Chapter 7: The Betrothal Is Off

Dad, I’m serious. Either I don’t marry at all, or I marry Young Master Murong.

After saying this, Lin Yaoyao turned and gazed at Murong Tian with tender affection.

Lin Yaoyao’s acting might fool other people, but Murong Tian could see her little scheme clearly. To put it simply, she didn’t want to get married and was using him as a shield.

Murong Tian leaned close to her ear and said, “That’s enough.”

Lin Yaoyao nodded obediently. So far, Murong Tian showed no intention of exposing her, and that was enough.

In other people’s eyes, the conversation between Lin Yaoyao and Murong Tian looked like sweet whispers between young lovers. The two were a perfect pair, with the man willing and the woman eager.

“The treasure appraisal gathering is over. Thank you all for participating. I have prepared some light refreshments. Please move to the side hall to enjoy them.”

Because Lin Yaoyao had caused such a scene, today’s betrothal was definitely off. Lin Xuanzhong could only dismiss the crowd and settle the matter behind closed doors.

After the crowd dispersed, only the Lin and Bai families remained below the stage.

Most of them stared at Lin Yaoyao with hatred. She was the culprit who had ruined the alliance between the Lin and Bai families. The Bai people in particular wished they could devour her alive.

Seeing this, Lin Yaoyao knew a tough fight was coming. She quietly let go of Murong Tian’s arm.

‘Better let this “King of Hell” leave first, so that if I go too far, he won’t step in and expose me.’

“Young Master Murong, this doesn’t concern you. Why don’t you leave first?”

Murong Tian stood still, not moving at all, seemingly with no intention of leaving.

Lin Yaoyao was exasperated. ‘Is this guy planning to stay and watch the show? What if something goes wrong?’

At the critical moment, Second Brother Lin Changzhou came up and dragged Murong Tian away, asking him to go play cuju outside. Murong Tian couldn’t refuse, so he agreed.

As he walked, Lin Changzhou cheered, “Once Iron Face and Yaoyao get married, a little baby will come soon!”

Lin Yaoyao broke into a sweat. ‘My dear second brother, thank you so much. You’re even better at making things up than I am.’

Many gazes fell on Lin Yaoyao’s belly. She instinctively covered her stomach, feeling a bit guilty.

‘Good heavens, the plot is moving way too fast!’

“Lin Yaoyao, do you have no sense of shame? You’ve completely disgraced the Lin family today.”

Second Uncle Lin Xuanyi was the first to attack, as if he was about to hold a “trial” for Lin Yaoyao.

“Second Brother, that’s too harsh. Little Five hasn’t done anything outrageous. Besides, whether the Lin family has any face isn’t up to Little Five.”

Lin Yaoyao had thought she’d have to argue with everyone alone, but she hadn’t expected Lin Xuanzhong to step forward and defend her.

It felt good to have someone on her side.

“Patriarch Lin, don’t you owe the Bai family an explanation for today?”

Bai Ruosu demanded coldly. Lin Xuanzhong bowed and apologized to the Bai family.

“The Lin and Bai families have been close for generations, and we wished to form a marriage alliance. But fate cannot be forced. My daughter is willful and unworthy of your Second Young Master. Since the betrothal was not made public today, let the marriage between our families be called off.”

“Breaking our promise today is the Lin family’s fault. I will prepare a modest gift and personally come to your door to apologize another day.”

Lin Xuanzhong truly deserved to be the patriarch. His words were flawless.

Lin Yaoyao silently gave the old man a thumbs-up. ‘Well done.’

Lin Xuanzhong’s attitude was sincere, so Bai Ruosu couldn’t find any fault. She could only say indignantly,

“Patriarch Lin, remember your words today. If Lin Yaoyao ever wants to marry into the Bai family, she must kowtow three times and kneel nine times, all the way to my family’s door. Otherwise, she’ll never get in.”

‘Three kowtows and nine kneelings? Dream on. Did the Bai family think Lin Yaoyao was still the same infatuated fool?’

“Don’t worry, that day will never come. I couldn’t possibly reach high enough for Young Master Bai!”

After the Bai family left, several elders of the Lin family accused Lin Xuanzhong of failing to teach his daughter, saying that as a Lin, he had ignored the family’s interests.

A marriage between the Lin and Bai families would benefit both sides enormously. Their resources could be deeply intertwined, strengthening both families’ power.

“Little Five is a person, not an object. I, Lin Xuanzhong, will never sell my daughter for glory.”

Lin Xuanzhong craned his neck and argued with the uncles and elders, like a lone hero.

Lin Yaoyao’s nose stung, and her eyes turned red. Even in her previous life, her father had never defended her like this.

“Yaoyao can marry whoever she wants, as long as she’s happy.”

“That’s right! Listen to Yaoyao, cough, cough…”

Big Brother Lin Qingshan sat in his wheelchair. His voice was low but firm.

Fourth Brother Lin Xiaotian, frail with illness, softly agreed.

Lin Feiyuan was not so good-tempered. He went straight into a string of nonsense.

“Yaoyao’s marriage is none of your business, you old fogies! If you want to marry into the Bai family, go marry them yourselves!”

The whole family was standing up for her. Lin Yaoyao was a little moved.

“Uncles and elders, I have no feelings for Young Master Bai, and he has none for me. If we marry, resentment will grow between us, and we’ll become a pair of bitter spouses. As time passes and the relationship sours, the two families will end up enemies instead of in-laws.”

There was some truth to her words. The uncles had watched Lin Yaoyao grow up. She was arrogant, headstrong, and reckless. If they forced her to marry, she’d probably stir up so much trouble that both families would be turned upside down.

Sigh. They could only blame Lin Xuanzhong for failing to discipline his daughter. In the end, the elders still placed the blame on him.

“The person I’m going to marry is the young master of the Murong family. Do you think the Murong family is inferior to the Bai family?”

Lin Yaoyao questioned the old fogies one after another, and they fell silent.

The Murong family’s power went without saying. If the Lin family could marry into it, they would jump straight to becoming the head of the four great families in the Tian Du Kingdom.

Who could have imagined that this useless Lin Yaoyao would have a connection with the “Ghost-Faced Yama” Murong Tian?

“Uncles, elders, you should be grateful that the Lin family has a daughter like me. You should all be supporting me marrying into the Murong family.”

Before Lin Yaoyao finished speaking, Lin Xuanzhong said in a muffled voice, “I oppose this! You can’t marry Murong Tian!”

‘What’s going on? The old man is the one objecting?’

“Little Five, the Murong family members all have short lives. If you marry him, you’ll probably spend the rest of your life as a widow.”

Lin Yaoyao laughed. She had chosen Murong Tian precisely because he was short-lived.

‘Once Murong Tian dies, his property and power will all be mine. If I give birth to a child, then my child will be the future patriarch of the Murong family. In the Tian Du Kingdom, that’s second only to the emperor, above everyone else.’

Hearing this, Lin Xuanzhong grew even more anxious. How could his daughter trade her lifelong happiness for wealth and status?

“Little Five, you can’t marry someone you don’t love just for money and position. I only hope you can find a good man who truly loves you, protects you, and is worthy of your trust for life.”

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