C1 Chapter 1

“If you don’t get married, don’t even think about walking out that door today!” The old matriarch’s furious roar thundered from inside. Su Jiyue, standing at the doorway, couldn’t help but tuck her chin and shrink back. The hand she’d raised to knock dropped again. She almost turned and left—then she remembered that silent figure and clenched her teeth. Bracing herself, she lifted her hand once more.

“Nobody comes in!” At the knock, the matriarch seemed to take a hard breath, then barked the order. Startled, Su Jiyue yanked her hand back. She was about to turn away when the door suddenly swung open.

The matriarch’s lingering anger hit Su Jiyue head-on, and she sighed to herself.

Truth was, the matriarch wasn’t really old. At seventy-three, she’d taken excellent care of herself—she looked more like she was in her fifties, elegant and striking.

“Xiaoyue, I know why you’re here. Don’t plead for him. A family line ends without children, and that’s the worst kind of unfilial. Today, no matter what, I’m making him listen!” With that, she grabbed Su Jiyue by the arm, pulled her into the study, and with a sharp swing, slammed the door shut behind them.

Inside.

Qin Yaochen stood in the middle of the study, silent and rigid, as if he were enduring something in silence.

“Now that Xiaoyue’s here, the two of you talk it out—when exactly are you getting married?” the matriarch said, dropping heavily into the chair behind the desk. Her beautiful, commanding eyes fixed on Qin Yaochen with that look of pure frustration—like he was the one person in the world determined to give her gray hair, standing there stone-faced and unbothered.

“Grandma, do you really have to force me?” Qin Yaochen finally spoke, his jaw still tight.

But his words only poured gasoline on the fire. “Force you?” the matriarch snapped, shooting to her feet and striding up to him in two quick steps. “You’re twenty-six. Other than running around with that Xia Miaomiao—nothing but trouble—what have you done that’s actually respectable? No girlfriend, no wife. I’m embarrassed just saying it out loud!”

Off to the side, Su Jiyue heard the old lady say that, pressed her lips together, and held back a laugh.

“Miaomiao is my girlfriend—the one you’ve refused to acknowledge!” Qin Yaochen always found it exhausting dealing with his stubborn grandmother. Not because she was old, but because she was unreasonable and wouldn’t let anyone reason with her. The moment the words left his mouth, he regretted them.

“So you know I don’t acknowledge her, and you still call her your girlfriend? Forget what kind of ties we have with the Xia family—just look at the gap between the two of you. Do you really think I’d ever let Xia Miaomiao walk through the doors of the Qin family?” Old Mrs. Qin said, yanking Su Jiyue over in front of her. “Xiaoyue grew up with you. You’ve seen for yourself how she treats you. I shouldn’t even have to say it. No matter what, you two need to go get your marriage license as soon as possible! And I’ll have someone pick an auspicious date for the wedding!”

As soon as she finished, Su Jiyue caught the eye roll Qin Yaochen threw her way and couldn’t help pouting. “Grandma, you’ve got to give A-Chen a little time to get ready. This is a big deal—you can’t rush it.”

“Get ready for what? You’re a young woman and you don’t need time to ‘get ready,’ but you’re giving him time—like he’s some delicate little princess?” Old Mrs. Qin snapped, then smacked Qin Yaochen. “Always giving me headaches, this one!”