“How could you keep something this big from me?” 

After hearing Zhu Shiyu’s brief explanation, Zhu Jinxiao took a deep breath, fuming, and immediately started looking for her phone.

“That scumbag Lu Ge! I’m going to call him out, blast all his disgusting deeds in our class group chat, so he’ll never be able to show his face again…”

“Xiaoxiao, let it go,” Zhu Shiyu held her hand. “After all, we’ve been friends for so many years.”

“You’re still calling him a friend after all this?!” Zhu Jinxiao asked, exasperated.

“Yes.” Zhu Shiyu nodded calmly. “Just because things didn’t work out doesn’t mean there’s no decency left.”

“Let’s just leave a bit of dignity for our years of friendship.”

Zhu Jinxiao was silent for a moment, then couldn’t help but give her a thumbs-up. 

“Xiaoyu, I don’t know whether to admire you or scold you.”

As she calmed down and processed everything, she remembered the current situation.

“So, what’s the story with this guy you’re marrying now?”

“Don’t tell me you finally cracked under family pressure and, defeated, decided to just find someone and get it over with.” Zhu Jinxiao’s tone turned sharp, clearly ready to jump in and fight for her cousin’s freedom if needed.

“No, it’s not like that.” Zhu Shiyu shook her head, pausing to think. “He’s actually a really good person.”

“Oh? How so?” Zhu Jinxiao crossed her arms, narrowing her eyes.

Zhu Shiyu gave a brief overview of Meng Siyi, including how they met and their current relationship. Zhu Jinxiao, still skeptical, listened intently.

“If he’s so great, why is he still single? Is he just plain-looking and trying to score a catch?” 

Zhu Shiyu hesitated, then took out her phone and showed her the photo her aunt had sent her before they met.

Zhu Jinxiao took a glance and her eyes widened. 

“…Whoa…” After a long moment, she finally let out a breath, managing just two words.

“With looks like that, and still on the dating market? Now I’m even more suspicious.”

“And he’s way too agreeable about everything! He has no objections; you say when to get married, and he just goes along with it?”

“Something’s off,” Zhu Jinxiao declared firmly.

“I’ve actually discussed this with him,” Zhu Shiyu replied thoughtfully. “He said… well, we’re at the age to get married.”

“And I’m a good match in every way.”

“It still seems odd,” Zhu Jinxiao said, pressing her fist to her chin in deep thought.

“Xiaoyu, you’ve been dating for so long, and you’ve only held hands once, right?” She analyzed, unraveling their relationship based on everything Zhu Shiyu had shared with her.

“Have you ever asked about his past relationships?”

Zhu Shiyu was taken aback. “No… We haven’t really discussed much about personal matters.”

“See? That’s the issue.”

“You’re about to marry someone you barely know beyond the surface.”

“What if he’s gay? Do you know how many women in China are unknowingly married to closeted husbands?”

“But my aunt works with him in the same hospital, so she probably knows him well… There shouldn’t be any issues…” Zhu Shiyu said hesitantly.

“Most people act completely differently around colleagues than they do in private, which is why there’s a saying: you know a person’s face, not their heart.”

“But…” Zhu Shiyu started to say, but Zhu Jinxiao waved her hand, cutting her off.

“Leave this to me. I’ll do a thorough investigation on him, and only when I’m satisfied will I let you marry him.”

Zhu Jinxiao and Zhu Shiyu were cousins, the same age, and had grown up together. They attended the same schools and, by some luck, ended up in the same class every year until they were separated in high school when they chose different majors.

Jinxiao studied accounting locally, following her family’s wishes, but after graduation, she realized it wasn’t for her and switched to working in export for a foreign trade company.

Not long before the new year, the company relocated all its business back to the mainland, and the branch in China was dissolved. After receiving a generous severance package, all the employees found themselves unemployed.

Zhu Jinxiao decided not to look for another job and became a freelancer instead.

Over the past few years, she had built a small following as a beauty blogger online, not a huge audience, but enough to support herself through sporadic video uploads and modest ad revenue.

This time she returned home, bringing all her belongings with her and temporarily staying put, with no plans to go out.

The two of them grew up together, yet their personalities and appearances were worlds apart.

Zhu Shiyu appeared gentle and obedient at first glance, with sweet almond-shaped eyes, but her personality leaned more towards being boyish—determined and unyielding, once she made a decision, it was hard to change her mind.

In contrast, Zhu Jinxiao was the opposite; she was a striking beauty, exuding confidence, but deep down she was quite compliant, often deferring to her family’s opinions on major decisions. When arguments ensued, she would resort to tears. Her mother had a soft spot for her, and once she saw her cry, negotiations could begin anew.

This was the most significant difference between Zhu Shiyu and Zhu Jinxiao.

Zhu Shiyu didn’t know how to back down and rarely cried in front of others. When faced with difficulties, she usually remained silent, finding her own solutions. Even when things escalated beyond her control, she would stubbornly endure, watching the situation deteriorate.

That’s why her former supervisor often told her that while her professionalism was impeccable, if she could be a bit more adaptable, her career prospects would be much broader.

It was also because of this stubbornness that her relationship with her family had grown increasingly strained over the years. Conflicts had accumulated without resolution, eventually turning into a volatile situation that could explode at any moment.

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