“Chu Ningwan, this prince knew it was you stirring trouble behind the scenes!”
Accompanied by the furious shout, Shen Yu strode quickly toward them.
Su Qingyao, who had been panicking, seemed to see a savior. She weakly called out in his direction,
“Brother Yu, why are you here?”
“Yao’er, don’t be afraid. I came because I was worried someone with ill intentions might be troubling you.”
As he comforted Su Qingyao, Shen Yu shot a sharp, contemptuous glance at Chu Ningwan.
“Coming here today, I’ve finally seen someone’s true colors!”
Chu Ningwan’s gaze turned cold, but she said nothing. She wanted to see just how far Shen Yu would go for Su Qingyao.
Seeing that Chu Ningwan remained silent, Su Qingyao secretly rejoiced.
This woman really is something.
Just moments ago she was acting indifferent, and now that Brother Yu is here, she’s completely speechless.
Putting on a pitiful expression, she pretended to speak up for Chu Ningwan.
“Brother Yu, don’t blame Sister. She probably didn’t mean it.”
“Didn’t mean it?” Shen Yu sneered, his tone even more disdainful.
“I think she understands everything clearly. She’s just relying on your kindness, Yao’er. If it were anyone else, she wouldn’t dare act like this!”
“Chu Ningwan, don’t think you can act recklessly just because of past feelings. Now—”
Shen Yu lifted his chin and began issuing orders in a condescending tone.
But this time, Chu Ningwan interrupted him first.
“Shen Yu, didn’t you lose your memory? Why do you keep bringing up past feelings?”
Chu Ningwan clicked her tongue lightly.
“I think the one who can’t let go is you.”
“Chu Ningwan! What nonsense are you talking about!”
Shen Yu immediately erupted in anger, clenching his fists and glaring fiercely.
“In my heart, there will only ever be Yao’er!”
“If you hadn’t stirred up misunderstandings in front of my mother and caused her to misunderstand Yao’er, I wouldn’t have even come here!”
Su Qingyao, standing beside him, looked deeply moved.
“Brother Yu, you’re so good to me…”
Watching the two of them display affection so openly in front of her, Chu Ningwan let out a mocking laugh.
In her previous life, if she had seen Shen Yu’s true face earlier, she wouldn’t have suffered so miserably—or dragged everyone around her into ruin.
She had thought Shen Yu’s appearance here was because of the annulment of the engagement.
But now it seemed he didn’t even know about it yet.
Perfect.
Shen Yu, seeing her silence, became even more arrogant.
“Chu Ningwan, if not for our engagement, I wouldn’t have agreed at all.”
“Tomorrow, I may allow you and Yao’er to enter the residence together, but once you’re in, you’d better behave yourself. Otherwise, don’t blame me for being unkind!”
“Are you done talking?”
During Chu Ningwan’s brief moment of distraction, Shen Yu seemed to have worked himself into even more baseless assumptions.
Or perhaps it was because his previous life had been too smooth—now, after being reborn, his arrogance knew no bounds.
“Shen Yu, who told you I’m going to marry you?”
Chu Ningwan gave a cold snort, her tone full of disdain.
Shen Yu froze, then frowned sharply as he looked at her.
Almost instinctively, he asked,
“Chu Ningwan, what do you mean?”
In his mind, Chu Ningwan had always been the kind of woman who would obediently lower her head and apologize.
For her to act this way now was completely unacceptable.
“Don’t you know? A few hours ago, His Majesty sent an imperial edict dissolving our engagement.”
“To be precise, you and I are no longer related in any way.”
Chu Ningwan spoke slowly and calmly.
“Shen Yu, your beloved is right beside you, and she’s even carrying your child. You should be more careful—don’t do anything that might make her misunderstand.”
“Otherwise, someone will be heartbroken again.”
With that, she turned to leave.
But Shen Yu would not let her go so easily.
Especially after hearing about the annulment.
He had already prepared a bridal sedan for tomorrow, intending to give Chu Ningwan a “lesson” before bringing her into the household.
And now everything had fallen apart.
Shen Yu’s mind was in chaos; this outcome was completely beyond his expectations.
“Chu Ningwan, don’t think you can make me believe such nonsense.”
“Whether you believe it or not, go back and see for yourself. Or better yet, ask the one standing next to you who clearly knows the truth.”
Chu Ningwan didn’t want to waste any more time entangling with him.
Shen Yu tried to chase after her, but Su Qingyao grabbed him.
“Brother Yu, don’t chase her. Sister is probably just in a bad mood.”
“Yao’er, tell me—what she said about the imperial annulment… is it true?”
With Chu Ningwan already gone, and the matter involving the Emperor himself, Shen Yu knew she wouldn’t dare speak recklessly.
After hesitating, Su Qingyao finally replied,
“It… it’s true. But I don’t know exactly what happened.”
She observed Shen Yu’s expression carefully and then cautiously asked,
“Brother Yu, now that your engagement with Sister is broken… does that mean tomorrow’s wedding won’t happen anymore?”
Her eyes reddened as she spoke, looking pitiful and fragile.
Shen Yu, still in shock, stood frozen for a moment.
The annulment was unbelievable to him.
In his previous life, Chu Ningwan would have apologized the moment he frowned.
How had everything changed so drastically?
Was it because he had protected Yao’er?
He muttered to himself before turning to Su Qingyao.
“Yao’er, don’t worry. I understand Chu Ningwan too well. She’s just throwing a tantrum and playing hard to get.”
“Such childish tricks—does she really think I can’t see through them?”
“Since the Emperor has annulled the engagement, that’s even better. At least you won’t suffer because of her status.”
Su Qingyao felt slightly confused by his words.
Had it not been for Madam Shen insisting that she could only enter the household if Chu Ningwan also married in, she wouldn’t be so anxious now.
“Brother Yu, will Sister still be marrying into the manor tomorrow with me?”
“Of course she will!”
Shen Yu said firmly.
“I’ve already spread the news. Now that the engagement is gone, my marriage proposal carries a different meaning.”
“If Chu Ningwan dares refuse at that time, she will be utterly disgraced in the capital!”
Not far away, at a corner, Chu Ningwan had not left.
She had expected it.
Shen Yu and Su Qingyao would surely still have their “bigger surprise” waiting for her.
Trying to force her into marriage through rumors and pressure?
She let out a cold laugh inwardly.
Very well.
She would be waiting.