"Aunt Linran can't possibly be that heartless!" Zhan burst out, his voice filled with anger while he and Ziyi leaned against the balcony, overhearing their parents in the dining room.
"I'll be heading back to China any day now, Zhan," Ziyi said through her tears. "There's nothing I can do about it. You don't know Mama..."
Zhan's gaze sharpened as he cast a quick look at the balcony door.
Ziyi's parents arrange for her to get married to a man she has never even met. Zhan had come across a photo of the man's father in a magazine. There were a handful of those magazines in his parents' bedroom.
His parents were open with him about the fact that his mother was once married to the famous Lan Quiren before she became his father's wife.
"Is that him, Mommy?" he asked, pointing to Lan Quiren in a magazine where he was highlighted in a business column.
"Yes, darling. That's him."
"Hmm... he looks gorgeous," he remarked as he gazed at Quiren's black-and-white photographs featured in the magazine.
"Breathtakingly gorgeous, Zhan," Ziyuan smiled at his son.
"Why did you annul your marriage to him, Mom?" Zhan asked curiously. Ziyuan took a deep breath and in simple words told her son the story of her and Quiren.
It's hard for him to accept that his cousin Ziyi will be forced to marry into the family of his mother's ex-husband. He is well aware of the immense power and wealth that the Lan family possesses. And a family of arrogant and domineering men.
How will Ziyi adjust to life with the Lan family? Zhan cast a glance at his cousin, who is beautiful, sweet, and gentle. She's so mild-mannered that she can't even voice her objections to her mother. What will it be like with a Lan Wang Yibo?
Zhan was itching to push against the boundaries set for him. Although Ziyi is just a year younger and they are distant cousins, he already considers him a younger sister. Ziyi feels the same way and treats him with sibling-like care.
Zhan was born in China, but he and his family moved to the US just six months after Fengmian's mother passed away, he was fifteen years old then. It was in the US that he started to grow closer to Ziyi, whom he had met only once during her family's visit to China.
Zhan took after his mother's stunning looks and his father's diplomatic charm. He was smart, free-spirited, and had his own disposition. Ziyi, in contrast, is quite shy. Throughout her childhood, her mother controlled everything. She is obedient, to a fault.
"What about you and Zhoucheng?" he asked his cousin, seeing his cousin's slumped posture and gloomy expression. "Is he aware of Aunt Linran's plan?"
"Yes. And he wants me to elope with him. And I can't do that, Zhan." She looked at him with a worried expression. "I'm terrified of what Mama might do. If only Papa would do something to stop her..." Ziyi sobbed again, her voice rising in desperation as she exclaimed, "I-I love Zhoucheng, Zhan! But I can't defy my mom."
"And I can't advise you to disobey your mom because you won't do it," Zhan said in frustration. And then added emphatically, "You'll end up losing the man you love!"
"Zhoucheng will understand..."
Zhan's eyes rolled. Feelings of both annoyance and pity for the younger cousin.
"M-maybe my mother's right, Zhan. B-maybe my life will be better by marrying Lan Quiren's son..."
"Maybe... maybe..." he threw his hands up in the air. "What if it doesn't work out?" He let out a deep sigh and turned to his cousin. "I want to help you, Ziyi. But you have to help yourself, too."
Ziyi spoke softly, "I'm sorry. Just the thought of going against Mom makes me anxious." She took hold of his hand. "My only hope is that that Mr. Lan's son chooses to decline. Families like theirs usually don't support arranged marriages.
And... and I've heard that this Lan Wang Yibo is a notorious playboy. I doubt he would be into someone like me..."
"Where did you hear that?" Zhan frowned at her cousin. "What's this about him being a playboy?"
"I saw him trending in social media a couple of months ago. It seems that this Lan Wang Yibo is not too keen on publicity, blocking the camera with his hand while a paparazzi was taking his picture.... His date was Olivia Rodrigo..."
Zhan shrugged and gave Ziyi a gentle smile. "You could be right. Just hope you're not his type. Even though you are incredibly beautiful, people in high society often prefer to associate with those of their own status. Perhaps this Lan Wang Yibo might defy his father's wishes..."
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