Chapter 217: They are a betrothed couple!

Chapter 217: They are a betrothed couple!

Liu Xiangxiang was also dumbfounded. "But Ah Wu... they were engaged in a private relationship..."

"You're just a young girl, don't go around talking about private relationships. It's not appropriate to say such things," Grandfather Liu said with authority.

Pausing for a moment, his eyes swept over Cui Chengze standing behind Liu Xiangxiang. Then he added leisurely, "Besides, Ah Wu and Siyang, how could that be called a private relationship? They are a betrothed couple!"

At these words, Liu Xiangxiang, who looked like she had been struck by lightning, and even Cui Chengze, whose face instantly turned ugly, were both struck silent.

He realized he had been deceived!

The Liu family had no intention of betrothing Liu Mengmeng to him!

Cui Chengze ground his teeth.

He, the pride of the Cui family, had been deemed unworthy even for a fool in the eyes of the Liu family?!

Well, that's just great!

A sinister look flashed in Cui Chengze's eyes, and he stormed off, forgetting to maintain his composure.

Liu Xiangxiang came to her senses and was anxious. She wanted to chase after Cui Chengze to mend things, but also wanted to find out what was going on.

After a moment of hesitation, she decided to stay and ask for clarity first. She could go to her cousin at the Cui family after her mother returned.

To be honest, she was a little afraid of this cousin from the Cui family now.

"Grandfather... when did Ah Wu sister get betrothed?" Liu Xiangxiang calmed her heart and went to act coquettishly with Grandfather Liu. "Why haven't we heard anything about it?"

Grandfather Liu said leisurely, "Not long before you arrived. Ah Wu is already eighteen this year. Is it strange that I found a husband who will join our family for her?"

"A husband who will join our family?!" Liu Xiangxiang was astonished. "But, but Ah Wu sister..."

Grandfather Liu's eyes turned sharp, cutting off the word "fool" before Liu Xiangxiang could say it. He said coldly, "What? Your Ah Wu sister is the only daughter of the third branch. Am I not allowed to find a husband who will join our family and continue the third branch's line?"

Liu Xiangxiang had never seen Grandfather Liu look at her so sharply.

She felt both flustered and afraid.

"It's not that, Grandfather, I didn't mean that..." Liu Xiangxiang was completely disoriented.

"Enough, since that's not what you meant, then there's no need to say more," Grandfather Liu waved his hand. "Don't stand around here. Your Mao Grandfather and I still have work to do."

"Then Xiangxiang will take her leave," Liu Xiangxiang could only leave unwillingly.

As soon as she left the yard, Liu Xiangxiang hurried to her mother's courtyard.

Liu Madam was also back and was resting in the room, drinking tea.

"Mother!" Liu Xiangxiang rushed into Liu Madam's room without a second thought.

The beaded curtains in Liu Madam's room swung violently from the rush.

"Why are you in such a hurry?" Liu Madam was displeased. "Rushing in like this, what a mess."

Liu Xiangxiang didn't care about anything else and dropped the news first, "Mother! Grandfather said he has already found a husband who will join the family for that fool! They are already betrothed!"

"What?!" Liu Madam stood up in panic, knocking over the teacup on the small table beside her.

She didn’t have time for that and snapped, "Where did you get this information from?!"

"It was Grandfather himself who said it!" Liu Xiangxiang quickly recounted how Yu Chengze had discovered Ah Wu and a man privately exchanging tokens. She and Yu Chengze had gone to report it to Grandfather Liu, only to be told by Grandfather Liu that the man was Ah Wu’s properly betrothed fiancé.

Liu Dafuren swayed on her feet.

"Has Father gone mad?!" She steadied herself by holding onto the small table beside her, a rare flustered look crossing her face. "In this backwater place, how could there be anyone of suitable family status to be Ah Wu’s son-in-law?"

Liu Xiangxiang, prompted by her mother's words, had a gleam of joy in her eyes.

That’s right! In such a small place, full of rural folk, and for a fool like her to find a son-in-law, what kind of person could they possibly find?

Liu Xiangxiang couldn’t help but smile broadly and hugged Liu Dafuren's arm. "Mother, since that fool has already found a son-in-law, can we just forget about Cousin Yu from the Cui family?"

"What do you know?!" Liu Dafuren glared at her daughter and said sternly, "We can’t just forget about it!"

"But she’s already betrothed..." Liu Xiangxiang pouted, then suddenly came up with a good idea. "Why don’t I go and see who this fool’s fiancé is?"

Liu Dafuren's brows furrowed.

That was indeed a good idea.

"...Alright, go find Ah Wu and say you want to meet your future brother-in-law and check out his background," Liu Dafuren slowly said, "I’ll think of other ways."

Liu Xiangxiang assumed her mother’s "other ways" meant she was giving up, and she felt a bit smug about it.

That fool really was a fool, turning down the chance to be the Cui family’s young mistress just to marry some nobody from this backwater!

Haha, when she returned to the capital, she would definitely use this as a joke and spread it among the girls in the capital!

Feeling extremely pleased, Liu Xiangxiang instructed Zhi Tao, "Go and wait by the main gate. As soon as that fool comes back, come and inform me immediately."

Zhi Tao accepted the order and left.

...

Ah Wu had put on a bright yellow dress today, looking like a flower blooming in the spring breeze.

She happily led Moliu and two guards to the Yujia shop.

At this time, there weren’t many people in the shop. Ah Wu stood there, and Yu Siyang, who happened to look up, was stunned.

This was the first time he had seen Ah Wu since he had angered her last time.

Ah Wu gave Yu Siyang a sweet smile.

Yu Siyang felt his heart race, and his eyes welled up. She was still willing to smile at him even after he had angered her. Ah Wu was too good to him!

Yu Sanbao suppressed a laugh and nudged Yu Siyang with his elbow. "There’s a fair in town today. Why don’t you take Ah Wu for a stroll?"

He then took out a purse and stuffed it into Yu Siyang's hand.

Yu Siyang hurriedly tied the purse to his waist.

Ah Wu just smiled gently at Yu Siyang.

To others, Yu Siyang’s flustered actions might seem a little silly, but to Ah Wu, she found Siyang’s real self utterly adorable!

After they left the shop, Yu Siyang and Ah Wu walked side by side, but kept a distance of about three feet between them.

Yu Siyang hesitated, then finally muttered an apology.

Ah Wu smiled, her eyes softening as she looked at Yu Siyang. "Siyang, when you deliberately ignored me before, I was very hurt."

Yu Siyang became even more flustered. "I... I’m really sorry," he stammered, his voice barely above a whisper.

"But," Ah Wu smiled warmly, "I accept your apology. Just don’t do that again, okay?"

Yu Siyang had heard a term before, "xin hua nu fang."

He had never quite understood it.

But in that moment, as he saw Ah Wu’s smile, he suddenly understood what "heart blossoming" meant.

It felt like a garden of flowers was bursting into bloom in his heart.

More than all the wildflowers that blanket the hills in spring!

Yu Siyang couldn’t help but smile, feeling a little silly but happy.

Seeing Yu Siyang’s smile, Ah Wu beamed even brighter.