Bai Zihan asked seriously.
This had now shifted from both of them simply being in the same unfortunate position to Chu Ziyan being the one responsible for putting him in it.
There was a momentary silence as Chu Ziyan looked outside, then back at Bai Zihan.
"Everyone praises me for my talent and beauty. Countless marriage proposals are sent to the Chu Clan every year," she said, her voice calm yet carrying an underlying weight.
"But in the end... I'm still just a girl."
Bai Zihan blinked in confusion.
Chu Ziyan leaned back, resting her chin on her hand.
"No matter how strong I am, how talented, how accomplished... My clan still wants to marry me off to a powerful family. That's just how things work."
She sighed, twirling the teacup in her fingers.
"I didn't want to leave my fate in the hands of some unknown man—someone chosen by my clan for the sake of alliances or benefits. So, instead of waiting to be married off to a stranger, I made my own choice."
She looked at Bai Zihan and smirked.
Bai Zihan felt a chill run down his spine.
He couldn't understand. Of all people, why would she willingly choose him?
"Of course, my clan wasn't exactly thrilled when I suggested marrying you. Bai Zihan, the infamous good-for-nothing young master of the Bai Clan?"
She gave him a teasing look.
"They thought I was joking."
Bai Zihan clenched his fists.
(Hah, even they look down on me... Well, they're not wrong...)
It was one thing for him to insult himself, but another to hear it coming from someone else.
"But the Bai Clan is still a powerful family, one my clan wants to befriend. And since I insisted, they eventually agreed."
Bai Zihan's lips twitched.
(Goddamn it! Elders, please work harder. Can you really give away your princess to a villain like me?)
Chu Ziyan tilted her head, looking amused.
"Now, as for why I want to marry you specifically?"
She leaned in slightly, her red eyes gleaming with mischief.
"The first reason is simple—I want to become Bai Xueqing's sister."
Bai Zihan choked on his own breath.
(What kind of reason is that?!)
"She's my close friend and almost like a sister."
"Wouldn't it be fun to be an actual part of her family? To have that connection?"
Bai Zihan stared at her in disbelief.
"The second reason," Chu Ziyan continued, ignoring his shocked expression, "is that you're easy to contr... I mean that you're quite obedient."
Bai Zihan's body stiffened.
"I mean, look at you." She gestured at him playfully.
"You wouldn't dare do anything to me unless I allowed it, right?"
"If I want the freedom I've always desired, a little sacrifice is inevitable. Marrying you gives me almost all of it, so why not?"
She smiled at him like a cat playing with its prey.
Indeed, the main reason was that Bai Zihan was someone who feared the strong and oppressed the weak.
He was also lazy and lacked ambition.
While such traits were typically looked down upon, they were exactly what Chu Ziyan wanted.
As the stronger person, she knew that Bai Zihan would never dare to challenge or demand anything from her.
Moreover, unlike other suitors, she had never been ogled by Bai Zihan—whether because he was used to beauties or simply didn't find her type appealing.
Either way, she felt that by marrying Bai Zihan, her clan would secure the desired marriage alliance, while she would finally be free from the burden of marriage.
As for what Bai Zihan felt, well, she didn't particularly care.
"With you, I lose nothing."
Bai Zihan felt his soul leave his body.
He finally realized that she had thought this through thoroughly and wanted to marry him—not out of love, but because he was an easy target.
His lips trembled as he tried to find a way to counter this insanity.
"But... but what if I refuse? What if I—"
Chu Ziyan cut him off smoothly, her confidence unwavering.
"You don't have the option. Uncle Bai would surely not let you."
She sipped her tea, completely at ease.
Bai Zihan opened his mouth, then closed it.
...She was absolutely right.
His entire plan to escape this engagement had been crushed before it even started.
(F**K! Father must have known. No wonder he was confident and didn't object to me meeting with Chu Ziyan before the engagement was announced.)
Chu Ziyan placed her cup down and smiled.
"Now then, let's talk about when our engagement is going to be announced."
Bai Zihan wanted to cry.
"B-But isn't there a better option? Like... What about Bai Jian?"
Bai Zihan suggested, refusing to give up just yet.
Although he was aware that doing so would ultimately mean losing his position as heir, that was a small sacrifice he was willing to make.
Chu Ziyan shook her head.
"You know I can't! Doing so would be equivalent to becoming Xueqing's enemy."
She was well aware of the political situation within the Bai Clan and how the branch family was trying to replace the current head of the clan.
Her marrying someone other than Bai Zihan would be the same as supporting them, and she knew it could cause a rift between her and Bai Xueqing.
"Moreover, that person is quite controlling and dominant. He seems hard to manipulate."
(That should be her real reason!)
In the end, Chu Ziyan simply wanted someone weak and easy enough that she could continue to do whatever she pleased without being ordered around—and he was the perfect candidate.
Bai Zihan scratched his head, trying to come up with an idea to change Chu Ziyan's mind and escape this engagement.
"Actually, this is also good for you too!"
Chu Ziyan suddenly said.
Bai Zihan turned to her, his expression clearly asking how in the world this could possibly be good for him.
"Do you have someone you like?"
Bai Zihan shook his head.
"Then there's no problem being engaged to me."
(That's the problem!)
Bai Zihan thought, though he didn't say it out loud.
"You won't interfere in my business, and I won't interfere in yours."
But Bai Zihan still had a sullen face. Even if he wasn't engaged to her, he had all the freedom in the world.
Seeing his expression, Chu Ziyan added another "advantage."
"How about this? In the future, even if you find someone you love, I wouldn't mind if you kept her as mistress."
It wasn't just her words that were unbelievable, but the sheer lengths she was willing to go to.