To be honest, she didn’t even like Gu Xing that much.
She didn’t know why in her past life she had clung to him as if under a spell.
Maybe it was just the influence of the storyline.
But now she had awakened—she wouldn’t let the plot control her anymore.
“You!” Gu Xing angrily raised his fist to strike Xia Wanqing.
Before it even touched her, Gu Huaichuan had grabbed his wrist.
Gu Huaichuan tightened his grip, and Gu Xing gritted his teeth in pain. “It hurts! Fourth Brother, I was wrong!”
The mature pimple on his face burst with a ‘pop’ from the pressure.
When Gu Huaichuan acted, Xia Yiyi instinctively stepped aside.
In her panic, she suddenly felt liquid on her face and looked up in surprise.
It wasn’t raining.
Confused, Xia Yiyi reached out to touch it. Her fingertips came back yellow, mixed with an unknown white fluid.
The next moment, she saw the pimple on Gu Xing’s face burst.
So the liquid on her face…
“Ah!” Xia Yiyi flung her hands in disgust.
“Don’t bully her!”
“Brother Huaichuan, you have nothing to do with my sister. Stepping in like this could ruin her reputation, you know?”
Xia Yiyi struggled to suppress her nausea. Seeing someone defending Xia Wanqing made her heart uneasy.
“She is…” Not yet officially registered, things could still change.
And it seemed Wanqing hadn’t told anyone about their plan to register their marriage.
“I am his fiancée, and he is my fiancé—completely legitimate. Unlike you two wild lovebirds,” Xia Wanqing stepped slightly closer to Gu Huaichuan.
Seeing Xia Yiyi’s stunned expression gave her a small sense of satisfaction.
“Impossible!” Xia Yiyi flatly denied it.
Although she had wanted to tie Xia Wanqing and Gu Huaichuan together, hearing that they were really going to get married still didn’t sit well with her.
Wasn’t the room empty that night? When did the two of them discuss this?
“Sister, I know you don’t like Brother Huaichuan. Don’t marry him out of spite—you’ll be unhappy your whole life.”
“Don’t worry, no one’s trying to steal your man. No need to inflate the price!”
“Xia Wanqing! Ah!” The pain in his wrist intensified, and Gu Xing cried out again.
The fluid on his face burst, and Xia Yiyi could no longer hold back. She supported herself against the wall and vomited.
Gu Xing screamed in agony, “Xia Wanqing, tell Fourth Brother to let go! My hand’s going to break!”
Gu Huaichuan glanced at Xia Wanqing.
He had really lost control just now—would she be angry with him?
Especially when he noticed her lips curl slightly downward, Gu Huaichuan’s heart sank.
Xia Wanqing’s disdainful curl of the lips—he hadn’t even used full force, yet Gu Xing was wailing in pain.
Pathetic. Not a shred of manliness.
Damn plot, why did it make her blind to this?
“Gu Huaichuan, let him go.” Xia Wanqing seemed a bit disappointed.
Was she really worried about him?
“If his hand really breaks, you might get punished.”
Gu Huaichuan relaxed his brows and let go.
She was actually concerned about him?
Gu Xing, finally freed, hurriedly examined his wrist.
A clear handprint was etched into it. He was angry but had to endure it.
At home, he feared this Fourth Brother the most.
Gu Huaichuan had always been silent and cold, like a walking block of ice.
One glance from his eyes felt like a temple’s demon, chilling to the bone.
Gu Xing shivered involuntarily.
Better not to provoke Fourth Brother in the future.
He had acted for Fourth Brother’s sake after all.
This Xia Wanqing, first chasing him, then coaxing Fourth Brother—what a schemer.
Still, Yiyi was better.
He turned his head and saw the mess on the floor, mixed with a foul sour stench.
Suddenly, Gu Xing realized… maybe Xia Yiyi wasn’t much better.
Turning his head, he saw Xia Wanqing quickly running toward the street corner.
She must be running fast to avoid being seen while upset.
Gu Huaichuan immediately followed. Gu Xing shook his head.
He had already done his part; if Fourth Brother wanted to jump into the fire himself, it wasn’t his fault.
In truth, he was secretly jealous of Fourth Brother.
They had enlisted at the same time. Now he was just a squad leader, while Gu Huaichuan was already a battalion commander.
If Gu Huaichuan really married Xia Wanqing, he could forget about any promotions.
Thinking of this, Gu Xing felt a faint sense of satisfaction.
Xia Wanqing’s eyes scanned the people on the street.
She thought she saw the nanny who had taken care of her before.
Perhaps she was mistaken.
Gu Huaichuan approached, concern in his voice. “What’s wrong? Can I help?”
Xia Wanqing shook her head. “I saw someone familiar… maybe I’m mistaken.”
Just as she prepared to leave, her head spun and she swayed.
The next moment, her shoulder and hand were caught.
“Are you okay?”
“I’m fine. Just a bit weak from low blood pressure. A short rest will fix it. Thank you.”
Only then did Xia Wanqing realize her hand was still held in Gu Huaichuan’s palm.
His hand was wide and warm, a thin layer of calluses making her fingertips tingle.
“Sorry.” Xia Wanqing straightened up.
Her body hadn’t fully recovered; running even a short distance left her feeling weak.
Gu Huaichuan’s gaze lingered on her empty palm. His long lashes shadowed the sadness in his eyes.
He took a deep breath and mustered the courage to speak. “I… want to visit Uncle and Aunt.”
“No need.” Xia Wanqing refused without hesitation.
Gu Huaichuan froze, his heart sinking.
If he couldn’t meet her family, could the marriage even continue?
“I only have my maternal uncle. Before we register, I just wanted to show you.”
Gu Huaichuan felt a weight lift from his heart, though his eyes still reflected concern.
What must Wanqing have gone through to be like this?
After she left, Gu Huaichuan stared at her back for a long moment before turning and walking away.
Among the children, a handsome man suddenly appeared.
He held a candy and said, “Who knows how the Gu family treats Xia Wanqing at home? Tell me and you can have a candy.”
The children, eyes on the white rabbit candy, eagerly answered.
“My grandma said the Gu family often called Xia Wanqing a loser, and once even wanted to marry her off to an old man as a stepmother.”
“She helps her sister at work, but doesn’t get the salary. She only eats twice a day.”
“When not at work, she’s locked at home. Once, she fainted while working and almost fell into the waste pool, but luckily a coworker saw.”
…
Gu Huaichuan’s fists tightened!
Xia Wanqing returned home and saw Xia Jianye in the living room. He put down the newspaper.
“Wanqing, did you get the property certificate?”
“Yes.” Xia Wanqing nodded, took out the certificate, shook it slightly, and carefully put it in her bag.
Xia Jianye got up, greed flashing in his eyes, a forced smile on his face. “Let Dad see it.”
Seeing the glint in his eyes, Xia Wanqing coldly smiled. “Money first, property after. Do you have the money?”
“Yes.” Xia Jianye waved the bankbook. “The money’s ready. I’ll give it to you tomorrow.”
Her gaze landed on the yellow wrapping paper and bag in her hands. A sharp glint appeared in her eyes. “Rest now. Tomorrow we’ll handle the transfer.”
Xia Wanqing lightly acknowledged and went upstairs.
Besides the bankbook, the household registration booklet was needed for the transfer. Once she had it, the Xia family could be moved out.
As she entered the room, Xia Jianye’s smile vanished. He signaled toward the kitchen.
Zhou Huiping peeked from the kitchen, whispering, “Did you see clearly?”
“She only has that bag and the food in her hands. The property certificate must be in one of those.”
“Smart husband. You distract her, I’ll search.”
Xia Jianye had woken before dawn.
The thought of handing over the money made him feel like a stone was pressing on his chest.
Although Xia Wanqing was his daughter, she was born to that woman.
Seeing her face reminded him of the days he had grovelled as a servant for her mother.
He had no dignity as a man then.
Fortunately, he finally married her mother. After she had a second child, he would stop pretending.
Once a woman has a child, she has a weakness—forever tied to a man.
So he deliberately flaunted Zhou Huiping in front of her. She could only ask sorrowfully, “Why have you changed? You weren’t like this before.”
Watching her, high and proud, while he begged humbly, gave him immense satisfaction.
That woman eventually died.
But… she often appeared in his dreams.
It tormented him endlessly.
If it weren’t for the property, he wouldn’t have sought out Xia Wanqing.
Thinking of finally being able to leave her behind, Xia Jianye’s heart surged with excitement.
“Alright.”
Bang bang bang!
Xia Wanqing opened the door and saw Xia Jianye smiling at the entrance.
“Daughter, we’re about to part. Dad can’t bear it. Let’s have a good meal today. Can you go to Yunlai Restaurant and get some food?”
“Take all this money. Whatever’s left is yours.”
“Twenty isn’t enough.”
“Fifty. Dad’s still saving for the house.”
“Alright.” Xia Wanqing agreed.
She wanted to see how Xia Jianye and the others planned to deal with her.
As she stepped downstairs, a massive figure barreled toward her. Without hesitation, Xia Wanqing kicked it away.