Before returning to the country, Zhou Yuqian mentioned Lai Hui to his parents, who were strongly opposed. They believed he had poor judgment in choosing partners, but due to his insistence, they compromised, agreeing to a one-month trial period during which Zhou Yuqian would not contact Lai Hui. If she remained scandal-free, they would fabricate a family background for her, allowing her to marry into the Zhou family honorably. They were confident because they had discovered Lai Hui’s ongoing entanglement with Jia Yi, believing she was practical and wouldn’t stand loneliness, likely to settle for someone else if abandoned. Zhou Yuqian was also confident of winning, focusing on paving the way for the future. His best connections were with the Gu family from Shengshi, and Gu Ling, the daughter of the Gu family, was always friendly with him, ready to help. So, the media only captured them together, but in reality, they were plotting to first integrate Lai Hui into the Gu family and then present her as a relative. The photo of Zhou Yuqian smiling at Gu Ling was just him laughing at the mention of Lai Hui.
The whole affair was simple yet ironic. Gossip journalists catered to public taste, unaware of the harm they caused. Zhou Yuqian also thought a bit of shock might help Lai Hui realize her feelings. However, he miscalculated; after he left, Lai Hui had already recognized her love for him and decided to express her feelings upon his return, but his timely shock had obliterated the little trust she had left.
“Actually, marrying me is hard. It’s difficult to gain my parents’ trust, and even if you eventually get along with them, you’ll have to live under the guise of being a relative of the Gu family, no longer the old Lai Hui. Everything from the past would be irrelevant. Knowing this, are you still willing to marry into the Zhou family?”
