"Brother-in-law, what you said is just not right, he may bear the Xu surname, but your Xu Family never accepted him."
"Otherwise, you wouldn’t have avoided coming to Beijing for over ten years."
"Our Chen Family is different, not as rigid and unreasonable as the Xu Family; our door is always open for Hong Yu!"
"Hong Yu, not just your uncle and aunt, but your grandparents have been thinking about you too. I’ve come here specifically to take you to the Chen Family."
"As long as you’re willing, starting today, you’ll be the Chen Family’s eldest heir, and see who dares look down on you again!"
In front of Xu Zhi, Chen Anbang was busy trying to win over Xu Qianli, determined to make Xu Qianli join their Chen Family this time.
As for whether Xu Zhi was willing, he couldn’t care less.
Back when Xu Qianli was too young to decide for himself, the Chen Family had to consider Xu Zhi.
But now Xu Qianli had grown up and had his own opinions, and if he agreed, no one could stop it.
"If you’re here to see your sister, Chen Anbang, I won’t stop you."
"But if you’re here to steal my son, you better save it!"
"Keep blabbering, and I’ll throw you out, believe it or not?"
Xu Zhi was furious at his younger brother-in-law’s words, fuming with rage—how shameless to not see each other for years and then show up wanting to take his son. What gave him the right?
Chen Wen, seeing the two staring down each other, quickly intervened.
"Alright, both of you stop fighting."
"Hong Yu is my son, and no one can take him away!"
"Especially you, Anbang, not having seen each other for years and the first thing you do is try to disrupt our peace—what are your intentions?"
"If you’re here to visit, I welcome you, but if you continue , don’t blame me for not treating you like a brother and throwing you out!"
Chen Wen was usually gentle and quiet, but her anger was formidable. Chen Anbang was taken aback and quickly tried to appease her with a smile, "Sis, I was wrong, okay, I was wrong. Let’s not talk about taking Hong Yu to our Chen Family now, let’s talk about his and Nolan’s involvement."
Chen Anbang’s wife, Wu Na, stepped forward a few paces and circled Xu Qianli a few times, more and more pleased as she looked, nodding continuously.
"Good, good, indeed handsome, tall and handsome, vibrant in spirit, very pleasing to look at—perfectly matched with our Nolan."
"Hong Yu, your aunt has been looking forward to becoming even closer family, and our Nolan will marry no one but you. She has even been pledged to you since she was little; you absolutely cannot refuse."
"Just nod your head, and your aunt will immediately go home and start preparing the wedding, guaranteed to organize the most magnificent ceremony that will astonish everyone."
Chen Nolan even came closer, hooking Xu Qianli’s arm, "Hong Yu, cousin, just give a nod."
Xu Qianli said, "Aunt, I do indeed like Nolan a lot, but I’ve always thought of her as a sister; us getting married doesn’t seem right. Besides, I have a girlfriend now. You guys should hurry over here and call her ’aunt’ too."
Ding Meixin, Liu Qian, and Ge Pingping heard what was said and remained completely still, just watching the drama unfold nearby.
Wu Na turned her gaze toward Ding Meixin and the others, smiling as she said, "Men will be men, who doesn’t have a few ’red roses’, right? I understand. Especially you, Hong Yu, so young and vigorous, how could you not have had a few beautiful women around you these past years? Auntie really understands. It’s just, well, your engagement to our Nolan was set a long time ago by your grandparents, you can’t just deny it, can you?"
Before Xu Qianli could make a sound, Xu Zhi said, "Just because my in-laws set an engagement for my son, does he have to agree? What kind of logic is that? If my in-laws chose ten or eight brides for him, must he marry them all? I’m telling you, my son’s marriage is for him to decide, not for you Chen Family to dictate!"
Wu Na said, "Brother-in-law, you can’t speak like that. You knew about this marriage arrangement back then, you’ve said nothing all these years, why are you unhappy about it now?"
Xu Zhi said, "It’s not that I’m unhappy, I just don’t want to see my son being played by your Chen Family! Son, dad’s got your back, you decide your own marriage!"
Xu Qianli was so moved, his own dad was the best, truly his real father.
No sooner had Xu Qianli felt moved than Xu Zhi added a few more words, "Your grandfather also arranged a marriage for you years ago, and that girl has grown up by now, why not find some time to meet her?"
Xu Qianli slapped his forehead, what was this, why were both his grandfather and maternal grandfather so domineering? Couldn’t he decide his own marriage?
Taking a deep breath, Xu Qianli said, "Dad, uncle, no need to discuss further, my stance remains the same, I won’t marry anyone I don’t want to, and no one can force me. Meixin, stop watching the fun, come over here!"
Ding Meixin finally ran over, and Xu Qianli wrapped his arms around her slender waist, addressing Chen Anbang and Wu Na, "Uncle, aunt, come, let me introduce you, this is my girlfriend Ding Meixin, the rightful wife of my life! Meixin, aren’t you going to greet them?"
"Hello, uncle and aunt."
Ding Meixin couldn’t have been sweeter inside, nestled in Xu Qianli’s embrace, her heart filled with joy.
Indeed her Director Xu would never let her down.
Chen Anbang didn’t know what to say for a moment.
Wu Na, beaming, reached out and pulled Ding Meixin over.
"You’re called Meixin, right? I know you."
"I even have a bit of history with your mom, I’m kind of like your external aunt, we’re all family."
"I knew about you and Hong Yu long ago. Him marrying you as his wife, we don’t oppose, and would kindly suggest that Hong Yu marry our Nolan as well."
Ding Meixin said, "No problem at all, I’ll answer for Director Xu."
Ding Meixin quickly agreed, she actually liked the girl Chen Nolan quite a bit; such a woman was better off benefiting their own Director Xu rather than someone else.
Wu Na didn’t expect her to agree so readily and quickly pulled Chen Nolan over.
"Nolan, did you hear? Meixin agreed, from now on you’re sisters. You must get along harmoniously, no fighting or being jealous, and be a good wife to Hong Yu."
"Especially you, Nolan, put away any princess attitude, be good and try to give your cousin a big chubby boy soon."
At those words, Chen Nolan’s face heated up, twisting her waist in protest, "Mom, how did we get to children already?"
Wu Na said, "Silly girl, Hong Yu is young and robust, and you’re beautiful; living together, having kids is just a matter of time. Hong Yu, listen, I’m handing over Nolan to you now, you’d better treat her well and not bully her!"
All this talk, Xu Qianli was really at a loss and turned his gaze to his own mom, Chen Wen.
Chen Wen said, "Things have gotten to this point, I’m out of options too, Hong Yu, just agree for now. As for the match your grandfather arranged, find some time to meet her too."