Auntie Su was oblivious to the thoughts of others.
Her greedy nature had her marveling at the value of Bao Jingyan’s gift.
She even began to ponder whether her maternal family’s 22-year-old niece would make a suitable match for the eldest son of the Bao Family—wouldn’t that propel the Su Family sky-high?
With this in mind, she presumptuously said, "Jingyan is really too polite! Do you have a girlfriend? There’s a girl in my maternal family who is quite compatible with you."
Qionglin was dying inside!
Was her mother talking about Xianrou?
What about that woman, aside from feigning gentleness, made her a match for Bao Jingyan?
Besides, how could she let Xianrou climb over her and run wild?
Right then, Su Qionglin interrupted, "Mom, doesn’t Xianrou have a boyfriend?"
Auntie Su awkwardly replied, "It’s good for young people to make more friends, to have more options, right?"
Her words left people speechless.
Bao Jingyan, holding a glass of red wine, smiled with a touch of suavity, "Auntie really is open-minded."
Auntie Su beamed with joy, "See, Jingyan says so too."
Contentedly, she declared, "I’ll arrange a meeting for you tomorrow."
Bao Jingyan glanced at Su Ruanruan without a trace.
Her face remained composed.
Bao Jingyan chuckled softly.
At this moment, Bao Mingyuan himself spoke up, "Jingyan’s marriage would have to be decided by the matriarch."
In other words, your daughter doesn’t measure up! Stop pushing her onto our Bao Family.
Auntie Su felt slapped in the face, too embarrassed to speak further.
Her husband, Su Yugu, was much more steady, shifting the topic back with a single remark.
"Qionglin’s leg is inconvenient right now. Why not get engaged first to shut those reporters up! We can have a proper celebration when her leg is healed."
Saying this, his wife immediately agreed, "Yugu makes a good point."
Bao Mingyuan did not make the decision himself but asked Bao Ziqi, "Ziqi, this is your marriage, what do you say?"
Bao Ziqi’s gaze fell on Su Ruanruan.
She was whispering with the old lady, his marriage seemingly none of her concern.
"Ziqi!" Bao Mingyuan was getting irritated.
He had always hoped that Ziqi would choose Su Ruanruan, but now with so many reporters capturing his affair with Su Qionglin in the hospital room, he had to marry her off for the sake of the Bao Family’s reputation.
Bao Ziqi snapped back to reality, his voice gentle, "Whatever."
Bao Mingyuan breathed a sigh of relief.
This was, at last, a yes.
Yet Su Qionglin felt aggrieved. What did he mean by ’whatever’?
When he had pursued her passionately, it was not ’whatever’, nor was it ’whatever’ when they first made love, but now he treated her with indifference upon seeing Su Ruanruan.
Su Qionglin covered her mouth, wanting to cry.
Finally, Auntie Su caught on, glancing between her son-in-law and Su Ruanruan, "Ziqi, surely you haven’t fallen for someone else?"
Su Yugu scolded her, "What nonsense are you talking?"
Tears inevitably broke through Su Qionglin’s restraint.
It was then that Bao Ziqi stood up, his voice cold, "Whether or not this engagement happens, decide for yourself! If you’re unwilling, I’ll have someone send over a check tomorrow."
Everyone present was stunned, shocked at Bao Ziqi’s ruthless stance.
Auntie Su also burst into tears, "My poor Qionglin! I said from the start we shouldn’t have sent her to keep room; the Bao Family has no good men, and look, today proves it!"
Bao Ziqi couldn’t bother with her and turned on his heel to leave.