As Qin Chengyi was thinking, he saw Su Luowan and her family already stepping into the courtyard.
Although Yao Guihua was also surprised at this moment—why would the Su family suddenly bring up breaking off the engagement?
But her son was so outstanding—what right did the Su family have to call it off?
If anyone were to break the engagement, it should be the Qin family going to the Su family, not the other way around.
With that in mind, Yao Guihua looked at the Su mother and her two children who had just entered the courtyard. A mocking smile curled at her lips as she said in a sarcastic tone:
“Oh my, isn’t this Sister Yuzhen? What brings the three of you to our house today?”
Lin Yuzhen had already seen Qin Xiaoxiu run back to report the news. Seeing Yao Guihua pretending to know nothing only made her feel disgusted.
Her eyes widened angrily as she glared at Yao Guihua and said:
“Yao Guihua, stop pretending you don’t know. We’re here today to break off the engagement. What your Qin family has done is truly disgusting!”
As she spoke, Lin Yuzhen walked straight to the small table in the courtyard and slammed the silver bracelet she was holding onto it.
“This is your engagement token—we’re returning it. Now give us ours back, and our two families will consider the marriage annulled!”
After saying that, she shot Qin Chengyi a contemptuous glance and continued:
“That way, Qin Chengyi won’t have to sneak around anymore whether he’s chasing Educated Youth Xu or Educated Youth Zhang!”
The moment those words were spoken, a wave of commotion erupted outside the gate. Villagers who had come to watch began whispering among themselves, growing noisier.
Qin Chengyi’s face flushed red, his eyes flickering nervously. He had no idea how the Su family found out about him and Xu Xiuqin.
But now that so many villagers were gathered at his door, there was no way he could admit it.
Just as he was about to defend himself, his mother Yao Guihua rushed forward and shouted at Lin Yuzhen:
“What Educated Youth? Lin Yuzhen, you can’t just slander people like that! Our Chengyi is a soldier—slandering a soldier is a crime!”
Su Luowan, worried that Yao Guihua might act aggressively, quickly stepped in front of Lin Yuzhen and said calmly:
“Aunt Guihua, Qin Chengyi and I can part on good terms. Just return the engagement token now, and everything will end peacefully.
But if you keep making a scene, the ones who’ll be embarrassed are your Qin family.”
As she spoke, she looked at Qin Chengyi and asked coldly:
“Qin Chengyi, what do you say?”
It was the first time Qin Chengyi had ever seen such a cold look in Su Luowan’s eyes.
Didn’t she always look at him with admiration and eagerness to please? What had changed?
And how had news of him and Xu Xiuqin gotten out?
“Luowan, where is all this coming from? Did you hear some rumors somewhere and just believe them?” he said, forcing himself to stay calm and trying to steer the conversation away.
By now, more and more villagers had gathered at the gate, craning their necks to watch.
Su Luonian, standing to the side, stomped her foot angrily and shouted:
“Qin Chengyi, stop playing dumb! Someone saw what you and Educated Youth Xu were doing—are you still trying to deny it?”
Qin Chengyi’s expression changed slightly, but he still argued:
“I did speak to Educated Youth Xu a few times, but it wasn’t anything as dirty as you’re making it sound.
I’m a soldier. There’s no way I would associate with another woman while being engaged.”
Hearing him speak so firmly, the villagers began to waver, unsure of what to believe.
Seeing this, Yao Guihua clung to the opportunity like a lifeline and quickly chimed in:
“Exactly! My Chengyi is an honest boy—how could he do something like that?
Someone must be spreading malicious rumors to ruin the relationship between our families!
And besides, everything needs evidence. If you keep slandering our Chengyi like this, you could end up in jail!”
As she spoke, she shot the Su family a sideways glance full of provocation.
Su Luowan watched the Qin family’s shameless behavior speechlessly. Out of the corner of her eye, beyond the low courtyard wall, she spotted a familiar figure.
A faint smile flickered in her eyes, and the corners of her lips lifted slightly as she looked at Qin Chengyi and said:
“Oh? So you’re saying you won’t marry Educated Youth Xu—and you also won’t break off the engagement with me, right?”
Qin Chengyi’s face shifted between pale and flushed. Though he was reluctant to give up Xu Xiuqin, he couldn’t admit anything now for the sake of his reputation.
Just as he was about to speak, everyone’s attention suddenly turned toward the gate.
At that moment, Xu Xiuqin appeared before the crowd.
The instant Qin Chengyi saw her, his expression changed, and he unconsciously took a step forward.
Su Luowan had been wondering how to drag this woman into the situation—she hadn’t expected Xu Xiuqin to walk in on her own.
This… couldn’t have worked out better.
Seeing Xu Xiuqin enter, Su Luonian curled her lips and questioned Qin Chengyi:
“And this is what you call ‘no relationship’? If there’s really nothing between you, why are you so nervous?”
Xu Xiuqin walked over to Qin Chengyi, glanced at the Su family and the crowd outside, then bit her lip and said:
“Everyone, please don’t misunderstand. Chengyi and I are completely innocent—just friends.
I came here because I don’t want misunderstandings to cause conflict.”
“Oh? ‘Chengyi,’ is it? Calling him so intimately, and you say there’s nothing? I don’t quite believe that,” Zhang Xiulan, who had rushed over, mocked.
“Yeah, I was just about to believe the Qin boy, but now I’m starting to believe Luowan instead!”
“I saw that Qin boy interacting privately with Educated Youth Xu a few days ago. I couldn’t see clearly from a distance then, but now it’s definitely them!”
…
Hearing the crowd’s comments, Qin Chengyi secretly resented Xu Xiuqin for showing up so rashly.
Xu Xiuqin, of course, sensed his displeasure—but what choice did she have?
She had finally managed to hook Qin Chengyi—how could she let this slip away?
Forcing herself to remain calm, she lifted her head, her eyes reddening as her voice trembled slightly:
“You’ve all misunderstood. Comrade Qin and I just happened to run into each other and chatted a little, that’s all!”
Su Luowan looked coldly at Xu Xiuqin and Qin Chengyi. Because of these two, the original owner of this body had lost her life.
Even if they weren’t directly responsible, it was because of them that she had been driven to such despair.
Now that she occupied this body, how could she let them off easily?
Still, judging by their faces, it seemed she might not even need to act—these two wouldn’t have easy lives anyway.
Su Luowan looked at Xu Xiuqin mockingly and asked:
“Educated Youth Xu( Xu Zhiqing), when you say ‘chatting a little,’ do you mean meeting in the woods, hugging, and kissing Qin Chengyi?”
Her words exploded like a bomb, instantly sending shockwaves through the crowd.
All eyes turned toward Xu Xiuqin, filled with shock and disdain.
Hearing this, Yao Guihua inwardly cursed Xu Xiuqin as a seductress.
No wonder Su Luowan, who liked her son so much, suddenly wanted to break off the engagement.
So the girl her son said he liked… could it be this Xu Xiuqin?
With that thought, Yao Guihua looked Xu Xiuqin up and down critically.
This woman had no hips, no strength, and wasn’t even as pretty as Su Luowan. What use would she be if married into the family—just for decoration?