Chapter 4

“Am I really that bad? Otherwise, why wouldn’t he like me?” Xia Chuwei murmured blankly, her eyes filled with confusion.

Noticing Mu Beichen and Xu Xueqing walking toward them, Gu Shisheng quickly reached out and turned Xia Chuwei to face him, comforting her:
“No, Chuwei, you’re not bad at all.”

His gaze was gentle yet firm, as if he wanted to see straight into her heart, past her insecurities and doubts.

Then he raised his voice slightly and continued:
“The one who’s truly bad is Mu Beichen. He’s like that fool who buys the box but throws away the pearl—completely blind to your worth.”

Gu Shisheng knew very well how hard Xia Chuwei had worked all these years.
“Top marks in exams, graduating high school early at sixteen, exceptional in dance, amazing artistic talent, and on top of that, incredible cooking skills.”

“Niànchū, you’re an outstanding person. There’s no need to doubt that.”
If he could, he really would marry her home and protect her.

“Mu Beichen doesn’t like you simply because he resents his family arranging the engagement, so he’s being stubborn and refuses to see your good qualities,” Gu Shisheng analyzed.

Looking at her, his eyes showed a trace of pity. He then said softly,
“Chuwei, I’ll give you half a month to think about it.”

“Tomorrow, I’ll start the process for us to get a marriage license. Half a month from now, if you’re willing to marry me, I’ll take you to get it and officially make you my wife.”

He paused, then added,
“Of course, if you’re unwilling, that’s fine too.”

“I’ll still treat you as family and prepare you a generous dowry so you can marry with honor.”

“But I still hope you’ll think carefully. Marriage is a lifelong matter. If you’re willing to marry me, you can name any request and I’ll do my best to fulfill it.”

From the corner of his eye, Gu Shisheng caught Mu Beichen’s expression of surprise—when had he returned, and why was there a woman beside him?

The always aloof, woman-avoiding Gu Shisheng had actually found someone? That was rare. Who in the world would be so blind as to like his cold personality?

“Beichen, thank you for giving me a ride. Otherwise, I really would have had to walk home,” Xu Xueqing said shyly.

Mu Beichen smiled back, “It’s nothing, it wasn’t far anyway.”

Xia Chuwei looked at the pastries on the table—they were all her favorites. Was it a coincidence, or did he remember what she liked?

Whether it was coincidence or memory, Mu Beichen had never known these things.

Today was her eighteenth birthday, yet he was spending it with Xu Xueqing. Maybe she and Mu Beichen really weren’t suited for each other.

“Can I trust you?” Xia Chuwei felt she really should give up on Mu Beichen. All these years, he had never liked her and kept his distance.

When introducing her to others, he only ever called her “little sister.” In his eyes, she really was just a sister without blood ties.

Gu Shisheng nodded.
“You can trust me. I won’t let you be wronged, and I’ll never let another woman make you feel inferior.”

“Alright, I promise I’ll think about it. I’ll give you an answer in half a month,” Xia Chuwei said firmly, biting her lip.

Half a month was also Mu Beichen’s chance—if in that time he still didn’t intend to marry her and deal with the Xu Xueqing situation, then she wouldn’t want him anymore.

Hearing this, Gu Shisheng’s eyes filled with a smile. As long as she was willing to consider it, that was enough.

He only hoped Mu Beichen wouldn’t disappoint him—but truthfully, he had no intention of giving Mu Beichen a chance to win her back.

Now that Xu Xueqing had returned, her intentions were obvious—she must have heard Mu Beichen was about to marry Xia Chuwei and had come to stir trouble.

He had never interacted with Xu Xueqing before, but for her to cling to a man she knew was engaged, even allowing rumors to spread about them being together—her character was clearly questionable.

Well, considering her mother had been a mistress who replaced the original wife, yet managed to make her stepfather treat her better than his own daughter, her methods were clearly extraordinary.

For Mu Beichen to get free in half a month would be nearly impossible—unless he decisively refused to let Xu Xueqing near him.

But thinking of how he had just seen them hugging, it was clear Mu Beichen hadn’t even thought about cutting ties.

Since that was the case, Mu Beichen couldn’t blame him for taking her—he’d brought it on himself.

“I ordered all your favorite pastries. Eat them now, or I’ll have them packed for you to take home,” Gu Shisheng said with a smile after getting the answer he wanted.

Xia Chuwei looked at him in slight surprise—he really still remembered what she liked.

“You still remember?” It had been ten years.

“How could I not remember? If I didn’t buy them for you, you’d cry,” Gu Shisheng replied.

She gave an embarrassed smile, thinking of how she used to fuss as a child just to get more pastries.

Seeing it was getting late, Gu Shisheng had the pastries packed and went to pay the bill.

Taking the change from the cashier, he handed it to her casually.
“Here, buy yourself some candy.”

Looking at the coins in her hand, Xia Chuwei thought back to the times in the army when their families were close, and she adored the handsome older boy.

She used to follow him everywhere. When he went to the supply store for snacks, he would bring her along, buy her treats, and slip the change into her pocket, telling her to buy candy.

“I’m not a child anymore,” she said, thinking he was treating her like one.

He gave her a once-over and nodded.
“That’s true—you’re old enough to marry and have kids now.”

Her face flushed red at his words.

“Even adults can eat candy. Let’s go—I’ll drive you home.” He genuinely wanted to bring her into his life sooner.

“Gu Shisheng, Chuwei, what are you two doing together?” Lin Zian’s surprised voice rang out.

Hearing him, Xia Chuwei turned around and nodded politely.
“Brother Lin, are you heading back?”

“Yes, I was just about to go.” Lin Zian still couldn’t quite believe it—how did these two even know each other?

“Are you two heading back as well?” he asked, though what he really wanted to know was why they were together.

“Yes, we’re heading back. Are you going to the compound? I can give you a ride,” Gu Shisheng offered, having some goodwill toward the man who had spoken up for Chuwei earlier.

Lin Zian shook his head.
“Thanks, but no, I’m heading back to the dorm.”

“Alright then, we’ll get going.” Gu Shisheng opened the car door, shielding Xia Chuwei as she got in, then walked around to the driver’s side.

Lin Zian watched the car leave, still rubbing his eyes in disbelief—had he just seen Gu Shisheng smile?

And the way he looked at Xia Chuwei… there was something different there.

Thinking of Xia Chuwei’s striking beauty, Lin Zian sucked in a sharp breath—could Gu Shisheng be interested in her?

But then he remembered she was Mu Beichen’s fiancée, and it gave him a headache.

If Mu Beichen truly had feelings for Xu Xueqing, then choosing Gu Shisheng might not be a bad thing for her.

Later, lying in bed after washing up, Lin Zian heard movement next door and stepped outside.

“Why are you just getting back? Didn’t you leave a long time ago?” he asked. “It doesn’t take this long to walk Xu Xueqing home.”

His sharp eyes caught sight of the lipstick stain on Mu Beichen’s collar. Lin Zian’s brow furrowed, his eyes showing displeasure.

“Mu Beichen, if you don’t like Xia Chuwei, you should tell your family and break off the engagement. Your families arranged it to repay a favor—if you don’t love her or treat her well, letting her go is also a form of repayment.”

He hadn’t expected him to be this foolish.

Mu Beichen frowned at him.
“What nonsense are you talking about? Who else could she marry except me?”

“Besides, she’d never leave me. I have nothing going on with Xu Xueqing, so don’t follow Luo Ran and the others in imagining things,” Mu Beichen said, cutting him off.

“You really think she can’t live without you?” Lin Zian thought of her leaving in tears and then being with Gu Shisheng later—it didn’t seem that way at all.

Xia Chuwei might be hard to read, but Gu Shisheng’s interest in her was obvious.

Mu Beichen didn’t understand why he was saying this, but he was certain Xia Chuwei liked him—a lot.

“Don’t worry. Once things calm down, I’ll take her to get the license,” Mu Beichen said seriously.

Lin Zian wasn’t sure whether to believe him.

“If you really plan to marry her, you should keep your distance from Xu Xueqing. No wife can tolerate her husband being close to another woman—especially one he’s interested in.”

Mu Beichen’s eyes showed a trace of helplessness.
“I told you, there’s nothing between me and Xu Xueqing.”

“If there’s nothing else, I’m going inside,” he said, opening his door.

Lin Zian rubbed his temples, glanced at the lipstick on his collar, and let out a cold laugh.
“Mu Beichen, if you’re going to cheat, at least clean up after yourself.”

“By the way, did Chuwei and Gu Shisheng know each other before?” Lin Zian decided to give him one last warning.

Mu Beichen paused, then nodded.
“Yes. Back when Chuwei was in the army, she and Gu Shisheng were neighbors. Why?”

“Gu Shisheng is still unmarried, and unlike you, he doesn’t have a fiancée to wait for until she’s of age. You should pay more attention to Chuwei—before someone else gets there first,” Lin Zian said, leaving it at that.

“What do you mean? You think Gu Shisheng likes Xia Chuwei? They haven’t seen each other for years, and she only has eyes for me—she’d never like him.”

“Sure, Gu Shisheng didn’t have a partner before, but he does now. I saw him at a western restaurant today with some woman,” Mu Beichen said firmly.

The more he thought about it, the more familiar that woman’s back seemed.