Within a month, the wedding will surely be called off!

“Thank you for the reminder, Secretary Pei,” Su Yunjin replied to Pei Xuan, her tone gentle but her eyes devoid of any warmth.

This was not a sign of a good temper, but rather that Pei Xuan had already softened his stance, giving her no reason to antagonize him. After all, these were their unwritten rules—no one wished to be the aggressive party. Everyone kept to polite decorum.

Yet, who could truly say how much sincerity lay beneath all this civility? It was impossible to predict.

Su Yunjin fell silent, and Pei Xuan said no more. The two walked quietly through the deserted hall, arriving at Lu Yiqing’s office.

Lu Yiqing was immersed in paperwork when they entered. He didn’t look up until Su Yunjin stepped inside. “Wait a moment. I still have a few documents to handle. We’ll talk soon.”

“If you’re so busy, why not wait until tomorrow?” Su Yunjin made herself comfortable, sitting directly across from Lu Yiqing without ceremony.

He glanced up from his papers, a flash of irritation in his eyes, quickly suppressed. “I’m not in a rush. I simply don’t want this matter dragging on. You said earlier you knew nothing, but by now you must be aware.”

“Yes,” Su Yunjin nodded.

Lu Yiqing closed the folder. “So, what do you intend to do?”

“I have no idea, no plan, nothing at all. If you have any suggestions, I’d be glad to hear them.” Su Yunjin’s lips curled slightly as she watched him, her words honest and unembellished.

This was her first experience with breaking off an engagement. She doubted the Lu family would want to completely fall out with the Seven Sects, and neither did she.

Three simple minds together can outwit a strategist, as the saying goes.

Since her own mind was blank, listening to Lu Yiqing’s thoughts might be worthwhile.

“Actually, I have an idea.” Lu Yiqing pulled another document from his stack, opened it, and signed as he spoke. “It’s quite simple. All you need to do is find a man, claim he’s the one you love.”

Lu Yiqing’s suggestion made Su Yunjin’s expression shift to a cold smile. “You must be joking. If that’s all it takes, why don’t you find a woman instead?”

The thought of mutual betrayal had crossed her mind.

Yet, people are strange creatures. Even when love is absent, once one side betrays the other, all the twists and turns of right and wrong tend to favor the aggrieved.

It would not be difficult for her to find a boyfriend, even if it was a mere pretense.

But then what? How would she explain to her grandparents? And what of her own reputation in the future?

Lu Yiqing’s pen paused. He looked up as Su Yunjin continued, “With your status, I imagine women are not in short supply around you. Resources are abundant—why shouldn’t you handle it? I wouldn’t mind, and then…”

“I can’t,” Lu Yiqing interrupted before she could finish.

“Oh?” Su Yunjin raised an eyebrow.

Lu Yiqing sighed, his rare patience showing as he explained, “You understand, in my position, too many eyes are watching. I can be reckless, but not to the extent they won’t tolerate. You, on the other hand, are free.”

Su Yunjin laughed softly, “You say I’m free? Surely you haven’t forgotten—it’s even harder for me in my position.”

Her eyes narrowed, surveying his handsome features. In this moment, his looks seemed unworthy of the lack of responsibility he displayed.

A man wishing to break off an engagement, but expecting the woman to take action—was this what ten years had wrought upon the world’s standards?

She remembered well how, years ago, men of his type were hardly the most popular.

“But at least you’re unknown,” he countered.

“That’s your reason? Because I’m unknown, you want to shift the blame onto my grandparents?”

Her smile bloomed, but her gaze was ice-cold.

After the program ended, she genuinely wanted to return to Zong Mountain and ask her grandparents why they had chosen such a man as her fiancé.

“So what do you want to do?” Lu Yiqing’s eyes narrowed, impatience practically written across his face.

Before Su Yunjin could answer, he added, “But let me tell you, even if you change your mind and want to marry into the Lu family, it won’t happen. I will never love you. As heir of the Seven Sects, surely you don’t wish to become someone else’s tool for carrying on the family line.”

His words cut deep. A typical girl might have thrown water or slapped him then and there.

But Su Yunjin was hardly typical. She had grown up in a world of intrigue and intersecting interests. To enter the Seven Sects, one could not afford candor; even moments of camaraderie were always laced with hidden meanings.

She had navigated those circles since childhood. Anger was forbidden—because once anger took hold, it severed rational thought, exposed one’s flaws, and, worse, revealed one’s vulnerabilities.

She understood this well. Her smile remained bright. “Perhaps you should move to a new place, Mr. Lu.”

“What do you mean?”

“Well, how else could you live without a single mirror? Even without a mirror, surely you have some way to reflect on yourself. Confidence is normal, but excessive confidence becomes rather laughable.”

Her tone was light, betraying no emotion.

But Lu Yiqing knew. Su Yunjin was angry. He was not being rude, but truly feared she might want to marry into the Lu family.

In truth, he had taken the risk of confrontation because he too didn’t know how to cancel this engagement. His brother still depended on the Five Elder Healers of the Seven Sects, and he himself had someone in his heart, unable to marry another.

So he had to sever Su Yunjin’s options. Even if it hurt, he didn’t care.

“A sharp tongue won’t resolve the matter,” he said.

“Words clarify things. If you think this is a sharp tongue, you’re not as worldly as you imagine,” Su Yunjin retorted, unmoved.

Lu Yiqing stared at her coldly. “I’m not here to argue.”

“Coincidentally, neither am I. It’s late, and I don’t want to waste time on pointless conversation—besides, you’re not paying me overtime.”

Lu Yiqing clicked his tongue.

Su Yunjin continued, still smiling, “But if you’re willing, you can leave it all to me. I guarantee that in one month, this engagement will be off.”