Chapter 2: How can arranging a marriage be so troublesome, throwing embroidered balls…

A quarter of an hour later, Gu Sui sat in front of the mirror.

He allowed Sui Yu to fuss with the long hair that had suddenly appeared behind him, looking at the face in the mirror that was no different from usual, and swallowed nervously.

He had… transmigrated?

“My son!”

Gu Sui heard the voice before seeing the person. He looked out the window.

A middle-aged woman wearing a four-clawed python robe was stepping through the courtyard gate. Her footsteps seemed steady, but there was a hint of panic.

“Greetings, Family Head,” Sui Yu bowed respectfully, then retreated. Yun Mu, who had been following behind Gu Tingsong, also remained outside.

Gu Sui blinked hurriedly, becoming more flustered under Gu Tingsong’s gaze.

The Family Head… is a woman?

“My son…”

Gu Tingsong called out again, full of affection, her hands trembling slightly as she approached Gu Sui.

Although she had heard Yun Mu’s report, she still couldn’t quite believe it.

The conditions stated by the Imperial Astrologer were too absurd. She had originally given up hope, only wishing for Sui to stay alive.

“You…”

Gu Sui had barely uttered a sound when he saw the woman’s eyes light up.

Gu Sui pressed his lips together, unsure whether to speak or not.

But staying silent indefinitely wasn’t an option. Gu Sui took a deep breath, looked directly at Gu Tingsong, and said,

“I’m a bit confused right now. Could you explain?”

Hearing such a long sentence from Gu Sui with her own ears, Gu Tingsong was so excited she nearly burst into tears.

She rushed forward and grasped Gu Sui’s hand, patting it twice.

“Good, good.”

Gu Tingsong sat down next to Gu Sui, calmed her emotions, and then slowly began to speak.

“The day your father gave birth to you, the originally clear sky suddenly became overcast, and it rained continuously…”

Gu Sui’s pupils shook, his eyes narrowed, and he couldn’t help but interrupt Gu Tingsong.

“What did you say?!”

Who gave birth to whom?

“Does Sui feel that I’m being too long-winded? Then I’ll keep it brief. Afterwards, I went to see the Imperial Astrologer, Wan Qi Xing Yin.”

Gu Tingsong didn’t understand the true reason for Gu Sui’s shock, nor did she know that his worldview was on the verge of collapse. She continued:

“Her divination for you was that you were burdened with misfortune, born to suffer, possessing four of life’s eight sufferings, lacking in emotion and desire, and not living past thirty.”

Gu Tingsong’s voice was full of anger.

“At that time, I demolished her Imperial Astrologer’s mansion. My son was born to be a qilin, how could he have such a fate of suffering!

But you almost died several times as a child, growing up with many stumbles.

Although I later taught you martial arts to make your body stronger,

You were indeed lacking in emotion and desire as the Imperial Astrologer said, not close to anyone around you.

Not even to me and your father.

You never spoke to others, at most responding with nods and grunts.

However, such a personality also made you more suited to the military. With my teaching, you could handle things independently by the age of seventeen.”

Gu Tingsong’s eyes showed visible pride, but after a moment, a trace of sadness mingled in.

“Your father’s spirit was wounded by your illnesses when you were young, and he didn’t live long due to depression.

I couldn’t let you die before thirty as the Imperial Astrologer said, so I asked her for a solution.

She said your fate wasn’t without hope.

She said if you married before the age of twenty-five, you could avoid future bloodshed.

And if one day you forgot the past and began to speak, it would be a new beginning.”

At this point, her expression became more serious, with hope in her eyes and some complexity that Gu Sui couldn’t understand.

“However… never mind, let’s not mention the rest.

In any case, my son finally has emotions and desires. Today you’re arranging a marriage at Yulu Tower. Once you’re married off, I’ll have no more worries.”

Gu Tingsong spoke sincerely, but Gu Sui felt a chill in his heart.

What does she mean by ‘married off’?!

And that divination, how is it so similar to what that fortune teller he met on Tianqiao Bridge said before!

Four of life’s eight sufferings, he possessed four, Gu Sui possessed four, and now he had transmigrated into Gu Sui.

What, did he destroy the Milky Way in his previous life to be so unfortunate in this one?

“What’s wrong with my son, are you tired?”

Seeing Gu Sui’s poor complexion, Gu Tingsong spoke with concern.

Gu Sui forced a smile, his expression bitter.

“No, it’s just… too surprising.”

Hearing this, Gu Tingsong raised her hand to pat Gu Sui’s head, her warm palm covering his crown, then embraced him.

Gu Sui felt time freeze for a moment.

“My son need not be afraid. No matter what, you are always my good son. I’m just too happy.”

The strong yet warm embrace made Gu Sui feel a strange longing.

Although she was just a stranger he had met not long ago, she felt more like a mother than Gu Shi ever did to him.

Perhaps it was because he had occupied Gu Sui’s body.

Gu Sui thought to himself.

How could he tell this mother that he wasn’t Gu Sui, that her son hadn’t forgotten the past, but that his body had been occupied by another person?

“Actually…”

The words were on the tip of his tongue, but Gu Sui felt a wave of bitterness in his mouth.

The rest of the words rolled on his tongue, but he couldn’t spit them out.

“Sui, you’ve never called me ‘mother’ in all these years. Would you fulfill your mother’s wish today?”

Gu Tingsong released Gu Sui from her embrace and spoke with anticipation.

Gu Sui’s expression still showed some hesitation, causing Gu Tingsong to feel a bit disappointed.

“Mother.”

The clean, clear voice escaped from between his lips, reaching Gu Tingsong’s ears like heavenly music.

She was overjoyed, unable to suppress the curve of her lips. Her originally stern face became much more amiable due to the smile lines at the corners of her eyes.

Gu Sui let out a long breath, embracing Gu Tingsong in return under her gaze, and spoke softly.

“You are a good mother.”

Although it was shameful, let him experience this stolen motherly love, just for a moment.

“Good, good, good, my dear Sui, come, let’s go to Yulu Tower. Tell me which one you like.

If she dares to mistreat you in the future, I’ll bring two hundred thousand troops to tear her apart!”

Gu Sui twitched the corners of his mouth: “…Mother, is it not possible… to not marry?”

Faced with Gu Tingsong’s protectiveness, he was very moved, but he hadn’t even figured out what this place was like yet, how could he marry?

It was too difficult!

Gu Tingsong’s expression became serious, “We can’t fool around with this.”

“My son will be twenty-five years old in three or four months after the new year. If you don’t marry before then, there will be bloodshed within five years. That Wan Qi Xing Yin’s calculations are quite accurate, I dare not gamble.”

Gu Sui felt it was all bullshit. What kind of ultimate marriage pressure was this!

Gu Tingsong adjusted Gu Sui’s collar, then took a black cloak trimmed with fur from a nearby rack and put it on him, carefully tying the strings.

“It’s cold outside, you must wear more. Let’s go, we won’t ride horses today, we’ll take a carriage.”

Gu Sui: “……”

*

Yulu Tower, a unique brothel in the capital.

Unlike ordinary brothels, it was truly a refined place where scholars and elegant guests gathered. Usually, when the nobles held banquets and such, they would either do it at home or at Yulu Tower.

The news that the Gu family’s young master would be arranging a marriage at Yulu Tower at the end of the eleventh month had spread a month ago. Today, Yulu Tower was especially lively.

Gu Sui could be considered a legend in the capital.

As a man, he followed his mother in military campaigns, achieving numerous military merits large and small, the only male general in the current dynasty, holding a third-rank position.

In the Mu Dynasty, most men married out after the age of fifteen. The fact that Gu Sui was almost twenty-five and still unmarried was due to this.

Everyone in the capital had heard of Gu Sui’s temperament – extremely cold and unsympathetic.

The incident three years ago when Gu Sui massacred a city in the Western Regions was still criticized to this day.

Additionally, he had been at the frontier before, only returning to the capital half a year ago, so his marriage had been delayed.

But just because Gu Sui hadn’t married didn’t mean he couldn’t marry.

Gu Tingsong was the current General commanding two hundred thousand troops, and Gu Sui was the only son of the Gu family. Whoever married him would be marrying into those two hundred thousand troops.

Therefore, even knowing Gu Sui’s peculiar temperament, many people came to Yulu Tower today to join in the excitement.

The third young lady of the Chancellor’s mansion, the fifth young lady of the Minister’s mansion, last year’s third-ranked scholar…

Almost all the unmarried women of suitable age in the capital had come, and even several princesses, as well as martial artists who had come from the jianghu after hearing the news.

Yulu Tower had an open-air, square-shaped structure. At this moment, those women were gathered in the elegant rooms on the first or second floor.

Gu Sui was now standing in a room prepared in advance inside Yulu Tower. He had barely glanced down when he hurriedly retreated from the window.

How could there be so many people!

It was just Gu Sui arranging a marriage, were these people giving too much face!

Gu Tingsong had originally wanted to accompany him, but she was urgently summoned to the palace on the way, so only Sui Yu and Yun Mu came with him to Yulu Tower.

Just as Gu Sui was thinking about how to muddle through this large-scale blind date, Sui Yu came up to him carrying a tray with three embroidered balls on it, which startled him.

“What is this for?”

Yun Mu beside him introduced the process of this marriage arrangement.

“Young Master, these are three embroidered balls. Later, you will throw them down from the corridor. Whoever wants to marry you must first grab an embroidered ball to obtain the key to the first round.”

Gu Sui rolled his eyes. How could arranging a marriage be so troublesome, throwing embroidered balls? He wouldn’t throw them!

Yun Mu continued: “There are three embroidered balls in total. Three people will successfully enter the second round, which will be a competition among these three people.

Only the final winner will have the right to face you in combat, and only the one who ultimately defeats you can marry you.”

“Goodness, do you think I’m some kind of treasure, worth all this effort for these people to fight over?”

Gu Sui was very self-aware about himself. What had he done to deserve this!

However, Sui Yu felt that his young master didn’t understand himself.

“What are you thinking, Young Master? Of course you’re worth it. You’re the only son of the Family Head, the heir to the Gu family’s army!”

Gu Sui: “……”

Not to mention that, but what about that last round where he had to fight himself?

Whoever could come out of the first two rounds must be some kind of expert.

Although he had transmigrated into Gu Sui’s body, he didn’t have any of Gu Sui’s memories, let alone inherit his martial arts skills.

With just his own daily fighting skills, how could he beat any of those people down there!

“Why don’t we just go home? This marriage arrangement, it’s fine to cancel it!”

Sui Yu and Yun Mu were shocked: “Young Master, you can’t!”

“The Family Head specifically instructed before leaving that you must complete this marriage arrangement today!”

Gu Sui thought about Gu Tingsong’s emphasis on the words of that Imperial Astrologer, and felt a headache coming on.

Feudal superstitions can’t be trusted, but if it really comes down to it, selective superstition would be better!

“The Regent has arrived–”

Suddenly, an announcement came from outside the building, and Yulu Tower instantly became much quieter.

The expressions of Sui Yu and Yun Mu also suddenly became much more serious. Gu Sui, in his distress, noticed the abnormality.

“What’s wrong?”

“In response to the Young Master, this servant doesn’t know why the Regent suddenly came. Everyone in the capital knows that the Family Head doesn’t get along with her. This servant fears the Regent’s intentions may not be good.”

Sui Yu replied with worry. After thinking for a moment, Yun Mu said, “Should this servant find someone to notify the Family Head?”

“Just who is this person that makes you all so on edge? Let me take a look.”

Saying this, Gu Sui walked back to the window, pushed it open a crack, and looked towards the main entrance.

On the other side, the Regent, wearing a golden crane crown and a white cloak, descended from the carriage.

A maid holding an umbrella followed half a step behind her, somewhat blocking Gu Sui’s view.

Yulu Tower had never been this quiet today. Where the Regent passed, no one dared to joke around as they had been doing earlier.

Entering through the main door, walking along the luxurious carpet, ascending the stairs on the west side, the ink jade pendant at her waist chimed with each step, clear and pleasant to the ear.

The central booth on the second floor had already been prepared, with tea sets and snacks laid out, respectfully awaiting her to take the seat of honor.

“Your Highness, is everything to your satisfaction?”

The seated person waved her hand casually, and the manager of Yulu Tower hurriedly retreated.

The maid put away the umbrella, and that face was finally exposed to Gu Sui’s view.

“Holy crap, Mu Jiulu!”

***

“I know she doesn’t love him.” (Female-dominant)

I’ve read this novel twice already. Sis, I’m highly recommending it to you!

The female lead? Not a good person.
The second male lead? Not a good person.
The male lead? Willingly plays the third party, breaking up the female and second male lead’s relationship despite all the warnings from his friends—so yeah, he’s definitely not a good person either.

Basically, nobody in this novel is simple-minded or without scheming.

The female lead starts off as the male lead’s secretary, but don’t worry—later on, she takes over the company while the male lead steps back to support her. He won’t steal her spotlight, overshadow her, or dull her shine.

I love novels where men are out here snatching wigs, tearing each other down, and going to war just to win the female lead’s affection. And this is exactly that kind of novel. Most of Hai Dai Ran’s works have this dynamic. You’ll see the male characters’ emotions being pushed to the absolute extreme.

There’s even a scene where the second male lead exposes the male lead online for being a homewrecker. The brotherhood immediately gangs up on him, dragging him through the mud. I find it compelling —it completely flips reality on its head, where usually, women are the ones fighting over a man and getting torn apart by the sisterhood.

For me, female leads in the novels I read should only struggle in their careers, not in love. But if the brainless romantics in the story are all men? I have zero complaints.

I’ve pretty much read all of Hai Dai Ran’s novels and even translated all of them—her works are just my thing. I’ll slowly upload everything here. One day, when my website is official, I hope I can invite her to join as one of the star authors.

Here’s the story synopsis:

One-line summary: She is his lifelong obsession, to the point where he was willing to be a third wheel, scorned by society, just to wedge his way into her relationship with her fiancé.

Cold-hearted and indifferent female lead + Scheming and subservient CEO male lead

Intro 1:

“I know she doesn’t love him.”

With blood trickling from his clenched fist, Rong Xiu gazed at the woman before him, his eyes clouded with anguish. Hidden in the wardrobe, he had witnessed Fan Xia – the woman he desperately loved – in an intimate embrace with her fiancé. Yet his heart still yearned for her, defying all reason.

Fan Xia, the elegant and composed assistant, carried something mysterious in her eyes whenever she looked at her fiancé, Wen Lan Sheng. Strange occurrences began to surface – secret meetings with the young Gu Jin Yi, an unexplained withdrawal of 5,000 yuan… Then suddenly, her fiancé’s sister, Wen Jing, violently attacked her.

In this matriarchal society, Rong Xiu had risen to become the chairman of a powerful healthcare conglomerate, breaking through gender prejudices. But for the first time, he willingly stepped into the shadows as the other man, disregarding his friends’ warnings to become her secret lover.

Because he had discovered the truth – Fan Xia wasn’t the pure angel everyone believed her to be. And perhaps, he was the only one capable of helping her execute her mysterious plan…

Intro 2:

Rong Xiu’s biggest regret in life was missing out on Fan Xia.

He secretly loved Fan Xia for 7 years.

Watched her go public with her boyfriend.

Watched her kiss her boyfriend at their wedding.

Until that man blissfully nestled in Fan Xia’s arms, obtaining everything he could only dream of.

The crazy jealousy stripped away his hidden secret love, layer by layer, burning like wildfire.

Fan Xia, how can I have you!

【Reading and Trigger Warning Guide】

1. Female dominant, male submissive, male pregnancy

2. Male lead schemes his way to the top, male competition

_____

Please help me, I want to bring you the best possible things.

If you find any chapter or novel with poor translation and editing quality, let me know by commenting directly under that novel or chapter. I will retranslate it as soon as possible.