speak.

Footsteps came from the direction of the stairs.

Jiang Yu'an came down.

He changed into a black crew neck shirt, and his hair was still a little damp, as if he had just taken a shower.

As soon as they sat down, the atmosphere at the table immediately became tense again.

Wang Ma quickly served him soup.

Jiang Ruoruo's tears reached a new high, and upon seeing Jiang Yu'an, she amplified her tears even further: "Brother..."

Jiang Yu'an took the soup bowl and took a sip.

"Are you done talking?"

Jiang Ruoruo's mouth was slightly open, the last half of the sentence, "My sister bullied me," stuck on the tip of her tongue.

Jiang Yu'an put down the soup bowl.

"There will be quite a few people attending the family reunion banquet tomorrow. Everyone outside is watching to see who is from the Jiang family and which table they sit at."

He took a pair of serving chopsticks and served himself food, his movements unhurried and deliberate.

"Which of you causes trouble at the banquet tomorrow, no matter the reason, I'll deal with the outside issues first and then deal with the home issues later."

This was said to two people.

Jiang Ruoruo crumpled her tissue into a ball and said in an even softer voice, "I won't."

Jiang Yu leaned back in her chair, arms crossed.

"Then you see who started it."

I don't care who went first or who went last.

Jiang Yu'an's gaze shifted from Jiang Ruoruo to Jiang Yu's face.

"Tomorrow, from the moment you enter until the end, you will sit next to me. You are not allowed to leave your seat without my permission."

Jiang Yu frowned.

This is different from what was said before.

I had only said I would sit next to him.

Now, "No leaving the seat" has been added.

Her heart skipped a beat.

In my mind, a small ball of light suddenly appeared.

[Host, the situation has changed. Forbidding leaving your seat effectively eliminates any possibility of slacking off mid-meeting. We suggest exploring the specific restrictions after dinner.]

Jiang Yu replied in her mind: "Do you think I'm stupid? He was just as wary when I tested him after dinner."

What should we do then?

"Eat first. You'll have the energy to come up with a solution when you're full."

"...Host, you have a remarkably stable mindset."

"What good ideas can you come up with on an empty stomach?"

Jiang Yu picked up her chopsticks again.

Jiang's mother was still grumbling, "You children, one after another, are all a worry."

"Ruoruo just got back, can't you be a little more accommodating?"

Jiang Yu didn't reply, focusing on dealing with the matsutake mushroom.

After wiping away her tears, Jiang Ruoruo obediently ate her meal.

But she would secretly glance at Jiang Yu'an while eating, observing his expression.

Jiang Yu did not give her any further reaction throughout the process.

However, they added a spoonful of chicken soup to Jiang Yu's bowl.

Jiang Ruoruo tightened her grip on the chopsticks.

Halfway through the meal, Jiang's mother spoke up.

"Yu'an, I've reviewed the banquet agenda for tomorrow. Which item is Ruoruo's speech scheduled for?"

"The third item. Immediately following the speech."

Jiang Ruoruo put down her chopsticks and placed her hands folded on her lap.

"Mom, I practiced twice more yesterday. Wang Ma timed me, and it took me a little over three minutes."

Okay. Don't be too nervous, just speak normally.

Jiang Ruoruo nodded vigorously.

Jiang Yu bit her spoon and silently went through the timeline in her mind.

The third item on the agenda is the opening remarks.

In other words, Jiang Ruoruo went on stage about forty minutes after the banquet began.

All eyes will be on the stage.

Including Jiang Yu'an.

Even if he keeps a close eye on her, he should at least glance at the three minutes Jiang Ruoruo is speaking on stage, right?

three minutes.

The little ball of light floated around in her mind.

[Host, are you calculating time?]

"Um."

【I've already calculated it. But I have a question.】

"explain."

If there is security at the side entrance, you will be stopped when you try to leave.

Jiang Yu was a beat slow in chewing the goji berries.

Correct.

I just heard someone say on the stairs, "We'll also have someone at the side door."

She swallowed the goji berries; they were bitter.

"Then we won't go through the side door."

Where to go?

"Let me think about it some more."

The dinner table fell silent for a while.

The only sound was the clinking of bowls and chopsticks.

Jiang Ruoruo suddenly spoke again.

"Sister, are you wearing makeup tomorrow? Do you want me to have my makeup artist do your makeup too? She's really good at it."

Jiang Yu looked up.

"No need, I'll draw it myself."

"But tomorrow's occasion is so formal..."

"She said no need." Jiang Yu'an put down his chopsticks.

Jiang Ruoruo closed her mouth.

But it only closed for five seconds.

"Well...should we have the stylist coordinate a dress for my sister too? I'd love to—"

"Jiang Ruoruo," Jiang Yu'an called her by her full name.

The whole table fell silent.

Even Wang Ma paused for a moment while pouring water.

Jiang Yu'an didn't look up; she was still using serving chopsticks to pick up food.

The voice wasn't loud, but every word carried a weight that left no room for negotiation.

"Go and memorize your speech three more times."

Jiang Ruoruo's face lost some color.

"I...I'm already very familiar with it."

"Then go and memorize it a fourth time."

Jiang Ruoruo glanced at her mother.

Jiang's mother hesitated, but ultimately didn't speak up.

Jiang Ruoruo stood up as her chopsticks tapped against the rim of her bowl.

"Then I'll go back to my room first."

As she walked past Jiang Yu, she paused for half a step.

He whispered something that only the two of them could hear.

"Sister, you'd better behave yourself tomorrow."

The voice was deep and resonant.

She was completely different from how she was crying just now.

Jiang Yu didn't even turn her head.

"The same to you."

Jiang Ruoruo is gone.

There were three people left at the dinner table.

After finishing her meal, Jiang's mother put down her chopsticks, got up, and went back to her room.

He patted Jiang Yu'an on the shoulder as he passed by, without saying much.

Only Jiang Yu and Jiang Yu'an remained in the living room.

Jiang Yu stirred the last bit of soup at the bottom of the bowl with a spoon, pondering the matter of the side gate.

"What are you thinking about?"

Jiang Yu'an's voice suddenly exploded next to my ear.

She looked up and found that he had turned to the side at some point and was looking at her.

Elbows resting on the edge of the table, chin slightly raised.

The eyes behind those gold-rimmed glasses were calm, so calm it made one feel uneasy.

"I wasn't thinking about anything."

"You almost broke the bowl."

Jiang Yu put down the spoon.

"I'm thinking about what shoes to wear tomorrow."

Jiang Yu'an looked at her for two seconds.

"Don't wear anything too high."

Jiang Yu almost choked.

She had just told Huo Li that she wanted to wear flat shoes, and Jiang Yu'an was also concerned about the height of her heels.

"understood."

She stood up, leaving the bowl and chopsticks on the table.

After taking two steps upstairs, Jiang Yu'an spoke from behind.

"Your burgundy satin flats are still in the shoe cabinet."

Jiang Yu had her back to him and paused on the stairs.

He even remembered what shoes were in her shoe cabinet.

"...Thank you for reminding me."

She quickened her pace and went upstairs.

Back in her room, Jiang Yu closed the door and pressed her forehead against it.

She took out her phone and typed a message.

Message me when you arrive tomorrow. I might not be able to come out right away.

after awhile.

Huo Li: [I'll wait for you. No need to rush.]

Another one followed.

It's okay if you can't get out. Don't take any risks.

Jiang Yu stared at the words "Don't take risks" and rubbed her thumb back and forth on the screen twice.

She replied: "I will come out."

It's been sent.

Outside the window, a row of streetlights in the hillside villa area were lit.

Tomorrow is Saturday.