Once everyone had gathered, Yan Hao realized she had severely underestimated the scale of the Lou family’s extended relatives and friends.
Noticing Yan Hao’s astonishment, Song Ying explained, “Even though you and Jingyi aren’t holding a wedding right now, all the proper sense of ritual and respect must still be observed. The old patriarch’s brothers came on their canes just to see this granddaughter-in-law of ours, and the old madam is the same. As for your father and me, along with your second uncle and aunt, we’ve all invited them here.”
Hesitating for a moment, Song Ying added, “As for your grandfather’s side… I did extend an invitation, but he’s currently traveling abroad and said he’d come back to see you in a bit.”
Yan Hao lowered her gaze. That stubborn old man doesn’t need to come anyway. It’s not like this is a “real” marriage; we’re going to divorce eventually.
“It’s alright, Mom.”
Since today was a grand occasion, nobody had the time for lengthy conversations. Once Old Master Lou gave the word, everyone took their seats accordingly.
“Starting today, Yan Hao is the official granddaughter-in-law of our Lou family.” Lou Chang retrieved a document from a servant. “Yan Hao, these are all of the Lou Corporation’s shares on Changhua Street. Consider this a part of the betrothal gifts from our Lou family.”
Aside from the residents of the old residence, the other collateral relatives stared at Lou Chang in utter shock.
Lou Chang actually values this eldest granddaughter-in-law this much?
They had assumed this business alliance was merely a reluctant measure driven by sympathy after her parents passed away. Yet, Lou Chang was handing over every single share the Lou Corporation owned on Changhua Street to this eldest granddaughter-in-law without a second thought, designating it as part of the betrothal gifts.
If that was only a part, goodness knows how much the entire package was worth?!
It seemed Yan Hao was far from being the insignificant figure rumor made her out to be.
“Grandpa…” Yan Hao felt the gift was simply far too heavy. The more she accepted now, the more she would have to return later. With too many entanglements, walking away cleanly would become impossible.
Lou Jingyi, who had remained silent for a long time, suddenly spoke up. “Since Grandpa is giving it to you, just accept it.”
Everyone present exchanged glances. Didn’t rumors say the eldest young master of the Lou family detested this arranged fiancée?
Lou Minmin and her sister-in-law Song Ying exchanged a look, then curved their lips into knowing smiles. This brat wasn’t completely clueless after all.
Little did they know, in Lou Jingyi’s mind, accepting the gifts was simply a way to keep this scene from dragging on any longer. He had no desire to waste time over this dinner.
And so, Yan Hao accepted Lou Chang’s gift. Once the precedent was set, everyone else successively presented their own gifts as well. Since the first move had been made, Yan Hao had no choice but to accept them all.
During the dinner, Zhao Laifang introduced Yan Hao to the relatives who hadn’t been able to make it last time. Zhao Laifang smiled and told Yan Hao, “The last time we had a gathering this complete was for Yingying and Yangyang’s full-month celebration!”
Lou Chang and Zhao Laifang were getting older, and with their own siblings and close friends, frequent visits were inconvenient. Usually, they only crossed paths on major occasions. No wonder Zhao Laifang was so thrilled.
Yan Hao quietly reflected that the Lou family genuinely placed a high value on her marriage to Lou Jingyi.
It was past eleven o’clock at night before the guests finally began to disperse.
The Lou family had prepared guest rooms for everyone; since it was a rare reunion, they planned to stay and celebrate for another two or three days.
Yan Hao followed Lou Jingyi back to Jingyuan.
At the entrance of the old residence, Zhao Laifang tried to persuade them to stay a bit longer. “Are you really not staying the night at Grandma’s?”
As newlyweds, it was customary for them to remain at the old residence for a few days to chat with the relatives and friends.
“No,” Lou Jingyi replied. “I’m leaving on a business trip tomorrow.”
Zhao Laifang looked slightly reproachful. “You’re going on a business trip? You’re just going to leave Yan Hao all alone at Jingyuan?”
Lou Jingyi remained silent.
To smooth things over, Yan Hao chimed in, “Grandma, I’d rather go back to Jingyuan. I still have a lot of things to sort out there.”
Mostly, staying alone at the old residence surrounded by unfamiliar faces made Yan Hao feel somewhat awkward. It was better to wait until everyone else had returned to their own homes before coming back to keep the elderly couple company. Besides, since Lou Jingyi was leaving on a business trip tomorrow, she wanted to spend a little more time with him…
Hearing this, Zhao Laifang thought it over and decided it made sense—perhaps it was better to let them head back to enjoy some quality time together as a couple.
Pressing no further, Zhao Laifang simply instructed Lou Jingyi, “Treat Yan Hao well and stop burying yourself in work all the time.”
Lou Jingyi gave a perfunctory agreement, bade the others farewell, walked over to the passenger side, and opened the door.
Whenever people were around, he never subjected Yan Hao to any humiliation. This very habit created a false illusion—an illusion that Lou Jingyi was still quite satisfied with Yan Hao.
Watching the two of them head home together, the Lou family finally let out a collective sigh of relief. If they kept interacting like this, a proper wedding ceremony couldn’t be too far off.
The car came to a stop at the gates of Jingyuan. A security guard jogged over, intending to take the keys and park the vehicle in the garage.
Waving a hand in refusal, Lou Jingyi strode past him quickly. “No need.”
Puzzled, Yan Hao stepped out of the car. Is he still heading out at this time of night?
Just as Yan Hao finished changing into her slippers, she saw a servant coming downstairs carrying a small suitcase, with Lou Jingyi following close behind carrying a large coat.
Aunt Chen asked, “Eldest Young Master, you’re heading out this late?”
“Aunt Chen, I have an early flight tomorrow, so I’m going out to stay somewhere else tonight.”
An early flight…
Yan Hao gave a bitter internal smile. The eldest young master of the Lou family needed to check out of his own home a whole night early just to catch a flight? It was nothing more than an excuse.
Besides, she had quietly checked—Lou Jingyi’s plane ticket for tomorrow was scheduled for eleven in the morning… From Jingyuan to the airport, even with the worst traffic jams, it took at most an hour and a half…
Instead of questioning him, Yan Hao walked over to the water dispenser, poured a cup of warm water, and quietly headed upstairs.
As Lou Jingyi was changing his shoes, he caught sight of her walking upstairs without asking a single question.
Their current dynamic—where neither interfered with the other’s life—couldn’t possibly be more fitting.
At midnight, Lou Jingyi’s car arrived at Ren Mingchao’s bar.
“Well, well, look who graced us with his presence. As a newlywed, instead of staying home to keep your bride company, you come to my bar to drink your sorrows away?”
“Cut the crap.” Lou Jingyi tossed his coat aside casually. “Get me a drink.”
With a chuckle, Ren Mingchao pulled out a bottle to mix a drink. “Spit it out. Why are you out here this late?”
“Going on a business trip tomorrow.”
“Isn’t that tomorrow’s problem?” Ren Mingchao slid the glass across the counter and smiled. “Running away from your wife?”
“Get lost.”
“If you really don’t like her, just find a nice place to set her up and keep her comfortable. Why keep her trapped at home?”
“She is my wife.”
Unlike the mistresses those good-for-nothings casually stashed away in rented villas, Yan Hao was his legal wife. Even if it was an empty marriage in name only, she was still his rightful wife. If not for the business alliance, Yan Hao might have had other choices that were easily just as good as him, if not better.
He couldn’t bring himself to humiliate Yan Hao with that kind of arrangement, but keeping her at home, sharing the exact same room and living under the same roof—he simply couldn’t manage it either. It felt far too unnatural.
Fading the smile from his face, Ren Mingchao offered a suggestion, “Well, why don’t you try learning to like her?”
“Impossible,” Lou Jingyi answered decisively.
Having spent these past few years running himself ragged at the corporation, he had long since lost the emotional bandwidth to love someone. He had no way of imagining himself falling for anyone. Waking up meant going straight to work; outside of family and friendship, his life left zero room for romance.
After registering their marriage, he had considered continuing this loveless marriage with Yan Hao. But Yan Hao was only twenty-three this year; she deserved the right to fall in love with someone else and spend the rest of her life with a true partner.
Ending things early was the best option for everyone.