"Just giving Aunt another option." Cecilia Gu said half-jokingly, "Aunt, between Molly Yun and Yvonne Ye, who do you think is more suitable for Cousin?"
"Mm." Nora Yun responded lightly.
"So Aunt doesn't dislike Molly Yun?" Cecilia asked again, half-joking, "If Molly Yun's family background were ordinary, would you mind?"
Mrs. Jiang could easily tell that Cecilia was teasing her on purpose.
She couldn't help but tap Cecilia's forehead, "You child! Still playing tricks with me! I watched you and Si Chen struggle all the way to get here. If I don't wake up now, I'd really be a fool."
Cecilia giggled.
"Family background is important, but what's even more important is a person's character and heart. This Molly Yun may not come from a prestigious family, but her aura and poise are exceptional. That's not normal, is it? A family that can raise such a daughter can't be ordinary. You can't get this kind of bearing and education without a proper upbringing. Even our own daughters aren't much better." Mrs. Jiang looked at Cecilia in confusion, "Could there be some mistake?"
Cecilia sighed, "I wish it were a mistake too. But she really is from my mother's side. My father has already checked—Molly Yun is indeed a descendant from the Yun Family's fifth branch. Aunt, you know this as well. In the Yun Family, being from the fifth branch means you aren't entitled to the family's benefits or privileges."
"So that's really odd," Mrs. Jiang nodded. "But I don't mind. As long as the girl comes from a decent family and Yihai likes her, I'll support him. Look at you, you've already had two kids, and Yihai is still..."
Cecilia smiled and said, "Aunt, don't worry! I think there's hope!"
Mrs. Jiang laughed and said, "Alright, alright, I'll take your good wishes! You're the most valuable young madam in the country now! Whatever you say is bound to come true!"
"I'm glad you understand, Aunt." Cecilia linked arms with Mrs. Jiang, "I want Cousin to settle down soon too!"
"You..." Mrs. Jiang tapped Cecilia's nose playfully.
While Mrs. Jiang and Cecilia chatted, and Mr. Jiang pulled his son and nephew aside to talk business, the two girls left outside were truly in an awkward situation.
Finally, Yvonne Ye decided to end the awkwardness and took the initiative.
"Miss Yun." Yvonne Ye looked directly at Molly Yun, "Can I talk to you?"
A bitter smile appeared on Molly Yun's lips.
With her intelligence, she seemed to have already guessed what he wanted to talk about.
No wonder her teacher once told her that sometimes being too smart isn't a good thing.
So, even though Molly Yun had pretty much guessed it, she could only nod and reply, "Of course."
"I worked hard for many years overseas. My goal was to marry into a wealthy family." Yehe turned to look out the window. Even though it was winter, the Jiang family's garden was still vibrant and lively.
"Mm." Yun Morong responded lightly.
"You and I are different. Maybe you were never raised as a pawn for a wealthy marriage; you probably can't understand that feeling. From the moment I showed my worth, my future was already planned out." Yehe gave a bitter smile. "In other people's eyes, I'm a rich family's daughter, using luxury goods, wearing expensive clothes, carrying designer bags. But no one knows the price I have to pay for all this."
A faint smile appeared on Yun Morong's lips.
She suddenly remembered her own past life.
She had gone through the same thing...
The only difference was that her future had been set early on, not like Yehe, who could wait for the best offer.
So Yun Morong couldn't bring herself to resent Yehe.
In fact, everyone is just trying to survive for their family—it's all the same, really.
"Since I was very young, I was taught how to obey, how to please those rich ladies, how to make my future husband happy... Isn't that sad?" Yehe turned slightly to look at Yun Morong. "Can you understand any of this?"
Yun Morong nodded, "Yes, I can."
Yehe looked at Yun Morong in surprise.
Yun Morong said softly, "If you haven't experienced someone else's life path, you have no right to judge or comment on their sacrifices and endurance."
Yehe looked even more surprised at Yun Morong. "I thought you'd laugh at me."
Yun Morong smiled and shook her head.
Yehe continued, "I studied art abroad. But I only learned the basics. Since you understand me, you must also realize that everything I learned was just to make myself seem more valuable."
Yun Morong nodded, "Many families raise their daughters this way. It's all for political marriages."
"Exactly." Yehe chuckled softly. "Actually, from the beginning, I already knew what my fate would be. But I still had fantasies, or maybe extravagant hopes. Maybe my political marriage partner would be someone I liked? If we were in love, would a political marriage even matter?"
"I've always held onto that hope. Until today, when I saw Jiang Yihai, I knew my wish might come true." Yehe said softly, "Young Master Jiang's presence really lives up to his reputation. If he's my marriage partner, I don't think I'd mind that it's a political union."
"I can tell that Jiang Yihai likes you. He barely looked at me today, but he kept sneaking glances at you." Yehe's voice grew low, "So, Miss Yun, if you don't like him, could you step aside?"
Yun Morong smiled at Yehe and didn't answer her question. Instead, she asked a few others: "What's your favorite food? And your least favorite?"
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Yehe looked at Yun Morong in confusion, but she still answered, "I love fruit the most, and I hate cream."
"Great. If you had fruit and cream, and you weren't hungry, you'd choose fruit. But if you were starving, would you eat cream?" Yun Morong added, "Assuming you had money."
Yehe answered immediately, "Of course not! If I have money, why wouldn't I buy fruit instead of eating cream?"
Yun Morong shrugged and smiled, "Exactly. That's the point. I can step aside, and Jiang Yihai can give up on me. But why should he give up the right to pursue the girl he likes, just to accept someone arranged by his family whom he doesn't love? Plus, the Jiang family has never forced Jiang Yihai into anything. He's already in his thirties and they've never pressured him to marry. That shows their tolerance and generosity."
Yehe's expression changed slightly.
"So, the root of the problem isn't me. It's Jiang Yihai himself," Yun Morong said with a smile. "I'm just a symbol, not the real issue. My presence or absence won't change anything. Love can't be fought for. Anything you fight for isn't love, it's just pity. When two people truly love each other, it feels like both are gaining. But if only one person tries, then one feels shortchanged, and the other feels wronged. If love turns into grievance, how far can you go together?"
"You really understand love?" Yehe couldn't help asking.
"I don't. I'm just calmer than most people." Yun Morong smiled faintly. "Maybe I'm colder than most."
Yun Morong lowered her gaze and gently closed her eyes.
How cold-blooded she had been back then.
For her family and her sister, she had ruthlessly cut off her feelings and agreed to marry Mo Zixin.
Her own cruelty and coldness had hurt others.
It wasn't that she didn't understand.
She just pretended not to understand.
So what if she understood?
So what if she didn't?
The ending wouldn't change either way!
Someone had to step up and take responsibility.
Someone has to step forward and bear the family's mission.
Because she was Nora Yun, the daughter of the Yun family, the eldest daughter!
As a daughter of the Yun family, she couldn't shirk responsibility, couldn't put personal feelings above the family!
There are always too many things in life that are beyond our control.
And there are always too many choices where you can't have both.
When faced with love and family, she chose her family without hesitation.
She wasn't a good person, or maybe not a qualified woman.
But she didn't regret it.
Or rather, she never gave herself the right to regret.
Yehe stared blankly at Yun Morong.
For a moment, Yehe felt that the girl standing in front of her had a kind of heroic spirit—almost masculine.
This girl was clearly delicate and fragile, yet her determination, resilience, and decisiveness were qualities Yehe herself lacked.
When Nora Yun saw Cecilia, her eyes automatically shifted from firm and resolute to gentle.
At that moment, footsteps sounded behind them, and Yun Morong immediately opened her eyes.
Yehe quickly withdrew her gaze and turned with Yun Morong to look.
Cecilia Gu had returned.
When Yun Morong saw Cecilia, her eyes automatically shifted from firm and resolute to gentle.
Yehe didn't miss the change in Yun Morong's gaze.
Well, she was envious again.
Cecilia smiled and said, "Sorry, I got carried away feeding the fish and forgot about you two."
Yun Morong and Yehe both smiled and shook their heads, showing they didn't mind.
Cecilia, her belly round, slowly sat down on the sofa. Xiao Wang immediately handed her a cup of tea.
Cecilia took the tea and drank a couple of sips before saying, "Sit down, don't be so formal. Even though this is the Jiang family, I never treat myself as an outsider here!"
After Yun Morong and Yehe sat down, Cecilia smiled and said, "Just now I spoke to Aunt, and she said I can raid the flower house as much as I want! Aunt said she's being generous today—any flowers we like, we can take!"