Dating My Scumbag Ex's Uncle Chapter 2

The wedding candles flickered, and the waves of passion churned within the canopied bed. Jing Tian, like a beast let loose, reveled in his joy without a hint of fatigue. I, a small boat caught in a tempestuous sea, was tossed about, my only anchor to reality being my husband. “Nan Xing, let’s go register tomorrow!” His mellow and sincere voice echoed in my ears. “Okay,” I replied, the last vestiges of my rationality prompting a question, “What if your family members don’t agree?” After all, I was his nephew’s former wife. “Why should we need the permission from others. You’re mine and I’m yours, for this life and all the next.” Jing Tian’s response settled my heart.

In a state of utter satisfaction and profound lethargy, I drifted off to sleep, punctuated by Jing Tian’s kisses upon my skin. To be loved by the one you love is, indeed, the greatest happiness in the world. For the first time in seven years, I slept with such peace, dreams filled with blooming flowers accompanying my slumber.

I stretched lazily in bed, an immediate ache spreading through my entire body. A small, knowing smile touched my lips. From this day forward, I would live a life of bliss, repaying Jing Tian for every single day he had stood by me over the past seven years. Pulling back the quilt, I reached out to embrace him. My hand met only empty air. Startled, I gasped.

My eyes snapped open, the first thing I saw being a simple, light blue table lamp on the bedside table. My breath hitched. This was the very lamp from my maiden room, a hand-me-down from my elder sister, Nan Yang. I sat bolt upright. “Jing Tian?” I called out softly, but no one answered. The room around me was all too familiar, and my heart began to pound, my breathing growing shallow. It felt as though the air in my lungs was trying to escape, forcing me to take deep, deliberate breaths to calm my racing heart. This was my room before I left the Nan Family!

A klaxon blared in my mind. Jing Tian and I resided in the Jing family’s old residence, decorated in a classical style. Where were the arm-sized wedding candles that should have adorned our chamber? We were set to finalize our marriage registration today. Jing Tian had told me so last night, even placing a ring on my finger before I fell asleep, calling it a family heirloom. I stretched out my hand – it was bare. My hands trembled, my heart quaked.

Suddenly, a knock echoed from the door. “Nan Xing, Nan Xing, don’t tell me you’re still sleeping?! Do you know what time it is now?” The voice from outside was both gentle and sharp. A chill snaked up my spine, and a familiar sense of unease tightened its grip. As if by ingrained habit, my body propelled me from the bed to open the door. Standing there was the last person I ever wanted to see again – my older sister, Nan Yang.

Nan Yang’s lovely brows drew together, yet her voice remained pleasant and mild. “Nan Xing, are you alright? Stayed up all night playing video games again? Have you forgotten that today is Father’s 48th birthday? We’ll have guests from both the Jing and Nan Families. You better go change! Don’t make us Nan Family lose face!” Her words struck me like clashing cymbals, my brain reeling.

“Hey, are you even listening to me?” Nan Yang’s voice turned shrill as she reached out to shove me. Staggering from the force, my feet slipped on a book lying on the floor, sending me tumbling onto the carpet. “Nan Xing, stop playing the fool!” Nan Yang, clearly irritated by my fall, kicked my knee. The sharp pain jolted me into full awareness. I scrambled to my feet, eager to avoid further retribution from Nan Yang. “Big Sister, I’ll go prepare now.” Before Nan Yang could utter another word, I bowed respectfully.

Nan Yang’s gaze fell upon the book I had slipped on, and she scoffed derisively. “What were you even doing with those books? Still dreaming of getting into M University? It’s impossible with that pig brain of yours! So stop dreaming! Today is Dad’s birthday, and we’ll be entertaining many guests, so keep your mouth shut, you hear me?” Dropping her pretense of a lady, Nan Yang turned and stormed away with arrogant disdain.