Days slipped by quickly, and soon only three days remained before Zihan and Guo Min's wedding. Both were busy, but most of the preparation had fallen to their families. Yufan found himself torn between seeking out Wu Lixi or keeping his distance. Ruoxi, ever carefree, helped Guo Min with small details while continuing her lively routine. Wu Xiang worked tirelessly, clearing his packed schedule to be free for the wedding. Meanwhile, in the shadows, enemies stirred watching, and plotting to ruin the happiness that seemed just within reach.
---
Guo Mansion.
The morning light filtered into the lavish but cold living room. Guo Zhang sat on a leather armchair with his legs crossed, a steaming cup of coffee in one hand and a newspaper in the other. From afar, he looked every inch the respectable gentleman. But anyone who knew him well knew the truth...his clean exterior only hid the rot inside.
The heavy sound of boots echoed against the marble floor. The Zhu family's guards entered, standing in disciplined formation. Each carried with them a display of wealth, gleaming gold bars stacked neatly in velvet-lined boxes, and most notably, a deed to a vast piece of land located in Emerald Cloud Estate, one of the most exclusive and expensive neighborhoods in Beijing.
One of the guards stepped forward and bowed slightly. "Young Master instructed us to present these to Master Guo, as part of the young mistress's bride price, sir."
Guo Zhang's eyes widened as he stood, abandoning his newspaper. He bent over to examine the treasures, his gaze gleaming with greed. The weight of the gold in his hands made his heart pound. The land deed alone was worth more than he could have dreamed of. He knew, deep down, he had never deserved such a gift since he had never even acted like a father to Guo Min. But his greed was a disease, blinding him to reason.
"Is this all my daughter is worth?!" he suddenly barked, his voice echoing through the hall. His greedy hands trembled as he tried to mask desire with false pride. "No, this is not enough!" His anger boiled over, and he slammed the papers onto the table. "If this is all he can offer, then I cannot give him Guo Min!"
The guard did not react to his theatrics. He merely bowed respectfully. "We shall inform the young master, sir." With that, the guards calmly packed away every piece of gold and the deed, and left as swiftly as they had come.
From the corner of the room, two figures emerged. Tao Yi and her daughter, Guo Ji.
Guo Ji scoffed, venom dripping from her voice. "All that… just for that miserable girl? Tch. It's not too late. I can still warn Brother Zihan before he marries her." Hatred burned in her eyes.
"At least wait until I fully receive her bride price," Guo Zhang snapped, glaring at his daughter. "You're never satisfied, Ji. Even after getting Luo Shuchang, you're still not content. Always wanting what belongs to Min. Always eating her leftovers." His voice dripped with disdain as he tossed aside the newspaper and strode out of the room.
All that mattered to him was money. The women in his family were pawns at best, tools in his greedy hands.
"Mom!" Guo Ji cried, flinging a side table in rage. "How dare Dad say that to me!"
Tao Yi rushed to her daughter's side, pulling her into her arms. "Hush, my dear. Don't let his words bother you. You are special. You can have anything you want." She patted Guo Ji's head soothingly, stroking her hair as if to erase the insult.
---
Zhu Mansion.
Because of the upcoming ceremony, Guo Min and Zihan had taken residence in the Zhu Mansion (not Zhu villa), staying with his parents until the wedding day. The atmosphere was lively, filled with quiet preparations and a constant stream of staff tending to details.
That morning, they gathered at the long dining table. Zhu Zixuan sat at the head, dignified as always, while Li Yan fussed gently over the meal. Guo Min tried to blend into the family warmth, though nerves twisted faintly in her stomach.
Halfway through breakfast, one of the Zhu guards entered and bowed. "Sir, Master Guo Zhang instructed me to deliver this message. he will not be accepting the bride price, claiming it is not enough for his daughter."
The room fell silent for a beat.
Guo Min nearly choked on her food when her father's name was mentioned but across the table, Zihan's expression merely darkened. He frowned, his composure hardening. He had offered the gifts out of respect for her, but the old man dared to posture as though he held power. Zihan's lips curved in a soft, humorless chuckle, one that carried more danger than amusement.
At the head of the table, Zhu Zixuan scoffed audibly.
Before anyone else could speak, Guo Min straightened in her chair. Her voice was firm, her tone leaving no room for debate. "Send it to the Wang family instead."
The guard blinked, awaiting confirmation.
"Theirs will be delivered," Zihan replied smoothly, his tone confident.
"I know that." Guo Min's eyes hardened. "But from now on, I don't want anything sent to the Guo family, so just add everything up and send to Wangs only. If my father dares to pester you again, tell him to come and question me directly."
Her decision was final. Even Zihan said nothing more, only nodding to the guard to carry out her command.
"Eat more, dear," Li Yan interjected warmly, sliding another dish closer to Guo Min. "The wedding is just around the corner. Leave the men to handle matters. You only need to worry about your stamina after the wedding."
Guo Min choked properly this time, her cheeks heating at the implication. The others burst into laughter while she quickly masked her embarrassment behind a carefully neutral expression.
As they were nearly finished, Guo Min's phone buzzed. The screen lit up with the name Ruoxi. She answered and put it on speaker, expecting her friend's cheerful chatter.
Instead, a shriek pierced through the speaker. "Min Min! Brother Zihan, I love you soooo much!" Ruoxi's excited voice filled the dining hall. "As of today, Brother Zihan is already my brother! You've been sold, Min Min, and I'm about to become the richest girl in the world!"
Guo Min's eye twitched in irritation. "What the hell is wrong with you? Don't worry, I'll make sure you won't be single forever. I'll sell you off too."
Ruoxi laughed brightly. "At least I still have a few years of freedom left! But don't worry, I support this marriage wholeheartedly. Brother Zihan, I know you're listening, I expect extra fees at the wedding! Don't forget to bring a big bag, I'll be waiting to receive it." Her excitement was contagious, bursting through the phone.
Zihan's lips quirked into the faintest of smiles. His reply was steady, reassuring. "Yes. I don't have a problem with that."
Guo Min narrowed her eyes, leaning forward with mock suspicion. "Why don't you have a problem with that? I'm the one marrying you. Didn't you say you worked hard so I could enjoy your money?" She playfully glared, her voice teasing. "It's mine, bitch. Paws off." She waved her hand dramatically at the phone, as though shooing Ruoxi away.
Ruoxi gave a fake pout on the other end. "Why are you so greedy, Min? Zihan's bank account is like water pouring into a deep well, it'll never run dry."
"I don't care," Guo Min shot back, chin tilted proudly. "I need to leave some for my children too. Go find a job. Or a husband."
A sly pause followed before Ruoxi's mischievous voice purred, "…Is that jealousy I hear? You want to be as single as me, but you can't. It's already set in stone, Zihan's yours."
Guo Min rolled her eyes, fighting a smile. "Ugh, I hate you."
"I love you!" Ruoxi shrieked back before hanging up, leaving the table echoing with laughter.
---
After breakfast, Zihan and his father Zixuan quietly excused themselves, heading upstairs toward the study. Their postures, tall, straight, and were almost identical. Like father, like son, Guo Min thought with a small shake of her head.
Her musing was cut short by a soft, deliberate voice beside her. Li Yan had moved closer, her eyes glinting with playful mischief.
"If only we had a little girl in the family," she sighed dramatically, touching Guo Min's hand. "Then we wouldn't have so much money saved up. But since we're the only women here, we should let the men work while we spend, don't you think?"
Guo Min blinked, still not entirely used to the Zhu family's lighthearted way of tossing around wealth. But she smiled politely and played along. "Yes, Mom. Let's squander it all."
Li Yan's laugh was warm, almost youthful. Without hesitation, she reached into her clutch, pulled out a sleek black card, and grabbed Guo Min's hand. "That's my girl. Come, we're going shopping."