Chapter 15 – Duped

◎ This must all be part of her scheme! ◎

As soon as Gui Xiwen came back and mentioned picking a wedding date, Zhang Dongling was stunned. She immediately summoned Gui Caihong and demanded, “Didn’t you say they wouldn’t work out? Now Xiwen’s already choosing a date!”

Gui Caihong was called over in a hurry and hadn’t even had a sip of water before being bombarded with questions. She was caught off guard.

She pulled Zhang Dongling to sit down on the sofa and tried to calm her tone, asking in detail, “What happened? Tell me clearly, who told you this?”

Zhang Dongling clapped her hands in frustration and deflated, saying, “Who else could it be? Of course it was Xiwen. He said Gu Ying agreed to it, and he’s already picking a date.”

After hearing this, Gui Caihong’s face wrinkled up like an old rag. Even when faced with the truth, she still couldn’t believe it and questioned, “Gu Ying agreed? Her family agreed?”

“That’s what I’m telling you.” Zhang Dongling dragged her words with obvious displeasure in her tone.

Gui Caihong still couldn’t accept the reality. “Impossible. How could Gu Ying agree? Back then she clearly…”

She paused, then added, “If Gu Ying had even a bit of self-awareness, she wouldn’t have agreed! And that Sun Lan—she seemed like a reasonable person. How could she agree too?”

The more Gui Caihong thought about it, the more wrong it felt. Recalling the situation from that day, she suddenly realized she might’ve been tricked.

That day, Gu Ying had spoken so pitifully—saying Xiwen hadn’t brought up marriage, saying she couldn’t reject him first… Could all of that have been deliberately said for her to hear?

She had automatically assumed Gu Ying was going to reject Xiwen, which was why she had encouraged Xiwen to go ask directly. Who would’ve thought Gu Ying would actually agree—thick-skinned as she was, she actually agreed!

Yes, this had to be part of Gu Ying’s scheme!

Gui Caihong suddenly became agitated. She jumped up from the chair and began pacing anxiously in the living room.

She jumped in surprise and stared blankly at Gui Caihong, asking with concern, “What’s wrong with you?”

Gui Caihong seemed not to hear her. She was in a state of extreme anger. She hadn’t expected to fall into that little girl Gu Ying’s trap. Her clever plan had backfired—not only did she fail to break them up, but she ended up pushing them together.

Such an outcome was simply unbearable for her.

“No! Sister-in-law, we absolutely can’t let Xiwen marry that Gu Ying!” Gui Caihong said angrily, her face flushed red.

Zhang Dongling noticed that Gui Caihong’s emotions seemed a little off. Although she had wanted to grumble herself, she held back a bit and whispered, “What’s the point of saying this now? I followed your idea earlier and already agreed to Xiwen’s marriage. We can’t just go back on our word.”

“Why can’t we go back on it?” Gui Caihong hardened her heart and offered a suggestion. “We can still back out!”

Zhang Dongling was a little stunned—she had never considered going back on it.

First, this was a matter of marriage. If they agreed and then went back on their word, how were they any different from Mingxue?

Second, she had already promised Gui Xiwen. Even if it had been under Gui Caihong’s persuasion and she was unwilling, she still gave her word. If she went back on it now, she would lose credibility in front of Xiwen.

Gui Xiwen was a stubborn person. If she suddenly went back on something she had promised him, the rift between them might never be healed.

Zhang Dongling coughed and said, “Do we really have to go back on it? That wouldn’t be good. I’ve already promised him. If I suddenly withdraw, Xiwen will hate me.”

Gui Caihong sneered, “Sister-in-law, I have a way. I guarantee Xiwen won’t hate you.”

Another idea. Zhang Dongling felt uneasy every time Gui Caihong said she had a “way.”

It was because of her previous ideas that things had turned out like this. Now she had another one? Zhang Dongling really didn’t want to hear it, but seeing Gui Caihong all fired up, she played along and asked, “What way?”

Gui Caihong sat back down, stared at Zhang Dongling, and reminded her, “Sister-in-law, do you remember my Huairong?”

Meng Huairong was the daughter of Gui Caihong’s husband’s older brother. After his death, the girl had been adopted by Gui Caihong. She had raised Meng Huairong from the age of four to twenty-one, treating her like her own daughter all those years.

Zhang Dongling’s family acknowledged the relationship and considered Meng Huairong to be Gui Xiwen’s cousin. But now, hearing Gui Caihong suddenly mention Huairong, Zhang Dongling felt an uneasy premonition.

She eyed Gui Caihong suspiciously and nodded. “I remember. Why?”

Gui Caihong leaned in and whispered, “How about this? We say Xiwen and Huairong had a childhood engagement. You, as his mother, forgot, but I didn’t. I insist that the old promise be fulfilled. That way, Xiwen won’t be able to marry Gu Ying, and he won’t blame you—he’ll only blame me.”

Zhang Dongling frowned upon hearing this. After a moment of silence, she rejected the idea: “That won’t work. Xiwen and Huairong are cousins. It’s not like before—nowadays, close relatives aren’t allowed to marry. It’s clearly forbidden by law.”

“Oh come on, they’re not really blood relatives. There’s no blood relationship at all. Why can’t they marry?” Gui Caihong rolled her eyes, as if blaming Zhang Dongling for being inflexible.

Zhang Dongling still shook her head, her face stern. “You’re right, they’re not blood-related. But Xiwen has always treated Huairong like his own little sister. If you suddenly suggest they get married, Xiwen won’t accept it.”

Gui Caihong grew anxious. “Sister-in-law, this is the most feasible solution. If you don’t do this, then you’ll have to watch Xiwen marry that girl from the Gu family with your own eyes.”

“And besides, Huairong’s conditions are way better than that Gu girl’s, right? She’s known Xiwen since they were kids, and they understand each other’s temperament. If they get married, our families will be even closer!”

Zhang Dongling couldn’t listen any longer.

She often came off as unreasonable and overbearing, but she wasn’t stupid. She could see right through Gui Caihong’s little schemes.

In fact, a long time ago, Gui Caihong had jokingly suggested a childhood engagement between Gui Xiwen and Meng Huairong. Zhang Dongling had ignored it, treating it like a joke that passed with time.

She hadn’t expected Gui Caihong to still hold onto this idea all these years.

Zhang Dongling suddenly felt a sense of sorrow.

Just how much of Gui Caihong’s righteous indignation and “planning” for Xiwen was genuine, and how much of it was her personal ambition for Huairong?

Zhang Dongling couldn’t stand this kind of two-faced, self-serving behavior masked as concern. She cut Gui Caihong off. “Say no more. I respect Xiwen’s choice.”

With that, everything was settled.

When Zhang Tao got off work and said goodbye to his colleagues, he bolted toward the Gui household like a runaway horse.

He didn’t see Gui Xiwen, only his mother Zhang Dongling and his aunt Gui Caihong. From them, he learned that Gui Xiwen and Gu Ying were already choosing an auspicious date.

So it was true! Gui Xiwen and Gu Ying were really getting engaged!

Those two, who seemed completely unrelated, were about to become husband and wife?

To say he wasn’t shocked would be a lie. After leaving the Gui household, Zhang Tao felt like his soul had been knocked loose—he walked unsteadily, even his legs wouldn’t cooperate.

How could this be true? How could Gui Xiwen be marrying Gu Ying?

Weren’t they from completely different worlds?

A ridiculous feeling spread through Zhang Tao’s heart. The last time he felt this way was when he heard that Mingxue was going to marry Zhang Kuo.

Indeed, the world was becoming more and more surreal.

Then again, satellites can go into space, astronauts can walk on the moon, and space stations can be built—so really, nothing is impossible anymore.

Thinking this way, Zhang Tao finally calmed down a little.

In comparison, Gu Xiwen just got married to Gu Ying. It didn’t seem that hard to accept after all.

Zhang Tao comforted himself like this and forced himself to walk back home.

However, just as he had calmed down, one of the main characters in the whole matter — Gu Ying — came to his door.

If you asked who Zhang Tao most wanted to see right now, it would definitely be Gu Xiwen. He had a stomach full of questions to ask him. But if you asked who he least wanted to see, it would undoubtedly be Gu Ying.

It wasn’t that he hated Gu Ying. Zhang Tao just didn’t quite know how to face her at the moment. Every time he thought of how he’d have to call her “sister-in-law” after she married Gu Xiwen, his whole body felt uncomfortable.

Zhang Tao was usually talkative and outgoing, but now he rarely held back his natural tendency and showed a reserved and cold demeanor. “Why are you looking for me?”

Gu Ying had waited at Zhang Tao’s door for a while but didn’t see him. She started walking toward the Niutang intersection and bumped into him just a few steps out.

She wasn’t sure if Zhang Tao had already guessed her intention, but he was acting a bit differently than usual today.

Gu Ying didn’t beat around the bush and asked directly, “Did Gu Xiwen’s aunt come looking for you a few days ago?”

Zhang Tao didn’t expect that the reason Gu Ying came to see him was just to ask this. He scratched his ear and thought for a while, then gave a vague answer: “I don’t think she did.”

“She didn’t?” Gu Ying pondered for a moment, then asked, “Then how did his aunt know I gave Gu Xiwen a bag of candy?”

“How would I know that?”

After saying that, Zhang Tao felt something was off. He suddenly came to his senses, turned his head to glare at Gu Ying, and returned to his usual unserious tone. “Tsk tsk, Gu Ying, what do you mean by this? I’m not the only one who knew you gave him candy. Gu Xiwen knew too. Why are you suspicious of me but not him?”

Zhang Tao was annoyed — extremely annoyed.

Gu Ying hadn’t even married into the Gu family yet, and she was already siding with Gu Xiwen?

As Zhang Tao silently criticized her partiality dozens of times in his heart, Gu Ying suddenly said, “I already tested him. It wasn’t him.”

When she agreed to be with Gu Xiwen earlier, she deliberately gave him a piece of candy and said it was from his aunt. At the time, Gu Xiwen looked confused, clearly not expecting that she would have contact with his aunt.

If he had told his aunt about the candy, he would have quickly realized the connection and wouldn’t have looked so puzzled.

Since it wasn’t Gu Xiwen, then it must have been Zhang Tao.

Zhang Tao was a chatterbox. He liked to talk to everyone he met. It was entirely possible that he had let it slip.

Gu Ying stared at Zhang Tao and asked suspiciously, “Think again. Are you sure you didn’t mention it to his aunt?”

“Aiya, I really didn’t—”

Mid-sentence, Zhang Tao suddenly choked.

“Oh oh oh! I remember now, I did mention it once. That day, after you gave him the candy, most of the bag ended up in my pocket. I was holding it when I went home and bumped into his aunt. I casually gave her a few pieces.”

“She felt bad taking so much, so I said it was Xiwen’s and she could take some. She found it strange and said Xiwen never buys that kind of candy. I probably just said it was from you without thinking.”

Zhang Tao recalled the situation that day and could only remember that much. He spread his hands and helplessly said, “I just said it in passing. I almost forgot myself. If you hadn’t made me think about it, I wouldn’t have remembered at all.”

Gu Ying carefully observed Zhang Tao’s every move. Seeing no signs of lying, she turned around and left.

Zhang Tao quickly caught up and couldn’t help but complain beside her, “Hey, what’s with you? You ask your question and then just leave? So cold?”

Gu Ying ignored him and kept walking fast, as if trying to shake him off.

Zhang Tao had long legs, so it was easy to match her quick pace. He even had the leisure to gossip. “Why are you so interested in this anyway? Did Xiwen’s aunt go to your house and give you a hard time?”

“Ah, not saying anything means yes. Looks like his aunt really went to pick a fight.”

Zhang Tao chased after her, asking several questions without getting a response. Then he suddenly asked seriously, “So tell me, you really came just to ask that? Is it really that important?”

Gu Ying stopped in her tracks, turned serious, and said, “It’s very important.”

“This… how is that important?” Zhang Tao was completely baffled. That kind of detail didn’t seem worth worrying over.

Gu Ying looked him up and down and said bluntly, “I needed to see whether you’re the kind of person who only tells half the story.”

“Huh? A petty person?”

Hearing such a negative label come out of her mouth, Zhang Tao was instantly furious. He didn’t even notice the little pebble that hit the back of his neck and instead grabbed Gu Ying’s arm to demand an explanation.

“Come on, you wait — explain this to me. Do you really think someone like me is a petty, two-faced person?” Zhang Tao was burning with anger. If Gu Ying didn’t give him a proper explanation today, he wouldn’t let her go.

Gu Ying explained, “Now I know — you’re not.”

She paused, then added, “You’re Gu Xiwen’s best friend. I have to know what kind of character the people around him have.”

What she said afterward didn’t matter. In Zhang Tao’s ears, only four words remained: best friend forever.

Gu Ying actually officially acknowledged him as Gu Xiwen’s best friend.

He had to admit — that hit him right in the heart.

One moment he was fuming over being wrongly accused, and the next, he was all smiles. Zhang Tao patted his chest proudly and declared, “See that? Now you know — there aren’t many people left like me: loyal, honest, kind, noble. I’ll admit, my best friend Gu Xiwen is just slightly better than me.”