Chapter 163: From Now On, My Sister Is Yours

Those words made Jiang Jiaojiao feel sweet inside, and her face turned even redder.

Having set the date for the engagement banquet, the household atmosphere became even more festive.

Along with that, it seemed that even the intangible pressures outside the door lightened a bit.

In the blink of an eye, the date arrived at the eighteenth of next month.

In the largest private room of Guoying Hotel, the Gu families and the Jiang families gathered together.

Gu Yanshen's parents were both intellectuals.

His father wore glasses, was refined and elegant, and worked in a cultural department.

His mother had a gentle temperament and was a middle school teacher.

They were clearly very pleased with Jiang Jiaojiao, and their conversation was full of affection.

Gu mother even held Li Huijuan's hand, affectionately saying, "Huijuan, you have raised Jiaojiao so well—generous, straightforward, and with her own opinions. For Yan Shen to be able to marry Jiaojiao is his good fortune."

Li Huijuan felt delighted inside, pretended modesty outwardly, yet was deeply grateful for the in‑laws' understanding and reasonableness.

Jiang Jianguo and Gu father chatted amicably, discussing everything from work to current affairs, finding much common ground.

Jiang Nainai, cradling her great‑granddaughter Nian An, cheerfully received the Gu parents' greetings and blessings.

During the banquet, Gu father formally proposed the wedding date, setting it for May of the following year, when spring is warm and flowers bloom.

Both sets of parents raised no objections, and everyone was overjoyed.

As the younger brother, Jiang Ran couldn't help but give the future brother‑in‑law a little trouble.

He lifted his glass and said to Gu Yanshen, "Brother Gu, my sister is now in your hands."

"She has a quick temper, but the warmest heart. If you dare let her suffer any grievance, I don't care whether you're a talented person from the Design Institute or not; I'll still keep nagging you!"

His tone was half‑joking, half‑serious, defending his sister on behalf of his brother.

Gu Yanshen was not at all annoyed, and solemnly raised his glass: "Ranran, rest assured. I will definitely treat Jiaojiao well, cherish her, respect her, and not let her suffer the slightest grievance."

"This cup of wine, I toast to you and to all the elders present; please be at ease."

Having said that, he drank it in one gulp, full of sincerity.

Jiang Jiaojiao, standing nearby, watched Gu Yanshen's earnest profile, her eyes slightly moist, her heart filled with anticipation and happiness for the future.

Su Ruan sat quietly beside Jiang Ran, watching this warm and harmonious scene, a gentle smile at the corner of her mouth.

In her arms she held a sleepy Jinjin, the little one leaning against his mother, sucking his thumb, his big eyes half‑closed.

Jiang Ran's other hand wrapped around her waist, his fingertips unconsciously caressing her side gently, a tender reassurance.

The atmosphere at the table was lively; as cups were passed back and forth, the two families grew increasingly harmonious.

Gu mother noticed Su Ruan constantly caring for the child, hardly eating anything, so she placed a piece of steamed fish onto her plate and said warmly, "RuanRuan, you eat too; don't just attend to the child. Ranran, you as well—take better care of RuanRuan."

Jiang Ran quickly responded, also picking up the dish Su Ruan liked and bringing it to her, leaning close to her ear and whispering in a voice only the two could hear, "Daughter‑in‑law, have some. Tonight when we get home I'll massage your waist; you must be tired from holding the child, right?"

His breath was warm, tinged with a faint scent of wine, brushing her ear with a ticklish feel.

Su Ruan's ears flushed slightly, she glared at him petulantly, yet under the table she gently squeezed his hand.

The engagement banquet concluded successfully.

On the way back, night had deepened, and both children were asleep in the arms of their grandmother and maternal grandmother.

Jiang Ran had a drink, feeling slightly tipsy, and his courage grew a bit.

He tightly held Su Ruan's hand, his fingertips lightly tickling the palm, and whispered, "Daughter‑in‑law, seeing sister's engagement, does it remind you of how we were at the beginning?"

Su Ruan recalled their simple, even somewhat rushed wedding, and the storms and sweetness they had endured since, feeling moved, and gave a soft "mm".

"After this busy period passes," Jiang Ran's voice lowered further, carrying the mellow alcohol and a barely perceptible yearning, "we'll also celebrate properly, just the two of us."

Su Ruan understood the meaning behind his words, her cheeks flushed, but the night concealed it.

She said nothing, only gripping his hand even tighter.

Back at the Jiang Family Courtyard, after settling the children and finishing washing up, they lay down.

That night, their intimacy was especially gentle and lingering.

There were few words, only the warmth of bodies nestled in the dark, delicate kisses, and fingertip touches that felt like confirmations.

Sweat intertwined, breaths mingled.

Afterwards, Jiang Ran held Su Ruan tightly from behind, his hot chest pressed against her slightly sweaty back.

His lips brushed the delicate skin of her nape, murmuring softly, "Daughter‑in‑law, no matter how many storms there are outside, as long as our home is well, as long as you and the children are well, I fear nothing."

Su Ruan turned, found his lips in the darkness, and placed a gentle kiss.

"We will all be fine."

That day, Su Ruan was revising a customer's urgent order in the shop when an old regular client, Sister Wang, walked in; her face lacked the usual familiar smile, and her eyes were a bit evasive.

"Sister Wang, you're here? The coat you ordered last time is ready; may I let you try it on?"

Su Ruan set aside her work, smiled, and went to meet her.

Sister Wang waved her hand, her tone a bit unnatural: "No... not urgent, Boss Su. I came today actually to ask... that is, I heard..."

She hesitated, glanced around the empty shop, then lowered her voice.

"Someone outside says your shop... with Guangzhou, the accounts aren't very clear?"

"Someone also says the demolition compensation you received wasn't clean... what's actually going on?"

Su Ruan's heart sank sharply, yet her face remained a calm smile: "Sister Wang, thank you for your concern. Those rumors outside are baseless."

"All our shop's accounts are crystal clear and can withstand any inspection. The demolition compensation is also fully legal and compliant."

"As for the cooperation with Guangzhou, all contracts and financial transactions have proper procedures."

"You are a longtime patron of our shop; you should know what kind of people we are."

Sister Wang looked at Su Ruan's open, clear eyes, recalled the genuine quality of the clothes she had reshaped over the years and Su Ruan's character, her doubts faded a bit, and she chuckled, "I also think it's nonsense! It's just... I've heard it so often that it rattles my heart."

"Boss Su, don't take it to heart; I still definitely trust you!"

After sending off the half‑believing, half‑doubting Sister Wang, Su Ruan stood where she was, feeling a chill surge up from the soles of her feet.

The rumors have already reached the core client base.

If even an old customer like Sister Wang is beginning to waver, what about the others?

Jiang Ran returned from outside, and upon seeing Su Ruan's pale complexion and tightly pressed lips, immediately knew something was wrong.

After getting the full story, his fists clenched with a crackle, the blue veins at his temples throbbing: "Damn it! These bastards! They don't dare come openly, so they resort to this low‑level filth!"

He grabbed Su Ruan and pulled her into the VIP Room behind them, shut the door, cupped her icy cheek with both hands, forcing her to look at him.

"Daughter‑in‑law, look at me! Don't be frightened by those bastards' words! The more they act like this, the more it shows they have no other tricks! They can only stir trouble by spreading rumors!"