The Substitute Bride and the Cripple

Tang Qiu woke up in an abandoned warehouse north of the city.

Because the wedding was tomorrow, Tang Qiu had been resting very early recently and even slept in separate rooms with Jiang Shaocheng. Ever since they started having sex, her husband’s self-control seemed to evaporate every night, as if he wanted to make up for years of deprivation. It drained Tang Qiu of her energy, leaving her unable to wake up the next morning. Xie Qingqing had laughed about it at her expense for a long time.

However, Tang Qiu did not expect to receive a call from the old folk’s home the day before her wedding. They said that her grandmother was dying and wanted to see her for the last time. After careful consideration, Tang Qiu decided to grant her her request. Jiang Shaocheng had been very busy recently, as most of his businesses were conducted domestically now. Now, Jiang Shaocheng had recovered and was stepping into new shoes as a new man, so Tang Qiu chose to pop down and come back, without disturbing him.

Unexpectedly, as soon as she stepped into the ward, her grandmother’s eyes slipped shut. Tang Qiu stood at the door and watched, her emotions unreadable. Just as she left, someone knocked her out–and openly at that!

“You?” Tang Qiu woke up and saw Feng Yao and Feng Lu. She was at a loss. Why did they kidnap her? Did they need money? However, from the look in their eyes, she felt that it wouldn’t be that simple.

Feng Lu smiled like a lunatic. “Tang Qiu, you married Jiang Shaocheng in my place. Now that I’m back, there’s no need for you to take my place. It’s time for you to leave! I won’t be cruel to you. I’ve arranged for a few men to satisfy you. As for me, I’ll become Shaocheng’s bride.” Thinking of Jiang Shaocheng’s current status, Feng Lu regretted her past decision. What was she thinking? She would never have thought that Jiang Shaocheng was so handsome, let alone perfectly healthy! Why did she let Tang Qiu, this bitch, replace her? But everything was fine. She was back.

Tang Qiu looked at her, face unreadable. “You’re crazy! Shaocheng won’t marry you. He’ll definitely come to save me!” Others might not know, but Tang Qiu knew that she had a device broadcasting her location in her necklace. It was only a matter of time before Jiang Shaocheng found her. She just had to stall them.

Feng Lu smiled smugly, as if terribly amused. Suddenly, her smile froze, and Tang Qiu was stunned. 𝒇𝘳𝐞𝚎𝓌𝑒𝑏𝒏𝑜𝙫ℯl.c𝚘𝒎

A knife was stabbed into Feng Lu’s stomach. Blood flowed out from the wound. The person holding the knife was Feng Yao!

“Sis, don’t blame me. I have to take care of myself too!” Feng Yao’s hands were trembling, but when she thought of living the good life again, she smiled. “I’ll go to Jiang Shaocheng to report that you’re here… but we were too late. You killed Feng Lu, but you were also injured and died. As your sister, I’ll take your place at tomorrow’s wedding!”

These people were crazy! Without waiting for Tang Qiu to say anything, Feng Yao held the knife and walked towards her.

“Calm down. Do you think Jiang Shaocheng is stupid? You can only get what you want if you keep me alive!” Tang Qiu shouted.

Feng Yao shook her head. “I have nothing left, so don’t get any ideas! Even if Jiang Shaocheng doesn’t believe me, I’ll drag you to hell with me!”

Blood glistened on the long blade of the knife, inching closer and closer. Tang Qiu couldn’t help but shout, “Jiang Shaocheng!”

Bang! The broken door of the warehouse was knocked open by a group of people. Jiang Shaocheng stood in the doorway, light gleaming in his ruthless gaze, and aimed his gun at Feng Yao. A gunshot rang out, and Feng Yao died with her eyes wide open. She had been so close…

“Qiu, are you alright? It’s all my fault…” Jiang Shaocheng held Tang Qiu in his trembling arms and looked at the corpse on the ground with lingering fear.

Tang Qiu leaned into Jiang Shaocheng’s arms, terrified, and cried silently. She wasn’t that fearless after all; she was only human. Fortunately, she had her husband.

Originally, Jiang Shaocheng wanted to postpone the wedding, but Tang Qiu was unwilling. They would carry on as per normal. She looked forward to putting on her wedding dress for him and making a solemn vow to each other.

Many years later, Tang Qiu and Jiang Shaocheng lay on a pair of rocking chairs with graying hair. Every morning, the two of them would sit under the garden and bask in the sun together.

In the blink of an eye, her life had passed by in a flash. Tang Qiu thought of the grievances she had suffered in the Feng family all those years. Perhaps it had been leading up to her wedding day, when she married Jiang Shaocheng as a substitute bride. The day she met the person who would transform her life: her husband, Jiang Shaocheng.

Now, she had plenty of children and grandchildren with Jiang Shaocheng, and they lived hand in hand until the end of their lives. The suffering in the first half of her life had been replaced by the blessings in the second half of her life. There was nothing else she could ask for.

Tang Qiu looked at the old but handsome man beside her and smiled happily. “Jiang Shaocheng, thank you for being a part of my life.”

Jiang Shaocheng looked back at his darling Qiu and smiled. “Thank you for not despising me for being crippled and disfigured.”

The end.