But when she turned back, Yao Qing looked at her parents and said, "Yang Qi is a good person, my best friend, and I can’t drag him into this. So, Mom, Dad, I still have to go tomorrow. I’m content to have met a friend like Yang Qi in this lifetime. So be it."

The elderly couple looked at their daughter, and the three of them embraced, weeping together. There was no way out, no hope to be seen, only despair.

The Sun Family had already announced the engagement, shocking both Jingnan Prefecture and Longjiang Prefecture. The Sun Family, one of the ten great families of Longjiang Prefecture, was going to marry a woman no one had ever heard of. It was the kind of fortune one could only dream of in eight lifetimes.

Even if it was just to ward off misfortune for their family, and even if it meant marrying a sickly weakling, it was still a marriage into a wealthy clan—something countless women dreamed of.

Moreover, the Sun Family’s status in Longjiang Prefecture was exceedingly high. As one of the ten great families, how could it not be? The Sun Family held a near-monopoly on the entire prefecture’s food industry, earning them the title of the Food Kings of Longjiang Prefecture. They controlled the economic lifeblood of the region.

In contrast, the only noteworthy thing about Yao Qing seemed to be her position as Vice President of the Qifei Group, a company she had only recently joined.

Numerous wealthy merchants and powerful families from Longjiang and Jingnan Prefectures began rushing toward Jiang City. For them, currying favor with the Sun Family meant having a strong backer in the future, providing them with support for doing business in Longjiang Prefecture.

The whole situation caused an uproar throughout Longjiang Prefecture, creating more buzz than the Spring Festival travel rush. Luxury cars and private planes all raced toward Jiang City. It was just an engagement party, yet it caused such a massive stir, which truly spoke to the Sun Family’s immense influence.

Countless people envied Yao Qing. They were desperate to push their own daughters into this fiery pit, hoping it would fan the flames of their own family businesses.

Yao Qing’s second uncle and aunt were even more ecstatic. In just half a day, powerful figures who wouldn’t have previously given them a second glance were now nodding and bowing before them, offering congratulations. A mountain of gifts had been delivered, nearly overflowing from their courtyard, and they had already received over ten million in cash. The couple was grinning from ear to ear. Making Yao Qing marry that sickly weakling from the Sun Family was absolutely the right move. What happens to her doesn’t concern us; we’re making a fortune!

Furthermore, it wasn’t just about the money. Once they became in-laws with the Sun Family, they could do as they pleased in Jingnan Prefecture. Who would dare disrespect them? As for Longjiang Prefecture, they imagined people would be falling over themselves to pay for their trips and help them with any errands. They had never anticipated such incredible benefits.

"Brother, do you see? These are the benefits!" her uncle said, getting carried away with excitement. "Look at the gifts piling up in your yard and mine. You should be thrilled!"

"Hmph. Do you think you’re getting these things for free?" Yao Qing’s father retorted. "If they ask for a favor you can’t grant, you’ll be the one to suffer later. I don’t care for these gifts, and I will be returning every last one. If you want them, take them."

Yao Qing’s father began making calls one by one, arranging for all the gifts to be sent back. His younger brother and sister-in-law wouldn’t stop calling them fools. How could they refuse such wonderful things, offered for free? They certainly had no intention of returning theirs.

"Uncle, Auntie, you should return the money and gifts," Yao Qing said calmly. "Even if I marry into that family, I won’t have any status. When the time comes and you can’t help the people who gave you these things, they will surely come to you for trouble. This is my final piece of advice to you as your niece."

Just as she finished speaking, the sound of firecrackers erupted outside. The entourage from the Sun Family had arrived to escort the bride-to-be. It was only an engagement, yet it was being celebrated with all the fanfare of a wedding.

「Elsewhere」

Yang Qi was considering how to handle the Sun Family. He didn’t want to resort to force and intended to talk things out first. Unexpectedly, he received a call from Li Qingyan, telling him that Yao Qing hadn’t come to work that day.

Yang Qi froze. "That old class monitor of mine," he sighed. "She’s still determined not to involve me."

The more she acted this way, the more he wanted to help this kind-hearted girl. If I let her fall into this fiery pit, it will be my own failure.

After giving some quick instructions to Ye Feng and the others, Yang Qi set off for Jiang City alone.

Jiang City, the Provincial City of Longjiang Prefecture, was just over a two-hour drive from Thunder City. The high-speed rail was even faster, taking only a few dozen minutes. Yang Qi chose the high-speed rail. He had to stop this from happening.

「Jiang City Hotel」

The Sun Family had booked out the entire venue for the day, specifically for the engagement ceremony.

Outside, a fleet of luxury cars from both Longjiang and Jingnan Prefectures had already gathered, all belonging to influential figures. Many of the attendees didn’t actually have an invitation to enter, but they came anyway, hoping to show their respect for the Sun Family. It would be even better if they could meet the Sun Family’s patriarch, Sun Yu. Making a good impression on the old man could make asking for favors much easier in the future. Even if they couldn’t get a favor, it still gave them bragging rights.

The members of the Sun Family had already arrived at the hotel and were waiting. Sun Wanguan, Sun Bie’s father, lived up to his name, exuding an air of wealth with his potbelly and beaming face. Today was his son’s engagement party. In fact, he had intended to hold the wedding ceremony at the same time. The sooner, the better, since it was all for the sake of bringing good fortune. If his son’s illness improved, it would be considered a success.

Sun Wanguan’s wife was also from a prominent Longjiang Prefecture family—the eldest daughter of another major clan. Theirs was a powerful union, and she exuded the noble grace befitting her status.

"They’re here!" Sun Wanguan said with a smile as he watched the approaching motorcade. It seemed Yao Qing hadn’t dared to defy the Sun Family and had arrived on time.

Yao Qing’s parents had not come. They couldn’t bear to see their daughter’s tear-stained face, nor could they stand the feeling of being furious yet utterly powerless. However, Yao Qing’s uncle and aunt had dressed themselves up impeccably for the occasion.

"This way, please," Sun Wanguan said cheerfully.

His wife, standing beside him, looked on with disdain, even covering her nose as if she had smelled something foul.

Yao Qing frowned.

But her uncle and aunt didn’t care in the slightest. For people like us, being able to come to a hotel like this even once in a lifetime is something to be proud of. What does anything else matter? A little slight is nothing.

COUGH. COUGH. COUGH.

Inside the hotel lobby, a man in his thirties was being supported by others as he let out a few feeble coughs. It was Sun Bie, the man to be engaged to Yao Qing.

The onlookers couldn’t help but sigh. It seemed the rumors were true: the Sun Family had hired a fortune-teller who, after calculating Sun Bie’s birth chart, determined that marrying Yao Qing would cure him. Consequently, Yao Qing became the unfortunate one.