I Met My Crush At My Sister's Wedding - Chapter 1
Chapter 1
Jiang Shucheng spent a hazy morning at home. After finishing an arthouse film with messy cinematography, by 5 PM, the sunlight outside the window was still dazzling, illuminating the trees along the road with vitality. Jiang Shucheng, however, lay wilted on the leather sofa like a dry, fallen leaf. Just as she clicked out of the video app, her WeChat, which hadn’t been used for a century, actually pinged.
The message was from her cousin, Jiang Ruoyi, who worked in another city and whom she saw only once or twice a year.
Perhaps because she hadn’t spoken to anyone outside her parents for such a long time, her heart skipped a beat when she saw the pop-up message.
What does Sister Ruoyi want with me?
A year ago, Jiang Shucheng had been lectured by Jiang Ruoyi’s father (her eldest paternal uncle) at another cousin’s engagement party. Jiang Ruoyi’s father was kinder to Jiang Shucheng than he was to his own daughter, often secretly slipping Jiang Shucheng pocket money when she was still studying.
Jiang Shucheng knew her uncle treated her well and that his lecturing was for her own good, but because his tone was unprecedentedly stern, and it was in front of many relatives, Jiang Shucheng immediately burst into tears at the engagement party, crying until her double eyelids swelled into single ones. She was twenty-four that year and suffered a major embarrassment.
Later, Jiang Shucheng heard from her mother that her uncle was scolded by his wife when he got home, saying he shouldn’t have scolded his niece. Her uncle felt very wronged and asked her mother to judge, and her mother also confirmed that he hadn’t scolded her, just “nagged” a bit. Even so, her uncle still felt guilty.
Jiang Shucheng avoided visiting relatives during holidays and festivals because of this incident. She didn’t blame anyone; she was just too embarrassed to face them.
Jiang Shucheng nervously clicked open the chat window. Jiang Ruoyi had only sent two emojis as a greeting.
Jiang Shucheng changed from lying down to sitting up, crossing her legs on the sofa, and cupped her phone in both hands. She replied with a question mark emoji chosen from the extensive collection.
While waiting for the reply, she felt extremely uneasy.
She and Jiang Ruoyi had a good relationship. When Jiang Shucheng was nine, their grandmother passed away, and the funeral was held in their rural hometown. As granddaughters, they had to help the adults. The funeral was complicated, and Jiang Shucheng understood nothing. Moreover, she hadn’t lived with her grandmother, so their bond wasn’t deep, and she couldn’t cry at all during the ceremony. She only knew she hadn’t eaten enough and was starving.
Sixteen-year-old Jiang Ruoyi had taken nine-year-old Jiang Shucheng to a small cooking area and secretly boiled a bowl of instant noodles for her.
After all these years, Jiang Shucheng still remembered her cousin’s kindness. She felt guilty thinking that she hadn’t visited her during holidays and festivals.
Jiang Ruoyi quickly replied: “Brother Yangguang is getting married.”
Jiang Yangguang was Jiang Ruoyi’s biological older brother. Jiang Shucheng knew his wedding was scheduled for the 17th, but she hadn’t planned to attend.
She was like a creature that couldn’t handle the light; the moment she stepped out of the house, she couldn’t lift her head.
Is Sister Ruoyi messaging her to invite her to the wedding?
Soon, Jiang Shucheng’s question was answered. Jiang Ruoyi said: “Come over on the 16th to help decorate. I can’t manage alone.”
Jiang Shucheng: “…”
Meaning, to be manual labor.
Jiang Shucheng hesitated, taking seven or eight minutes to reply: “What time?”
Jiang Ruoyi said 9 AM, and she would pick her up.
Today was the 11th, leaving five days until the 16th.
Jiang Shucheng stood in front of the bathroom mirror, silently observing her reflection. Her small, palm-sized face was too pale, and her lip color was too light, making her look bloodless. Her hair was casually tied behind her head, with a few strands drooping weakly like slender willow leaves on either side of her cheeks, giving her a sense of fragility. Fortunately, her almond-shaped eyes were bright and spirited, like stars in the night.
It had been a long time since she had properly dressed herself. Staying home every day, her few sets of pajamas had become wrinkled and messy.
Her gaze shifted from the mirror to the window. Looking at the outside world through the fence, spring was in full bloom.
Jiang Shucheng felt both expectation and apprehension, like a timid hermit crab about to poke its head out.
…
At dinner time, Jiang Feng finished eating first, leaving only Jiang Shucheng and Ji Yue at the table. Jiang Shucheng told Ji Yue that she was going to help decorate for the wedding on the 16th. Ji Yue was happy for her, saying she could finally get out and walk around.
Jiang Shucheng picked up a few grains of rice, her delicate brows slightly furrowed: “But Mom, I don’t really want to go.”
“Go. You can’t avoid people your whole life. Everyone encounters setbacks. Don’t be discouraged just because someone said a few things to you. Besides, you haven’t left the house in two years. If this continues, you’ll become dull-witted. Do you even know what the outside world has become?” Ji Yue scrutinized her.
Jiang Shucheng listlessly fed the few grains of rice into her mouth: “No matter what the world has become, I still can’t make money.”
Ji Yue pursed her lips. Money was a sensitive topic in their family. In her senior year of college, Jiang Shucheng asked Jiang Feng for money to open an online clothing store. She promised confidently that she would recoup the investment within half a year and buy her dad a new car after graduation. Jiang Feng was half-skeptical, but verbally supported his daughter enthusiastically.
However, the clothing business had been difficult for several years. Jiang Shucheng was neither at the cusp of the times nor did she have any business experience. Her first attempt resulted in a complete loss of capital. She owed hundreds of thousands, and the entire family helped her repay the debt.
This incident was why her uncle had lectured her. Even so, he had lent them thirty thousand. The debt Jiang Shucheng owed was enough to crush their ordinary family, but the thirty thousand, though not an immediate solution, weighed heavily on her.
Dinner ended quietly.
…
On the morning of the 16th, Jiang Shucheng had only slept for five hours, tormented by excitement and fear. She climbed out of bed at 8:30 AM to brush her teeth and wash her face, then opened her wardrobe to choose clothes. Since she was going to do manual labor, she should wear something comfortable…
Ji Yue knocked and entered, intending to wake her daughter, but saw her already dressed. She was wearing a slim-fit goose-yellow T-shirt and light blue jeans. Her hair reached her waist. Jiang Shucheng had dyed her hair wine-red, but as time passed, the black hair grew longer, and the red had faded to brown, only occupying the ends. Her figure was well-proportioned, her wrists extending past her hips, giving her an elegant look no matter what she wore.
Ji Yue looked at her daughter with satisfaction: “You look much prettier not wearing pajamas, like a celebrity.”
Jiang Shucheng stood in front of the full-length mirror, combing her hair, and scoffed dismissively.
After eating a cheese cracker and drinking some water, Jiang Ruoyi called.
Jiang Shucheng quickly answered. Jiang Ruoyi: “Come downstairs, I’m here.”
“Okay.” Jiang Shucheng hung up the phone, grabbed her bag, and rushed downstairs.
Jiang Ruoyi was exchanging pleasantries with Ji Yue at the door. Catching sight of Jiang Shucheng walking over, a flash of surprise crossed her eyes: How did this girl get even prettier? As Jiang Shucheng approached, Jiang Ruoyi noticed she was completely barefaced.
But she didn’t have the habit of complimenting her cousin’s looks. She swung her car keys, bid farewell to Ji Yue, and heartily ushered Jiang Shucheng into the car.
Jiang Ruoyi’s personality was bright and cheerful, the same as it had been for ten years.
Jiang Ruoyi first took Jiang Shucheng to a teahouse for breakfast, then brought her back to her home. Throughout the journey, Jiang Ruoyi initiated all the topics, and Jiang Shucheng only answered what she was asked, as if she and Jiang Ruoyi were barely acquainted.
Jiang Ruoyi sighed lightly before getting out of the car. My little cousin must be completely devastated by the failed business venture. However, her mother had specifically instructed her not to mention the business. The last time her cousin was scolded into tears by her dad, she stopped visiting them. So, even though she wanted to comfort Jiang Shucheng, she couldn’t.
Jiang Shucheng saw her Aunt Xu Zhen watering flowers at the door as soon as she got out of the car. Her uncle seemed to be out, and the house was quiet.
Xu Zhen smiled naturally upon seeing her, didn’t ask any questions, and told her to come in and sit down.
Jiang Ruoyi got out of the car later and heard this: “Sit for what? I asked her to come here to work.”
Jiang Shucheng didn’t mind her tone. It was only because she treated her like family that she spoke this way.
Ten minutes later, Jiang Shucheng thought, Maybe I shouldn’t treat them as family after all.
I’m not the one getting married, why am I so tired… They cleaned the house top to bottom until it was spotless. When they were sticking up the fifth character for “double happiness” on the wall, the groom for tomorrow finally emerged from the bedroom.
Jiang Yangguang had just woken up and was walking sleepily toward the walk-in closet. Jiang Ruoyi and Jiang Shucheng were busy in the hallway. Jiang Ruoyi stood on a tall stool, tying balloons, and asked Jiang Yangguang: “Do you think this spot is nice for the balloons?”
Jiang Yangguang glanced lazily: “Mhm.”
Jiang Ruoyi rolled her eyes at him: “Don’t be so perfunctory.”
Jiang Yangguang went into the bathroom in the walk-in closet to brush his teeth, spitting into the sink as he said, “Just put it up however!”
Jiang Ruoyi was speechless: “I’m genuinely jealous. He can be this casual and still marry a wife, and a rich, beautiful one at that.”
Jiang Shucheng stood beside her, cutting clear tape, and murmured: “A rich, beautiful girl?”
“Yeah,” Jiang Ruoyi took the clear tape from Jiang Shucheng. “Haven’t you met her?”
Jiang Shucheng: “No.”
“Later, I’ll take you to Brother Yangguang’s room to see. Their wedding photos are there,” Jiang Ruoyi stuck a ‘HÃ ’ (joy) character on the wall. “You might not believe it, but she was the one who pursued Brother Yangguang.”
“Hmm?” Jiang Shucheng murmured softly.
Jiang Ruoyi stepped down from the stool and laughed: “She said Brother Yangguang is handsome. She also said a man can be poor, but he absolutely cannot be ugly.”
Jiang Shucheng smiled faintly.
Jiang Ruoyi said: “When I’m rich someday, I’ll say things like that too.”
The reality is, you still have to marry someone rich.
Jiang Shucheng remained silent, just smiling, and reached up to tuck her hair behind her ear. Having been secluded for too long, she felt like she had lost the ability to communicate with others.
Jiang Ruoyi took Jiang Shucheng into Jiang Yangguang’s room. The room was very simple: a bed, a dressing table, and a storage cabinet. The colors were mainly gray and white. Wedding photos were placed on both bedside tables. Jiang Shucheng went over to look. The bride was indeed very pretty, the sweet type. Jiang Yangguang was handsome too. Regardless of their family backgrounds, they really looked like a match made in heaven when standing together.
They decorated Jiang Yangguang’s room, adding some color to the gray and white, making it look festive.
…
As night fell, Jiang Shucheng was kept for dinner.
Jiang Lin returned from outside, holding a bucket containing the fish he had caught.
Jiang Shucheng spoke first, calling out to him: “Uncle.”
Jiang Lin was as kind as ever to his niece, whom he hadn’t seen in a long time. They tacitly put the past unpleasantness behind them, sitting at the dining table to eat. Jiang Lin even served Jiang Shucheng some soup and said, “Take a fish home with you.”
Jiang Ruoyi said: “Jiang Shucheng, don’t leave tonight. Come with us to pick up the bride tomorrow.”
“Ah? Do I have to go too?” Jiang Shucheng was bewildered.
“Come and join the fun! We can be the photographers,” Jiang Ruoyi said.
Jiang Shucheng asked hesitantly, “What time?”
Jiang Ruoyi: “Three o’clock.”
Jiang Shucheng: “In the afternoon?”
Jiang Ruoyi smirked mischievously: “In the morning.” (Meaning: 3 AM)