Breaking Off the Engagement at My Door? Could I Be the Protagonist?

Riiing!

"Class dismissed. Thank you for your hard work, teacher."

As the bell rang, students began filing out of the classroom.

Li Yao slowly woke from his dream, his head still foggy.

"Why does the bell sound just like the one in my past life?"

Li Yao rubbed his temples, trying to clear his head.

That afternoon, he had been exploring the system's functions and checking whether he could exchange anything for a boost in strength.

Before he knew it, he had fallen asleep.

"Ahh!"

Li Yao stretched.

"Hey, Uncle Wenbin, where are you? Come pick me up, and we can head back together."

Li Yao took out his phone and called Li Wenbin.

A short while later, vroom...

Li Yao rode in Li Wenbin's car toward Li Family Manor.

The streets flashed past the window. Leaning back in his seat, Li Yao was still thinking about all the good stuff in the system store.

"Young master, we're here."

Li Wenbin stopped the car outside a large mansion.

Li Yao leaned forward for a look. Several luxury cars were parked outside the Estate, all brands he didn't recognize.

"Do we have guests tonight?"

"Yes. I think they're from the Shangguan Family," Li Wenbin said. "They've been here a while."

Li Yao raised an eyebrow.

The Shangguan Family? The one guarding the Western Territory?

He followed Li Wenbin into the Estate. As soon as they passed through the gate, he saw the brightly lit main hall and heard voices inside.

Li Yao walked in and immediately spotted his parents in the seats of honor. A middle-aged couple sat beside them.

The man had a square face and an imposing air. The woman looked well cared for, clearly accustomed to a comfortable life.

A young woman stood beside them. Her long hair fell over her shoulders, and her face was delicate, but her gaze was cold. She looked at people as though they were something filthy.

What are they doing here? Li Yao wondered.

"Dad, Mom," Li Yao greeted them. Then he turned to the middle-aged couple. "Uncle Shangguan, Aunt Qing."

Shangguan Yun gave a curt acknowledgment, his expression cool.

Seeing her son return, Sun Zhiyun hurried over and pulled him toward her. "Yao'er, you're back. Good timing. Your Uncle Shangguan and Aunt Qing are here. Come, sit down."

His mother pressed him into a chair. Li Yao was still bewildered.

What's going on?

Sun Zhiyun leaned close to his ear and whispered, "Yao'er, your grandfather arranged a marriage with the Shangguan Family years ago. It's to their daughter, Shangguan Yan—that girl over there."

Li Yao's eyes widened.

An arranged marriage? For me?

He glanced at Shangguan Yan. She swept her gaze over him as though he were trash.

What the hell is going on?

Sun Zhiyun continued, "The head of the Shangguan Family used to be a squad leader under your grandfather. Your grandfather promoted him, and he rose step by step until his family became one of the most powerful. Grateful for your grandfather's kindness, he begged to arrange this marriage."

Li Yao had only one thought after hearing that: Isn't this just a traditional arranged marriage?

He was considering what to say when Shangguan Yun suddenly spoke.

"Li Yao's back? Good. There's something the Shangguan Family came to discuss today."

Shangguan Yun paused. The warmth vanished from his voice, leaving it icy. "We want to break off the engagement with the Li Family."

The entire hall fell silent.

Sun Zhiyun's expression changed at once. "Brother Shangguan, what did you say?"

"I said we want to break off the engagement."

Shangguan Yun repeated, "My daughter already has someone she loves. She doesn't want to waste Young Master Li's time."

Li Yao raised an eyebrow and looked at Shangguan Yan.

Shangguan Yan curled her lip. "Li Yao, I know all about you. Imperial Capital University's most notorious lapdog. You chased a girl named Yang Xiaoran for three years, and you wouldn't even fight back when she hit you."

She spoke as if describing something revolting. "Breaking this engagement works out perfectly. Chase whoever you want from now on. You and I will go our separate ways. The Shangguan Family has no interest in this marriage."

They came to my door to break off the engagement? Could I be the protagonist?

Li Yao couldn't help recalling the old saying: Fortunes change with time; never look down on a young man.

Though in his case, three days would be more fitting than thirty years.

Honestly, Li Yao didn't care about the engagement. The original Li Yao really had been a lapdog, and the whole university knew it.

But what did Shangguan Yan mean when she said the Shangguan Family had no interest in the marriage?

Are they looking down on the Li Family?

Li Yao was about to speak when a chime sounded in his head.

Ding! Broken engagement detected. Side quest triggered: Defend the family's dignity.

Quest reward: 20,000 Background Value.

Li Yao's eyes lit up.

Twenty thousand? They're practically handing it to me.

He gave a cold laugh and spoke slowly. "The Shangguan Family? If I remember correctly, your grandfather was just a squad leader under mine. You only got where you are today because of the Li Family. What, now that you've grown strong, you want to cut ties and strike out on your own?"

Shangguan Yun's face darkened.

Shangguan Yan sneered. "That was the older generation's business. What does it have to do with us? Li Yao, aren't you ashamed to boast about your ancestors' achievements?"

"Ashamed?" Li Yao laughed. "I just think some people are quick to curse the cook once their bellies are full. They forget who gave them their meal."

"You!"

Shangguan Yan's face flushed with anger.

Li Yao took his time and turned to Li Wenbin. "Cousin Uncle, call Grandpa. Tell him the Shangguan Family wants to break off the engagement and called the Li Family a bunch of useless nobodies while they were at it."

Shangguan Yan's expression shifted.

Shangguan Yun was about to speak, but Li Yao had already taken the phone Li Wenbin held out.

Just as he was about to dial, someone took the phone from his hand.

Li Yao turned and met Li Zhiyun's expressionless gaze.

"There's no need to trouble your grandfather over such a small matter."

Li Zhiyun's voice was so flat that no emotion came through.

He turned and looked straight at the three members of the Shangguan Family.

"Shangguan Yun, do you know what you're doing?"

The overwhelming aura of a Martial Emperor bore down on them.

Shangguan Yun couldn't even straighten his back under the pressure.

"Li Zhiyun! Are you trying to start a war between the Li Family and the Shangguan Family?"

Though Shangguan Yun was completely suppressed, he refused to back down.

"A war?" A trace of mockery entered Li Zhiyun's even voice. "With you? You think you're worthy?"

As he spoke, he increased the pressure, drawing Shangguan Yan and Qing Yinyin into it as well.

Thud! Thud! Thud!

Three sounds rang out as all three collapsed to the floor, unable to withstand Li Zhiyun's pressure.

"Li! Zhi! Yun!"

Shangguan Yun's voice shook with fury.

But he couldn't even lift his head.

"Shangguan Yun, weren't you so capable? Breaking off the engagement? Slapping the Li Family in the face? Did you think I, Li Zhiyun, would just take it? Stand up and say that to my face. Understood?"

“Brother Zhiyun,” Sun Zhiyun said, tugging at Li Zhiyun’s arm. “Let it go. If they want to break off the engagement, so be it. Yao’er just wasn’t meant to have this good fortune. The border is in turmoil, and we need to go help Father soon.”