At eleven o’clock in the evening, Gong Ming’s car finally drove away from the Cheng Family. The moment Cheng Youyi stepped inside, she was immediately intercepted by Cheng Youheng.
The young man stretched out his fair, long arm to block her path, looking at her meaningfully. “Cheng Youyi, confess honestly. Where did you go on a date? Why are you back so late? That car downstairs—could it be your lover dropping you off?”
His words clearly struck a nerve. Cheng Youyi had already been in a foul mood after being teased by Gong Ming all evening, and now she had no desire to deal with him. She glanced at Cheng Youheng and walked straight past him, heading toward her room.
“Stop!” Cheng Youheng called out to her again. “If you don’t tell me, I’ll send the evidence to your fiancé and see how he deals with you.”
“That car in our garage is so conspicuous—don’t tell me you don’t know about it? I took photos earlier. I bet that car has something to do with you.”
Furious, Cheng Youyi glared at him. “What fiancé? What fiancé are you talking about? Don’t just decide things on your own, okay? I’m going to break off this engagement sooner or later. If you want to marry him, go ahead and do it yourself.”
“Damn, breaking off the engagement? I was just joking, but you really have something new going on?” Cheng Youheng widened his eyes in feigned surprise. “I’m going to tell Dad, Mom, and Grandpa right now, so they know you’ve been fooling around with a male classmate to this extent! You even want to break off the engagement.”
“Cheng Youheng!” Cheng Youyi stomped her foot angrily. “Can you just stop? Don’t make a scene. That wasn’t my male classmate—it was Uncle Gong from the Gong Family. He came to visit tonight.”
“Uncle Gong?! Gong Ming?! With you?” Having successfully tricked her into revealing the truth, Cheng Youheng pointed at Cheng Youyi, pretending to be shocked.
“…Yes, so can you stop now?” Thinking about what had happened earlier in the garage, Cheng Youyi felt guilty and avoided meeting his gaze, even though she knew Cheng Youheng hadn’t seen her. As a result, she didn’t notice his clumsy acting.
“Cheng Youyi, aren’t you being a bit too confident? Who is Uncle Gong? How could he possibly be interested in you? Besides, didn’t Uncle Gong leave a long time ago? If you’re going to lie, at least get your facts straight. Don’t make a fool of yourself.”
“You’re secretly hooking up with a male classmate behind your fiancé’s back. This kind of behavior is going to harm me and the entire Cheng Family.” Cheng Youheng began raising his voice, his goal being to attract the attention of the entire Cheng Family.
“I already told you, that car belongs to Uncle Gong from the Gong Family, who came to visit. It has nothing to do with me. Believe it or not, it’s up to you. And stop calling him ‘fiancé’ on your own. If you think it’s such a good match, go tell Mom and Dad and marry him yourself.”
Seeing him grow louder and louder, Cheng Youyi grew anxious. For some reason, Cheng Youheng had taken an interest in her affairs today.
“If I could marry him myself, why would I need you? I think you’re just feeling guilty, which is why you want to break off the engagement.” Cheng Youheng pretended to be furious as he questioned her. “Have you ever thought about what will happen to the Cheng Family? What will happen to me? Are you trying to ruin me?”
“What will happen to you? Shouldn’t you be asking yourself that? Your future depends on your own efforts, not on others’ charity! It’s not me who’s ruining you—it’s yourself.” Cheng Youyi’s pent-up emotions finally erupted. She blurted out, “Cheng Youheng, I never expected you to become like this too. I’m so disappointed.”
Cheng Youheng was stunned by the shout, having been too immersed in the act earlier and momentarily forgetting how to continue.
Their argument had indeed successfully drawn everyone’s attention. Father Cheng, Mother Cheng, and Grandpa Cheng all hurried over upon hearing the commotion.
Seeing Cheng Youyi standing there with reddened eyes, looking utterly wronged, Grandpa Cheng frowned slightly and asked, “What’s all this noise about? It’s the middle of the night, and you’re not sleeping—just doing things that bring shame to the family!”
Seeing this, Cheng Youheng lowered his head and called out guiltily, “Grandpa, I’m sorry for waking you.”
Meanwhile, Cheng Youyi beside him just kept her head down without saying a word.
Mother Cheng took Cheng Youyi’s hand and patted the back of it earnestly, saying, “You You, you’re about to get engaged soon. How can you still be so reckless? If there’s something, talk it out properly with your brother. What’s the point of all this shouting and arguing? Besides, you’re the older sister—you should be more accommodating.”
As soon as Mother Cheng said this, Cheng Youheng immediately perked up. Deliberately provoking her, he winked at Cheng Youyi and said, “See? Mom told you to give in to me.”
“Shut up—” Cheng Youyi bit her lip, trembling with anger.
Grandpa Cheng looked at Cheng Youyi and reprimanded her sternly, “You You, Youheng is still young. As the older sister, you should be more tolerant.”
“Why should I? He’s already gone too far…” Cheng Youyi protested, her eyes red with dissatisfaction.
Seizing the opportunity, Cheng Youheng quickly added fuel to the fire: “Because everything I just said was for your own good. Stop thinking about calling off the engagement all the time, and don’t go fantasizing about other men. Being able to marry someone like my brother-in-law is already pretty good for you. Don’t be so picky.”
“Cheng Youheng, what nonsense are you talking about? It’s one thing to say I want to call off the engagement, but when have I ever had feelings for other men? If you dare, say it clearly right now. Dad, Mom, and Grandpa are all here. If you have any evidence, bring it out. Don’t you dare slander me!”
Upon hearing this, Cheng Youyi wished she could beat this shameless guy to death, but because she had to consider the people standing beside him, she could only suppress the urge to slap him.
“You insolent child! Do you think this marriage is something you can just call off as you please? The alliance between the Gong and Cheng families is a matter of citywide attention. Do you think it’s child’s play? Since you were born into the Cheng Family, you should understand that matters of love and romance are not for you to consider.”
After saying this, Grandpa Cheng gave Cheng Youheng a meaningful look and returned to his room.
In the end, it was Father Cheng who stepped in to ease the tension: “Enough, Youheng. Say no more and go back to your room. Youyi, come with me.”
Hearing this, Cheng Youheng glanced up at Father Cheng. Seeing that the situation had developed sufficiently, he felt relieved and hurried back to his room to report the news.
Meanwhile, Mother Cheng, thinking her precious son was upset, followed behind him, explaining repeatedly, “Heng Heng, don’t be angry. Your father is just upset right now. He didn’t mean to say those things to you.”
Cheng Youheng’s mind was elsewhere entirely, focused only on striding away with long steps.
As for Cheng Youyi, she obediently followed Father Cheng into the study.
“You You, tell Dad honestly—do you have someone you like? Who is it? Is it really as your brother said? Do you have feelings for someone else?”
“…” Cheng Youyi opened her mouth to deny it but didn’t know where to start. In the end, she simply closed her mouth and said nothing.
Seeing this, Dad sighed and comforted her: “You You, you’re already nineteen years old, not young anymore. It’s time to settle down and think about the family. Don’t keep talking about breaking off the engagement so casually.”
“I know you don’t want to marry, I understand all that. But don’t you see the situation we’re in now? Marrying into the Gong family is nothing but beneficial for our Cheng Family. Besides, Old Master Gong and your grandpa are old comrades-in-arms, with a deep friendship. If you keep stubbornly insisting on breaking off the engagement like this, are you trying to plunge our Cheng Family into turmoil?”
Dad paused, then continued earnestly: “As for your feelings for other boys, I understand that too. Girls wanting to fall in love is normal, but you have to realize that being born into the Cheng Family means you’re not like others. Your marriage was personally arranged by your grandpa, and it’s not up to you to decide.”
“You should understand that your marriage concerns the survival of the entire Cheng Family. And what your brother said is right—this match is a good one. Don’t keep being picky anymore.”
By the end, Dad’s tone was almost pleading: “Please, for the sake of the Cheng Family, don’t cause any more trouble. Wait peacefully for the engagement. Mom and I will take care of everything else for you.”
Cheng Youyi listened, feeling disheartened. She said softly, “I’m tired. I’m going back to my room to rest. Tomorrow I’ll return to stay at school.”
“Ah, you…” Seeing his daughter so stubborn, Dad could only sigh helplessly before getting up and returning to his own room.