Chapter 120 - 119: The Best Revenge Is to Marry Him

Chapter 120: Chapter 119: The Best Revenge Is to Marry Him

Seeing that Zhang Bai was truly willing to spend money on his mother—and generously so—Yu Zhiming decided to help him out.

Hospital beds at Huashan Hospital were always in short supply, but with Yu Zhiming’s current standing at the hospital, arranging a bed for Zhang Bai’s mother was still a relatively simple matter.

He just made a call to Dr. Cui Zhitan, the deputy director of general surgery, explained Zhang Bai’s mother’s situation, and Doctor Cui said to leave it to him...

After taking care of Zhang Bai’s matter, Yu Zhiming took a leisurely stroll, walking alone from the hospital back to the Zijin Garden District.

A little after two in the afternoon, Yu Zhiming returned to his apartment, only to be surprised to find that girl, Gu Qingning, was there.

The girl was sitting cross-legged on the sofa, munching on snacks while chuckling at the TV.

The peanut and walnut shells on the coffee table were piled into a small mountain, and the two jars of sweet potato strips were completely empty.

"How did you get in?"

Gu Qingning, who tried to stand up abruptly but failed, gave up on the effort. Instead, she just slacked off and leaned back against the sofa.

She shot Yu Zhiming a look that said, ’Are you stupid?’

"Through the door, of course. Did you think I was Spider-Man and climbed in through the window?"

Yu Zhiming knew he had asked a stupid question.

The girl had stayed here for three nights; it was only natural that she knew the passcode to his door.

Yu Zhiming pressed, "Why did you just show up without a word? You should at least let the owner know first, right?"

Gu Qingning replied with righteous confidence, "I already told Sister Xiang Wan. Do I have to report to you, too?"

Yu Zhiming let out a long breath.

"Gu Qingning, what are you here for this time?"

Gu Qingning took a small pearl earring out of her purse and dangled it in front of Yu Zhiming.

"I realized one of my earrings was missing and suspected it might have fallen into the sofa cushions here."

"So I told Sister Xiang Wan and came over to look for it."

"And sure enough, I found it."

Yu Zhiming glanced at the mess on the coffee table and couldn’t help but ask, "Since you found your earring, why haven’t you left?"

"Instead, you’re just sitting here eating nonstop?"

’That girl was eating *his* snacks. Especially those sweet potato strips his mom had cooked and dried for him. Those two jars were all he had left. Now this girl had eaten every last one.’

A pang of heartache shot through Yu Zhiming.

Gu Qingning said defensively, "I was supposed to hang out with my best friend, but she suddenly had something come up and couldn’t get away."

"When lunchtime came, I was hungry and too lazy to cook, so I just grabbed some of your snacks to tide me over."

"You’re not upset about it, are you?"

"Oh, you are angry, aren’t you? So stingy!"

Yu Zhiming suddenly didn’t want to deal with her anymore.

"Just remember to clean up the coffee table before you leave!"

He said irritably, then went back to his bedroom, leaving Gu Qingning alone in the living room...

Yu Zhiming calmed himself down and picked up a medical journal, flipping through a couple of pages before Gu Qingning followed him into the bedroom.

He was just about to tell her to get out when his eldest sister’s voice came from the phone in Gu Qingning’s hand.

"Fifth Brother, hurry up and apologize to Qingning..."

Yu Zhiming took the phone from Gu Qingning and got an earful from his eldest sister.

She said he shouldn’t have been so rude as to leave a girl alone in the living room, and he definitely shouldn’t have been so petty about the snacks...

After being scolded by his eldest sister for nearly ten minutes and making a series of promises, Yu Zhiming finally managed to get her to end the call.

He went back to the living room, tossed the phone to Gu Qingning, and watched her smug expression, feeling utterly frustrated.

"Gu Qingning, you win. You know how to tattle."

Gu Qingning tossed the phone up and down in her hand and said threateningly, "Your sister did say..."

"She really enjoys talking to me, and I can contact her anytime I want."

Yu Zhiming took a deep breath and said slowly, "My sister told me to be a good host and take care of you."

"So, what do you want?"

Seeing the defeated look on Yu Zhiming’s face, Gu Qingning smiled faintly and patted the spot on the sofa next to her.

"Sit down and talk with me for a bit."

Yu Zhiming sat down more than a meter away from her.

"Closer!"

Yu Zhiming reluctantly scooted half a butt-cheek closer.

Gu Qingning giggled, but the next moment, her smile vanished, and her whole mood turned somber.

"Yu Zhiming, can you believe it? Even in this day and age, marriages of convenience and arranged marriages still exist."

Yu Zhiming said nonchalantly, "Using marriage to establish and solidify vested interests has existed since ancient times, and it won’t be disappearing anytime soon."

"Did your family set you up with someone?"

"You really don’t like him?"

Gu Qingning glanced at Yu Zhiming and nodded. "He’s a really obnoxious guy. I don’t like him at all."

"But my family says he can bring them huge benefits, so I have to accept."

Yu Zhiming picked up a roasted peanut, shelled it, and tossed the nut into his mouth.

"If you can be independent, face hardships bravely, and endure poverty, then you can refuse your family’s arrangement."

"If you can’t, then you should just go along with it."

"You can’t just enjoy your family’s money and resources your whole life without thinking about giving something back."

"It’s like they say: you spend a thousand days training an army to use it for one."

Gu Qingning stared at Yu Zhiming, huffing, "Yu Zhiming, what you’re saying seems to make some sense."

"But as my friend, shouldn’t you be on my side, trying to help me escape my family’s oppression?"

Yu Zhiming shot her a sideways glance.

"First of all, we’re not friends. Second, in my opinion, this isn’t oppression."

Just as Gu Qingning was about to lose her temper, she heard Yu Zhiming’s voice again. "The fact that you’ve been raised to be the way you are shows your family has been quite indulgent with you, which also means they love you."

"That being the case, the person they picked for you, aside from the business considerations, probably isn’t so bad in other respects either."

"You shouldn’t resist the arrangement with a prejudiced mind. Try to accept it. You might even end up liking the guy."

These words calmed Gu Qingning down considerably.

She said, somewhat surprised, "Yu Zhiming, I never thought a clueless guy like you could come up with that."

She voluntarily moved a little closer to Yu Zhiming.

"Sigh. If I follow my family’s arrangement and marry that guy I hate, I won’t be able to come here anymore."

"Doesn’t that make you even a little sad?"

Yu Zhiming gave her another sidelong glance and scoffed, "Why would I be sad?"

"I’d be overjoyed, if anything."

Seeing Gu Qingning’s face instantly darken, he quickly corrected himself, "I mean, overjoyed for you."

"Actually, when it comes to choosing a partner, elders have a sharper eye. They consider the big picture, so their choices are probably more reliable than the ones we’d make for ourselves!"

"Gu Qingning, just look! The divorce rate for people who choose their own partners is so high these days, it’s ridiculous!"

"But many of the marriages arranged by parents and matchmakers last until they’re old and gray."

Gu Qingning took a few deep breaths, then suddenly flashed an exaggerated smile at Yu Zhiming.

"Yu Zhiming, you’re so right. I’ve decided to stop being willful and acting out. I’ll accept my family’s arrangement."

"I’ve also figured it out. The best way to get revenge on a guy you hate is to marry him."

"I’ll charm him to death with my unparalleled charisma, then order him around, make him my workhorse, and ensure he can never get the upper hand for the rest of his life."

Gu Qingning seemed to have truly come to a realization, and her spirits lifted.

She winked at Yu Zhiming and said in a delicate voice, "I haven’t had lunch yet. Aren’t you going to be a good host and treat me?"

Yu Zhiming pointed at the mountain of peanut and walnut shells on the coffee table.

"You ate all that and you’re still not full?"

"Oh, that’s just snacks."

"Don’t you know? Women have two stomachs—one for snacks, and one for real food."

Gu Qingning rubbed her tummy and said sweetly, "I’m just hungry."

Yu Zhiming felt a chill run down his spine and quickly stood up.

"There are some dumplings in the fridge that my sister made. I’ll boil them for you!"

Gu Qingning was about to make another request when Yu Zhiming cut her off.

"Boiling dumplings is all I know how to do. If you don’t want them, you can starve..."

PS:

Thanks to ’Book Friend 20220929214221653’ for the tip!

PS:

Chapters will no longer be released at the same time to prevent the previous Chapter from being blocked by review, which causes reading interruptions.

The next Chapter will be delayed until noon!