After being reborn, I'm no longer going to play the role of a spoiled rich kid.

Chapter 4 Back to the Engagement Night

Yustya was half asleep when she woke up and rubbed her eyes.

She was a little hungry.

But when Yustia opened her eyes, she was dumbfounded.

There was a huge crystal chandelier overhead. Jiang Lingyu once complained that it was ridiculously expensive; the cost of cleaning it once could buy an entry-level luxury handbag.

This room was her bedroom from childhood until she got married.

Yustia sat up in bed, her shapely body wrapped in a pale yellow silk slip dress, feeling incredibly comfortable. She was on a soft, two-meter-wide bed, not the uncomfortable seat on an airplane where even turning over was difficult.

She stared blankly at the familiar place before her, her eyes wide with disbelief.

Yuska jumped out of bed, ignoring the pair of ostrich feather slippers on the floor, and rushed barefoot into the nearby bathroom.

Yustia's current appearance was reflected in the mirror on the bathroom sink.

The young woman in her early twenties was exceptionally radiant. Thanks to plenty of sleep, her face looked incredibly healthy, with a rosy glow. Her long, slightly wavy hair was loosely draped over her shoulders.

Startled, the person in the mirror involuntarily widened their eyes, looking somewhat naive.

This is her.

Looking down, she saw a bottle of FCCR perfume on the sink. It was a centennial celebration edition, a limited global edition that she had waited a long time at the London flagship store when she was studying abroad.

This was the year she returned from studying in the UK.

It was also the year she got engaged to Gu Yu.

"Jiajia, what are you dawdling for? We're picking up your brother Gu Yu today, have you forgotten? Hurry up, don't be late and people will laugh at you."

Just as Yusjia was lost in thought in the bathroom, there was a knock on the bedroom door, and her mother's voice came in.

Yusjia was taken aback. She picked up her phone and looked at it, realizing what was going on.

Gu Yu is a year older than her, but he is studying for his bachelor's and master's degrees abroad. She, on the other hand, returned to China immediately after finishing her undergraduate studies because she was not used to life abroad.

The You and Gu families are both prominent families in Nancheng. The two families even bought houses next to each other. You Sijia and Gu Yu can be considered a perfect match, childhood sweethearts.

Before, Yuska would have been overjoyed and eager to get ready. But now, Yuska was certain she hadn't just had a dream. Going to see Gu Yu with joy was out of the question; she even felt a strong urge to run away.

Before she graduated from university, her mother had already told her to prepare for an arranged marriage, as her father had already chosen a suitable candidate.

Yuska doesn't have any particularly great abilities, and her privileged upbringing has given her a bad habit of doing things as she pleases.
What's more, she also has a younger sister, You Kuiqing, who generously transferred 6.66 million yuan to her as a birthday gift.

Yu Kuiqing is two years younger than her, but she has already been working at the family company for two years.

Geniuses naturally skip grades, and Yusjia felt no jealousy towards her second child, who had completed his bachelor's and master's degrees at the age of twenty—a child whose intelligence was like winning the lottery.

Therefore, when Yuska heard her mother say that the family needed to arrange a marriage, she knew that the person was herself.

Her family had given her a choice: either follow the prescribed path and apply to the major chosen by them, then inherit the family business after graduation; or follow her own ideas, receive company dividends, and live the life she wanted, which would ensure she would have no worries about food and clothing.

Yuska chose the second option.

The wealthy bosses aren't like those depicted in TV dramas and novels, living a carefree and leisurely life, casually signing documents in their offices and then traveling the world in their private jets.

In fact, Yusjia has never seen her biological father take many days off in a year. He arrives at the company at seven o'clock every day without fail.

Even on cold winter nights, before dawn, they persevere regardless of wind or rain.

Yuska was the first child in the family and was spoiled, so she couldn't possibly endure so much hardship.

And after You Kuiqing displayed amazing talent, she became even more... self-righteous about this idea.

If we don't let You Kuiqing manage the company, wouldn't that be a waste of her brilliant mind?

The only contradiction in this marriage arrangement lies in the choices made by Yusika and her father.

The You family started in finance and banking, boasting a history of over a century and wielding considerable influence nationwide. The Gu family, on the other hand, began in venture capital. For a banker like Mr. You, it was more appealing to form in-law relationships with those involved in manufacturing.

Moreover, Gu Yu had a girlfriend he had been dating for several years in college, and You's father didn't think much of the young man next door.

Men understand men best. If Gu Yu liked his daughter, they would have been together long ago. But over the years, he felt that it was Yu Sijia who was only infatuated.

Therefore, You's father favored the Meng family in the capital.

However, Yusijia would jump up and down as soon as she heard the words "Meng family of Beijing".

She didn't want to marry someone from far away, no matter where they were.

Besides, she didn't know Meng Weiyuan at all, and when she heard that he was five years older than her, Yu Sijia disliked him even more.

Given the choice between the unfamiliar man from the north and her childhood sweetheart with whom she had grown up and even developed feelings, Yuska naturally chose the latter.

After leaving the room, I took the elevator downstairs.

It's the weekend, and it's already noon. Both Mr. You and Mr. You Kuiqing are at home.

When You Sijia stepped out of the elevator, You Kuiqing, who was sitting on the sofa and holding a financial newspaper just like her father, was the first to look at her. Then, You Kuiqing exclaimed in surprise, "Miss, you're dressed like this?"

It was summer, and Yustia appeared wearing only a simple T-shirt and trousers. Although the outfit wasn't cheap, the fact that she didn't wear any decent jewelry seemed out of character for her.

When Yu Kuiqing heard his words, Yu's father also raised his head.

"You're out of money?" Mr. You asked.

The implication in her words was that if Yustia nodded, she would be given pocket money.

"Really? You said you wanted that vintage blue diamond necklace last time, didn't I bring it back for you? What did you buy this time?" You Kuiqing asked, somewhat surprised.

Yu Sijia felt a pang of sadness. She hadn't wanted to go abroad back then, partly because of her family.

Being loved by my parents and sister feels so much better than being alone abroad.

Back then, she was willing to go abroad with Gu Yu because she arrogantly thought that Gu Yu could be like family to her, but she was wrong.

Hearing her father and sister's voices beside her, Yustia raised an eyebrow. "What's wrong?" She glanced down at her outfit. "It's just going out for a casual meal."

Do you expect her to dress up and attend events like she used to, just because she hears Gu Yu's name?
Is Gu Yu worthy?

You Kuiqing didn't say anything, but exchanged a glance with her father. Both of them saw a hint of shock in each other's eyes.

Yu Sijia's crush on Gu Yu next door was already a secret in the family.

Waiting at the dinner table, Mr. You saw that You Sijia was eating quite heartily and seemed to be in a good mood. He tentatively asked, "Sweetie, we're going to have dinner with your Uncle Gu's family tonight, do you remember?"

Actually, this was not a simple welcome banquet; it was also a kind of verbal engagement banquet.

Both families should at least sound each other out before consulting a fortune teller to choose an auspicious date. Then, they should exchange invitations, have a meal together with close relatives from both families to discuss the engagement, and finally, hold the formal engagement banquet at a hotel to invite guests.

Today is just the first step.

"Hmm." Yusjia didn't even look up. "I know." She tasted a bite of fish maw and had to admit, the soup made by the housekeeper at home was still the best.

You Kuiqing looked at her as if she had seen a ghost, "Then why are you dressed so... simply?"

Yusjia took a bite of the abalone, almost squinting her eyes in satisfaction, and then spoke, her tone sounding as innocent as could be, "Otherwise what? It's just going to meet the neighbor next door, why do you expect me to dress up all the time?"

"pat-"

It was the sound of chopsticks falling onto the dining table.

The air seemed to become unusually quiet, and the other three people at the table stared at Yustia as if they had seen a ghost.

"Next-to-the-neighbor?" You Kuiqing couldn't control her voice. "Didn't you tell Dad you wanted to marry him?"

(End of this chapter)