Kang Peiyun couldn’t help asking, “Why did you suddenly think of buying flowers today?”
Gu Jingcheng sat in the chair, wondering whether the bouquet would still look this good after being unwrapped. Distracted by the thought, he didn’t catch what Kang Peiyun had said and asked again, “Mom, what did you say?”
Kang Peiyun walked over to him just as the housekeeper brought over a vase. She casually took it from her.
“I asked you, why did you suddenly think of buying flowers today?”
Gu Jingcheng smiled. “Picked them up.”
He suddenly remembered that his mother knew the most about flowers and plants, so he said, “Mom, don’t you usually love arranging flowers? Help me put them into the vase exactly as they are.”
He had opened the wrapping earlier and noticed the roots inside were quite complicated.
Kang Peiyun looked at the simple flowers that had been stylishly wrapped into a bouquet and became interested as well.
“Alright.”
The two happily arranged the flowers together.
At the entrance, Old Master Gu Tao and Gu Qiwen returned one after the other.
Old Master Gu Tao was saying something while Gu Qiwen nodded repeatedly beside him.
Gu Jingcheng sat upright without moving. Under the table, Kang Peiyun kicked him lightly.
Only then did Gu Jingcheng call out flatly, his voice calm, “Grandpa. Dad.”
Gu Qiwen nodded in response.
Old Master Gu looked him up and down, then noticed him holding the vase. His expression immediately darkened.
“Jingcheng, you don’t care at all about the family’s affairs lately, yet you’re quite skilled at doing these kinds of things.”
Kang Peiyun spoke up for her son. “Dad, I like these flowers. I specifically asked Jingcheng to bring them back.”
Since his daughter-in-law had spoken, Old Master Gu’s expression softened slightly.
Looking at his absent-minded grandson, Old Master Gu spoke again. “The Meng family has sent word.”
The moment those words were spoken, everyone present subconsciously looked toward Gu Jingcheng.
Even the third son beside them couldn’t help breaking into a cold sweat.
Old Master Gu hesitated for a moment before continuing, “Your marriage arrangement with the Meng family’s eldest daughter has been settled. After the girl finishes her college entrance exams next year, you two will get married. The exact date will depend on when the Meng family proposes it.”
Gu Jingcheng suppressed his anger forcefully, his face completely cold.
“What freedom in love? What childhood sweethearts? Feelings between a man and a woman can be cultivated. Don’t talk to me about lacking emotional foundations, and don’t use dislike as an excuse.”
Perhaps realizing his tone had been too harsh, Old Master Gu’s voice softened a little.
“Jingcheng, I’ve lived my whole life. I won’t harm you, and I certainly won’t harm the Gu family. Can’t you understand that?”
Ignoring his mother’s head shake and disregarding Gu Qiwen desperately winking at him, Gu Jingcheng suddenly stood up from the stool.
His tone was indescribably cold.
“I’ll say it again—I won’t marry her! Even if I do, I could never fall in love with her, nor will I ever have any feelings for her.
If spending a lifetime together without love is the result all of you want, then I have nothing more to say.”
After speaking, he shook his head. Without caring about Old Master Gu’s expression, he walked past everyone and left.
Behind him, the old man’s cane struck the floor loudly.
“If Grandpa Meng hadn’t saved your father and the company back then, do you think you’d even have the chance to stand here and say these things?!”
Without turning back, Gu Jingcheng replied, “He saved my dad, not me. Then let my dad marry her!”
“You ungrateful brat!”
“Worthless descendant!”
Old Master Gu cursed furiously as Gu Jingcheng strode out through the courtyard gate.
“Brother, where are you going?” Gu Mingyue, who had just returned from school, asked when she saw her brother leaving with a dark expression.
Gu Jingcheng rubbed his younger sister’s short hair. “Going out to be a worthless descendant.”
Gu Mingyue: “…”
Inside the courtyard, Kang Peilan tried to calm the furious Old Master Gu.
“Dad, don’t be angry. Jingcheng has never liked this arranged marriage. You know that.”
Gu Qiwen also chimed in. “That’s right, Dad. Don’t lower yourself to arguing with Jingcheng.”
Old Master Gu shook his head angrily.
Thinking about her son’s intense reaction earlier, Kang Peilan cautiously asked in a soft voice, “Dad, does this marriage with the Meng family absolutely have to happen? Jingcheng and that girl haven’t even met, and they probably have nothing in common. If it’s just about repaying kindness, there’s no need to become relatives through marriage. Whatever the Meng family needs, we can do our best to provide it.”
Gu Qiwen added, “Exactly, Dad. Ever since you brought up the marriage with the Meng family, Jingcheng’s relationship with you has become terrible. He used to respect you the most. Can you really bear to see this?”
With both his son and daughter-in-law speaking up, Old Master Gu remained silent for a while, his brows tightly furrowed. Did he not know his grandson would resist this sudden marriage arrangement?
After a long time, Old Master Gu sighed and slowly said, “I know all of you think I’ve become senile and insist on interfering in Jingcheng’s marriage. But I can’t think only about Jingcheng’s attitude. I have to think about the entire Gu family.”
“Back then, after Old Master Meng saved Qiwen, he firmly refused to accept any money. I admit arranging a childhood engagement in such haste was somewhat reckless, but things reaching this point may not actually be bad.”
Kang Peiyun and Gu Qiwen exchanged confused glances.
“Dad, what do you mean?”
The old man replied, “You’ve seen the news in the newspapers lately. Although the business environment has improved greatly compared to before, if new rectification policies are introduced, whether our factories can survive is another matter entirely. Our entire family could be placed in danger.”
“At a time like this, becoming relatives with the Meng family is also proof that we keep our promises. Besides, Jingcheng is already at marriageable age. It’s something beneficial for both sides, so why not do it?”
“And the Meng family’s daughter is definitely different from others. Her grandfather was a heroic martyr. The family searched desperately for one lost granddaughter, even spending their entire fortune. That shows they aren’t a family that favors sons over daughters. How could a girl raised in such a family possibly have poor character?”
“When choosing a wife, virtue matters most. If Jingcheng already had someone he loved, that would be another matter. I’m not an unreasonable old man. But right now, he’s completely single. We can’t indulge his temper in everything.” The old man slapped the table, his tone unpleasant. “It’s time he contributed something to the family.”
The heartfelt speech left Kang Peiyun and Gu Qiwen speechless.
The old master was older, more farsighted, and considered things more deeply than they had.
“Dad, you really have thought farther ahead,” Gu Qiwen said. “We’ll try persuading Jingcheng again.”
Old Master Gu left leaning on his cane.
The husband and wife looked at each other in silence.
“Mom, Dad, I’m home from school. My brother said he was going out to be a worthless descendant. What happened?”
Father Gu and Mother Gu: “…”
Meanwhile, in Meng Family Village—
After starving for an entire day, Meng Yu finally saw Meng Yao return home.
“Sis, where did you go? Why didn’t you leave me breakfast this morning? I’m starving to death! Did you bring me anything to eat?”
Meng Yu immediately bombarded Meng Yao with complaints the moment she entered.
Usually, every time Meng Yao went to the county town, she would bring back snacks for her.
Meng Yao expressionlessly set down her schoolbag and coldly uttered two words:
“No.”