Chapter 78 : The Two Broke Off the Engagement

It seemed that Shu Ruxue was now completely ruined. The only path left for her was to marry Xue Zhigang, and returning to Kyoto would become even more difficult. Fortunately, her parents had foresight and married Yanyan into the Shu family. If Yanyan was lucky, she might already be pregnant with a Shu family child, which would make it easier for her to secure her position.

Shen Subai was fully awake at this moment. The indecent scene of Shu Ruxue and Xue Zhigang entangled together flashed through his mind. Yet surprisingly, his heart was calm, which even he found strange. After the villagers had dispersed, he climbed out of the river, dripping wet and gloomy, and returned to the Youth Academy.

Yun Siying had witnessed everything. What shocked her most was Shen Subai’s reaction. Didn’t he love Shu Ruxue deeply? Why would he jump into the river to wash away the effects of the aphrodisiac at such a critical moment, and then calmly watch Shu Ruxue’s intimate entanglement with another man?

When Xue Zhiqiang learned that Xue Zhigang and Shu Ruxue had ended up together, he felt a bit guilty. But when he saw the smug smiles on his mother’s and brother’s faces, he realized this might have been orchestrated or at least allowed to happen. His brother must have had a part in it, or perhaps just went along with the plan.

He knew his mother had always favored his younger brother, saving all the best things for him. Clearly, they were drawn to the Shu family’s background and hoped that one day his brother could return to the city through Shu Ruxue. He understood too much, which only made him feel more tired.

Otherwise, when he was injured, he wouldn’t have bribed the doctor to falsely claim he was infertile just to break off the engagement with Li Yinyin. It seemed he wouldn’t be able to get back the 200 yuan betrothal gift he had paid. Luckily, he hadn’t sent all his wages home over the years. His mother’s kindness to him had always been conditional, she only hoped he wouldn’t forget her “kindness” and would continue sending money every month. But when it came to his younger brother, her love was truly unconditional.

Shu Ruxue sat on the kang in her room, tears falling freely. Looking back at what had happened today, those two bowls of drugged sugar water were meant for Yun Siying and Xue Zhiqiang. But after asking around, she learned that Yun Siying had returned completely normal and was even relaxing in the yard.

Could it be that her mother had accidentally given the drugged sugar water to herself and Brother Subai? If she had known, she would never have gone home, nor come out to see Yun Siying’s pitiful state. And in the end, she had been the one who suffered the consequences losing all hope of being with Brother Subai.

A small part of her even resented her parents. But thinking of how their home had been looted, and the 200 yuan betrothal gift from the Xue family was gone, she could only sigh and blame her own bad luck.

Shen Subai walked into the Youth Academy soaking wet, face pale, and slowly made his way to Shu Ruxue’s window. The other young people watching the scene felt sympathetic toward him, anticipating a dramatic confrontation.

“Ruxue, open the door. I know you’re inside. Are you too afraid to come out and face me?” Shen Subai’s face was grim, he was clearly furious.

When Shu Ruxue heard his voice, she remembered that he had fallen into the river and she hadn’t even asked anyone to save him. Feeling guilty, she opened the door and said, “Brother Subai, I’m so glad you’re okay.”

“Who said I’m okay? I almost died. Tell me the truth, what were you and the Li family trying to do to me? Why did I suddenly feel hot and dizzy after leaving their house? I ended up falling into the river, and you didn’t even ask anyone to help me?” Shen Subai seized this opportunity to cut ties.

The other educated youths gasped when they heard this. The Li family was really something. No wonder their daughter Li Yanyan could marry Shu Ruxue’s brother. With methods like these… it looked like Shen Subai was also a victim.

“Brother Subai, I didn’t mean for this to happen. I was in the same situation as you, I felt dizzy and drowsy, and when I woke up… wuwu, my innocence was gone… I was devastated. I loved you so much, but Heaven played such a cruel joke on me.”

“Brother Subai, I’m not worthy of you anymore. Let’s cancel our engagement, alright?” Shu Ruxue was truly heartbroken at this moment. She had always liked Nangong Ruochen the most, but that man had never treated her kindly. Shen Subai had been her best option but now, she couldn’t even hold onto him.

“Ruxue, did you plan this all along? If you had just told me earlier that you liked someone else, I would have broken off the engagement myself, I wouldn’t have made things difficult for you. Why did you have to trample on my dignity like this?” Shen Subai’s voice rose in anger. The image of her exposed flesh flashed in his mind, making him nauseous.

“No, Brother Subai, I didn’t… It’s not like that, I didn’t want this either.” Seeing the other educated youths gathered around watching, she couldn’t bring herself to say more. But she knew that if she didn’t marry Xue Zhigang tomorrow, it would be considered indecency, and she could be executed for it. She didn’t want to die.

“Brother Subai, I’m sorry. Let’s call off the engagement!” she said, lowering her head. She knew Yun Siying must be laughing at her right now.

“Alright… Very well. I hope you won’t regret this. Everyone here, please bear witness my engagement with Shu Ruxue is now officially canceled. From this moment on, we have nothing to do with each other,” Shen Subai declared firmly.

“Fine, we have nothing to do with each other from now on,” Shu Ruxue replied, choking back tears. She turned and ran back to her room, shutting the door and cutting off all view from the outside.

Shen Subai gave the closed door a final glance and also returned to his room. His face was no longer pale and weak like before. Yun Siying, watching the scene unfold, couldn’t help but exclaim “Wow.”

She wondered why Shen Subai’s attitude toward Shu Ruxue had changed so suddenly, but she couldn’t figure it out. Still, if she couldn’t figure it out, she wasn’t going to overthink it she would find out eventually.

—

By noon the next day, word of Shu Ruxue and Xue Zhigang’s affair had once again spread like wildfire. Nangong Ruochen and the other two had naturally heard the news and were somewhat surprised by how things had turned out.

Han Yuecheng laughed openly and said maliciously, “Shen Baiji has been cuckolded. Once we’re back at the compound, I’m definitely going to spread the word.”

Shen Subai, standing behind them with a dark expression, glared and shouted with fiery eyes, “Han Yuecheng, just try spreading it.”

“Tsk, I’m only telling the truth. Why are you so mad at me? It’s not like I was the one who cuckolded you. If you’ve got the guts, go after Shu Ruxue and Xue Zhigang,” Han Yuecheng said with a sneer.

Shen Subai could only stomp the ground in frustration and storm away.

At that moment, Xue Zhiqiang came walking over with a lunch box. He had a decent appearance and a steady monthly salary, but because he was known to be infertile, the female comrades often looked at him with mixed expressions.

“Comrade Yun, it’s really hot today. I made some mung bean soup for you. Drink it to cool down.”

Nangong Ruochen instantly became alert. He snatched the lunch box, opened it, and took a bite. Then he turned to Yun Siying and said, “Siying, let me try it for you. This guy’s cooking is terrible. His mung bean porridge isn’t nearly as good as mine.”