Chapter 7 Hand Over

Chapter 7 The Discussion

Wen Shuhua hadn't anticipated Gu Yu's sudden request. She paused, then glanced back to see Grandma Gu and Gu Ying, seated on the sofa, equally dumbfounded and staring blankly. She was about to ask what there was to discuss, but then reconsidered, deeming the thought inappropriate.

While Xie Xinyi was universally acknowledged as the most suitable match, it was Gu Yu and Xie Xinyi who would ultimately build a life together. Some matters were best handled by the two of them alone; a private conversation might not be a bad idea.

Moreover, Gu Yu hadn't outright refused and had even suggested talking. Given his usual demeanor, this arranged marriage might actually have a chance—if not a certainty, at least there was room for negotiation.

Wen Shuhua remained noncommittal, then sought Xie Xinyi's opinion. After receiving Xie Xinyi's consent, she gestured for her son to lead Xinyi to the quieter study upstairs.

"Take your time talking. Grandma and I will watch TV downstairs—no rush at all."

After her instruction, she recalled her son's cold expression since Xie Xinyi's arrival. Worried, she took Xie Xinyi's hand and added, "Don't worry. If Gu Yu dares treat you poorly, Grandma and I will set him straight."

Xie Xinyi caught the double meaning.

The Xie family had been at fault for the bride switch. The Gu family, as the affected party, not only refrained from seeking accountability but had been remarkably considerate of her feelings ever since she agreed to take her sister's place.

To prevent gossip, they specifically wrote her name into the marriage contract. To help her settle in, they had Wang Ma brew her a special black tea, only available in the county. They even called back their younger daughter, who had been sent to live with her aunt, to make her feel welcome and ease her initial awkwardness.

Each of these seemingly trivial gestures, insignificant to outsiders, meant the world to Xie Xinyi, warming her heart for a lifetime. The Gu family treated her with kindness, prioritized her feelings, and genuinely respected and cherished her.

Xie Xinyi already felt a deep sense of guilt about the marriage substitution. Now, faced with such unwavering and unconditional support, her eyes welled up, and she suddenly felt like crying.

Her reddened eyes and heightened guilt were noticed by Wen Shuhua, who mistakenly thought the young woman was scared and about to cry because of her son's cold demeanor.

Worried, Wen Shuhua quickly jumped to her son's defense. "Xinyi, don't be afraid. Gu Yu might seem a bit cold, but he's actually not a bad person."

After Xie Xinyi relaxed a bit, Wen Shuhua quietly pulled her son aside and sternly warned him, "I'm the one insisting on fulfilling the marriage agreement—it has nothing to do with this young woman. If you're unwilling, just take it up with me. Don't scare her. She's in an unfamiliar place here. If anything happens to her because of you, I won't be able to explain it to the Xie family."

Gu Yu disagreed, shooting back, "Do you still need to explain to the Xie family? Didn't you all just say the Gu family's daughter-in-law can only be her?"

His tone was disdainful, his attitude defiant. It seemed he still harbored resentment and wasn't sincerely discussing the marriage.

Wen Shuhua angrily swatted her son on the arm. "Stop being sarcastic. This marriage was decided by the old master back then. Weren't you the one who listened to your grandfather the most? Then listen to him and go marry Xinyi already!"

After issuing a fierce warning, she urged her son and Xie Xinyi to go to the study upstairs.

The so-called study was actually Old Master Xie's private den during his lifetime.

When Xie Xinyi followed Gu Yu to the room at the corner of the second floor, she saw upon entering a room full of wooden carved gun models.

There were so many models that they practically occupied the entire room. With two people suddenly crowding in, there was hardly any space to stand. Xie Xinyi took a quick glance, swiftly found an empty spot by the window to stand, so as not to inconvenience Gu Yu.

Considerate and accommodating—consistent with her demeanor when she first saw him. Only, before, he had never considered marrying the arranged marriage candidate, but now...

Gu Yu found a position where they could hear each other clearly and, without any preamble, got straight to the point: "Regarding the marriage agreement, do you have anything to say?"

Xie Xinyi, who had been considering whether to start with some small talk: "..."

Seriously, do all the Gu family members speak so directly?

Grandma Gu brought up marriage as soon as they met, and Gu Yu didn't even bother with pleasantries, adopting a "let's get this over with so we can clock out" attitude.

Xie Xinyi felt like laughing. She was here to fulfill the marriage agreement—something Gu Yu should know. Since he knew yet still asked if she had anything to say, it seemed this Mr. Gu wanted to push the responsibility onto her, making her the one to call off the engagement. But he wasn't sure if she was willing, so he was testing the waters.

Gu Yu did want to sound Xie Xinyi out, though not quite in the way she imagined.

The Xie family had suddenly switched candidates, and his mother, unaware, was dead set on him going through with the marriage agreement.

Although he understood and wasn't outright opposed to it, whether the other party was being forced or if the substituted girl was willing were issues he needed to focus on.

Moreover, marriage involved two people—it wasn't something he could decide unilaterally. Whether out of respect for the woman or responsibility for their future union, he had to confirm before marriage if she was willing and if it was her own decision.

Gu Yu was thinking ahead, but Xie Xinyi was silent for a long moment.

Seeing her lack of response, Gu Yu thought she might indeed be forced. He was about to say the marriage agreement could be called off when Xie Xinyi, who had been silent until then, suddenly laughed and retorted, "Well... do you have something to say?"

"No."

His answer was firm. After responding, regardless of whether Xie Xinyi had directly answered his question, he stared at her seriously for a moment before frowning and asking, "Do you really want to marry me?"

Clearly, this was another carefully considered test.

What his purpose was, Xie Xinyi didn't know.

She only knew that when someone repeatedly asked the same question and you never gave a direct answer, it came off as somewhat impolite.

Since the man persisted, Xie Xinyi didn't want to keep him waiting. She decided to combine the first question and answer outright.

"I came here to fulfill the marriage agreement."

So, regarding the marriage agreement, she had nothing to say. As for whether she really wanted to marry him, Xie Xinyi turned the question back on him to give her answer.

"Don't you want to marry me?"

She retorted playfully, her clear eyes firmly meeting Gu Yu's gaze.

The answer was obvious. It seemed this marriage was something she willingly agreed to fulfill, not forced by others.

Having received a confirming answer, Gu Yu slowly released the investigation letter he had been gripping in his pocket and shifted to a more comfortable stance, leaning back a little. "My mother must have already told you about my situation, so I won't repeat it. Now, I'll share some things she doesn't know..."

Xie Xinyi was still processing the man's previous question. Hearing him mention his situation, she expected a lengthy introduction and prepared to listen attentively, nodding appropriately. But before it even began, the man's words took a sharp turn.

Things Aunt Wen doesn't know?

Could it be about him leaving the military for business?

But didn't Gu Yu inform his family only after everything was settled? Why was he sharing this with her, his arranged marriage partner?

Xie Xinyi was puzzled, but the man, unaware of her hesitation, continued, "...I currently earn a monthly salary of one hundred twenty yuan and twenty fen, with additional rice and flour subsidies. I usually eat at the army base, so I hardly spend any money."

Well, she did know this—Aunt Wen had told her.

"My savings are all in a passbook, totaling five thousand four hundred thirty-two yuan and eighty fen."

Well, a passbook was good—after all, he hardly spent anything.

"Tomorrow, I'll hand over my Party membership card and the passbook to you. You can withdraw money from it for anything you want to buy."

Hang on!

A passbook?

Party membership? What's that?

Weren’t you supposed to talk about things Auntie Wen doesn’t know?

Why are we suddenly talking about savings accounts and party credentials?

When Xie Xinyi heard the first two sentences, she thought it was just part of the standard dating process and was about to share her own basic information openly. But before she could even speak, Gu Yu unexpectedly dropped this bombshell.

She waved her hands frantically, insisting she couldn’t accept it.

A savings account—that’s practically someone’s life savings!

They hadn't even decided to date yet; how could she possibly take something so vital from him?

Xie Xinyi didn’t dare accept it, and Gu Yu didn’t press the issue further. He simply asked if she had any other questions.

He didn’t mention a word about his future plans to leave the military and go into business, which reminded Xie Xinyi that today was their first meeting.

They had just met, and their relationship wasn’t even defined yet. To Gu Yu, she was nothing more than an unexpected variable. And when it comes to surprises, there’s certainly no need to confess things he hadn’t even told his own mother.

Xie Xinyi understood this perfectly and recognized that, as a future important man, he needed to cultivate the habit of being discreet and careful.

She wasn’t going to push too hard or push for answers where she wasn’t welcome.

In fact, for an important man like him to offer his life savings—no, his savings account and party credentials—to her, a matchmaking prospect, and even tell her she could access the money anytime, was already a sign of considerable trust.

Besides, hadn’t he said it himself? Whether she accepted it or not, he was going to hand over the savings account regardless.

His words were a bit domineering, but at least his attitude toward the matchmaking was sincere.

At first, she had worried that Gu Yu had come to this meeting to cancel their arrangement. To her surprise, he started by offering his party membership certificate and savings account. In comparison, Xie Xinyi felt a little embarrassed, as if she had misjudged his intentions.

She smiled sheepishly. After sensing his sincerity, she solemnly declared, “After we marry, I’ll find a job. I won’t be a burden. You can feel free to pursue whatever you want to do—I won’t hold you back or interfere with your decisions. If there ever comes a time when you need me to explain something for you, I’ll speak up for you right away…”

Even if the important man didn’t actually need help from a supporting character like her.

Still, Xie Xinyi wanted to reassure Gu Yu. Just in case—what if one day, just like in the book, he found it impossible to continue living under the same roof with her and had to divorce? Then, as his partner, she would at least step up to cover for him and sincerely wish him and his true love a happy ending!

Thinking of the hinted storyline in the book, Xie Xinyi felt she had to consider every possibility for the important man. But Gu Yu, on the other hand, didn’t seem to miss the underlying meaning of her words. He just said stiffly that he didn’t need her help with anything.

His expression was stern, and Xie Xinyi didn’t feel it was appropriate to press further. Given their current relationship, such private matters were definitely not something Gu Yu would discuss with her. So she didn’t delve deeper and instead changed her approach, suggesting that if he ever needed anything, he could just let her know, and then she ended the topic.

“Do you have any other questions?” Xie Xinyi asked Gu Yu, carefully collecting herself as she felt quite satisfied with her matchmaking prospect.

“No,” Gu Yu replied. What he wanted in a wife wasn’t particularly high. “What about you? Anything else you want to ask?”

Xie Xinyi shook her head.

Having agreed, Xie Xinyi noticed Gu Yu preparing to leave and followed him toward the door.

When they reached the entrance, Gu Yu reached out to open the door. But as soon as it cracked open, they heard an “Aiyo!” followed by three stumbling figures spilling into view before them.

Author's Note: