Before figuring out what kind of person Zhou Yu was, Zhao Ruyue approached the engagement with an indifferent attitude.
She didn't have an excessive amount of money, but what she possessed was more than enough for a lifetime.
The material comforts that other women could enjoy, she too could have, living an even more refined life than most.
As a woman, Zhao Ruyue knew she would eventually marry.
However, she would have preferred her future husband to marry into the Zhao family rather than her joining his.
But!
When she learned that the miracle doctor who had treated the mayor of Yunhai City was none other than Zhou Yu, the man she was engaged to, everything changed.
Zhao Ruyue's ability to turn Fifth Hospital into the premier medical facility in Yunhai City was a testament to her shrewdness as a business magnate.
And a business magnate, when faced with any problem, would first and foremost consider profit and loss.
If she were to marry Zhou Yu according to their engagement…
The benefits she would gain would be immeasurable!
The mere knowledge of Zhou Yu's mastery of the Bian Que Divine Needles was something Zhao Ruyue desperately coveted.
Therefore, compared to other men, Zhao Ruyue now had much higher hopes for Zhou Yu.
Yet, this fellow had already registered his marriage with Su Yuyan.
"You absolutely want to break the engagement?" Zhao Ruyue asked.
She hoped Zhou Yu would reconsider.
After all, it wasn't as if Zhao Ruyue was undesirable; she had countless suitors.
"If I don't break the engagement, would you expect me to marry both of you at once?" Zhou Yu jested.
He found the situation absurd.
The first time he went to the Su family to break the engagement, he failed.
The second time he sought to break it with Zhao Ruyue, this woman also seemed reluctant to do so.
"Am I that popular?"
Zhou Yu was perplexed.
If he were to reveal all his identities, it would be understandable. But for Zhao Ruyue to adamantly refuse to break the engagement simply because he displayed the Bian Que Divine Needles seemed too illogical.
"Dream on!"
Hearing Zhou Yu suggest marrying both, Zhao Ruyue's face flushed with anger.
Su Yuyan also gave him a significant eye-roll.
"See? Since neither of you is willing to marry me together, I can only marry one," Zhou Yu said, spreading his hands.
He was still young.
There would be plenty of time in the future.
There was no need to put all his eggs in one basket.
Even if he were to marry, it would be after he was in his thirties.
Therefore, Zhou Yu absolutely would not be shackled by seven engagement contracts.
"Then divorce Su Yuyan and marry me!" Zhao Ruyue proposed.
Su Yuyan: "..."
Zhao Ruyue, how venomous you are!
Zhou Yu quickly shook his head, "That won't do. Yuyan is beautiful and kind-hearted; there's no reason for me to divorce her and then marry you."
He was joking.
If he actually did that, he would be half-dead at his old man's hands when he got back.
His old man's intentions were simple.
Either marry all seven at once, or…
There was no room for a second choice!
Hearing Zhou Yu say this, Su Yuyan's beautiful eyes filled with tenderness.
"Is she that good? Worthy of you giving up other women you've never met for her sake?" Zhao Ruyue continued her barrage.
She refused to believe it.
That Su Yuyan and Zhou Yu could have sparks of love fly between them in such a short time.
She analyzed that there must have been some sort of agreement between them.
"Miss Zhao, if we continue to waste our breath like this, we won't reach a conclusion. How about this: name your price, a condition that would make you willing to break the engagement," Zhou Yu said.
Bound by his old man's authority, he dared not forcefully initiate the breakup.
Otherwise, Zhou Yu wouldn't need to cooperate with Su Yuyan.
He had brought Su Yuyan here precisely to force Zhao Ruyue's hand, making her the one to propose breaking the engagement.
But to his dismay, not only did Zhao Ruyue refuse to break it, she even wanted to replace Su Yuyan.
"Then why don't you name a condition that would make you not want to break the engagement?" Zhao Ruyue retorted.
This engagement.
She couldn't break it, at least not yet.
"Hey! You don't want to marry both of us together, and you don't want to break the engagement either. Miss Zhao, what exactly do you want?" Zhou Yu was on the verge of losing it.
Why was it so difficult for him to break an engagement?
Weren't women outside generally in favor of freedom in marriage and opposed to arranged marriages?
Why didn't that apply to Zhao Ruyue?
"It's not impossible for me to propose breaking the engagement."
Zhao Ruyue was exceptionally intelligent.
Seeing Zhou Yu constantly emphasize that she should be the one to propose breaking the engagement, she instantly understood many things.
In other words, Zhou Yu dared not propose breaking the engagement himself.
Or, he couldn't!
Upon considering this possibility, Zhao Ruyue had a flash of inspiration and devised a delaying tactic.
"You agree?" Zhou Yu exclaimed in surprise.
Beside him, Su Yuyan also wore a smile.
However, Zhao Ruyue then said, "Once you break off the other five engagement contracts besides mine, come back to me. At that time, I will personally propose breaking the engagement and fulfill your wishes."
"Is that so?" Zhou Yu pondered.
It didn't seem impossible.
After all, he had to break off every engagement contract, and he would have to visit them sooner or later.
Moreover, if he did this, he would only need to resolve the other five engagement contracts, and Zhao Ruyue's would naturally be dissolved.
"I keep my word. Once you've broken off those five engagement contracts, I'll destroy mine immediately!" Zhao Ruyue seized the opportunity.
At this moment, Zhou Yu hadn't realized any potential problems.
She had to intensify her offensive.
"Alright, it's a deal!" Zhou Yu agreed.
In truth, he hadn't thought that far ahead.
"Sigh."
Seeing that the two had reached a compromise, Su Yuyan began to worry.
She naturally wanted to see Zhao Ruyue embarrassed and forced to break the engagement, but she never expected this outcome.
Su Yuyan and Zhou Yu's trip to Fifth Hospital had, in essence, been for naught.
Because nothing had progressed.
"Why are you sighing? Aren't you happy that I'm not breaking the engagement? Su Yuyan, don't think I don't know what you're plotting."
After concluding her conversation with Zhou Yu, Zhao Ruyue redirected her focus back to Su Yuyan.
She was almost certain of her suspicions.
Su Yuyan and Zhou Yu were colluding.
Their trip to the Civil Affairs Bureau to register their marriage was merely to better achieve their respective goals.
Su Yuyan did not want her fate controlled by the Su family; how could Zhao Ruyue not know this?
Hospitals were places where all sorts of people congregated, and the Zhao family, by collecting intelligence on various families in Yunhai City, could do so almost effortlessly.
Zhao Ruyue was far more than she appeared on the surface.
However, many matters concerning Zhou Yu were shrouded in mystery, making it impossible for the Zhao family to gather any clues, no matter how hard they tried.
Otherwise, Zhao Ruyue wouldn't be meeting Zhou Yu face-to-face for the first time only now.
"My affairs are none of your business! Zhou Yu is already legally married to me, and you still refuse to break the engagement. Zhao Ruyue, are you so desperate that no man wants you? Otherwise, why would you cling to my husband?"
Su Yuyan, caught up in the argument, began to lose composure, even calling Zhou Yu "husband."
Normally, she would never address Zhou Yu like this.
"Oh, you're quite enthusiastic calling him husband!"
Having reached an agreement with Zhou Yu, Zhao Ruyue had now gained the upper hand.
If Su Yuyan continued to argue with her, she would only be at a disadvantage.