You're Not… Trying to Break Up Their Marriage, Are You?

Elena Shen blinked in surprise. "Go out? Go where?"

Ethan Jiang walked toward her. "Nightfall Lounge. There's a gathering tonight. Thought I'd take you along for some fresh air."

—

Gu Residence.

Winston Gu had just returned from a meeting at the company. The moment he stepped into the living room, he spotted his sister curled up on the sofa, fiddling with her laptop, utterly absorbed.

He poured himself a glass of water and strolled past her sofa, pretending to be casual.

But before he could even glimpse what was on her screen, Annie Gu slammed the laptop shut in one swift, practiced move, as if she had eyes at the back of her head.

Winston let out a dry chuckle, resting his elbow lazily on the back of the couch.

"What's this? Got yourself a boyfriend? You've been acting shady for the past three or four days, clutching that tablet and laptop like your life depends on it. Don't tell me he's some guy so unimpressive you can't even bring him home?"

Annie hugged the laptop tightly to her chest, guarding it as if it contained state secrets. She shot him a defensive glare.

"How could I even get a boyfriend when I live under the constant surveillance of you and Dad?"

Winston raised an eyebrow and nodded toward the laptop. "Then what's all this about? Got something to hide in there?"

Innocence glinted in Annie's wide eyes. "What could I possibly be hiding? I just heard about Elena and Ethan getting married, and I thought I'd research some tips on building a stronger marital bond for my bestie."

Winston clicked his tongue, unimpressed.

He straightened up, his expression hard to read, clearly unsure if her explanation was a flimsy excuse or the actual truth.

He didn't press further. Instead, he circled to the opposite single-seat armchair and dropped onto it with a relaxed air.

"You really think they need your help? Ethan and Elena?"

Annie gave him a side glance and muttered under her breath, "I just wanted to do something nice…"

Winston chuckled slowly, his posture lazy, but his eyes sharp as they studied his overly involved little sister.

"Other people's marriages aren't your project." He trailed off, pausing mid-sentence as something clicked in his mind. He narrowed his eyes at her, suspicion creeping into his tone. "Wait a minute—you're not… trying to break them up, are you?"

Annie had just taken a sip of water.

The question nearly made her choke.

She coughed violently, water burning her throat, then looked at her brother like he'd just insulted her ancestors. "Break up a marriage? Seriously? Even demolishing ten temples isn't as bad as splitting up a couple. Do I look that wicked to you?"

She had been praying day and night for Ethan and Elena to live in harmony and love each other forever!

Winston relaxed slightly.

He was genuinely afraid this foolish sister of his would end up triggering Ethan's wrath.

Still, seeing how invested she was in Ethan and Elena's relationship, he felt compelled to remind her—before she said something idiotic and irreversible:

"They just got married. You can encourage them, but don't say anything reckless in front of Elena."

Annie furrowed her brow, suddenly doubtful of her own image. Did her brother truly think that little of her?

That she'd go around sabotaging someone's marriage for fun?

She was still reeling from this character assassination when Winston casually shifted the topic.

"By the way, the marriage alliance with the Cheng family has been officially canceled. Dad agreed. From now on, he won't pressure you into any marriage arrangements. Among all the elites in Huaihai City, you're free to choose whoever you want."

Annie's eyes sparkled with sudden excitement.

"Really? No more arranged marriage nonsense?"

Winston nodded, watching as the shadows lifted from his sister's face and her smile returned with full force.

Trying to give her as much freedom as possible, she asked again, "Does it have to be someone from Huaihai? What if it's someone from a neighboring city?"

Winston gave her a long look.

For a moment, he really did wonder if someone had already swept his sister off her feet.

But instead of pressing, he softened his stance, offering her an escape route. "If you really like someone, even if he's from another city, I'll take care of Dad. Just tell me first."

That promise put Annie at ease.

With Winston's backing, she could at least live the next few years without being pushed into some joyless marriage alliance.

Elated, she hugged her laptop and skipped toward the stairs, ready to share the good news with Elena.

But just as she took the first step, Winston added:

"Oh—except for one."

She turned to glance at him.

"The Huo family from North City. That one's off-limits. Even if you fall head over heels for someone from that clan, it's not happening."

The Huo family from North City...

It took Annie a second to recall who he was talking about.

Their mortal enemies.

More precisely, her brother's mortal enemies.

In Huaihai, the Jiang family ruled at the top, followed by the Gu and Shen families.

Meanwhile, North City had long been dominated by the Huo family—a powerful dynasty with a legacy stretching back a century.

Initially, the Gu and Huo families maintained a decent relationship. That is, until three years ago, when Winston started dating a girl—an unassuming young woman from a minor branch of the Huo family.

Things had seemed fine… until one day, she vanished.

No explanation. No goodbye.

Winston had used every resource at his disposal to track her down, only to be blocked—repeatedly—by the Huo patriarch himself.

Later, rumors claimed the girl had moved overseas. She never returned, and every time Winston tried to reach her, the Huo family slammed the door in his face.

After several attempts, the grudge between Gus and the Huos had become set in stone.

Even now, during rare business dealings between Gu Corporation and the Huo family, the tension in the room was palpable.

Coming back to the present, Annie let her brother's warning roll off her. She barely ever visited North City. Even when the time came for her to date freely, there was no way she'd end up entangled with someone from there—let alone someone like the Huo family heir, whose personality was rumored to be just as cold and distant as Ethan's, and who rarely made public appearances.

Clutching her laptop, Annie bounded up the stairs, light on her feet.

Just then, Winston's phone chimed with a new message.

He pulled it out and tapped on the WeChat notification.

The message was from Ethan Jiang: "Tonight at Nightfall."

Winston raised an eyebrow, mildly surprised. Ethan, the ever-busy CEO who either buried himself in work or stuck close to his new wife, suddenly wanted to hang out?

Then he saw the next message.

"Bring your sister."

His gaze froze on the screen.

Frowning slightly, he lifted his eyes and called out to his sister, who was halfway up the spiral staircase, humming to herself.

"Annie Gu. What the hell have you done in the past few days?"

"Did you mess up so badly it reached the Jiang family?"

Though Winston and Ethan had been close for years, they and their friends were at least six or seven years older than Annie. Their gatherings usually consisted of drinks and private conversation—decidedly not the kind of place where younger sisters were invited.

And Ethan, with his aloof nature and long stints abroad, rarely made exceptions.

He had never asked for Annie to be brought to Nightfall.

Until now.

Which could only mean one thing: his troublesome sister had stirred up something big.

And it had landed right at Ethan Jiang's feet.

Mid-staircase, Annie stared back at her brother, utterly baffled.

What could she possibly have done?

And to Ethan Jiang, no less?

She wouldn't dare! The man's very presence made her nervous—she could barely speak coherently in front of him.

But then—

Her eyes slowly dropped to the laptop in her arms.

Her neck stiffened.

Her mind went blank for a moment.

No way…

Could it be…

Those videos?

But she'd sent those days ago. If they were going to get her in trouble, wouldn't the storm have hit by now?