Jincheng, within an ancient, quadrangular courtyard.
The atmosphere was tense and quite eerie.
Sunlight spilled in from the courtyard, enveloping Ji Shunuan's figure, mythical to the point of seeming unreal.
Standing there, she raised her almond-shaped eyes, yet a touch of sarcasm surfaced in their depths.
"Ji Shunuan! How much longer do you plan to cling desperately before letting go? He simply fell in love with your sister; must you tear them apart?" Leng Chunhong stamped her foot in anger.
Ji Wushuang kept her head down, her face coated in thick makeup betraying her scheming nature.
She pinched her own thigh hard, and tears immediately welled up. Biting her lip, she raised her head as tears traced down her cheeks, and she painfully turned her face away.
"Mom, please don't pressure my sister! It's all my fault! None of this has anything to do with Brother Gu Zhiyuan." Her words were forceful, as if she had endured the utmost grievance.
Her words deeply moved Gu Zhiyuan's heart.
Gu Zhiyuan, who had initially felt some guilt toward Ji Shunuan, now felt a furious blaze ignite inside him as he watched the wronged look on his beloved's face.
He stood there, fists tightly clenched, his eyes flashing with ferocity as he glared at Ji Shunuan.
"Enough! Isn't it just a breakup you want? Can't you show some dignity? Wushuang and I are never going to break up. Ji Shunuan, if you have any sense, stop bothering me," Gu Zhiyuan said, agitated.
He yanked at his collar, feeling an oppressive tightness in his chest.
Watching Ji Shunuan standing there so composed, with her chilly gaze, ignited his rage even more.
Even though it was he who cheated, she surprisingly didn't make a scene.
"Old Master Gu, since things have come to this point, let's call off the marriage between me and Gu Zhiyuan," Ji Shunuan said, her voice clear and cold, speaking softly.
She slowly lifted her head, her almond eyes clear and transparent, and said forthrightly, "If not for the meal you gave that year, my mother might not have lived to give birth to me."
"Since Gu Zhiyuan and Ji Wushuang are truly in love, there's no need for the marriage agreement between our two families to continue. All the Gu Family needs to do is sign the agreement to dissolve the marriage contract, and then we can turn the page on this matter," Ji Shunuan spoke softly.
She took out an agreement she had prepared in advance and presented it.
Gu Zhiyuan was stunned! He thought she would make a fuss, but she had come prepared.
Was she playing hard to get? When he humiliated her last time, she was unwilling to cancel the marriage contract, but today...
At this thought, the corners of Gu Zhiyuan's mouth curled into a cold sneer, "Ji Shunuan, don't regret this."
He snatched the agreement with a swift hand, didn't even look at it, and casually signed his name on it!
The elder sitting on the pearwood chair watched Gu Zhiyuan's smug demeanor and, with exasperation as if hating that iron cannot become steel, grabbed the teacup and smashed it towards him with a "clang" sound.
"Ah." The teacup hit Gu Zhiyuan's forehead just right.
Blood immediately seeped from his temple! He winced in pain and took a half-step back from the impact.
"Idiot!" Old Master Gu was more than just a little angry as he stood up fiercely from his chair, advancing towards Gu Zhiyuan and kicking him while shouting furiously, "How could I have such a foolish grandson."
"Grandfather." Gu Zhiyuan winced from the kick, looking in disbelief at his grandfather, who had always doted on him, never expecting him to actually hit him.
Old Master Gu, so angry that he turned and strode away, dropped a sentence before leaving: "The Gu Family will never allow Ji Wushuang to enter our doors! Bring someone to escort this mother and daughter out."
Instantly, the living room became a scene of chaos.
Leng Hongchun and Ji Wushuang were grabbed by bodyguards who marched swiftly forward, forcibly dragging them out.
"You dare!" Gu Zhiyuan was stunned.
He covered his forehead, turned around, and glared at Ji Shunuan with a sneer, "Are you satisfied now? Ji Shunuan, you manipulative bitch, I will never marry you in this lifetime."
Ji Shunuan lowered her eyes, looking at the signature on the agreement.
Her heart that had been suspended in mid-air slowly settled, and she couldn't help but curve her lips into a pleased smile, whispering softly with a laugh, "Pfft! Who said I wanted to marry you?"
"...What?" Gu Zhiyuan was stunned.
He watched as Ji Shunuan turned around, walking past him and heading outside.
That cool little face showed not a hint of the embarrassment of being rejected, but was instead composed and serene.
A feeling of being manipulated surged within him, and he forcibly suppressed the unease in his heart. Watching her stride towards the exit, sunlight scattering on her figure, he was struck by a hazy illusion that made him reach out reflexively, but he caught nothing.
Ji Shunuan walked quickly! Just as she stepped outside the Gu Mansion, she saw Ji Wushuang and Leng Chunhong in a sorry state, having tumbled to the ground.
She glanced over lightly without pausing for half a second.
"Ji Shunuan, you bitch! Wait until I marry into the Gu Family, I will make sure dad kicks you out," Ji Wushuang roared angrily as she scrambled up.
Hearing this, Ji Shunuan couldn't help but turn back and look down at her disdainfully.
Then she picked up her phone, made a call, and said with a grave voice, "This is Ji Shunuan, starting now, take back all the properties and other assets under the name of Ji Wushuang given by Gu Corporation."
"Yes, sell them at a low price! Sell them," Ji Shunuan said coldly.
A phone call made Ji Wushuang explode with fury.
"Ji Shunuan, what right do you have to dispose of my things? Gu Zhiyuan doesn't want you anymore. Without the support of the Gu Family, you still want to act high and mighty?" Ji Wushuang quivered with rage.
As soon as she finished speaking, Gu Zhiyuan walked toward them.
The man took her into his arms, looking provocatively at Ji Shunuan and said with contempt, "Ji Shunuan, even if you kneel down and beg me now, maybe I will still consider keeping your position at Gu Corporation."
"Otherwise, with just a phone call from me! Once you're fired, let's see which company will dare to hire you," Gu Zhiyuan spoke as if he had a firm grip on her fate.
Ji Shunuan lifted her head, looking at his smug expression.
"Trashy men and shitty women are best locked together for a lifetime. I won't be returning to Gu Corporation! I certainly don't want to get tainted by the bad luck," Ji Shunuan said softly.
As she spoke, she suddenly froze, as if remembering something.
In a slight panic, she took the tiny camera from around her neck, waved her hand apologetically at them, and said, "I'm so sorry, professional habit. I always stream live when I'm talking business."
"What?" Ji Wushuang was flabbergasted.
Her face immediately turned ashen! Her eyes bulged, wishing she could tear Ji Shunuan's face apart.
Overhearing this, Gu Zhiyuan's smile deepened. He said, "Ji Shunuan, it's no fun playing hard to get like this! To win me over, you're using this as a threat?"
"Now if you kneel down and beg me, I might consider..."
As Gu Zhiyuan spoke, he didn't forget to bend down, hold Ji Wushuang close, kiss her tenderly, his hand wandering over her body.
"Disgusting," Ji Shunuan uttered coldly, striding away without looking back.
Watching her actually walk away, Gu Zhiyuan started to panic, wanting to chase after her, but Ji Wushuang grabbed his arm, saying in a fluster, "Big Brother Gu, did sister really start a live stream just now?"
With that thought, she quickly pulled out her phone.
"Heh, she wouldn't dare," Gu Zhiyuan said coldly.
After the two families merged through marriage, Ji Shunuan had devoted her heart and soul to him! She loved him as deep as the ocean; how could she possibly bring herself to ruin him? Besides, she had the utmost respect for Old Master Gu, so she would obediently return to Gu Corporation to work for his benefit.
Thinking this, he couldn't help feeling a surge of smug satisfaction.