Chapter 20: Have You Ever Considered Marrying Him?

After Wen Sui left, Si Yao was dragged out, her face pale and trembling as she looked at Xing Jue.

Gone was any trace of the aggrieved, pitiable look she’d worn in his arms yesterday; the smile had vanished from Xing Jue’s lips, his eyes filled only with an icy chill. “We don’t need a child. I’m marrying her. Go get things ready.”

“Who do you actually love?” Si Yao broke down, demanding, “Xing Jue, is it Xing A’ni you love, or is it Wen Sui? Who is it really? Who do you want to marry? Or is it that you don’t love anyone at all?”

It shouldn’t be like this.

After their engagement, the affection Xing Jue had shown Xing A’ni over the years couldn’t have been feigned. Nor could his exceptions for Wen Sui. No matter who he loved, it was still love—so why was he still holding on to her?

“I love them both.” With a cool detachment, Xing Jue wiped the tears from her cheek, his fingertip pressing against her lips. “It doesn’t matter who I marry. But you can’t leave, because I… I can’t tolerate being used. You manipulated me into an engagement once, and now you want to do it again with marriage. Sister Yao, do I really seem so easy to fool?”

Si Yao staggered away to the bathroom, retching for several minutes. She splashed her face with handful after handful of cold water, pounded the wall in despair, then after a long moment, steadied her breath, clenched her fists, and went home to call and inform the old master that Xing Jue was going to marry Wen Sui.

On the other end, he frowned. “Who is Wen Sui?”

Si Yao embellished Wen Sui’s family background a little, but her grandfather still flew into a rage.

That afternoon, Xing Ke arrived, ignoring the servants’ gazes as he asked Si Yao what she was thinking and what plans she had for the future.

Si Yao herself didn’t know what she was thinking. Her mind was a mess. She only knew that since there was no need for a child, all that remained was to secure her grandfather’s approval for Wen Sui to marry in. Compared to her previous plan—faking a pregnancy—this was a hundred times safer.

As they spoke, a commotion rose at the door.

Grandfather had returned, bringing Xing Jue with him.

Xing Jue halted in front of Si Yao, glancing at Xing Ke. “When did you get here?”

“Just now,” Xing Ke replied, glancing at Si Yao, whose hands were nervously twined together, her mind clearly elsewhere. “I came about your wedding. To see you.”

Xing Jue let out a long, drawn-out “Oh,” checked his phone, then followed Grandfather upstairs to the study, a meaningful smile on his lips.

Xing Ke watched his retreating figure for a moment, frowning, then bid farewell and left.

Upstairs, the sound of angry reprimands and shouting rang out as soon as the two entered, even a set of tea ware was smashed.

The old master ordered Xing Jue to be suspended from work and confined at home for reflection—he was not to go anywhere until he’d thought things through.

Si Yao entered to tidy up the chaos.

Suddenly, Xing Jue remarked, “The price of marrying her is truly steep.”

There was a note of complaint in his voice, though it was unclear whom he was blaming.

Si Yao said nothing, broom in hand, stepping around his feet to sweep by his side.

He caught her sleeve.

Xing Jue straightened, cigarette between his lips. “Will you help me?”

His eyes glinted with a hint of mockery.

Si Yao’s hands slowly curled into fists.

Xing Jue gave a slight smile. “Will you? If not, I’ll just marry A’ni—it’s certainly easier with her.”

“Is marriage so casual for you?” she asked.

“No. It’s just a matter of choosing between two people. I’m a bit hesitant.” Xing Jue released her sleeve, crossed his legs, and propped his chin on his hand, the ember of his cigarette smoldering dimly in the dark study. “I’m curious—do you prefer Xing A’ni, or Wen Sui?”

Did she hate A’ni more for causing her to lose Bai Yu’s child, or did she long more than ever to escape the family she’d sworn for twenty-one years to leave behind?

Si Yao paused for a long time, then resumed cleaning in silence.

Night fell completely. She locked the doors but still said nothing.

The next day, Grandmother came to the house, and Si Yao gave Xing Jue her answer.

She would rather remain a servant in the Xing family for the rest of her life than ever let Xing A’ni have her way.

Clasping Grandmother’s hand, she spoke earnestly in Wen Sui’s favor. She was young, yes, but that meant she had more years ahead to bear children. Even with a cesarean, if she took time to recover, she could bear three—let alone a natural birth.

She went on to describe the advantages of a modest family background, emphasizing again and again that A’ni’s lineage was of little use to Xing Jue, and would only leave others with the impression that things had gotten out of hand.

After all, even though A’ni had changed her surname, she still called her uncle and aunt “Mom and Dad,” and there had always been a rift between her uncle, Xing Jue, and Grandfather.

Grandmother was silent for a long time before she squeezed Si Yao’s hand and asked, “Have you never thought of ending up with Jue? After all… you’re already twenty-nine.”