After running into Jiang Si at the train station yesterday, Yu Manli’s mood about returning home had grown particularly uneasy.
On one hand, she still needed to explain her actions to Mo Zhenyu.
On the other, she had no idea what awaited her once she got back.
So she wandered around until well past six in the evening before finally heading home.
As luck would have it, the moment Yu Manli stepped into the compound, she ran into a group of military dependents.
The impending marriage alliance between the Yu and Ling families was common knowledge in the compound.
Naturally, the moment they saw Yu Manli return, they greeted her with cheerful congratulations.
At the word "congratulations," Yu Manli understood everything.
She had known word of her relationship would spread through the compound eventually—she just hadn’t expected Jiang Si to deny her even a moment’s respite.
Zhang Yaqin arrived just then. Seeing her daughter surrounded by a crowd, her expression dark as thunder, she knew it was over.
After mentally cursing every gossipmonger present, Zhang Yaqin marched forward with a stern face and dragged Yu Manli away.
Her reaction only confirmed Yu Manli’s suspicions.
And so, mother and daughter returned home, each lost in their own thoughts.
For the next half-hour, they talked at cross-purposes in the living room.
It wasn’t until Yu Changqing came home that the two realized they hadn’t been discussing the same thing at all.
Zhang Yaqin jabbed a furious finger at her daughter’s forehead. "Have you lost your mind? We’ve raised you with nothing but the best, and you didn’t even bother telling us before getting involved with someone! Do you even see your father and me as your parents anymore?"
"You’re one to talk!" Yu Manli shot back, her tone just as sharp. "I don’t even know what this man looks like, and you’ve already settled my marriage!"
"Now the entire compound knows I’m getting married."
"The only person who didn’t know was me!"
"Is this how parents should act? You even had my brother lie to me, saying you were sick, just to trick me into coming home!"
"What else was I supposed to do?" Zhang Yaqin said, adopting a pleading tone. "You’re our daughter—do you really think we’d harm you? Listen, the Ling family’s second son doesn’t smoke or drink, and he’s handsome to boot."
"Most likely, the Ling family’s affairs will fall to him in the future."
"What’s so bad about marrying him?"
"Mom, it’s not about whether he’s good or bad—it’s that I don’t like him at all."
Yu Manli shook her mother’s arm.
"Mom, I don’t want to marry him!"
"Just give in this once, please? Call off the engagement. Can’t you?"
"Are you joking? The invitations are already sent out! Backing out now would shame your father and me in front of everyone. Do you think the Ling family is some nobody household?"
Zhang Yaqin spoke with the wisdom of experience. "Manli, you’re still young. I understand that at your age, love seems like the most important thing."
"But let me tell you, a marriage can’t survive on romance alone."
She almost used herself as an example but thought better of it.
"Manli, let me ask you one simple question."
"Can the man you’re seeing now hand over every last cent of his salary for you to spend?"
"And I mean spend, not save!"
"Can he ensure you ride in a car wherever you want to go? Can he guarantee four dishes and a soup on the table every single day?"
"Will your children be able to attend the best kindergarten in Capital City the moment they're born?"
"Think carefully—your Eldest Sister, Third Sister, and Fourth Sister, what kind of men did they marry? What kind of lives do they lead every day?"
Zhang Yaqin pleaded earnestly, but Yu Manli wasn’t hearing a single word of it.
Her stance was firm: whoever wanted to marry could go ahead, but she wouldn’t.
Yet Yu Changqing was unusually resolute on this matter.
He looked at his daughter, not to discuss or persuade, but with an unyielding tone.
"This isn’t up for debate. You’ve enjoyed a life of privilege in the Yu family for years."
"Now, our family is at a critical juncture—life or death. It’s your duty, your obligation, to contribute."
"Dad, how is our family at a life-or-death crisis? You’re at least a military—"
"A general without real power—what does that count for in Capital City?"
Yu Changqing clenched his fist. "Starting today, you’re not going anywhere. Stay home and prepare for the wedding. We’ve already arranged your dowry."
"Yes, yes! Manli, come see—everything in this room is for you."
As she spoke, Zhang Yaqin hurried to fetch a bankbook.
"The betrothal gifts from the Ling family are all here. Your father and I added another two thousand yuan. Take it."
"Take it away! I don’t want it!"
Yu Manli was furious at her parents' forceful tactics.
"I’ve said it—I won’t marry! Why are you forcing me?"
Slap!
Yu Changqing struck her across the face.
"Dad, you hit me! I hate you! I’ll never speak to you again!"
With that, Yu Manli ran upstairs in tears.
"Lao Yu, you could’ve just talked. Why hit her?"
Zhang Yaqin moved to follow and console her, but Yu Changqing barked, "Stay where you are!"
Didn’t he know his own daughter’s temper?
"She’s too upset right now. Nothing you say will get through."
"Call the Eldest Son and the others. Have all the sisters come home tomorrow."
"They’re her peers. Their words will carry more weight."
Zhang Yaqin saw the logic and nodded. "Alright, I’ll call them now."
That night, the couple tossed and turned, unable to sleep until past three in the morning.
But when they woke up—Yu Manli was gone!
They couldn’t make a scene, especially with the wedding so close. At dawn, the couple split up to search.
The hunt lasted the entire day.
By the time Yu Changqing returned, it was already past eight in the evening.
Zhang Yaqin was still weeping in the living room. Seeing him, she rushed over.
"Any news?"
Yu Changqing shook his head. "I questioned that boy. He said after parting ways with Manli at the train station yesterday, he hasn’t seen her since."
"What?" Zhang Yaqin gasped. "That’s impossible! If she didn’t go to him, where else could she be?"
Her panic wasn’t unfounded. The night before, they had confiscated their daughter’s introduction letter and work permit.
Without those, even with money, she couldn’t stay at a hotel or leave the city.
"Have you asked all the relatives?" Yu Changqing also felt that this matter was quite strange.
Zhang Yaqin nodded. "I've asked them, and I even reached out to all of Manli's close friends. None of them knew about her return to Capital City."
After a moment of thought, she added, "Lao Yu, do you think that boy lied to us?"
"He shouldn't have." Yu Changqing had a sharp eye for people.
That Mo Zhenyu had been so terrified when he saw him that he could barely string a coherent sentence together.
Besides, the gravity of the situation was clear—there was no way he would hide anything at this point.
"Lao Yu, do you think something might have happened to Manli?"
At this point, Zhang Yaqin couldn’t hold back any longer.
"No, we can’t just sit around waiting. I’m going to report this to the police—"
