Rebirth: Splendid Marriage in the 80s Chapter 2484 - 2420: Are We Driving Her Away?

"I overheard folks outside claiming that our household is now arranging the wedding between Xiao Liu and Shuangshuang?"

"Indeed, Uncle. Rumors like that are circulating everywhere. I visited the embroidery store this morning and caught our own staff gossiping about it, so I hurried back to inform you right away."

Jiang Qiuyan, the oldest daughter of Second Master Jiang and someone Jiang Liu referred to as Aunt, was the one delivering this news.

Clad in a deep blue cheongsam with her hair tidily arranged, she positioned herself before Old Master Jiang, fingers lightly intertwined, her expression filled with genuine worry.

Noticing Old Master Jiang's silence after her revelation, she pressed further: "Uncle, what exactly did Xiao Liu tell you? Is he truly unwilling to wed Shuangshuang? There must be some logical reason for this, or else how will we face the Lu Family? Moreover, Shuangshuang hasn't done anything amiss."

In truth, Old Master Jiang held a strong fondness for Lu Shuangshuang.

Yet, he struggled to oppose Ah Liu, the boy he had only just succeeded in welcoming back into the fold.

The day before, Ah Liu had revealed to him the cancellation of his betrothal to Lu Shuangshuang from long ago. While the facts of those bygone days stayed murky, there was a chance that Xiao Fu's missive had been faked by an outsider, and that Lu Shuangshuang never consented to ending the engagement or giving back the betrothal gifts.

Still, the letter could well have been authentic, with events unfolding precisely as outlined within it.

Thus, until the issue was sorted out, he considered it imprudent to compel Ah Liu into the union. Should Xiao Fu's account prove correct, Lu Shuangshuang emerged as a deeply sinister figure.

How could he possibly allow Ah Liu to tie the knot with a person like that?

If Xiao Fu's words rang true, Lu Shuangshuang's true nature would be utterly chilling.

Over the course of two full decades, her facade had been flawless, revealing absolutely no cracks to observers.

The mere notion sent a chill through Old Master Jiang.

No matter the actual events, uncovering the reality took priority above all.

For this very cause, Old Master Jiang regarded Lu Shuangshuang with heightened wariness and reserve, feeling a touch of irritation at her choice to linger with the Jiang household during this pivotal moment instead of heading back to her own.

Ever since Jiang Liu's return, she had remained ensconced in the Jiang residence.

In light of these developments, it's no surprise that outsiders were buzzing with such speculations.

As Jiang Qiuyan insisted that Lu Shuangshuang was without fault, Old Master Jiang inwardly reflected: hadn't he shared that very conviction in the past?

What reason was there against the marriage? In what way was she lacking?

She wasn't deficient in any regard, yet the utter perfection now struck him as oddly suspicious.

During the incident with Xiao Liu, when Lu Shuangshuang was merely sixteen, nearing seventeen, her conduct thereafter showed not a single flaw.

Certainly, daughters of prominent noble houses receive rigorous upbringing from childhood, but given her youth, it wouldn't be unusual for her to falter under the weight of such a crisis—even he had struggled to cope.

Nevertheless, back then, despite her evident sorrow, Lu Shuangshuang's demeanor and reactions stayed impeccably proper.

With these thoughts in mind, Old Master Jiang instructed Jiang Qiuyan: "Visit her and express that she's endured quite a lot lately. Now that Xiao Liu is home, plenty of arrangements remain. Inquire gently if she prefers to return to her family first, and mind your wording."

Jiang Qiuyan froze in surprise: "Uncle, regardless of my approach, won't Shuangshuang realize we're essentially requesting her departure?"

Was such conduct even acceptable?

The Jiang household had long been proclaimed as Lu Shuangshuang's alternate abode. Across all those years, she came and went freely, staying indefinitely without ever facing a suggestion to depart."