Reborn Into A New Life, Everyone Loves Me Now (GL) - Chapter 26.4
Seated leisurely in a chair was a young woman in a light yellow gown, her waist bound by a simple silk sash. She was slender, with sharp, upward-slanting eyes. A teardrop-shaped beauty mark beneath her left eye added to her charm and radiance.
Gao Qianqian calmly wiped a slingshot in her hands, unfazed. “Why are you so anxious? Even if this place is demolished, it’s my Gao family’s loss, not yours.”
The matchmaker laughed, her already small eyes squinting into thin lines. Her tone was laced with fondness. “Miss, how can you say that? I’m just worried about your future!”
Gao Qianqian sneered. “Those men downstairs only want my family’s fortune. They’re not even pretending. But whatever, I’m already stuck in this situation. I’ll just pick one who looks decent enough.” Rising, she followed the matchmaker up to the stage.
The moment Gao Qianqian appeared, the crowd below erupted into thunderous cheers. Elbows jostled, eager for her favor—each man hoping to be the one to catch the embroidered ball.
The matchmaker called out loudly, “Young masters, please calm yourselves. Standing here beside me is the only daughter of Yun City’s wealthiest family—”
Gao Qianqian, irritated by the noise, frowned slightly, her head throbbing. She wanted to end this quickly. Her eyes casually swept over the crowd below—and suddenly lit up. A faint smile appeared on her brows. Before the matchmaker could finish her sentence, the embroidered ball flew through the air, falling straight into the hands of a noble-looking woman in red, stunning the entire crowd.
Su Qishi had only come to watch the excitement. She hadn’t expected a multicolored ball to fall from the sky the moment she arrived—and caught it instinctively.
Seeing that the one who caught the ball was a woman, the crowd collectively let out a breath of relief, preparing for another round.
The matchmaker hurried over, speaking in a low, panicked tone, “Miss, what are you doing?”
Gao Qianqian blinked slowly, answering calmly, “Seeking a husband.”
The matchmaker was stunned. “But that’s a woman! How can she be your husband?”
Gao Qianqian smiled. “Why not? I want her.”
The matchmaker nearly wept. “Oh heavens, Miss, you mustn’t!”
Ignoring her, Gao Qianqian strode down the stairs. The crowd instinctively parted to make way.
“She’s so beautiful…”
“Are you sure you’re not just after her money?”
“Nonsense! I’m here for her heart!”
“Don’t kid yourself. The Gao family’s fortune is vast—let’s hope you live long enough to spend it! Hahaha!”
Amid the murmurs, Gao Qianqian walked straight up to Su Qishi and extended a hand. “You caught my embroidered ball. Now you must marry me!”
The girl’s dazzling smile seemed to eclipse the sunlight itself. For a brief moment, Su Qishi was dazed—as if seeing her younger self reflected in Gao Qianqian’s bright face.
“Sorry, I didn’t mean to catch it. Here, take it back.” She handed the ball over.
Gao Qianqian glanced at it, then grinned. “Whoever catches my embroidered ball—man or woman—is mine.”
With a wave of her hand, two attendants came forward and lifted Su Qishi by the arms.
Su Qishi was pressed into a chair. Gao Qianqian gently stroked her jaw. “What’s wrong with staying with me? I’ve got plenty of money—whatever you want, I’ll give it all to you, little beauty.”
Leaning back slightly, Su Qishi’s lips curled into an enigmatic smile. “All of it? Can I really have everything?”
Gao Qianqian’s eyes gleamed. “Interesting. Little beauty, do you have any family background?”
Su Qishi replied coolly, “None.”
Gao Qianqian’s smile deepened. “Even better. Then marry me.”
A flicker of danger danced in Su Qishi’s eyes, though it only drew people in. “So, Miss Gao agrees to my terms?”
Gao Qianqian stiffened slightly—she hadn’t expected this beauty to be serious. “Once we marry, what’s mine is yours…”
Su Qishi chuckled. “Do I look so easily fooled?”
Gao Qianqian wasn’t ready to let her go. She had finally met someone she liked. “Alright, I’ll give Sister one-tenth of everything. That’s enough to spend for a lifetime—no need to worry ever again.”
“Well?” she asked brightly, “Am I not sincere?”
Su Qishi gave a small nod. “Sincere, yes. But I have business to attend to. I’ll have to decline playing with you.”
“Don’t go, Sister! Let’s talk more, alright?”
Hearing this, Su Qishi paused, the corner of her mouth lifting in a subtle, unreadable smile.
Gao Qianqian quickly grabbed her arm, determined not to let her leave. Then, as if making a monumental decision, she whispered, “Truthfully, I never wanted to seek a husband. My father is seriously ill and wishes to see me married before… I only agreed to this for his sake. Those men downstairs—they only want my family’s fortune. Normally, they avoid me like the plague when they hear my name…” Her voice trembled, eyes growing misty.
Su Qishi suddenly recalled her younger self—viewed as a troublemaker by the capital, shunned by noble families. Her only childhood companions had been Gu Congran and Liu Jiangli. At ten, she was sent to Tianyuan Sect to train—gone for seven years. Not once did her mother write. It was as if she never existed, while Su Qi took her place, becoming the favored child.
Her mother had never shown her affection. That’s why, when she met Su Qingzhi—motherless since birth—she felt they shared the same fate. But she was wrong. Su Qingzhi’s mother couldn’t love her, while Su Qishi’s mother chose not to. She never understood why—until one day she saw her mother caressing a hidden portrait. A man—not the emperor—looked back at her from the painting.
In that moment, she understood. She wasn’t born of love, and thus never welcomed. A child not born of hope would never know happiness.
Reaching out, Su Qishi gently wiped away Gao Qianqian’s tears—as if comforting her own wounded younger self.
“Don’t cry. I’ll help you.”
Gao Qianqian’s face lit up instantly. “Wonderful! Sister, once I fulfill my father’s wish, I will repay you—generously.”
Su Qishi’s eyes flickered. “Alright…”
Hand in hand, Gao Qianqian led her back on stage. “Everyone, please quiet down! This young lady has caught my embroidered ball—she is now the head of the Gao family!”
Her announcement caused an uproar.
Someone shouted, “Miss Gao, she’s a woman! How can she be the head of your house? It’s improper!”
The noise was jarring. Gao Qianqian snapped coldly, “What’s improper? Prince Yue of the court is engaged to a woman—the Prime Minister’s second daughter, Liu Jiangli. If she can do it, why can’t I?”
Someone argued, “Prince Yue led troops against Geyue Kingdom! Even if she marries a woman, who dares object?”
Gao Qianqian chuckled. “I’m no war hero, true—but whenever disaster strikes in Yun Dynasty, I’m the first to send aid. Which of you hasn’t eaten Gao family’s relief grain?”
Su Qishi turned to look at her, a flicker of admiration in her eyes. Perhaps this woman could be a valuable ally…
Unbeknownst to Gao Qianqian, she was already on someone’s radar.
The crowd fell silent. Gao Qianqian, generous as ever, had silver distributed to everyone—one tael each. Grumbling turned to praise.
Hand in hand, Gao Qianqian raised Su Qishi’s arm high. “From this day forth, Miss Shi is the master of the Gao family!”
“Congratulations!” the crowd cheered.
A sharp voice cut through the celebration—“I do not agree!”
Gao Manor
Gao Qianqian sighed helplessly, staring at Liu Jiangli standing across from her. Then she leaned toward Su Qishi, who sat calmly sipping tea. “Sister, didn’t you say you have no family background?”
Su Qishi arched a brow. “Well, we are engaged—but not by choice. We’ll annul it soon…” Realizing something was off, she frowned. “Why ask? Our marriage is fake.”
Gao Qianqian whispered nervously, “Yes, fake—but the way that girl’s looking at me is… terrifying.”
Su Qishi followed her gaze.
Liu Jiangli stood there, expression cold, her eyes sharp as ice. Her pale skin and elegant features made her seem aloof and distant—yet irresistibly alluring.
Her voice was cold, like frost from a thousand-year glacier. “Miss Gao, as a noble lady, is it not improper to publicly seize another’s fiancée?”