Just as Shen Murong ended the call with her son, an anxious voice called out from inside the wooden villa.
"What happened? Murong, are you okay?"
A man rushed out of the house, his usual calm replaced by visible concern. His sharp features and composed demeanor gave him a dignified presence — this was Gu Fanming, head of the Gu family and father of Gu Yan.
He had rushed over the moment he heard the sound of shattered glass.
Shen Murong turned toward him with excitement in her eyes. "Fanming, something wonderful happened! Our son… he's finally ready to give up singlehood!"
"What?!" Gu Fanming froze mid-step, utterly stunned.
He stood speechless, trying to make sense of what he just heard. Singlehood? He gave it up? All those arguments between father and son over the arranged marriage suddenly came flooding back.
And wasn't it Shen Murong herself who always said she'd scold Gu Yan for being stubborn? Yet, he had been the one cast as the villain?
Gu Fanming's expression soured slightly as he looked at his wife, clearly feeling wronged.
Shen Murong narrowed her eyes. "What are you sulking about now?"
Caught red-handed, Gu Fanming cleared his throat. "Ahem… nothing. So—why did Xiaoyan suddenly change his mind?"
Shen Murong waved it off. "He mentioned the old arrangement — the one with the Yan family. Since it was made by our fathers, the girl must be decent. Though…" She trailed off, noticing the change in her husband's face.
"Fanming?" she asked cautiously. "Why do you look so pale?"
Gu Fanming hesitated, then sighed and covered his face. "The girl Gu Yan is betrothed to… she… she recently had an accident."
Shen Murong blinked. "And?"
He slowly lowered his hand. "…She was disfigured. Her face was severely burned."
There was silence.
Shen Murong stood there, dumbfounded.
No way. Our son finally agrees to marriage, and now this?!
The couple exchanged a long, complicated look. Then, helpless smiles crept onto their faces.
Gu Fanming exhaled and shook his head. "Knowing our son, if he's made up his mind, even seeing her disfigured won't change anything. He won't cancel the proposal that easily."
Shen Murong nodded, her tone softer. "You're right. Let's just… let it unfold naturally."
Three Days Later — Yan Family Estate
In a bright, well-ventilated study within the Yan family's ancestral home, a young woman sat quietly on a carved wooden chair, her eyes closed.
She looked like a painting — serene and composed — though her beauty was now scarred.
Her name was Yan Qingqiu, the eldest daughter of the Yan family.
Her appearance had once captivated all of Sichuan. She possessed an ethereal charm: long black hair like flowing ink, delicate facial features, and a natural elegance. But now, her face bore the marks of a tragic accident — burns that had disfigured much of her face, leaving only the lower left side untouched, including her soft lips. Beneath her elegant dress, more scars were hidden on her body.
And yet, even marred by fire, her aura remained poised and unshaken.
The scent of jasmine clung faintly to her clothes. Her posture was straight, her expression calm. In her hands, she flipped through several business documents related to the Yan family's enterprises.
She was no longer the pampered genius of society. She was a woman fueled by resolve.
"Five years… Compared to what happened five years ago, this little setback is nothing."
Her voice, though quiet, was crisp and mesmerizing — a voice once sought after by countless young men.
But the Yan family had changed. The massacre five years ago had brought it to its knees. And Yan Qingqiu, too, had changed.
Then—
Snap!
A loud commotion broke the silence.
"Young Master! Young Master, please don't barge in—!"
"Move aside! I'm furious! I need to talk to my sister!"
The study door burst open, and a loud figure stormed in — a teenager with bright yellow-dyed hair.
Yan Qingqiu didn't need to look.
"Ling'er," she said evenly. "What's wrong?"
Yan Ling'er, the young master of the Yan family — and her younger brother — marched in, his face flushed with anger. But upon seeing her, his tone softened. He hurried to her side and grabbed her hand with both of his hands.
"Sister," he whined, "Grandpa's going too far!"
Unlike the way she treated others — cold and distant — Yan Qingqiu always showed patience with her brother. She sighed, gently freeing her hand.
"What did Grandpa do this time?" she asked.
Yan Ling'er pouted. "Back then, Grandpa and Gu Yan's grandfather made a deal — if one had a daughter and the other had a son, they'd marry them. But both families had boys, so the promise just faded away."
"Now that you've… been in an accident… Grandpa suddenly brought up the arrangement again."
"He contacted the Gu family!"
Yan Qingqiu remained quiet, her face unreadable.
Her brother continued, "He's trying to revive the marriage deal—to protect you or the family or whatever. Now the young master of the Gu family is on his way to 'discuss' the engagement!"
The room fell into silence again.
Yan Qingqiu remembered. After her accident, her grandfather had vaguely mentioned a marriage arrangement. She hadn't taken it seriously.
But now, it made sense.
Their family is weak. Her reputation is shattered. Perhaps, to Grandpa, this is a last-ditch effort.
"Sister!" Yan Ling'er burst out. "I don't want you to marry someone because of a stupid promise! I want you to fall in love — for real!"
Yan Qingqiu's eyes softened momentarily. "Don't cry, Ling'er. I doubt he's coming here to marry me."
"Huh?" Ling'er blinked. "Then—?"
She stood slowly, taking her crutch from beside the desk. "He's probably coming to cancel the engagement."
Her voice was calm, steady.
And her heart? Already numb.
After what had happened five years ago — after the loss, the massacre, the pain — love had become an illusion. Now, her injuries had only deepened that distance.
Not only her face, but parts of her body were badly burned.
Who could love a girl like me?
Who would even try?
So she didn't care anymore.
There was only one thing she still lived for: revenge.
As long as her younger brother was safe, she would shoulder the rest.
Ling'er's face twisted in rage. "So he's just coming to reject you?! What a piece of trash!"
Yan Qingqiu sighed again. "It's fine. Let's go downstairs and hear what excuse he gives."
Even if she already knew the answer, a small part of her — buried deep — still wanted to face it herself.
Outside the Yan Family Compound
A luxurious Rolls-Royce pulled up at the gate.
Inside, the butler turned his head from the driver's seat.
"Master, we've arrived."
In the backseat, Gu Yan nodded slightly and looked through the tinted glass at the towering gates ahead.
A faint smile tugged at his lips. His eyes were calm… but filled with anticipation.
"Let's meet my future wife."