Last night, a heavy curtain of night fell, and the city's neon lights outside the window blurred into a hazy glow.
When Xu Qiuchi, reeking of alcohol and unsteady on her feet, was helped through the door by the Shen Family's bodyguards, Xu Yi was anxiously pacing in the living room.
Seeing his granddaughter in such a state, the Old Man's heart sank sharply.
After listening to the bodyguards' vague yet sufficient description to piece together the truth—about the bar, about Ye Feng, about Shen Che's timely appearance and eventual departure—a suppressed anger surged in Xu Yi's heart.
At this moment, the scene from last night clearly reappeared before Old Master Xu's eyes.
He sat in the spacious sofa, leaning slightly forward, his gaze fixed on Shen Che, his eyes a mix of deep concern and lingering worry, his voice carrying a barely perceptible tremor:
"A Che... tell Grandpa the truth, did Qiuchi do something foolish again last night to upset you? You came this morning... saying you wanted to break off the engagement, that was just angry words, wasn't it?"
How he wished it was merely a young man's impulsive fit of pique.
Shen Che slowly shook his head, his movement carrying an undeniable steadiness.
His gaze was calm, his voice not loud, yet every word was clear, as if each syllable had been carefully polished through deep thought:
"No, Grandpa Xu. I thought about this very clearly last night. The engagement, perhaps from the very beginning, was a forced constraint for Miss Xu and me."
He paused slightly, meeting Xu Yi's complex gaze, his tone carrying a candid detachment:
"As I just said, a sibling-like relationship might be more suitable for us. A forced melon isn't sweet, and a forced marriage won't bring happiness to anyone."
As Xu Yi listened, he felt as if his spine had been removed, his shoulders slumping in defeat.
He let out a heavy, long sigh, a sigh that seemed to carry the weight of decades, full of the futility of being unable to turn back time.
He slowly turned his head to look at his pale-faced granddaughter, Xu Qiuchi, beside him, his eyes filled with an unresolvable helplessness and the bitterness of seeing iron that couldn't be forged into steel—he had seen his granddaughter's coldness and distance towards Shen Che over the years, and it had pained his heart.
The air in the living room seemed to solidify into a heavy lead block, making it difficult to breathe.
Only the second hand of the antique grandfather clock on the wall stubbornly ticked "tick-tock, tick-tock," clearly and jarringly, like a small hammer, tapping on everyone's nerves, announcing that an irreversible change was taking place.
"A Che..." Xu Yi's voice was heavy with a nasal tone, full of weariness and regret,
"All these years, your feelings for Qiuchi, everyone in our Xu Family has seen and remembered them. You always put her first, always looked out for her; this affection is as heavy as a thousand pounds. It's this girl from our Family... whose heart was blinded by lard, who didn't know how to cherish it, and time and again... made your heart utterly cold!"
Every wrinkle on the Old Man's face now seemed etched with profound regret.
He straightened up slightly, his expression becoming exceptionally solemn, as if stating a decision concerning the rise and fall of the Family:
"This engagement, ever since it was set by your grandfathers' generation, has attracted the attention of too many people. The political and business elites of the Demon Capital, countless media eyes, have all been closely watching this alliance."
Xu Yi picked up the slightly cool teacup in front of him, took a sip, seemingly using the bitterness to suppress the turmoil in his heart:
"If the engagement were to be suddenly broken off now, it would be like throwing a huge rock into a calm lake! The ripples it would create would undoubtedly affect both of your reputations. What would the outside world's gossip, malicious speculation, portray you as? It's unimaginable. More importantly,"
His gaze swept over Shen Che, with a businessman's sharpness,
"Our two families' closely intertwined cooperative relationship over the years would also develop an irreparable rift. Subsequent project advancements, resource sharing... would all face unprecedented obstacles and suspicions."
He put down the teacup, clasped his hands on his knees, and leaned towards Shen Che again, his eyes filled with almost earnest sincerity and expectation:
"A Che, Grandpa is truly thinking for your sake. This alliance can bring immeasurable support to your personal position in the business world and the future expansion of your Shen Family's territory!"
He truly regarded Shen Che as his own, and he truly loved his granddaughter.
In this dilemma, he struggled for a long time, ultimately tilting the scales towards the children's inner feelings.
Xu Yi's gaze slowly moved between Shen Che's calm face and Xu Qiuchi's downcast eyes, as if to engrave this moment deeply in his heart.
He took a deep breath, trying to keep his voice steady, yet it still revealed a barely perceptible tremor:
"However... in the end, these empty names and fleeting gains, these Family interests, are all less important than the two of you truly being happy and content."
He forced a very strained smile, a smile that not only failed to dispel the gloom but added a touch of desolation:
"How about this... since there's still some time before your official engagement ceremony, let's tentatively agree to break off this engagement... in two months."
He leaned back wearily against the sofa, as if his words had drained all his strength, his eyes becoming vacant and forlorn:
"For these two months... you two... should calm down and think carefully. If by then... your intentions remain unchanged, then we old folks... will have no objections to breaking off the engagement."
Looking at Xu Yi's suddenly aged and dejected appearance, a strong pang of sadness welled up in Shen Che's heart.
This Old Man had genuinely nurtured him as his own grandson.
When the original owner first entered the business world, ignorant and naive, it was Xu Yi who taught him hand-in-hand, imparting business strategies and social etiquette without reservation; Shen Che deeply felt this kindness.
However, being able to completely break free from this constraint in two months was undoubtedly the best outcome for him at the moment.
"This arrangement is very appropriate, thank you, Grandpa Xu, for your understanding." Shen Che's tone carried sincere warmth,
"Please rest assured, whether the engagement exists or not, in my heart, you will always be my elder and kin. The friendship between our two families will not change in the slightest because of this."
Beside them, Xu Qiuchi's emotions had been like fallen leaves caught in a strong wind, chaotic and disarrayed, ever since Shen Che uttered the words "break off the engagement."
When she heard Grandpa's final conclusion of "breaking it off in two months," a huge, almost physiological sense of relief instantly swept over her!
For a long time, this forced engagement had been like an invisible, heavy shackles, restricting her freedom, making her feel suffocated under Shen Che's every loving gaze.
The shackles were about to be opened, and she thought she would cheer with joy, would feel an unprecedented liberation.
However, as that surging sense of relief receded like a tide, she was stunned to find that deep in her heart was an empty, bewildered void; the anticipated ecstasy had not arrived.
She unconsciously bit down hard on her lower lip, almost tasting a hint of blood.
Her delicate brows were tightly furrowed, and her clear eyes were filled with unprecedented confusion and bewilderment.
"Why... why am I not as happy as I imagined?" "Why instead... does it feel like I've lost something important?" These thoughts, like out-of-control wild horses, crashed wildly through her chaotic mind, leaving her unable to make sense of anything.
Shen Che slowly stood up.
Looking at Old Master Xu, who was deep in sorrow and seemed to have aged ten years in an instant, his sense of guilt grew heavier.
He bowed slightly, his tone gentle and apologetic:
"Grandpa Xu, I still have some company matters to attend to, so I won't disturb you further. Please take good care of yourself."
After speaking, he turned and walked towards the door.
Watching that tall back, who had once cared for her in every way but now begrudged even an extra glance, Xu Qiuchi's heart felt as if an invisible hand was fiercely clutching it, a bitter and unspeakable A Che, stifling her to the point where she could barely breathe.
As if by a strange impulse, before her brain could react, words escaped her lips:
"Young Master Shen... I'll see you out."
The moment the words fell, even she herself was stunned, her fingertips unconsciously twisting the hem of her skirt.
The words were out, and what was spilled could not be gathered.
Shen Che's footsteps paused, and he turned around, his face showing undisguised surprise, even a hint of scrutiny.
A flicker of doubt quickly crossed his mind: What was wrong with her today? According to her usual attitude of avoiding him at all costs, she should be staying put, relieved, even wishing he would disappear quickly. To offer to see him out? This was too abnormal.
His gaze lingered on her face for a moment; the complex emotions made her somewhat inscrutable to him.
In the end, he merely nodded blandly, his voice showing no ripples of emotion:
"Mm, thank you."
Just seeing him a few steps, a courtesy, it didn't mean anything.
Shen Che emphasized to himself in his heart, quickly suppressing that hint of abnormality.
Moreover, this wouldn't change their future relationship in the slightest.