Chapter 2: Wishful Thinking

"Did you need something from me?" Though most of his wounds had healed, Xu Yang's voice was still weak from blood loss.

Su Yanran couldn't help but roll her eyes as she watched Xu Yang, filthy from head to toe, standing amid piles of garbage. She grumbled inwardly, "Grandfather, have you lost your mind? You actually want me to marry a man like this?"

Her displeasure was evident. Turning her head away so she wouldn't have to look at him, Su Yanran spoke coldly, her tone devoid of warmth. "My name is Su Yanran, daughter of the Su family of River City."

"The Su family!" At her words, Xu Yang's expression shifted subtly.

He knew of the few great families that held sway in River City, and the Su family was certainly one of them—rumored to be worth billions. So why would a stunning heiress like her seek him out? What was her purpose?

Xu Yang's face was filled with shock and confusion.

Su Yanran, seeing his puzzlement, drew a deep breath and continued in her cool, distant voice, "I've come to see you today to call off our engagement."

"Call off...our engagement?" Xu Yang was completely bewildered. The woman before him was a goddess, her beauty and bearing surpassing Zhao Ya by a hundredfold.

For such a woman to seek him out specifically to break off an engagement—did that mean they were engaged?

The shock rattled him so much that Xu Yang staggered to stand before Su Yanran. Gazing at her flawless, exquisite features, he was utterly stunned. His body, still weak from blood loss, began to tremble. The world spun before his eyes, and he swayed, falling straight towards Su Yanran.

"Hey—!"

Caught off guard, Su Yanran didn't have time to dodge. Xu Yang's head crashed heavily into her chest.

Pain, embarrassment, and anger swept across Su Yanran's beautiful face like a sudden frost. She wished she could kick this filthy, disheveled rascal to death.

But as she raised her foot, she suddenly noticed, to her shock, that Xu Yang's body was stained with blood.

"Hey! What's wrong with you? What's going on?"

"Damn it! Wake up! Are you trying to scam me or something?" Supporting Xu Yang with an expression of utter disdain, Su Yanran shouted at him.

But Xu Yang remained motionless, eyes tightly shut, completely unresponsive.

...

When Xu Yang awoke again, he found himself lying on a soft, spacious bed. Beside him sat Su Yanran, a beauty who could bring kingdoms to ruin.

"Where am I?" Xu Yang rubbed his eyes and sat up on the bed.

"Ah—" Su Yanran, lost in thought, was startled to see the bloodstained Xu Yang awaken so soon. Her lovely face immediately turned cold as she looked at him.

"This is my home."

"Oh. Thank you." Xu Yang felt a surge of gratitude and nodded to Su Yanran. But unable to suppress his curiosity, he asked, "Miss Su, you just said you wanted to break off our engagement. What is this about?"

At the mention of the topic, irritation flashed across Su Yanran's face. "My grandfather must have lost his mind back then. He arranged a childhood betrothal between you and me. But it's the modern age—those old-fashioned engagements don't mean a thing."

"Xu Yang, I don't like you at all. I only came to see you this time to end this engagement."

Her clear, bright eyes locked on him, her expression resolute.

"Alright, I agree," Xu Yang replied without hesitation, nodding firmly.

Five years ago, Xu Yang's grandfather had vanished without a trace, so he'd never even known about this engagement. Now, seeing how much Su Yanran disliked him, he certainly had no intention of clinging to something so unwelcome.

He had not expected Xu Yang to agree so readily. The speeches Su Yanran had prepared were left unused, and she stood there, momentarily stunned.

It was a full five seconds before she managed a faint smile and drew a bank card from her pocket.

"My grandfather is a stubborn man. As long as you remain in River City, he'll keep trying to marry me off to you. So, you should leave. There's ten million on this card—consider it compensation."

Xu Yang smiled faintly at her words. At present, he had inherited the legacy of the Emperor Sovereign, mastered profound techniques and unrivaled medical skills. Though he had no money yet, ten million was nothing to him now.

He was about to refuse when a sudden knock came at the door.

"Yanran, has my grandson-in-law Xu Yang woken up?"

An elderly voice sounded from outside.

Su Yanran's expression changed. Earlier, seeing Xu Yang covered in blood and unconscious, she had hurriedly brought him home for treatment.

Now, with her grandfather—who was so devoted to this engagement—standing outside the door, what was she to do?

"No matter what my grandfather says, don't agree to anything. Take the money and leave River City as soon as possible!" Su Yanran warned, thrusting the bank card into Xu Yang's hand before opening the door.

Immediately, Old Master Su Wenshan entered, accompanied by a middle-aged doctor.

"Xu Yang, are you feeling any better?" Su Wenshan's face was full of kindly affection as he spoke gently to the grandson of an old friend.

"Much better. Thank you for your concern." Xu Yang managed a slightly awkward smile. After all, Su Wenshan was a renowned figure in River City, and the Su family's wealth was second to none.

Reassured, Su Wenshan nodded and spoke a few words of thanks to the doctor. Then his gaze fell on Xu Yang, sizing him up with growing excitement.

"Old Xu's grandson, just as outstanding as I expected," he declared. "Xu Yang, three days from now, you and Yanran will be married. What do you think?"

"Ah—" Xu Yang had heard hints of this before, but hearing Su Wenshan say it himself still made his heart jolt. The patriarch of the illustrious Su family, so eager to marry off his beautiful granddaughter to him—was he dreaming, or had the old man finally lost his mind?

Xu Yang was at a loss, unsure what to say.

Beside him, all the color drained from Su Yanran's lovely face.

"Grandfather..." she began, drawing a deep breath and forcing herself to stay calm. "There is nothing between Xu Yang and me. I refuse to marry him!"

Su Wenshan's expression darkened, his tone lowering. "Marriage is not for you to decide alone. This time, Yanran, you must listen to me and marry Xu Yang as soon as possible!"

Su Yanran's face flushed with anger, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. She bit her lip, her expression full of determination.

"If you insist on forcing me into marriage," she declared, "then I will leave the Su family!"

"Leave the Su family? Wishful thinking!" Su Wenshan sneered and called toward the door, "Bodyguards, come in here!"