“Family Rule Number Three: Appearance and Grooming.”
Inside the elevator, Huo Shengye spoke in a deep voice, though he did not look outside. Instead, he leisurely removed the diamond cufflinks from his sleeves and rolled up his shirt cuffs.
With his movements, a section of his cold, pale forearm, defined with powerful and athletic lines, was revealed. The diamond watch on his wrist gleamed with a cold light. After rolling up his sleeves, Huo Shengye finally shifted his gaze to the opposite side and stepped out of the elevator.
Huo Lei, who moments ago had been disheveled with her red hair flying wildly, had now tidied her hairstyle. Her hands were neatly folded together, and she stood upright. Seeing Huo Shengye emerge, she quickly pulled Shao Feng beside her and bowed to Huo Shengye.
Huo Shengye’s sharp gaze slowly swept over the young man in a hoodie and sweatpants before turning to Huo Lei. “Your boyfriend?”
Huo Lei let out an “ah,” then quickly responded, “Yes, Uncle! My boyfriend! Shao Feng! The third son of the Shao family!”
Huo Shengye gave a slight nod. “Not bad.”
Huo Lei was delighted and smiled. “Yes, yes! I think he’s great too!” She then nudged Shao Feng. “Say hello, don’t just stand there like a fool.”
The head of a chaebol—even her own father and siblings had never met him in person.
Shao Feng was far more distracted and shocked than Huo Lei. After being nudged, he snapped back to reality and hurriedly bowed to Huo Shengye.
“Hello, Uncle! Good morning, Uncle!” He was practically overjoyed inside.
He had managed to get close to a chaebol heiress and now met the head of the chaebol. Who said life would be tough without real power in hand?
Now, he could practically consider himself half a chaebol!
“Hmm,” Huo Shengye said. “Since you both like each other, when I hold my wedding in a while, you two can get engaged as well.”
Huo Lei was slightly taken aback and clearly hesitated. When had she ever said she liked this man? She certainly hadn’t mentioned marrying him!
She was just trying to annoy that little bitch Wen Yuan. Besides, the Shao family wasn’t even on the same level as hers—the Wen family would be a better match for the Shao family!
Huo Lei was secretly displeased but didn’t dare contradict Huo Shengye.
Shao Feng didn’t know Huo Shengye well, but as a member of the Huo family, she had some understanding. Huo Shengye was ruthless and not as approachable as he seemed. His words might sound like a question, but in reality, it was likely already a decision.
Huo Lei clenched her fist discreetly. Fine, engagement it is. At worst, she could find an excuse to break it off later. After all, a wealthy family was no match for a chaebol—there were plenty of ways to handle it.
Shao Feng glanced at Huo Lei and, seeing her remain silent, seized the opportunity to smile at Huo Shengye. “That’s wonderful, Uncle! Xiao Lei and I are deeply in love. When the time comes, the Huo family will have double the joy!”
Huo Shengye gave a faint smile and said nothing more. He turned and led the two rows of men in black away.
At a Cantonese-style dim sum restaurant, Western Tulan Restaurant, on the third floor of the mall, Wen You looked at Qiu Lening sitting diagonally across from her, then glanced at Wen Yuan beside her.
“What’s wrong with Xiao Ning?” Wen You asked, puzzled. “She looks really upset?”
Wen Yuan cleared her throat with a hum.
Knowing Qiu Lening’s personality, the more something was kept from her, the more determined she was to find out—it was only a matter of time.
On the way there, Wen Yuan had pulled Qiu Lening into a VIP lounge and whispered everything that had happened to her over the past few days into Qiu Lening’s ear, asking her to keep it a secret.
Although her family doted on her, they were very particular about relationships. Worried she might be deceived while studying abroad, they had always disapproved of her dating during her time overseas.
Previously Wen You had emphasized that international students tend to be wild, and that if she wanted to date, she should wait until she returned home.
Now Wen You’s words had come true, and mentioning it would only add disgust.
Moreover, she now had to deal with Huo Shengye, a chaebol family head who surely wouldn’t be easy to fool. Her whole family was kind-hearted, and she feared accidentally slipping up.
If Huo Shengye learned she had once had a first love and had been in a relationship for nearly two years—though they hadn’t kissed, they had held hands and such—and also that she had slept with a stranger…
Wen Yuan dared not think about it, but men of that status usually cared about such things.
Even if he didn’t care, she herself felt uncomfortable.
“It’s fine, big brother, let’s eat,” Qiu Lening said. “We just encountered two… idiots.”
Wen You raised an eyebrow, and Wen Yuan seized the opportunity to hand him the menu. “Brother, you’re paying?”
Wen You chuckled. “When have I ever not paid when I’m here?”
Wen Yuan smiled. “Brother is so good. A sister with a brother is like a treasure. Brother, I’m hungry, hurry and order.”
“Alright,” Wen You nodded.
Around noon, the three returned to the villa.
Song Huiyue and Wen Defeng saw the familiar car on the road through binoculars and had long been waiting outside.
Now, Song Huiyue approached and hugged Wen Yuan, her eyes full of affection. “My dear daughter, let Mom look at you. Ah, you’ve become prettier!”
Wen Defeng stood nearby, his face kindly, also nodding with a smile. “Good, good, you’ve grown taller, but… a bit thin.”
“It’s fine, now that she’s home, I’ll fatten our daughter back up,” Song Huiyue said, leading Wen Yuan inside. “Come, Yuan Yuan, look at the flowers Mom planted. They’ve been blooming beautifully these days.”
Just as the two entered the house, Wen Defeng’s phone in his pocket suddenly vibrated intensely with a ringing sound.
The middle-aged man pulled it out, his hand trembling slightly, swiped to answer, and brought it close to his ear. “Hello? Ah, okay…”
Once the call ended, Wen Defeng’s expression noticeably darkened.
Wen You, who had just finished organizing the car’s trunk, saw this and worriedly asked, “What’s wrong, Dad? Is it the company or someone else?”
“Not the company,” Wen Defeng shook his head. “It was a call from the Huo family’s housekeeper, saying Yuan Yuan should go… for a blind date tomorrow afternoon.”
The next morning, 11:30, at a coastal Western restaurant in the capital, sixth-floor seaside private room.
Wen Yuan, wearing a beige square-neck French-style dress, sat upright in the booth. One hand slightly adjusted the pearl choker around her snow-white neck, while the other held her self-made “cheat sheet”:
Don’t stammer when speaking, be confident, be poised, smile!
If you don’t understand what he’s saying, just nod and say “yes, yes, yes!”
If he says something wrong, don’t argue, don’t argue, don’t argue!!
Wen Yuan read while silently reciting in her mind. Just after finishing the third point, steady footsteps sounded outside the door.
Wen Yuan was slightly startled, hurriedly stuffing the cheat sheet into her small bag, and straightened up again as the door lock clicked.
The door opened, and a tall man walked in. Wen You was 185 cm tall, but this man was taller than Wen You.
Wen Yuan didn’t dare look directly at his face, quickly lowering her gaze. Soon, she felt her throat dry up—
This man’s shoulders were so broad, how could his waist… be so narrow?
His physique was too good, right? So perfect.
An inverted triangle…