"Xuexue," Old Xu sighed, "Grandfather has really stuck his neck out for you."
"Don’t worry, Grandfather," Xu Xuezi took a deep breath, "As long as Yecheng arrives, he won’t escape the palm of our hands."
"You too, perform well tonight," Old Xu patted Xu Xuezi’s shoulder, "After all, Yecheng is a young man, strong and vigorous, and inevitably impulsive in some matters. Once tonight is over, some things will no longer be up to the Gu Family to decide, but instead will be controlled by our Xu Family."
"Mhm," Xu Xuezi lowered her head, her face bashful, "Your granddaughter will definitely not disappoint you, Grandfather."
"Ah, Yecheng," Old Xu sat opposite Yecheng, his face kind and amiable, "You and I have never really had a good sit-down chat, have we?"
Ye Cheng’s face showed a faint smile, light as a cloud on a sunny day, breezy and gentle, but his presence was by no means weaker than the elder opposite him. On the contrary, he seemed even more formidable.
Old Xu had of course noticed this. Yecheng, this man would surely achieve greater things than the Prime Minister of the Gu Family in the future. Such a man, if not made a part of the family, would be most dangerous for the Xu Family.
"I should have been the one to visit you, Grandpa Xu, but my dad was afraid I’d slack off and tarnish his reputation, so he insisted on keeping me busy. I’ve been away from the Imperial Capital for three years, and I’m unfamiliar with everything here. Having just taken over, it’s inevitable that I’m a bit flustered and therefore haven’t had the time to visit you."
"It’s not that your dad is afraid you’ll slack off. I think he wants to slack off himself, to have you take over his position as soon as possible," Old Xu sighed lightly, "If Xuezi were a boy, I could retire now. Unfortunately, Tianming is still too young to take over the headship of the Xu Family. Here I am, an old man still in charge, and people must be saying behind my back that I can’t bear to give up power and won’t let go."
"You, Old Master Xu, are more vigorous than ever; you could easily lead the family for decades to come."
Old Xu laughed at this, waving his hand, "That won’t do. If I really were to lead the family for another decade or so, outsiders aside, there would be an uproar within my own family."
"May I ask why Grandpa Xu has asked for Yecheng’s presence today?"
"Look at you, just like your father, so by the book. If I hadn’t found an excuse, you wouldn’t have come, would you? But that makes sense, the Gu Family is not just any ordinary household, and you are exceptionally talented. No wonder your father is so anxious for you to take over," Yecheng was always brighter and more clever than other children, excellent in his intellect, and the envy of many.
"Grandpa Xu, you’re kidding. My dad just doesn’t want to slack off and is always finding tasks to keep me busy." Ye Cheng didn’t pick up on Old Xu’s words.
"The reason I asked you here today is mainly to talk about Xuexue. She told me that she wrote you a letter back in the day, saying she would wait for you however long it took you to return. You didn’t reply at the time, so she took it as you accepting the arrangement. The poor child, all these years, so many have come to the Xu Family to ask for her hand in marriage, yet she stubbornly waits only for you," Old Xu heavily sighed, "You know, Xuexue is the eldest granddaughter of the Xu Family, cherished since she was little, a precious gem we were afraid might melt in our mouths or break in our hands. In the blink of an eye, she’s past the usual age for marriage; seeing her so devotedly waiting just for you, it doesn’t feel right. Of course, I’m not trying to force you, I just want to ask what you truly feel for Xuexue. If you have no intentions towards her, I’ll go back immediately and get her to forget this notion, rather than wasting her time and yours. Don’t you agree?"
Old Xu’s probing gaze was fixed on Ye Cheng.
Hearing Old Xu’s words, Ye Cheng’s face remained mostly expressionless, except for a faint look of surprise and disbelief, "Xuezi wrote me a letter? When? Grandpa Xu, I have never received any letters from Xuezi, and I had no idea about her intentions to wait for me. Had I known, I would have told her she need not wait."
No wonder Xu Xuezi’s remarks were so inexplicably odd; it turned out she had written him a letter long ago.
Old Xu took Ye Cheng’s words as an attempt to evade the issue, his eyes reflecting regret, "I can’t understand the games you young people play, but I’ve made sense of your meaning. Rest assured, when I return, I will speak to Xuexue and tell her to completely relinquish the idea of marrying into the Gu Family. Don’t worry; I will handle my granddaughter. If you are uninterested in her, I will ensure she no longer disturbs you."