Chapter 207: How is he worthy of you?!

Yu Shixue was shocked: "Ling Wu, you... what did you say? Do you really agree?"

Such a surprise crashing down left him almost dizzy, and he couldn't wait to pull Ling Wu into his arms immediately.

"You were the one who said it was a marriage alliance between the Jin and Yu families." Ling Wu leaned back slightly, lifting his porcelain-white chin, his eyes filled with a sense of helpless mockery: "Does it matter whether I agree or not?"

"Haven't you all already decided?"

Yu Shixue looked as if he had been struck by lightning, frozen in place, his smile stiffening on his face; he knew Ling Wu was unwilling, but the marriages of children from prominent families were never their own to decide.

Therefore, even if Ling Wu was unwilling, he had to be willing.

Yu Shixue was fully confident in the success of the marriage alliance; he pulled the dejected Ling Wu into his arms and comforted him, saying: "Don't be sad. You know that born into top-tier families like ours, we have no say in our own marriages."

"Shao Yu is the legitimate heir of the Jin Family; if you can't seize power, the only path left is a marriage alliance. But at least if you marry me, I will treat you well and won't let you suffer any grievances... Ling Wu, you know, I like you very much."

Yu Shixue pressed Ling Wu's head against his shoulder, stroking him tenderly, then lowered his head to kiss his side profile.

"I like you."

Ling Wu curled his fists slightly, maintaining this obedient posture while nestled in his arms, his eyes exceptionally clear and cold, as if numbly playing along with a performance; his loose, curved bangs caused Yu Shixue to be unable to see his eyes clearly when he lowered his gaze.

The fish has taken the bait.

Time to pull in the net.

Yu Shixue cupped his face: "Why aren't you saying anything?"

"Why should I say anything?" Ling Wu mocked and ridiculed him: "Entering a marriage alliance with someone I don't like."

"Do you think I could be happy?"

Yu Shixue didn't mind; when he sat, he was a head taller than Ling Wu, and those eyes, wild like a beast's, were very cold when he lowered his lids, yet his words were so pitying: "Then what can be done? How pitiful, Ling Wu, you can only choose me. Even if you don't like it, you'll have to learn to like it in the future."

Ling Wu looked at his eyes with great disdain.

This expression stimulated the man's competitive spirit, but in Yu Shixue's eyes, it became something else—merely a death struggle against the shackles of the family; he believed Ling Wu would eventually compromise.

That was why he felt Ling Wu, showing such a vivid expression, was very alluring at this moment.

Yu Shixue looked at the glass of orange juice, feeling it had lost its original purpose; if Ling Wu had to agree regardless, why not choose a beautiful beginning?

Instead of using unscrupulous means.

When his long arm lifted, his clothes inadvertently knocked the glass over onto the floor.

"Bang!"

The glass shattered into pieces, and the orange juice flowed all over the ground.

Neither of them seemed to care about this glass of orange juice.

Yu Shixue understood he was weighing the pros and cons, and said in a rather good mood: "A-Wu, I'll go to visit your uncle tomorrow to discuss the marriage alliance, how about that?"

"After the New Year, we'll get married."

Ling Wu stood up as his lips pressed down, pulling his hand away from Yu Shixue's palm: "Then you had better pray that my father agrees to this marriage alliance."

Yu Shixue: "Are you leaving already?"

Ling Wu glanced at him and walked toward the door: "Otherwise?"

"Then I'll see you out." Yu Shixue followed behind him in a slouching, devil-may-care manner.

Downstairs.

Ling Wu finished changing his shoes and tightened his scarf: "Don't see me off."

"Fine, I know you don't want to see me right now." Yu Shixue crossed his arms, lazy as a large feline, leaning against the door frame: "See you tomorrow, then, my future fiancé."

Ling Wu naturally couldn't be bothered to talk to him.

He soon exited the villa.

Yu Shixue watched that thin, cold figure walk into the snow, leaving shallow footprints; he couldn't help but reach out, his palm forming a grasping motion, as if, across the air and distance, he had gripped Ling Wu's figure in his hand: "You are mine."

Yu Tingyun stood on the balcony and saw Ling Wu's figure.

Just as he was preparing to go downstairs, Ling Wu in the distance looked back through the snow toward Yu Tingyun on the second floor of the villa, the smile blooming on that face bright enough to clear the snowy light.

Yu Tingyun's hand on the railing curled: "Damn!"

He dared not linger in his greed any longer and turned to go downstairs.

"Brother, why did you let him leave?"

"Heartbroken?"

Yu Shixue was still standing at the entryway; he lowered his arm, his eyes a bit alert: "He agreed to the marriage alliance. Compared to a wrong beginning, I prefer a wonderful start."

"Is there a problem?"

Yu Tingyun was not yet as deeply ensnared or as severely bewitched as Yu Shixue; he was a bit suspicious: "Ling Wu, agreed to the marriage alliance?"

"How is that possible..."

Yu Shixue sensed a covetous heart from his own younger brother and narrowed his eyes: "You seem more concerned about this than I am."

"Of course." Yu Tingyun smiled: "After all, I'm about to have a sister-in-law."

Sister-in-law?

Yu Shixue was pleased by his words, his mood relaxing significantly; he patted the shoulder of this "troublesome" brother, Yu Tingyun, and then said earnestly: "I'll go to the Jin Family with Mom and Dad tomorrow."

"So fast?" Yu Tingyun was surprised.

"Is it fast?" Yu Shixue: "I actually think it's a bit slow."

Yu Tingyun's eyes were a bit dim; he nodded in agreement, his tone sarcastic: "It really does need to be fast... because there are many people who like Ling Wu. If you hadn't used underhanded means, Brother, you probably wouldn't even be in the running."

The next day, Jin Family.

Yu Shixue's efficiency was high; he had told his parents the night Ling Wu left, and the next morning they arrived at the Jin Family with gifts for a visit. The younger generation sat obediently to the side, and even the most willful and unruly Jin Shaoyu was much better behaved.

But this obedience only lasted until the second before they began discussing the marriage alliance between Ling Wu and Yu Shixue.

Jin Shaoyu glared viciously at the two smug Yu brothers; he was shaking with anger and almost flipped the fruit platter over in front of everyone!

Eat, eat, eat, eat!

Eat, eat, what are you eating?!

A weasel wishing a chicken a Happy New Year—nothing good ever comes of it.

With the Jin Family already at this point, do they still need to marry into other families to consolidate their power and status?

At the same time, Xiao Yu's expression also changed.

The look she gave Ling Wu was just like looking at a vixen.

No wonder Yu Shixue didn't agree to the matter with Jin Yunchu last time; it turns out it was ruined by that vixen Ling Wu. That face is just as annoying as his short-lived mother's!

She was furious.

Seeing Xiao Yu's poor complexion, Jin Bei patted her back and asked in a super low voice: "Mom, what's wrong?"

"Are you not feeling well?"

Jin Yunchu, sitting nearby, naturally heard their conversation and knew very well what Xiao Yu was angry about; she frowned but didn't say a word.

They were mother and daughter after all; having lived with Xiao Yu for so many years, Jin Yunchu knew that things definitely wouldn't be peaceful later when she saw that venomous look in her eyes.

Jin Yunchu tugged on Jin Bei's sleeve and gave him a look to signal him.

Jin Bei: "?"

What is my sister saying?

As a beast of burden who had been driven by his own sister for many years, Jin Bei quickly understood the meaning, and seeing Xiao Yu's terrible complexion, he said: "Mom, did you catch a cold? Why is your complexion so bad?"

Soon, everyone in the living room looked over.

Jin Bei felt a bit guilty for no reason; in such a serious occasion concerning the interests of two families, he didn't dare to mess around... that is what my sister meant, right?

Clearly, the Yu Family's attitude toward this woman, Xiao Yu, was very subtle; Jin Liangjin waved his hand at the servant: "Help the Madam upstairs to rest."

Xiao Yu wanted to say something, but she held it back.

Out of sight, out of mind!

Father Yu had long since investigated Ling Wu; he was born of the same father and mother as Shao Yu, of legitimate descent, and was outstanding in both character and learning at Sike Academy, excelling in every way, humble, polite, and articulate. He was extremely satisfied and said immediately: "If Ling Wu has no objections, then the marriage alliance is settled as such."

Shao Yu felt that Ling Wu wouldn't look down on Yu Shixue at all: "Of course my brother has objections..."

At this moment, Ling Wu's voice drowned him out: "I have no objections."

Shao Yu's eyes widened; he couldn't believe it and turned his head abruptly: "Brother, what did you say?"

He pointed at Yu Shixue, his tone filled with undisguised disgust, his voice raised by two octaves: "I grew up playing with him! How is he worthy of you?!"