To Escape an Arranged Marriage, I Became the Heir’s Fake Girlfriend - Episode 33

Qi Jinyou thought her aunt had called her over because of the argument she had with Shen Yan at the bar yesterday, perhaps to defend Shen Yan.

She paused for a moment, then regained her composure and asked, “Aunt, what do you mean?”

Qi Jinyou wasn’t sure what her aunt knew, so she threw the question back at her.

“Your cousin told me everything that happened at the bar yesterday. Song Chu helped you bully her. Considering what kind of person that bastard is, if he helped you, there must be something going on between you two.”

Qi Jinyou hadn’t expected her usually elegant aunt to curse so bluntly. The word ‘bastard’ sounded particularly harsh to her ears.

The suspicion and ridicule in her aunt’s eyes were also evident.

A surge of anger rose in Qi Jinyou’s chest. “Aunt, do you really understand what happened yesterday?”

Her aunt ignored her question and continued, “You rejected Chen Nuo. Was it because of Song Chu?”

“No.”

“Good. You grew up under my care, and I am responsible for you. I don’t want people saying I failed to teach you properly. I don’t blame you for not helping your cousin at a crucial moment, but I must warn you—don’t daydream. The Song family is not within your reach, and Song Chu is not someone you can control.”

“I never intended to climb up to the Song family. He and I are just acquaintances. Yesterday, he stepped in only because my cousin was about to hit me.”

The words ‘hit me’ made her aunt pause slightly. Clearly, Shen Yan hadn’t told her the full truth.

But the moment of hesitation lasted only a second before her aunt’s expression returned to normal.

“But she didn’t actually hit you, did she?” Her aunt assumed Qi Jinyou was trying to justify herself.

Qi Jinyou wasn’t surprised by her aunt’s reaction. She never expected her to take her side anyway.

“It’s better if you two aren’t involved. I heard that the Song family is looking for a marriage alliance for Song Chu. At least two or three families are interested. So, stay away from him.”

Qi Jinyou felt a heaviness in her heart.

She bit her lip. She admitted that for a brief moment, the news affected her, but only for a moment. Then, she felt a sense of relief.

Her aunt’s tone softened as she changed the subject. “Chen Nuo is a good choice. He may be the second son, but his parents adore him. As soon as he returned to the country this year, he joined the family business. If you two get together, with the Shen family backing him, he might even surpass his older brother’s position in the future.”

Qi Jinyou silently added the rest of her aunt’s thoughts—

The Shen family needed the Chen family’s support even more.

Now that the family business was in Shen Yao’s hands, his mediocre abilities and indulgence in alcohol and women had led the company into decline. The Shen family desperately needed an ally.

“Think carefully about this. Don’t follow your mother’s path.”

Qi Jinyou’s mother was considered an anomaly in high society. She had rejected the arranged marriage set up by her family and insisted on marrying her father, who had nothing at the time. Enraged, her grandfather disowned her and threatened to revoke her inheritance. Instead, her mother took the initiative to sever ties with the Shen family.

Qi Jinyou remembered that her parents had a loving relationship. But her mother had passed away early due to an accident while struggling to make a living, making her a cautionary tale in the eyes of society.

Now, her aunt was using her mother as an example to warn her.

Qi Jinyou heard the underlying mockery in her aunt’s words.

Suppressing her anger, she said, “Aunt, if you’re unhappy with me, then just say so. Don’t drag my mother into this. No one has the right to judge her.”

“As for my own life, I know what I’m doing.”

Her aunt was clearly surprised by her response. After a brief silence, she said, “Fine. As long as you understand. Think carefully about Chen Nuo.”

By the time Qi Jinyou left the house, Shen Yan had not appeared.

She walked toward the entrance of the residential area.

Her footsteps felt heavy, but her chest felt even heavier. There was a tight, suffocating feeling inside her. Her aunt’s words echoed repeatedly in her mind.

About her mother.

Her mother had died before she was ten. She remembered how devastated her father was. He had never considered remarrying, wanting to give her all his love. Qi Jinyou often looked through old photos of her parents—they were always smiling together.

But the world never accepted that kind of love. Qi Jinyou had heard countless people dismiss her parents’ relationship.

When she reached the entrance, she realized she had overlooked her ride home. It was difficult to get a taxi here; she always had to wait for a long time. If she took the bus, she would have to walk several hundred meters to the nearest stop, and the bus routes were limited and infrequent.

She decided to walk to the bus stop while trying to hail a taxi.

The surroundings were quiet. The sound of her flat shoes brushing against the pavement was unusually clear.

Just a minute after leaving the entrance, her phone suddenly rang, breaking the silence.

Qi Jinyou glanced at the screen while walking and froze.

It was Song Chu—the very person her aunt had just warned her to stay away from.

She hesitated for a few seconds, then, like a rebellious child, answered the call.

Before she could speak, his voice came first. “Wow, you’re really making me work for it. You won’t reply to my messages, so I have to call you to get a response.”

Qi Jinyou was confused by his complaint.

She had been lost in thought and hadn’t noticed any messages.

“I didn’t see them,” she said as she opened her chat.

Song Chu had sent three identical messages, all within the last minute: Where are you now?

This man was too domineering.

He ignored messages when it suited him, but when he needed a response, he expected instant replies. Double standards.

She still spoke politely. “Brother Song Chu, do you need something?”

“Where are you now?”

“I just left my aunt’s house. Why?”

“Send me your location. I’ll come to you.”

She immediately refused. “No need. I already found a taxi. You don’t have to pick me up.”

“I’m not here just to pick you up. I have something to talk to you about.”

Qi Jinyou felt embarrassed for assuming otherwise.

She steadied her emotions. “You can just tell me over the phone.”

“Get in a car first.”

She hesitated, then lied, “I’m already in one. Go ahead.”

“Alright, I’ll say it.” His voice suddenly turned relaxed and playful.

Qi Jinyou ignored the change in his tone and listened seriously.

“Listen carefully. First, take five steps forward. Then, turn in a full 360-degree circle. After that, look to your right.”

Holding her phone, Qi Jinyou instinctively followed his instructions. She counted her steps, realizing too late—

She had been tricked.

She didn’t turn in a full circle, but when she looked to her right, she saw a black Bugatti parked nearby, headlights on. The car window was lowered, revealing Song Chu holding his phone, looking right at her.

Qi Jinyou froze. Embarrassment rushed from her toes to the top of her head. There was no way to avoid him now.

She quickly hung up the phone but didn’t move.

The car engine started. With a smooth turn, it stopped right in front of her.

His voice left no room for argument. “Get in.”