BXBX NOVEL Chapter 283 - Two-Hundred and Eighty- Three: Strategy
Xi Cheng opened his mouth but didn’t know what to say. In the end, he couldn’t say a word. Lin Yu let out a soft sigh and gave him a tearful and bitter smile. “Xi Cheng, I’m sorry. Although it wasn’t my intention to seek out Miss Fang Xi, and it was Auntie who asked me to go with her to learn how to be a matriarch, I’m still an accomplice, aren’t I?”
Fang Xi, and it was Auntie who asked me to go with her to learn how to be a matriarch, I’m still an accomplice, aren’t I?”
Lin Yu added, “I’m sorry for hurting her. I’ll definitely personally apologize to her if I get the chance. She’s such a fine young woman. If things were different… maybe we could’ve been friends.”
Xi Cheng’s expression softened. Lin Yu then covered her mouth with her hand and started to cry. “But I never expected you to also have feelings for Gu Man! She’s my best friend! She even asked us to introduce Shi Nian to her, but it all turned out to be fake. The one she truly likes is you!”
“*Sobs* Xi Cheng, why don’t we break up? I’ll give my position as your fiancée so, so you and Gu Man can be together! *Cough* *cough* *cough*” Lin Yu cried so hard that she started to cough violently.
Xi Cheng quickly patted her back and said anxiously, “That’s nonsense; there’s nothing between Gu Man and me. Things are impossible between us! I know she’s Mom’s goddaughter and your best friend, so how could I have any intentions towards her?”
Lin Yu stopped coughing, took the opportunity to hold Xi Cheng’s hand, and glanced up at him in disbelief. Seeing this, Xi Cheng hastily continued, “I’m telling the truth! I really don’t have any feelings for Gu Man! I drank too much yesterday and don’t know what I did at all. It was a maid who just told me that —that I’d imposed myself on her. I’m sorry! I was completely drunk, I swear!”
Xi Cheng looked quite chagrined. Lin Yu could never bear to see Xi Cheng uncomfortable and immediately relaxed her attitude. However, she still couldn’t help but ask softly, “Really? You aren’t lying to me?”
Xi Cheng nodded earnestly. “I swear to God, it’s true!”
Hearing that, Lin Yu completely relaxed and laid back on her pillow with Xi Cheng’s help, staring at Xi Cheng with an aggrieved expression.
Xi Cheng hated himself for not remembering anything that had happened last night, but from his conversation with the maid and Lin Yu, he already realized that he’d made a very serious mistake. Now, he could only sit down and bite the bullet, hoping to get the full picture from Lin Yu.
Lin Yu reached for the glass of water at her bedside. Xi Cheng quickly took it and inserted a straw before handing it to Lin Yu. He couldn’t help but feel sorry for her as he watched her gulp down the large glass of water, knowing she was that thirsty because of her fever.
Feeling more refreshed after drinking some water, Lin Yu let out a long sigh and looked at Xi Cheng with pity. “If you don’t have any intentions toward Gu Man, I’ll go and apologize to Gu Man on your behalf and give our two families an out.”
Xi Cheng frowned. “I’m the one at fault, so naturally I’ll take responsibility for it. I’ll go to the Gu family and apologize to her myself.”
Lin Yu glared at him without any heat and sighed, “You can’t!” Xi Cheng didn’t understand why and looked at Lin Yu in confusion.
Lin Yu explained, “If I’m the one who goes to apologize, it’ll be a matter between us women and won’t escalate further. But it’ll be different if you go. What will you do if they cry, make a fuss, and demand you marry Gu Man? Are you going to marry her?”
Lin Yu stared at Xi Cheng. Xi Cheng obviously hadn’t thought about that and was dumbfounded. Lin Yu continued, “Even if you’re willing to compromise and marry Gu Man, you’ll have shamed the Xi family. The Gu family can use this infraction to restrain you and your family in the future.”
“The Gu family is moving their sights to Rong City right now. They have their eyes on us, the four big families, and are doing everything they can to get close to us, especially Gu Man’s side of the family. Gu Man is just a daughter from an insignificant branch of the family, but her aunt took her in and raised her so that they could use Gu Man’s looks to gain a marriage alliance with an influential family.”
“In other words, they can’t wait for you to break up with me so that Gu Man can take my place. That way, they can gradually infiltrate the Xi family. If you don’t believe me, you can investigate what situation the Gu sisters’ in-laws are in,” Lin Yu finished.
Xi Cheng was shocked. Indeed, he’d never paid attention to these things. However, after listening to Lin Yu’s explanation, he immediately went through the situation of the Gu family and their in-laws in his mind. Even if the Gu family’s base was in White City, it was truly a little scary to think about it from the point of view Lin Yu suggested.
Lin Yu knew Xi Cheng had taken her words to heart. She sighed softly, “Even you guys didn’t notice these things, so it’s impossible for me to see through them myself. I only thought from this angle because I’ve had a few gatherings with the Gu sisters and got some clues from listening to their conversations..”