Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio
Nan Yan took Nan Xian’s arm as they walked through the cobblestone courtyard and came to the gate of the parking garage. She noticed that Nan Xian’s gaze had been on her, and she looked down at her attire in confusion. She raised her hand and touched her cheek and asked puzzledly, “Sister, why are you looking at me like that? Is there anything on my face?”
“Yan Yan, tell me the truth. About that Fu Xiao, what do you think?” Nan Xian looked at her sister’s beautiful porcelain face, but she felt that she couldn’t read the young girl’s mind.
When she’d first talked about this marital arrangement, which had been agreed upon when she was very young, she didn’t resist much but accepted it instead. After she first met Fu Xiao, they’d also asked her for her opinion. She said he was decent, and they thought that meant that she liked Fu Xiao. However, now that Fu Xiao had called off the marriage, she acted so calm that it was as if it had nothing to do with her at all. She was very tranquil about the marriage’s nullification, and she didn’t appear sad in the slightest.
“I don’t think anything about it.” Nan Yan smiled contentedly.
“Do you really have no feelings for Fu Xiao?”
“How could I feel anything for him if I have only met him twice?” Nan Yan raised her eyebrows and put her hands behind her back. “Moreover, it seems as if the Fu family is very complicated, and joining it would be like stepping into an abyss. I have no desire to fall into a firepit so soon in my life. Now that he has called off the marriage from his side, that’s okay. Now I don’t need to think of an excuse to make this marriage contract fall through.”
“You actually wanted to make this marriage fall through?”
Nan Yan smiled playfully and made a silent gesture to Nan Xian. “You can’t tell our parents about this. I didn’t resist before because the marriage was decided by Grandfather, so I couldn’t say anything. I really think that the Fu family taking the initiative to call off this marriage is the best for us all.”
Nan Xian listened to her, then sighed deeply, and glared at her. “I know that you’ve always had your own opinions and your own ideas, but your words are indeed true. The situation of the Fu family is indeed very complicated, and Fu Xiao’s mother isn’t easy to get along with. If you married into the family, you would inevitably suffer grievances. Both Ah-mo and I didn’t agree with this marriage because we were afraid that you would suffer grievances. Now, the other side has proposed to call off the marriage. If Dad visits tomorrow, things could be settled, and I would be relieved.”
“All right, sister, be careful when you drive, get more rest, and eat regularly. Mom is right. You are a little thinner. Don’t worry about my business. You are already busy enough.” Nan Yan nodded obediently and smiled sweetly at Nan Xian.
“Okay, then I’ll go now. If you need anything, you can call me at any time, got it?”
“All right, okay, sister. Be careful on your way back to work.”
Nan Yan watched Nan Xian get into the car and then watched the white BMW gradually drive away and disappear into the hazy night. She raised her eyes to appreciate the silvery-white moonlight sparkling in the deep blue sky. She took a deep breath. She felt a palpable sense of relief.
Nighttime in March was still cold. The wind chilled her to the bone and made her shiver. She rubbed her arms and hurried back to the house.
The next day in the early morning, the golden sunlight peeked into her room through the blinds. The dazzling light made Nan Yan, who was still heavily asleep, wrinkle up her face unhappily, turn over, stuff her head under the quilt, and continue to sleep.
Ye Jingya was watching her. She went over and lifted off her quilt. “Get up quickly. The sun is shining.”
Upon hearing her familiar voice, Nan Yan opened one eye and looked at her mother with great difficulty. Then she snatched the quilt back from her. “Mom, what are you doing? Can’t you let me have some good sleep so early in the morning?”
“Get up quickly. Your father is going to the Fu family’s house, and you need to go along as well.” Ye Jingya smacked her in mock anger and then pulled her quilt away again.
Nan Yan felt completely indifferent. As Ye Jingya was about to persuade her again, she opened her eyes suddenly and sat up. Looking at Ye Jingya in confusion, she asked, “I’m also going? Why?”
“Yes, so hurry up and wash up and get dressed. Your dad is waiting for you downstairs.”
“What am I going to do?”
“You’re the main party involved, so of course you have to go. Get up quickly.”
Under Ye Jingya’s insistent urgings, Nan Yan got up reluctantly, washed and dressed, and went downstairs. After eating a simple breakfast, she went to the Fu family’s house with Nan Shang.
This was the second time that Nan Yan had been to the Fu family’s castle. The first time that she had come was three years ago on the 70th birthday of the Fu family’s old master, Fu Tingyuan, and it was also the day when she’d first met Fu Xiao.
As they got out of the car, the old butler of the Fu family greeted them and took them to the main banquet hall. Along the way, with a gregarious smile on her face, Nan Yan admired the Fu family’s castle.
It hadn’t changed much. It was still as extravagant and luxurious as it had been three years ago. In comparison, their courtyard-style villa of more than 700 square feet was indeed pretty shabby.
When they arrived at the banquet hall, Fu Tingyuan stood up and shook hands with Nan Shang, and they said a few words. When his eyes fell on Nan Yan, Nan Yan said, “Hello, Grandpa,” very politely.
She and Fu Xiao had had a marriage contract, so it was appropriate to call him Grandpa.
The old man praised how Nan Yan was becoming more and more beautiful, and then the three of them took their seats, as the butler brought the tea.
“Grandpa, I’m back.” Before either of the parties had mentioned the divorce, a pleasant male voice sounded at the door of the banquet hall.
Nan Yan was drinking her tea, and she slowly looked over. A handsome figure in a khaki coat appeared, but suddenly she remembered a memory from two weeks ago when she’d seen the man who was walking toward them holding the hand of another beautiful girl. They had been shopping, talking, and laughing affectionately.
It was undeniable that Fu Xiao’s appearance was really impeccable. He was really good-looking. It was only his personality that was flawed. Nan Yan was at a loss for words, since she didn’t have any particular feelings about her marriage getting called off, and in fact, she couldn’t have been more in agreement.
Fu Xiao felt a bit flustered and helpless at first, but when he saw Nan Shang and Nan Yan sitting there, he was stunned. He seemed to understand something. He walked over and nodded to say hello to Old Master Fu. “Grandpa.” Then he looked at Nan Shang and said politely, “Uncle Nan.”
Nan Shang looked up and down at Fu Xiao and then snorted disapprovingly. “Master Fu Xiao, I dare not accept that address.”
Old Master Fu gestured with his eyes, and Fu Xiao sat down on the opposite sofa awkwardly. He looked at Nan Yan’s beautiful porcelain face instinctively.
Nan Yan felt his gaze and didn’t avoid it. Instead, she greeted him generously, smiled slightly, and continued to sip the tea she was holding.
“Old Master Fu, the marriage contract between Yan Yan and your eldest grandson has been set for more than 20 years. Now that you want to call it off, you simply announced it directly on the Internet without giving us a heads-up. You really don’t take our Nan family seriously at all, do you?” Nan Shang put down the teacup and refused to even look at Fu Xiao. He looked directly at Old Master Fu.