Flash Marriage

Chapter 17: The Real Her Revealed

Seeing that Grandmother Gu had completely abandoned any pretense of caring about Gu Zhenzhen’s affairs, Gu Zhenzhen’s prospective mother-in-law, furious, grabbed her son. Clutching the thirty thousand yuan bride price they hadn't even managed to present, they carefully maneuvered their Santana 2000 – which moments ago had been proudly blocking the gate – past the imposing Yin family motorcade and sped away in a huff.

They wouldn't dare scratch even a fleck of paint off those luxury cars; the cost of repairs could bankrupt them for life.

Gu Zhenzhen, watching her engagement implode because of Gu Xixi, was consumed by envy and hatred so intense it burned. If not for the crowd, she would have tried to snatch that god-like beauty away from Gu Xixi right then and there!

Inside the house, Madam Yin finalized the details with Grandmother Gu. She then turned her attention to Gu Xixi’s mother.

"Mrs. Gu, is there anything you wish to add?" Madam Yin inquired.

Before Gu Xixi’s mother could open her mouth, Grandmother Gu cut in sharply: "What opinion could she possibly have? In this household, I decide!"

Gu Xixi’s mother stood silently to the side. No one had asked for her input; she might as well have been invisible. Her presence held no significance.

Gu Xixi looked at her mother, seeing the tears welling in her eyes, the words choked back. Her heart ached with a familiar pain.

In this family, she and her mother were always the least significant.

Their fates could be decided by anyone.

Her daughter was getting married, yet she, the mother, had absolutely no say.

Yin Sichen instinctively glanced at Gu Xixi. Seeing her face slightly pale, an unexpected flicker of sympathy stirred within him.

Gu Xixi took a deep breath, quickly composing herself. She turned to Yin Sichen. "Si... Sichen, it's your first time in the village, right? Let me show you around?"

Yin Sichen rose to his full height immediately. "Alright."

"Yes, Sichen, you accompany Xixi for a walk," Madam Yin agreed. "We'll handle the rest here."

"Yes," Gu Xixi replied, standing up and taking her leave.

The two walked out, one behind the other, away from the main house.

No matter where they went, a retinue followed close behind.

"Do you have something to say to me?" Yin Sichen arched an eyebrow. "You can say it here."

Gu Xixi glanced at the trailing entourage. "Could you come into my room for a moment?"

She simply felt the courtyard was too crowded for a private conversation.

But the words landed differently in Yin Sichen’s ears, implying another layer of meaning.

A subtle smile touched his lips. "Fine."

Gu Xixi led Yin Sichen into her small room.

The moment he stepped inside, Yin Sichen felt a surprising sense of clarity.

Though the room was cramped and shabby, it was immaculately clean and tidy.

A worn square table was covered with a blue-and-white checkered tablecloth, topped with a sheet of clear glass. On the glass sat a photo frame. Inside, a young girl smiled brightly, holding a cheap-looking plush toy, radiating pure joy.

Yin Sichen’s gaze lingered on the photo for a long, long moment before finally drifting away.

Gu Xixi brought him a glass of water. Seeing him looking at her photo, she quickly stepped forward, flipped the frame face down on the table, and said with a touch of unease, "The Yin family doesn't need to give me so much money. Even if you did, I wouldn't see a single cent of it."

Yin Sichen gave a faint, enigmatic smile. "The Yin family's money isn't so easily taken. It will only be fully deposited into your account after you marry and give birth to this child. Of course," he added, his gaze sharp, "once the money is in your account, who you choose to give it to... that is entirely your own affair."

Hearing this, Gu Xixi sighed with relief. She had no desire to enrich her grandmother. Money that went into Grandma Gu's pocket was as good as gone forever.

Yin Sichen turned to look at a bookshelf leaning against the wall. It held Gu Xixi’s university graduation photo and diploma.

His eyes settled on the photo of the girl in a graduation gown, laughing under the sun with such unbridled happiness. Almost unconsciously, he reached out to take it down.

Gu Xixi snatched it back instantly, hugging it protectively to her chest. "Don't touch that photo!" she said, a flash of genuine irritation in her voice.

Yin Sichen looked down at her. This was a new expression he hadn't seen before: not the blankness, the tears, or the practiced smiles. Her brows were furrowed, her nose and mouth scrunched up slightly, like an indignant kitten.

Surprisingly, he thought, her angry face is rather appealing.

No, not just appealing. Interesting.

It was the first time he realized a woman could possess so many vivid expressions. Dina, in contrast, offered only variations on a polished, professional smile, rarely showing such raw emotion. This woman was clearly challenging his preconceptions about her gender.

"This photo is important to you?" Yin Sichen asked casually, though his gaze remained sharp. "Don't most people take such pictures at graduation? Or is it... the person who took it that's special?"