Rebirth: Marriage into a Powerful Family

Chapter 5

Yousijia swallowed the last spoonful of broth with unhurried grace, her expression composed.

“Oh,” she said softly, “I suddenly realize Father’s earlier concerns were perfectly reasonable. I’ve changed my mind.”

Her words fell into the stunned silence of the dining room, where every pair of eyes lingered on her in disbelief. Unbothered, Yousijia continued as if her statement had not just stirred a storm within the household.

“Rotten leftovers—I’m not the least bit interested.”

Yu Kuiqing parted her lips, wanting to protest. After all, hadn’t Gu Yu only ever been in one relationship? How did that make him “spoiled goods”?

But before she could speak, Yousijia tilted her head, her voice turning sharper, more defiant.

“What others have discarded, I have no desire to claim.”

“…” Kuiqing could only stare, finally reaching out to touch her sister’s forehead as though checking for fever. This was so unlike her pampered elder sister, it left her momentarily unsettled.

Their father, however, reacted with uncanny swiftness. Though he could not fathom why his eldest daughter’s attitude had shifted so abruptly, the truth was he had never favored Gu Yu as a match. If not for Yousijia’s stubborn insistence, he would never have considered him suitable. For the sake of family benefit, he preferred alliances elsewhere, but when it came to his daughter’s happiness, he had reluctantly allowed her choice.

“You do realize what tonight’s gathering was meant for?” he asked gravely.

Yousijia inclined her head. She had known Gu Yu since childhood; their families were so entwined that his mother, Madam Qian Shanjing, adored her deeply, often remarking she wished Yousijia were her own daughter—or, failing that, her daughter-in-law. When Yousijia eventually married Gu Yu, she had learned that his breakup with Tang Yayi had not only stemmed from Tang’s decision to return home but also because the Gu family disapproved of the Tang family’s prospects.

Still, Madam Qian had treated her with warmth and sincerity, which had once been a significant factor in Yousijia’s willingness to marry him. With Qian’s fondness, she had believed she would never suffer the dreaded trials of mother-in-law strife.

“I know,” she replied calmly, “but nothing has ever been formally decided. And besides, Gu Yu may not even want to marry me. That makes it simple—we both lack the inclination. Tonight can be nothing more than a welcome-home dinner.”

“You don’t end up with Gu Yu,” Kuiqing interjected, her brows furrowed, “then you’ll have to face Beijing…”

Her voice trailed off. She had never been particularly fond of Gu Yu—he was simply the amiable neighbor’s son, neither disliked nor admired. But compared with her sister being sent off to marry a stranger in the capital, she far preferred Yousijia to remain in Nancheng, close enough that she could always be by her side.

“Oh, you mean Meng Weiyuan?” Yousijia spoke his name with startling ease. In the past, whenever her father brought up the Meng family, she would bristle like a peacock with ruffled feathers. Now, her voice was calm, almost indifferent. “It doesn’t matter.”

In truth, she had barely interacted with Meng Weiyuan. Her fierce resistance in earlier years had kept them from meeting face-to-face. And yet, on her wedding day to Gu Yu, she had received an unexpected gift from him—a rare, first-edition set of illustrated books by her favorite artist, long out of print and signed by the creator.

At first, she had assumed it was from Jiang Lingyu, her closest friend who always knew her tastes. Never had she imagined such thoughtfulness would come from a man she barely knew.

Reflecting on it now, she could not help a bitter laugh. The one she had adored since childhood had never shown her such care. Why should she waste her heart clinging to a man who had never wanted her?

At least the Mengs were in Beijing, still within her own country. A few hours by plane, and she could return home whenever she wished. Far preferable to following Gu Yu abroad, where even with private jets, the distance stretched into a dozen weary hours.

The thought brought her an odd sense of relief.

The three remaining family members exchanged uneasy glances across the table.

That evening’s dinner would linger long in her memory. Once, she would have eagerly sat beside Gu Yu, her joy unconcealed. But when she entered the private room with her sister and saw him there—youthful still, his peach-blossom eyes curving in a smile as he greeted her with familiar warmth—she merely inclined her head politely.

“Jiajia.”

“Gu Yu.”

His brows arched in faint surprise. Where once she had rushed to him with sugary affection, calling him “Brother Gu Yu” in tones as sweet as candy, tonight her composure was something else entirely.

“Are you upset?” he asked, pulling out the chair beside him as he had countless times before, as though soothing her like the child she once was. “Come, sit with me. Let’s talk.”

But she only shook her head. “No need. I’ll sit beside Kuiqing.”

For a fleeting moment, surprise flickered in his gaze. Yet watching her chat dutifully with his parents, he convinced himself nothing had truly changed.

The meeting of the two families was intended to seal a future. But her unexpected refusal earlier that day left the dinner shrouded in unease, every exchange between the parents weighted with unspoken hesitation.

Meanwhile, Yousijia, seated elegantly beside her sister, ate with unusual appetite, her every delicate sip and bite betraying nothing but poise.

Madam Qian could no longer contain herself. Smiling at the girl she had all but claimed as her own, she coaxed gently:

“Jiajia, didn’t you always say you wanted to marry your Brother Gu Yu? Now that he’s back from abroad, you should spend time showing him around. The city has changed so much.”

She thought to win the girl’s heart directly, if her parents hesitated.

But Yousijia lifted her gaze, eyes wide with feigned innocence. “Ah? But wouldn’t that be improper? Gu Yu already has a girlfriend. I wouldn’t want to overstep.”

Her words fell like a stone into still water, freezing the room in silence. Then, as though to twist the knife, she turned and smiled sweetly at Gu Yu.

Later, she would discover the truth—that even after returning home, Gu Yu still lingered in half-hearted ties with Tang Yayi.

And she? She would never again play the obedient fool, never again let herself be used as someone else’s pawn.