Chapter Forty-Five: Take Good Care

"If this child starts crying again, you can forget about sleeping in your bed tonight." With a sarcastic tone, Qimei shot a glance at the old man. Although the boy usually got along well with the old man, as his grandmother, she felt a deep tenderness for him as well.

He’d already cried once; if anyone made him cry again, there would be no returning to the bedroom later. The old man hadn’t expected this—why didn’t these people understand his intentions?

"Then why call her ‘Auntie’? Is Auntie leaving again? Isn’t she supposed to become Xiaowei’s mother from now on?" The boy’s pitiful little face was so endearing that the old man nodded with a broad grin. In the past, no one could have predicted that the once formidable businessman—who had defended Jin Yuan’s production lines and made others tremble—could change into the doting figure he was now.

"Exactly! If you’re not calling her Auntie, what else would you call her, silly child? Since your father has already brought her home to meet your grandparents, it clearly means he wants to marry her. Let’s settle the engagement today. It may be late, but there’s still time." The decision was made with lightning speed. Yuan Xiangdie was still struggling to process it, and even Jin Yuan himself hadn’t anticipated that his usually indifferent father would so readily go along with the child’s wishes.

Yuan Xiangdie’s eyes widened in surprise, her astonished expression impossibly adorable. In the eyes of this family, it was as if they’d found a treasure.

Qimei immediately lunged forward, pulling her into a warm embrace, while the president at the side suffered in silence.

"But… Uncle, Auntie, isn’t this too fast? Today is the first time I’ve met you both. Shouldn’t you take some time to get to know me? After all, you don’t know me at all."

Indeed, Jin Yuan’s decisiveness was learned from his parents. Before this, Yuan Xiangdie had thought the most impulsive member of the family must be the lady of the house—but now she realized that, while the lady acted swiftly, it was only because the old man indulged her. Ultimately, he was the one making the real decisions, which left her at a loss for words.

"Hahaha, I’m more than satisfied with this daughter-in-law. There’s nothing to nitpick. We’ll set the engagement another day. It’s late now, and there’s not much prepared at home. Still, an engagement deserves to be done properly."

Qimei stepped in to smooth things over at just the right time, and Housekeeper Hu agreed, chiming in, "Yes, Old Master. It’s too late today. Why don’t we let everyone rest and tackle the engagement with fresh minds and energy?"

Yuan Xiangdie was truly grateful for Housekeeper Hu’s support.

"Yes, yes," she quickly echoed.

Jin Yuan considered it for a moment. "Indeed, today is too rushed. We should prepare everything properly before the proposal. The engagement shouldn’t be handled carelessly; it must be done thoroughly, even if…" He left the rest unsaid, but Yuan Xiangdie understood. Even if their marriage was a contract, a mutually beneficial arrangement—a transaction, really—it still needed to be handled with care.

Though she felt a pang of sadness at that thought, it was what they’d agreed upon from the start.

"If everyone agrees, then tomorrow it is." There was no way to sway the family’s will any further. Xiaowei was determined to make Yuan Xiangdie a member of the family within the week, so there was little point in objecting; what difference did a few hours make between today and tomorrow?

Yuan Xiangdie was left in a daze. Why did this family never consider other people’s feelings? Any dissent was smothered before it could be voiced—especially by the boss, who didn’t even try to intervene.

—

That night, Yuan Xiangdie sat in the passenger seat, nerves fluttering as if she had something she wanted to say.

Jin Yuan had reverted to his familiar demeanor, though he’d swapped his suit for casual clothes. He seemed less imposing, almost approachable—she was seeing a side of him she’d never glimpsed before.

"Boss… I think we should talk this through. I know I agreed to marry you, but to have the proposal tomorrow… it’s all too fast."

She put her suggestion forward with great caution, afraid of saying anything that might displease him. After all, he was her benefactor; without his financial support, her grandfather’s illness would surely…

Jin Yuan didn’t even glance her way, keeping his eyes on the road. Only at a red light did he finally turn his head, and in the darkness, his gaze locked onto Yuan Xiangdie, sending her heart racing uncontrollably. She couldn’t understand what that look meant—she felt as if the words she’d wanted to say were stuck in her throat, rendering her mute.

"Don’t be willful when you get to the old house. Go get some proper sleep. I’ll come pick you up in four hours."

Yuan Xiangdie was surprised—why four hours? A glance at her phone made everything clear: in the confusion of the family’s discussion, she hadn’t even realized it was already the next day.

It was two in the morning.

The house was shrouded in darkness, not ablaze with the usual lights.

Jin Yuan said, "At this hour, those two won’t be back. There was a gathering near the World Trade Center tonight, and Madam invited everyone."

Hearing the boss deliberately explain things for her, Yuan Xiangdie quietly thanked him.

"No need to be nervous. I’ll come to propose tomorrow."

Remember to make yourself look beautiful. Of course, he didn’t say this out loud. Ever since Jin Yuan had decided to marry this woman, he’d never thought there was anyone more beautiful than her. Even without a touch of makeup, she was the most beautiful woman in his eyes.

"For me, even a contract marriage must be with someone I truly care for."

With those words, Yuan Xiangdie was even more perplexed. What did he mean? Did he already harbor some affection for her before, and since she happened to go along with it, everything fell into place?

She wanted to ask for clarification, but Jin Yuan simply reached over and closed the car door, leaving her with nothing but the tail lights fading into the night, the cool wind, and a head full of questions.

"What on earth is happening!"

Even a howl at the sky would not ease Yuan Xiangdie’s troubled heart.

She decided to go back, hug her big bed, and get a good night’s sleep. Maybe all of this was just a dream—once she woke up, everything would be resolved.

Sure enough, at a little after six, exactly four hours later, Yuanyao’er returned home around three, utterly exhausted from dancing with so many people all night in the ballroom.

—

She hadn’t been allowed to stop, not with Lin Ling supervising her closely.

"Mom, my feet are killing me. I’m never dancing with so many people again. Couldn’t you at least be selective instead of pushing everyone my way?"

Lin Ling had no intention of explaining. She brushed her daughter’s complaints aside. "Just remember, I would never harm you. Besides, all the people you danced with are useful for Xunfang and the company. I wasn’t just pushing anyone onto you."

That was what she said, but in truth, as long as someone was useful, she’d send them her daughter’s way. Whether it was one or five, as long as Yuanyao’er could dance with them, it was all the same.

If Yuanyao’er knew what her mother was really thinking, she’d surely be worried.

The mother and daughter had barely rested when the doorbell rang, as though there were already quite a few people outside.

"Who is it? It’s so early—can’t a person get a good night’s sleep?"

Yuanyao’er was woken by a phone call. Glancing at the caller ID, she saw it was a woman she hadn’t spoken to in ages—a former partner in the counterfeit goods business.

Their connection was due to a joint business venture in fake goods; the funds for Xunfang had been scraped together from such dealings.

"Oh, come on. I’ll be relying on you from now on. You quietly took care of things without a word, didn’t say anything beforehand, and yesterday you danced with all those men. You must have driven someone mad with jealousy."

The tone was a mix of envy, jealousy, and a hint of resentment, though the message was perfectly clear. Yuanyao’er couldn’t make sense of it at first and was about to call her mother over, but was interrupted.

"Don’t play dumb. I know everything. Jin Yuan has already ordered the cake, and your surname is written on it. He’s on his way to your house with a motorcade and the media."

Yuanyao’er was still foggy with sleep, but she instantly sobered up.

"What!"

Jin Yuan, with a motorcade and the media, was coming to her house—was he coming to propose?

"Say that again—who’s coming?"

"Stop playing coy. We all know—there’s only one direction he could be heading. The big boss himself is on his way, motorcade and all, to your house for the proposal. Congratulations on your engagement, and please take good care of my business in the future!"

After hanging up, Yuanyao’er rushed to her mother’s room like a madwoman, crashing into her so they both landed on the floor laughing foolishly.

"Mom… I…"

"Alright, my good daughter, I already know. They’ll be here any minute. Go get yourself ready, put on something nice, and doll yourself up."