Remarried to a top-tier playboy, her reborn ex-husband is filled with regret.

"Miss, the Duke requests that you move to the front hall."

The servant stood respectfully in the courtyard to report.

Yun Shuyao's thoughts were interrupted, and she immediately rushed to the front hall.

The servants along the way greeted her, but Yun Shuyao had no time to respond, her mind preoccupied with how to bring up the matter of annuling the engagement with her father.

Upon entering, I was surprised to find both my father and mother there, dressed in formal attire befitting guests.

Yun Shuyao quickly stepped forward to greet her.

"Father and Mother, why have you summoned your daughter here?"

Yun's father glanced at her and scolded:

"Look at what you're wearing. Go back and change into something more formal."

Yun Shuyao frowned, puzzled.

"Father, what's going on?"

"Lord Gu and the others are here today to finalize the arrangements for your wedding with Jing Huai."

As soon as Yun's father spoke, Yun Shuyao's expression froze, and she suddenly remembered that it was the same in her previous life.

The parents, without knowing when, discussed it with the Gu family and decided to move the wedding date forward.

Yun Shuyao's face turned completely cold, and she said seriously:

"Father, I intend to break off my engagement with Gu Jinghuai. He has already made up his mind..."

"Do you treat marriage like a game? You think you can just call off the engagement like that?"

Before Yun Shuyao could finish speaking, her father angrily interrupted her:

"When you two had your disagreements before, didn't you often throw tantrums and say you wouldn't marry Gu Jinghuai? Weren't those always just said in anger?"

Yun Shuyao was prepared to expose her past without holding back.

"This time is different, he..."

She paused abruptly, remembering that at this time in her previous life, Gu Jinghuai had not yet had any relationship with that cousin.

Changing the subject, Yun Shuyao said confidently:

"I heard that Gu Jinghuai has someone else in his heart, which is why my daughter decided to break off the engagement!"

"Nonsense! You're making a scene over nothing? This is getting more and more outrageous!"

Yun's father slammed his hand on the table, making the teacup tremble.

Seeing that the Duke was clearly angry, Yunmu quickly tried to smooth things over.

"Your Uncle Gu and the others are on their way and will arrive in about the time it takes to drink a cup of tea."

Go change your clothes right now, and stop fooling around!

Yun Shuyao hadn't expected the people to arrive so quickly. Looking at her father's angry eyes, she knew that continuing the conversation would be inappropriate.

He simply asked a question with a stern face.

"Gu Jinghuai will come too?"

When Yun's father saw that she no longer mentioned breaking off the engagement, his expression softened, though his tone still sounded angry.

"Why doesn't he come to discuss his marriage arrangements?"

Upon hearing this, Yun Shuyao secretly sneered. Gu Jinghuai wouldn't be coming today; he had more important things to do.

In their previous life, when the two families discussed the marriage, Gu Jinghuai was absent under the pretext of official business.

In reality, he was picking up his cousin, whose fiancé had just died, and personally taking her to the mountain resort to settle her in.

After Yun Shuyao returned to her room, she immediately summoned Chunzhi and instructed her to take stock of all the dowry as soon as possible.

She could break off the engagement and accept the dowry without losing either. She wanted to see what the impoverished marquis's mansion would become without her financial support!

Yun Shuyao changed her clothes and returned to the front hall.

A village on the outskirts of the city.

Gu Jinghuai had just settled everyone in properly and was about to leave when he heard Su Yuyan teasingly say:

"Why is my cousin, the young master, in such a hurry? Is he afraid of being late?"

Gu Jinghuai looked at her, and the corners of his mouth that had been turned up instantly flattened.

"What's the delay? I just feel bad making the elders wait too long."

Su Yuyan glanced at the sky, then said slowly:

"Sister Shuyao informed both families about her marriage to you, but she didn't tell you?"

Gu Jinghuai was well aware of this. He remembered that in his previous life, the reason their marriage was arranged ahead of schedule was because of Yun Shuyao's little tricks.

Thinking of this, a hint of displeasure flashed in his eyes, and his brows furrowed involuntarily.

Su Yuyan looked at him with a smile and asked in confusion.

"Why didn't your sister tell you, but instead only informed the elders, avoiding you?"

These words made people feel even more uncomfortable.

In Gu Jinghuai's view, there is only one reason.

In his past life, Yun Shuyao somehow found out that he was going to pick up his cousin.

Therefore, she deliberately moved the wedding date forward, and afterwards she held a grudge against herself for a long time.

Knowing his whereabouts so well, Gu Jinghuai didn't believe it was a coincidence.

The thought of being followed by Yun Shuyao's men made him extremely unhappy.

She didn't even tell me, but instead made arrangements with her elders in private. Was she planning to force me into marriage?

Although I've already decided that I'll make it up to her in this lifetime.

But the thought of Yun Shuyao's actions still made him feel disgusted.

Gu Jinghuai didn't want to continue the topic, so he took out a hairpin and handed it to her.

Do you like it?

The rare hibiscus-colored jade hairpin caught Su Yuyan's eye. She immediately lowered her head shyly and said with a smile:

"Cousin, can you help me put it on?"

Without the slightest hesitation, Gu Jinghuai skillfully placed the hairpin into her hair bun.

Since I can't marry her anymore, I'll make up for it by giving my cousin these mundane things.

"Linlang Pavilion, the most famous building in the capital, is a property that our Marquis's mansion has acquired in recent years."

From now on, when my cousin goes to the shop to choose something, she only needs to mention my name, and she can take it away directly.

"Thank you, cousin. You treat Yuyan so well."

After putting on the hairpin, Su Yuyan was only happy for a moment before her joy turned to sorrow. She sighed softly, then laughed self-deprecatingly.

"My cousin and Sister Shuyao are both blessed people, unlike me..."

After speaking, he turned and walked towards the inner courtyard, leaving behind only a lonely figure.

As Gu Jinghuai watched her leave, he recalled how Yu Yan, in her previous life, had given birth to an illegitimate child for him, disregarding her reputation.

And yet, she willingly lives in this place where she cannot see the light of day, her sensible demeanor of not seeking recognition stirs a bittersweet feeling within me.

But then he suppressed all his feelings.

He said that he would make it up to Shu Yao in this life.

Gu Jinghuai nimbly mounted his horse and headed straight for the Yun family.

Su Yuyan stood by the window of the pavilion, watching Gu Jinghuai hurriedly ride away on horseback, her eyes surging with intense jealousy.

Her cousin was so gentle and wealthy, exactly her type, so why was she betrothed to him since childhood?

Forget about matching social status; she simply refuses to believe in fate!

Suddenly, Su Yuyan smiled again.

Actually, it was a good thing her fiancé died, otherwise she wouldn't have been able to be brought to Kyoto.

Moving into the villa is just the first step; her aunt, who is the mistress of the Marquis's mansion, will also help her with the rest.

When Gu Jinghuai arrived at the Shen family home, he was greeted by a harmonious and joyful scene.

Yun Shuyao sat gracefully in the lower seat, just as obedient and gentle as she had been in her previous life. How long had it been since I had seen her so vibrant?

Gu Jinghuai felt a slight warmth in his eyes. Recalling the many days and nights since her death, the lingering longing in his heart dissipated the melancholy he had felt earlier.

Shu Yao is always good at getting along with elders and is well-liked by her parents.

Her father had always favored this daughter-in-law.

After entering the household, Yun Shuyao did indeed restrain her temper and served her parents-in-law wholeheartedly.

She managed the household affairs with great efficiency and was also considerate and thoughtful in her dealings with noble families, leaving no one unsatisfied.

"Young Master, come here quickly and sit with Shu Yao."

Mica greeted him with a smile, clearly more affectionate than usual.

"This nephew greets the Duke and Duchess. This son greets his father and mother."

After exchanging polite greetings, Gu Jinghuai walked over and sat down next to Yun Shuyao.

Yun Shuyao was surprised. Why was he here? Shouldn't he be at the manor with his cousin who had just arrived in the capital?

When Gu Jinghuai looked over, Yun Shuyao immediately lowered her head.

She was afraid she wouldn't be able to control the hatred in her eyes.

Gu Jinghuai, however, only thought she was shy.

At this moment, Yun Shuyao was pondering how to reclaim the dowry shop that she had been tricked into giving away five years ago by the Lady of the Marquis.

How can I get Gu Jinghuai to cooperate and cancel the engagement?

If she's the only one to propose breaking off the engagement, it's easy for her to incur the wrath of others.

After all, the two families have a long-standing friendship, and if she brings it up herself, her father's anger will surely be directed at her.

Looking at her two children, Yunmu felt they were a perfect match:

"Stay for dinner later. The kitchen made braised duck with fermented rice wine, which Jinghuai loves. Shuyao always says you like it."

Gu Jinghuai's eyes crinkled into a smile as he offered a compliment.

"Yaoyao is so thoughtful."

Yun Shuyao clenched her fists tightly, a chill running down her spine from the sudden nickname.

However, she finally realized that Gu Jinghuai was acting very strangely today!