The Heiress's Game

After hearing that his elder brother was also going to be married off, Bai Tianyi spent several days figuring out how to comfort him.

Going to bars? Bai Junze's attitude towards such places is that they are "too noisy to bear".

Speeding? Last time, he drove a modified Porsche around his older brother's company building and was called into the office and lectured for twenty minutes, from risk control to the family image.

Business K? Forget it, even he finds it too noisy, let alone Bai Junze.

After thinking it over, I'll go fencing.

When Bai Junze received Bai Tianyi's call, he was in his office reviewing a due diligence report on overseas markets.

My cousin's voice on the other end of the phone was full of energy: "Bro! Come out fencing! Don't stay cooped up in the office, your eyes are going to go blind from staring at the screen all the time."

The fencing hall is located in a private sports club on the East Third Ring Road in Yunnan Province. Bai Tianyi had booked the entire fencing pavement in advance.

When Bai Junze came out after changing into his fencing uniform, Bai Tianyi was already waiting on the field with his mask on, twirling his foil in a flashy manner, clearly in a playful mood.

The two brothers exchanged blows for several rounds. Bai Junze's swordsmanship was steady and precise, and every thrust was clean and swift.

Bai Tianyi was agile but lacked defense, and even after being poked several times, he still laughed and acted like a cheat.

During halftime, the two removed their masks and sat on a bench by the field to drink water.

Bai Tianyi downed half a bottle of sports drink and suddenly quieted down, no longer chattering incessantly about games and his new sneakers as usual.

He draped a towel around his neck.

"Brother, I heard from my parents that the family has arranged a marriage for you."

Bai Junze wiped his sweat without pausing, only giving a faint "hmm".

Bai Tianyi turned his head to look at him.

He had admired this older brother since he was a child. In his heart, Bai Junze was the kind of upright man who would never be swayed by anyone. He was the one who had the final say at the board meeting, and his business rivals did not dare to breathe loudly in front of him.

But now, even the sun is going to get married.

"I don't understand," Bai Tianyi said, tossing the towel aside.

Why did you agree? It's not like you're powerless to resist.

"To put it bluntly, Grandpa is old, and although Second Aunt is domineering, she's already married into the Cui family. Do you think they can force you into the wedding hall? What are you really thinking?"

Bai Junze placed the mineral water bottle at his feet, leaned back in his chair, and remained silent for a few seconds.

"Grandpa called me to his study, took my hand and said that his greatest wish in this life was to see me get married before he closed his eyes."

My mother chimed in, saying that her biggest regret was not being able to give me a complete family, and her only wish was to see me marry a good wife.

Bai Tianyi was stunned for a moment after hearing this, then his face was full of indignation:

"Isn't this just acting? My second aunt has been divorced for so many years, and she's doing just fine in the Cui family. How could she possibly still be holding onto those old grievances?"

And Grandpa is in very good health; he even drove himself fishing last month—it sounds like…”

"I know they're acting," Bai Junze interrupted him.

"But let me tell you, even if you see through the fact that 70% of this play is just acting, the remaining 30% is enough to prevent you from flipping the table."

The old man is over eighty years old this year, and he really loves me.

From childhood to adulthood, he has been the kindest person to me in the entire Bai family.

Now that he's reached this age, who knows when he might suddenly leave us? He held my hand and said he wanted to see me get married. Even though I know he's using family ties to pressure me, what can I do? Tell him, "Grandpa, stop acting?"

"And then there's my mom. She's been a strong-willed person her whole life and has never backed down in front of me."

But when she said those words that day, whether she was acting or not, she was begging me.

These two people are my grandfather, who raised me from childhood, and my mother, who gave me life and raised me.

With them all going into battle at the same time, I couldn't possibly remain indifferent.

Bai Tianyi remained silent.

He lowered his head, picked up the towel, folded it and unfolded it again, unfolded it and folded it again, doing this several times.

Then he covered his face with the towel, leaned back in his chair, and let out a long, muffled, and deflated sigh.

"You are a promising talent of the Bai family, yet even you have to go through an arranged marriage."

And what about me? I'm the stubborn mule in the family—my dad has been calling me a stubborn mule for a long time, complaining that I'm not ambitious, have no drive, and just lie around all day. But he's just as unambitious as I am.

But at least I feel I have one thing more freedom than you: if I beg my grandfather, at least I can decide my own marriage.

Now look what's happened! You've been dragged into this arranged marriage, so what good will come of this stubborn mule like me?

He ripped the towel off, becoming increasingly agitated as he spoke, as if his years of accumulated "salted fish philosophy" had suddenly collapsed:

"What's so good about this kind of arranged marriage? Two strangers are forced together, with no emotional foundation, no common language, and whether their values ​​match depends entirely on luck."

We'll be bound together for life, eating together, attending events together, even having a child together—just thinking about it is suffocating.

If I were ever arranged to marry some rich heiress, my life would be over. My miserable existence would be completely shattered.

He looked up at the ceiling of the sword-fighting hall, his tone carrying a tragic, resigned air:

"So I've made up my mind. When they make arrangements for me, I'll run away."

I'll run off to an island in the South Pacific and hide there, eating coconuts and watching the sea every day, so they'll never find me.

Bai Junze glanced at him: "Are you sure you can stand living without WiFi?"

"Then I'll bring a satellite network device." Bai Tianyi quickly revised his escape plan, then slumped down again.

"No, I need funds to run away. My family opened all my bank accounts, and my dad will definitely cancel them if I run away. It's all over, I'm doomed either way."

Bai Junze didn't interrupt him, letting him pour out all his grievances before calmly asking a question.

"Tianyi, do you know who my arranged marriage partner is?"

Bai Tianyi paused for a moment, briefly pulling himself out of his negative mood: "Who is it?"

"Gu Yunjin from the Gu family of Dahai City, your friend Gu Yunjin."

The fencing hall was silent for a full three seconds.

Bai Tianyi slowly sat up straight, turned to look at Bai Junze, his eyes as if confirming that he hadn't misheard.

Then his entire face lit up instantly, as if a switch had been flipped.

"Gu Yunjin?!" He jumped up from his chair, his voice suddenly rising.

"Brother, is it really Gu Yunjin?"

"real"

Bai Tianyi took a deep breath and completed a 180-degree turn with completely unguarded speed.

He tossed the towel onto the chair, and when he sat down again, he was full of energy; the negative and dejected image of the salted fish from before had completely disappeared.

"A marriage alliance! Of course we should have a marriage alliance! I wholeheartedly support your marriage alliance!"

His tone was so firm and his attitude so sincere that he was a completely different person from the one a second ago.

Bai Junze, holding a mineral water bottle, was taken aback for a moment as he watched his cousin's face change instantly upon learning a name.

He slowly put down the water bottle: "Didn't you just say that arranged marriages were terrible?"

"That's because I didn't know who the person was!"

Bai Tianyi waved his hand confidently, as if to say, "What I just said has nothing to do with me."

"How can Gu Yunjin be the same? Brother, let me tell you, Gu Yunjin is really suitable for you. You two are a match made in heaven!"

Even though you haven't talked yet, I guarantee you! She's definitely on the same wavelength as you!

Bai Junze looked at him silently.

Bai Tianyi, oblivious to everything, continued his rambling: "Brother, think about it, your marriage is like two swords combined, invincible under heaven."

You're busy with your Fortune 500 business, and she's building her media empire. You're both busy with your own things, and neither of you is holding the other back.

What else could this be but a match made in heaven? This is simply the pinnacle of arranged marriages!

Bai Junze took a sip of water. "Why are you so happy about my marriage to her?"

"That's because I have a sister-in-law, of course!"

Bai Tianyi's eyes lit up. "From now on, she will be the eldest grandson's wife of our Bai family! I can chat with her during holidays, invite her out for barbecue, and tell my friends that my sister-in-law is Gu Yunjin. How prestigious that will be!"

More importantly—if Grandpa arranges a marriage for me in the future, I'll go to my sister-in-law and speak on my behalf!

She'll definitely speak up for me! One word from her is worth a thousand words from me!

Bai Junze leaned back in his chair, watching the man's bright eyes, remained silent for several seconds, then picked up his foil again, stood up, and walked towards the piste.

Bai Tianyi, still caught up in his excitement, quickly grabbed his mask and chased after her: "Can I go with you to see her? Will she be spending every New Year with us from now on—"

"Could you change your stance any faster?"

"My stance has never changed," Bai Tianyi said righteously.

"I've always been on your side. Letting you marry Gu Yunjin is the best way to stand by your side."

Brother, you must marry her, the sooner the better.

"Need my help? I can go to Dahai City to scout out some information for you, or help you arrange a chance encounter—I'm particularly good at that!"

Bai Junze fastened his mask and turned to face him.

"Practice your defense first, then we can talk about anything else."

Bai Tianyi chuckled, raised his fencing sword and assumed a starting stance. He was like a small motor that had been switched on, and he returned to his usual carefree and cheerful self.