2

As I was about to get off work, I received a call from Zhuang Ming.

"There's a class reunion tonight. You should come too. Don't embarrass me; dress nicely."

For the sake of his future, he didn't want to lose face in front of others or ruin his image as a perfect gentleman in their eyes.

So he often made me play the part of a loving couple whose affection was only skin-deep.

This time, I found it hard to keep up the act.

Yet he still informed me in a commanding tone.

Half an hour later, the phone rang again, "Why did you leave first? Didn't I tell you to wait for me?"

"I have to go home and change clothes, don't I?"

"So troublesome. What's the point of trying to look good at your age?"

Zhuang Ming hung up the phone impatiently.

Yes, I'm almost thirty, and I've given him the best years of my youth. Now he thinks I'm old.

On purpose, I dressed very plainly and waited for him to pick me up.

Sure enough, Zhuang Ming showed displeasure on his face.

"Didn't you change your clothes? Why do you look like a country bumpkin? How can I introduce you to people? People who don't know might think I've been mistreating you."

"What's wrong with what I'm wearing? I think it's quite appropriate. Do I have to wear a short skirt, stockings, and high heels? Do I also have to show off my back, chest, and butt?"

This was the style Xu Ya liked to wear.

"Ha, you don't have to dress like that. Do you even have the figure for it? Just put on some makeup to hide your wrinkles. Didn't I buy you a new skirt? Why aren't you wearing it?"

"I can face people without makeup. As for your skirt with the slit up to the thigh, does anyone decent wear that? If you want to wear it, wear it yourself. If you're ashamed of me, I won't go."

Zhuang Ming saw my strong stance and couldn't force me.

Once in the car, he directly let me sit in the back seat. The front passenger seat had a pink teddy bear toy on it.

I didn't want to sit in the passenger seat anyway, so I didn't care whom he was saving it for.

Unsurprisingly, after picking me up, Zhuang Ming went to pick up Xu Ya, grinning as he opened the door for her, gentlemanly as if he were a lovestruck fool.

Xu Ya had dressed sexily and brightly, wearing sunglasses, her face glowing, ultra-thin black high heels, and those black stockings that Zhuang Ming was obsessed with.

The flashy outfit seemed tawdry to me, but Zhuang Ming clearly liked it.

"Oh, Brother Ming, I can sit in the back."

"Your health isn't good, sit in the front seat where the air is better and you won't get car sick. Your sister already gave you the seat."

Xu Ya feigned reluctance, glanced at me in the back seat, and smiled at me.

"Thank you, Sister Bai."

"Oh, this pink teddy bear! So cute! Why does it look familiar? Isn't this the doll we couldn't win last time?"

Xu Ya exaggeratedly raised the teddy bear, as if afraid I couldn't see it.

"Yeah, I saw how much you liked it that day. But I'm clumsy and couldn't win it, so I paid the arcade owner to buy it today."

"Ah, Brother Ming, why did you do that? You must have paid a high price. What a waste, don't spend money on me."

Zhuang Ming laughed, "The money doesn't matter. As long as you like it."

"Brother Ming, you're too good."

The two of them went back and forth as if I were the third wheel.

From their conversation, it seemed their everyday life and entertainment were richer than mine.

Throughout the drive, they chatted and laughed, saying nothing to me.

The car was full of little decorations I'd never seen before; Xu Ya seemed intent on showing off, picking up one item after another to tell a story, her face radiating happiness.

And as for the decorations I'd bought, who knows where he'd thrown them.

Come to think of it, it's been ages since he last gave me a ride in the car.

It was truly disheartening.

Like these decorations, I too had become the one replaced.

When we arrived, Zhuang Ming asked me to park the car while he took Xu Ya upstairs.

I glared at him.

"What? Xu Ya's health isn't good and she can't be left alone, you know that, right? What's the big deal about parking the car?"

However, Zhuang Ming naturally went inside with Xu Ya.

When I'd finally parked the car and reached the private room door, I heard voices inside.

"Yesterday, it was Zhuang Ming and Xu Ya. Your wedding was truly amazing, enviably so! You two are such a perfect match. But Zhuang Ming, doesn't your wife mind? Wouldn't she make you kneel on the washboard when you get home?"

"Yeah, wouldn't your sis-in-law be angry? We should all apologize together."

Without a care, Zhuang Ming boasted, "What's there to apologize for? She's not that petty. Everyone's just helping Xu Ya fulfill a dream, it's not real anyway. Besides, I'm the head of the household, I make the decisions. She'll make me kneel on a washboard? What a joke!"

"Brother Ming is so forceful!"

"Brother Ming is really something! He's tamed sis-in-law so well! Here's a toast to you!"

Everyone flattered Zhuang Ming, who showed me no respect in front of others and flaunted his male chauvinism.

Xu Ya boldly chimed in, "Back then, because of my poor health, I went abroad for treatment and he took my place. Without him, could she have the success she has now? I only want a wedding with Brother Ming to fulfill my dream, and even that is not allowed?"

The others chimed in, toasting to Xu Ya.

"Exactly, we all know you two have had each other in your hearts for all these years, she just got lucky."

"Alright, don't be mad. We're all fans of your couple pairing."

This gathering was truly a haven for snakes and rats.

Zhuang Ming's classmates and brothers called me sis-in-law to my face, but actually didn't care about me at all. They even covered for Zhuang Ming and Xu Ya's escapades, deliberately creating opportunities for them.

I pushed the door open, expressionless.

Immediately, everyone looked at me, fell silent, and the loudest one sat down sheepishly.

"Uh, sis-in-law's here!"

Xu Ya stood up smiling and hooked her arm through mine, pulling me to sit beside her.

"Sis-in-law, sit next to me."

She was seated next to Zhuang Ming, wedged right between us.

Then she promptly toasted to me.

"Thanks to Brother Ming and sis-in-law for taking care of me all this time. Here's to both of you."

She poured me a drink, but I only poured myself a cup of tea.

"I'm allergic to alcohol."

However, Xu Ya seemed to think I was making excuses, dismissing her gesture.