Su Ran curled her lips into a smile, brilliant against his.
Old Master Fu was so angry he couldn’t get his words out, staring at the clasped hands, he boomed:
"I don’t agree, it’s useless even if he likes you."
Fu Qiyuan’s expression darkened slightly, and Fu Qixiu, who was beside him, spoke up.
"But Grandma agreed!"
"Your grandmother... agreed?" Old Master Fu suddenly stopped short.
He had a great respect for his former wife.
Fu Qixiu nodded casually, "Yes, my brother and sister-in-law were even matched by Grandma initially. But speaking of which, Grandpa, when you divorced Grandma, my dad followed Grandma. By rights, my brother and I should also be following Grandma.
Moreover, you had an agreement with Grandma that she was only ’lending’ my brother to you temporarily. When the time comes, he has to be returned..."
Su Ran’s lips twitched slightly, borrowing?
These days, is it fashionable to ’borrow’ one’s own grandson?
And to have to return him when the time comes; what kind of bizarre couple were they?
But thinking of her dear Grandma, Su Ran suddenly felt that she might understand!
Old Master Fu choked, "I..."
"Even if I can’t enter the Fu family’s gate, my sister-in-law can enter Grandma’s door!"
Fu Qixiu added fuel to the fire without realizing it!
Old Master Fu’s face turned black, and he couldn’t help kicking over.
"You little bastard, who’s the grandpa here, you or me? You’re Chi Wan’s grandsons, does that mean you’re not mine? I don’t even have the right to choose my granddaughter-in-law?"
Fu Qixiu’s eyes gleamed, "So you admit that my sister-in-law is your granddaughter-in-law?"
Old Master Fu choked again and snorted:
"Stop trying to pull the wool over my eyes. When did I admit that? How can someone who isn’t proficient in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting be your brother’s wife?"
Fu Qixiu touched his nose and weakly said, "Then I’m not proficient either, yet I’m still your grandson!"
"You... damn brat, am I telling you to talk back? I’m telling you to talk back, are you trying to anger me to death?"
As he spoke, Old Master Fu kicked out again.
Fu Qixiu sprang up from his seat and took shelter behind Su Ran, only revealing his head.
"Grandpa, getting angry out of embarrassment is wrong. Even if you are out of touch, you should know that my sister-in-law is the only closed-door disciple of the piano master Zhou Yousheng, right? How can she not understand music, chess, calligraphy, and painting?"
At these words, Chu Xiyao’s expression became sharp, and her face started to look a bit unsightly.
Of course she knew about Su Ran being Zhou Yousheng’s closed-door disciple.
Zhou Yousheng was Hua Country’s most distinguished pianist, famous even on the international stage.
Countless people wanted to be his disciples, including her.
The Chu family used every method possible to get her under his tutelage, whether it was to submit with good grace or to coerce, but they never got his consent.
She never imagined that he would take in this worthless woman in front of her.
"So what if she can play the piano? Does being able to play the piano qualify her to be the mistress of the Fu family?" Old Master Fu argued stiffly.
Su Ran sighed helplessly, put the teacup on the table, and looked at Old Master Fu with knitted brows.
"Then what must one do to qualify as the mistress of the Fu family?"
Old Master Fu responded coyly, "Whatever you do, it won’t work!"
Su Ran, holding Fu Qiyuan’s hand, chuckled:
"Old Master Fu, you’re being autocratic. I haven’t even done anything yet, and you already know I’m no good?"
Old Master Fu was provoked to laughter, and thinking of Su Ran’s previous words, his eyes lit up.
"You haven’t done anything, huh? I’ll give you a chance."
Su Ran arched an eyebrow and saw Old Master Fu pointing at the Go board in front of him.
"Play Go with me. If you win, I’ll grudgingly acknowledge your qualification. If you lose, I want you to leave Qi Yuan."
Upon hearing this, Su Ran shook her head.
"Ah Yuan is not a betting chip, I will not use him as one."
Old Master Fu chuckled coldly, "Qi Yuan would naturally not be a betting chip, this is merely an agreement between you and me."
Su Ran slightly furrowed her brows, seemingly considering the old man’s proposal.
Chu Xiyao clenched her hands tightly, anxiously watching Su Ran.
A moment later, she stood up from her chair.
Immediately, she felt a sigh of relief, but the very next second, she looked at Su Ran with disdain.
Such a brainless fool, to agree so easily.
She truly felt sorry for Qi Yuan, for having taken a liking to such a woman.
A matter with no assurance whatsoever, and yet she dared agree to it.
All the women in Hua Country wanted to climb their way to Qi Yuan, but since she stakes leaving him as her bet, it seems he’s only so valuable in her heart.
She just didn’t know what Qi Yuan would think when he witnessed this woman choosing to give up on him.
Chu Xiyao looked towards Fu Qiyuan, who sat composedly in his chair, his deep black eyes calmly fixed on Su Ran, his gaze serene.
The only thing present was an indulgence and pampering that made her heart feel congested.
Even , he was still unwilling to give up on her?
Her excited heart suddenly cooled down, the hand resting on her lap clenched tighter.
And yet Fu Qixiu’s legs gave way, nearly collapsing to the ground.
"Sis, are you stupid?!"
Su Ran glanced at him indifferently, and someone immediately started wailing—
"Sis, you can’t do this, my brother likes you so much, what will he do if you leave him? Please leave him a way out! I’ll exchange my lifelong commitment to bachelorhood for your change of heart!"
Listening to these sincere and touching words, Su Ran’s lips twitched slightly.
"How filial you are!"
Fu Qixiu looked at her with tearful eyes, "If you leave my brother, you won’t be my sister-in-law anymore!"
If she left his brother, she naturally wouldn’t be his sister-in-law anymore... pah pah pah!
Who said she was leaving Ah Yuan!
She was nearly led to a pit by this guy.
Seeing that persuading Su Ran was futile, Fu Qixiu turned and ran towards his brother.
However, he saw his own brother still as calm as a mountain, without any sign of panic.
"Ao, brother, you have to persuade sis! If sis loses, you won’t have a wife anymore..."
And most importantly, if sis left, his good days would also be over.
Who would take the fall for him then?
Fu Qiyuan was somewhat bothered by the noise, sparing his brother a glance, "Shut up!"
At that, someone instantly fell silent, but their large eyes were filled with a look of grievance.
Su Ran let out a breath and walked toward the chessboard, but at this moment, the old master stood up from his spot and said to Chu Xiyao opposite him:
"Xiyao, it’s your turn."
Chu Xiyao was initially stunned, followed by a surge of joy.
Fu Qixiu’s eyes widened, "Wow, grandpa, you’re not acting honorably!"
Old Master Fu glanced at him, unfazed by his outburst.
"When have I acted dishonorably?"
"You know Sis isn’t skilled at chess, yet you’re making her play against Chu Xiyao? Chu Xiyao has been learning Go since she was a child. How could Sis possibly win against her? Moreover, just now, you agreed it was you playing against Sis, you’re simply being unreasonable!"
Old Master Fu’s face remained calm, "When did I say it was me playing against her?"