When they arrived at the Feng Family's grand mansion, the Feng Family's steward came out to greet them. Lu Cheng chatted and laughed with him, while Lu Yuan had come along to bolster his courage. He had already decided to keep quiet if he could and be nothing but a tool.
They followed the steward to the garden and sat in a pavilion. The steward took his leave, and before long, servants brought out some snacks.
In the Backyard, Feng Yuan and his wife were comforting Feng Rongrong. The sixteen-year-old girl was lovely, with arching willow-leaf brows, almond eyes, a dainty nose, cherry lips, and fair skin. She stood tall and graceful.
But now she was weeping softly, dabbing her tears with a handkerchief.
"Honestly, child, you're already sixteen, a grown young woman. It's time you got married. I gave birth to your eldest brother when I was sixteen. The Lu Family may not be as distinguished as ours, but they're not bad either. Lu Cheng is handsome and capable. You certainly won't suffer if you marry him." Her mother spoke in a gentle, soothing voice.
Feng Rongrong sobbed, "Mother, I'd rather die than marry someone I've never even met."
Feng Yuan was a little annoyed. "Who said you had to marry him right away? He'll be coming today. His father and I agreed to let you spend some time together first, then get married in a month or two. Besides, a marriage is arranged by the parents and matched by the matchmaker. It's not up to you to decide you won't marry him."
Feng Rongrong had been spoiled since childhood and was gentle by nature, but she loved reading romantic tales and was obsessed with stories of heroes rescuing damsels in distress. She dreamed of marrying a chivalrous hero one day. How could she let her parents choose a husband for her?
Truthfully, Lu Cheng wasn't Feng Yuan's ideal son-in-law either.
But among the second-generation heirs in Lingbao County whose families were on equal footing with the Feng Family, every one was either a tyrant who bullied men and women or a libertine who spent all day chasing skirts.
Those who were suitable were either already married or came from families more powerful than the Feng Family.
After weighing all the options, Lu Cheng was the only one who seemed suitable. He was upright and capable, and unlike those other heirs, he wasn't obsessed with women or out visiting brothels all day.
"Listen to your mother. Spend some time with Lu Cheng first. If you really can't stand him, I'll swallow my pride and apologize to Lu Longjing."
Feng Rongrong's eyes shifted. She pouted and said:
"Fine, but Big Sister has to come with me."
Feng Yuan glanced at Feng Xixi beside him and nodded. "All right."
Looking at his eldest daughter, he sighed inwardly.
Why had his second and third daughters inherited their mother's petite build, while his eldest daughter had inherited his?
Who could possibly be attracted to such an ungainly figure?
"Big Brother, have you met Feng Rongrong?" Lu Yuan asked, casually tossing a pastry into his mouth.
Lu Cheng's mind was completely elsewhere. He shook his head. "No, but I've heard plenty about her older sister. They say Feng Xixi has an ungainly figure. Feng Yuan arranged several marriages for her, but every man took one look at her and was disgusted."
"Just imagine how ugly Feng Xixi must be. If the older sister's like that, how much better can the younger one be?"
Lu Yuan finally understood. "No wonder you're so against it."
Lu Cheng snorted. "Father even said Feng Rongrong was beautiful. Anyone could tell that was just a line to fool me. I wouldn't believe it for a second. Anyway, if Feng Rongrong is too ugly to look at, I absolutely won't go through with it. My wife doesn't have to be beautiful, but she can't be too ugly either. At least she should be plain."
"They're here," Lu Yuan suddenly said.
Lu Cheng immediately stood up, a practiced smile appearing on his face, and walked out of the pavilion. "Uncle Feng, Auntie. It's been a long time. You both look as radiant as ever."
"Hahaha! Lu Cheng, you've grown more handsome by the day. I truly envy your father, having such a fine son."
Feng Yuan came over with a cheerful smile. "Come, let me introduce you. This is my second daughter, Feng Rongrong. Rongrong, this is my eldest daughter, Feng Xixi. And this is Lu Cheng."
"Uncle Feng, Auntie, this is my younger brother, Lu Yuan..."
Lu Cheng's gaze fell on Feng Rongrong, and he froze.
He had never imagined Feng Rongrong would be such a pretty, charming girl. Her lovely face was framed by willow-leaf brows that curved with a hint of laughter. Her lively eyes were as clear as water, her almond-shaped gaze brimming with coquettish charm. Her beauty shone like spring sunshine.
Feng Rongrong also seemed not to have expected that the husband her father had chosen for her would be a tall, handsome man. Their eyes met, and neither said a word for a long while.
Each of them had far exceeded the other's expectations. The moment their eyes met, sparks flew.
"Well, why don't you two have a chat?"
Feng Yuan nodded slightly at Lu Yuan and Lu Cheng, exchanged a glance with his wife, and turned to leave.
Lu Yuan looked at Feng Xixi, unable to understand how any man could find her undesirable.
In terms of looks, she was even more beautiful than her younger sister. Her willow-leaf brows were picture-perfect, like a crescent moon, and her clear eyes turned lightly, glimmering like cold stars.
Her features were as lovely as a painting, carrying a hint of tender feeling, as though they were always veiled in a faint sorrow.
Her figure was graceful, her waist slender. As she approached, she moved with delicate steps, a subtle fragrance drifting around her.
But compared with her younger sister, she was too tall.
Feng Rongrong was about 1.6 meters tall, while Feng Xixi was at least 1.75. Her long legs were a full two meters, and on top of that, her bust was enormous.
The beauty standards in this world were much like those of ancient China, where petite women were considered beautiful. No wonder men disliked a woman who was both tall and had such an exaggerated bust.
But if Feng Xixi lived in the modern world, she would absolutely be more popular than her younger sister.
In this world, much like ancient China, men looked down on tall women with exaggerated busts.
Not even her stunning face could make up for these "flaws."
Walking beside her, her younger sister Feng Rongrong looked especially slender and petite.
Meanwhile, Lu Cheng and Feng Rongrong had hit it off. Annoyed by the two chaperones beside them, they walked away from the pavilion shoulder to shoulder and strolled through the garden.
That left the two chaperones facing each other in awkward silence inside the pavilion.
"You..."
"You..."
After a long pause, Lu Yuan was just about to break the awkward silence when he realized that speaking had only made it worse.
"You go first."
"Why... were you looking at me like that just now... was it because..."
Before she could finish, Feng Xixi's eyes reddened and she lowered her head, hurt.
After turning fourteen, she had shot up in height. In just one year, she had grown to 1.7 meters, and a year later, she had reached 1.75, nearly as tall as her father.
As she grew taller, her bust had grown dramatically too. Even loose clothes couldn't hide it. Ever since then, she had always been aware of the strange looks people gave her.
When she was sixteen, her father arranged a marriage for her. After seeing her, the man shook his head again and again.
Within a year, her father arranged three marriages for her, but none came to anything.
Gradually, rumors spread that her figure was unbecoming, until everyone thought she was an ugly monster.
When Lu Yuan had stared at her just now, Feng Xixi had assumed he was looking at her with the same strange, disdainful expression. Remembering all the grievances she had endured over the years, sorrow welled up inside her, and tears pattered down.
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