The smile on Xu Guoting’s face did not diminish in the slightest—it even deepened compared to before.
He picked up his teacup and took a slow, unhurried sip. “That was before. But didn’t you say Rong Anmin wasn’t good enough?”
Xu Jingshuang’s eyelid twitched.
Xu Guoting acted as if he hadn’t noticed and continued, “Rong Anmin is Mr. Rong’s grandnephew—he’s a generation below.”
“But Mr. Rong is different. Character, ability, family background—you couldn’t find another like him in all of North City. If you married Mr. Rong, I as your father would feel much more at ease.”
Xu Jingshuang’s mind went blank for two seconds.
Then a thought slowly surfaced.
So… yesterday she had gone to great lengths to call off the engagement. And not only did the engagement not get called off, but her fiancé got upgraded?
From Rong Anmin directly to Rong Jingchen?
She opened her mouth but couldn’t speak for a long moment.
Suddenly she felt as though she’d stepped into thin air and fallen into a hunter’s trap. And the most terrifying part was that she seemed to have jumped into it willingly herself.
Xu Jingshuang closed her eyes.
Great.
This time she’d really kicked a steel plate.
She took a deep breath and had already regained her composure. “Dad, I’d like to speak with Mr. Rong alone.” Without waiting for Xu Guoting’s response, she walked straight over and grabbed Rong Jingchen by the cuff. “Mr. Rong, a word in private.”
The living room fell instantly silent.
Xu Guoting nearly shot up from the sofa. “Shuangshuang… that’s disrespectful.”
Rong Jingchen lowered his gaze.
His eyes fell on the cuff she had grabbed. The girl’s fingertips were fair and slender, and she held on with utter self-assurance—like a bold little fox.
A moment later, the corner of his lips curved ever so faintly.
“It’s fine.”
Xu Guoting immediately swallowed his words and could only watch the two of them go upstairs.
The study door closed, shutting out the sounds from below.
Xu Jingshuang turned around and asked point-blank, “Why?”
Rong Jingchen stood in place, his black suit making his figure appear even more tall and straight.
He raised an eyebrow. “Why what?”
“Why did you choose me for the marriage alliance?”
Xu Jingshuang stared at him, her gaze open and direct. “What happened last night—I was the one who offended you first. I mistook you for Rong Anmin, which is why I said those things.”
She paused briefly, her red lips pressing lightly together.
“But Mr. Rong surely isn’t lacking in marriage prospects. Why me, of all people?”
The study lamp cast a warm yellow glow, yet it could not dispel the coldness about the man.
Rong Jingchen looked at her, his gaze deep—as though appreciating some interesting prey.
He let out a low chuckle. “Because you’re interesting.”
Xu Jingshuang’s brows knitted slightly.
She wasn’t a monkey in a zoo—what did it mean to be called “interesting”? In her twenty-three years of life, people had praised her looks, her intelligence, and some had called her spoiled. But no one had ever described her as “interesting.”
She didn’t like that answer.
“Mr. Rong.” She lifted her chin slightly. “I don’t particularly enjoy being someone’s entertainment.”
Rong Jingchen’s eyes darkened a fraction.
After a moment, he gave a soft laugh.
“Don’t worry.”
“I have no interest in entertainment. I’m only interested in results.”
As he spoke, he walked slowly closer, his leather shoes making low sounds against the wooden floor. An invisible pressure pressed in with him until he stopped in front of her.
“I’m not lacking in marriage prospects,” the man said in a low voice, “but what I need is an obedient wife.”
His gaze fell on her face. “And you fit the bill.”
Xu Jingshuang frowned.
Obedient? Xu Jingshuang had never been associated with those two words her entire life. If Xu Guoting told her to go east, she’d go west; if he told her to enter a marriage alliance, she’d run off to break off the engagement—how was that obedient?
But she didn’t argue back.
Because she heard the meaning behind those words—he wasn’t really saying she was obedient, but that she could be tamed. He was testing her limits, seeing whether she would jump up and retort.
Rong Jingchen watched her reaction, the corner of his mouth twitching. That micro-expression of “just as I expected” appeared.
“Marry me, and you won’t lose out. Your grandfather’s tea business—I can help.”
Xu Jingshuang’s fingers tightened.
“From what I know,” Rong Jingchen’s tone was unhurried, “Jianshan Tea has done an internal assessment. It won’t last half a year before declaring bankruptcy.”
Xu Jingshuang stared at him, suddenly understanding.
From the moment she stepped into the Xu household, this man hadn’t come to discuss a marriage contract—he had come with answers. He had investigated her, even knowing the financial situation of Jianshan inside and out.
He had never intended to give her a choice.
Because he knew she couldn’t refuse.
Xu Jingshuang drew a soft breath: “So what Mr. Rong means is, this is a transaction?”
Rong Jingchen’s eyes were faint: “Not accurate.”
Then, unhurriedly: “It’s a cooperation. I provide capital and connections to keep your grandfather’s business alive. You fulfill the duties of Mrs. Rong.”
Cooperation?
Capitalists certainly loved giving plunder a nicer name.
She crossed her arms: “Then shouldn’t I thank Mr. Rong?”
Rong didn’t deny it, instead saying: “If Miss Xu wishes to thank me, I don’t mind. Merchants pursuing profit—isn’t that normal?”
Xu Jingshuang: “…”
She discovered this man was truly shameless.
“Keep Jianshan alive? For how long?”
A trace of amusement flickered in Rong Jingchen’s eyes—clearly he hadn’t expected her to ask that.
“As long as I, Rong Jingchen, am alive, Jianshan will not fall.”
Xu Jingshuang’s heart gave a slight jolt.
Those words were too heavy, and too tempting. But she had no capital to refuse.
Jianshan Tea’s current problems couldn’t be solved with just tens of millions. It was a massive capital chain, channels and resources. And these were exactly what this man had in abundance.
The man stood there, suit crisp, expression composed, like a hunter with excellent patience, waiting for the prey to walk over on its own.
“Just dutifully being Mrs. Rong, that simple?”
“Yes.”
“No prenuptial agreement?”
“No.”
“Then normal marital obligations?”
This time, Rong Jingchen was silent for a moment. His gaze slowly lowered, carrying a hint of meaning.
“Miss Xu…” His voice was low. “The words ‘husband and wife’ inherently include that meaning.”
Xu Jingshuang’s ear tips grew warm, but she didn’t dodge—instead she met his gaze.
“One last question.”
The man nodded for her to continue.
“Do you have a stable partner? Or someone you’re ambiguous with, a bedmate.”
The study suddenly fell silent.
Rong Jingchen looked at her, his eyes growing deeper.
The next second.
He suddenly stepped forward, the distance abruptly shrinking. The cool scent of tea that belonged to him enveloped her, full of pressure.
Xu Jingshuang instinctively held her breath.
Rong Jingchen looked down at her, his voice very low: “Miss Xu. I have cleanliness obsessions—I don’t like messing around with men and women. So what you’re worried about doesn’t exist.”
Four eyes met.
Only then did Xu Jingshuang nod: “Fine, then I agree.”
“But I have a condition.” Xu Jingshuang raised her chin, reverting to her proud little fox demeanor. “Let’s skip the engagement party and the wedding. I don’t like hassle—just getting the marriage certificate is enough.”
Rong Jingchen looked at her and nodded. “Fine.”
He then glanced at his watch.
“Can you have your documents ready by Friday?”
Xu Jingshuang was stunned for a moment.
That soon?
She thought she would have at least a few days as a buffer, but this man went straight to asking about Friday. Today was Wednesday.
“Yes.”
“Then Friday it is.”