Cecilia Gu gently shook her head. "I have never regretted any of my decisions. Jane Xiao is my adoptive mother. She raised me and endured so much hardship. Ever since I was little, I made it my goal to protect my mom! Now I can finally do it—how could I possibly regret it?"
"Then what would you do if Charles Yin ended up in direct conflict with your birth parents?" Mo Zixin's eyes were sharp as he looked at Cecilia. "Cecilia, don't avoid this question, okay? You'll have to face it sooner or later. I don't want to pressure you, but tonight you saw it yourself—Auntie already hates the Yin family to the core. Charles Yin went ahead and acquired the Yun family, and I still don't know his real motive. But just that action has completely enraged Uncle and Auntie. You're caught in the middle—it's a tough spot to be in!"
Cecilia quickly looked up at Mo Zixin.
She hadn't expected the first person to mention how torn she was would be Mo Zixin.
"To be honest, I wish the person behind all this wasn't Charles Yin. Because I don't want to make things harder for you," Mo Zixin continued. "But I trust my team's analysis and investigation completely. And most importantly, my connections never fail."
"So it's confirmed that Charles Yin did it?" Cecilia lowered her eyes, her voice betraying no emotion.
"Yes. It's confirmed." Mo Zixin's eyes also revealed nothing of his emotions.
In fact, he'd been waiting for this moment for a very long time.
When Charles Yin severed his ties, Mo Zixin sensed something unusual.
He just hadn't expected that Charles Yin's decision to cut him off was all for dealing with the Yun family.
Even Mo Zixin had to admit—Charles Yin was truly decisive and ruthless.
After stirring up trouble among the Yun family's allies, he struck before anyone could react, dealing the Yun family a fatal blow.
By the time everyone realized what had happened, the Yun family had already been uprooted.
At first, Mo Zixin didn't understand why Charles Yin would do this, but after thinking it over, it all made sense.
Charles Yin had always been quick, precise, and ruthless with his enemies—never soft-hearted.
Undermining the foundation was his favorite strategy.
If Charles Yin completely destroyed the Yun family, its status would no longer match the Mo family's. Cecilia, who had already been married once and had a child, would make the Mo family reconsider their choice for a future daughter-in-law.
And with the Yun family gone, their family traditions would no longer be a threat.
Cecilia could completely ignore those traditions and remain the young mistress of the Yin family.
Once Mo Zixin understood Charles Yin's plan, he couldn't help but want to applaud him.
But maybe what he didn’t expect was that the Yun family had been preparing for this day for over twenty years.
Although Charles Yin's fierce attack did uproot part of the Yun family's domestic presence, their main strength had already shifted abroad.
The Yun family still existed, and so did their family traditions.
And the Mo family... of course they would continue to uphold tradition—and he himself would never give up on Cecilia!
Charles Yin, oh Charles Yin, I've finally managed to win a round against you.
Mo Zixin knew the truth in his heart, but outwardly, he pretended not to understand.
"I don't know," Cecilia replied quietly. "My heart is a mess."
"Cecilia, indecision only brings more chaos," Mo Zixin said, placing a bowl of soup in front of her. "If you ever need me, I can help—no strings attached."
Cecilia was about to refuse, but Mo Zixin continued, "I won't use this to pressure you into anything. It's all voluntary. Even if you don't appreciate it, I'll still do it."
Cecilia was stunned for a moment. Mo Zixin continued, "I just want to prove that I'm serious. For you, I'd do anything."
Cecilia hadn't expected Mo Zixin to suddenly say something like that, and her eyes grew flustered.
"You're so outstanding and perfect. The women who like you could probably line up all the way to the Atlantic. Why do you..." Cecilia couldn't meet Mo Zixin's gaze. She didn't know how to respond.
"So what? No matter how great they are, they're not you. You're the only one I want." Mo Zixin smiled faintly. "Maybe you think I'm just boasting or trying to please you. But maybe you don't know—besides the rule that I must marry you, the Mo family tradition also includes a prophecy: if the main line doesn't marry into the Yun family, our bloodline will end. Except for Zixuan, I'm the only direct descendant left. If I can't be with you, I might never marry anyone."
Cecilia stared at Mo Zixin in shock, frowning. "Don't joke about things like that..."
"If you don't believe me, you can come to the Mo family's ancestral shrine and see for yourself. The family rules are enshrined there. You'll see how serious I am." Mo Zixin looked at Cecilia intently. "I believe this is my destiny."
"What I've said will always stand. I won't pressure you; I'll just stay where I am and wait for you to come back." Mo Zixin smiled gently. "Don't let my words burden you. If they do, that's my fault. Come on, the food's getting cold. Eat something."
Cecilia ate a few bites absentmindedly, barely swallowing. Her heart was a jumble of emotions she couldn't name.
Mo Zixin's attitude made it clear—he was determined to pursue her.
But her own life was still a mess...
Mo Zixin didn't say anything else. After urging Cecilia to finish dinner, he finally gathered up the remaining dishes, satisfied.
Looking at Mo Zixin's contented expression, Cecilia couldn't help but ask, "Mo Zixin, you keep saying I'm your destiny. So, in your heart, between me and Yun Nuo, who do you love the most?"
That was a pretty sharp question.
Faced with such a pointed question, Mo Zixin did what he always did—dodged skillfully. "How about I tell you my story? Once you've heard it, this question won't matter anymore."
Cecilia settled back on the sofa, watching Mo Zixin sitting to the side, his fingers interlaced on his knees.
She had to admit—Mo Zixin really did have the kind of appeal that could drive women crazy.
Tall, handsome, gentle, and kind, with a calm demeanor, plus a powerful military and political background and the wealth he'd built himself.
With all that, most women would be screaming for him.
But 'most women' didn't include herself—or Yun Nuo.
Neither Nuo Nuo nor herself—they both loved other men.
The man Yun Nuo loved was Jiang Yihai.
The man she loved was Charles Yin.
Maybe out of guilt for her sister, Cecilia's attitude toward Mo Zixin gradually softened.
Mo Zixin was perceptive—he quickly noticed Cecilia lowering her guard and offering kindness.
Even though Mo Zixin didn't understand why Cecilia suddenly warmed up to him, he wasn't about to miss any chance to get closer to her.
Mo Zixin cleared his throat and began, "I've told you before, my grandfather had three brothers, but in the end, only he survived. All three of my great-uncles died on the battlefield."
Cecilia nodded silently.
That was probably the beginning of the entanglement between the Yun and Mo families, wasn't it?
The Mo family lost three sons and wanted a Yun daughter as a daughter-in-law—it made sense.
No wonder the Yun family treated the Mo family so carefully—they really did owe them.
"After my grandfather grew up, he followed his uncles' path and joined the military. Under my great-grandfather's guidance, he made a name for himself and built the Mo family as it is today. When he was young, my great-grandmother arranged a childhood engagement for him—with my grandmother, who came from a family of founding generals. So, the Mo family rose through the military. In my father's generation, it was the Cultural Revolution. Families were bigger then, so I had two uncles and two aunts. But in the end, the Mo family was handed to my father—not because he was exceptional, but because of my birth."
Cecilia was drawn in, listening intently to Mo Zixin's story.
"If you watch TV dramas, you might know that Emperor Kangxi handed the throne to Yongzheng not because he was outstanding, but because Kangxi liked his grandson Qianlong—so Yongzheng was just a transitional emperor. I remember seeing that in a show. Our situation is similar. When I was born, my great-grandmother was still alive. As soon as I was born, she decided the Mo family's main line would go to my father, because she said the mission to end the centuries-old feud with the Yun family rested with me."
"I was very young then, so I didn't know any of this. But in the Mo family, it's no secret—everyone knows. When my great-grandmother passed away, she left a will: my wife could only be a Yun daughter. If I married anyone else, she wouldn't rest in peace. So, from a young age, I knew my family treated the Yun family especially well. Every holiday, my grandfather would send gifts to the Yun family, and they would send generous gifts back. The two families kept up this tradition."
"As I grew older, I became a standout in our social circle. Naturally, I had no shortage of admirers—many girls with great qualities—but I never felt anything for them. You know, I wasn't the one who rejected those girls; my family did. My mother even warned some of them not to get close to me. I thought it was funny—after all, I was just a teenager then."