NOVEL WEB Chapter 156: The protagonist appears, the heroine’s resistance
Gu Wanyu’s gaze was fixed on Lin Xiaoya, and she was indeed satisfied with Lin Xiaoya’s appearance.
“Aunt Gu,” Lin Xiaoya said, feeling uneasy under Gu Wanyu’s scrutinizing gaze.
“Xiaoya, aren’t you going to offer a toast?” Lin Yue reminded her.
“There’s no need for a toast, just pour me a cup of tea,” Gu Wanyu said lightly.
“Mr. Lin, after this engagement, why don’t we have her stay at our Li family’s home?” Gu Wanyu suggested.
“Isn’t that a bit too soon?” Lin Yue hesitated, and Lin Xiaoya internally disagreed as well. Just engaged and already moving into the Li family’s home?
“It’s not too soon. It’s settled then,” Gu Wanyu stated firmly, her tone allowing no room for refusal.
Seeing this, Lin Xiaoya looked to Lin Yue, hoping he would intervene on her behalf, but he remained silent, unable to meet Lin Xiaoya’s eyes. With the Lin family in a weaker position in this alliance, and with Gu Wanyu’s assertive statement, it was clear that refusal was not an option.
Lin Yue dared not offend Gu Wanyu. The Lin family was already in trouble, and upsetting the Li family could spell disaster.
Lin Yue did care about Lin Xiaoya, but in his heart, the family’s interests were indeed more important than hers, so between the two, he chose the family.
“I’m not willing.”
As the heroine, she also had her own opinions. Although she was persuaded by Lin Yue before, it did not mean she would compromise at this moment.
“You say you’re not willing?”
Gu Wanyu’s gaze fixed on Lin Xiaoya, her aura as the head of the Li family radiating authority.
However, Lin Xiaoya stubbornly met Gu Wanyu’s gaze without backing down. She did not back down, but Lin Yue knew trouble was brewing. This was a direct affront to the Li family.
“Xiaoya, shut up. You don’t get a say in this,” Lin Yue stood up and scolded Lin Xiaoya.
Facing her father’s scolding, Lin Xiaoya did not look at him.
“You can rest assured, I won’t let Li Qiwen do anything to you. He wouldn’t dare to, either. Just agree to live in the Li house, and I will help your Lin family resolve the current troubles,” Gu Wanyu told Lin Xiaoya.
This was following Chen Luo’s instructions to lure Lin Xiaoya to the Li family first.
Lin Xiaoya’s gaze flickered, unsure whether to trust Gu Wanyu’s words. Who knew if Gu Wanyu was deceiving her?
Suddenly, the door was kicked open, and a young man whose appearance did not fit in with the others walked in, a toothpick dangling from his mouth, looking carefree.
Following him was an elder who was all too familiar to the Lin family.
“Dad, weren’t you still bedridden?” Lin Yue was shocked to see his father.
“Hmph, you must wish I were dead,” Lin Chengwang, the patriarch of the Lin family, said angrily.
“No, Dad, I didn’t mean that. It’s just that your illness was very serious, isn’t it? Are you better now?”
He certainly didn’t wish for his father’s death. The Lin family was more likely to get through the crisis with the old man alive.
Lin Yue was shocked by his father’s condition, who had been bedridden before but now looked no different from a healthy person.
“My illness was cured, thanks to Su Han.”
Lin Chengwang looked at Su Han with gratitude.
“He cured your illness?”
Lin Yue’s gaze shifted to Su Han, his brows slightly furrowing. The somewhat shabby clothing and carefree demeanor displeased him, especially the faint arrogance in his expression.
A young man curing his father was something Lin Yue found hard to believe.
“I have something to ask you. Why did you arrange an engagement for Xiaoya behind my back, without knowing she was already betrothed?”
He had hurried here as soon as his condition improved, precisely because he had learned about the planned alliance with the Li family.
When Lin Chengwang found out, he was nearly infuriated to death, thinking it was a foolish trade—losing a watermelon to pick up a sesame seed.
For Lin Chengwang, aligning with Su, the divine doctor, was far more advantageous than allying with the Li family. He knew Su’s capabilities. Even the combined might of the four great families in Magic City could not compare to Su.
Moreover, Su’s disciple indeed had great skills. Lin Chengwang had thought he was on his deathbed, only for his illness to be cured by a few of the disciple’s acupuncture needles.
“Dad, I absolutely do not recognize that betrothal agreement, ” Lin Yue spoke, signaling to Lin Chengwang while being cautious of the Li family’s presence.
If they knew Lin Xiaoya had another engagement, they would certainly feel played by the Lin family.
“The head of the Lin family is me, not you. Xiaoya, come here and meet your true fiancé,” Lin Chengwang called to Lin Xiaoya and then pointed to Su Han beside him.
Su Han looked at Lin Xiaoya with intense interest. Having spent many years on the mountain with few opportunities to descend, even a sow would seem graceful to him, let alone the beautiful Lin Xiaoya.
“This marriage must be acknowledged.”
After seeing Lin Xiaoya in person, Su Han decided to honor the marriage arrangement. The old man really looked after him. Su Han felt like embracing his master and giving him a few kisses. He vowed to take good care of his master in the future.
Lin Xiaoya frowned deeply, giving Su Han a look filled with resistance. She did not like Su Han. Although he was somewhat handsome, his gaze made Lin Xiaoya feel disgusted.
Such main characters from clichéd stories always behaved pitifully, acting as if they had never seen a woman before upon seeing a beauty, which immediately left a bad impression on the female lead.
Moreover, Lin Xiaoya’s personality meant she did not want others dictating her life. Whether it was the Li family or Su Han, she was filled with resistance.
“Lin Yue, maybe we should discuss this matter properly.” Gu Wanyu’s gaze was cold.
Although Gu Wanyu was told by Chen Luo that Lin Xiaoya indeed had another fiancé, she was still very angry at this moment. She was about to help her little man secure Lin Xiaoya, but this critical moment was ruined.
How could she not be furious?
“This… this matter…”
Lin Yue was in a difficult position, unsure of how to explain. A poor explanation could offend the Li family, so Lin Yue steeled himself, knowing he had only one path to follow now. His father was also foolish, insisting on marrying Lin Xiaoya to a disciple of a traditional doctor. Lin Yue did not think highly of this Su Han.
“Director Gu, I can explain this matter. The previous engagement was arranged by my father, and I do not recognize it, so our families’ alliance can continue,” Lin Yue hurriedly explained to Gu Wan Yu.
Su Han looked very upset. He had not expected to face the situation of his fiancée being taken away just after coming down from the mountain, and he certainly could not tolerate it. Moreover, Su Han had taken a liking to Lin Xiaoya and would not allow her to be taken away.
“You unfilial son, what are you talking about?” Lin Chengwang was furious, glaring angrily at Lin Yue.
“The Lin family never intended to form an alliance with the Li family. This was our mistake, I’m sorry. Xiaoya, let’s go back.”
With a grim face, Lin Chengwang apologized to the Li family and then turned to Lin Xiaoya.
The faces of the Li family members were also unpleasant. Were they being publicly humiliated today? The Lin family dared to play them like this.