Meanwhile, Bai Zihan…
He had been hatching countless plans to make Chu Ziyan cancel or reject this engagement.
If it were anyone else, it would have been easy.
Not just easy—most people wouldn’t have even wanted to be engaged if they knew it was him they were betrothed to.
But his opponent was Chu Ziyan—someone who could treat him like a mere servant.
His usual tricks wouldn’t work on her.
But, in the end, he felt that tricks weren’t necessary.
“As long as I convince her and take all the blame, Chu Ziyan will definitely be willing to reject the engagement!”
He was fairly confident—after all, there wasn’t anyone who would willingly marry him.
He was more self-aware of his own reputation than anyone else.
He assumed that Chu Ziyan had been forced into this by her parents or the elders of the Chu Clan and had no choice but to marry him.
However, if he could take the blame and perhaps shift her marriage to someone else from the Bai Clan, he was certain that Chu Ziyan would agree to cancel the engagement.
(Hmph! Sister, see this? This is how you cancel an engagement!)
Bai Zihan cursed his sister in his mind.
He believed Bai Xueqing could have taken a similar approach to cancel her engagement if she had truly wanted to.
Reaching a mutual agreement while ensuring a smooth resolution without negatively impacting either party.
But no—she had to humiliate the protagonist and turn him into an enemy.
Although Bai Xueqing and the other Bai Clan members didn’t take her ex-fiancé seriously, Bai Zihan was confident that, in a few years, they were going to regret it.
Anyway, he had his own problems to worry about and couldn’t really check what’s up with that ex-fiancé.
A report from the guards confirmed that Chu Ziyan had arrived and had gone to his sister’s place.
(Should I send someone to bring her here?)
Bai Zihan pondered.
But before he could decide—
“Young Master, Lady Chu wants to see you!”
A guard arrived to inform him.
(Finally!)
Bai Zihan immediately stood up and made his way toward Chu Ziyan.
***
As Bai Zihan stepped out of his courtyard, he took a deep breath, mentally preparing himself.
(Alright… Time to make sure this engagement never happens!)
Soon, he arrived at the reception hall.
The moment he stepped in, his eyes locked onto a familiar figure.
Chu Ziyan sat leisurely on a cushioned chair, one leg crossed over the other, sipping tea as if she owned the place.
Her eyes shimmered with amusement the moment she saw him.
“So, we finally meet again, Young Master Bai,” she said with a smirk.
Bai Zihan felt a shiver run down his spine.
(That damn smirk… Just seeing it brings back trauma!)
Still, he quickly regained his composure and forced a smile.
“Lady Chu,” he greeted, giving a polite bow. “It’s been a long time.”
Chu Ziyan tilted her head, her smirk widening.
“Oh? That’s new. So, why did you want to meet with me?”
Chu Ziyan asked.
“Lady Chu, I believe we both know why I wanted to meet with you.”
Chu Ziyan raised an eyebrow but didn’t interrupt.
“This engagement… I think it’s a mistake,” Bai Zihan continued, feigning deep regret.
“I know the elders arranged it, but let’s be honest—would you really want to be married to someone like me?”
Chu Ziyan leaned back, resting her chin on her hand.
“Go on!”
Encouraged, Bai Zihan pressed forward.
“I am well aware of my… reputation. I’m not talented, I’ve made countless mistakes, and I don’t have the best character. Everyone in the Bai Clan knows this. I am the last person worthy of being your fiancé.”
He looked her in the eyes, trying to appear as sincere as possible.
“I have no doubt that you were forced into this. But I don’t want you to suffer because of me. If you cancel the engagement, I will take all the blame. I’ll make sure no one blames you or your clan.”
He gave her his most self-sacrificing look.
Silence!
For a moment, Bai Zihan felt hopeful.
(That was perfect! There’s no way she’d want to marry me after that, right? Right?!)
Then—
Chu Ziyan smiled.
Not just any smile.
A slow, knowing smile filled with amusement and something far more dangerous.
Bai Zihan’s heart dropped.
(Wait… why does she look like that?!)
Chu Ziyan rested her cheek on her hand, her red eyes gleaming with pure delight.
“Ah~ I see.”
Bai Zihan gulped.
“Y-You do?”
“Yes!”
She sat up straight, crossing her arms.
“However, I have no intention of cancelling this engagement.”
Chu Ziyan declared.
“Huh?”
Bai Zihan was confused. He was certain she would accept his proposal to call off the engagement.
“You seem to be mistaken about something, Bai Zihan.”
Chu Ziyan continued, watching his bewildered expression.
“Neither my parents nor my elders forced me into this engagement. I was the one who suggested this engagement.”
Chu Ziyan made a shocking announcement.
(What?!!!)
Bai Zihan couldn’t help but be stunned.
(She was the one who suggested it?! How? Why?!)
His mind reeled, unable to process what he had just heard.
Looking at Chu Ziyan’s face, Bai Zihan was sure she wasn’t joking.
He wanted to yell, shout, and demand to know what the hell was wrong with her, but he knew that would only make things worse.
So, he forced himself to calm down, realizing that losing his composure wouldn’t change anything.
“Why?”
Bai Zihan couldn’t help but ask.
“I am the worst person to marry. Although I am the heir to the Bai Clan, with my lack of talent, there’s no way I can keep this position.”
Bai Zihan continued, perhaps driven by a geniune curiosity about why she chose him—or maybe in a last attempt to convince her that she had made a mistake.
“My personality isn’t the best, and although my appearance is decent, I don’t think you’re particularly attracted to it either.
Lady Chu, why would you want to marry me?”