“How dare you ask me to get lost, you wretch?! Have you grown capable since your dad’s passing? Why didn’t you tell me that you’ve earned enough money to open a flower shop?”

As she snarled at her, she raised another hand high in the air.

All of a sudden, her wrist got clamped.

The force used on her hand this time was much stronger than what her daughter had used earlier.

Ma Xueyan felt as though her bones were about to be snapped in two. She yowled in pain and looked up at the man before her.

The man had an ideal body shape and was wearing a white shirt and a black jacket around his shoulders. The black attire made his face appear somewhat wan and cold. His brows were light in color, and the arrogant and aloof look on his face was akin to an unsheathed, sharp blade.

Yan Nian noticed his pale complexion when she turned to face the man as well.

“The money— I lent it to Niannian.”

Jiang Beiyuan then released his vice-like grip on the older woman, his face frosty-looking.

The latter rubbed her sore wrist as she grimaced in pain. “Who are you?!”

“I’m Niannian’s—”

Cough, cough.

Yan Nian hastily let out two coughs in his direction and gave him a meaningful glance at the same time.

And so, the word “husband” that was on the verge of his lips changed into “friend” instead.

“Friend?” Ma Xueyan sneered. “How come I didn’t know she has such a rich friend?!”

“We’re schoolmates from junior high, and we have a pretty good relationship.”

Junior high?

If not for the fact that she was clearly aware that she did not know this man at all, she would have bought his lie.

Her mother was rendered speechless with that reply, so she turned to shoot daggers at her, instead.

“You pay back the money you owe on your own. I won’t do that for you!”

With that, she left the shop.

Yan Nian’s gaze then landed on Jiang Beiyuan.

His figure seemed to have grown bigger with the light shining down on him.

“…Thank you.”

He noticed her polite and alienating attitude toward him and found it nauseating.

That fearless and eccentric lass from back then was now missing.

Staring at the red and swollen side of her face, he curtly asked, “Is there any first aid kit or ice pack here?”

The woman shook her head in reply as she held her swollen cheek. “It’s all right. It doesn’t hurt much.”

He then turned around and left without saying a single word.

She had no idea where he went and just found it strange that he did not bother saying bye to her before he left.

A few minutes later, the man returned with two ice packs in his hands.

He pulled her to the sofa before he rolled up his sleeves to give her an ice massage for her face.

Back then, despite having been infuriated by her on several occasions, he still managed to hold back the urge to give her a beating. He would at most smack her butt a few times to vent his anger. A girl’s face was the most important to her, after all. However, it seemed that her mother had no such concern for her own flesh and blood.

Yan Nian shrunk backward from the contact… “I’ll do it myself!”

She was not used to such intimacy.

He put his other hand at the back of her head to keep it still.

The back of her head felt warm from his broad hand while in front of her, she had the man’s breaths tickling her face. It felt numbing, fresh, and titillating.

His stare seemed penetrating, as if he was seeing an old friend in his memories through her.

She felt that she was somewhat in a trance.

Her mind flew back to the day of her matchmaking, one month ago.

She had to admit, her heart had pounded at the first sight of this man.

He was a very handsome and stylish person with fair skin and tall and slender build, the way she preferred her man to be.

As usual, she went straight to the point. “I’m not a virgin. Do you mind this?”

He nodded. “I know.”

“Huh?”

“I mean, I don’t mind.”

“…Oh.”

“Then, shall we try dating first?” she asked.

He shook his head, however. “I’m already 28. What’s more, I’m working as a doctor, so I’m usually very busy. I won’t have much time to go out on dates with you. It’s either we get married or we just forget about the whole matter.”

“Married? But—”

“I’ll treat you well and give you all the comfort and loyalty that you want.”

“Still…”

She found it baffling.

“Why do you want to marry me? Isn’t this the first time we’ve met?”

For reasons unknown, the man’s face suddenly turned dark and cold when he heard her words.

“Because you look like my ex-girlfriend.”