"What are the differing opinions?" This young man is really honest.
Fang Zi blushed and said, "My dad thinks it's not very ethical for me to do this since Xiang Lan hasn't graduated yet."
Hu Li pondered for a moment and said, "Xiang Lan, I can help you arrange to meet Xiang Yuan for dinner, and I can also cover up the fact that you and your uncle conspired to go to America but then didn't go. However, if there are any other hidden reasons, please be sure to tell your brother in person."
Xiang Lan wanted to act cute, but Hu Li said, "Lanlan, think about it. From childhood to adulthood, your parents have been responsible for spoiling you, your uncle has been responsible for playing with you, and your brother has been responsible for being the bad guy and teaching you. He may have used some of the wrong methods, but his concern for you is undeniable. When he wanted to woo me, he even took you with him, didn't he?"
Fang Zi glanced at Xiang Lan, who felt ashamed.
“When he was managing you, he was young and didn’t know how to handle things, but you didn’t understand him. Now, you’ve kept the most important event in your life a secret from all of us.” Hu Li sighed. “I can’t be sure how others will react, but your brother will definitely be heartbroken.”
Xiang Lan bit her lip, unsure of what to do, but Fang Zidu said, "Don't worry, sister-in-law, Xiang Lan and I will apologize to our elder brother and ask for their forgiveness."
Hu Li looked at her, and she said, "I understand."
Hu Li rubbed her temples, her head aching. That's why she was so worried. She had apologized, but before she knew it, her daughter, whom she had raised for twenty years, had been seduced by a stranger.
After a half-hearted meal and discussion with his friend, Hu Li drove to Liu Nanyang's studio in the art district. Passing through several bizarre streets, they arrived at a factory-like building complex, decorated with various steel frames and abandoned industrial pipes, creating a strong industrial atmosphere.
Without prior notice, she entered the studio through the back door. Inside, several workers were setting up exhibition stands for the art exhibition, and Xiao Wang was reviewing the blueprints and directing them. After watching for a while, she went up the side steel staircase to the upper floor, which contained his personal office and lounge.
I knocked on the door, and his voice came from inside.
Hu Li sighed. These two were incredibly audacious, lying so blatantly and without any sincerity.
She pushed open the door and greeted, "Uncle—"
Liu Nanyang looked up and saw Hu Li. He panicked for a second, but quickly calmed down and said with a smile, "You're here."
“Uncle.” Hu Li looked around the messy office. “What a coincidence that I ran into you today. I just came to take a look around.”
"What a coincidence," Liu Nanyang said with a laugh.
"Weren't you going to America with Xiang Lan?" Hu Li didn't stand on ceremony, finding a chair to sit down. "Why are you still busy here?"
"The itinerary was changed at the last minute—" Liu Nanyang said.
Xiang Lan learned her skill of lying through her teeth from here.
"Was this a last-minute change, or was it never planned in the first place?"
Liu Nanyang laughed heartily, "Little Hu, I won't lie to you, it's just what you think. Xiang Lan is too persistent, so I'm just helping her with a small favor."
This is a huge help; she can already foresee his tragic future.
"What's wrong? Xiang Yuan doesn't believe you, so he asked you to verify? He's just too suspicious."
Hu Li shook his head. "This time, it really wasn't. He was originally planning to gradually let go of Xiang Lan, but it was me who ran into her at the restaurant while I was having lunch with someone—"
Liu Nanyang was startled. "She didn't leave?"
"They didn't leave!"
"Ugh—" Liu Nanyang said with a hint of disdain, "This is really disappointing. The passion didn't last long at all. They just let go like that?"
"It seems that my uncle knew about her dating all along?"
“Yes.” Liu Nanyang was quite proud of himself. “I suggested she go, mainly to experience life and gain inspiration.”
Hu Li thought to himself, "They're trying to get themselves killed even more."
"Yes, her boyfriend came to see her from the United States yesterday, so she didn't go."
"That's great news!"
"That's good news. They went straight to get their marriage certificate."
"What?" Liu Nanyang picked at his ear. "What did you say?"
"marry."
Liu Nanyang looked at Hu Li, and after a long while, he slapped the table and laughed, "This girl has more guts than me!"
"The young man is treating us tonight and wants to get together with us first. His father will come tomorrow, and we'll discuss when the elders can meet." Hu Li said expressionlessly.
"I don't need to go, do I?" Liu Nanyang declined.
"Uncle, do you want Xiang Yuan to come to you in person, or do you want Mom to come to you?"
Neither of them are easy to deal with, especially Xiang Yuan, who sponsored this art exhibition.
Thus, Liu Nanyang shamefully yielded.
Having persuaded one of the stubborn individuals, Hu Li rushed to Xiang Yuan's office. His main focus was currently on the hotel construction, and his office was located at the construction site. She arrived at four in the afternoon, when Xiang Yuan was organizing a progress meeting for the heads of various departments. She sat and waited for a full hour and a half before the meeting adjourned.
In the middle of the night, Xiang Lan called, sending over the hotel booking details and address, which she then forwarded to Liu Nanyang. She glanced at it; it was a five-star hotel. The young man had good taste.
"Coming to pick me up from get off work?" Xiang Yuan asked smugly, kissing her on the cheek.
"Okay." Hu Li stood up. "We're having dinner out tonight."
"Something good has happened?"
"Probably, I guess so."
You don't look well. Are you tired?
"We'll talk about it on the way." I'm exhausted, all my energy is depleted, and I hate that I'm too nice to people.
Considering the potentially explosive nature of what was about to happen, Hu Li didn't dare let him drive and went to the driver's seat himself. Xiang Yuan didn't try to take over either, but instead reclined in the passenger seat, closing his eyes to rest. Half an hour later, he opened his eyes, saw that they weren't on the way home, and asked, "Where are we going?"
She casually gave an address.
"What are you doing over there? Is someone treating you?"
"Yes, please, Xiang Lan."
"What did you say?"
Seeing that he had straightened up in surprise, Hu Li said, "She didn't go to America today, and neither did my uncle."
What's going on?
"Xiang Lan was dating someone recently, and her boyfriend went to the United States, so she wanted to fly over to visit him. But the young man came back yesterday, so she didn't go. Her uncle is just going along with her—"
Xiang Yuan slammed his hand on the car armrest angrily, "Has she learned to lie?"
"Don't get angry yet, or there will be other things that will make you angry."
Xiang Yuan had an ominous expression on his face.
"They got married today."
"What did you say?" The roar pierced the sky.
Hu Li was so startled that her hand trembled, and she almost crashed into the car waiting at the red light. A series of ear-piercing screeching brakes filled the air. Terrified, she yelled, "Do you want to die?"
"Why did you call your brother-in-law over too, sister-in-law?" Xiang Lan rested her chin on the tablecloth, looking at the recipe and checking the gift boxes.
Xiang Lan thought it was just a casual meal, but he insisted on booking a hotel and even went out to buy a pearl necklace, a cigar gift set, and some kind of master-crafted decorative item. She wanted to use her own credit card, but Fang Zi confiscated it, and she watched helplessly as tens of thousands of yuan disappeared from his account. It pained her; that was all her money! (Her credit card bills were always paid monthly by her brother's secretary, so she didn't feel the pinch since it wasn't her own money being spent.)
"Let's spread our firepower around," Fang Zidu shook his head. "Never lie again, it's not a good thing."
Xiang Lan said coquettishly, "I just want to be with you."
He gave her a reproachful look, "This is something perfectly legitimate, but now we're probably going to treat you like a thief—"
After saying that, he found it funny and said regretfully, "I was so inconsiderate yesterday. I should have met your parents first."
"Then it can't be arranged—"
Before Xiang Lan could finish speaking, the door to the private room was pushed open forcefully.
Xiang Yuan stormed in, looked around, and paused for a moment when his gaze swept over Fang Zidu's face, but finally landed on Xiang Lan. He said sternly, "Xiang Lan, come out with me."
Fang Zidu stood up to greet her, and Xiang Lan hurriedly asked, "Brother, where is my sister-in-law?"
"Don't expect your sister-in-law to save you—" Xiang Yuan stepped forward, grabbed her wrist, and was about to pull her away.
Xiang Lan screamed and gripped the edge of the table tightly. "What are you doing? Don't grab me—"
"Come home with me, and I'll show you what I'm made of." Xiang Yuan said angrily, his grip on her hand refusing to loosen.
Fang Zi placed both hands on his wrists to stop him from exerting force, and said seriously, "Brother, be careful, don't pull Xiang Lan."
"Who's your brother? Don't try to claim kinship! What's wrong with me pulling her? I even want to slap her—"
She's pregnant.
Hu Li and Liu Nanyang rushed into the private room and heard the word "pregnant." The two looked at each other in dismay.
Hu Lixiang, just as I expected!
Liu Nanyang was full of admiration. This girl was incredibly bold!
Author's Note: Thank you so much for your enthusiastic comments, my little angels! I'll continue to award points for comments today!
The various characters in the story appear in other series by the author. You can click on the author's name to go to the author's column and choose to read them.
Chapter Twenty-Five
Xiang Lan saw her brother's expression turn extremely terrifying in an instant, but almost immediately he calmed down. She shivered; this feeling was very ominous. Xiang Yuan released her hand, and Fang Zi pulled her behind him, protecting her. She saw Xiang Yuan's eye twitch twice, and the veins on his temples bulged.
Hu Li walked in and reassuringly pulled Xiang Yuan, "Have a seat first!"
Liu Nanyang also looked Fang Zidu up and down, then tilted his head and winked at Lan, "Little girl, you're quite something!"
Xiang Lan pouted and turned her head away, ignoring him.
Xiang Yuan regained his composure and immediately adopted the polite yet distant expression he wore in the business world, saying in a refined manner, "Mr. Fang, is that so?"
"Just call me Zidu."
“I’m sorry, we’re not that close yet.” Xiang Yuan said coldly, “Mr. Fang, I’d like to see your marriage certificate.”
Fangzi took a book out of his bag and handed it to Xiang Yuan.
Xiang Lan was afraid he would get angry and tear it up, so she looked at him worriedly. But to her surprise, he was very calm. He looked at the marriage certificate over and over again, touched the seal on it, and finally returned the certificate to Fang Zidu.
She breathed a sigh of relief and patted her chest.
Xiang Yuan said, "Mr. Fang, I would like to speak with my sister. Please excuse me for the time being."
Xiang Lan clung tightly to Fang Zidu's arm, not wanting him to leave.