Chapter Three: I Am Your Fiancée

Xie Qingtang quickly prescribed the medicine, and Li Zhao hurried to carry out the instructions. Meanwhile, the Gu family relatives, with self-preserving instinct, shouldered Second Uncle Gu and left on their own accord—no one dared remain inside to invite more trouble.

Fortunately, due to Gu Xiujin’s long-standing frailty, the household had a full stock of medicinal herbs, so the decoction was soon prepared and brought up. Xie Qingtang stayed by the sickbed, administering the medicine to Gu Xiujin spoon by spoon herself.

The extraordinary Heart-Reviving Decoction was indeed a miraculous remedy for snatching life from the jaws of death. After a bowl of the powerful medicine, Gu Xiujin, who had already “died” once, not only returned to life but even regained full consciousness. Though his voice was still weak, he asked:

“Who… who are you?”

Gu Xiujin was well aware of the severity of his own condition, so his question shifted in intent by the time it left his lips. He cast a wary glance at Xie Qingtang, who was seated at his bedside.

Xie Qingtang deftly fed him the last spoonful, set aside the bowl, and, squinting with a slightly awkward yet not impolite smile, replied, “Who I am isn’t important. What matters is that I just saved your life, Mr. Gu.”

“Saved my life?” Gu Xiujin’s voice was faint. Xie Qingtang met his gaze and explained, “You suffered a false death from a reversal of blood and energy blocking clarity, and nearly had your funeral arranged by your own relatives. As for me, well, I have another identity…”

Seeing both Gu Xiujin and Li Zhao staring at her in astonishment, Xie Qingtang paused, considered a moment, then curved her lips into a prim, earnest smile and declared, “Yes, I am also your fiancée.”

Li Zhao stumbled and nearly fell, while Gu Xiujin choked on his medicine, almost sending himself back to the afterlife, wracked by a fit of coughing that seemed to tear at his soul.

Xie Qingtang was a little speechless. She patted his chest with her small hand to comfort him. “Don’t be agitated. It wouldn’t do to cough yourself to death right after I’ve saved you.”

Gu Xiujin was too choked to speak, his reddened phoenix eyes glaring fiercely at her, and even his pallid cheeks, sickly from illness, flushed with anger.

Li Zhao forced a bitter smile. “Miss, please, let’s not joke about such things…”

Xie Qingtang’s own face took on a trace of bitterness and helplessness. “I’m not joking. I came to the Gu family today precisely to find my fiancé.” Fearing Gu Xiujin’s disbelief, she turned her head and earnestly added, “My fiancé is you.”

Gu Xiujin… Gu Xiujin once again fell into a bout of wrenching coughs.

After Xie Qingtang’s explanation, Gu Xiujin finally understood the sequence of events.

Xie Qingtang’s maternal grandfather and Gu Xiujin’s grandfather had been close friends and had arranged a marriage alliance between their families. Unfortunately, Xie Qingtang’s mother, Xie Wan, and Gu Xiujin’s father had no affection for each other. Instead, during university, Xie Wan fell for a "phoenix man"—Xie Qingtang’s biological father, Shao Siming.

Her grandfather had initially opposed the union, but Shao Siming had appeared devoted, even offering to marry into the Xie family for love, sacrificing his pride as a man. Moved by this, the old man relented and agreed.

But happiness was short-lived. After only four years of marriage, Xie Wan died tragically, falling from a cliff while traveling abroad.

Her grandfather was devastated, falling gravely ill. Shao Siming then seized the opportunity, claiming to help manage Xie Qingtang’s inheritance, and insinuated himself into the Xie family’s business, amassing shares and buying influence. Soon after, he revealed his true colors—brazenly bringing home his first love, along with an illegitimate son just a year younger than Xie Qingtang.

Her grandfather was so enraged he suffered a stroke and was hospitalized. Even after treatment, his mind was never the same. But, fortunately, he retained enough caution to keep hold of forty percent of the Xie Group’s shares, intending to leave them to Xie Qingtang, never handing them over. Because Shao Siming never gained control of those shares, he couldn’t take over the company entirely.

He had considered getting rid of Xie Qingtang, but with her grandfather’s shares as leverage, he dared not go that far. Instead, he sent Xie Qingtang away to his remote ancestral village, letting her fend for herself in obscurity.

Xie Qingtang was only three when she was exiled. She suffered abuse and beatings in the mountain village; the worst time, she was beaten until she stopped breathing. The villagers, after consulting Shao Siming, simply assumed her dead and tossed her into the mountains.

Fortunately, an elderly physician passing by found her, took her in, and saved her life. Longing for revenge and to rescue her grandfather, Xie Qingtang begged to become his apprentice.

By chance, the old man was actually a reclusive heir to a family of traditional medicine. Moved by her tragic story and intelligence, he finally agreed to teach her.

Sixteen years passed. Xie Qingtang mastered her craft, received her mentor’s blessing, and returned to seek vengeance.

Gu Xiujin and Assistant Li listened, dazed. Li muttered, “Even a TV drama wouldn’t dare stage a plot like this…”

Xie Qingtang scoffed lightly. “Not even in soap operas is there a father as deranged as Shao Siming.”

Assistant Li fell silent.

Indeed, with a father like Shao Siming, had Xie Qingtang’s luck been any worse, her grave would already be overgrown with weeds.

After a long silence, Gu Xiujin, frowning, finally spoke: “Miss Xie, I sympathize with your misfortune, but what does any of this have to do with an engagement between us?”

Xie Qingtang tilted her head. “Ah, didn’t I say? The betrothal our grandfathers arranged is inheritable. Since our parents’ match failed, it automatically passes to the next generation—to you and me.”

Gu Xiujin was seized by another fit of coughing, and Li Zhao hurriedly patted his back, wearing a complicated expression.

An inheritable childhood engagement—just how badly had the two old gentlemen wanted to become in-laws to come up with something so outrageous? No, best not to think about it too much; any further and it all sounds too suggestive. He was, after all, a perfectly upright man.

After a long bout of coughing, Gu Xiujin finally caught his breath and pressed his forehead. “I’m sorry. My grandfather died young, and my parents are gone due to a series of unfortunate events… So, strictly speaking, there’s no proof of this arrangement.”

“No, no. Who says there’s no proof? I have evidence.” Xie Qingtang realized she sounded too agitated and lowered her tone, feigning calm. “Of the two parties involved, your grandfather may be gone, but my grandfather is still alive! As long as you help me rescue him from Shao Siming, he can tell you the truth in person!”

A sharp glint flashed in Gu Xiujin’s gaze as he studied Xie Qingtang. Suddenly he smiled. “Miss Xie, you are quite the strategist. The engagement is just an excuse, isn’t it? Your real goal is to use my power to save your grandfather.”