"Didn't see it?" Luo Zifeng muttered, then fell silent. She was preoccupied with her own troubles and didn't have the energy to spare.
While Luo Zifeng was still grumbling, Aunt Gu Er and Aunt Gu Xiao exchanged glances. They had both seen how decisively the young woman had left, and it was unlikely she would ever return.
Halfway through dinner, Luo Zifeng started. "Jingyi, how did I hear you're getting engaged?"
Gu Jingyi replied without changing his expression, "Yes, that's right. To the youngest daughter of Uncle Ji's family. It's a betrothal arranged by grandfather."
Seeing his demeanor, Luo Zifeng became angry and slammed her chopsticks down. "Oh? And I'm not supposed to know about this? Also, didn't I tell you before, to marry Wenjing!"
Gu Jingyi also put down his bowl and chopsticks and said decisively, "I will not marry her. Even without a betrothal, she would never be the one I marry! If you still have such thoughts, I advise you to give up now. You should inquire about the Gu family's current situation! Why isn't Father here today? Do you really not know the reason? This marriage was arranged by grandfather, and you'd best not interfere!"
Being contradicted by her own son like this, especially in front of everyone, Luo Zifeng felt utterly humiliated. However, with Gu Zhonghua, her usual supporter, absent, she didn't dare to make too much of a scene. More importantly, Gu Zhongye and Gu Zhongli wouldn't give her that leeway. Not wanting to lose face in front of her two sisters-in-law, she threw her bowl on the table and went upstairs.
Not long after going upstairs, Luo Zifeng came back down with two suitcases. Gu Jingyi was talking to his two uncles at the time. Without a word, she handed Gu Jingyi two pieces of paper. Gu Jingyi picked them up, read them, and chuckled.
Gu Zhongye and Gu Zhongli, seeing Gu Jingyi's reaction, also took the papers from his hand and glanced at them. They exchanged a look and remained silent.
Luo Zifeng, however, felt a bit strange seeing him this way. Nevertheless, she insisted on her decision and said, "Since you don't consider me your mother, then I have nothing more to say. Your father is not here, so there's no problem with you keeping these. From now on, we'll be quits."
When Gu Jingyi saw the divorce papers and the letter of disownment, his heart grew cold. "Have you made up your mind?"
"Of course! None of you respect me..." Seeing that she was about to shift all the blame onto him, Gu Jingyi didn't let her continue. He directly took out his personal seal from his pocket and pressed it down. He also made a copy of the two documents and had her sign after pressing the seal.
Luo Zifeng's eyes flickered when she saw the seal in Gu Jingyi's hand, but it didn't change her mind. After signing, she took her copies of the documents and left without looking back.
Gu Zhongli patted Gu Jingyi on the shoulder to offer comfort. "Since ancient times, the human heart is the most unfathomable! Since you understand this, don't be sad here."
"There's nothing to be sad about. I expected it, didn't I? I overestimated her. I thought she would at least hold on until Father returned."
"Don't try to fool me!" Gu Zhongnian directly exposed Gu Jingyi's feigned sadness. He didn't believe for a second that Gu Jingyi hadn't anticipated this. If he waited for his father to return, wouldn't the plan fail? Trying to trick him! Hmph!
Gu Zhongye happened to walk in at that moment. He had just arranged for the driver to send Luo Zifeng off, so he didn't know what they had been discussing. He assumed Gu Zhongli was comforting his nephew and didn't join in, as he wasn't very good at handling such matters.
Gu Jingyi stood by the window, looking up at the moon. He missed her a little!
Meanwhile, Luo Zifeng was warmly welcomed back home. Her family didn't ask many questions upon seeing her return with her belongings. She often stayed at home for periods, so everyone was accustomed to it and didn't pay it much mind.
Her eldest sister-in-law asked about Qi Wenjing. Luo Zifeng said she had gone out to play and didn't elaborate further. Luo Zifeng then claimed to be tired and went back to her room to rest. Her eldest sister-in-law, who had just been affectionately concerned and offered to escort her upstairs, changed her demeanor as soon as Luo Zifeng went up. The significant thing was that everyone else in the family saw it and said nothing.
Back at the Gu residence, with the divorce finalized, the three began to act. Uncle Gu Xiao immediately took the documents to Elder Ye. After reviewing the papers, Elder Ye was furious. Without many words, he issued instructions.
Seeing that matters were settled, Uncle Gu Xiao didn't linger. He saluted and left. He had originally wanted to inquire about the little fox, but seeing that someone else had come to see Elder Ye, he didn't dare to stay any longer and left.
Everything proceeded in an orderly fashion. Within a few days, Old Master Luo received news. Just as he was about to take some action, he was taken away for questioning. Fortunately, the people who came were not from that particular department. Old Master Luo tried to inquire about something, but after being led to a small room, he never saw anyone again. He couldn't find anyone even if he wanted to glean some information.
The Luo family naturally received news of their patriarch's predicament. Their positions were all sinecures, and they couldn't get any information. At this point, all their hopes were placed on Luo Zifeng. They hoped she would go back and seek help from the Gu family.
Luo Zifeng hadn't even recovered from the news of her father being captured when she saw everyone looking at her. Her mother kept telling her to go to Gu Zhongnian, to put aside her temper, and to humble herself and speak nicely. The Gu family would surely help. They had to help, after all, they were all relatives, people on the same boat.
Luo Zifeng squeezed out of her throat, "The Gu family can't help?"
"What did you say? You're unwilling to go? Do you have any heart? Your father has always treated you so well! And now you're just going to watch him suffer?..."
Luo Zifeng had never seen such a mother. She had always been pampered; she was never the one to be scolded. But now! Luo Zifeng felt as though her ears had gone deaf, and she could only see her mother's mouth opening and closing. The people around her didn't try to mediate; instead, they looked at her with reproachful eyes.
She tried to listen to her mother's words clearly, but instead of her mother's embrace, she was met with a slap! Luo Zifeng didn't react until the pain hit her face. She didn't say a word and just watched her mother berate her. When her mother stopped, exhausted, she finally spoke, "The Gu family can't help. Putting aside whether the Gu family can protect themselves, even if they were not in trouble, they wouldn't help!"
At this, Luo Zifeng's elder brother finally came to his senses and quickly asked his sister, "What do you mean by that? What do you mean 'can't help and wouldn't help'?"
"Gu Zhongnian and I are divorced!"