Xu Yao kept her promise to Mrs. Shen. She took full responsibility for the broken engagement, choosing to let Lin Meixian believe she had fallen out of love rather than utter a single unkind word about Shen Yan.
Lin Meixian, however, refused to believe that her daughter was the kind of woman who chased novelty and discarded the old.
What stood between Xu Yao and Shen Yan was not some "new romance," but the crushing debts of the Xu family.
At the thought of Xu Yao's engagement falling apart, Lin Meixian grew despondent and even considered returning the engagement ring to Wen Zhicheng.
Wen Zhicheng, perceptive as ever, asked gently whether she was worried about Xu Yao.
"Shall I step in and speak with the Shen family?"
As he spoke, he slipped the ring back onto Lin Meixian's finger and drew her into his embrace.
"We're about to become a family. Whatever concerns you and Yao Yao have are now the Wen family's concerns."
He was willing to stand up for Xu Yao.
Lin Meixian was deeply moved by his generosity, yet she knew that his intervention would likely be futile. Wen Zhicheng had his own daughter, Wen Yiyi; everything the Wen family possessed had nothing to do with Xu Yao. Nor could Lin Meixian bring herself—at least not yet—to ask him to help repay the Xu family's debts.
Their conversation did not escape Wen Yiyi's ears. Immediately on guard, she sensed what she believed to be Lin Meixian's calculated retreat, a ploy to manipulate Wen Zhicheng. She warned him not to fall into what she called the trap set by Lin Meixian and Xu Yao.
Lin Meixian smiled bitterly.
"Zhicheng, Yao Yao's marriage has fallen through. As her mother, how could I possibly hold a wedding at a time like this? Let's put our own plans on hold for now."
Wen Zhicheng turned and rebuked Wen Yiyi sharply.
"Stop assuming the worst of Aunt Lin. And Xu Yao—she'll be your sister in the future. You should be caring for her, not mocking her misfortune."
Wen Yiyi snapped back angrily, "Fine! Everyone else is a saint—only I'm the villain!"
Xu Yao's broken engagement was, indeed, a source of amusement for Wen Yiyi.
Why shouldn't she laugh at something Xu Yao had brought upon herself?
In Wen Yiyi's eyes, Xu Yao and Lin Meixian were merely putting on an act. Xu Yao was using the breakup to pressure Shen Yan; Lin Meixian was delaying her wedding to pressure Wen Zhicheng. It was only a matter of who would end up the fool—Shen Yan or Wen Zhicheng—stepping in to repay the Xu family's debts.
"Xu Yao, you and your mother are nothing but scheming bitches!"
With nowhere to vent her anger, Wen Yiyi called Xu Yao and unleashed a torrent of abuse.
From Wen Yiyi's tirade, Xu Yao learned that her mother had postponed the wedding.
Xu Yao claimed to Lin Meixian that the engagement ended because she had met someone new, but her mother was not so easily deceived.
Nor was Shen Yan so easily dismissed.
After Xu Yao blocked all his contact information, Shen Yan had his assistant reach out, saying he would return to the country in two days. Xu Yao wanted no further entanglement. Shen Yan had treated her well throughout their years together; having chosen to end the engagement, she believed she should exit his life completely.
She could not help thinking—how convenient it would be if there truly were someone who could make her fall out of love.
Her mother would then believe the breakup had nothing to do with debt, and Shen Yan, upon returning, would no longer cling to her.
…
Lost in thought all day, Xu Yao nearly collided with an elderly man at the subway entrance.
"I'm so sorry—are you alright?" she asked, quickly steadying him.
The old man was thin as a reed, leaning heavily on a cane, gasping for breath as he spoke.
"I—I need to sit… help me sit down."
Xu Yao guided him to a bench by the roadside.
"Where do you feel unwell? Shall I call an ambulance for you?"
The man grasped her wrist with a withered hand.
"No… no need. Let me catch my breath."
After a long while, his breathing eased. He looked at Xu Yao with gentle, affectionate eyes.
"You helped me. Is there anything I can do to repay you?"
Xu Yao was taken aback.
"I almost ran into you—it was only right that I helped you rest…"
The old man cut her off, smoothly changing the subject.
"Are you facing some kind of trouble?"
Perhaps it was the kindness in his gaze, or perhaps the pressure Xu Yao had borne for three years since her family's collapse had finally reached its breaking point. She needed someone to confide in. With a wry smile, she said,
"What I need most right now… is someone to marry. The sooner, the better."
Without realizing it, Xu Yao poured out all the burdens weighing on her heart. The old man listened patiently. When she finally stopped, embarrassed, she said,
"I'm sorry—we just met, and I've dumped all my complaints on you. But are you sure you don't need to go to the hospital?"
He shook his head.
"Don't worry about me. Someone will come for me shortly."
As he spoke, an ambulance pulled over by the roadside. Several medical staff rushed toward them, surrounding the old man with concerned questions, then carefully transferring him into a wheelchair. Only then did Xu Yao realize that he was not merely unwell—he was gravely ill, having slipped out of the hospital on his own.
"You—"
"I'm fine. Thank you," the old man said, waving to her. Even as he was lifted into the ambulance, he turned back repeatedly, as if committing her face to memory. Just before the doors closed, he called out,
"Xiao Xu, good people are rewarded. There will be a way out of your troubles."
Xu Yao thought wryly—what solution could there possibly be? A perfect husband dropping from the sky? Winning the lottery jackpot overnight?
Even so, she smiled gratefully.
"Take care of yourself and follow the doctors' instructions. Don't sneak out again and worry everyone."
It was only a fleeting encounter, and Xu Yao did not give it much thought.
She never expected that the very next morning, the hospital would call her, saying that an elderly man named Gu Haishan had entered his final moments and wished to see her one last time.
Gu Haishan?
The name meant nothing to her, but she guessed it must be the old man she had met the day before.
She hadn't realized his condition was so dire.
"Does Grandpa Gu have no family?" Xu Yao asked.
"He has only one grandson, who is already on his way back to Nancheng."
The hospital assured her repeatedly that Gu Haishan had no intention of deceiving her—he simply wished to see her again.
With debts already piled high, Xu Yao was hardly afraid of being scammed. Remembering how patiently the old man had listened to her worries, she agreed to go.
By the time she arrived at the hospital, Gu Haishan was already half-unconscious.
A doctor bent down and spoke near his ear. The old man struggled to open his eyes.
"Xiao… Xiao Xu…"
Xu Yao sat beside the bed.
"Grandpa Gu, I'm here."
He was clearly at the end of his strength, clinging to life only because of an unfulfilled wish.
At last, the person he had been waiting for arrived.
Xu Yao looked up—and froze.
A man in a gray suit strode into the ward. His features were striking, unforgettable at a single glance—it was none other than Gu Jun, her senior from high school.
Gu Jun was two years ahead of her. They had never been close.
Back then, he had been a standout—handsome, brilliant, a campus legend. What had impressed Xu Yao just as much as his academic excellence was his impoverished background.
Now, however, there was no trace of that former austerity. Xu Yao couldn't identify the brand of his clothes, but the fabric alone spoke of expense.
Gu Jun was equally surprised to see Xu Yao there.
Before either could speak, Gu Haishan's face flushed with an unnatural color.
"Xiao Xu, would you be willing to marry my grandson, Gu Jun?"
Xu Yao was stunned.
Marry?
"Grandpa Gu—"
He cut her off, gazing at her with deep affection.
"You said you needed someone to marry."
Instinctively, Xu Yao looked at Gu Jun. Their eyes met—his were cold, filled with suspicion.
"Gu Jun!" Gu Haishan gasped, forcing his voice louder.
"If you refuse to marry Xu Yao, I will die with my eyes open!"
A shrill alarm erupted from the medical monitors. Overcome with agitation, Gu Haishan lost consciousness. Doctors rushed to his side, while Xu Yao and Gu Jun were ushered out of the ward.