"This is fifty thousand yuan. Take it and don't come back here anymore!" Mrs. Gu's cold voice was tinged with impatience. The only reason she was willing to part with this money today was because of her birthday.
Looking at the bulging brown paper bag, Ji Yunhuan said awkwardly, "Aunt Gu, I didn't come here today for money."
It was Mrs. Gu's birthday today. She had come here merely to pay her respects as a junior.
"You don't have to be polite with me." Mrs. Gu gave her a cold look and said, "Consider it a debt our Yubai owes you. Just let him go! Look at yourself now. What do you even look like? Having a fiancée like you is a disgrace to the Gu Family."
"Aunt Gu..."
"I know your brother is in the hospital with high expenses. Your salary isn't much, and fifty thousand is already a lot for you. Over these years, you've taken quite a bit from the Gu Family. People have their pride. I think you're not somebody who's shameless!"
What she meant was that if Ji Yunhuan continued pestering, she would be shameless.
Sitting on the sofa, Ji Yunhuan maintained her indifferent demeanor, but her heart was icy cold. The Aunt Gu she remembered wasn't this indifferent. Back when her parents were alive, Aunt Gu was extremely gentle whenever she came to their home or whenever Ji Yunhuan visited the Gu Family Residence. She treated Ji Yunhuan like her own daughter.
But it's only been five years since her parents passed. Aunt Gu's attitude had changed drastically, from initial perfunctory politeness to unabashed loathing.
She knew she was an unwanted presence.
However, she also knew very clearly that despite everything, she was still Gu Yubai's fiancée.
Since Mrs. Gu had decided to rip the last veneer of civility, she seemed to have no need to be polite either. She glanced at the fifty thousand yuan on the table. This was her brother's medical fee for the next three months. She reached for it.
She knew Ji Yunhuan wasn't really a woman of high standing. As long as she took the money, it was fine.
Mrs. Gu's lips curled up, feeling a sense of relief.
Ji Yunhuan weighed the brown paper bag in her hand and said obediently, "Thank you for your kindness, Aunt Gu. I'll take the money, but as for breaking up with Yubai, I'll consider it."
"Consider? What does 'consider' mean?"
"When I was fifteen, we got engaged. Back then, Aunt Gu, you also said Yubai and I were a match made in heaven. I know the Gu Family is now highly successful, and the Ji Family has fallen into despair. I might not be good enough for Yubai anymore, but I believe Aunt Gu isn't someone who looks down on the poor and cancels engagements because of that, right?"
Mrs. Gu had initially thought that Ji Yunhuan would be sensible once she took the money. Who would have thought that she would only say she would consider it?
Mrs. Gu got so angry her hands trembled. She lost her composure completely. "I've never seen such a shameless woman! Your parents have been dead for so many years. Our family will never let Yubai marry you. Since you've taken the money, don't come back! Do you think anyone has time to deal with you?"
"Aunt Gu, don't be angry. I don't want to upset you on your birthday. I'll go find Yubai now." Ji Yunhuan stood up.
Was she relying on Yubai's indulgence?
Mrs. Gu laughed contemptuously, trying to crush all her resolve.
"You think Yubai doesn't know what I'm saying to you? Even if you see him, the result will be the same. Stop wasting your effort! No one wants to be burdened. He will get tired of always taking care of you and your brother. Do you think you still deserve him now?"
Ji Yunhuan didn't stop. She left the small hall and went straight to the third floor.
Gu Yubai's room was on the third floor, which was usually off-limits to outsiders, so his room was not locked.
"Do I look good?" A delicate female voice came from inside Gu Yubai's room, freezing the smile on Ji Yunhuan's face.
Gu Yubai's distinctive, magnetic voice replied, "You look great."
His voice was warm; it was a voice she was very familiar with. He had studied broadcasting at school and was now a well-known anchor at the provincial TV station.
He had always been her pride. Now, however, he was using that warm voice to compliment another woman.
Through the open door, she saw the woman standing in front of the fitting mirror. Her graceful figure could captivate any man.
Her eyes were filled with smiles. Being spoiled by a man surely felt wonderful!
But...
Ji Yunhuan hadn't forgotten that this man was supposed to belong to her.
When she was still Ms. Ji, and when the Ji Family hadn't fallen into despair, he had spoiled her just the same. Although they now saw each other less frequently because of his work, Gu Yubai's attitude had always been gentle towards her.
However, now he was pampering another woman!
The woman standing with Gu Yubai was named Ouyang Fei, a new anchor at the provincial TV station.
She leaned towards Gu Yubai, offering her red lips. Before she was close enough, Gu Yubai already bent down to meet her lips, kissing her...
The window behind her was open, allowing the wind to blow in, and Ji Yunhuan inexplicably felt cold. She found it ridiculous that she had been hoping Gu Yubai would push the woman away, but the reality proved she was too naive!
They were so engrossed in their kiss that they didn't notice her presence.
Breaking away from the kiss, Ouyang Fei looked at Gu Yubai with happiness in her eyes and some hesitation. "What if people misunderstand us when we go out together?"
"What are you afraid of?" The recent kiss left a slight tremble in his voice.
A flash of worry crossed Ouyang Fei's eyes. "If Sister Yunhuan knows we're together, she'll definitely be angry. I'm a bit scared of her."
Since childhood, she had followed Ji Yunhuan around, hoping for even a glance from her. But Sister Yunhuan's eyes were always on her brother. She couldn't be bothered to look at anyone else.
She had to admit that back then Ji Yunhuan was proud, proud to the point of intimidation. Even though Ji Yunhuan had changed a lot now due to losing everything, and Ouyang Fei had risen to prominence, she still felt a sense of inferiority.
Gu Yubai's gentle eyes turned a bit cold. "What are you afraid of? She'll find out sooner or later."
"Aren't you afraid she'd get angry?"
"Angry? Good. I'm tired of it all too."
Ji Yunhuan felt her heart constrict, realizing that just like Mrs. Gu said, Gu Yubai was no longer the same towards her. She had been foolishly oblivious.
"But I saw you treating her well all this time," Ouyang Fei said. "Didn't you love her like crazy? Mrs. Gu has never liked her, yet you still treated her so well!"
"That was just because I didn't know how to break it to her, out of pity." It truly was pity. From a proud Ms. Ji to having nothing, it must not have been something an ordinary person could accept.
Each time he wanted to call off the engagement, he couldn't do it when he saw the trust in her eyes.
Not caring about any of this, Gu Yubai's kiss once again landed on Ouyang Fei's red lips.
Unbeknownst to him, every word he said was heard clearly by Ji Yunhuan.
Mrs. Gu appeared behind Ji Yunhuan at some point. "Did you see it all?"