CHAPTER 615: 237 A MARRIAGE ENGAGEMENT FORTY YEARS AGO_3

"Big sister-in-law, do you really think we’re all fools? How old are the two children, and you’re talking about a forty-year-old marriage pact? Is it me who can’t do the math or are you terrible at counting?"

Whispers filled the room; Mei Qingdai’s suspicion seemed quite reasonable.

Yao Huia quickly offered an explanation: "Years ago, my great-aunt and Mrs. Yu were pregnant at the same time. During a shared outing, they met and clicked instantly, becoming quick friends. The two families then forged a marriage pact: if each gave birth to a boy and a girl, they would unite them in marriage once they were grown. The Gu family, as inheritors of literary tradition, placed great emphasis on keeping promises, and the Yu family was no less steadfast. As a token of sincerity, my great-aunt took out an ancestral pair of jade pendants and gifted one to the Yu family as a keepsake. However, both women eventually gave birth to boys, so the pact was extended to the next generation. The next generation of the Gu and Yu families—you need only look at the pair before us—aren’t they the perfect match? I’d say this is a marriage ordained by the heavens; isn’t that right?"

Lady Jing and Mrs. Xiang exchanged bewildered glances. Yao Huia’s story sounded plausible, but why had they never heard of it before?

Besides, wasn’t it rumored that Madam Gu and Old Madam Yu didn’t get along? How could Madam Gu possibly have been fast friends with Mrs. Yu? That seemed far-fetched—Madam Gu lowering her status like that? That didn’t seem like her at all.

Yet Yao Huia spoke convincingly, as if every word was truth. It wasn’t the type of matter she’d lie about, so it must have come directly from Madam Gu.

If the Yu family truly formed an alliance with the Gu family... Well, that would be hard to imagine.

Mei Qingdai was struck speechless.

Yan Lu was utterly shocked; this revelation was no less than a bolt from the blue.

Gu Bichen, astonishingly, had a marriage pact with Yu Ruohuan.

A tender sapling consumed by a feral boar.

Yan Lu was beyond enraged.

Gu Bichen opened his mouth to speak, but his sleeve was tugged gently.

Looking down, he met Yu Ruohuan’s smiling gaze head-on.

Her flawless brows arched slightly. Though her eyes brimmed with an appearance of cheerfulness, they carried a venomous undertone akin to a hidden snake—chilling and sinister.

She dangled a sunflower pendant from her fingers, her lips moved silently without uttering a word.

Gu Bichen understood the lip-reading.

His lips curled into a faint, cutting smile. "Yu Ruohuan, no one can threaten me."

Yu Ruohuan’s gaze narrowed slightly.

Without looking at Yu Ruohuan again, Gu Bichen raised his eyes toward Yao Huia.

"The Yu and Gu families do indeed have a marriage pact."

The room was filled with silent gasps as people saw Gu Bichen personally acknowledge the pact. Another outstanding bachelor claimed by the Yu family—it was both lamentable and remarkable.

Emotions swung between sighs of regret and resignation.

Wen Wan’s eyes lowered as she bit her lip lightly.

Mrs. Wen patted her hand with an air of serenity and remarked, "Don’t worry, the real drama is yet to unfold."

Wei Zhuhua smiled gently, her gaze fixed on the youth before her. The more she looked, the more satisfied she was.

The Mei family was an absolute mess, and Mei Junzhe was visibly spineless—clearly destined to be a failure.

The Wen family was decent, but far too complicated, rife with internal strife and high risks. If Huanhuan married into the Wen family, her days would surely be fraught with hardship.

But the Gu family? Simple lineage, upright values, an exemplary household known for their benevolence and equanimity. The pair at the helm, especially, had a reputation for kindness and mutual respect. The Gu family enjoyed both prestige and influence, and as for Gu Bichen? Need she even describe him? With his noble bearing and impeccable character, he was intelligent and ambitious; he had just snagged the CMO Gold Award that even the proud Huanhuan hadn’t managed to achieve.

More importantly, it was clear to Wei Zhuhua that Huanhuan liked Gu Bichen. That was the critical factor.

To preempt Old Madam Yu from pulling a wild stunt to shove Huanhuan toward the Mei family, Wei Zhuhua had to act decisively. While the marriage pact unquestionably existed, she’d heard the story indirectly from her late mother-in-law years ago. Whether it was true or false, at this moment, it had to be treated as true.

Truth be told, when Gu Bichen was questioning Yao Huia moments ago, she’d been uneasy. The boy seemed resolute—if he didn’t agree, wouldn’t it leave Huanhuan in an awkward predicament?

Fortunately, the boy cared enough about Huanhuan to personally endorse the pact.

Now the matter was sealed, even if Old Madam Yu came forth, it couldn’t be undone.

Wei Zhuhua’s smile grew more content as her gaze toward Gu Bichen turned increasingly favorable.

Across all of Jingzhou—no, across Hua Country itself—there couldn’t be a better candidate than Gu Bichen.

He would be Huanhuan’s perfect match.

Huanhuan would escape the fate of a forced marriage and live a life of happiness.

"But I believe there’s been a misunderstanding. The marriage pact established by my grandfather and grandmother was meant for Mr. Yu Yisen and Mrs. Shen Qiunong’s family."

Wei Zhuhua abruptly looked up.

Yu Ruohuan’s gaze on Gu Bichen turned icy cold in an instant.

A hush fell over the room.

Yu Yisen—a name distant yet all too unsettlingly familiar.

Gu Bichen, seemingly oblivious to the eerie tension, continued speaking unperturbed: "My grandparents, during their early years in physics research, were stuck on an unsolvable problem. At that time, Mr. Yu Yisen appeared. As a distinguished physicist, he helped my grandparents crack the issue. From then on, my grandparents regarded Mr. Yu Yisen and Mrs. Shen Qiunong as trusted friends. Later, the two families decided to strengthen their bond through marriage and set up a pact."

"As everyone knows, my grandmother and Grandma Shen both gave birth to sons afterward, so they agreed to extend the pact to the next generation."

Gu Bichen spoke steadily, "Therefore, my marriage pact isn’t with Yu Ruohuan, but with the biological granddaughter of Mr. Yu Yisen and Mrs. Shen Qiunong. The Gu family honors its promises; I would never dare overlook the pact. But you Yu family... quite amusing. Trying to play tricks, are you?"

Switching the plum for the peach.

The room plunged into an unsettling silence.

This seemingly gentle youth wielded sharp words, giving the Yu family no quarter as he delivered a hard, public slap to the faces of Wei Zhuhua and Yu Ruohuan.

Yu Yisen—who didn’t know this name was taboo within the Yu family?

And yet, he blatantly brought it up, directly proclaiming that his fiancée was Yu Yisen’s biological granddaughter, and that he would wait for her indefinitely.

But... Yu Yisen—where would such a granddaughter even come from?