31: Chapter 31 You Are My Moonlight: The Substitute Male Supporting Character 30

What should she do?

Would Old Master Su demand they divorce immediately?

What could she do to make Old Master Su accept Meng Zhu?

While lost in these wandering thoughts, Su Qingxue took the opportunity to glance sideways, secretly observing Old Master Su's expression.

To everyone's surprise, however, Old Master Su remained calm and showed no reaction at all.

Seeing that Old Master Su did not want to discuss the matter, both Gu Qingyan and Su Qingxue had to keep quiet.

The atmosphere became very awkward for a moment.

But in the blink of an eye, the elders from both families continued chatting among themselves.

The expression on Gu Qingyan's face shifted from awkwardness to rigidity.

This was once again different from what he had anticipated.

He couldn't understand why Old Master Su wasn't getting angry.

In a daze, he didn't even listen to what business collaborations the two elders discussed afterward.

Until the two elders finished their discussion, and even after they had finished dinner, the event he had anticipated still did not happen.

A person like Old Master Su would not avoid anything; it seemed as if he simply didn't care to acknowledge it.

Sure enough, at the time of departure, Old Master Su squinted his eyes and looked at Gu Qingyan indifferently.

"Qingyan, this old man is already old. Over these years, Su Qingxue has been very capable, and she has managed the company's affairs well. As for her romantic matters, I have decided not to interfere anymore."

After saying this, Old Master Su turned around and went into the house. Standing at the doorway, Gu Qingyan remained silent, his expression extremely unpleasant.

The greatest trump card he had originally counted on had completely failed.

"Let's go."

"Grandfather."

The Old Master of the Gu Family shook his head and sighed.

"Qingyan, you were too impulsive today."

In the backseat of the car, Gu Qingyan turned his head to look at his grandfather, who had his eyes closed to rest.

"Grandfather, this is completely different from what I thought."

"Of course it's different. Nowadays, young people resist arranged marriages and detest the orders of parents and the agreements of marriage contracts. We can actually understand all of this."

"Young people often say that we are too feudal and pedantic, treating marriage as a bargaining chip. Although you are steady and self-restrained, you don't dislike cooperative marriages. In fact, because you have good feelings for Su Qingxue, you were quite willing to cultivate feelings after marriage, right?"

Gu Qingyan clenched his fists and gave a soft grunt of affirmation. The Old Master of the Gu Family sighed again.

"It's a pity. Your behavior today was too rash. Your perspective on arranged marriage is different from that of Old Master Su."

"Like us old fossils of this generation, although we uphold our great families and cling to old ideas, we also treat marriage as a bargaining chip."

"However, this bargaining chip should be the icing on the cake; it must never be a chip used for threats and schemes."

Threats and schemes?

Almost in an instant, Gu Qingyan's face turned deathly pale, and a chill ran down his spine. His brain, which had navigated the business world so skillfully, finally understood what a foolish thing he had done today.

The Old Master of the Gu Family opened his eyes and looked at him steadily.

"With your actions today, even if Old Master Su insists on Su Qingxue entering an arranged marriage, you will definitely no longer be among the candidates."

After saying this, the Old Master of the Gu Family closed his eyes again and said nothing more.

After a moment of thought, Gu Qingyan understood everything. He had invested too many schemes into this relationship, or rather, into this arranged marriage.

An arranged marriage can be based on interests, but it can only be the icing on the cake; that way, both the interests and the marriage can last long.

Too many schemes create cracks that can never be smoothed over. Sooner or later, they will erupt, and by then, not only will the marriage be broken, but interests will also be damaged.

The heads of the great families of the older generation are all shrewd and far-sighted. This time, Gu Qingyan was truly out of the running.

On the other side, Su Qingxue was heading to the study with her grandfather.

At this moment, she felt uneasy, and her thoughts were in complete disarray.

As soon as she sat down, she couldn't wait to ask: "Grandfather, when did you find out that Meng Zhu and I were in a contractual marriage?"

Old Master Su poured himself a cup of tea, unhurried. "I knew from the very beginning."

Su Qingxue was incredibly sharp; after a moment of silence, she understood.

"It was Meng Zhu who told you himself, wasn't it?"

"Meng Zhu laid his cards on the table with you from the start. No wonder you accepted him so easily."

"Is that so?" Old Master Su gave a meaningful smile, neither confirming nor denying.

"Do you think just anyone can enter into a contractual marriage with my granddaughter?"

"Or do you think that this old man has become muddled and would let you fool me by just finding anyone?"

"Grandfather, what… what do you mean?"

Old Master Su took a sip of tea, his tone laced with a bit of disdain.

"For these past years, I have been keeping an eye on Meng Zhu. As for you, it seems you know very little about your husband."

"I…" Su Qingxue was momentarily speechless, unable to find words.

"It seems I was right." Old Master Su shook his head.

"Gu Qingyan said that you and Meng Zhu have developed real feelings, but I don't think so."

"You lack understanding of him, and you don't know how to date. From childhood to adulthood, I only taught you business tactics."

"I will keep my word regarding your relationship; I don't intend to interfere anymore. However, whether you two will succeed or not is not certain."

Su Qingxue just wanted to retort, but was stopped by Old Master Su raising his hand.

"Don't make big claims just yet. Based on my experience, I can tell you clearly that Meng Zhu is a man with extremely deep emotions in his bones. It might be easy to gain his affection, but it is very difficult to gain his love."

Seeing the look on Su Qingxue's face, she still seemed somewhat unconvinced. Old Master Su glanced at her sideways.

"I know what you are thinking. You think that you have mutual affection, and you feel that you have even married and are living under the same roof."

"You think that by living together for a long time, even if he doesn't love you now, he will sooner or later, right!"

Su Qingxue didn't answer, but she subconsciously nodded slightly.

But Old Master Su shook his head instead and said no more. Sometimes, people cannot be taught by others.

"You currently seem to have mutual affection and your relationship is warming up, but the more it is like this, if something goes wrong, it will backfire, and there will be no possibility left. In any case, you must take care of yourself."

After saying this last sentence, Old Master Su stood up, leaned on his cane, and left the study, clearly intending to go rest.

From childhood to adulthood, Old Master Su had taught Su Qingxue many things. She couldn't fully agree with what he said today, but she kept it in her heart nonetheless.

After pondering for a moment, she returned to her room. After taking out her phone to charge it, she found the housekeeper.

"Miss, I have already spoken to Meng Zhu as you instructed."

"Mm, did Meng Zhu have any instructions?"

"Uh… no, Meng Zhu just said that he understood what you meant and told you not to worry."

Su Qingxue frowned; she always felt that this sounded a bit strange. But she didn't think too much about it.

Back in her room, the phone had turned on and had five percent battery. She picked it up and immediately called Meng Zhu.

"Sorry, the number you have dialed is powered off."

It was already midnight, and it was highly likely that Meng Zhu had gone to sleep, but why was his phone turned off?

She sent two WeChat messages, but there was no reply either.

A faint feeling of unease welled up in her heart. But after thinking it over, she didn't feel like anything could be wrong.

"Hello, sorry, Auntie Wang, to disturb you so late."

"It's fine, Miss. Is there anything you need?"

"It's like this: did Meng Zhu come home today?"

"He did, Miss. I happened to see Meng Zhu entering the residential compound when I was getting off work. Did something happen?"

Su Qingxue breathed a sigh of relief; it seemed he had just gone to sleep.

"It's nothing, Meng Zhu's phone is off; he probably forgot to charge it. Thank you, Auntie Wang."

Hanging up the phone, Su Qingxue calmed the unease in her heart and prepared to stay the night at The Old Mansion before returning the next morning.

Little did she know that at this moment, countless viewers were watching her, clamoring, each one wishing they could rush into the screen, grab her by the ears, and tell her to go home.