Chapter 546: Chapter 541: Breaking Off the Engagement
The road takes a sudden turn.
Bai Yusen almost burst out laughing.
But Fu Yuanxuan beside him had already pressed his lips into a line, his gaze towards Bai Xiaotang dimmed slightly.
"Why?"
Bai Xiaotang tilted her head, thought for a moment, and said, "Because marriage should be with someone you like, just like my brother likes Sister Ying. They will only be happy after getting married. But there’s no emotional connection between us; we’re only forced together by our elders, which is unfair to both you and me."
"So you want to call off the engagement?" Fu Yuanxuan’s voice was somewhat deep, his gaze fixed on Bai Xiaotang’s lively eyes.
What he had once dismissed, he now cared deeply about.
She nodded slightly, somewhat nervously saying, "Brother Fu, I know you don’t like me and were also forced to accept this engagement..."
"No." Fu Yuanxuan suddenly interrupted her, staring directly into her eyes, "I don’t dislike you, nor was I forced to accept the engagement. Do you also want to cancel the engagement with me?"
Bai Xiaotang was taken aback by his words.
Bai Yusen quickly interrupted Fu Yuanxuan, "Young Master Fu, Tangtang is still young; she doesn’t quite understand these matters. As for calling off the engagement, I think we should discuss it privately, how about that?"
Fu Yuanxuan’s gaze cooled slightly as he looked at Bai Yusen, his face visibly tense, "Alright."
"Shall we talk in another place?"
"We can."
Bai Xiaotang watched them leave with a worried expression, and suddenly asked, "Sister Ying, will my brother fight with Brother Fu?"
Huang Ying was a bit surprised; she always thought Bai Xiaotang was clueless when it came to emotions and even somewhat numb.
"Why do you ask?"
"My brother never liked my engagement with Brother Fu since childhood. He often said he would help me call off this marriage sooner or later."
Huang Ying was astonished, "Your brother is so bold? That’s the Fu Family."
"My brother said the Fu Family is prestigious, and if I marry into it, although I wouldn’t be mistreated, life would be hard. And my personality isn’t suitable to be Fu Yuanxuan’s wife. Instead of enduring pain in the future, it’s better to call off the engagement early. I can find a guy I genuinely like and live a simple, peaceful life."
Huang Ying smiled, raised her hand, and ruffled her hair, "Your brother is right."
"But I’m afraid the Fu Family will trouble my brother. After all, this marriage was decided by the elders of both families, and Grandpa Fu has been very kind to me all these years, taking care of the Bai Family. I’m afraid it will damage the relationship between our families..."
Bai Xiaotang’s doll-like face carried an unusual maturity, tinged with grown-up worries.
Huang Ying felt a pang of emotion at her growth, but comforted her, "Don’t worry, the Fu Family isn’t that domineering. As long as there’s a valid reason, calling off the engagement won’t be difficult."
Besides, with Ji Ning, the Fu Family surely won’t dare to make things difficult for the Bai Family.
Though, inevitably, the Bai Family’s reputation might suffer.
But judging by the attitude of these siblings, they probably don’t care about the rumors.
On the other side.
Fu Yuanxuan brought Bai Yusen back to the dormitory.
He hadn’t been back for half a month, and the room had a faint musty smell, cold as an ice cave.
Bai Yusen entered the room, closed the door, and got straight to the point: "As long as the engagement can be called off, whatever conditions the Fu Family wants, I’ll agree."
Fu Yuanxuan’s hand, which had just been putting down weapons, paused momentarily. Then he forcefully tore off the heavy weapon bag on his back, placed it on the table, and asked, "Why?"
"Tangtang doesn’t like you."
"Just because she doesn’t like me now doesn’t mean she won’t like me in the future. You said she’s still young and doesn’t understand love between men and women. Using this reason to call off the engagement won’t work." Fu Yuanxuan glanced back at him and continued removing his gear.
Bai Yusen took a few steps forward and spoke bluntly, "Young Master Fu, as you know, marriage between noble families is not just about two people; it’s about an alliance between two forces, involving many people and things that are very complex. With Tangtang’s character, she can’t handle being the next Madam Fu, and I don’t want her to live a life of others’ criticism, lonely and unhappy. If your Fu Family needs the Bai Family’s support, I can guarantee that even without a marriage alliance, we can still be the strongest allies. I promise this in the name of the Bai Family Patriarch..."
"Brother Yu Sen," Fu Yuanxuan suddenly called him, turned around, and looked at him solemnly, "I understand your concerns, but I assure you, after marriage, if Tangtang doesn’t want to be the next Madam Fu, managing the family, she can choose not to. The way she lived before will be the same in the Fu Family. I won’t force her to do anything she dislikes."
"Young Master Fu, as long as you’re not the Family Head, I won’t believe you. Moreover, even if you protect Tangtang, how long can you protect her? Your career dictates that you’ll be apart often; during those times, how will she face the gossip?"
"Tangtang wants to be a military doctor, right?"
Bai Yusen’s expression turned cold, "So what? Do the Fu Family intend to use her future to force us into submission?"
"No, Brother Yu Sen misunderstood. The Fu Family won’t interfere with their wives’ careers. When we marry, Tangtang will surely have her own career. She won’t be like other noble wives, handling interpersonal relations for her husband. Our family doesn’t require such social dealings. She’ll only need to do what she loves. So, even if there’s gossip, it won’t reach her."
"But Tangtang isn’t the daughter-in-law your parents favor. Although Tangtang never told me before, I can see she always comes back unhappy from the Fu Family. How can I entrust her to a family that makes her unhappy, that pressures her? Young Master Fu, I hope you seriously consider calling off the engagement. Tangtang truly doesn’t meet the Fu Family’s daughter-in-law requirements. Of course, if you disagree, I will personally visit the Fu Family to call off the engagement."
Bai Yusen’s stance was firm, and Fu Yuanxuan’s fists clenched suddenly.
"Brother Yu Sen, I truly like Tangtang."
"Young Master Fu, liking her isn’t the sole ticket to marriage. As I’ve said before, you’re not suitable for each other. Please give serious thought to calling off the engagement. When Tangtang was younger, she couldn’t choose whether to be engaged to you, but now she’s almost an adult, and has the right to choose. If you truly like her, please respect her decision."
Having said that, Bai Yusen took out a traditional red marriage contract from within his coat.
It was signed by Fu Ninghao and Bai Family’s grandfather back then.
Every word on it was handwritten by Fu Ninghao, still bearing the ancestral seals of the Fu Family and Bai Family.
He placed the marriage contract on the table beside Fu Yuanxuan, saying softly, "Young Master Fu, I am very grateful to the Fu Family for looking after my siblings after my parents passed away. To be honest, without the Fu Family, the Bai Family would have long been banished from Beijing, even bankrupt. I personally promise that the Bai Family and Fu Family remain allies, never betray. When I return to Hua Continent, I’ll draft a Bai Group equity transfer document. I’ll transfer all my shares to your mother’s name. Once I’ve settled all Bai Family’s assets in Beijing, I’ll take Tangtang away permanently, so the Fu Family won’t be embarrassed."
