Campus Ace Girl

His voice was hoarse and low beyond belief: "If it wasn’t for her, would you have cared either, knowing everything you do—isn’t that right? Or do you also see this marriage as a transaction?"

Zhao Mo Ran took a step back, and he stepped forward, clearly not intending to let her go easily...

He kept pressing her into a corner, his fingers brushing her cheek. She was truly beautiful today, but she always wore a mask in front of him. He knew she didn’t love him and even feared him, but he didn’t care. However, now he was maliciously intent on breaking her down.

Zhao Mo Ran couldn’t stand it and turned her head away, her voice indifferent: "Don’t take your unhappiness out on me."

He smiled faintly: "What do I have to be unhappy about? Tell me."

Zhao Mo Ran glanced at him and then turned her head away again: "I don’t know."

Chu Ci thoughtfully looked at her for another moment, then let her go, speaking softly: "Go back now, or someone will get suspicious."

Zhao Mo Ran said nothing, because in front of him she could only be obedient.

The entire wedding night was dull and exhausting. A marriage without love naturally wouldn’t bring feelings of joy and happiness. That subtle heaviness could be felt even by a fool. Especially when the toasts reached Chu Yan’s table, the atmosphere at the scene froze... Chu Ci stared intently at Chu Yan. Bai Xun, on the other hand, didn’t mind at all, with his arm around Chu Yan’s waist. Fortunately, Bai Family’s parents stepped up to ease the tension, especially Bai Xun’s mother, who smiled at Zhao Mo Ran and said: "Chu Ci is not young anymore, you two are also at the age to have children."

As she spoke, she lightly slapped her son’s unruly hand: "Look at others, then look at yourself."

Bai Xun grinned cheekily: "What about me? I’m doing just fine; I’m having a good time with Yan Yan."

Madam Bai gave him another glare, then turned to Chu Yan with a gentle expression: "I heard from Bai Xun that you’ve been staying at Maple Mountain these days. The scenery there is wonderful. My husband and I have longed to visit... Tomorrow we’ll pay a visit. Could you see if it’s convenient for your Uncle Gu and Uncle Bo?"

After speaking, she glared sharply at her son again: "This should have been done by this kid."

Even Bai Xun, who usually treats life playfully, was moved by this, though he had always planned it. But now his mother noticed Yan Yan’s loneliness... She had no real family after leaving the Chu Family. But upon hearing that Yan Yan was staying at Anxi’s parents’ place, she immediately wanted to visit. Her intentions were quite clear: it was a semi-formal proposal. She did it for him, but more so for Yan Yan’s sake, to give her a dignified identity rather than being known merely as the Chu Family’s adopted daughter. Otherwise, she would always be indistinguishable from Chu Ci.

He was moved just thinking about it, while Chu Yan was a bit uneasy. Before she could say anything, Gu Anxi smiled and said: "I’ve heard that Mr. and Mrs. Bai are very knowledgeable; my mother has wanted to meet you for a long time."

She said this so straightforwardly that everyone present was taken aback.

Who didn’t know that Wang Keru loved mahjong and wasn’t interested in knowledge at all! Even so, Gu Anxi could say this without blushing or being nervous... Thankfully, Madam Bai was smart and understanding; she didn’t take it seriously. She knew that if it came to knowledge, she and Old Bai together might not match up to others’ daughter, so what was there to learn?

Thus, she said kindly: "As you get older, you enjoy playing a few hands occasionally. I wonder if your mother has some time."

When Gu Anxi heard this, she internally clapped her thigh: "She has time, plenty of time; she’s free tomorrow, anytime."

Madam Bai laughed happily, then gently turned to Chu Ci and Zhao Mo Ran: "You two should hurry up."

She glanced at Chu Madam whose face didn’t look too good: "Yan Yan is about to get married, and as her mother, I must make arrangements and plans for her. You don’t mind, do you?"

She referred to herself not as a mother-in-law but as a mother, bringing tears to Chu Yan’s eyes. Gu Anxi quickly squeezed her hand and whispered: "Are you happy? She’s treating you as her own, going to my mom is just a formality, she truly sees you as her daughter. You’ve found the right person this time; Bai Xun is quite capable."

In reality, Mr. and Mrs. Bai had seen Chu Yan only a handful of times. There might not be a deep bond; they just liked her quite a bit and had a good impression. They treated her so kindly simply because of their son’s deep feelings, willing to put in extra effort to avoid wronging her and making their son sad.

Chu Yan nodded lightly.

Bai Xun was unexpectedly unsurprised, as his parents had always been open-minded... but reaching this extent was something he hadn’t expected. He was somewhat touched but didn’t show it, merely smiling a bit.

Meanwhile, Madame Chu was fuming, and when she returned to her table, she complained to Chu Changhe: "A few words from Bai Xun’s mother wiped out our efforts in raising Yan Yan completely, as if Yan Yan was raised by the Gu Family from the start. Everyone knows how hard it was for us back then..."

Chu Changhe spoke quietly: "Can you tolerate her now? Even if you could, it would only be out of spite and argument. When you had her, you didn’t cherish it. Besides, you should ask if Yan Yan still wants to be considered part of the Chu Family. From what I see, she’s already made up her mind."

There might be some residual feelings, but she’s too afraid, like a bird startled by a bow.

Recall at the time she was nearly driven out by the Chu Family, barely in her twenties.