Chapter 29 Matchmaking

Chapter 29: Matchmaking

Jia Fugui became the head of the procurement department three years ago.

It was during the most turbulent years of social unrest. The previous head of procurement had been demoted, and Jia Fugui, whose father was a militia captain, conveniently stepped into the role.

In those times, simply avoiding mistakes was considered an achievement. Jia Fugui had no real talent, which ironically became his strength.

The factory director was hands-off, and Deputy Director Yuan rarely interfered with procurement. Jia Fugui reigned supreme. Despite the economic downturn, he was the first in the factory to wear a suit and leather shoes. Even his country-bred wife, who initially struggled to speak clearly, transformed into a snobbish social climber.

Everyone knew the procurement department was a gravy train. Jia Fugui became genuinely wealthy, though no one knew the extent of his embezzlement.

State-owned enterprises were poorly managed, and most procurement staff in that era took double commissions. What was visible on the surface was bad enough; the hidden loopholes were far more numerous.

In later years, Xie Xinyi heard from her grand-uncle, who had worked in a state-owned factory's procurement department, that some bolder officers of his generation even dared to embezzle public funds.

Goods would be sold, the payments pocketed, and the factory told that the buyer couldn't pay upfront, only after the goods were resold.

Communication was difficult then, and state-owned factory leaders were merely salaried employees. Few were willing to take on extra responsibility or risk offending anyone.

Most turned a blind eye, and over time, the procurement department grew increasingly audacious.

Otherwise, how do you think these state-owned factories eventually collapsed?

A thousand-mile dike can be destroyed by an anthill.

It was these internal parasites that caused state-owned factories to crumble from within, even without external enemies.

Understanding the historical context, when Xiao Jiang told her that Minister Jia had been taken away, Xie Xinyi immediately assumed his corruption had been exposed. It never crossed her mind that he had been caught red-handed by the police for organizing an illegal gambling ring.

Over a dozen people were holed up in an abandoned factory building. When the police arrived, the table was piled high with ten-yuan notes. It was said that the police spent over an hour verifying the gambling funds, indicating the sheer scale of the betting.

The day the factory announced the news, everyone speculated about how much Minister Jia had embezzled. Those who had previous grievances with Wu Guifen even went directly to the Frozen Products Workshop, confronting her and asking how many years her husband would be sentenced.

In that era, gambling wasn't considered a major crime. Even for large sums, the maximum sentence was usually a few years. The problem was that many couldn't explain the source of their gambling money, prompting the police to investigate their workplaces.

The conspicuous presence of police uniforms in the factory, along with the official notice issued the next day, made it impossible for Wu Guifen to conceal the truth, no matter how hard she tried.

At first, when people questioned her, she stubbornly argued. But as more people asked, she threw in the towel, declaring that she could live a carefree life even without her husband.

When Xiao Jiang mimicked her tone while recounting this, she nearly died laughing at Wu Guifen’s twisted logic. "Can you believe it? Is there anyone in the world dumber than her? Her husband is under investigation, and she's practically handing evidence to the authorities."

Wu Guifen earned just over forty yuan a month, supporting two elderly parents and four young children. Claiming she could live a carefree life was like inviting investigators to look into her, suggesting her husband had stashed away embezzled funds for her.

Jiang Tiantian laughed openly, also recounting how Sister Liu, while knitting, had enthusiastically spread the news everywhere.

Xie Xinyi walked home alongside Jiang Tiantian, pushing her bicycle, surprised that Minister Jia’s case had caused such a stir.

"Now that he's been arrested, will someone replace him at the factory?"

Truthfully, Xie Xinyi didn't care how long Minister Jia would be sentenced. She was only concerned about when the ice cream molds for the R&D team would arrive.

Xiao Jiang reassured her, saying that if Minister Jia was gone, there would always be a Li Fugui, Wang Fugui, or Zhang Fugui.

Many people in the factory coveted that lucrative position, and it was possible that some of them had even "assisted" in Minister Jia's downfall.

To ensure Xie Xinyi understood the intricate dynamics, Xiao Jiang elaborated on the factory's internal workings.

The two whispered as they walked, but before they reached Xiao Jiang’s home, they heard a fierce argument erupting from inside.

"...So you've forgotten your mother after getting married? I raised you from a baby, and you won't even spare some money for your brother's wedding?"

An aged voice carried over the wall, and Jiang Tiantian’s smile instantly froze.

She stood awkwardly, glancing towards the courtyard and then at Xie Xinyi, who was laden with gifts. She wanted to suggest Xie Xinyi come another day but hesitated to speak. As she wavered, the door suddenly opened from inside. Her husband, flushed with anger, was shoved out by an old woman. Losing his footing, he stumbled and bumped into Xie Xinyi, who was standing outside.

"Sorry, sorry, I'm so sorry."

The man kept apologizing without looking up, completely unaware of Xiao Jiang's presence.

"Mom, you're here?"

Only when Xiao Jiang quietly greeted the woman behind him did he look up in surprise. "You're back?"

He looked shocked, his voice barely a whisper, as if he hadn't expected Xiao Jiang to return so early, and with a stranger. After speaking, he glanced at the old woman inside.

This was Xie Xinyi’s first time meeting Xiao Jiang’s husband. He matched Sister Liu’s description: honest, timid, and lacking masculinity. With his slender build, small nose, and glasses, he seemed entirely mismatched with the bright and cheerful Xiao Jiang.

She couldn't fathom how they ended up together, yet both shared a strikingly similar attitude toward the old woman—fear mixed with awe, not daring to utter a word in her presence.

When the woman looked at Xie Xinyi, Xiao Jiang quickly introduced her: "Xinyi, this is Shang Fushun's mother."

"Mom, this is my colleague from the factory, Xie Xinyi."

"Hello, Auntie."

After the introduction, Xie Xinyi politely greeted her, but the woman seemed to ignore her. Instead, she pulled Xiao Jiang into the house, snapping, "You're back just in time. Erdan says he doesn't know where the money is. Go find it for me."

Disregarding the guest, she manhandled Xiao Jiang, her every word focused on money.

Coming to her second son's home to demand money for her younger son's wedding, then bossing around her daughter-in-law who had just returned from work—Xiao Jiang's mother-in-law was exactly as Sister Liu had described: a persistent, unruly nuisance.

Shang Fushun was the second son. After his elder brother drowned in a river at the age of two, his mother gave him a name meant to ensure survival.

Erdan—a name straight out of an old-fashioned TV drama—was something Xie Xinyi never expected to associate with this scholarly-looking man.

The name was chosen carelessly, and he was never treated well.

When the couple got married, Shang Fushun’s family didn’t attend. Now that his younger brother couldn’t afford a bride price, they suddenly remembered their son who was working as an apprentice in the city.

The favoritism was so blatant that Xie Xinyi felt indignant on behalf of Xiao Jiang and her husband.

It was unclear whether Shang Fushun’s mother was doing it intentionally, but despite seeing how much the young couple struggled, she still insisted, "You're the older brother. Helping your younger brother is only right."

She urged Xiao Jiang to fetch the money, finally sparing a glance at Xie Xinyi.

Noticing the brand-new 26-inch bicycle Xie Xinyi was pushing, laden with rare items she had never seen before, and the expensive-looking suit the girl wore, Shang’s mother fell silent, scrutinizing everything intently.

When her son took the gifts from Xie Xinyi and invited her inside, Shang’s mother immediately followed, shamelessly tagging along.

Apples, flour, dried noodles—these were ordinary enough. But there were also several jars of shrimp paste, sold only at department stores, along with high-quality patterned fabric and face cream, something only city girls used...

The table was piled with valuable items. Shang’s mother stared wide-eyed, running her hands over each item, even forgetting to press Xiao Jiang for the money.

"Are all these... for you two?"

She leaned close to Shang Fushun and whispered to confirm, but Xie Xinyi overheard her and immediately interrupted, "Last time, I made it to the hospital thanks to Xiao Jiang."

Xie Xinyi pointed to the items on the table, "These are a token of my mother-in-law's appreciation. She had business to attend to today and couldn’t come herself, so she asked me to deliver these to thank you personally."

She had a soft voice and gentle demeanor, and she spoke with a warm smile, but her underlying meaning was clear to everyone.

Other mothers-in-law would buy gifts to thank their daughters-in-law's rescuers, but this one only came to demand money.

Xie Xinyi had indirectly criticized Shang Fushun's mother, though she showed no sign of it on her face, simply continuing to express gratitude and emphasizing that these gifts were for Xiao Jiang.

Shang Fushun blushed with embarrassment at his mother's behavior, yet his mother remained completely oblivious, her eyes greedily scanning the items on the table.

Jiang Tiantian made small talk with Xie Xinyi while awkwardly glancing at the old woman. Finally, too embarrassed to endure it further, she shot Shang Fushun a meaningful look.

Shang Fushun understood what Xiao Jiang meant but didn't have the nerve to stand up to his mother. He called out to his mother softly a few times, but this only made her angrier. With no regard for the guests present, she lashed out at Xiao Jiang and Shang Fushun.

"What, you've grown bold after a few days of eating state rations? How dare you try to kick your own mother out? Have you no shame?"

Shang Fushun's mother lifted her eyes from the pile of gifts, first staring venomously at Xiao Jiang for a moment, then she grabbed Shang Fushun by the ear and scolding him loudly, "Ungrateful fool! Your wife has led you astray!"

Then, remembering why she had come, she shifted her tone and insisted that Xiao Jiang and Shang Fushun give her the money today.

"...If you don't give me the money today, I'll move in until you pay up."

With a vicious look, Shang Fushun's mother glared at Xiao Jiang and Shang Fushun as if they were her enemies. She tossed her luggage on the floor, took off her shoes, and lay down on the only bed in Xiao Jiang's room. She even snatched an apple from Xie Xinyi's gifts, eating it contentedly as she lay there.

Xie Xinyi, wanting to avoid meddling in family affairs: "???"

This old woman was acting like Xie Xinyi wasn't even there. Even with Xie Xinyi present, she was making demands to Xiao Jiang and Shang Fushun. Xie Xinyi glanced worriedly at Xiao Jiang sitting beside her.

Xiao Jiang bowed her head in silence, while Shang Fushun stood red-faced in the corner.

Neither dared to confront her, but since it was a private family matter, Xie Xinyi decided not to overstay her welcome. When Xiao Jiang went to refill her tea, Xie Xinyi seized the moment, stood up, said her goodbyes, and left.

She thought that without an outsider present, Shang Fushun would handle the family matter more easily. But the next day, while accompanying Wen Shuhua to the department store to buy a thank-you gift for Gao He, she unexpectedly encountered Shang Fushun's mother again, forcing Xiao Jiang to pay for her purchases.

It was unclear whether she was angry about not getting the money or had come specifically to extort them.

Shang Fushun's mother was loaded down with shopping bags, with bags in her arms, in her hands, and over her shoulders. She seemed determined to use every part of her body to carry as much as possible, as if she wanted to buy out the entire department store.

Xiao Jiang followed behind the old woman, her face bitter as she paid. Each time she handed over a large bill, she shot a red-eyed, resentful glance at Shang Fushun, who stood beside her with his head hung in silence.

A foolishly filial man and an obedient wife—Shang Fushun's mother’s ostentatious behavior drew countless onlookers. Xie Xinyi, not wanting Xiao Jiang to feel embarrassed if she saw them, pulled Wen Shuhua—who had been watching the spectacle with others—away, circling around to avoid them.

"Isn’t that the girl who took you to the hospital last time?"

Wen Shuhua, being pulled along, turned back curiously to confirm and clearly recognized Xiao Jiang.

"Yes, her mother-in-law is here."

Xie Xinyi didn’t hide anything and gave a detailed account of Xiao Jiang’s family situation.

"There are people like that?"

After hearing Xie Xinyi’s account, Wen Shuhua sighed, feeling sorry for Xiao Jiang, but she didn’t pass judgment.

After all, it was someone else’s family matter, so Xie Xinyi and Wen Shuhua didn’t comment further. The two women carefully avoided Xiao Jiang and her family as they spent a long time selecting the thank-you gift.

"Tomorrow, when we go to Regimental Commander Gao’s place, you should come with us."

Wen Shuhua looked satisfied with the items in her hand. Xie Xinyi thought she just wanted company and was about to agree when Wen Shuhua abruptly changed the subject: "You’re better at judging character than I am. When we go, help Gu Ying get a good look at him."

This was...

To help Gu Ying size him up?

Weren’t they just going to express their gratitude? How did it turn into a matchmaking session?

Xie Xinyi was puzzled and turned to ask, "Does Gu Yu know about this?"

His younger sister was being set up with someone the two of them had previously suspected—the whole situation felt unreliable. Xie Xinyi hesitated, but Wen Shuhua was amused by her question, saying Gu Yu wouldn’t care about such matters.

"...You know better than anyone who my son cares about now, don’t you?"

She joked lightheartedly, but Xie Xinyi wasn’t in the mood for banter.

The circumstances around Gu Ying’s injury were already suspicious. Although it hadn’t caused any real harm to the future influential figure, the person targeting Gu Yu behind the scenes still hadn’t been found.

As long as that person remained at large, the threat persisted. The book didn’t provide many details about this, so Xie Xinyi had no leads and could only pin her hopes on the present.

She was skeptical about the coincidence of Gao He showing up just in time to save Gu Ying and had no objection to accompanying Wen Shuhua and Gu Ying on this visit.

She agreed without hesitation, and the group set out after lunch the next day.

Gao He was on temporary assignment and was staying at the military factory.

Wen Shuhua dragged a reluctant Gu Ying along as they asked for directions, quickly finding the residence of the "renowned" Regimental Commander Gao.

"Coming..."

A firm voice came from inside the room in response to their knock.

Before Wen Shuhua could introduce herself, the door opened from the inside. The man stood in the doorway, dressed in a Zhongshan suit, looking even more refined and cultured than the first time they had met.

"Auntie, what brings you here?"

While at the hospital, Wen Shuhua had learned that Gao He was the one who saved Gu Ying and had personally gone to the adjacent room to thank him. Now, showing up with a pile of gifts, Gao He was understandably surprised.

"Please, come in and have a seat."

Seeing Wen Shuhua laden with gifts, he recovered from his surprise and invited her inside. When he noticed Gu Ying and Xie Xinyi standing behind her, he was taken aback again.

"You... you came too. Please, come in and sit..."

As if he hadn’t expected the two of them to come, the battle-hardened Regimental Commander Gao seemed somewhat flustered.

At first, he stumbled over his words, then fumbled while making tea. By the time he finally sat down, his ears were tinged with red.

He didn’t ask the three unexpected visitors about their purpose for coming, instead making small talk with Wen Shuhua over tea.

Gu Ying sat idly by, bored, while only Xie Xinyi observed carefully, having been watching the man’s reactions since they entered.

Unlike his confident and relaxed demeanor during their previous meetings, Regimental Commander Gao seemed noticeably uneasy this time.

It was unclear whether he was putting on a show for Auntie Wen or if this was how he usually behaved, but he seemed particularly awkward overall.

Wen Shuhua asked him if he was settling in well here, and he replied that his home was in the Shanghai military district, with his grandparents and parents still living there.

Wen Shuhua asked him how long the secondment would last, and he replied that the First Military District was quite good, and the people in Beijing were also very nice.

Wen Shuhua then asked if he was usually busy, and he answered that his military rank wasn't very high and he still needed to work hard in the future.

After a few rounds of conversation, they hadn't said much, yet they tacitly managed to get a clear picture of Gao He's personal situation.

Although the man didn't seem to answer directly, every word he said hit the mark with Wen Shuhua.

His family background was simple, he was also from a military compound family, upstanding, and he was ambitious.

Wasn't this exactly the ideal son-in-law Wen Shuhua had in mind?

Wen Shuhua looked at the confident young man with satisfaction, smiling broadly. While chatting, she didn't forget to include Gu Ying, she might as well have had "I'm here to check out a potential match for my daughter" written on her face. Gu Ying, feeling mortified, made faces at Xie Xinyi from the side, her whole body reeking of discomfort.

Xie Xinyi, focused on observing the man, didn't notice Gu Ying's pleading look at first.

From the moment they entered, she had been quietly observing the man's behavior and everything in the room. Aside from his initial nervousness upon seeing them, the man's demeanor was generally confident and polished and meticulous, leaving no obvious flaws.

Not only was his speech appropriate, but his room was also neatly kept, unlike typical bachelors who might leave things to wash tomorrow or have socks and underwear scattered everywhere. Even the tables and chairs were immaculate.

Everything within sight could be described as perfect, yet Xie Xinyi felt it was all too perfect, giving off an artificial feeling.

It was like things seen on the internet in later years—calculated and artificial, much like Gao He himself.

Xie Xinyi had felt uneasy about this person from the first glance, but she couldn't quite put her finger on the reason.

It just felt unreal and unreliable.

For example, now, when Wen Shuhua brought up the night he saved Gu Ying, the man wore a smile but showed no sign of relief or reflection after a close call.

Xie Xinyi found the man unusual, thinking the longer they stayed, the more likely he was to reveal flaws. Meanwhile, Wen Shuhua jumped at every chance to learn more about Gao He, working the conversation back around to Gu Ying under the pretext of thanking him for saving her daughter.

"...You know I only have this one daughter, pampered since childhood. Thanks to you last time, there's no telling what might've happened otherwise." Wen Shuhua sighed, glancing at her daughter and then at the man across from her, adding, "So, a girl needs looking after."

Without waiting for a response, she quickly shifted the topic back to the gifts.

"...These were specifically asked by your uncle to thank you for saving Ying'er last time."

She pointed at the gifts on the table, thanking Gao He again and again and even bringing up her husband, who usually kept to himself. Worried that her mother might go too far, Gu Ying quickly cut in, "Mom, we should head back. Brother is coming back from his business trip today."

Reminded by Gu Ying, Wen Shuhua remembered her son was due back that day.

She checked her watch and realized they had been at Gao He's place for over two hours. Considering it was their first visit, it wasn't appropriate to stay too long, so Wen Shuhua took the hint and stood up to leave.

Gao He walked the three to the military factory gate. A trio of women and one man walking together drew many curious looks. At the gate, Wen Shuhua didn't forget to tell Gao He to feel free to drop by anytime, which annoyed Gu Ying so much that she didn't say a word to her mother on the way home.

"Weren't we just going to thank him? Why did you ask so many questions?"

Back home, Gu Ying threw herself onto the sofa and complained. Afraid she couldn't win an argument with Wen Shuhua, she dragged Grandma Gu into it. "Grandma, Mom is trying to marry me off again."

Gu Ying went on and on, leaving Grandma Gu confused. It wasn't until Xie Xinyi patiently explained that the old lady understood what had happened.

"I didn't ask that much. Gao He is alone in Beijing, so as an elder, I just asked after him. How is that scheming?" Wen Shuhua denied her daughter's accusation and instead scolded Gu Ying for being unreasonable. "You, child, he saved you and even got injured because of it. If you're not grateful, why stop me from caring about him?"

"You... you're calling me out when you started it." Gu Ying couldn't outargue Wen Shuhua. "Grandma, look at Mom, she's twisting my words!"

Gu Ying whined pitifully to Grandma Gu, but surprisingly, Grandma Gu, who usually took sides, unexpectedly sided with Wen Shuhua today.

Not only did she say "your mother has your best interests at heart," but she also brought up Gu Ying's age, suggesting it was time for her to marry into a good family.

"Didn't you say it would be your turn after your brother got married?"

Grandma Gu brought up the past, pointing at the "perfect match" sitting nearby and teasing her granddaughter, "Your mom found a perfect match for your brother, and she can find a fine match for you too."

Influenced by her parents, Gu Ying had always lacked confidence in marriage. She believed two people should marry for love, not just for the sake of marriage.

She valued love above all and looked down on arranged meetings. The idea of being forced to live with someone unfamiliar for a lifetime would drive her crazy, especially after her last disastrous blind date, which made her even less interested in marriage.

Women could shine on their own; she didn't want to end up like her mother—a flower in the art troupe before marriage, pursued by many, but after marriage, managing everything at home, raising kids, and controlling her husband, turning from a flower into an old housemaid. Just thinking about it was terrifying.

With Wen Shuhua as a cautionary tale, even if Grandma Gu used her brother and Xie Xinyi as an example of a "happy couple," Gu Ying wouldn't listen.

"My brother is lucky to have found my sister-in-law. If it were anyone else, he probably couldn't make marriage work."

Gu Ying didn't dare say the rest—"like father, like son"—afraid it would hurt Wen Shuhua, but the truth was, few people could make marriage work well.

Gu Ying felt she wasn't that lucky and wouldn't take on such a challenge.

So, even if Wen Shuhua and Grandma Gu wore their lips out talking, she still believed being single was better. Single forever!

"Fine, then wait to become a spinster. Let's see who will want you then."

Wen Shuhua, furious, threw out these harsh words and went upstairs, not even coming down for dinner.

Xie Xinyi went up to persuade her a few times without success. When Gu Yu returned home that evening, she quickly filled him in on the important events of the past few days.

"Mom wants Gao He and Gu Ying to meet?"

Clearly, Gu Yu hadn't expected Wen Shuhua to do this. He frowned deeply, only relaxing after Xie Xinyi explained Gu Ying's attitude.

"How did that person react?"

Still concerned, he asked again.

The topic shifted too quickly, and Xie Xinyi didn't catch on at first. It wasn't until he turned to look at her that she realized he meant Gao He.

"Oh, not much of a reaction, just seemed surprised when he first saw the three of us." She replied truthfully, adding her own impression.

"...Later, he was normal. His home was very clean, he was sharp-looking, looked even more gentlemanly than before, and spoke politely..."

This was her impression that day. She thought Gu Yu would share her suspicion about the man's unusual behavior, but instead, after listening, he not only showed no doubt but studied her intensely for a long time.

"Wh-what? Is there something on my face?"

Xie Xinyi wiped her face, and after a moment, he replied, "No."

No? Then why were you staring at me like that?

Xie Xinyi was puzzled, her gaze somewhat resentful. She tugged her quilt away, deliberately creating a gap between their quilts. Just as she hesitated whether to share her suspicions, he said unpredictably, "Next time Gu Ying has a matchmaking meeting, don't accompany her."

This left Xie Xinyi completely lost. She was about to ask when she had ever accompanied Gu Ying to a blind date, but the next second, a hand with well-defined knuckles reached over.

What?

Domestic violence?

Showing your true colors already?

Xie Xinyi instinctively closed her eyes and leaned back, but the expected impact never came. Instead, she only felt the quilt covering her feet shift slightly.

She slowly opened her eyes. The man was frowning as he tugged at the gap she had deliberately left in the duvet. He stared at the quilt as if it held some deep-seated grudge against him, his expression dark and brooding.

Xie Xinyi was speechless.

What on earth was he angry about this time?

Xie Xinyi was puzzled but had no energy to guess.

Her mind was entirely occupied with the matter of Gu Ying and Gao He. She was wrestling with how to remind Gu Yu in a way that would make him cautious without arousing suspicion.

Telling him directly was out of the question. Given Gu Yu’s meticulous nature, even before he could become wary of Gao He and Gu Kai, he would surely question how she knew about it.

Xie Xinyi couldn’t exactly claim to have the ability to foresee the future. Even if she dared to say it, Gu Yu might not believe her.

Since direct explanation wouldn’t work and making things up wouldn’t convince anyone, after wrestling with the problem for a while, Xie Xinyi decided it was better to take things slowly.

Moreover, she wasn’t entirely sure about Gu Kai’s scheme to lure the Gu family into a trap. It was only after overhearing Wen Shuhua mention offhandedly how grateful she was for Gu Kai’s reminder that Xie Xinyi suddenly realized Gu Kai had been pulling strings behind the scenes.

But this was all just her own speculation. If asked for evidence, she had none to offer.

All she knew was that Gu Kai, an otherwise unrelated person, had managed to shift everyone’s focus onto Gao He simply by bringing him up at home.

Gu Kai deliberately started by mentioning how Gao He had once saved Gu Ying, playing on Mr. Gu’s admiration for heroic young men. Then, he casually steered the conversation toward Gao He’s personal circumstances, immediately capturing the attention of Wen Shuhua, who had been constantly worried about Gu Ying’s marriage prospects.

First, he highlighted Gao He’s heroic deeds, then crafted the image of a perfect son-in-law, leaving Wen Shuhua and Gu Haoyi to ponder the idea themselves. Finally, he seamlessly arranged for Wen Shuhua to take Gu Ying to meet Gao He.

It had to be said, Gu Kai’s move was truly masterful.

When Aunt Wen went to the hospital to express her gratitude, it never crossed her mind to set up a meeting between Gao He and her daughter. But after Gu Kai’s late-night intervention, she immediately connected Gu Ying’s marriage prospects with the debt of gratitude for saving her life.

Her daughter might not want to marry a stranger, but Gao He had saved her life—surely he couldn’t be considered a complete stranger anymore.

Wen Shuhua wanted to persuade her daughter with the idea of repaying a life-saving favor with marriage. Xie Xinyi understood her mother-in-law’s reasoning but strongly disapproved.

Not to mention the fact that the incident where Gao He saved Gu Ying seemed far too coincidental, Xie Xinyi simply didn’t like Gao He as a person.

And then there was Gu Kai—what was his motive for deliberately causing a scene at the Gu family? Was it really just to remind Wen Shuhua?

What benefit could he possibly gain from pairing Gao He with Gu Ying?

Xie Xinyi suspected Gu Kai had ulterior motives but couldn’t figure out what he was up to.

Unable to express her thoughts directly, she could only subtly hint at her doubts when Gu Yu asked if Gu Kai had visited recently.

“He hasn’t been here,” she said, tugging at the corner of the quilt covering the man, feigning confusion. “He was so enthusiastic when introducing Gao He earlier, but now that the two have met, he hasn’t shown up.”

She wanted to steer the man toward suspecting Gu Kai’s motives, but after throwing out the remark, the other side didn’t respond for a long time. When she looked up in confusion, she saw the man lowering his gaze, silent and staring at the quilt. Thinking he was pondering her words, she didn’t overthink it and simply turned over to sleep.

Gu Yu was indeed thinking, but his thoughts were different from Xie Xinyi’s.

He stared blankly at the gap between their two quilts, his dark eyes almost boring holes through them. After a long silence, he quietly tugged at the corner of the quilt.

When Xie Xinyi didn’t react, he gently tugged again.

Still no response. He tugged once more, continuing until the two quilts were once again overlapping. Only then did he turn off the light, take off his clothes, and fall asleep contentedly as the girl slowly wrapped her arm around his waist.