Chapter 13: Engagement  

“Let’s not talk about that for now, Guiming.  

Your marriage with Wanying should start soon.  

It’s getting late, and you’ll need to consummate the marriage tonight…”  

He Wanying’s mother’s words sent a shiver through Lin Guiming’s entire body.  

“No, Master’s Wife, didn’t I just explain everything?  

That marriage tournament was just a misunderstanding!”  

“Exactly.”  

He Wanying’s mother put on a puzzled expression, saying confidently, “But what does that have to do with you marrying Wanying?”  

“No, it’s… it’s…”  

Lin Guiming was at a loss.  

The misunderstanding had been cleared up, so why were they still talking about marriage?  

“Let me ask you—”  

At this point, He Wanying’s mother spoke again.  

“If you slept with someone’s wife due to a misunderstanding, would clearing up the misunderstanding just make it all go away?”  

“Uh… that’s not the same thing.”  

“What’s different about it?”  

She put her hands on her hips, her tone still gentle but with a hint of playful reproach.  

“Our Wanying announced in front of so many people that she’d marry you.  

If you don’t marry her, what’s she supposed to do in the future?”  

“I…”  

“Or are you saying you think Wanying isn’t pretty enough or virtuous enough?  

If you’re dissatisfied with anything, tell me, and I’ll teach her.”  

“No, Master’s Wife, that’s not what I mean…”  

Lin Guiming waved his hands, giving a wry smile.  

“Then what do you mean?”  

She frowned.  

“Let me tell you, if you don’t marry our Wanying, you can forget about calling me Master’s Wife.  

My daughter and I have been fine relying on each other!”  

Lin Guiming was on the verge of tears.  

Did he really have to marry his junior sister?  

But…  

It wasn’t that he didn’t want to marry her.  

Truth be told, his junior sister was undeniably adorable, with a lovable charm that made anyone want to dote on her.  

But…  

She was only sixteen!  

And Lin Guiming had no plans to marry so soon.  

“Master’s Wife, don’t rush, please calm down.  

What I mean is… getting married now is a bit too hasty.  

I really don’t plan to marry so early, and my younger sister is still young…”  

“Young?  

When I was her age, I was already pregnant with Wanying.”  

She frowned.  

“What the—!”  

Lin Guiming was shocked.  

That old bastard was too…  

“Master’s Wife, hear me out.  

How about this?  

Junior Sister and I can get engaged first.  

Once we’re more familiar with each other and she’s a bit older, we can marry then.  

How’s that?”  

With no other choice, Lin Guiming could only resort to this compromise to buy time.  

“Fine…”  

Seeing his reluctance, she relented.  

“I won’t force you, but the engagement between you and Wanying must be announced tomorrow so the whole city knows.”  

“Mm.”  

What else could Lin Guiming say?  

He nodded.  

This was better than getting married and consummating it tonight, right?  

He really didn’t want to marry so soon.  

After all…  

Fragmented images flashed through his mind—sorrow, nostalgia, regret, and an urgent, eager longing…  

[There was someone he had to meet, waiting for him somewhere in this world—]  

Deep within Lin Guiming’s soul, an indelible mark was etched.  

Even a fleeting touch of it would bring tears streaming down his face…  

He still remembered standing atop the nine heavens, facing the entire world alone, making even the Heavenly Dao tremble.  

He remembered even more clearly the single tear that fell from her eye, filling his final vision…  

What was owed must always be repaid.