Su Manman waited until nightfall, but no second person came back.
She guessed Qin Xingyun had notified the other three.
After embellishing the story, none of them were willing to accept her.
Hmph!
As if she wanted them anyway.
Her gaze drifted to a single photo frame, and her mood instantly improved. She wanted this one.
Just looking at it made her happy.
But Old Master Qin couldn’t bear to part with him.
What was she supposed to do?
Then an idea struck her.
“Grandpa Qin, your grandson probably isn’t coming back. Let’s just forget about this marriage. Later I’ll burn incense for Grandpa and tell him your grandson thinks I’m ugly.”
A retreating advance—this immediately made Old Master Qin feel guilty.
Putting aside the life-saving grace, when the Su family was down on its luck, Su An had helped him quite a bit.
When the Su family fell into hardship, Shen Lanxin was afraid of troubling him and never once came to disturb him.
Now that Shen Lanxin was gone, her only request was to find a good marriage for her child.
If he couldn’t even do that, what kind of friend was he?
Thinking of this, his sense of loyalty flared up again, and he called once more.
The operator said they still couldn’t be reached.
“These brats!” Old Master Qin cursed.
Su Manman sniffled, forcing out nonexistent tears. “Everyone dislikes me… I’m not getting married anymore… sob…”
Old Master Qin hurriedly comforted her. “Manman, don’t be upset. They’re too shallow—they only look at appearances and don’t see your inner qualities. How about this, I’ll decide for you. It’s Xingyun. You’re about the same age. I’ll pull some strings and get your marriage certificate processed. Once it’s done, even if he disagrees, he has to accept it.”
Su Manman, shocked, forgot to fake cry. “You can pull strings for marriage registration? In that case, please marry me to your younger son instead.”
Old Master Qin trembled. “……No, that won’t do. You two aren’t suitable.”
Su Manman got angry. The grandson was fine, but why not the son?
“You’re keeping the most handsome one for yourself and still claiming to be friends of my grandparents? I say I won’t marry, and now you won’t allow it—are you treating me like a monkey?! I’m not that easy to fool.”
“This is my household registration book and introduction letter. Tomorrow, please use your connections to get me registered with your younger son. Then everyone will be happy. Otherwise… my grandmother’s skills are something I’m even more proficient in. You should know what that means.”
Because Aunt Zhao was present, she restrained her words.
Then she placed her documents on the coffee table.
Old Master Qin sighed. “Manman, a forced melon isn’t sweet.”
Su Manman immediately retorted, “If you don’t pick it and try it, how do you know whether it’s sweet or not?”
She stood up naturally and said to Aunt Zhao, “Please take me to the guest room. I want to rest.”
Old Master Qin: “……”
Aunt Zhao was stunned. Was this here to find a marriage partner, or was she a female bandit robbing a husband?
She looked at Old Master Qin for instructions.
“Take her there if she asked you to,” he said.
After Aunt Zhao and Su Manman left, Old Master Qin held his aching chest.
This chubby girl…
Back then Su An only dared to follow Shen Lanxin around like a shadow, but this girl directly threatened him.
What was he supposed to do now?
This was going to kill him.
That brat Xingyun—if he didn’t want it, he should’ve just left. Instead, he informed the others.
At the very least, the third one might agree, right?
He continued calling the third grandson.
……
Su Manman arrived at the guest room and looked around. White walls, a bed, a wardrobe, and a desk.
Simple, bright, and warm.
She was satisfied. She put her clothes and daily items into the wardrobe and arranged them neatly on the desk, then asked Aunt Zhao to prepare hot bath water.
Aunt Zhao looked unwilling, muttering under her breath: she hasn’t even entered the door yet and she’s already acting like the young mistress. With that appearance, what man would want her?
Su Manman waited until she left, then took out a pill from her bag and dropped it into the bathwater before undressing and soaking in it.
She didn’t notice the terrified eyes peeking through the crack in the curtains.
Aunt Zhao felt her scalp go numb, covering her mouth to avoid making any sound.
Heavens.
This woman wasn’t just fat.
She was also extremely ugly.
Her eyes were slits, nose upturned, mouth like a thick sausage.
She looked like a living ghost.
She had to tell the master.
She quietly left and went to the main hall.
Old Master Qin, wearing reading glasses, was bent over the table writing something. Seeing her, he quickly hid it.
“Is Manman asleep?”
Aunt Zhao swallowed hard. “Master… do you know why that girl keeps her face covered? She’s too ugly. Probably no second girl in all of Beijing is that ugly. No eyes, big nose, huge mouth… and her fat isn’t like normal fat either. Others’ fat moves—hers is stiff. It’s terrifying.”
Old Master Qin frowned. “Nonsense.”
“It’s true! She’s bathing right now. You should go see for yourself.”
Old Master Qin’s face darkened. “Do you hear yourself? Going to peek at a girl bathing?”
“I—I didn’t mean it like that…”
“Enough! I’ve had enough trouble today. Get out and don’t disturb me!”
He was already frustrated.
Four grandsons, none reliable.
In the end, he might still have to rely on his son.
But his son was so outstanding, while Manman seemed uneducated…
Sigh.
If he didn’t give up his son, he would be betraying his old friend.
What was he supposed to do?
……
Night fell coldly, moonlight spilling like scattered silver.
After bathing, Su Manman stepped out of the tub and looked in the mirror. Her swollen face and features had visibly reduced by half.
Her dark skin showed signs of peeling away.
Her thick arms and legs had also slimmed down significantly.
Tomorrow, she should be able to meet people.
She dried herself, applied a medicinal ointment for swelling and bruises, changed into loose sleepwear, and lay down.
Beijing’s living conditions were indeed good—outside it was freezing below zero, but indoors it was warm like spring.
After two days of travel and allergy suffering, she hadn’t been able to eat or sleep properly, so this was the perfect chance to rest.
When she woke again, sunlight slanted through the curtains.
She immediately checked the mirror. After sleeping, her condition had improved again.
Though still swollen, her face and features had mostly recovered.
Her blackened skin was peeling like a snake shedding its skin, revealing fair, delicate new skin underneath.
Tomorrow should be about right.
“Girl, are you up? You didn’t dump the bathwater last night, did you?”
Aunt Zhao knocked on the door hesitantly.
“Yes. The door isn’t locked, come in.”
Su Manman didn’t want to face Aunt Zhao’s snobbish gaze and lay back on the bed, turning her back to the door.
Aunt Zhao entered, glanced at her in disgust, then walked to the tub and was shocked by the murky bathwater.
She thought: even if the body was dirty, after soaking overnight it should be clear by now.
Why is it still murky?
And there’s a faint foul smell.
So unhygienic—has she never bathed before?
Su Manman, hearing the rustling behind her, said toward the wall, “Ask Grandpa Qin later whether the marriage certificate has been processed.”
Aunt Zhao froze.
Marriage certificate?
With who?
Did the master go out early this morning just for that?
She had already told him the girl was ugly—why didn’t he listen?
She had to inform the other family elders immediately.