Chapter 249: Breaking the Engagement

The old lady spoke straightforwardly; Lady Qi's temperament was likely like her aunt's, so Alisha shouldn't have a hard time in the future with such a mother-in-law.

Shi Youxuan accepted the betrothal gifts on Alisha's behalf, and then the matchmaker brought by the Jiao Family took out an almanac and set the auspicious date for the eighth of next month.

With only twenty days left until the wedding, Shi Youxuan was a bit hesitant now; did it feel a little too fast?

Over this period, blind dates had repeatedly gone poorly, and she couldn't help but feel restless and impatient.

Originally, she hadn't held any hope for the blind date between Alisha and Jiao Enyu; she had only let Alisha go to see him so as not to reject Lady Qi's face.

As it turned out, the two of them really "saw" eye to eye, and she was so happy that she agreed to let the Jiao Family send the betrothal gifts over.

However, once the wedding date was set, she began to hesitate again.

She was afraid that she didn't know enough about Jiao Enyu and that Alisha would suffer grievances in the days to come!

"Lady Zhu, are you dissatisfied with the date we chose?" Madam Jiao was also a straightforward person; she asked whatever was on her mind.

Shi Youxuan didn't hide it: "I'm not dissatisfied with the date, I just feel it's set a bit too early. They have only met once, what if..."

She didn't finish the words "what if," but everyone from the Jiao Family understood.

Several people discussed it in low voices for a moment.

Lady Qi acted as the representative and said to Shi Youxuan: "Lady Zhu's concerns are reasonable. How about this: we keep the date as it is, but during these days, we let the two of them spend more time together. If they get along, they proceed with the original plan to marry; if they don't, then so be it."

"We won't announce the date publicly, and we won't send the Invitation until three days before the wedding. What does Lady Zhu think?"

Since they had already said that, it would be unreasonable to hesitate further.

Thus, Shi Youxuan agreed. The betrothal gifts were accepted, but the dowry hadn't been prepared; she told the Jiao Family she would prepare the dowry during these days and would definitely let Alisha marry in a grand and glorious manner!

The Jiao Family came happily and went back happily.

But the look of terror on Alisha's face after seeing the betrothal gifts took Shi Youxuan by surprise!

"What is that expression? Alisha, you aren't going to go back on your word, are you?" She had an ominous premonition.

The premonition came true, only Alisha wasn't going back on her word; she simply didn't acknowledge it at all.

She didn't acknowledge having agreed to the marriage, and didn't even acknowledge that Shi Youxuan had ever asked her about it.

Shi Youxuan grew anxious: "Alisha, you can't be like this. I clearly asked you twice and you agreed both times; how can you go back on your word now?"

To prove that she had indeed asked and that Alisha had indeed agreed.

Shi Youxuan even dragged Shi Ran out of her bed, even though she was already asleep, to make her testify!

The pitiful little girl was sleeping soundly, but was cruelly woken up by Mommy to provide testimony.

"Xiaozhu, did I ask you if Auntie agreed to get married?" Shi Ran nodded: "Yes!"

Shi Youxuan turned back: "You heard it, right? Yes!"

Sheng Hanyu thought to himself that she was still dreaming; no matter what you asked, she would answer "yes."

He stopped paying attention to Shi Youxuan, turned around, and went back to his own room, preparing to give her the cold shoulder.

Shi Youxuan hurriedly followed: "Hey, stop right there!"

He stopped, looking down with no expression.

Shi Youxuan stood in front of him, deciding that she had to get things clear tonight, otherwise she would definitely suffer from insomnia again.

"How about this, let's not dwell on whether you agreed to the matter just now or not; anyway, dwelling on it now has no meaning..." Before Sheng Hanyu could be happy, she changed her tone.

"Starting tomorrow, you go out and date Jiao Enyu. You must spend at least two hours together every day. If you still don't agree to marry him after fifteen days, this marriage will be called off. How about that?"

Shi Youxuan's painstaking efforts were not in vain; at least she had left a way out for Alisha.

She expressed quite bluntly: No, she wouldn't go, not even for a single day!

This was being unreasonable; she didn't cherish the opportunity that had been fought for with such difficulty.

If she really followed Alisha's wishes and flatly refused them tomorrow, she was afraid that if such a reputation spread, she would never be able to get married in her entire life.

Shi Youxuan's patience was worn down to nothing. She darkened her face and said: "If you don't go, that's fine too. Just prepare to get married in twenty days. It doesn't matter if you aren't willing; I can have people tie you to the wedding car as a bride!"

After saying this, she turned and left. Good-natured discussion didn't work, did it?

Then there was no need for discussion.

Back in her room, Shi Youxuan lay on the bed, too angry to sleep, her mind full of Alisha!

Don't look at how easygoing this woman usually is; if it's something she doesn't want to do, no amount of forcing works. She seems like someone else—who does she resemble?

A person suddenly flashed through Shi Youxuan's mind—Sheng Hanyu!

Why did she think of him all of a sudden?

Shi Youxuan hadn't thought of Sheng Hanyu for a while now. How long had it been?

She thought about it carefully; it seemed to be since Alisha moved in.

For no good reason, she suddenly thought of that person.

"Knock, knock, knock."

Someone was knocking at the door outside.

It was this late; it couldn't be a servant.

Shi Youxuan thought it was Zhu Yiwen who had returned and had something to tell her, so she got up to open the door.

As it turned out, when she opened the door, she saw Alisha standing there. After the door opened, she immediately held up a piece of paper on which was written: "May I come in?"

Besides the one in her hand, she had another stack of papers in her other hand; it looked like she intended to have a long talk.

Shi Youxuan stepped aside from the doorway: "Come in."

Alisha walked into the room and held up another piece of paper, which had not only words but also a drawing on it.

The drawing showed two little figures; one looked like Alisha bowing to apologize to the figure that looked like Shi Youxuan, and there was a caption on the side: It's all my fault, please don't be angry, I will go see that person tomorrow, okay?

Don't look at how Alisha's handwriting wasn't good—it was crooked—but she drew quite well; both little figures looked very much like them.

Since she agreed to meet Jiao Enyu, the problem that had been giving Shi Youxuan a headache was solved, and her pent-up anger dissipated by half.

But she still had to make things clear to Alisha; she emphasized once more what she had said in Shi Ran's room, clearly stating that she had indeed asked her, and only after she agreed did she give the answer to the Jiao Family!

Alisha stopped arguing and returned to her usual obedient self, nodding and agreeing to everything she said.

But Shi Youxuan could feel that she was not willing, and was only doing so for her sake.

This feeling not only failed to make her happy, but made her very uncomfortable!

What was the purpose of her doing this?

It was so that Alisha could be happy and have someone to rely on for the rest of her life.

But if her purpose in agreeing to marry was only to make Shi Youxuan happy, Shi Youxuan would rather offend Lady Qi and the Jiao Family than let her compromise herself.

"Alisha, you had better not go tomorrow; I will go to the Jiao Family myself to return the betrothal gifts and offer an apology," Shi Youxuan finally decided.

Her expression was not very good when she returned from the Jiao Family the next day; it was the first time since arriving in L Country that Shi Youxuan had been treated with such disrespect.

Originally, this matter had not been made public, so logically, backing out should not have been an issue; besides returning the betrothal gifts, she had also presented a generous gift.

But the old Madam Jiao had spoken very harshly, even cursing Alisha to never be able to get married in her entire life!

Just because the marriage alliance didn't work out, one shouldn't immediately turn hostile and deny all previous relations, right?

Shi Youxuan was not someone to be bullied either, so she immediately retorted a few times, retorting until the old madam's face turned pale.