4

After a brief moment of surprise, Meng Yu quickly regained her composure. She let out a cold laugh.

“I’m not exactly a proper heiress. The Xia family in Beiyue is a prestigious clan—they care about matching backgrounds. Why would they ever look at someone like me?”

Qi Mei faltered, her words caught in her throat as she tried to speak several times, but stopped short.

Meng Yu wasn’t in any rush. She waited silently. At last, Qi Mei sighed and said, “Originally, the Xia family wanted to marry your sister.”

Meng Yu understood immediately. “So it’s Wang Shuyuan who didn’t want to marry? She refused, so you decided to offer me instead? Do you think the Xia family would tolerate such a switch? They’re a family obsessed with appearances.”

Qi Mei replied, “I’m only here because the Xia family agreed to it.”

Meng Yu: “…”

The Xia family was infamous for their obsession with saving face, and yet they were willing to accept this kind of bait-and-switch? Even if they had to settle, why settle for her? She was just Wang Weiguo’s stepdaughter—not a true Wang family daughter. Aside from being slightly more attractive than Wang Shuyuan, she couldn’t compare in any other way.

Wang Shuyuan was a proper socialite. A graduate of a prestigious international art academy, now a jewelry designer for a luxury brand—she had the background, the education, and the talent. She was exactly the kind of woman a powerful family like the Xia’s would want as a daughter-in-law.

As for Meng Yu…

When her father was alive, their family lived decently, but they could hardly be considered wealthy. After his death, the family fell into decline. She had no real status, no achievements, no skills—only her looks. How could someone like her possibly catch the eye of the head of such a powerful clan?

In truth, she could understand why Wang Shuyuan would refuse. This “Mr. Chu,” despite being Beiyue’s top figure and having driven the city’s value up several times through his reforms—now worth tens of billions—still wasn’t exactly marriage material.

He had power and wealth, sure, and his soft skills were said to be decent. But in terms of physical appearance and personal charm? Lacking. He was only 167 centimeters tall, with reportedly unattractive features. Rumor had it he’d even lied about his age—publicly claiming to be under 30, when in reality he was likely well into his forties.

Worse still, his methods were known to be ruthless, with whispers circulating that he was mentally twisted. And the Xia family? Deeply patriarchal. Women had no status in that household. One of their previous daughters-in-law nearly died trying to give them an heir. That scandal had been the talk of the social circles for quite some time.

So, it was no wonder Wang Shuyuan didn’t want to marry in.

What stung was that, since she refused, they’d simply thrown Meng Yu into the fire instead.

Still, Meng Yu was used to this kind of treatment. Her heart barely wavered.

“Mr. Chu may have a few shortcomings, but once you marry him, you’ll be the mistress of the Xia household. His father is old and no longer has the energy to interfere, and his mother has already passed. Once you’re in, you’ll be in charge.

Sure, the Xia family has strict rules, but Mr. Chu has already established his own household outside the main estate—those rules won’t apply to you. Marry him, and you’ll enjoy a life of endless wealth and privilege. Do you know how many people would kill for that chance?”

Meng Yu replied, “If he’s such a great catch, why didn’t Wang Shuyuan marry him? And besides, I’m not that little girl anymore—the one who had to wear Wang Shuyuan’s hand-me-down clothes, play with her old toys, and always settle for whatever was left. Why should I take on a man she didn’t want?

I’ve grown up. I have the right to make my own choices now.”

“So what you’re saying is—you’re refusing the marriage?”

“That’s right. I won’t marry him. He wanted to marry Wang Shuyuan, not me. Whoever he wanted, let her marry him. Why should I be the one to take what Wang Shuyuan didn’t want?”

“Sweetheart…” Qi Mei looked troubled. “But we’ve already promised the Xia family…”

Meng Yu let out a cold laugh.

“So tell me—have you ever treated me like someone with thoughts and choices of her own? You never once asked for my opinion. You made the decision behind my back, planned everything out, and then just informed me as if I’m some kind of puppet.”

Qi Mei lowered her head, eyes already turning red.

“Mom really had no choice… You know it’s not easy being a stepmother. Marrying Mr. Chu would actually be good for you. He’s not as terrible as the rumors say. His only real flaws are that he’s a bit short and not very good-looking. But a man’s worth doesn’t lie in his appearance—what matters is his ability. If you marry him, no one would ever dare bully you again.”

Meng Yu’s tone turned sharper.

“Are you really worried about me getting bullied—or about you losing your footing with the Wang family? If you helped me turn them down, wouldn’t you be afraid you’d lose your place as the rich madam? That all your comfort and luxury might disappear?

But if your stepdaughter marries into the powerful Xia family of Beiyue, suddenly your value goes up too. Then who would dare look down on you—just a stepmother who married in later?”

Qi Mei stared at her, stunned, eyes brimming with tears. It was a long moment before she finally spoke, voice trembling, “Sweetheart… how could you say that to your mother? Do you know how much that hurts me?”

As she spoke, she began to wipe at her tears, crying with a pitiful, fragile air—utterly aggrieved.

But Meng Yu remained unmoved.

“Enough. Save the sob story. I’m not a man—it doesn’t work on me.”

Qi Mei said nothing. She just kept crying.

Meng Yu felt a wave of irritation and threw up her hands.

“Fine. Cry all you want. I’m going to do the laundry. I’ve said everything I needed to say.”

“Sweetheart, I don’t want to force you. I never wanted you to marry a man you’ve never even met,” Qi Mei said tearfully. “But I don’t have a choice. Blame me for being useless, for being too weak to protect you.”

Meng Yu’s steps paused. She didn’t turn around.

Behind her, Qi Mei continued, “Sweetheart, please—I’m begging you. Things have already gone this far. The Xia family tolerated us switching brides once. If we try to back out again, what do you think they’ll do? They’ll think we’re playing games with them.

And someone like Mr. Chu… he’s not someone we can afford to offend. Not just you or me—the entire Wang family can’t afford it. If we anger the Xia family, your Uncle Wang won’t be able to stay in Yancheng anymore. You know it was the Xia family’s support that helped him build everything he has today.”

“Do you really have the heart to watch your Uncle Wang lose everything he’s worked so hard for? Don’t forget, you came to the Wang family with me when you were ten. It was your Uncle Wang who raised you.”

Meng Yu felt her heart go cold.

“Of course. You really do know your daughter well. You know exactly which buttons to press to make me give in.

You’re right—I grew up eating Wang family food, went to school on your husband’s dime, wore the clothes he bought. So now that he needs something from me, how could I not repay him with everything I have? How dare I be ungrateful and selfish?”

“I’m sorry, Sweetheart… I’m so sorry.”

Meng Yu took a deep breath.

“I know what I have to do. I’ll marry Chu Xiujin.”

Her voice was calm—eerily calm.

Qi Mei, who had expected joy or gratitude, just stood there, stunned. She stared at her in silence, unable to say a word.

“You can go now. Since I’ve agreed, I’ll follow through. But remember this—this will be the last time. After this, I owe the Wang family nothing.”

To repay a debt didn’t have to mean sacrificing her entire future. But if this was what the Wang family wanted, then so be it—she would do it.

Meng Yu walked into the laundry room. Outside, she could still faintly hear the sound of Qi Mei softly crying.

After a while, she heard Qi Mei’s voice from outside the laundry room: “Mom’s leaving now. Take care of yourself out here, alright?”

Moments later, the sound of the door opening and closing followed. With it, Qi Mei’s quiet sobbing faded into silence.

Meng Yu let out a long, heavy sigh.

Suddenly, she felt like crying.

Other people had grown up with loving parents by their side. But her father had passed away early, and her mother… her mother had never known hardship. When she was young, she depended entirely on her husband to survive. After marrying, she depended on her new husband. Without someone to rely on, she simply didn’t know how to live.

So after her father died, her mother remarried Wang Weiguo—another wealthy man. But to play the part of a good stepmother, she had always shown favoritism to Wang Shuyuan.

The warmth of a father’s love had long since disappeared. And as for her mother’s love… Meng Yu barely remembered what it felt like.

Later, she finally met the man she thought was her soulmate. She had once dreamed that marrying him would be her escape—that she could finally leave that house behind and start a happy life with him.

But the man she had loved for so many years had never truly loved her. The moment his beloved “white moonlight” reappeared, she was discarded—just like that.

And now, she was being married off to a man she had never even met.

Her eyes stung.       

Sometimes, it felt like she really had been dealt a bitter hand in life.

She sat there lost in her emotions for a while, until she happened to lift her head and catch a glimpse of herself in the mirror.

The laundry room was connected to the bathroom, and a large mirror was embedded in the wall. Her house had mirrors everywhere—convenient for someone like her, who never tired of admiring her own beauty.

In the reflection, a young woman stared back at her: a small, delicate face with large, dewy eyes and a petite, upturned nose. Her lips were full and naturally rosy. And if that weren’t enough, her skin was pale and smooth, soft and fair even without much care.

She blinked at herself in the mirror, then gently pressed her lips together. That one small blink was enough to bring a subtle charm into her eyes—a kind of quiet allure that came effortlessly.

Just moments ago, she’d been overwhelmed with sadness, on the verge of tears. But looking at herself now, the tears simply refused to fall.

Maybe it was fate’s way of being jealous—after all, who told her to be this beautiful?

Sigh…

After finishing the laundry, Meng Yu headed over to the Han residence to visit Xia Han.

Ever since getting pregnant, Xia Han had been living with her in-laws. Meng Yu had spent the past year or so traveling and hadn’t even returned when her best friend gave birth.

Carrying the gifts she had bought for her best friend and a pile of toys for her friend’s kids, Meng Yu cheerfully arrived to make amends for her long absence. After spending some time playing with the two adorable little ones, Xia Han’s mother-in-law brewed tea for them, and Xia Han led Meng Yu to the backyard so they could talk in peace.

Meng Yu shared stories from her travels, and Xia Han listened in amazement, eyes wide with curiosity.

When the travel tales wound down, Meng Yu rested her chin in her hand and suddenly asked, “Tell me—if I ended up becoming your aunt-in-law, would that be awkward for you?”

“Aunt-in-law?” Xia Han blinked. “Wasn’t Chu Xiujin supposed to marry your sister?”

Meng Yu replied casually, “Wang Shuyuan didn’t want to marry him, so they swapped her out for me.”

Xia Han fell silent. Her expression was hard to describe—something between disbelief and concern.

“You agreed to it?”

Meng Yu gave her a playful wink. “If I did, would it be weird for you to call me Auntie every time you see me?”

“You did agree to it?” Xia Han asked again, clearly alarmed.

Meng Yu didn’t answer.

Xia Han’s face turned serious. “It’s not the title that bothers me. It’s him—do you even know what kind of person Chu Xiujin is? He’s not a good man, Meng Yu. Definitely not the kind of person you should end up with. If you go through with this, I’m worried you’ll regret it.”

Still propping up her chin, Meng Yu sighed. But her tone was light, as if they were just chatting about something trivial.

“I don’t really have a choice. I was raised in the Wang family—fed, clothed, educated by them. This is my debt. If they want me to marry, I can’t refuse.”

“So… you really said yes?”

“I don’t have the luxury of saying no.”

Xia Han was quiet for a moment before softly asking, “Is there anything I can do to help?”

Meng Yu shook her head. “No need. I guess… this is just my fate.”

Xia Han didn’t know what to say. She simply reached out, took her hand, and held it tightly—as if trying to pass on some strength. There was nothing else she could do.

After chatting with Xia Han a while longer, Meng Yu made her way home. She parked in the underground garage and was about to head for the elevator when a voice called out from behind.

“Meng Yu.”

Even though it had been over a year… even though she had forced herself to stop thinking about him every day… her body still remembered. The moment she heard that familiar voice, she froze. Her heart began to race uncontrollably.

It took her a while to gather herself. Slowly, she turned around.

He stood before her in a crisp white shirt and black slacks—tall, composed. She remembered the first time she had met him, he was wearing a white shirt then too. That day, he had walked toward her through light and shadow, the sunlight sculpting the clean lines of his figure, highlighting the graceful tension in his chest and shoulders.

He was as handsome as she remembered, but now there was something else—an added layer of maturity, a steadiness that only time could give.

For a moment, she felt disoriented, as though the boy from her memories had reappeared. But she knew too well—they were no longer who they once were.

“What are you doing here?”

He was silent for a while before replying, “I came to wait for you.”

“Wait for me? You knew I lived here?”

She had moved recently. She didn’t understand how he could have known.

“I wanted to know where you live,” he said quietly. “If I want to find out, I will.”

He’d gone out of his way to track down where she lived—just to wait for her here?

How absurd.

Meng Yu let out a cold laugh, the corners of her lips lifting with a hint of mockery.
“Xiao Qi, don’t forget—we’ve already broken up. Since we’re over, what reason do you have to come looking for me?”

=^_^=

Author has something to say: Time to make Xiao Qi suffer a little.
And don’t worry about the rumors surrounding the male lead—if you’ve read my previous work, you’ll know he’s a total heartthrob. 😎