Chapter 231: Annulment of Engagement, A Pity
Chapter 231: Chapter 231: Annulment of Engagement, A Pity
Mr. Guo doted on this daughter most of all.
"Haha, good girl. The Guo Family’s future will require our collective effort. Once you’re married into the Li family, your own family’s strength will be your backbone, allowing you to stand tall," Mr. Guo said. "So, from now on, think more about the Guo Family. At the same time, if you’re ever wronged, your father will stand up for you."
"Thank you, Dad. I understand the importance of family, of course. I’ll be sure to secure more resources for the Guo Family in the future," Guo Dongmei said. "You don’t have to worry."
Mr. Guo was deeply satisfied. He took the marriage certificate and went to the Hua family’s home the next day.
When Feng Wanru saw Mr. Guo, her son’s future father-in-law, arrive, she quickly had someone serve tea. Her heart was filled with apprehension, hoping things were not as she suspected.
Hearing the maid’s message, Hua Zhiqiang came out from his study and saw Guo Zijian sitting in the living room.
’He wouldn’t come without a reason. If he were visiting my eldest son, he would have gone straight to the hospital.’
’It’s clear he isn’t here to see my son. He might be... here to break the engagement.’
"Brother Hua, Madam Hua, I’ve taken the liberty of coming today because there’s something I’d like to discuss with you," Mr. Guo, Guo Zijian, said, looking a bit uncomfortable. Although he wanted to break the engagement, he remembered how he’d shamelessly used a past favor to secure this marriage for his daughter. Back then, the Guo Family was indeed marrying up by joining with the Hua family.
But times had changed. The Guo Family was now on equal footing with the Hua family, and would even surpass them in the future. There was no longer any need to continue with this marriage. After all, his beautiful, flower-like daughter had better options.
"Oh?" Even though Hua Zhiqiang knew what Guo Zijian wanted to say, he pretended not to. "Little Brother Guo, whatever it is, just say it. If it’s something I can do, I’ll do it without hesitation. We’re family, after all! The Guo Family is truly honorable. I’m deeply moved that you’re still willing to acknowledge this marriage even after Yu Sen suffered such a severe injury."
Hua Zhiqiang’s words nearly made Guo Zijian choke on his own blood.
He was here to break off the engagement, not to set a wedding date.
Feng Wanru chimed in, "That’s right. Who isn’t saying that you, Guo Zijian, are a man of honor and integrity?"
Guo Zijian’s face flushed then paled upon hearing this, but since he had come, he couldn’t leave empty-handed. This couple was acting in perfect concert, playing dumb to embarrass him. Well, he saw no reason to sit here and let them humiliate him any longer.
"Brother Hua, Madam Hua, I’m also very saddened that Yu Sen is now in a vegetative state. He was a fine young man, after all. It’s truly a shame he’s ended up like this." Guo Zijian twisted the knife in Hua Zhiqiang and Feng Wanru’s hearts. "But Dongmei is still young. She can’t spend her whole life with a man in a vegetative state! I, too, had hoped Yu Sen would wake up, but we’ve been met with this result instead. I know it’s dishonorable for me to come here to break the engagement, but we are all parents. How can I just watch my own daughter leap into a pit of fire?"
Hearing Guo Zijian’s words, Feng Wanru felt as if her heart was being twisted by a knife. She glared at him with hatred and said coldly, "I was just thinking we should hold the wedding for Yu Sen and Dongmei soon, and you show up to break the engagement? You were the ones who begged us for this engagement in the first place!"
Guo Zijian cursed inwardly but maintained an apologetic expression. "Madam Hua, times have changed. Yu Sen is in a vegetative state. Dongmei is still young, with a bright future ahead of her. So please, don’t cling to such feudal ideas and expect my daughter to marry him and live as a widow!"
"You... What nonsense are you spouting? My son will wake up!" Feng Wanru shouted, on the verge of hysteria. "You are treacherous and ungrateful! The Guo Family is nothing but a pack of fawning, opportunistic scoundrels!"
Even though Guo Zijian had prepared himself for this, being cursed at by Feng Wanru still made him extremely uncomfortable. His face was a mask of embarrassment as he turned to Hua Zhiqiang. "Brother Hua, I understand Madam Hua’s feelings, but this is about our children’s happiness. I have no choice but to brazenly come here and call off the engagement. I hope you can understand."
"I don’t understand, and I won’t! The engagement can’t be broken. She must marry my son." Feng Wanru glared at Guo Zijian. "Don’t think that just because the Guo Family has latched onto the Li family, you’re set for a meteoric rise. You’re nothing but the Li family’s dogs!"
"Madam Hua, I respect you, but you can’t slander me like this." Guo Zijian could no longer keep his composure. "I don’t want to drag anyone else into this today. I am simply here to break the engagement. My family has already shown the utmost benevolence by waiting this long to do so. Brother Hua, you’re a reasonable man. Say something."
Seeing Guo Zijian’s determination, Hua Zhiqiang knew things had reached a point of no return. There was no need to argue any further. He nodded and said, "You came to break the engagement, and I accept. From this day forward, the marriage between Yu Sen and Dongmei is officially canceled. Wanru, go get the marriage certificate."
"Zhiqiang..." Feng Wanru knew that if her son’s engagement was broken now, he might never get married in his life.
"Go now!" Hua Zhiqiang’s face darkened as he looked at Feng Wanru.
Although Feng Wanru was furious, she had no choice but to go to the study, find the marriage certificate, and hand it to Guo Zijian.
Guo Zijian gave the Hua family his copy of the marriage certificate as well. Then, in front of them, he destroyed both documents.
Then, under Feng Wanru’s loathing gaze, he left the Hua family home, completely satisfied.
Their interests were not aligned; they were never going to become true in-laws. So, it was for the best that the engagement was broken now.
After Guo Zijian left, Feng Wanru finally collapsed into a chair, utterly distraught. She asked peevishly, "Why did you agree to break the engagement?"
Hua Zhiqiang looked at his wife with a sense of helplessness and gave a bitter smile. "What could we have done if we didn’t agree? Guo Dongmei doesn’t want to marry Yu Sen, especially not in his current condition."
Hearing her husband’s words, Feng Wanru sank to the floor in grief, covered her face, and began to sob. After a long while, she spoke through her tears, "Yu Sen has suffered so much, gone through so much hardship... He was on the verge of success, and now he’s in a vegetative state. I don’t know when he’ll ever wake up."
Seeing his wife crying so heartbrokenly, Hua Zhiqiang also crouched down, hugged her, and comforted her, "Yu Sen is a strong kid. He’s so determined, he’ll definitely wake up."
Gu Qingyu came to the hospital again today. Sun Haoran had been staying at the hospital to look after Hua Yusen, but Hua Yusen still hadn’t woken up, which Sun Haoran found incredible.
Based on all the other data and his pulse, Hua Yusen seemed as if he were just asleep. But he simply wouldn’t wake up. Like a plant, he could live on as long as he received nutrients.
It wasn’t death, but for a young man with such great ambitions, this state was far too cruel.
"Haoran, I trust you. Tell me, do you think Yu Sen can still wake up?" Gu Qingyu sighed. "Such a young man, with a limitless future ahead of him... I never thought..."