The woman’s tone carried an air of familiarity, calm yet subtly provocative, like a needle hidden within cotton.
The confidence in her expression made it seem as though she was the one closest to Gu Moqian.
Ji Wei frowned, her gaze instantly turning colder.
The moment the woman started speaking, Ji Wei recognized the voice—it was the same person who had called yesterday!
Gu Moqian’s childhood friend, huh.
It seemed like quite a formidable rival.
Ji Wei’s fingers tightened slightly around Gu Moqian’s arm, an inexplicable sour jealousy welling up in her heart.
This woman had known Gu Moqian long before she did.
Though the woman displayed a familiar demeanor, Gu Moqian’s expression remained distant, offering only the faintest nod, not bothering to utter even a single word in response.
The woman, undeterred, turned her gaze to Ji Wei and said, "Apologies for showing up so abruptly ."
She pressed her lips into a gentle smile, her voice soft and tender, "Hello, it’s nice to meet you. I’m Zhu Jianian."
Ji Wei’s grip tightened further.
Noticing the shift in her emotions, Gu Moqian turned his head to look at her deeply, his eyes emanating a steady warmth.
He raised his hand, his broad palm covering her soft, delicate fingers, gently patting them in reassurance.
Gu Moqian’s attentive gestures toward Ji Wei did not escape Zhu Jianian’s notice, and for a fleeting moment, a cold glint flashed in her eyes.
This woman named Zhu Jianian, though outwardly graceful and kind, speaking with politeness, gave Ji Wei an unshakable sense of hostility.
As another woman, Ji Wei could keenly sense that faint yet undeniable animosity.
Still, Ji Wei thought, her man wasn’t someone any woman could covet—not even Gu Moqian’s childhood friend!
Ji Wei suddenly lifted her gaze, a faint smile tugging at her lips as she looked at Zhu Jianian, "You’re my husband’s friend, right? Hello, I’m Ji Wei. Or, you could call me... Mrs. Gu."
As she spoke, her hand naturally slid around Gu Moqian’s sturdy waist, making an unmistakable declaration of ownership: This man is mine!
When she said "Mrs. Gu," her eyes slightly dropped, and a faint blush of shyness tinged her cheeks.
Watching the pair before her, so evidently close and intimate, even Zhu Jianian’s impeccable self-restraint couldn’t prevent a knot of discontent from forming in her heart.
Gu Moqian should have been hers; she had known him far longer than Ji Wei...
And yet, why—why was the person standing by Gu Moqian’s side not Zhu Jianian?
"Oh, and since we just got our marriage certificate, as my husband’s friend, why don’t you join us for a meal? Consider it a celebration for us," Ji Wei added, noticing Zhu Jianian’s pale expression and the way her lips pressed tightly together in silence.
The words "marriage certificate" struck Zhu Jianian like a fatal blow, rendering her speechless for several moments.
A sharp pain bloomed in her chest.
Until now, she’d held onto a sliver of hope, imagining the two of them had only come to the civil affairs bureau for some unrelated matter—and hadn’t actually registered their marriage.
But now, even that final hope had been crushed.
She was bound to be just one step too late!
Though Ji Wei’s words repeatedly struck at her, Zhu Jianian merely bit down hard on her lip, leaving deep imprints from her teeth, never breaking composure or losing her cool.
"Sorry, I’ve just started at Gu Family and still have much business to familiarize myself with, so I won’t be able to join you for dinner," Zhu Jianian responded, her tone neutral as she gathered her emotions.
"Oh, that really is a pity," Ji Wei replied, feigning regret.
Zhu Jianian managed a stiff smile.
But soon enough, she recovered her poise and turned toward Gu Moqian.
"Moqian, today’s my first day at work. As your friend, you could at least show me some courtesy by coming to the company to welcome me. Otherwise, don’t blame me if I complain to Aunt Huiru," Zhu Jianian said casually, lightening her tone with a playful note and even sticking out her tongue at him.
She refused to believe that her nearly two-decade bond with Gu Moqian could be inferior to the connection he had with this intruding Ji Wei!