The handsome guy next door loves to flirt.

But who should we invite? These large family gatherings are usually attended by the wealthy and powerful. I thought about it and decided to invite Aruo. She's the one I trust the most, and the Gu family wouldn't dare stop her. With that thought, I picked up Xu Ruo's phone and dialed.

The phone rang for a long time before Xu Ruo groggily answered, "Ah Shu, what's up?" She was so sleepy; it was only a few minutes past the hour and Ah Shu was already calling.

"Ah Ruo! It's almost nine o'clock, and you're still curled up in bed. Only someone like you who doesn't have a job can be this comfortable." He sighed, rubbing his forehead. It would be hard to find someone in the entire South City who lived such a leisurely life as Xu Ruo. She didn't strive for a career, didn't chase after boyfriends, wasn't short of money, and lived her life however she wanted.

"Sigh! I don't know what's wrong with me lately, I always feel sleepy, even though I haven't been doing anything. I'm wondering if I'm going through menopause early!"

"What nonsense are you talking about? You're not overindulging in sex, are you? Don't exhaust your Dr. Chen!" Yun Shu teased.

"No! He just came back from abroad a while ago and is very busy. I wouldn't dare to bother him." Mingyuan went abroad for an exchange program a few days ago, so Xu Ruo was not lying.

"Don't stay up late playing games at night, it's bad for your skin. Anyway... let's get down to business. Come to my house before 6 pm, it's Gu Cheng's birthday. Oh, and bring two cars in low-key colors so you can take me with you when you leave. I have to leave the Gu family tonight," Yun Shu said firmly.

"Ah Shu, have you thought it through? Do you really want to run away and elope with Brother Kun?" Xu Ruo perked up immediately when she heard Yun Shu say this. How exciting! Finally, these two have figured it out and can elope.

"Hey! You're overthinking it. What will happen to Mingkun's parents if we leave? We can't be a burden to them! I just want to get some fresh air. I've been stuck here at the Gu family's for days, I'm going to go crazy. I suspect that if I stay locked up like this any longer, I'll have a mental breakdown sooner or later," Yun Shu said helplessly.

“Okay! Mission received. I will definitely be at the Gu family's house before six o'clock,” Xu Ruo replied solemnly.

"Thank you, Aruo. If only you were a man, I would marry you!"

"No! Brother Kun will kill me! By the way, did Brother Kun call you? Has he tried anything?"

“He calls every night before bed. He says he talked to Gu Cheng and got him to agree to our marriage, but Gu Cheng refused. Also, Huai Nan’s mother forced him to sign divorce papers yesterday, Aruo. So I really want to see him. Actually, he’s under just as much pressure as I am. They’re putting him under pressure step by step. I really don’t know how much longer I can hold on…”

She hated the Gu and Sheng families to the core, and they kept pressing her. If she refused to marry Huainan, she would use the other side to blackmail Mingkun.

"Hey, those people are so unbelievable. Isn't Brother Kun good enough? Your old man's standards are too high. By the way, what about that Sheng Huainan? Your old man thinks so highly of him."

"It has nothing to do with Huainan. I told him about Mingkun and me, and he agreed not to get engaged to me. It's his mother who was sent down to our area before and knows my mother. She insists that I marry her son. The Gu family can benefit from this, and the Sheng family has someone who can help Gu Cheng in his career. Moreover, the Sheng family promised the Gu family a child. That's why the two families are united by marriage. But in the end, I am the one who is sacrificed. What's even more outrageous is that Huainan's mother refuses to give the Gu family another daughter to marry Huainan. I think Yunhuan and Yunle both like Huainan, but Huainan doesn't even look at them."

"Tch! Those two silly women also want to marry into the Sheng family, especially that Yun Huan, she's really shameless! But Ah Shu, Sheng Huainan is incredibly ugly and has health problems, that's why the Sheng family agreed to the marriage."

“Huainan isn’t ugly, just like your Mingyuan. It’s just that he has a heart condition, but it’s acquired, so it’s not a big problem.”

"No wonder! I thought Old Man Gu was only after profit. If there were no benefit, why would he insist on marrying you into the Sheng family? Sigh! Brother Kun lost because of his status. If his family were also wealthy, Old Man Gu would definitely not have objected to you two. The Gu family is just too despicable. Poor Ashu was born into such a family."

"Maybe, but I won't say anymore. If they find out, you'd better go eat. Don't skip breakfast." Yun Shu sighed helplessly.

"Okay!" Xu Ruo replied.

Every time Ashu talks to her, she never forgets to care about her after she finishes speaking, which touches her deeply. Therefore, Ashu's affairs are Xu Ru's affairs, and she will help her no matter what.

After Yun Shu finished her phone call with Xu Ruo, she immediately felt much better and thought of going out for some fresh air in the yard.

No matter how busy everyone in the Gu family is, their affairs have nothing to do with her. Besides, what does Gu Cheng's birthday have to do with her? That man treated her like that, and he still wants her to help celebrate his birthday? Don't even think about it.

The weather was alright today. It was mid-October, neither too hot nor too cold. I was wearing light autumn clothes, and there weren't many people in the courtyard. Although it was a large compound, each house was independent and the doors were tightly closed. It only got a bit lively around seven or eight in the morning when people were going to work or buying groceries and breakfast.

This place was actually quite unfamiliar to her. She hadn't been here many times when she was little, and when she did come, she would sit far away and didn't fit in with the other children in the yard, except for the chubby little Huainan.

They met less than five times in total, yet Huainan fell for her. However, they were ultimately not meant to be; she loved Mingkun. The gentle and refined Huainan only saw her as an older brother. Huainan was a good person, but that didn't mean she could like him. Leaving aside his family, how many people could tolerate a mother-in-law like Xie Huixin?

Xie Huixin is very domineering towards her son, completely disregarding his feelings. She believes that everything she does is for his own good, and is too domineering and self-righteous. She also has a bad temper, and she thinks she can't handle a mother-in-law like that. Only Huainan's father in the Sheng family has a good temper and can tolerate her. If Xie Huixin had married Gu Cheng, both of them have fiery tempers, and there would definitely be constant arguments at home.

However, Xie Huixin was also lucky. Her family was as powerful as Li Meng's, and the father of the man she married, Huainan, treated her well. Even though she caused so much trouble, unlike Li Meng, she didn't have Gu Cheng behind her to keep her in check.

Thinking of the Sheng family, I spotted a familiar figure in the distance. Wasn't that Huainan? He fell ill yesterday, and I wanted to visit him but didn't see him. Why is he out now? I wonder if he's feeling any better?

Huainan clearly saw Yun Shu as well. Yun Shu was still wearing the same casual clothes. As soon as she saw her, she walked up to her.