Volume One, Chapter Two: Breaking the Engagement, Almost Certain

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Lin Jie took Tang Ruan’s hand. “Come on, let’s go break up with Huo Yanchuan.”

There were so many people in the private room—it was the perfect witness, so she wouldn’t have to secretly spread rumors that Ruan Ruan dumped Huo Yanchuan, not the other way around.

After more than six years of frustration, it was finally time to hold her head high!

“Not so fast,” Tang Ruan called out to Lin Jie.

Lin Jie’s smile faded, revealing an expression uglier than tears. “Don’t tell me, sis, you still have hope for Huo Yanchuan?”

No way, no way!

Heaven above—how did she end up with such a love-struck best friend?

“No,” Tang Ruan explained, “Over the years, the Tang and Huo families have had close business dealings. We need to end the engagement with some dignity.”

If it wasn’t done properly, not only would it become a joke to outsiders, but it would also affect the business between the two families.

She wouldn’t do anything that would cause mutual destruction.

“You’re the more sensible one, Ruan Ruan.”

Lin Jie scratched her head in frustration. She was impulsive by nature, quick to get worked up and not very thorough in her thinking.

Ruan Ruan, on the other hand, always thought things through quickly.

Tang Ruan noticed Lin Jie’s disappointment and changed the subject. “Jie Jie, didn’t you say yesterday you found a great restaurant?”

Lin Jie’s mood lifted. “Oh yes! That place is seriously delicious! I swear.”

She held up three fingers, looking utterly sincere.

“Ruan Ruan, we have to go there when we have time!”

Tang Ruan said, “Let’s go now.”

“Huh?” Lin Jie was momentarily stunned, eyes wide.

“There’s no time like the present. Let’s go now.”

“Okay, okay, I’ll book a table right now.” Lin Jie, a little dazed, pulled out her phone and opened the app.

Tang Ruan picked up both their bags with one hand and hooked her arm with Lin Jie’s with the other. “Let’s go.”

Passing by the private room where Huo Yanchuan was, Lin Jie spat fiercely, “A harlot for a dog—forever and ever!”

Huo Yanchuan was locked down with that white lotus!

After spitting, she turned to see Tang Ruan holding up her phone, snapping pictures of the room.

Guessing Tang Ruan’s intention, Lin Jie laughed out loud. “Ruan Ruan, you’re so evil.”

Tang Ruan put away her phone and chuckled.

The breakup was almost guaranteed.

Night fell, and Tang Ruan strolled slowly toward the Tang family villa in low heels, carrying her bag in one hand and her phone in the other.

Lin Jie was right—the food at that restaurant was indeed excellent.

So much so that Tang Ruan accidentally ate too much.

Near the Tang family villa, she asked the driver to drop her off, choosing to walk the rest of the way.

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It was both a walk and a way to aid digestion.

“Ding dong—”

Her phone screen lit up.

[Make time this Saturday, Grandpa wants me to take you back to the old family home for dinner.]

Tang Ruan glanced at it, a mocking smile curling at the corner of her lips.

She ignored the message and shoved the phone back into her bag.

Out of sight, out of mind.

By the time she returned to the Tang villa, it was already nine-thirty.

The living room was brightly lit. Tang Zhen Guo and Jiang Wanyu, her parents, were sitting on the sofa.

Jiang Wanyu was watching TV, and Tang Zhen Guo was reading the newspaper.

Hearing the door open, Jiang Wanyu paused the TV and smiled warmly. “Ruan Ruan, you’re back?”

Tang Ruan nodded. “Dad, Mom.”

“Are you hungry? I cut some fruit. Wait here, I’ll bring it out for you.”

Jiang Wanyu put on her shoes and was about to head to the kitchen.

“No need, Mom. I just ate with Jie Jie, not hungry.”

“All right then.” Jiang Wanyu stopped, sat back down on the sofa, and patted the seat beside her. “Want to watch TV with me?”

Tang Ruan walked over and sat down. “Mom, Dad, there’s something I need your help with.”

Tang Zhen Guo put down his newspaper, and Jiang Wanyu set the remote aside. They exchanged a glance and then looked at Tang Ruan.

“You go ahead.”

“I want to break off my engagement with Huo Yanchuan.”

“What?!” Jiang Wanyu couldn’t help but cry out in surprise.

Not only Jiang Wanyu, even Tang Zhen Guo, who was usually unshaken and stoic, showed a flicker of astonishment.

Break off the engagement with Huo Yanchuan?

“Ruan Ruan, how… how did you suddenly come to this decision?”

She had once been willing to die for this marriage, insisting on marrying only Huo Yanchuan, and talked about a seven-year promise—that marriage would solve everything. Now she was taking the initiative to end it.

Had Huo Yanchuan done something to hurt her?

Thinking this, Jiang Wanyu’s expression darkened. She grabbed Tang Ruan’s hand tightly. “Tell me, Ruan Ruan, did Huo Yanchuan do something to hurt you?”

Even though Huo Yanchuan was the Huo family’s only eldest grandson and the future heir of the Huo Corporation, if he dared to hurt their Ruan Ruan, she wouldn’t stand for it.

Jiang Wanyu nudged Tang Zhen Guo. “Old Tang, say something!”

Tang Zhen Guo said, “Ruan Ruan, don’t be afraid. Your mother and I will always be your strongest support.”

Not even Huo Yanchuan could hurt their daughter!

Tang Ruan was deeply touched. She gently patted her parents’ hands. “Don’t worry, Mom, Dad. What he did isn’t really hurting me.”

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After all, she had already made up her mind to let go.

From now on, Huo Yanchuan was basically a stranger to her.

How could she allow a stranger to hurt her?

Tang Zhen Guo caught the key point sharply. “Not really hurting you? So it did hurt you?”

“Mom, Dad, listen to what’s important.”

Tang Zhen Guo: ……

Jiang Wanyu: ……

They said in unison, “Go on.”

“I was foolish and stubborn these years. Now I’ve decided to break off the engagement with Huo Yanchuan. I need you to go to the Huo family on my behalf.”

“We can go to the Huo family, but there has to be a reason for the breakup.”

Jiang Wanyu nudged Tang Zhen Guo again. “With what that Huo brat’s done over the years, what reason do we even need!”

If Tang Ruan hadn’t insisted, this engagement would have been broken long ago.

They were also puzzled. Huo Yanchuan had been such a good young man in his youth—humble, polite, sunny and bright. How did he end up like this?

If they had known Huo Yanchuan would become so wild and reckless, they never would have agreed to this marriage.

Tang Ruan opened her photo album on her phone and held it up in front of them. “Mom, Dad, is this reason enough?”

Seeing the photo of the two kissing clearly, Jiang Wanyu jumped up. “He… he’s gone too far!”

Tang Zhen Guo clenched his fists, his face dark as a pot bottom, teeth grinding tightly.

After a moment, he stood. “Don’t worry. I’ll go to the Huo family first thing tomorrow to break off the engagement!”

Not only to break off the engagement, but also to properly question the Huo family’s intentions.

They had been the ones to propose this match. Now they were letting Huo Yanchuan humiliate their daughter.

If the Huo family couldn’t control their son, he wouldn’t mind lending a hand!

Thinking of the message Huo Yanchuan had just sent, Tang Ruan shook her head lightly. “Mom, Dad, there’s no rush to break off the engagement.”

Tang Zhen Guo and Jiang Wanyu exchanged a look, feeling uneasy.

Could it be their daughter’s love-struck mind was acting up again—that she didn’t want to break off the engagement and still wanted to forgive Huo Yanchuan?

“This matter is clearly the Huo family’s fault. Simply breaking off the engagement is too easy on them.”

Tang Zhen Guo and Jiang Wanyu both sighed in relief.

Thank goodness, their daughter wasn’t acting out of love, but was thinking strategically for the Tang family’s benefit.

No wonder she was their daughter!

Like father, like daughter.

“Ruan Ruan, rest assured, the Huo family will pay for what they’ve done.”