Chapter 20: The True and False Heiress, Part 20

Though it was something he had long awaited, Mingxu Gu could not bring himself to feel any joy. His face was pale as he spoke words that did not come from his heart.

“If you don’t want to, then don’t force yourself,” he said gently.

Jinwei Bai did not even glance at him. “This is my choice,” she declared. “I’m willing to fulfill the engagement, but I have one condition.”

“Speak,” Mingxu Gu urged eagerly.

Jinwei Bai steadied herself before saying, “If we marry and register our marriage in the future, I want half of the Gu family’s shares.”

Her demand was undeniably bold.

Yet the elders of the Gu family nodded eagerly. “If you want them, you can have all of this worthless family’s shares, just don’t divorce later.”

Jinwei Bai glanced at Mingxu Gu’s pleading eyes and her expression softened. She reached out and gently stroked his cheek. Unexpectedly, she added, “I’m betting on this last time.”

“Are you really willing to be engaged to me? Without any trouble?” Mingxu Gu asked, his feelings tangled.

She countered, “Don’t you want it?”

“Of course I do,” he shook his head fervently. He had dreamed since childhood of marrying Jinwei Bai.

With the matter settled, everyone was delighted. Both the Bai and Gu couples smiled broadly. Only Ying Huai wore a cold expression, her thoughts unreadable.

“But…” Jinwei Bai suddenly turned her gaze to Jinnian Mu, frowning tightly. “Does the Mu family know about this engagement? Will they allow you to get engaged today?”

“My marriage is my decision alone. No one can stop me,” Jinnian Mu asserted firmly. He lowered his eyes and looked gently at Ying Huai. “Rest assured, I will never let Ying Huai be hurt.” He tentatively reached for Ying Huai’s hand; when she did not pull away, he breathed a sigh of relief.

“The guests will be arriving soon. I’ll have the venue rearranged immediately,” Bai’s father urged his wife to leave.

The Gu couple gave Mingxu Gu a few instructions and then departed. Only the four of them remained in the room.

Jinwei Bai still looked displeased as she stared at Jinnian Mu. “I hope you resolve the Mu family matters quickly, especially your brother.”

Though she said little, Jinnian Mu understood clearly. A cold light flashed in his eyes. “I understand.”

The decision was made in a few short words, but Ying Huai was far from happy. She tilted her head toward Jinnian Mu. “Are you really going to be engaged to me?”

When he nodded, her confusion deepened. “Why?”

---

Ying Huai muttered to herself, receiving no answer. Nothing was unfolding as she had anticipated. Events had slipped beyond her control, leaving her uneasy—especially seeing Jinwei Bai take his hand so freely.

“Do whatever you want without worries; the Bai family will be your backing,” she thought, calling on Little Red.

“What’s Jinwei Bai’s affection level?”

“Ninety,” Little Red replied excitedly.

Ying Huai’s expression darkened. How had it risen? Where had she gone wrong? What was truly happening?

She could not comprehend it.

Ying Huai raised her gaze to Jinwei Bai. “Don’t you hate me for coming back?”

Jinwei Bai laughed lightly. “Why would I hate you?”

“If I hadn’t returned, you’d still be the eldest lady of the Bai family, with everything belonging to you,” Ying Huai said. “Not like now, becoming the joke of the capital city.”

“I don’t care what outsiders think,” Jinwei Bai said indifferently, her expression grateful. “If it weren’t for you, I would have suffered bitterly in that house. Escaping wasn’t easy, and I owe you.”

But the novels Little Red showed her painted a different picture.

Ying Huai glanced at Little Red, who looked guilty and turned away.

“Novels are just novels; many things aren’t certain,” Little Red said.

Ying Huai withdrew her hand and replied in a muffled voice, “I understand.”

She was the villain! The great villain!

Did these people not have any awareness of this?

Annoyed, she glared at Jinnian Mu and Jinwei Bai. The two looked perplexed, exchanging puzzled glances. Especially Jinnian Mu, who thought the girl before him resembled a kitten showing its claws—cute yet fierce.

Would she think he was really scary?

The thought made him chuckle quietly.

Why was he laughing now?

Ying Huai’s anger flared and she snorted coldly.

“For this engagement banquet, the family specially hired a five-star chef and even imported a pastry chef at great expense. Won’t you try some properly?” Jinwei Bai caught Ying Huai’s attention, lifting her chin toward the nearby desserts.

---

The sweet aroma lingered at Ying Huai’s nose. She pushed all worries aside and walked over briskly.

The taste was indeed excellent!

Her eyes shone with delight as, within half an hour, she devoured half the desserts on the table.

Yet she still felt unsatisfied.

But to the onlookers, this scene was shocking.

Was she a bottomless pit? How could she eat so much?

“Has she gone centuries without being full? She just finished everything on the table.”

“Who only eats at their own engagement banquet? Is she not all there upstairs?”

Their disdainful whispers spread openly.

Someone even lowered their voice. “Did you see that? Mrs. Gu was happily holding Jinwei Bai’s hand, surely convinced Jinwei Bai would be their daughter-in-law.”

“Who in the capital doesn’t know the young master Gu follows Jinwei Bai everywhere, wishing to marry into the Bai family? After so many years of childhood friendship, how could he like Ying Huai?”

“At this engagement banquet, it seems the bride might be replaced by the end.”

Seeing Ying Huai ignore them, their words grew bolder, as if eager for her to hear.

Until Jinwei Bai casually approached.

The crowd brightened with flattering smiles.

“Miss Bai, what brings you here? Is there something you need?”

Jinwei Bai smiled slightly. “What you said is correct. The one engaged to the Gu family today is indeed me.”

Hearing this, their proud smiles deepened.

“I knew it. How could the Gu family like Ying Huai? Blood ties mean nothing. Everyone knows how outstanding Miss Bai is.”

“Exactly. You and young master Gu have years of feelings. How could she steal that away?”

Jinwei Bai’s smile deepened as she pointed toward Jinnian Mu.

He was carrying a tray, searching the room for Ying Huai’s favorite flavors, walking toward her with a smile.

His striking appearance naturally drew all eyes, but in his gaze, there was only one person.

He lowered his head, his eyes full of tenderness, reaching out to wipe the corner of Ying Huai’s mouth.

“You’ve eaten so much. Won’t your stomach hurt?”

He had wanted to ask for a long time.

Ying Huai shook her head and continued her feast. She was in a foul mood and needed to vent.

“Do you know who that man is?” Jinwei Bai asked cheerfully.

Seeing their confused looks, she explained, “He is the one engaged to my sister today.”

“He is also Jinnian Mu, the young master of the Mu family.”