Meng Jixue looked at Zhou Zhishu.
The man before her was about twenty years old. Compared with how she remembered him from her previous life, he looked much more immature.
He was dressed fashionably, with handsome, well proportioned features and a confident, spirited air. He had clearly inherited the Zhou family’s good looks.
But Meng Jixue knew that beneath that handsome exterior was a heart that had long since rotted away.
She suddenly strode forward.
Seeing how excited and agitated Meng Jixue was when she noticed him, Zhou Zhishu assumed it must be because of what had happened to Meng Qingsong. She was probably so frightened that she no longer knew what to do.
A surge of delight rose in Zhou Zhishu’s heart.
In the past, there had been far too many men hovering around Meng Jixue. After all, she was the Meng family’s talented daughter, and both her family background and appearance were enough to captivate countless people. Back then, even though Zhou Zhishu liked Meng Jixue and was a member of the Zhou family, he had been utterly insignificant among all her admirers.
But things were different now.
Everyone was avoiding the Meng family, afraid that they would implicate their own families.
Zhou Zhishu had come intending to play the savior. Helping someone when they were already doing well was certainly pleasant, but helping someone in their hour of need was far more meaningful.
Thinking of this, Zhou Zhishu became even more pleased with himself.
“Jixue…”
“Slap!”
A fragrant breeze swept past.
Zhou Zhishu received a solid slap across the face.
The force of it made him spin around, and he nearly fell to the ground.
He stared at Meng Jixue in shock. “Jixue, you…”
He had never expected his usually dignified and elegant Jixue to suddenly slap him.
The scene shocked both Meng Qingsong and Old Master Zhou as well.
After giving him that slap, Meng Jixue finally felt the pent up anger in her chest ease.
She calmly withdrew her hand and casually remarked, “Oh my, how are there mosquitoes in the house in the middle of winter? Huh? Where did it go? Could I have seen it wrong?”
Zhou Zhishu: “?”
Where would there be mosquitoes in the middle of winter?!
Meng Jixue seemed to realize only then that she had slapped Zhou Zhishu. She looked at him innocently and deliberately put on a coy, sweet expression.
“Brother Zhishu, are you all right? I thought there was a mosquito on your face just now. I don’t know what dirty place that mosquito could have chosen to land on, but it just had to land on your face. I was in such a hurry to help you that I didn’t control my strength. You won’t blame me, will you?”
And she really did look convincing.
With her delicate face and slightly furrowed brows, her dark lashes fluttered like butterfly wings, and her eyes held a hint of concern.
She looked so pitiful that anyone would have found it difficult to resist her.
Just think about it. A stunningly beautiful woman looking at you so pitifully and asking whether you would blame her.
At a time like this, forget one slap, Zhou Zhishu would probably have been willing to take several more.
Zhou Zhishu stared at her, completely captivated. He felt that every little frown and smile of Meng Jixue’s made it difficult for him to breathe.
He stammered, “N-No, I’m fine.”
Only then did Meng Jixue pretend to relax. Her voice was soft as she said, “I knew Brother Zhishu wouldn’t blame me. These past few days, because of what happened to Father, I haven’t been able to eat or sleep properly. Perhaps that’s why I’ve been a little absent minded.”
She then looked toward the old man sitting in the seat of honor.
This time, when she addressed him, there was much more sincerity in her voice. “Grandpa Zhou.”
Seeing Meng Jixue, a trace of tenderness appeared in Old Master Zhou’s eyes.
The two families had been close for many years.
After Meng Qingsong divorced his former wife, Meng Jixue had still been very young. Meng Qingsong’s work kept him extremely busy, and he had often struggled to take proper care of his daughter. During that time, Meng Jixue frequently went to the Zhou residence. One could say that she had spent most of her childhood there.
Old Master Zhou genuinely doted on Meng Jixue.
That was also why Meng Qingsong could feel at ease entrusting Meng Jixue to Zhou Zhishu.
Now that the Meng family was in trouble, it was certain that Meng Qingsong would be sent down to the countryside. But Meng Jixue’s fate could still be changed through marriage.
Old Master Zhou regarded Meng Jixue as his own granddaughter. If he really had to watch helplessly as she was sent down to the countryside, setting aside how harsh the conditions might be, with her exceptionally beautiful and striking appearance, it would probably be even harder for her to endure. He simply could not bear it.
At this moment, when he heard Meng Jixue say that she had been unable to eat or sleep properly, Old Master Zhou immediately said, “Jixue, don’t worry about being sent down. With Grandpa Zhou here, I’ll definitely protect you.”
Meng Qingsong’s fate was already sealed. He would definitely be sent away, but Meng Jixue could still be protected through marriage.
Zhou Zhishu, whose head was still buzzing from the slap and whose cheek felt swollen and painful, had been grimacing in pain.
But when he heard Old Master Zhou’s words, he immediately forgot about his injury and stepped forward with an affectionate expression.
“That’s right, Jixue. With our Zhou family here, you don’t have to worry about being sent down. We’ve come this time to discuss what can be done about your future.”
They had finally gotten to the main point.
Meng Jixue felt nothing inside.
The more sincere Zhou Zhishu acted now, the more disgusted she felt.
She took a while to calm herself down. The relationship between the Zhou and Meng families still had to be maintained. She needed to find a way to reject this marriage without making it appear that she was the one responsible for breaking it off.
With that thought, Meng Jixue turned toward Zhou Zhishu and smiled, her brows relaxing as she asked gently, “Then, Brother Zhishu, how do you plan to help me?”
Seeing the girl’s flawless, jade like skin, her naturally red lips, and her eyes shimmering with emotion as she looked directly at him, Zhou Zhishu was completely captivated.
Just one glance from her was enough to make his soul leave his body.
He stood there for a long while without responding.
Meng Qingsong, who had remained silent until now, frowned slightly when he saw this.
In the past, whenever he looked at Zhou Zhishu, he had thought that although the young man was not exceptionally outstanding, he had been raised under the Zhou family’s good values and had generally behaved appropriately.
But today, he was being far too frivolous.
He was staring at Meng Jixue face without the slightest trace of manners or proper upbringing.
Old Master Zhou was also somewhat displeased. He spoke in a stern voice. “Zhishu, come stand behind me.”
Only then did Zhou Zhishu come back to his senses. He immediately realized that his behavior had been inappropriate, and his heart sank.
The Meng family was an influential household with strict family rules, and they placed great importance on a person’s character.
His behavior just now would inevitably have displeased his future father-in-law.
Moreover, Old Master Zhou was also very strict when it came to discipline.
Zhou Zhishu hurriedly tried to explain, “Grandpa, I…”
Old Master Zhou glared at him with his tiger-like eyes. “Are you coming over or not?!”
Zhou Zhishu didn’t dare make another mistake and quickly went to stand behind Old Master Zhou.
Watching this, a hint of triumph flashed through Meng Jixue’s eyes.
She naturally knew exactly what her father and Grandpa Zhou disliked most.
If she wanted to find a reasonable excuse to reject Zhou Zhishu’s marriage proposal, she absolutely could not make it about herself. Instead, she had to make the elders feel that there was something wrong with him as a person.
And Zhou Zhishu, despite appearing proper and upright on the surface, actually had very little self control.
He could become completely infatuated with her, yet he could also become hopelessly captivated by other women.
As long as she magnified his shortcomings, then it would no longer be that she was being unreasonable or ungrateful. Rather, Zhou Zhishu simply would not be a suitable match for her.
After Zhou Zhishu had moved behind him, Old Master Zhou finally turned to Meng Qingsong and spoke earnestly.
“Qingsong, I came here today thinking of the many years of friendship between our two families. Back then, Brother Meng helped me greatly, and I’ve always kept that debt of gratitude in my heart. I’ve never dared forget it. I truly can’t bear to watch Jixue be sent down as well.”
“I’ve watched this child, Jixue, grow up. She’s dignified and well mannered, and she’s even a famous talented young woman in the capital. I don’t know how many families have wanted to marry into the Meng family for her sake. If the circumstances weren’t so urgent, I’d even think that none of my grandsons are worthy of her.”
“But given the situation now, this is the only way I can think of to help. So, despite feeling a little shameless, I’ve come here to ask for this marriage on behalf of my grandson. I just don’t know whether you’re willing to agree.”
Zhou Zhishu, who had been feeling uneasy just moments ago, finally breathed a sigh of relief. Then, joy appeared between his brows.