Chapter 11: Impossible

Gu Chengze looked at Wen Ya, feeling a bit lost. She seemed like a completely different person now. Was she always this good at pretending, or had the crisis in the Wen family changed her so much?

But now wasn’t the time to dwell on that. Gu Chengze pulled out a document and handed it to Wen Ya.

“The second payment was ready, but Uncle Wen’s accident caused the project to stall, so the money wasn’t sent. Gu’s has always been timely with funds, but this time, Wen’s faced too many issues. The project was delayed, and Wen’s lost over 100 million. Not to mention, Wen’s partnered with Ji’s without even informing Gu’s. That’s unacceptable, both emotionally and rationally.”

“Emotionally and rationally?” Wen Ya laughed sarcastically. “Anyone can talk to me about rationality, except you and the Gu family. As for emotions, we’re engaged. We held an engagement party in front of family and friends. Yet, when I was at my lowest, you were nowhere to be found, let alone helping me. Rationally, the contract clearly states Wen’s has the right to find new partners if the project stalls. Did I dare tell you? If I had, would I have been able to sign with Ji’s so smoothly?”

They both knew why Gu’s delayed the second payment. It was to pressure Wen’s into giving up more benefits or even withdrawing from the West City project entirely. That way, Gu’s real estate division could rise to the top.

It was a simple trick, but it hit the already struggling Wen family hard.

Now that Ji’s was involved, Gu’s couldn’t play games anymore. Wen’s wasn’t afraid of losing Gu’s as a partner. Ji’s could easily cover any funding gaps.

But with Wen Group facing internal and external crises, and Wen Ya having just sent senior executives to prison, it wasn’t the right time to push further. Otherwise, she’d have kicked Gu’s out of the project immediately.

“Of course, Gu’s wouldn’t stop you. If Wen’s can’t continue the project, and a stronger company joins, Gu’s would applaud. But Ji’s isn’t the best choice. The Wang family leads the real estate industry. Partnering with them would make the West City project perfect, with no worries about future issues. But it’s too late now,” Gu Chengze said regretfully.

“Wang family? I heard their young master is pursuing your sister,” Wen Ya smiled.

In the original novel, after Wen’s bankruptcy, Gu’s took over the West City project and partnered with the Wang family. Soon after, the Wang and Gu families became in-laws.

Gu Chengze frowned. “That’s just gossip. Why believe it?”

Wen Ya said “oh” and walked to the window, watching the tiny cars below. “Then is it just gossip that someone saw you with another woman?”

“We’re discussing the West City project. Why bring this up? It’s nonsense,” Gu Chengze denied.

“Nonsense?” Wen Ya chuckled. “You were the one who proposed our engagement, right?”

“The Gu family proposed it, but…”

Wen Ya cut him off. “Gu Chengze, why didn’t you pick me up at the airport? I waited ten hours. Did you really not know about my father’s accident? You were abroad, not on another planet. Why didn’t you visit my parents right after returning? After we met at the hospital, did you ask about me? Did you ever think of helping me? Is there any love between us?” Wen Ya pressed.

“What are you trying to say?” Gu Chengze finally asked.

He had agreed to pick her up, but Qingqing fell ill, and he forgot. He did hear about Wen Ya’s father’s accident while abroad but didn’t rush back, thinking the Wen family wanted to keep it quiet. As for not visiting Wen Qihua immediately after returning, he was too busy seeing Qingqing.

“Gu Chengze, let’s cancel the engagement,” Wen Ya said calmly.

As she spoke, her heart ached. Wen Ya knew it was the original host’s emotions.

But she felt nothing for Gu Chengze, even a bit of disgust.

If Gu Chengze loved the heroine so much, he shouldn’t have agreed to the engagement. If he agreed, he should’ve taken responsibility and cut ties with the heroine.

“Impossible,” Gu Chengze blurted out.

“Impossible? How can you refuse?” Wen Ya pulled out a stack of photos from her drawer and threw them on the table. They were from their last meeting.

“You had someone follow me?” Gu Chengze asked angrily.

“I’m not that free. I took these while investigating the company’s shareholders. The detective agency thought I paid well and gave me these as a bonus,” Wen Ya shrugged innocently.

“Our engagement was announced in front of both families. Wen’s and Gu’s have worked closely for years. We can’t just separate like this. Even if I agreed, our parents wouldn’t,” Gu Chengze said. He wanted to cancel the engagement, but now wasn’t the time.

“You’re saying you won’t cancel it?” Wen Ya was surprised. In the original novel, the male lead couldn’t wait to end it. Was it because she now led Wen’s, and Ji Ming’s involvement pressured him? “I wonder what your true love would think hearing this.”

As Gu Chengze refused to cancel the engagement, Wen Ya had an idea. She called Xu Qingqing directly. Whatever his reason for refusing, she believed it would cause a fight. If he made her uncomfortable, she’d make his life harder. She was that petty.

Wen Ya shook her phone, and the screen showed she was on a call. Gu Chengze’s expression changed, and he quickly grabbed the phone. A familiar number appeared. He looked at Wen Ya and immediately spoke into the phone, “Qingqing, listen to me.”

“Chengze, I know I’m not as good as the Wen family’s eldest daughter. I understand. I’ll leave now and won’t cause you any trouble.” After saying this, the call ended.

“Qingqing, Qingqing!” Gu Chengze stared at the disconnected call, then turned to Wen Ya, his voice tight with anger, “If anything happens to Qingqing, I won’t forgive you.”

Wen Ya patted her chest and said in a playful tone, “Oh, I’m so scared!” Then her expression turned cold, “How ridiculous! Why can’t you forgive me? Don’t forget, you’re the one begging the Wen family now. The Wen family might not have the power to remove Gu’s from the West City project, but what if Ji’s joins? If you lose the West City project, I wonder if you’ll keep your position as general manager. I heard your cousin graduated last year and joined the company with excellent results. The Gu family is full of talent.”

Gu Chengze’s face paled. He clenched his fists, then released them, and clenched them again. “Wen Ya, don’t push it.”

“Me? Push it?” Wen Ya opened a drawer, pulled out a document, and threw it at Gu Chengze. “Take a look and see who’s pushing it.”

The document contained photos of Gu Chengze and Xu Qingqing being affectionate while Wen Ya was abroad, followed by pictures of Gu interacting with Wen’s senior management and shareholders.

“Gu Chengze, who do you think you are? I, Wen Ya, have beauty, a good figure, and a strong family background. I can have any man I want. Even if I pick someone random right now, they’d be better than a scumbag like you. Why don’t you cancel the engagement? Do you believe me? I’ll release these photos, and your true love will become a hated mistress.”

“You won’t,” Gu Chengze said calmly, his composure returning. “The Wen family can’t afford the scandal right now. And for Aunt Lin’s sake, you won’t announce it.”

Wen Ya cursed inwardly. Releasing the photos would hurt the Gu family more, but Gu Chengze had hit her weak spot. She couldn’t risk her mother’s health or her father’s condition.

Gu Chengze, now focused on Xu Qingqing, left without another word.

Wen Ya was fuming. When she heard someone enter, she thought Gu Chengze had returned. Instead, it was Ji Ming.

“Mr. Ji? Why are you here? You should’ve told me; I’d have greeted you downstairs,” Wen Ya said, softening her tone for her important guest.

“I was passing by and wanted to discuss the West City project. Sorry for coming up unannounced,” Ji Ming said, unbothered.

Wen Ya smiled, glancing at Assistant Wang, who was pretending to be busy. “When did you arrive, President Ji?”

The office had good soundproofing, but her earlier outburst might have been heard.

Ji Ming replied, “When you mentioned beauty and a good figure.”

Wen Ya chuckled shyly, “Sorry for the scene. I was just too angry.”

“No, I think you’re right,” Ji Ming said, studying her. “Miss Wen, what do you think of me?”

“Ah?” Wen Ya was caught off guard.

“What about my family background, appearance, and figure?” Ji Ming pressed.

“Mr. Ji, your family background, looks, and figure are top-tier. In Nancheng, if you’re second, no one’s first,” Wen Ya said honestly.

“Then how about considering me?”