Chapter 14 About Engagement and Marriage
The man on the shore had an unpredictable look in his eyes, with a complex light flickering in his pupils.
He took out his cell phone and called Xu Ruochu, who was walking with a man, but a mechanical female voice came out of the receiver.
"The number you dialed is powered off."
The man frowned slightly, watching Xu Ruochu and Huo Ran walking further and further away, his expression became a little gloomy, and finally he put away his phone.
Lin Yuan came over with two bottles of freshly bought purified water. Noticing that Gu Yixiao looked very unhappy, he couldn't help but ask, "Xiao, what's wrong? Are you feeling unwell?"
He turned his head to look at Lin Yuan and said calmly: "It's okay, I met an acquaintance, let's continue talking about our business."
Lin Yuan quietly followed his line of sight and glanced over, just in time to see Xu Ruchu and a tall and handsome boy walking slowly forward.
A look of surprise flashed across her face. Could it be that Gu Yixiao cared a lot about his non-blood-related sister finding a partner?
That's impossible. Although the servants of the Gu family she bribed said that the cousin would secretly show him attention from time to time, Xiao had never directly responded to her...
But why did he show such an expression when he saw the other person now? It was really puzzling.
"Well, Xiao, what do you want to tell me?" She handed him a bottle of water as if nothing had happened. "You couldn't wait to find me right after returning home. Is it just to ask me to watch the sea with you?"
Gu Yixiao came back to his senses, and the expression in his eyes returned to its cold and indifferent state. "It's about the engagement and marriage."
“…”
Lin Yuan was stunned, and a bad premonition suddenly came to her mind, making her feel panicked.
As expected, Gu Yixiao continued, "Do you remember the cooperation we discussed during our blind date? Now I've thought it through. We shouldn't be bound by a loveless marriage."
"So I can't give you the wedding and engagement party you want, but I will compensate you with money or the company. You can also choose both, and I will do my best to satisfy you."
He spoke calmly, as if everything was just a matter of course, without any guilt or hesitation.
Lin Yuan's face turned pale, the bitterness in her heart almost drowned her, and she couldn't help but clench the mineral water bottle in her hand.
In fact, it was understandable that he did not feel guilty, because the marriage they were talking about was originally exchanged for an unexpected event in her student days. It was her unrequited love. As for Gu Yixiao, he had never developed any feelings for her.
"Now that you think so... then... okay," she suppressed her inner sadness and anger, forced herself to be understanding, and readily agreed:
"I'll listen to you and cancel the engagement party... I understand you don't want to be bound by marriage. After all, it was me who proposed the marriage in the first place! I can't put you in a difficult position now."
"You really agreed?"
Gu Yixiao was surprised by her sensibleness.
"Of course! Even if we can't be husband and wife or lovers, being friends is also great! Being able to know you is the blessing I have cultivated for several lifetimes!" Lin Yuan smiled and said:
"And you don't have to make any compensation. I didn't save you for any benefit. But..."
She suddenly paused for a moment, then sighed, frowned, and continued, "...If my engagement is broken off, the Lin family will lose face. Why don't you give me some time and don't tell anyone yet?"
"...Let me think of a suitable way to convince my parents to accept all this, and then I can ask to cancel the engagement. This way, I can retain a shred of dignity. Okay? I don't want any other compensation, just this one small request."
This was the first time she'd ever shown that expression in front of him. She was simply trying to incite Gu Yixiao's guilt, stall for time, and wait and see what would happen. Of course, she wasn't being generous by agreeing to break off the engagement; she was looking for another way to get him. Otherwise, how could she be willing to give up the chance to be with the eldest son of the Gu family, which she had finally secured?
She knew Gu Yixiao's character, cold and decisive. Once he made a decision, no one could easily change his mind, and she had no say in that either!
If I don't agree to cancel the engagement, it will definitely make him disgusted. It's better to be an understanding woman and wait and see.
"Okay, I promise."
After listening to her words, Gu Yixiao pondered for a moment and finally nodded.
"Then, let's just be friends now." She bit her lip, forcing a smile, and slowly walked down the stairs. "Since we're here, let's go for a walk on the beach."
Gu Yixiao also followed her down.
…
At the same time, on the reef on the other side of the beach, Xu Ruochu's body swayed due to the impact of the waves and she almost fell. Fortunately, the man next to her reached out and supported her, preventing her from falling.
She stood firm and said awkwardly, "I'm sorry to have embarrassed you. I... haven't been back to the beach for a long time, and I'm really not used to such strong winds and waves..."
"Really? It doesn't matter...just get used to it!" Huo Ran smiled gently, suddenly pulled her into the sea, and let her enjoy the comfort.
Xu Ruochu was caught off guard and was dragged by Huo Ran to jog towards the shallow water.
"Go in the water? No, I'm afraid of being swept away by the waves!"
"I'm protecting you, what are you afraid of? Come on."
As he spoke, he bent down and took a handful of sea water and splashed it on her, which immediately aroused Xu Ruchu's fighting spirit.
"Okay! Then you better be careful~ I grew up by the sea. If I get serious, you're no match for me!"
She was very excited and looked eager to try it, as if she really had the ability.
"Hmm~ I'll wait and see~"
"Come on then!"
"good!"
"Hahaha......"
The two played and fought in the water and had a lot of fun.
Even though they were soaked all over, they didn't care at all.
At this moment, the sea water suddenly churned up, and the waves were higher than the other, sweeping towards the two of them. Xu Ruchu screamed and quickly dodged away.
Huo Ran opened his arms, protecting her as he ran away with her, a sly smirk on his face. "From the way you sounded just now, you sounded very powerful, weren't you?"
"That was in the past," Xu Ruochu panted, "It's been almost ten years since I last played in the sea so recklessly..."
"ten years?!"
Huo Ran was extremely surprised. "So, you used to go to the sea often?!"
She nodded and laughed, "Yes, when I was little, I often came to the beach with my friends to play like this, but now I don't."
"So that's how it is..." Huo Ran nodded in sudden realization, then suddenly said, "Then you definitely know how to swim, right?"
Well, of course, my parents taught me to swim since I was a child, and I also learned diving for two years...Xu Ruchu smiled a little embarrassedly.
"Then teach me how to swim. Once you teach me, I can compete with you!" Huo Ran said excitedly.
His enthusiasm startled her, but she nodded. "Okay, since you gave me such a great discount on the rent, I'll teach you sometime!"
"Okay! It's settled then. Let's pinky promise!"
He stretched out his little finger and hooked it, then handed it over, indicating that she should quickly pinky-pink with him.
Xu Ruochu was instantly amused, and slowly stretched out her little finger to hook it around his, interlacing them. It looked particularly funny, but it made her feel warm inside.
After spending some time at the beach tonight, her mood was indeed much better.
The fear and melancholy of the past few days were swept away, as if all the troubles were thrown away, making her feel relaxed and happy.
"Okay, take a rest. I'll send you back after you've rested." Huo Ran said considerately.
"Yes, thank you."
The two climbed out of the sea and sat on the rocks to rest.
Gu Yixiao and Lin Yuan also slowly walked to this area.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com