Reborn in the 1970s — Married a Proud Rough Man

’In a little while, after she finished washing the dishes and cleaning the kitchen, the drug would take effect. Then, she would go to his room to spend a passionate night with him.’

She didn’t know what Jie Jingchen had said to Jie You, but she saw him take the girl’s hand and walk toward the front door. Lin Yaru’s heart sank. ’The drug will kick in any moment. I can’t let him leave.’

”Jing Si, where are you taking Xiao You?” Lin Yaru dropped her dishes and got up to chase after them, but as she passed Jie Jingwei, he suddenly wrapped his arms around her. Lin Yaru froze, then immediately started to struggle. ”Second Brother Jing, what are you doing?”

The more she struggled, the tighter Jie Jingwei held her, burying his face in her neck and inhaling her intoxicating scent.

Lin Yaru was terrified, her face deathly pale, especially because of Jie Jingwei’s wandering hands.

Lin Yaru wasn’t as strong as Jie Jingwei and couldn’t break free from his grip. She cried out desperately, ”Jing Si...!”

Their eyes met. She saw the undisguised contempt and ridicule in Jie Jingchen’s gaze, and her voice died in her throat. He clearly saw his own brother forcing himself on her, yet he simply left with Xiao You, coldly shutting the door behind him. Fear washed over Lin Yaru, so intense she felt like she was suffocating.

’Jie Jingchen left so decisively. He...’

A sharp pain on her neck jolted Lin Yaru back to her senses. ’She had put the drug in Jie Jingchen’s rice bowl and even soaked his chopsticks in it for a long time. Jie Jingchen must have known all along and swapped his bowl and chopsticks with Jie Jingwei’s.’

Jie Jingwei’s current state was proof the drug had taken effect. Lin Yaru was furious. The man she wanted was Jie Jingchen, not Jie Jingwei. His touch only filled her with utter disgust.

Suppressing the urge to vomit, Lin Yaru tried to appeal to what little reason Jie Jingwei might have left. ”Second Brother Jing, it’s me, Lin Yaru! I’m not Sister Xu! Second Brother Jing, snap out of it!”

Lin Yaru knew exactly how much of the drug she had used. Right now, Jie Jingwei was like a wild beast, completely devoid of reason. Lin Yaru’s initial resistance slowly gave way to submission, until the last of her own reason was utterly consumed by the drug’s devastating effect.

”Fourth Uncle, where are we going?” Jie You asked.

”The state-run restaurant.” Jie Jingchen patted Jie You’s head, his feelings complicated. ’If Second Brother and his wife divorce, the child will be the one who suffers most. Dad adores Xiao You; he’d never let my sister-in-law take her. But will Lin Yaru treat Xiao You well?’

”Are we going to see Grandpa and Grandma?” Jie You looked up at Jie Jingchen. When he nodded, she started jumping with joy. ”Yay! The state-run restaurant has lots of yummy food! Fourth Uncle, let’s hurry, or they’ll eat it all!”

Jie You pulled Jie Jingchen along. They arrived at the bus stop, and soon, the bus came. Jie Jingchen led Jie You aboard and bought their tickets.

Jie Jingchen and Jie You found their seats just as Jie Jinghun rode past on a bicycle with Shen Qing on the back.

”Fourth Uncle, it’s Third Uncle and Third Aunt!” Jie You pointed out the window with a chubby finger.

Jie Jingchen saw them too. His pupils constricted, and his brow furrowed. ’Third Brother and his wife could have returned at any other time, but they have to show up now. Is this fate?’

’It’s too late to get off and call out to them now,’ Jie Jingchen thought. ’They’re on a bike, and I can’t just leave Jie You behind to run after them.’

’If Third Brother and his wife end up stopping Second Brother and Lin Yaru, it will only prove that Second Brother’s marriage to Xu Chunyan is rock-solid. All of Qin Mei’s efforts would be for nothing. Then again, Qin Mei didn’t really do much—she just gave Lin Yaru an opening.’

「At the state-run restaurant, inside a private room.」

Qin Xiang and Jie Jingjue were drinking heartily. Caught up in the atmosphere, Mr. Xie had joined the young men. Mr. Xie often had to drink for business and could hold his liquor, but even he had been drunk under the table by Qin Xiang.

Mrs. Xie, Qin Mei, and Jing Qi watched the three men. For once, Mrs. Xie didn’t try to stop her husband, letting him drink to his heart’s content.

Mrs. Xie kept glancing at her watch, her eyes filled with worry. ”Why isn’t Jing Si here yet?”

In contrast to Mrs. Xie’s anxiety, Qin Mei was perfectly calm. ’She trusted Jie Jingchen; he would handle the task perfectly.’

”Xiao Mei, come to the entrance with me and have a look,” Mrs. Xie said, her voice fraught with worry. She was terrified that Jing Si had fallen into Lin Yaru’s trap.

”Alright.” Qin Mei nodded with a faint smile. ”Jing Qi, you stay here and watch them.”

”Okay,” Jing Qi nodded obediently.

Mrs. Xie pulled Qin Mei out of the private room and headed downstairs. Standing at the main entrance, she anxiously looked left and right. ”Xiao Mei, you don’t think Jing Si actually fell for Lin Yaru’s trap, do you?”

Mrs. Xie’s mind started to run wild with scenarios: ’Lin Yaru’s smug, triumphant face; her crying and wailing, demanding that Mrs. Xie make things right for her; and then, a few months later, showing up with a pregnant belly...’

Mrs. Xie shook her head sharply, not daring to let her thoughts go any further. ’I’d have a complete breakdown.’