The man stepped out of the vehicle, adjusting his cuffs as he did.
He was standing at the very back of the crowd, doing nothing more than standing there casually, yet the air of nobility around him was impossible to suppress.
Their eyes met.
The aggressive intensity in his gaze startled Lin Xi so much that she instinctively took half a step back.
How could she have forgotten? Since they were here to propose marriage for Zhao Mingze, it might not just be the elder members of the Xiao family coming. Xiao Jingwen might come too!
She couldn’t get away fast enough, yet she’d actually stayed to watch the spectacle!
Lin Xi turned around and headed upstairs.
She had barely reached the staircase when, unfortunately, the door opened.
Lin Jianguo entered with Commander Xiao and his wife.
At a glance, he saw that Lin Xi was still in the living room and frowned in extreme displeasure.
Staring at her, he suppressed his anger as much as he could and said, “Didn’t you say you weren’t feeling well? Why aren’t you upstairs yet?”
After the IOU and the family-severance agreement earlier, Lin Jianguo had figured it out. Lin Xi clearly couldn’t stand seeing him and the Lin family doing well.
If she stayed here, there was a chance she’d ruin the marriage arrangement.
So he openly tried to drive her away.
Xiao’s mother glanced at Lin Xi and immediately remembered what Zhao Mingze had said at home before.
“Wait.”
She called out to Lin Xi, who was trying to slip away.
Then she asked Lin Jianguo, “Who is this girl?”
There was no way around it. Since his future mother-in-law had asked, Lin Jianguo had no choice but to introduce her.
“This is Lin Xi, my eldest daughter.”
Sure enough.
No wonder Zhao Mingze had insisted on choosing this girl.
Xiao’s mother’s gaze rested on Lin Xi’s face for two seconds.
She was indeed pretty.
She nodded and said, “Hmm. The girl’s complexion looks pretty good. Why don’t you get acquainted with everyone before going upstairs?”
Xiao’s mother was polite, her voice gentle. She had only suggested that Lin Xi get acquainted with them before going upstairs.
There was nothing to gain from offending the Xiao family, so Lin Xi went and sat on the sofa farthest from everyone else.
Xiao Jingwen entered the house a moment later.
His gaze swept lightly across Lin Xi’s face, as though he didn’t know her at all, before he went and sat beside the Xiao elders.
At least he knew how to behave.
Lin Xi breathed a sigh of relief.
Everyone took their seats.
Xiao’s mother got straight to the point.
“We came here today to apologize on Mingze’s behalf.”
The orderly behind her then placed the gifts he was carrying on the table.
Xiao’s mother said, “We only found out about Mingze’s situation last night. No matter how you look at it, the girl is the one who suffers the most in something like this.”
“Mingze.”
Xiao’s mother gave Zhao Mingze a meaningful look.
It was obvious that Zhao Mingze wasn’t particularly willing, but he still stood up.
He bent at a precise ninety-degree angle and apologized formally to Lin Jianguo and Li Yufen.
“I was in the wrong. I’m sorry, Uncle and Auntie.”
Yesterday, he’d still been threatening them. Today, he’d been brought here under orders to apologize.
Looking at Zhao Mingze, Lin Jianguo felt considerably better.
Zhao Mingze didn’t even look at him. After apologizing, he sat back down.
Xiao’s mother straightened her expression and asked, “But I heard that you two think quite highly of Mingze as well?”
She was asking for Lin Jianguo’s opinion, while also giving him a way to save face.
They sat facing each other.
One of the Xiao elders was the commander of the military district, while the other was the director of the propaganda department.
The natural pressure created by the difference in status made Lin Jianguo’s voice tremble slightly.
After steadying his breathing, he nodded obsequiously with a smile.
“Yes. Xiao Ran’s mother and Mingze’s mother came from the same village, so we’ve always been quite fond of Mingze.”
“What a coincidence, then.”
Xiao’s mother nodded in satisfaction.
“We think this girl Lin Ran is quite good too.”
“Instead of becoming enemies, why not become relatives? Since this has already happened, and we both have the intention of bringing these two children together, why don’t we discuss their marriage?”
That was exactly what Lin Jianguo had been waiting to hear.
He hurriedly nodded. “Yes, yes, yes!”
Seeing his fawning attitude, Xiao’s mother glanced at him with displeasure, though she didn’t show it on her face.
She took a red envelope from her pocket.
“Mingze’s parents passed away when he was young, so his marriage will be decided by Old Xiao and me.”
“We came in a bit of a hurry today. This is the betrothal money. As for the ‘three major pieces and one electronic appliance,’ if Ran doesn’t mind, Mingze can take you shopping for them himself when you have time.”
Xiao’s mother turned to Lin Ran.
“What about you, girl? Is there anything else you want?”
The warmth in her eyes made Lin Ran’s heart burst with joy.
In her previous life, she’d seen Xiao’s mother from afar several times in the military compound.
Director Jin wasn’t only accomplished in her career; she was also known as an exceptionally easygoing elder.
The thought that this woman would soon become a member of her own family made Lin Ran’s heart race with excitement.
She lowered her head shyly.
“Auntie, I don’t have any other requirements…”
“Lin Ran.”
Xiao Jingwen, who had been silent the entire time, suddenly spoke.
His cold voice startled Lin Ran.
She looked up.
Xiao Jingwen sat in the corner of the sofa with his back to the light. The half-bright, half-shadowed lighting accentuated the man’s sharp, intimidating features.
He merely glanced over at her.
Yet the pressure that came with that single look crashed over her like a tidal wave, leaving Lin Ran struggling to breathe.
Xiao Jingwen said, “Zhao Mingze is the orphan of my elder brother’s fallen comrade. The way you’re addressing her puts you in the wrong generation.”
Unlike the restrained, low breaths she’d heard from the man beside her ear that night, and unlike the gentle voice he’d used when speaking to her at the restaurant yesterday, Xiao Jingwen’s voice when addressing Lin Ran was cold, as though every word were edged with ice.
It wasn’t just cold. There was also the intimidating authority of someone naturally accustomed to being in a position of power.
Lin Xi found it unfamiliar.
She raised her eyes and looked over.
Coincidentally, Xiao Jingwen happened to be looking at her.
There was a barely perceptible smile in his eyes.
Xiao Jingwen said, “Only my fiancée gets to call her Auntie.”
It was an unmistakable show of dominance.
Humiliated in front of everyone, Lin Ran’s face flushed bright red.
This second son of the Xiao family!
In her previous life, she’d heard Lin Xi mention him once. He was supposedly incapable of having children, and he was both vicious and twisted!
What was he doing here?!
Lin Ran bit her lip and cast a pleading look toward Xiao’s mother.
Xiao’s mother glanced at her.
She cleared her throat and introduced him.
“We were so focused on discussing the marriage that we forgot to introduce him. This is my younger son, Xiao Jingwen.”
The Xiao family had two sons.
The elder had transferred from the military into government service, while the younger served on the frontier.
This was the younger one—Xiao Jingwen.
Looking at his bearing, Lin Jianguo couldn’t help marveling inwardly.
As expected, children of high-ranking cadres raised in the military compound were on an entirely different level.
Yesterday, when Zhao Mingze had come to their house alone, Lin Jianguo had thought he was quite an impressive young man.
But seeing the two of them sitting together today, with the comparison right in front of him…
Forget it.
There was simply no comparison!
He’d heard that Xiao Jingwen was only twenty-nine.
He was just nine years older than Zhao Mingze, and he wasn’t married yet.
If only Ran could marry this man.
After all, an adopted son could never compare to a biological son.
…Sigh.
Lin Jianguo sighed inwardly, filled with regret.
“Dad.”
Seeing that Lin Jianguo had drifted off, Lin Ran silently nudged his arm.
Lin Jianguo came back to his senses.
“Jingwen is clearly an exceptional young man. Commander Xiao certainly knows how to raise his sons!”
It was an obvious attempt at flattery, but Xiao’s mother didn’t take the bait.
Instead, she changed the subject.
“Then shall we settle on a wedding date today?”
Lin Jianguo was practically dying to marry Lin Ran off to them immediately, so he hurriedly nodded.
Once they set the wedding date, they might even stay for dinner.
Lin Xi had no interest in entertaining them.
She yawned, then stood up.
“Commander Xiao, Auntie, you carry on. I have something to take care of, so I’ll head out for a while.”
“Commander Xiao, Auntie…”
Hearing that form of address, Lin Ran immediately felt pleased.
She looked at Lin Xi with an expression that said she was ready to watch a good show.
She couldn’t tell whether Lin Xi was simply stupid or deliberately playing some manipulative game.
Only five minutes ago, Xiao Jingwen had explicitly emphasized that Zhao Mingze belonged to the grandson generation, and that only his wife was allowed to call Xiao’s mother “Auntie.”
Yet Lin Xi actually dared to address her that way now!
Lin Ran sneered inwardly.
She wanted to see how Xiao Jingwen was going to humiliate Lin Xi this time.