That person looks so much like... someone from the Jiang Family!
Su Wanwan was startled by this possibility. Though she had only caught a glimpse of the girl’s profile in that brief moment when they passed each other, that single glance was enough to leave her stunned.
By the time she turned back to confirm, Jiang Si’s figure had already disappeared into the crowd.
"Wanwan, what’s wrong?"
Her companion, who had walked ahead, noticed Su Wanwan standing frozen in place and jogged back to her.
"What’s got you so lost in thought? I’ve been talking to you for ages, and you didn’t even respond."
"Huh?"
Su Wanwan snapped out of her daze, shaking off the chaotic thoughts in her mind before replying,
"It’s nothing, probably just a case of mistaken identity. Anyway, Manli, what were you saying earlier?"
"I said my brother will pick me up tomorrow when we arrive at Qiongzhou Island. Why don’t you stay in the provincial capital for a couple of days? You still have a week before your official reporting date."
Su Wanwan considered it, but she had someone far more important to meet.
"Sorry, Manli. My sister has already arranged for someone to pick me up. I’ll visit you in the provincial capital when I have time, alright?"
The moment the words left her mouth, Yu Manli leaned in with a mischievous grin.
"Who? Who’s picking you up? Let me guess—is it that sweetheart of yours?"
Sweetheart?
Su Wanwan’s face flushed instantly. "Don’t talk nonsense. Nothing’s set in stone yet."
"How is it not set in stone? Before, you were in Capital City, and he was stationed at Qiongzhou Island—separated by thousands of miles, so of course there was no chance. But now things are different!"
"Haven’t you heard the saying, 'The moon is easiest reached from the nearest pavilion'? Or how about, 'For a woman chasing a man, there’s only a thin veil between them'?"
"My brother told me the Fourth Aviation Division has over 3,000 servicemen, and fewer than 100 of them are women."
"With your looks, you’ll have them all wrapped around your finger!"
Yu Manli crossed her arms, clicking her tongue several times.
"Your eldest sister married his older brother. If the two of you get together, sisters will become sisters-in-law—double the bond!"
"How perfect! No conflicts in the future!"
"But Wanwan, you’re really something. You’ve kept your crush on him a secret from me for so long. Do you even consider me your best friend?"
Had they not gone to the post office together that morning to make a call, she still wouldn’t have known her best friend had feelings for that member of the Huo Family.
"My bad, my bad. Please forgive me this once, alright?"
While apologizing, Su Wanwan couldn’t help but add,
"Manli, just keep this between us. After all, he still has…" an arranged engagement.
"I know, I know. That childhood betrothal, right?"
Everyone in their social circle knew about it. Yu Manli scoffed.
"What era is this? Such feudalistic nonsense."
"But Wanwan, you don’t need to worry. I doubt their marriage will ever happen."
"Why do you say that?" Su Wanwan asked, though she already knew the answer.
"Isn’t it obvious? You know his fiancée is from a capitalist family, don’t you?"
Su Wanwan nodded. Of course she knew.
Some people were just born lucky!
Her own family’s circumstances were already considered quite good in Capital City. Her parents worked in the municipal government, and her grandparents had been doctors at the city’s military hospital before retiring.
Both her older sisters had married into influential families.
Yet even so, her monthly allowance never exceeded 20 yuan—not even a fraction of that person’s spending money.
Su Wanwan still remembered how, three years ago, her eldest sister had accompanied the Huo Family elders on a trip to Hu City and returned full of envy.
"Wanwan, can you believe it? Third Brother’s fiancée lives in a three-story Western-style villa. Just her bedroom is three times the size of our entire home!"
"And do you know where she celebrated her eighteenth birthday?"
"She held a banquet at the Peace Hotel—the most luxurious hotel in Hu City! The cheapest table there costs dozens of yuan, and they booked the most expensive option—over 100 yuan per table, not even counting drinks!"
"I’ve never eaten such an extravagant meal in my life!"
"You wouldn’t believe how freely she spends money. In just one afternoon at the department store, she dropped nearly 2,000 yuan!"
"Oh, and her family owns a German-made car!"
"Ugh—it’s maddening how some people have it all."
"She’s not just wealthy; she’s beautiful too. Seeing Third Brother so smitten makes me furious!"
"And my mother-in-law! The girl isn’t even married into the family yet, and she gave her such a massive red envelope. The favoritism is just ridiculous."
"..."
Who wouldn’t feel bitter hearing that?
Su Wanwan had been seething with resentment—until the Cultural Revolution began, giving her some small satisfaction.
Then Yu Manli lowered her voice and said, "These are sensitive times. The Huo Family isn’t stupid. If they ally themselves with that kind of family, what future would they have?"
"Besides, how old is he now?"
"If they really wanted to marry, they would’ve done it long ago. The fact that it’s been delayed this long speaks volumes."
Yu Manli declared with certainty, "I bet they’re dragging it out to let the engagement fizzle out."
After all, after so many years of betrothal, breaking it off outright would damage their reputation.
Yu Manli wasn’t entirely wrong—but she wasn’t entirely right either.
The marriage had fallen through, but it wasn’t the Huo Family who wanted to end it.
It was the Jiang Family’s daughter.
In her past life, Su Wanwan had only learned the truth much later—by then, it was too late. She was already married with several children.
Yes—Su Wanwan had been reborn!
The first time she laid eyes on Huo Tingzhou in her previous life, she had been instantly captivated.
But back then, he was already engaged and stationed far away at Qiongzhou Island.
Though she couldn’t compare to the Jiang Family’s daughter in wealth, Su Wanwan had grown up in the heart of Capital City with open-minded parents, a comfortable upbringing, striking looks, and youth on her side.
Her suitors included sons of state-owned enterprise leaders and powerful scions like the Huo Family.
She had options.
So, after that fleeting infatuation, Su Wanwan followed her family’s advice and chose the youngest son of the Revolution Committee’s deputy director from her pool of admirers.
She married her first husband in a grand ceremony and later bore him three healthy sons.
Though her husband was average in looks and talent, he had one invaluable asset—a well-connected father!
Thanks to her father-in-law’s influence, those years had been nothing short of effortless luxury for Su Wanwan.
