The long and quiet night flowed silently like a river. Shen Che slowly woke up in a room he never would’ve dared to dream of occupying in his previous life. Glancing at the clock on the nightstand—9 a.m.
Last night, after returning home, Shen Che had instructed the butler to arrange a meeting with Elder Xu of the Xu family for the following morning around 10 a.m. The timing was just right.
When he went downstairs, a lavish breakfast spread and all sorts of luxurious delicacies were laid out on the elegant white marble table. After freshening up in the en-suite bathroom that came standard in every bedroom, Shen Che sat down to enjoy the feast.
After breakfast, Shen Che stepped into the walk-in closet. Considering that today was for breaking off an engagement, there was no need to dress too formally. He casually picked out a more relaxed outfit and matched it with a suitable pair of shoes and a watch.
His already handsome face, paired with his tall and upright figure, and enhanced by the outfit, made him look even more dashing.
“Even though this face is about the same as in my past life, I gotta admit, these clothes really make me look good,” Shen Che commented as he looked at his reflection in the mirror.
Once everything was ready, Shen Che headed to the private garage and selected a black Lamborghini. After starting the engine, he drove toward the Xu family estate.
The Xu residence wasn’t far from Shen Che’s home—just a few minutes’ drive. Tan Palace Villa District and the Xu family’s estate were only a few kilometers apart.
That was why, in the original book, the original Shen Che always begged his parents to take him over to play with Xu Qiuchi when he was young.
In the middle of a vast estate stood a grand, white European-style villa. The entrance was lined with lush greenery, and a clear stream flowed through the estate like its lifeblood. The main roads were paved with asphalt, while the smaller paths were decorated with cobblestones.
Due to the large area and dense greenery, the villa owner had hired many servants for maintenance and landscaping.
Shen Che pulled up in front of the main gate of the Xu family and greeted the housekeeper tending the entrance.
“Young Master Shen is here to see the young lady again?” The female housekeeper in her forties smiled. As the young lady’s fiancé, Shen Che was naturally well-liked by the staff.
“Please wait a moment, Young Master Shen. You can park in the garage. I’ll call someone to open the gate for you. I’ll also inform the Master now.”
Shen Che replied, “Alright, Aunt Wang.”
In the original book, as long as he had time, the original Shen Che would come over constantly to chat with Xu Qiuchi, whether there was a reason or not. Over time, all the servants at the Xu residence had come to know him well.
As soon as he passed through the gate, he saw an elderly man, aged yet exuding grace, already seated on the living room sofa brewing tea. Xu Qiuchi had also changed into a high-end formal dress and was sitting nearby.
This elder was none other than Elder Xu—Xu Yi. Back in the day, he had been saved on the battlefield by Shen Che’s grandfather. At the time, both men already had children, so they arranged a betrothal: if their future descendants were of opposite sexes, they would marry; if of the same sex, they’d become sworn siblings.
A very cliché urban setup.
Xu Yi was dressed in a dark green Zhongshan suit. Having held a high position in the family for decades, time had granted him immense authority and status, along with an aura that was impossible to ignore.
The sound of the door opening echoed, and Shen Che stepped inside.
“Grandpa Xu, Miss Xu, good morning,” Shen Che greeted the two with a polite smile.
In the original novel, Elder Xu was one of the few supporting characters who genuinely supported and cared for the original Shen Che. The source of this chapter is g.com.
The moment Shen Che entered, the originally composed Xu Yi, who was sipping his tea casually, seemed to be hit by an invisible force. He quickly put down his cup and sprang to his feet with unconcealed excitement, striding energetically toward the entrance to welcome Shen Che.
The warm smile on his face was as radiant as spring sunlight, instantly lighting up the room. That one gesture alone revealed just how much he valued Shen Che as his future grandson-in-law.
“Ah Che, good morning.”
Xu Yi greeted him warmly, walking up quickly and urging him to sit. His eyes were filled with joy and anticipation.
“You’re here to see our little Qiuchi again, aren’t you? The moment she heard you were coming today, she woke up early to get herself dressed up.”
As he said this, Xu Yi even winked meaningfully, clearly trying to imply something to Shen Che.
Looking at the young man before him, Xu Yi’s aged yet spirited eyes couldn’t hide his joy. He was truly fond of this future grandson-in-law—a talented and outstanding youth.
Shen Che was already established as the future head of the Shen family. In terms of business, he had been managing several of the family’s companies brilliantly.
On top of that, he was tall, handsome, well-mannered, and had liked his granddaughter for years. Xu Yi had watched him grow up and had always found his character admirable.
In his heart, he believed the two were a perfect match. After their marriage, even if he passed away, the Shen family could still offer support to the Xu family.
Unfortunately, his granddaughter—sigh!—acted like she couldn’t see what a great catch Shen Che was.
“Grandpa!” Xu Qiuchi complained softly.
Elder Xu chuckled and waved it off.
Soon, Shen Che and Elder Xu were seated on the living room sofa, chatting casually. The two exchanged pleasantries about life, the weather, and everyday matters.
Shen Che wore a constant polite smile and spoke with humility, while Elder Xu occasionally burst into hearty laughter. The atmosphere seemed harmonious and pleasant.
Xu Qiuchi sat quietly nearby, flipping through a magazine. But her thoughts were clearly elsewhere.
Her gaze would occasionally sneak over to Shen Che. Something about him today felt different. In the past, he’d find any excuse to come over. The moment he stepped through the door, he’d be eagerly looking to talk to her.
Whenever he arrived, his eyes would always be drawn to her as if pulled by invisible strings, brimming with uncontainable affection. But today… today was completely different. Since entering the room, he hadn’t looked at her once.
That thought left her with a strange sense of disappointment, like a small stone lodged in her chest.
She subconsciously pursed her lips and absentmindedly flipped the magazine, her mind drifting. She couldn’t stop recalling those warm looks and gentle words Shen Che used to give her. No matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t figure out what had changed in him today.
The soft fabric hugged her figure, outlining her curves with elegance and allure. Her slender waist and graceful silhouette exuded youthful charm. Her already stunning face, enhanced with refined makeup, looked breathtaking.
Her eyes sparkled like clear spring water, filled with lively energy. Her pink lips glowed without any lipstick, and the gentle arc of her mouth carried a hint of a smile that seemed to gather all the beauty in the world.
A face like this would attract attention anywhere.
Yet today, Shen Che was acting completely out of character.
In the past, as long as she appeared, his gaze would follow her like she was the most radiant being in the world.
But today, aside from the brief greeting at the door, he hadn’t spared her another glance.
His eyes were calm, fully focused on chatting with Elder Xu, as if her beauty no longer held any appeal to him.
It felt like someone who used to see you as their entire world had suddenly gone cold and distant, no longer caring about you at all.
Xu Qiuchi was caught in a whirlwind of emotions. On one hand, the pressure from Shen Che’s past attention had suddenly lifted. On the other, a strange sense of loss was quietly growing inside her.
Outwardly, she still maintained her graceful demeanor and responded properly to everything around her. But inside, it felt like an invisible hand was tugging at her heart, making her recall Shen Che’s past warmth and trying to figure out the reason behind his change—but with no answers.
After a while, Elder Xu chuckled, “Alright, I won’t be the third wheel between you two youngsters anymore. I’m a bit tired. I’ll go upstairs for a nap. You two go ahead and chat.”
He was just about to get up when Shen Che called out, “Grandpa Xu, wait. I came today to discuss something important with you.”
Shen Che felt a bit torn. In the original book, Elder Xu was one of the few people who treated the original Shen Che well. He was also a retired soldier—a respectable elder. Shen Che didn’t want to hurt him with what he was about to say.
But he had no choice. If he didn’t say it—if he didn’t break off the engagement—Xu Qiuchi would still think he was the same old simp Shen Che, and the plot wouldn’t change. Shen Che steeled himself at the thought.
“You have something to say? Alright then, Ah Che,” Elder Xu replied, slightly puzzled as he sat back down.
Shen Che looked serious, his gaze steady as he faced Elder Xu and began, “Grandpa Xu, I couldn’t sleep at all last night. After thinking deeply, I’ve come to the conclusion that Miss Xu and I really aren’t suitable to get married.”
He paused briefly, choosing his words carefully.
“Miss Xu and I have known each other for many years. We grew up together, lived under the same roof for over a decade. Over time, our relationship has become more like that of siblings—close, but without the spark or passion lovers should have.”
Shen Che sighed softly, a trace of helplessness in his eyes.
“So, from my perspective, since there’s no emotional foundation for marriage between us, forcing this childhood engagement to continue wouldn’t be good for either of us.”
“That’s why I hope we can call off the engagement between Miss Xu and me, and let each of us pursue our own true happiness.”