Yuchi Jin understood what he meant and hurriedly replied, “That’s right, that’s right. It’s a pity that the marriage arrangement wasn’t successful. It was enough for me to have a lifetime of regret.” After speaking, he turned and looked at Duamu Xue. “But it doesn’t matter. Although our children couldn’t get married to each other back in the day, it would be good too if our grandchildren can marry.”
Hearing this, Duanmu Aotian nodded his head repeatedly and the two old men laughed. Duanmu Xue looked carefully at her grandfather and exclaimed softly, “Grandfather…”
Duanmu Aotian’s sly, fox-like eyes fell on Ye Moxuan. He smiled inscrutably and said, “Xuan, you aren’t young anymore, and you’re a few years older than Xue too. If the two of you can…”
Ye Moxuan, who had not spoken a word since taking a seat, finally raised his head while lifting his eyelids to reveal his ink-black eyes. Since just now, his lips had been tightly pressed into a fine line while the endless black in his eyes made it difficult to read his emotions and thoughts. Midway through the old men’s conversation, he lightly pursed his lips. “Since the previous arrangement was unsuccessful at the time, it only means that there’s no fate between our two families.”
With his one sentence, the three others were all immediately stunned while looking at him with astonishment on their faces.
Duanmu Xue had always been a delicate girl who hoped that Ye Moxuan could pay more attention to her. After all, she was dressed so beautifully today but he never once looked her way. When he finally raised his head earlier, she had immediately straightened her back, but who would have thought that the words he said next would make her feel as if a basin of cold water was poured on her? It made her feel bitterly cold.
“W-What are you talking about?” Narrowing his eyes, Duanmu Aotian looked at Ye Moxuan.
Yuchi Jin was also caught off guard. He thought that his grandson would not make him look bad in front of Duanmu Aotian, but who knew he would…
“Times have changed. We’re no longer living in the same era as my parents. I understand that both of you elders are from the older generation and have your own ideas regarding marriage, but both I and Grandpa Duanmu’s granddaughter are from a different generation. We both want to love freely. Furthermore, she might already have a partner, and I have my own standards when it comes to picking a partner.” Ye Moxuan’s words were neither humble nor overbearing, making it difficult for others to rebuke.
Quickly standing up from her seat, Duanmu Xue looked at him incredulously. “Shen, you…”
Duanmu Aotian narrowed his eyes and looked at Ye Moxuan, displeased. “Are you looking down on my granddaughter?”
“No, no. How can you say that?” Yuchi Jin tried to smooth things over. “Xue is such a good girl.”
With an indifferent attitude, Ye Moxuan simply said, “It’s me who’s not worthy of your granddaughter.” When he finished speaking, he raised his hand to look at the time. Then, he said, “Grandfather, Grandfather Duanmu, I have an important video conference at 9pm, so I’ll be leaving first.” After saying this, he stood up and nodded at them before turning to leave.
“Shen!” Panicking, Duanmu Xue tried to go after him while holding her dress. However, when she walked by Duanmu Aotian, he said, “Stop right where you are.”
“Stop! You little brat!” At the same time, Yuchi Jin also stood up and yelled at Ye Moxuan’s back.
Ye Moxuan stopped in his steps and turned around. “Grandpa, this is a very important meeting.”
Yuchi Jin was extremely infuriated with him. “What exactly is important here? No matter how important other matters are, could they be more important than your marriage? Is it more important than your grandfather? Are you aware that we’re here for a meal? Don’t you know how to respect others?”
“Grandpa, I’ve been sitting with you for half an hour. If you think that I’m being disrespectful, then just take it as I’m leaving early.”
“You brat; you’d better come over here, or else…” Otherwise, he would be really angry. However, Ye Moxuan had left without looking back; his actions made it clear that he would not accept the arrangements made by the elders regarding his marriage. This also showed that he was obviously not interested in Duanmu Xue.
“Shen!”
In a blink of an eye, Ye Moxuan had disappeared. Duanmu Xue wanted to catch up to him but was stopped by her grandfather. “Don’t go after him. The children from our Duanmu family all have to have a strong backbone. Since he doesn’t like you, let’s just forget about the marriage!”
“Grandpa!” Duanmu Xue’s eyes turned red as she shook her head vigorously. “I don’t want to let go of this matter just like this. Shen just has a slightly colder personality. As long as you give me some time, he’ll definitely open up to me and grow to like me!”
“Stop deceiving yourself any longer!” Snorting coldly, Duanmu Aotian then waved his hand. “Didn’t you visit him every day when he was injured? Didn’t you have enough time then? Why didn’t he grow to like you then?”
Hearing this, she was speechless. “But this is just what his temperament is like. Just give me some more time, Grandpa…”
“Stop talking!” Duanmu Aotian shook her hand off while huffing at his beard and staring with anger. “You’re the precious princess of the Duanmu Family. You’re the one who should be picking your suitors. How could anyone dislike you?”
“But Grandpa…”
“Aotian…” Yuchi Jin was deeply sorry about what had happened today and walked forward before saying apologetically, “I didn’t communicate with my grandson regarding this matter earlier, I…”
“Enough, Yuchi Jin. You don’t need to say anymore. I don’t want to listen to any of it!”
“But—” Yuchi Jin said.
“If you say even one more sentence, it’ll only add insult to my granddaughter! I raised Xue preciously all this while, but your grandson rejected her in front of me. If this gets out, just how hurt do you want her to feel?”
“Yes, yes. It’s my fault.” Regardless, the two men had been old friends for many years now. Yuchi Jin could only nod his head to apologize. “I’ll apologize on behalf of Xuan for what happened today. I’ll go back and talk to him about this. As for the engagement…”
“I think it’s better if we just forget about it unless he personally comes over to ask for Xue’s hand in marriage. Otherwise…” Duanmu Aotian snorted coldly. “Our Xue is such an impressive woman. There are many men out there who would line up to be with her, so there’s no need for us to come here and be looked down upon.”
Hearing this, Yuchi Jin was speechless.
Meanwhile, on the other side. After Ye Moxuan left the hotel, he walked toward the parking lot. Who knew that as soon as he reached the entrance, a figure rushed up to him. He immediately stepped to the side in a flash, causing the figure to stagger forward and almost fall to the floor.
“D*mn! I came over here to report some news to you, but you’re not even kind toward me.” When George finally steadied himself, he turned his head and shot Ye Moxuan a vicious look.
Ye Moxuan pursed his lips and put away the car key before saying coldly, “What are you doing here?”
Gritting his teeth, the other man replied, “Of course it’s because I have some news for you. I was afraid of barging in, so I could only wait for you here.”
Hearing him, Ye Moxuan frowned. “News for me?”
When George thought about what he wanted to say, he felt a little guilty and coughed lightly. “Um… Do you want to go look for your assistant? I’ve been calling her all day today, but she hasn’t picked up my calls. I thought she knew about your engagement, so… it slipped my tongue.”
“What did you just say?”
