Inside the private room, the fragrance of tea lingered, and the afternoon sunlight stretched the shadows of the carved window lattices into slender lines.
As the meal neared its end, the atmosphere at the table grew particularly harmonious amid the reminiscing and lively conversation between the two elderly gentlemen.
The waiters quietly cleared away the remaining dishes and replaced them with a refreshing fruit platter.
Old Master Li picked up his teacup but didn’t take a sip. Instead, he smiled warmly at Wen Yan.
“Yanyan, tell Grandpa Li, what do you think of our Yanzhou?”
The question came suddenly, causing Wen Yan’s heart to flutter. Yet, she maintained a composed smile on her face, carefully choosing her words.
“Mr. Li is young and accomplished, steady and reliable—a recognized leader in the industry. It’s my honor to meet him today.”
Wen Yan’s reply was formal and polite, faultless and never crossing any boundaries.
Upon hearing this, Old Master Li’s smile deepened, carrying a knowing look that seemed to say, “I knew you’d say that.”
He set down his teacup, leaned slightly forward, and glanced between Wen Yan and his grandson before finally settling his gaze on his old comrade, Wen Guohua. His expression grew earnest and enthusiastic.
“Old Wen, let’s speak plainly. The kids have met now, and I must say, Yanyan and our Yanzhou are simply a perfect match! One is steady and responsible, the other is poised and intelligent—truly a match made in heaven!”
He paused, his tone growing even more sincere, tinged with the familiar intimacy between old friends that brooked no refusal.
“Look, our families know each other inside out, and we two old fellows share a bond forged in life and death.”
“The kids aren’t young anymore—it’s time for them to settle down. I truly adore Yanyan and wish she could join our Li family today!”
“Old Wen, let’s not beat around the bush. Give me a straight answer today—do you agree to settle the matter between these two kids?”
The phrase “settle the matter” struck the room like three bolts of thunder, completely unexpected.
Wen Yan’s smile froze instantly, her pupils contracting sharply.
She doubted her own hearing and instinctively looked at her grandfather before quickly glancing at Li Yanzhou across the table.
Li Yanzhou remained with his eyes lowered, his expression unchanged, not even a flicker of his eyelashes. Only his slender fingers, gripping the rim of his cup, tightened almost imperceptibly for a moment, their knuckles turning faintly white.
Wen Yan’s parents exchanged glances upon hearing this, their surprise mingled with delight.
Old Master Wen was taken aback at first, but then a smile slowly spread across his face, as if to say, “I knew it.”
“Old Li!” Old Master Wen’s voice boomed. “I’ve grown fonder of Yanzhou the more I see him. Entrusting Yanyan to him puts my mind completely at ease!”
“For Yanyan to marry into your Li family is her good fortune! I think this is a fine idea!”
“Grandpa!” Wen Yan could no longer hold back, the words escaping her lips.
Her voice trembled slightly with shock and urgency, the color draining from her face, leaving only pale disbelief.
No way! This is just the first meeting, over a single meal, with barely a few words exchanged between us—and now it’s “settled”?
This progress feels like it’s riding a rocket… Or have the two old gentlemen grown so accustomed to their military ways that they act with such lightning speed, going straight for the goal?!
Her mind buzzed with noise, and the warm air in the private room now felt suffocating.
Mrs. Wen quickly patted Wen Yan’s hand under the table, signaling her to stay calm, then put on a smile and said, “Old Master Li is right. Yanzhou and Yan Yan are both good children. Settling things early will put all our minds at ease.”
Mr. Wen nodded in agreement beside her. “Yes, yes, settling it early is good. As parents, we’ll have one less worry on our minds.”
Li Yanzhou’s gaze shifted to Wen Yan across the table.
Her clear eyes were filled with shock, resistance, and helplessness—a stark contrast to her earlier meek and submissive demeanor.
He hated being arranged, especially detesting such hasty, almost frivolous decisions about marriage. But…
If the other person were her…
This thought emerged uncontrollably. From the moment she entered, he hadn’t felt any aversion toward her. In fact… he was somewhat drawn to her.
And now, seeing the genuine panic and vivid emotion in her eyes, that attraction seemed even clearer.
Marry her?
She came from a respectable family, was… pleasant to look at, could soothe his grandfather, and could also address the subtle murmurs from the board about his “personal matters”… It seemed like, for now, she was the most “suitable” choice.
Suitable was enough.
As for Wen Yan, after the initial shock and resistance, she felt the silent yet powerful pressure from her family.
Her mother’s hand under the table gripped hers tightly, with a force that brooked no resistance; her father’s earnest gaze; her grandfather’s threatening posture of “dare to object and I’ll have a fit”…
She was isolated and helpless. All her struggles seemed so feeble in the face of the unanimous “joy” and “eagerness” of the elders from both families.
She looked at Li Yanzhou again. He still showed no expression, but his eyes were unfathomable, as if he too was weighing the situation.
Would he refuse? He seemed so cold, so aloof. Surely he must also resent being arranged like this?
Just as a faint glimmer of hope—that he would speak up and refuse—rose in her heart, Li Yanzhou finally moved.
He lifted his gaze, meeting his grandfather’s earnest and forceful stare calmly, then glanced almost imperceptibly at the expectant faces of Wen Yan’s parents. Finally, under Wen Yan’s watchful eyes, so tense she was almost holding her breath, his thin lips parted and uttered the decisive words:
“Fine.”
His voice wasn’t loud, nor did it carry much emotion, but it struck Wen Yan’s ears like a thunderclap.
He agreed?! Just like that… he agreed?!
Wen Yan felt her vision darken. The last shred of hope was utterly shattered.
Upon hearing this, Old Master Li beamed with joy and said repeatedly, “Good! Good! Yanzhou is sensible! Then this matter is settled!”
Old Master Wen nodded with a smile, clearly extremely satisfied with this “efficiency.”
In the private room, the two elders enthusiastically began planning the next steps. As they spoke, Old Master Li actually pulled out a small, aged-looking almanac from his pocket, put on his reading glasses, and carefully flipped through it under the bright sunlight from the window.
Old Master Wen leaned in as well. Two gray-haired heads huddled together, fingers pointing at the yellowed pages, their expressions so serious it was as if they were planning a major battle.
Wen Yan stared at this scene in stunned disbelief, feeling a sense of absurdity surge straight to the top of her head.