Chapter 164: Xiao Qingge’s Thoughts, Confused and Hesitant
“Dad, what did you say? You want me to be the girlfriend of the Jiang family’s young master?” Xiao Qingge looked at her father in disbelief, as if she was seeing him for the first time.
“This is also a last resort. If you don’t go, the Jiang family will pursue us for not repaying on time. The astronomical breach of contract penalty is not something we can afford…” Xiao Qingshan sighed, his face filled with complexity.
If there were another way, he certainly wouldn’t want to do this. After all, personally sending his daughter away was itself a very humiliating matter.
But he really had no other options. This time, the financial loss was too great, and the Xiao family was on the brink of bankruptcy.
He had borrowed money from everyone he could, but they were still short of fifty million. For the Jiang family, fifty million was a drop in the bucket, but it was a burden the small Xiao family couldn’t bear.
“Daughter, try to understand. The Jiang family is a high and mighty existence for us. If you can marry Young Master Jiang, it would also be a blessing for our Xiao family.” Xiao Qingge’s mother was also persuading her continuously.
It sounded nice to say she would marry Jiang Che, but in reality, it would be in name only. After all, Jiang Che already had a fiancée, and even without one, the Jiang family would never marry into the Xiao family.
“But…” Xiao Qingge’s face showed hesitation, and her expression was conflicted.
She wasn’t entirely clueless; she could understand her parents’ feelings. She had also seen Jiang Che a few times at parties and thought he was a gentle and elegant person, very much like the prince charming in her heart.
But would doing this be betraying Chen Feng? Although Chen Feng had been missing for six years and there was no news of him, Xiao Qingge instinctively felt he was still alive.
She had a marriage contract with Chen Feng. Even though she didn’t have feelings for him, he was technically her fiancé. Wouldn’t it be wrong to become Jiang Che’s woman?
“Are you thinking about that last remaining member of the Chen family again?” A mother knows her daughter best. Seeing Xiao Qingge’s hesitant look, her mother knew what she was thinking.
Over the years, she had tried to arrange marriages for her daughter, but Xiao Qingge always used the excuse that Chen Feng was still alive to refuse.
She believed her daughter was still hung up on the last member of the Chen family.
“What’s so good about Chen Feng that you’ve been waiting for him for six years? Stop thinking about him. He might have already died in some corner of Jiuzhou long ago.” Xiao Qingge’s mother advised earnestly, unable to understand her daughter’s actions.
Xiao Qingge shook her head, not explaining much. She didn’t actually like Chen Feng; she just thought that since they had a marriage contract, she should end it before becoming Jiang Che’s woman.
If she became Jiang Che’s woman , wouldn’t that be betraying Chen Feng? Xiao Qingge couldn’t bring herself to do such a thing, so she was very resistant to this matter.
Over the years, she had also longed for her own happiness, but with no news of Chen Feng, the engagement couldn’t be broken. Whether Chen Feng was dead or alive was uncertain, like a heavy stone pressing on her heart.
Her upbringing wouldn’t allow her to do such a thing, and she hadn’t met any man who moved her.
“I agree to meet with Young Master Jiang, but I can’t become his woman immediately.” Xiao Qingge hesitated and then spoke. Even without personal feelings, she had to do this for her family’s sake.
But she didn’t want to give herself away so easily; she needed to at least feel some affection for the person.
“No problem, as long as you agree.” Xiao Qingshan breathed a sigh of relief. As long as Xiao Qingge agreed, there was room for negotiation.
He also knew that Jiang Che was an outstanding person, not arrogant or domineering like other second-generation rich kids.
Although he was born into a top family, he was very approachable. If the two of them could be together, it would indeed be a good match.
Moreover, the Xiao family could benefit from the connection with Jiang Che, elevating their status in Linjiang City and possibly entering the ranks of first-rate families.
“But I have a condition. You must send someone to investigate Chen Feng’s whereabouts immediately. Once it’s confirmed that Chen Feng is truly dead, then I can interact with Jiang Che without any worries.” Xiao Qingge added.
The engagement had always been a knot in her heart. If it could be resolved, she could truly embrace her new life.
“No problem, I’ll send someone to investigate Chen Feng’s whereabouts right away.” Xiao Qingshan agreed without hesitation.
He knew his daughter’s character. As long as he could get a fake death certificate for Chen Feng, it would suffice. Xiao Qingge glanced at her parents, said nothing more, and went upstairs to her bedroom.
She didn’t have much resentment towards her parents for today’s events, just felt it was sudden. After all, the Xiao family’s rise was largely due to the Jiang family’s help, and she had long anticipated this day.
But having someone suddenly enter her peaceful life, she didn’t know if it was good or bad. She wasn’t familiar with Jiang Che and didn’t know what kind of person he was.
Xiao Qingge felt both anticipation and fear for the future.
“Sigh…” Watching Xiao Qingge’s somewhat desolate back, Xiao Qingshan sighed helplessly.
He had always doted on his daughter, allowing her to refuse various marriage proposals and blind dates with the excuse that Chen Feng was still alive. But with no other options left, he didn’t want to push his daughter into a pit of fire.
“You don’t need to be so pessimistic. If Young Master Jiang and Qingge truly get together, it would be a blessing for us.” Xiao Qingge’s mother comforted her husband. This was the safest option for now.
Moreover, being with Jiang Che might not be a bad thing for their daughter. Jiang Che had no rumors of scandalous girlfriends and wasn’t like other second-generation rich kids who played around and abandoned their partners.
“Sigh…” Xiao Qingshan sighed again, saying nothing more. He slowly closed his eyes and rubbed his throbbing temples.
He had been dealing with the Xiao family’s issues for days without proper rest. He was exhausted.