Grandpa Bai sat in a rattan chair in the courtyard, listening to the conversation between Xu Hualan and Aunt Zhang.

"Qianmo and Aye like braised beef, Aunt Zhang, make this dish first."

"Yes, ma'am."

Old Bai pursed his lips, picked up the purple teapot from the small bamboo and rattan table beside him, and took a sip of tea from the spout.

He scoffed inwardly; he had no intention of letting this kid stay for dinner.

As long as Qianmo and Bowen can get along, I don't believe they can't be broken up.

"Dad, it's getting windy outside, you should go back inside." Bai Kangcheng came out with a blanket and covered Bai Lao's legs.

Old Bai looked at his eldest son: "We can't go in. I need to overwhelm the enemy with my presence the moment he enters."

Bai Kangcheng rubbed his forehead, saying helplessly, "You're even bringing out all those bureaucratic tricks?"

Old Bai snorted: "That kid is very cunning. Without some psychological tactics, it's really hard to deal with him. You should sit down too; the two of you working together will be more effective."

"Dad, I think I'll pass..."

Elder Bai said dignifiedly, “Sit down!”

Bai Kangcheng only managed to say half of his refusal before helplessly sitting down in the rattan chair next to Old Master Bai.

The two of them stared wide-eyed at the front door.

"Dad, if you do this, Qianmo will be in a very difficult position. To put it bluntly, this is like breaking up a loving couple. Wouldn't you become like that cruel elder in the opera who heartlessly separates lovers?"

Old Bai sipped his tea and said slowly, "I didn't mean to break up a couple; I was just giving Qianmo another option."

Bai Kangcheng frowned and said, "Judging from Qianmo's expression just now, she doesn't seem to have any interest in the third son of the Cui family."

"Feelings take time to develop. If Qianmo and Bowen get together, that would be great. If not, I'll find another way for her."

"Why can't Gu Jueye do it?"

Old Bai's eyes widened as he glanced at Bai Kangcheng: "With a family like the Gu family, wouldn't Qianmo be skinned alive if she married into that family?"

Bai Kangcheng disagreed: "Are you underestimating your granddaughter? There must be a reason why someone like Gu Jueye would fall for Qianmo."

"That's true. Qianmo is indeed very outstanding. It's precisely because of her excellence that we don't want her to be kept in a cage like the Gu family, like a canary."

Upon hearing the old man's words, Bai Kangcheng was speechless for a moment, and he could even understand the old man's thoughts at that moment.

As the two were talking, two people walked in together from outside the door.

Upon seeing the newcomer, Old Bai's face scrunched up in deep frown.

"Why did you two come back together? Where's Bowen?" Old Bai tilted his head and peered towards the door.

Bai Qianmo walked to Bai Lao's side.

"He went back."

"Go back? How could he go back so soon? Did you chase him away, girl?"

Bai Qianmo looked wronged: "You can call him and ask if he really wanted to go back on his own."

He didn't even say goodbye to her. When she turned around, there was no one there.

Old Bai's deep, sharp eyes shifted from Bai Qianmo's face to Gu Jueye's.

He thought to himself, "This brat must have used some tricks. Well, he dares to scheme against me."

"Qianmo, go to the kitchen and help your aunt."

Bai Qianmo looked at Gu Jueye with a hint of worry in her eyes. Gu Jueye gave her a reassuring look and reached out to pat her head affectionately: "Go ahead."

Old Bai's eyes were like two sharp swords, piercing Gu Jueye's slender hand.

"Watch your image. What kind of behavior is this in front of your elders?"

Bai Qianmo: "..."

The old man's mood changed so quickly; I just remember how he and Gu Jueye were like brothers. The old man's heart is truly unfathomable...

Gu Jueye's handsome face remained calm and composed, unaffected by Old Master Bai's words.

Bai Kangcheng, standing to the side, carefully examined the young man in front of him.

He secretly praised him, no wonder the Beijing circle held this younger generation of the Gu family in such high esteem. This young man was impeccable in both appearance and demeanor.

It's no wonder the old man was worried; a man as outstanding as him is never short of women who would flock to him like moths to a flame.

He could understand why Cui Bowen had left in such a hurry; facing such a strong competitor could indeed make one lose confidence.

Old Bai called Gu Jueye to his study alone.

"Tell me, what will it take for you to leave Qianmo?" Old Bai asked bluntly.

Gu Jueye replied without hesitation, "That's impossible."

Old Bai glared coldly at Gu Jueye and snorted, "Gu Jueye, you're a smart man. You can see that I don't approve of Qianmo being with you. Your Gu family is too complicated. I don't want my granddaughter to jump into a fire pit."

How do you know it's a pit of fire?

"Hmph, I know a little about the Gu family. Putting aside your grandparents, just look at your brothers from the collateral branches who are your generation. Which one of them is easy to deal with? And your parents, I've been asking around about your Gu family lately. At your birthday banquet a while ago, your mother publicly mocked the gift Qianmo gave you. This shows that your Gu family elders don't like her. If she really marries you, she'll face all sorts of difficulties from the Gu family elders. Although my Bai family can't compare to your Gu family, we're not so desperate as to sell our daughters for personal gain. Even if Qianmo never gets married, our Bai family can still support her."

As soon as he finished speaking, Old Bai stared at Gu Jueye with a warning look in his wise and profound eyes.

"If you care about her, you should let her live a happier and more joyful life."

"The Gu family's situation has never been an issue between us. As for whether my family can accept Qianmo, you don't need to worry about that. My two elders like her very much. As for my parents, I will handle that personally before the wedding. I will never leave such a problem to make things difficult for them after the wedding."

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