Meeting Zhou Yi at Zhou Cheng’s house yesterday and outside the elderly couple’s residence today seemed more than coincidental. Yesterday might have been a chance, but today felt deliberate – Zhou Yi must have known Xia Xiaolan would come.

Was she intentionally creating opportunities to meet?

Xia Xiaolan didn’t want to beat around the bush with Zhou Yi – it was already 8 PM, and she wanted to get back to school quickly.

Zhou Yi gritted her teeth – how could Xia Xiaolan be so direct? Not even giving her a chance to ease into the conversation, being this straightforward made things so awkward!

This annoying person even rushed her:

“Are you all right? If you’re fine, just rest here until your legs aren’t numb anymore. I need to head back.”

Zhou Yi anxiously grabbed Xia Xiaolan’s arm: “Wait, I do have something. Let me gather my thoughts about how to say it.”

Xia Xiaolan thought about the evening dormitory inspection. “Let’s walk and talk, I need to get back to school.”

As she started walking, Zhou Yi had no choice but to limp along.

After walking for a while, Zhou Yi remained silent. Xia Xiaolan didn’t press her, but eventually, Zhou Yi couldn’t hold back anymore. There was nothing new under the sun – Miss Zhou was now in the same situation as Tong Lili. After drifting through life until her twenties without career aspirations or achievements, her family decided it was time to arrange marriage meetings.

Tong Lili’s family had initially arranged for her to meet Shao Guangrong.

Both families knew each other well and were of equal social standing. The Shao and Tong families were mutually satisfied.

As for the young people’s opinions?

How could young people have any opinions? Today’s youth had it too easy, that’s why they were so picky. In earlier years, many comrades had their marriages arranged by the organization.

What did it matter if Tong Lili liked Zhou Cheng? If Zhou Cheng had liked her back, everyone would have been happy, but Zhou Cheng found his partner, leaving Tong Lili to watch helplessly.

Her opinion didn’t count, and she had to obediently meet with Shao Guangrong.

Who knew Shao Guangrong would run faster than a rabbit, saying he wanted to pursue further studies and didn’t want to marry in the next few years?

The Shao family couldn’t overcome Shao Guangrong’s passive resistance, so the arranged meeting between him and Tong Lili came to nothing.

“Tong Lili is seeing someone else now. They’re dating,” Zhou Yi said absent-mindedly.

Xia Xiaolan responded with an “Oh,” then added, “Well, best wishes to Miss Tong. I’m not interested in her affairs.”

Xia Xiaolan felt this was a waste of time. She truly didn’t care about Tong Lili, and if Zhou Yi wasn’t Zhou Cheng’s cousin, she would have left her behind.

Zhou Yi could hear the perfunctory tone in Xia Xiaolan’s voice. Though Zhou Yi had her pride and wanted to leave… this thought disappeared as quickly as it came. After being put in her place by Xia Xiaolan several times, she had grown accustomed to yielding to her.

Besides, for this matter, she felt she could only consult Xia Xiaolan, as among all the people she knew, Xia Xiaolan had the most experience.

Needing help, Zhou Yi had to humble herself:

“Tong Lili and I aren’t that close anymore. I’m not saying this to gain favor – we just couldn’t see eye to eye, so naturally drifted apart. What I mean is, that even with Tong Lili’s strong personality, she couldn’t change her family’s mind. If I want to resist my family, do I have any hope?”

Xia Xiaolan contemplated this.

“Sister Zhou Yi, have you found someone?”

Under the streetlight, Zhou Yi’s expression was quite uncomfortable, but wanting Xia Xiaolan’s advice, she nodded.

“I’m seeing someone, but I feel my family won’t approve. I’m not like Zhou Cheng – Grandpa and grandma have always favored him, and his Second Uncle values his opinion, so the family can’t control what kind of partner Zhou Cheng chooses… But it’s different for me. Nobody listens to what I say.”

Zhou Yi must have been somewhat panicked, as her words weren’t entirely thoughtful.

The family can’t control what kind of partner Zhou Cheng chooses.

Xia Xiaolan touched her nose – she hadn’t brought any shame to Zhou Cheng, what reason did the Zhou family have to object?

“You’ve got the cause and effect wrong. Shao Guangrong not wanting to date Tong Lili, and Zhou Cheng wanting to date me – these two situations are the same. Whoever has the ability has the right to speak!”

So why would family members object? If they’re worried about family opposition, either the chosen partner truly isn’t presentable, or they’ve always given their family the impression of being unreliable.

Xia Xiaolan didn’t know which case applied to Zhou Yi – perhaps both – but the principle remained the same: without putting in effort yourself, you won’t even have the right to choose your own marriage!

Could Zhou Yi defy her family? She just coasted through her job, earned enough only for herself, and relied on her parents for her comfortable lifestyle in a big house.

She disagreed with her parents’ arranged matches and insisted on choosing her own.

Fine, but first become financially independent!

If Zhou Yi’s parents stopped supporting her, her salary would barely be enough to survive. Just survive – not living comfortably enough to go shopping and dine out with friends regularly.

Harsh truths are never pleasant to hear. Zhou Yi’s face alternated between pale and flushed as Xia Xiaolan spoke.

“I thought you’d at least suggest meeting my partner first…”

Xia Xiaolan stopped walking. “Then what? Once I meet them, I’d have to see it through. You think because Grandfather and Grandmother Zhou favor Zhou Cheng and by extension like me, you can get me to take the fall? Hoping I’d be moved by your unconventional love story and rush to help you?”

What a beautiful fantasy.

Well, sorry to disappoint, but CEO Xia’s heart could be quite hard sometimes, and she never played the fool.

“The world doesn’t revolve around any one person. Your love might be unique, but you need to defend it yourself. If you want to change yourself, I’m willing to give you advice. But if you want to contribute nothing while having me lead the charge, then don’t bother asking… My love isn’t worth less than yours. Zhou Cheng and I are doing well, why should I jump in and make the Zhou family dislike me?”

Xia Xiaolan pointed to the bus stop – she could still catch the last bus back to school.

Zhou Yi stood there dumbfounded, as Xia Xiaolan mercilessly exposed her little scheme. She could only watch as Xia Xiaolan left.

How could Xia Xiaolan be like this? Her reaction was completely different from what Zhou Yi had expected!

She had thought that after complimenting Xia Xiaolan a bit, she would take the lead for her. Who knew that before she could even give her compliments, Xia Xiaolan would see right through her?

Then Xia Xiaolan directly stated she wouldn’t get involved!

Zhou Yi bit her lip.

Without Xia Xiaolan’s help, what should she do?

Was there no hope?

Perhaps, as Xia Xiaolan said, she had to defend it herself.

Zhou Yi thought about defying her whole family and felt scared before even taking the first step.

Hadn’t Tong Lili failed to resist too? What made her think she could succeed?

…

On the swaying bus, Xia Xiaolan yawned. That drama queen Zhou Yi, actually trying to play pitiful to set her up!

Who knows what kind of partner she found, not even having the courage to bring them home, yet trying to trick Xia Xiaolan into taking the fall. How was this something Xia Xiaolan could handle? She wasn’t that close to Zhou Yi, why should she stand on the same side?

Even if Zhou Yi’s partner wasn’t that bad, while others might not mind Xia Xiaolan’s forceful intervention, Zhou Yi’s mother would surely hate her.

“Is ‘easy to fool’ written on my face?”

The last person who tried to trick Xia Xiaolan – the grass on their grave might be two meters tall by now!