The long and peaceful night, like a slow, silent river, quietly passed.
Shen Che awoke in a top-tier suite that would have astonished him in his previous life.
Morning light filtered through the gaps in the expensive blackout curtains, casting a golden line on the carpet.
He glanced at the minimalist yet valuable clock on the bedside table—nine o'clock exactly.
After returning home last night, he had instructed the butler to contact Old Master Xu, Xu Yi, and arranged to meet him at ten o'clock this morning.
The timing was perfect.
Stepping downstairs into the spacious dining room, the long white marble dining table was already laden with an exquisite breakfast: translucent shrimp dumplings, fluffy European croissants, alluringly fragrant fried bacon, and several kinds of freshly squeezed juices and premium coffee, a dazzling array that silently showcased the Shen Family's wealth and taste.
After washing up in the luxurious bathroom, which every bedroom was equipped with, Shen Che calmly enjoyed a breakfast that could easily cost half a month's salary for an average person.
After the meal, he entered the walk-in closet.
In the vast space, various clothes, shoes, and accessories were neatly categorized and displayed like a luxury boutique.
Considering he was going to "break off the engagement" today, he didn't need to dress overly formally or try too hard to please.
His gaze swept over rows of custom-made suits, finally settling on a perfectly tailored dark grey casual suit.
He casually paired it with a pair of soft-soled loafers in the same color and picked up a low-key luxurious platinum wristwatch from a velvet tray, fastening it around his wrist.
Standing in front of the full-length mirror, the person in the mirror was tall and handsome, and the dark grey casual suit made him appear refined yet noble.
Already possessing top-tier bone structure and appearance, with the addition of top-tier clothing, he exuded an even more captivating charm.
"Although my face is almost the same as in my previous life, with this outfit, tsk, I really am unreasonably handsome," Shen Che raised an eyebrow at his reflection in the mirror, indulging in a rare moment of narcissism.
Everything was ready.
He stepped into the underground private garage, and the lights instantly illuminated, reflecting off the streamlined bodies of several top-tier supercars.
He chose the understated yet sharp black lamborghini.
The engine let out a deep, powerful roar, like a waking beast, then carried him out of the Tan Palace Villa District.
Tan Palace and the Xu Family Manor were not far apart, just a few minutes' drive.
It was this close proximity that had given the original Shen Che a unique "dog-licking" convenience since childhood, always running to the Xu Family for no particular reason, to the point where everyone in the Xu Family, even the gardeners pruning the flowers, knew this "future son-in-law."
At the center of the vast Xu Family Manor stood a grand, white European-style villa.
Carefully manicured greenery stood like silent guards, and a clear artificial river flowed around it like a jade belt.
The main road was smooth asphalt, and the paths were paved with smoothly polished cobblestones, gleaming with a gentle luster in the morning light.
Maintaining this "paradise" required the tireless daily efforts of dozens of servants.
Shen Che's black sports car silently glided to the ornate carved iron gate.
A female housekeeper in her forties, dressed in a tasteful uniform, was directing work at the entrance. Seeing the familiar car, a warm smile immediately bloomed on her face.
"Young Master Shen, you're here! Are you looking for our Young Miss again?" She quickly stepped forward, her tone familiar and carrying a hint of elder's affection, "You can drive the car to the garage first, I'll open the gate for you now and notify Old Master Xu."
"Mm, thank you, Auntie Wang," Shen Che nodded, driving the car into the familiar parking spot.
The original Shen Che's "diligence" had long made him more familiar with the Xu Family than his own.
As soon as he stepped through the villa's main door, a faint aroma of tea wafted into his nostrils.
On the sofa in the center of the living room, an old man in a cyan Zhongshan suit was skillfully arranging purple clay tea sets.
His hair was white, his face gaunt, but his eyes were as sharp as an eagle's, his back straight, and the dignified aura of someone long in a high position, tempered by the vicissitudes of life, made him impossible to ignore—this was the head of the Xu Family, Xu Yi.
Beside him sat a elegantly dressed young woman, none other than Xu Qiuchi.
"Grandpa Xu, Young Miss Xu, good morning," Shen Che greeted the two in the hall with a polite smile.
His tone was calm, his gaze lingering on Xu Yi for a moment, showing respect for this elder who had genuinely cared for the original owner.
The moment Shen Che stepped over the threshold, Xu Yi almost immediately put down his warm purple clay teacup, and a very enthusiastic smile instantly bloomed on his face, as if a cloudy sky had suddenly cleared.
He quickly rose, walking steadily to meet Shen Che, his heartfelt joy and importance evident.
"A Che! Good morning, good morning!" Xu Yi grabbed Shen Che's arm, warmly leading him to a seat, his eyes full of the satisfaction and affection of seeing his own excellent junior, "You've come at just the right time today! Our Qiuchi, she heard you were coming and got up early to doll herself up. Look at her outfit..."
The Old Master Xu said, then slyly winked at Xu Qiuchi, his meaning clear.
In Old Master Xu's heart, Shen Che, this prospective grandson-in-law, was simply a perfect score: young and already independently managing the Family business, exceptionally capable, making the enterprise flourish; his appearance and Family background were impeccable;
Most importantly, this child had grown up under his watchful eye, possessed a pure character, and, even more rarely, had been deeply devoted to his granddaughter for many years without change!
If this marriage could be brought about, it would be a great blessing for both his granddaughter and the future of the Xu Family.
Only, alas... he glanced at his granddaughter out of the corner of his eye, sighing inwardly.
"Grandpa!" Xu Qiuchi's delicate little nose wrinkled in displeasure, and she interrupted her grandpa's teasing with a hint of annoyance.
Xu Yi laughed heartily and said no more.
The three sat down.
Shen Che and Old Master Xu chatted about everyday things, from the recent weather to some business developments, and the atmosphere was harmonious and pleasant.
Shen Che's words and manners were humble and polite, his responses appropriate, and Old Master Xu occasionally let out hearty laughter.
Xu Qiuchi sat quietly to the side, holding a fashion magazine, but her gaze involuntarily drifted towards Shen Che.
Today he... was too different.
In the past, when he stepped through this door, his gaze would be drawn like a magnet, immediately fixed firmly on her, that undisguised eagerness and focus almost making her feel pressured.
But today, after that polite greeting upon entering, his gaze had not lingered on her again.
He calmly conversed with Grandpa Xu, his eyes indifferent, as if she were just an unimportant backdrop.
This feeling was very strange. The oppressive feeling of being overly scrutinized, which had bothered her for so long, seemed to have disappeared, but what arose in its place was an indescribable... sense of loss?
Today, Xu Qiuchi was undoubtedly dressed with care.
A perfectly tailored black cocktail dress gracefully outlined her slender, youthful figure.
Her exquisitely beautiful face was delicately made up, her eyes sparkling with charm, her cherry lips naturally red, and her whole being was like a black rose bud blooming in the morning dew, exuding a fatal attraction.
This was her carefully prepared battle attire for... some reason she herself couldn't quite explain or understand.
However, her "opponent" seemed not to have even noticed the battlefield.
Shen Che's indifference was like a tiny thorn, pricking a hidden corner of her heart.
She maintained her outward calm and elegance, but her fingers unconsciously fiddled with the smooth coated pages of the magazine, her thoughts in turmoil:
What's wrong with him?
Is he playing hard to get?
Or... does he really not care anymore?
Those fervent glances and words that used to make her feel somewhat burdened were now replaying clearly in her mind.
After a brief chat, Xu Yi looked at the wall clock and stood up with a cheerful laugh: "Alright, I, this old man, won't be in the way here. You young people can chat. I didn't sleep well last night, so I'll go upstairs for a nap."
He made to leave.
"Grandpa Xu, please wait a moment," Shen Che's voice sounded, with an unprecedented solemnity, "Actually, I came today mainly to discuss a very important matter with you."
Looking at the pure joy and expectation in the old man's eyes, a trace of reluctance flashed through Shen Che's heart.
This old man, in the original book, genuinely loved the original owner and was a respected elder.
But the arrow was on the string, it had to be fired.
If he didn't sever this relationship, Xu Qiuchi would only continue to treat him as that readily available spare tire, and the plot would not change.
He took a deep breath, his eyes becoming firm and clear.
Xu Yi sat down again, slightly puzzled: "Oh? Something else? A Che, tell me."
Shen Che's gaze met Xu Yi's steadily, and he spoke clearly, word by word:
"Grandpa Xu, I thought about it all night last night. After careful consideration, I believe that Miss Xu Qiuchi and I, the two of us, are not suitable for a marital relationship."
The air in the living room seemed to freeze instantly.
Xu Qiuchi's fingers, which were fiddling with the magazine, suddenly stopped, and she looked up at Shen Che in disbelief.
Xu Yi's smile also froze, his eyes full of shock.
Shen Che's voice was steady and clear, carrying an undeniable resolve:
"Qiuchi and I grew up together, accompanying each other for over a decade. This friendship is deep, but it is more like sibling affection, intimately close, yet lacking the pull of romantic attraction and love between a man and a woman."
He paused slightly, his tone carrying a hint of honest helplessness:
"Marriage, after all, requires mutual affection as its foundation. Since we lack this foundation, to force the continuation of this engagement set by our elders would be an invisible bondage on both Qiuchi and me, and would likely not bring true happiness."
He looked up, his gaze honestly meeting Xu Yi's shocked eyes, and stated his final decision with resounding clarity:
"Therefore, I implore you to dissolve the engagement between Miss Xu Qiuchi and me. Let us both be free to pursue the true happiness that belongs to us."