“Let me have a simple home-cooked meal. There’s no need to be so formal.”
The two were about the same age, yet Chu Tianhua was completely different from him—there wasn’t the slightest trace of frivolity in his every gesture.
“Brother Tianhua, my girl has already returned to the country. Do you think it’s time to put the matter between her and the Second Young Master on the agenda?”
Only if Luo Jin married Chu Qinzhi first could Gu Qinghan’s marriage talks with Chu Hengzhi proceed more smoothly.
“Marriage is a major matter; it shouldn’t be rushed,” Chu Tianhua replied, already starting to dodge the topic, which made Old Master Gu Five anxious.
“Brother Tianhua, that’s not quite right. Although that girl’s background is a bit lower, she’s been raised in the Gu family since childhood and even studied abroad. You’ve seen her yourself.”
He was afraid the cooked duck would fly away at the last moment.
“She does look decent, but there’s been too many rumors about her recently. My Chu family has always conducted itself uprightly—we absolutely will not allow such a girl into the family.”
Chu Tianhua’s meaning was already very clear.
Although Chu Qinzhi could be considered half-disabled, he still carried the Chu family bloodline, and whoever married him had to be of unquestionable purity.
The Chu family would never tolerate any stain on their lineage.
“It’s just rumors from outsiders. That girl would never dare do such things,” Gu Five hurriedly assured.
“Whether it’s just outsiders isn’t the only issue.”
Hearing this, Gu Five subconsciously glanced at his precious daughter. After all, it was her who had told him about Luo Jin’s alleged affair with another man.
He hadn’t expected the rumors to spread so fast that even the Chu family had heard about them.
“Brother Tianhua, don’t worry. I’ve raised that girl for so many years—I know her best. She’s still a virgin. Those people are just jealous. You can rest assured.”
Gu Five repeatedly guaranteed this, while secretly thinking to himself:
Even if that girl really did fool around abroad, couldn’t he just “fix” that before the wedding?
As for whether it was true or false—who could really tell?
“Besides, Brother Tianhua, didn’t we agree on a bride price of 6.66 million? I’ll step back and offer 660,000 instead, just for a good omen.”
Gu Five was famously stingy in Haicheng, so this willingness to bleed money showed how badly he wanted the marriage alliance.
Seeing Chu Tianhua remain silent, Gu Five continued pushing Luo Jin.
“This girl is very considerate. She used to take care of Qing’er when she was little. She went abroad alone at eighteen, and I heard she even got some kind of double degree overseas!”
Luo Jin had always been the “model child”—not only beautiful, but also one of the most outstanding girls among the Gu family’s younger generation.
Even if she hadn’t gone abroad, she could have easily entered a top university in China.
“She is indeed good,” Chu Tianhua said slowly, “it’s just that my Qinzhi is not fortunate enough. Miss Jin should find a good match.”
“Brother Tianhua, being favored by Young Master Qinzhi is already her blessing. Why don’t we settle the matter today? The day after tomorrow is an auspicious day—we can get the marriage certificate first?”
He raised his wine glass, his attitude almost humble, but the other party still did not respond.
Instead, his expression darkened as he slammed the glass heavily onto the table.
“Gu Five, this is meaningless. I’ve been giving you face and not saying it outright—do you really think you can fool me?”
“How could that be? There’s nothing like that—Miss Luo is just…” Gu Five quickly forced a smile, trying to explain.
“Enough!” Chu Tianhua interrupted sharply. “My Chu family, at least in Haicheng, is a respectable household. We will not pick up someone else’s discarded trash!”
“Mr. Ch—”
Seeing Chu Tianhua’s anger, Gu Five panicked, still trying to salvage the situation.
“Fine. There’s no family tie between us. If you keep talking, it will only become hostility!”
Without giving Gu Five another chance to speak, Chu Tianhua left in anger.
He had made his meaning clear: not only was the engagement between Luo Jin and Chu Qinzhi off, but even Gu Qinghan’s marriage prospects with Chu Hengzhi were ruined.
As soon as Chu Tianhua closed the door of the private room, Gu Qinghan frowned and shouted.
“Dad, what did he mean just now? Does that mean my engagement with Brother Heng is also off?”
She had been looking forward to this for so long—everything was about to succeed, yet because of that damn Luo Jin’s scandal, even the Chu family had found out.
“Qinghan, don’t worry. Your father and mother will figure something out,” Madam Gu Five comforted her.
Gu Five was indeed very fond of his daughter.
More importantly, the Chu family alliance was not only about Qinghan marrying the man she liked—it was also crucial for Gu Five to solidify his position in the Gu family.
So no matter what, he would make sure Qinghan married Chu Hengzhi.
Even if it meant having the Chu family publicly verify Luo Jin’s innocence.
Chu Tianhua returned to the original private room, where Gu Tangzhou was calmly sipping a newly imported wine.
“Second Young Master Gu, I have already followed your instructions and rejected the marriage between Luo Jin and my nephew Qinzhi.”
“Uncle Chu, just call me Xiao Gu. As agreed, I will withdraw from the project bidding.”
After getting what he wanted, Chu Tianhua left.
Gu Tangzhou naturally knew that Gu Five would not let this go easily, so he instructed the silently waiting assistant behind him, He Yan:
“Keep an eye on Fifth Uncle.”
He Yan immediately followed the Gu family as they left the room.
Without much hesitation, Gu Five’s group rushed straight back home.
For the first time, he had been publicly humiliated, and all his anger was directed at Luo Jin.
He stormed into Luo Jin’s room, yanked her out of bed while she was still asleep, and interrogated her in the living room.
“When did you offend the Chu family? How did even the Chu family hear about your filthy business?”
Haicheng wasn’t that big—among the well-known aristocratic families, there were only so many.
If even the Chu family knew, it meant the entire upper class likely already knew about Luo Jin’s scandal.
Where was he supposed to put his face?
“You little wretch! Can’t you live a single moment without men? Have you slept with every man in Haicheng?”
He raged uncontrollably.
“Luo Jin, I’m telling you! No matter what method you use, you must marry Chu Qinzhi!”
Madam Gu Five also came over and viciously pinched her several times.
How dare she ruin her daughter’s chance! She should have tied her straight to Chu Qinzhi’s bed from the start.
This girl had never been worry-free for a single day.
“Don’t we mean you no harm?” she sneered.
“It’s all your fault! You ruined my engagement with Brother Heng! I don’t care—Luo Jin, you must make Chu Qinzhi marry you!”
Gu Qinghan also lost her composure.
Luo Jin looked coldly at the three people jumping around like clowns and said in a voice colder than ice:
“Weren’t you the ones who ruined me first?”