C6 Shame and Embarrassment

In truth, Jiang Yan hadn't sought employment for the past three years, not solely due to his injuries, but because he simply had no desire to work.

There's a common saying: it's easy to adapt to luxury after frugality, but hard to return to frugality after luxury.

As the scion of the Chiang family, he was accustomed to a life of opulence and frivolous spending.

The thought of suddenly working for someone else, bowing and scraping with a forced smile, and living at the mercy of another's mood was intolerable to him.

Moreover, Jiang Yan was confident that the Chiang family would eventually lift the restrictions placed upon him, so he wasn't concerned about his future.

Now that the Chiang family's constraints were gone, he was once again the affluent young master, free to lavish money without a second thought.

His current job search was merely to appease his mother-in-law, to avoid the disdainful looks at home.

"As long as it's not manual labor, I'll be fine. Don't worry about me."

"So, have you figured out what kind of job you're looking for?"

"I haven't really settled on anything yet. No rush—I'll scout around in the next couple of days and take whatever comes first. But let's drop that topic for now. I've got some cash left; let's grab a bite and catch a movie!"

Arm in arm, Jiang Yan and Xu Fengqiu left with laughter, her slender waist in his embrace.

Opting out of a fancy eatery, they chose a modest roadside diner for a bowl of noodles before heading to the cinema.

Upon arrival, they were greeted by an enormous movie poster.

"Jiang Yan, look! It's Han Xuening's latest film. She's the current darling of China, the 'nation's sweetheart.' Feng Jiao adores her—her phone wallpaper is all pictures of Han Xuening," Xu Fengqiu exclaimed with delight.

Han Xuening, a blazing star in China, was renowned for her stunning beauty and figure, a true heart-stopper.

Yet to Jiang Yan, no starlet's allure could ever eclipse that of his wife.

"Honey, do you like her as well?"

Xu Fengqiu nodded, her eyes gleaming with admiration. "Absolutely, she's the nation's darling. What woman wouldn't admire her? This poster says she's coming to Yunzhou soon to promote her latest movie."

"Feng Jiao will be over the moon when she hears this news. She's been dying to get a signed photo of Han Xuening. But Xuening has such a massive fanbase; her appearances always pack the venues to the brim. It's nearly impossible for regular fans to even catch a glimpse of her, let alone snag an autograph."

Just then, an announcement echoed through the space.

"Viewers attending the 7:30 PM showing of 'East Rainbow's Richest Man,' please note that we are now checking tickets. Kindly proceed to the ticket counter for entry."

"Oh, the movie's about to start. Let's make a beeline for the ticket check, darling!"

Grasping Jiang Yan's hand, Xu Fengqiu hurried with him to the ticket counter.

The film was a comedy, brimming with laugh-out-loud moments. Xu Fengqiu chuckled non-stop, so joyous that she was moved to tears.

On the taxi ride home, she couldn't stop discussing the movie with Jiang Yan, breaking into laughter every now and then.

Jiang Yan felt a surge of happiness seeing Xu Fengqiu so delighted.

Upon arriving at their neighborhood entrance, they alighted from the car.

A red Porsche was parked there, capturing the attention of Jiang Yan and Xu Fengqiu.

Their neighborhood was modest, not the sort where residents typically owned such luxury vehicles.

Inside the Porsche, a couple was intimately engaged.

"Honey, isn't that Feng Jiao in the car?"

Xu Fengqiu took a closer look, her face clouding over, especially when she noticed Zhao Yu's hand slipping inside Xu Fengjiao's clothing. She couldn't stand it any longer.

She marched up to the Porsche and tapped on the window, startling the couple inside.

Xu Fengjiao, realizing it was her sister, quickly pushed Zhao Yu away and straightened up her hair and clothes.

Zhao Yu's face fell into a look of disappointment as he pushed open the car door and stepped out.

"Heh, if it isn't Ms. Fengqiu? I was just dropping Feng Jiao off at home."

Xu Fengqiu gave Zhao Yu the cold shoulder and commanded sternly, "Feng Jiao, out of the car now!"

Xu Fengjiao emerged, cheeks still tinged with a telltale flush, avoiding Xu Fengqiu's gaze.

"Let's go home."

Xu Fengqiu took Xu Fengjiao by the arm and headed toward the residential complex.

"Sis, what's the big deal? I haven't even said goodbye to Zhao Yu... Zhao Yu, I'm off home now. See you tomorrow!"

Zhao Yu smiled, waved, and called back, "Sure, see you tomorrow!"

Jiang Yan exchanged a glance with Zhao Yu and advised, "Get home early, don't have your folks worrying at this hour."

Just then, Xu Fengqiu noticed Jiang Yan lagging behind and called out, "Honey, what are you waiting for? Let's go home!"

Zhao Yu, wiping away a smear of lipstick from his mouth, scoffed, "And who are you to speak to me like that? If it weren't for Feng Jiao, I wouldn't give you the time of day. A grown man living off a woman? Aren't you embarrassed? Or is it that you can't stomach real work, so you're stuck living off your wife's charity?"

With a dismissive flick of his little finger at Jiang Yan, Zhao Yu got in his car and drove off.

Xu Fengjiao wrenched her arm free from Xu Fengqiu and glared at Jiang Yan.

"Jiang Yan, what did you just say to Zhao Yu?"

Jiang Yan replied, "Nothing much. Just told him to head home early, so his parents wouldn't worry."

Xu Fengjiao folded her arms and pouted, "What do you care if he goes home or not? Mind your own business, will you?"

Xu Fengqiu's eyebrows knitted together in displeasure. "Jiao, that's no way to talk to your brother-in-law. And what exactly were you doing with Zhao Yu in the car? Aren't you embarrassed?"

Xu Fengjiao huffed and retorted, "Embarrassed about what? We didn't do anything wrong. It's normal for couples to be affectionate. Or are you saying you and Jiang Yan have never been?"

Xu Fengqiu spoke with irritation, "Couldn't you have picked a better place? Right at the entrance of the complex, in the car, with all this foot traffic—what if the neighbors saw you? Aren't you embarrassed?"

"There's hardly anyone around this late at night. I can't be bothered to discuss this," Xu Fengjiao retorted before turning and dashing upstairs.

Jiang Yan tried to soothe his wife, "Honey, let's not get worked up. Fengjiao is an adult; she'll figure out her boundaries."

With a sigh of resignation, Xu Fengqiu said, "Fengjiao has been coddled too much since she was little. She's barely out of college and still acts like a child, oblivious to social nuances. I'm just worried she might get hurt."

Thinking back to Zhao Yu's deferential demeanor at the Xu family's home earlier that day, and contrasting it with his recent display of arrogance and contempt, it was clear he played both sides.

But Xu Fengjiao, as well as her in-laws, were quite taken with Zhao Yu. If Jiang Yan were to voice his disapproval, he'd be met with a barrage of criticism, accused of trying to stir up trouble.

"They're about to get engaged, aren't they? Maybe we should step back and not meddle too much, lest Fengjiao starts resenting us."

Xu Fengjiao expressed her concerns with a troubled tone, "At first meeting today, I had a good impression of Zhao Yu, but after what I saw at the entrance, he must have coerced Fengjiao. She wouldn't normally act so brazenly."