Just then, the deafening roar of an engine echoed through the street. A red Ferrari, sleek as lightning, sped toward them and screeched to a halt right in front of Gu Yuan.
The door opened, and a long-legged beauty stepped out with effortless grace. The sight of this brand-new Ferrari SF90—a vehicle worth 5.1 million—coupled with the stunning woman, instantly seized everyone's attention, turning the street into a spectacle.
Li Xiuqin and her son Lin Lei watched the scene in utter shock.
This beauty was the very same woman who had previously claimed that Gu Yuan was her fiancé. They had assumed she was merely a hired actress, but they never imagined she would be driving such an incredibly expensive car. By comparison, Lin Xiangyu’s BMW suddenly seemed dim and lackluster.
Gu Yuan had not expected Qian Ruixue to track him down here. He looked at her and asked with a wry smile, "Why are you here?"
"Hey! Don't even think about running off again!" Qian Ruixue teased, half-joking, yet the remark left the onlookers stunned.
People began to murmur among themselves: A woman as beautiful as a celestial being, driving a luxury supercar—why would she be worried about this seemingly ordinary man running away from their marriage?
Gu Yuan was taken aback as well, momentarily unsure of how to respond. Qian Ruixue’s gentle, elegant smile, however, melted the hearts of every man present.
"Is it done?" she asked softly.
Gu Yuan nodded silently and showed her the divorce papers in his hand. Qian Ruixue beamed with satisfaction, then turned her gaze toward the complex expression on Lin Xiangyu’s face.
No one could fathom what Lin Xiangyu was feeling at that moment. The ex-husband she had once looked down upon was now someone else’s prized treasure. Thinking of everything Gu Yuan had done for Lin Xiangyu—even spending three years in prison on her behalf—Qian Ruixue felt a surge of indignation.
She looked at Lin Xiangyu and uttered a sentence that made the Lin family’s faces flush an instant, burning red: "It seems your ex-wife was a benefactor to you after all; you should thank her for giving you your freedom."
Gu Yuan couldn't help but laugh at her words. He suddenly found that Qian Ruixue, this young heiress, was actually quite interesting.
"Let's go. Time to go home. Oh, right..." Qian Ruixue added, turning her gaze toward the Lin family. "When the wedding takes place, I hope you will all do us the honor of coming by for a drink."
With that, she returned to the driver’s seat. Gu Yuan shook his head with a smile, sat in the passenger seat, and under the astonished gazes of the crowd, the two drove off.
The Lin family remained rooted to the spot, unable to move. Lin Lei, in particular, was likely regretting his words to the core. He had previously mocked Gu Yuan, saying he would never set foot in a luxury car in his life, yet now, not only had Gu Yuan driven away in a Ferrari, he had left them in a state of profound shock.
Li Xiuqin clutched her son’s arm tightly. "That woman—she isn't really a hired actress, is she? How could she be wealthy enough to drive a Ferrari?"
Though Lin Lei looked bewildered, he quickly offered his own interpretation. "What’s so strange about that? Hiring a beauty as a prop and renting a luxury car—it’s all just for show. Gu Yuan is obsessed with saving face; he deserves to suffer for it."
The Lin family seemed to accept this explanation, nodding in agreement. Yet, the shock in their hearts was clearly not something that could be erased by a few words.
"Think about it. Gu Yuan just got out of a labor camp; who would actually fall for him? And they call her a wealthy socialite? I think it’s just someone feeling unbalanced and looking to stir up trouble."
"Lin Xiangyu, don't be fooled by his little play!"
The family members turned their gazes toward Lin Xiangyu, their eyes filled with concern.
Lin Xiangyu felt a whirlwind of emotions. She had just seen the glance the woman in the supercar had thrown in their direction, and it seemed to carry a hint of jealousy. Could she have guessed wrong? How could a beauty like that be interested in Gu Yuan?
Lin Xiangyu sighed softly and said calmly, "Whatever he does, it has nothing to do with me now. We are divorced."
"Exactly. Once he's finished playing pretend and starts going hungry, he'll realize just how cruel reality is," Li Xiuqin sneered. She figured Gu Yuan certainly had no money, and even if he had some savings, they would be exhausted after renting that supercar. She was already looking forward to the day Gu Yuan would have no money and come begging her for help.
But events took a turn no one could have anticipated.
Not only did Gu Yuan never return to beg for help, he actually became a live-in son-in-law for the wealthy Qian family. The elderly patriarch of the Qian family was moved to tears, practically forcing Gu Yuan to stay and marry his granddaughter.
After everything he had been through, Gu Yuan decided to let go of the past and start a new chapter in his life. Thus, on the day of the wedding, he and Qian Ruixue took their wedding photos together. Seeing the newlyweds before the lens, the patriarch could not stop smiling.
To secure the future of the Qian family, the wedding cost over thirty million, and all the renowned families of Tiannan City were invited. Businessmen scrambled for an invitation, as attending this wedding meant a chance to rub shoulders with the upper echelons of society—a massive boost for their future connections.
The Lin family was no exception. Lin Xiangyu poured all her energy into her work, and her family was desperate to obtain an invitation. Fortunately, Gao Shaohua, the young master of the Gao Family and a member of the Four Great Families, promised to help the Lin family attend. This left the Lin family overjoyed, viewing it as a sign of good fortune following Lin Xiangyu’s divorce, a herald of their own impending glory.
And who was the lead man of this wedding?
Clearly, it was Gu Yuan who was thriving after his divorce, not Lin Xiangyu.
While preparing for the wedding, Qian Ruixue asked about Gu Yuan's family. After all, the groom’s side needed to attend the ceremony as well. This put Gu Yuan in a difficult position; he had been an orphan since childhood. Though he had been raised by his grandparents, they had both passed away after he started school. If there was anyone left in the world he regarded as family, it was only his master, Lu Jinxian. Unfortunately, Lu Jinxian wandered the world, his whereabouts uncertain, and reaching him was no easy task.
Gu Yuan could only tell Qian Ruixue that he had no family. Upon hearing this, Qian Ruixue’s eyes filled with sympathy and tenderness. She couldn't help but wonder why such misfortune always seemed to befall Gu Yuan. Perhaps even she had not noticed that her feelings for him were quietly shifting.
All these changes were exactly what Qian Rushan had hoped for. He knew that gratitude and a marriage contract alone could not truly tether Gu Yuan’s heart. If a genuine affection grew between them, Gu Yuan might truly see himself as a part of the Qian family.
Thus, Qian Rushan pinned the future of his family on the union of Gu Yuan and Ruixue. The old man was in his twilight years and knew his time was running short, while the century-old legacy of the Qian family rested in his hands.
He hoped that while he was still able to act, he could choose a worthy successor to be his grandson-in-law. One day, the Qian family would surely spread its wings like a giant roc and soar into the clouds!
The elite society of Tiannan City was in a frenzy over the upcoming wedding of the Qian family’s daughter. And Lin Xiangyu, desperate to break into that circle, spared no effort in grooming herself—from her hairstyle and makeup to her new gown, she left nothing to chance.