Chapter 3: If You Agree to This Marriage, I’ll Marry Someone Else Immediately!  

“Big Brother, you’re so busy with work that you might not recall the Gu family right away. I’m talking about Qianqian’s niece, Gu Xueyi.” Zhou’s mother smiled brightly, though she seemed somewhat cautious as she observed her brother-in-law’s expression. “Given the relationship between the Gu family and our Zhou family, if you don’t mind, I was thinking—”  

Hearing that his youngest nephew, Zhou Xuyan, was still single, and that his sister-in-law had mentioned Gu Xueyi—a fine young lady from the Gu family—Zhou’s uncle fixed his sharp gaze on her, waiting for her to finish. After a brief pause, he asked, “Gu Zechuan’s granddaughter?”  

“Yes,” Zhou Xuyan’s mother replied nervously, forcing a smile. “Big Brother, have you never met the younger generation of the Gu family before?”  

“Clear Garden and I haven’t had much contact with the Gu family in recent years. During holidays, it’s always Ruoxi and Qianqian who visit Gu Zechuan.” Zhou Mingxia spoke slowly, his eyes filled with warmth as he mentioned his two daughters.  

The relationship between the Zhou and Gu families was well-known among the major families in the country.  

As for the rumors circulating behind the scenes, he couldn’t be bothered to dig deeper—it wasn’t important to them.  

But if the Gu family’s youngest granddaughter were to marry into the Zhou family, it would strengthen the ties between the two families.  

Zhou Mingxia wasn’t fully aware of his nephew’s romantic life, nor could he have guessed that the seemingly humble and gentle young man before him already had a girlfriend of seven years.  

After a brief silence, he nodded slowly. “This matter should be discussed with both Xuyan and the Gu girl. Marriage shouldn’t be rushed.”  

“We’ve known Gu Xueyi since she was a child. She just returned from studying abroad a few days ago, and I’ve heard that matchmakers are practically lining up at the Gu family’s doorstep. So, I thought—since our Xuyan isn’t seeing anyone yet, and both families know each other well—if they were to marry, it would be a perfect match.”  

Zhou’s father remained silent, carefully pouring tea for his elder brother with a small purple clay teapot. Seeing that his brother had no objections to the marriage proposal, he said, “Xuyan’s mother, then go ahead and convey our intentions to the Gu family’s Master and arrange for them to meet.”  

“Or you could call Qianqian and ask her to act as the matchmaker—after all, it’s her own niece from the Gu family.” Zhou’s father glanced at his elder brother and instructed his wife with a smile.  

Zhou’s mother nodded cheerfully, then chuckled. “If this marriage works out, it would be an excellent match—though the generational titles might get a little confusing…”  

Holding his teacup, Zhou Mingxia raised a hand and said firmly, “If they do marry, Gu Xueyi can continue addressing her two aunts as usual. Everything else can follow conventional etiquette.”  

“With your approval, Big Brother, we’ll proceed with confidence. I’ll contact the Gu family tomorrow…”  

Zhou’s mother beamed with joy, leaning forward eagerly. Her wrist, lightly scented with Chanel No. 5, quickly lifted the teapot to pour tea for her brother-in-law.  

Her husband was the youngest of the Zhou brothers, and over the years, their family’s standing within the clan had gradually declined. Opportunities like today—dining privately with the eldest brother—had been rare for a long time.  

Thus, Zhou’s mother was desperate to elevate their family’s status.  

If her son married the Gu family’s daughter, their position would instantly rise within the family hierarchy.  

The three of them accompanied the eldest brother until the end of dinner, respectfully seeing him off as he left the hotel. They watched as several black SWAT armored cars disappeared into the night.  

“Come home with us. We need to talk.” Zhou’s father’s voice was stern as he commanded his son.

“Dad! I don’t have time to go back tonight,” Zhou Xuyan lied through his teeth, forcing a serious tone. “There’s still work at the company I need to handle. You two should head back too.”  

Zhou’s mother’s displeased voice carried sharp words: “Are you planning to go see that shameless woman? Zhou Xuyan, I’m warning you—you must cut all ties with her! Otherwise, you know the consequences of angering us.”  

“Let’s go! Let him deal with that woman.”  

Zhou’s mother, brimming with arrogance, lifted her chin and strode straight into the back seat of the luxury car.  

Zhou’s father didn’t spare his son a kind look either, following suit as they drove away.  

Watching his parents finally leave, Zhou Xuyan exhaled deeply in relief before quickly turning and entering the hotel, heading straight to the underground garage to retrieve his car.  

Minutes later, he sped off in a Porsche, racing toward his girlfriend’s rented apartment.  

Hearing the sound of someone entering the passcode at the front door, Song Ziwan sat motionless in the bathtub, her cheek resting on her hand, lost in thought.  

“Ziwan, Ziwan, where are you?”  

Zhou Xuyan searched every room before finally pushing open the bathroom door.  

There, he found his girlfriend sitting numbly in the tub, her hand propping up her face as her eyes slowly lifted to meet his.  

The sight of her despondent expression tugged painfully at the fragile strings of his heart.  

He yanked off his tie and tossed it onto a stool, then stepped quietly into the bathroom. Kneeling beside the tub, he said nothing, simply opening his arms and pulling her into a tight embrace.  

“I’m sorry. It’s all my fault. I made you suffer tonight.”  

Tears streamed down Song Ziwan’s face as she listened to his repeated apologies. Raising her head, she asked solemnly, “After all these years together, you’ve never introduced me to your world. Have you been hesitating about this relationship too?”  

“…” Zhou Xuyan choked up, unable to answer.  

Because he had no answer.  

“So you’ve kept our relationship hidden, as if I’m something shameful—is it because I’m not good enough for the Zhou family?”  

“No, Ziwan, don’t think like that. In a few days, when my parents are in a better mood, I’ll fight for us.” Zhou Xuyan gripped her trembling shoulders, glancing down at her. She was still wearing the white cotton T-shirt from earlier, with only underwear beneath, sitting dazed in the warm water.  

Releasing her shoulders, he half-rose and picked up a scrub brush. “Let me wash your back. After your bath, we can lie down and talk properly.”  

The next moment, Song Ziwan shoved him hard, sending him sprawling onto the wet bathroom floor.  

“Zhou Xuyan, just leave,” she said hoarsely, her gaze shifting slowly to his stunned face as her love for him grew cold and hard. “If you go through with an arranged marriage, I’ll marry someone else immediately!”  

She didn’t have another seven years to wait—she couldn’t afford to. She had already spent her most beautiful years on him.  

From now on, she needed to face reality and turn away from the illusion he had created.  

Cut her losses in time.  

“Stop this, alright? I admit my parents are overbearing, but tonight was just talk. Why take it so seriously?” Zhou Xuyan’s expression darkened, his mood sinking.  

Years ago, he had fallen for her at first sight and confessed after just a few meetings.

They had been together for seven years, their relationship was truly strong, inseparable, and the envy of others. How could they possibly let go so easily just because their parents exerted a little pressure?

“Alright, tonight was all my fault. Don’t be angry anymore. If you make yourself sick, it’s still you who’ll suffer,” Zhou Xuyan said, getting up from the floor and walking over to the bathtub. He hugged his girlfriend, refusing to let her continue spouting nonsense about breaking up and marrying someone else.

Song Ziwan’s tears streamed down her face as she pushed her boyfriend away. “Go! I want some peace and quiet…”

After half an hour of arguing and pulling at each other, Zhou Xuyan felt mentally and physically exhausted, thinking his girlfriend was being too stubborn. “Fine, I’ll leave for tonight. We’ll talk tomorrow.”

Not long after Zhou Xuyan left, Dean Qin called Song Ziwan.

“Dr. Song, there’s a patient I need you to handle. It’s a very minor cosmetic surgery, can you do it?” Dean Qin briefly explained the patient’s condition over the phone.

As an ordinary cosmetic surgeon, there was no reason to refuse a consultation.

Song Ziwan paused briefly. “Send me the electronic medical records. I’ll see if I can handle it.”

“It’s a minor procedure, well within your professional capabilities,” Dean Qin said before sending the patient’s electronic file to her email.

Song Ziwan sat weakly in the bathtub, opened the email on her phone, and downloaded the medical records attachment.

“Qi Xiaochen?”

The moment she opened the file, her eyes lingered on the patient’s name for a few seconds.