Chapter 2: This Marriage Must Be Called Off

He Lian spent ten minutes cursing at Duan Jingyue, his words as sharp as a tactical blade until the young man finally couldn’t take it anymore: “Uncle! My parents will definitely never agree to cancel the engagement. You have to help me just this once! A cancellation requires an elder to step forward! Aren’t you my elder?!”

Duan Jingyue felt increasingly guilty upon catching a glimpse of He Lian’s expression turning cold and gloomy: “…Uncle?”

He then turned to Shen Jin for support: “Brother Jin, don’t you agree?”

Shen Jin glanced at He Lian… If the person from that night really was Jiang Yu, then this marriage has to be called off. Otherwise, it would be too much of a mess. But since nothing was confirmed yet, Shen Jin could only try to probe indirectly. However, before he could speak, he was cut off by He Lian’s biting sarcasm.

“Heh. With your ‘two-hundred-and-fifty’ IQ, living your whole life with a lunatic would actually be a perfect match.”

The twitching Shen Jin: “…”

This time, Duan Jingyue really looked like he was about to cry. As expected, his maternal uncle was truly heartless.

Finally, He Lian uncrossed his long legs. He stood over his nephew, patted the top of his head condescendingly, and then pulled him up with a forceful yank: “We leave tomorrow.”

Duan Jingyue barely reacted in time: “Are you taking me to Yangcheng to cancel the engagement?”

He Lian didn’t give him an answer. He walked past him with eyes gradually filling with the smoldering fire of a grudge. Whether the marriage was canceled or not was a small matter. It didn’t matter to him if Duan Jingyue wanted to marry a lunatic or a sow. But he had to go back to the Song family home to find that fool who “used” him for free! He would cut them into a thousand pieces!

Duan Jingyue let out a massive sigh of relief and sat back on the floor, thumping his chest: “Thank goodness. I thought my uncle wouldn’t agree. It seems he still loves me.”

Shen Jin rubbed the bridge of his nose speechlessly as he felt like he was breaking his heart for this family’s sake. He.

It seemed that in He Lian’s mind: A fool is not the same as a lunatic.

The Song family’s old mansion became a hive of activity early in the morning upon receiving news of He Lian’s arrival. Silent servants moved like shuttles through the courtyard. The “Crown Prince of Jinzhou” was visiting for a second time—this was a level of prestige other families in Yangcheng couldn’t even dream of. Once the news got out, the price of the Song family’s tea exports to the Northern Border would likely triple.

The morning light hung from the eaves; mist encircled the mountains and in the ancient, simple main hall, Song Qian lifted his chin as his wife, Su Xunying, helped adjust his collar. She whispered, “Don’t we need the second branch of the family or your younger sister to come over?”

Song Qian: “No need. He Lian’s sudden visit is definitely to see Xueyan. Why should we let them come and steal our daughter’s spotlight?”

He looked around: “Where is Xueyan?”

The butler standing nearby named Gu, answered softly: “The eldest young lady is still changing her clothes.”

Su Xunying: “That child always gets like this whenever she hears He Lian is coming.”

Just as she spoke, Song Xueyan walked in gracefully wearing a creamy-white straight-cut cheongsam. She rested her hands on her waist and did a little spin, unable to hide the joy in her eyes: “Mom, do I look good?”

Su Xunying nodded with a doting smile: “Beautiful. Like a fairy descended to earth. I guarantee He Lian will lose his soul the moment he sees you. Happy now?”

“Mom, don’t talk nonsense.” Song Xueyan feigned annoyance, though a shy blush crept onto her cheeks.

Today would be the third time she was meeting He Lian. The first was at her private art exhibition and the second was at her grandfather’s funeral.

She clutched her racing heart, thinking of He Lian’s noble yet unbridled aura. Suddenly, her expression changed, and she turned to Butler Gu: “What about Jiang Yu! Is she locked up tight?”

Butler Gu bowed his head: “Don’t worry, Miss. We certainly won’t let her run out like last time—”

“Jiang Yu ran away!”

Before he could finish, a servant stumbled into the hall, gasping: “Jiang Yu is gone!”

Song Qian was startled and took two frantic steps forward: “Quick! Go find her!”

Song Xueyan stomped her foot in irritation. Honestly, if she isn’t in her room helping her paint, she’s always running off! All these servants, and they can’t even watch one lunatic!

On the mountain road leading to the old mansion, a convoy of modified vehicles moved in an orderly crawl. Like a black snake slithering through the hills, the cold, modern heavy machinery stood in stark contrast to the surrounding natural greenery.

He Lian hated Yangcheng. The climate was damp, there were mountains everywhere, and the dense mist felt sticky against his skin through the window. He frowned and tugged at his sleeves to separate the fabric from his skin.

Duan Jingyue, visiting for the first time, stuck his head out the window and sighed: “Uncle, this place is nothing like Jinzhou. This mist is so thick, it feels like we’re at the Peach Banquet of the Gods.”

He Lian glanced at him, his sharp brows slowly arching. The resentment of being “eaten clean” by a fool burned even brighter when he returned to this place.

He Lian couldn’t stand the winding mountain road anymore less than two hundred meters from the Song mansion so he told the driver to stop and ordered everyone to stand by while he proceeded on foot.

Duan Jingyue hurriedly followed his uncle and before long, the silhouette of the Song mansion’s rooftops appeared through the thin mist. A neatly maintained cobblestone path appeared beneath their feet.

Duan Jingyue was looking around when he suddenly bumped into He Lian’s back.

“Uncle?”

He Lian’s eyes were like torches, staring fixedly to the left.

Beside the cobblestone path, nestled among the lush greenery of a fenced-off garden, was a small figure in white. She was holding a sketchbook, crouching by a puddle of clear rainwater, washing an old oil paintbrush.

She seemed to have some physical coordination issues because the brushes in her arms were scattered on the ground, and colorful paint stained her hem, but she didn’t seem to mind at all.

That “innocent yet foolish” aura hit him instantly. An alarm went off in his head! Without a second thought, He Lian leaped over the fence.

“Uncle?!”

He Lian used his long legs to push through the plants, then he looked down at the girl’s white, slender neck. Her slow, dull movements while cleaning the brush further confirmed his suspicion.

It was her!

He didn’t expect to catch this fool before even entering the mansion! He Lian grabbed her by the waist and lifted her up effortlessly. The girl rose like a marionette, lifted her head, and a delicate, clear face full of vacancy entered his vision. Even Duan Jingyue, watching from a distance, was stunned.

He Lian’s pupils constricted. It was this fool who defiled him!

Noticing the wooden dullness in her eyes, the man gave a cold, sinister smile. He leaned in slightly and tested her with the “keyword” from that night:

“Hug?”

Duan Jingyue, who had just scrambled over the fence: “?”

Is my uncle possessed? Or is the white mist in these mountains actually toxic gas?! Duan Jingyue hurriedly covered his nose.

The girl didn’t move and stared at him fixedly.

He Lian’s gaze swept over her. Her clothes were washed out to a yellowish hue, and the fabric at the hem was thin and frayed. It was clear she had worn them for a long time; they didn’t even fit her properly.

He knew there were many servants in the Song mansion, but he didn’t realize they were bold enough to bully a fool!

Duan Jingyue couldn’t understand why his uncle was still scowling with such hostility even when he was in front of such a beautiful face—the kind blessed by the gods—.

Without a shred of mercy, He Lian taunted her as if teasing a dog: “What? You don’t want a hug anymore?”

The girl blinked and the next second, she reached out her arms, stood on her tiptoes, and hugged his waist. She leaned against his chest with a dazed expression, incredibly obedient.

He Lian froze completely.

Ah…

The frustration that had been blocked in his chest for half a month suddenly smoothed out the moment she hugged him! The memories of that night’s passion swirled in his mind—specifically the way she looked while crying during the latter half of the night, which now felt like a small hammer tapping on his weakened nerves.

He Lian reached out his right hand, pinched the girl’s chin, and forced her to look up. He was actually quite curious.

“What is your name?”

“I am Jiang Yu.”

A rare, complete sentence. It felt like a soft slap to the man’s face.

He Lian: “…”

Duan Jingyue was shocked. He leaned in closer, his eyes wandering boldly over Jiang Yu.

He looked up, ignored his uncle’s “I’ve seen a ghost” expression, and said with extreme excitement: “Uncle! If Jiang Yu looks like this, I can handle her being a little crazy! How about we just go back?”

He Lian gave a dry, bone-chilling laugh, speaking through gritted teeth: “No. You must call off this marriage…”

Sansukini: This scenario kinda reminded me a bit of the other novel I translated, Casting Nets to Catch a Husband . She also tried to scheme to escape her family by catching a husband, and both men were hooked on the spot.