Su Mianmian’s words landed like a thunderclap out of a clear sky.
The first to object was Mother Su.
“Mianbao, what are you talking about? You’re so young!”
Su Mianmian looked seriously at everyone.
“I just turned twenty a little while ago. I’m already old enough to marry legally.”
Second Master Gu considered this for a moment.
“That still won’t do. It was Eldest Miss Su who was engaged to our Jiang Ning. If the bride suddenly changed to Second Miss Su, what would people say?”
The more he thought about it, the more improper it seemed.
“Chairman Su, I think you should hurry and find a way to bring Eldest Miss Su back.”
Seeing that everyone opposed the idea, Su Mianmian grew anxious. With no one else on her side, she could only pin her hopes on Gu Yizhou, who had yet to say a word.
“What about you, Brother-in-law? What do you think? If you agree, we can go register our marriage right away. Then there won’t be any chance of either of us calling it off later.”
Everyone’s eyes turned to Gu Yizhou. He took an unhurried sip of tea and set the cup back on the coffee table. Only then did his eyes, calm as a lake, show the faintest ripple.
“Could I speak with you alone?”
…
Half an hour later, Su Mianmian and Gu Yizhou were in a private room at Yixin Pavilion.
The room was decorated in an old-fashioned style. Through the window, she could see a small bridge over flowing water, and if she listened closely, she could hear the qin music, soft as drizzle falling on paulownia leaves.
“Why aren’t you saying anything?”
Gu Yizhou looked at the young woman across from him. She had kept her head bowed ever since they came in. Sunlight filtered through the branches outside and fell across her cheek, revealing the faintest down.
“S-say what?”
Su Mianmian lowered her head even further. Back at home, she had been carried along by a surge of enthusiasm, speaking passionately and with conviction.
Now that she was alone with Gu Yizhou, she found herself inexplicably cowed by the presence he gave off.
“Say whatever you want to say.”
Su Mianmian bit her lip, leaving fine tooth marks on its soft pink surface.
“I already said everything I wanted to say at home.”
Gu Yizhou nodded and pushed a plate of pastries toward her with his long, well-defined fingers.
“The yam cakes here are good. Try one.”
Su Mianmian lifted her eyes. On a jade-colored porcelain plate sat neat rows of beautifully shaped yam cakes, their colors tempting.
There were blueberry and cream-cheese ones, matcha with berry powder, and even some made with jujube paste in a blue-and-white porcelain pattern…
Her eyes brightened a little. She picked up one of the blue-and-white ones and put it in her mouth. It melted instantly, fragrant, soft, and chewy.
“These are delicious.”
At her words, Gu Yizhou’s lips curved slightly despite himself.
“You’ve said your piece. Now it’s my turn.”
Su Mianmian nodded and hurriedly swallowed the bite of yam cake in her mouth, sitting up straight like a student.
“I’m a full eight years older than you.”
Su Mianmian’s voice was barely above a whisper.
“I know.”
“My view of marriage is that it’s for the rest of your life, not just a way to get by together.”
The rest of your life…
A lifetime.
Su Mianmian felt as though that phrase belonged to a world far away from her.
“But this is a marriage alliance. If there’s no love between us, wouldn’t we just be getting by together?”
Gu Yizhou lowered his eyes and poured tea, his expression focused and serious.
“That depends on how we make it work.”
Su Mianmian murmured, “Oh,” not entirely sure she understood.
“I’ll give you ten more minutes to think it over. If you can accept both of those points, we’ll go register our marriage in three days.”
After saying this, he really did glance at his watch and start the timer.
Su Mianmian: That’s it?
Once it sank in, her eyes lit up, and she could hardly contain her excitement.
“You mean you agree to marry me instead of my sister?”
Gu Yizhou tapped his watch.
“Eight minutes left. Think carefully. Marriage isn’t a game.”
Su Mianmian said, “Oh,” but all she could think about was how Su Yang would finally get to be with the person she loved, just as she had wished.
Gu Yizhou watched the young woman’s lips curve slightly upward. From her expression, he could tell she probably wasn’t giving the slightest thought to the fact that she was about to marry him.
For the third time, he checked the time. His long, narrow eyes narrowed slightly behind his glasses.
“Time’s up. Tell me your answer.”
Su Mianmian came back to herself, her clear, limpid eyes meeting Gu Yizhou’s.
Their gazes locked. Something unfamiliar suddenly seemed to stir in the air. Su Mianmian blushed first and looked away.
“I’ve decided. I’ll register our marriage with you in three days.”
Gu Yizhou’s fingers relaxed slightly around his teacup.
“All right.”
Su Mianmian suddenly remembered Chairman Su and Mother Su.
“What about my parents…”
Gu Yizhou’s voice was low and resonant.
“Leave them to me.”
…
After leaving Yixin Pavilion, Gu Yizhou drove Su Mianmian straight to the gates of A University.
As Su Mianmian got out, she happened to run into Song Zhi, who had just returned from wherever she’d been off enjoying herself.
Song Zhi recognized Gu Yizhou’s car at once and called out cheerfully, “Hello, Brother-in-law!”
Gu Yizhou gave her a polite nod. The line of his jaw was sharply defined, making him look both restrained and alluring.
Song Zhi was practically drooling. She had meant to say a few more words, but Su Mianmian grabbed her by the arm and dragged her away. Twisting around to look back, Song Zhi called, very reluctantly, “Goodbye, Brother-in-law!”
Gu Yizhou watched the young woman scamper away as if fleeing, his gaze following her through his glasses. A faint smile curved his lips.
Song Zhi stumbled as Su Mianmian pulled her along.
“Mianmian, why are you walking so fast? Oh, right—you went on a date with Cheng Yuli, didn’t you? How come you came back in your brother-in-law’s car?”
As soon as she said it, Song Zhi realized she’d put her foot in her mouth. But it was too late. Su Mianmian let go of her arm and gave her a reproachful look.
“So explain this: what did you mean by saying you’d introduce me to a boyfriend? Do I look like nobody’s interested in me?”
Song Zhi frowned.
“How could anyone not be interested in our gorgeous Su? Cheng Yuli is obviously your admirer. I was just quietly giving him a little push from behind.”
“Cheng Yuli admires me?”
Su Mianmian was dubious. She hadn’t noticed anything of the sort.
Song Zhi was adamant.
“You’ve always only had eyes for Tang Yunzheng, so of course you never noticed the other guys. I’ve been keeping an eye on things for you for ages. Cheng Yuli is head over heels for you—I’m sure of it.”
Head over heels?
The more Song Zhi said, the more fantastical it sounded. Even Su Mianmian, slow as she could be, had easily sensed during the dozen or so minutes she’d spent with Cheng Yuli that he wasn’t interested in her at all.
Su Mianmian shook her head, then remembered she was about to get married.
“Stop trying to play matchmaker. I’m not planning to date anyone.”
Song Zhi raised an eyebrow.
“If there’s mutual interest, then you date. If there isn’t, obviously you don’t. I only tried to set you up with Cheng Yuli to annoy Scumbag Tang. Heh—did you ‘run into’ him at the movie theater today?”
Su Mianmian finally understood. No wonder she’d had such rotten luck—she’d even run into Tang Yunzheng while watching a movie.
Remembering how Tang Yunzheng had shamelessly made her bark like a dog, Su Mianmian was instantly furious.
“Don’t remind me. Just hearing his name gives me a headache.”
Song Zhi blinked.
“Did he bother you again?”
Su Mianmian answered with a quiet “Mm” and told her what had happened with Tang Yunzheng that day.
When Song Zhi finished listening, she stroked her chin.
“You’re saying Scumbag Tang is going to break up with Green-Tea Lin?”
Su Mianmian rolled her eyes. Why did Song Zhi’s mind always work in such a bizarre way?
“He just said it offhand. There’s no way he’ll really break up with her.”
Song Zhi held up a finger and wagged it.
“I think there’s a good chance. Hey, Mianmian, you were only in front of him with Cheng Yuli for a dozen or so minutes, and Scumbag Tang was so rattled that he immediately told you he was going to break up with Green-Tea Lin. Is it possible…”
Su Mianmian frowned as Song Zhi snapped her fingers dramatically.
“Is it possible that the scumbag suddenly sensed a threat and wants to come crawling back to you?”
Su Mianmian was completely speechless.
“Put away those wild theories of yours. He’s not coming back, and I’m not some grass waiting for him to come back to.”
Song Zhi had extraordinary faith in her own instincts.
“Don’t believe me? Let’s make a bet. If Scumbag Tang really breaks up with Green-Tea Lin for you, you owe me bubble tea for a whole month!”
…
Early the next morning, Su Mianmian got a call from Mother Su.
Mother Su told her that she and Chairman Su had agreed to her marrying Gu Yizhou.
Mother Su’s voice was full of reluctance and worry.
“Mianbao, you’ve only just turned twenty. Are you sure you’re ready to start a family with a man?”
Su Mianmian nodded.
“Mom, you’ve asked me five times already. I’m absolutely, positively sure. You and Dad trust Gu Yizhou’s character, too, so there’s nothing to worry about.”
Mother Su sighed.
“It’s not that I don’t trust Yizhou. It’s just that you really are still so young, Mom…”
Mother Su’s voice grew choked as she spoke.
Su Mianmian’s nose began to sting, too.
“All right, stop. Get my marriage-registration documents ready. I’ll come back for them when the time comes.”
Mother Su sniffed.
“I gave the documents to Yizhou yesterday. He said he’d bring them along when he comes to pick you up at school.”
Su Mianmian: Is he in such a hurry?