Chi Zhenghao looked down at Xia Zhuyu’s tear-streaked face, his expression indifferent.
He hadn’t known Xia Zhuyu for long, so naturally, there were no deep feelings between them.
The reason he had agreed to meet Xia Zhuyu with marriage in mind, and even to marry her, was because of Chi Yanzhou.
As part of the Chi family’s third generation, he had always been compared to Chi Yanzhou since childhood.
But Chi Yanzhou was simply too outstanding, leaving Chi Zhenghao perpetually overshadowed.
The world only knew of Chi Yanzhou, while no one recognized Chi Zhenghao.
Chi Zhenghao had long grown weary of this existence.
He worked tirelessly, striving to prove that he was no worse than Chi Yanzhou.
Yet before he could compete fairly with Chi Yanzhou to determine who was superior, Chi Yanzhou suffered severe injuries and fell into a coma.
He even ended up in a vegetative state, possibly never to wake again.
This sudden turn of events left Chi Zhenghao’s long-standing efforts without a target, leaving him feeling hollow inside.
Since he could no longer prove his capabilities were on par with Chi Yanzhou’s, he had to find another way to demonstrate he was not inferior—from a different angle.
Chi Yanzhou, now unconscious, had married Xia Yuhuan, the Xia family’s biological daughter who had been found and brought back, yet was known for her lack of ambition and discipline.
Meanwhile, Chi Zhenghao, physically sound, could meet and marry Xia Zhuyu—renowned for her impeccable reputation, raised like a precious jewel since childhood, and though not the biological daughter, regarded as even more distinguished than the true heiress.
Xia Yuhuan and Xia Zhuyu were sisters from the same family. Since Xia Zhuyu was superior to Xia Yuhuan, marrying her would indirectly prove Chi Zhenghao was better than Chi Yanzhou, wouldn’t it?
After all, the person he married was not only not inferior to the one Chi Yanzhou married but was even better. From this perspective, it clearly showed he had thoroughly outdone Chi Yanzhou.
What Chi Zhenghao didn’t realize was that while he schemed, viewing others as pawns, he himself was merely a pawn in someone else’s game.
By now, Li Rouyue had recovered her composure.
Xia Jianyong helped her to her feet.
Li Rouyue hurriedly said to Chi Zhenghao, “Xiao Chi, Xia Yuhuan is just jealous because she married a vegetative man and can’t stand that Zhuzhu found someone as excellent as you. She’s deliberately spreading lies to ruin your engagement. You mustn’t fall for her tricks!”
Li Rouyue was frantic, fearing Chi Zhenghao might abandon Xia Zhuyu because of Xia Yuhuan’s words.
Upon hearing this, Chi Zhenghao responded calmly, “I will investigate what Xia Yuhuan said. If it turns out to be true, this engagement will be called off.”
To Chi Zhenghao, Xia Zhuyu was never someone irreplaceable. Thus, at such a moment, the decision was straightforward for him—without the slightest hesitation.
His words instantly drained the color from the faces of the Xia family members.
“Hao-ge, you can’t do this to me! We’ve been getting along so well these past few days. How can you abandon me because of that bitch Xia Yuhuan’s provocations?” Xia Zhuyu nearly broke down as she questioned him.
Her repeated use of “bitch” made Chi Zhenghao frown in discomfort.
He hadn’t expected Xia Zhuyu, who was widely praised for her grace and reputation, to spew such vulgar language, revealing a sharp and unrefined side.
Seeing that Xia Zhuyu was clearly on the verge of losing control, Chi Zhenghao had no intention of engaging further with her.
“We’ll talk after I verify whether Xia Yuhuan’s claims are true or not,” Chi Zhenghao said, then turned and left without another word.
Li Rouyue noticed Chi Zhenghao’s displeasure and quickly pulled back Xia Zhuyu, who still wanted to tug at him.
“It’s only right for our worthy nephew to verify the truth and investigate. There’s nothing wrong with that,” Li Rouyue said with a cheerful laugh.
Chi Zhenghao didn’t respond, striding away until his figure vanished from the family’s sight.
After he left, Xia Zhuyu couldn’t hold back a sharp scream.
“Damn that Xia Yuhuan! It’s all her fault! If it weren’t for her, Brother Hao wouldn’t treat me like this!”
“I’m going to kill her! I will definitely kill her!”
Having been pampered since childhood, getting whatever she wanted, the little princess couldn’t accept suffering repeated setbacks from some country bumpkin who had just returned a few days ago. Xia Zhuyu naturally felt resentful and unwilling.
Her hatred for Xia Yuhuan had reached its peak.
Li Rouyue also wanted Xia Yuhuan dead.
But she understood better that the key at this moment wasn’t Xia Yuhuan, but Chi Zhenghao.
She looked at Xia Jianyong: “Old Xia, given the current situation, is there any other way out?”
“Now we’re in a dilemma where it’s hard to back down. It’s not just about the possible failure of the marriage alliance anymore. If the Chi family finds out we deceived them and gets angry, what if they seek revenge?”
Xia Jianyong’s expression was equally grim: “It’s all that wretched girl’s fault, causing us nothing but trouble.”
As he spoke, a flash of ruthless malice crossed his eyes.
If Xia Yuhuan continued being disobedient and opposing him, then she would have no reason to exist for him.
He had managed to lose Xia Yuhuan once before – he could do it a second time now!
“Since things have come to this, Zhuzhu must marry Chi Zhenghao, otherwise our family will be in trouble!” Xia Jianyong gritted his teeth. “I’ll find a way to handle this.”
Although Xia Yuhuan didn’t know what had happened at the Xia residence after she left, she could imagine the scene must have been quite unpleasant.
But she didn’t care. Building her happiness on her enemies’ suffering was something worth celebrating for her.
She returned to the Chi residence in high spirits.
“Young Mistress, you’re back at this hour. Have you had lunch? If not, I can warm up the food for you,” Aunt Zhao asked hurriedly when she saw Xia Yuhuan return.
Xia Yuhuan had been busy dealing with the Xia family members earlier, and the conflict had erupted before she could finish her meal, so she naturally hadn’t eaten enough.
So she smiled and replied: “Thank you, Aunt Zhao. Could you please warm up the dishes for me? I’ll just have a quick bite.”
“Of course, please wait just a moment,” Aunt Zhao immediately agreed.
Then Aunt Zhao went to warm up the food for Xia Yuhuan.
Soon enough, the food was ready.
While sitting down to eat, Xia Yuhuan casually asked Aunt Zhao: “Aunt Zhao, are you busy right now?”
“Not at all, it’s rest time at noon now.”
“Then could you sit here and chat with me? Eating alone feels so boring and lonely,” Xia Yuhuan said with a pleading expression.
Aunt Zhao looked surprised but obediently sat on a nearby chair: “What would you like to chat about, Young Mistress?”
“I heard from Mom that you’ve been with the Chi family for decades? You must be very familiar with everyone in the Chi household then?” Xia Yuhuan asked with curiosity.
“Yes, I joined the Chi family at twenty, and it’s been forty-five years now.”
“I started by serving the old master, then later took care of the master, and now with the young master, it’s already the third generation. I’m getting old now and won’t be able to work many more years before returning to my hometown,” Aunt Zhao said with a cheerful laugh.
“Forty-five years? That’s truly a long time,” Xia Yuhuan expressed with surprise.
“Aunt Zhao looks very young though. You’ve maintained yourself so well, not looking sixty-five at all,” Xia Yuhuan marveled.
“I haven’t really done much maintenance. It’s just that the work at the Chi family isn’t heavy, and everyone treats me very well. When life is good, people don’t age as quickly,” Aunt Zhao replied, raising her hand to touch her face with a warm smile.
“Having been with the Chi family for so many years, you must know the family members quite well. Could you tell me a bit about them?” Xia Yuhuan ventured to ask further.