Chapter 3

As for Li Rongxiu in this lifetime... he still hated this old district. Those low courtyard houses and old Western-style villas always reminded him of supernatural legends... But this time, he would not insist on moving out and make his parents and grandparents heartbroken. He had grown up now and had more mature ways of handling things. (Ahem~.)

After returning to the Li family home, Li Rongxiu found that many people had come over again today... Still, that was hardly surprising. His engagement banquet with Shen Manyao was to be held in a week. Given the reputation and standing of the Li and Shen families, those responsible for the banquet details naturally did not dare slack off in the slightest.

When the Li family servants saw Li Rongxiu returning so early, one of them stepped forward to take his coat. Mother Li, Grandma Li, and the women of the Shen family, who were in the living room tasting dishes, all looked over. Grandma Li beckoned with a smile and asked, "Xiu Xiu, why are you back so early? Don't tell me you've been worrying about the engagement banquet so much that you can't focus on your studies?"

At that, a trace of maternal pride flashed across Madam Shen's face. She then looked at Li Rongxiu with disapproval and said with an easy smile, "Rongxiu likes Manyao so much that I'm not worried she'll suffer any grievances after marrying into the Li family. But Rongxiu, as a man... you should still put your career first. Don't get too caught up in romance."

Looking at Madam Shen's hypocritical, earnest expression, Li Rongxiu could not help thinking of the role she had played in Shen Manyao's infidelity in his previous life. He felt sickened, but he merely nodded politely and distantly to the Shen family. In an indifferent tone, he said, "Good afternoon, everyone. I stayed at school for a while and started feeling unwell, so I'll be going upstairs first. Call me when dinner is ready."

After speaking, he nodded at Madam Shen and smiled. "Please make yourselves at home. Forgive me for taking my leave."

Without waiting for anyone to react, he went upstairs to rest. Before leaving, he did not forget to tell the servant, "I want boiled fish for dinner. Make it numbing and spicy—the spicier, the better!"

Before his words had even faded, everyone understood. The Li family's tastes were largely similar: the more depressed they felt, the more they craved spicy food. It was as though, after eating an intensely spicy meal, the frustration in their hearts could flow away with their sweat.

Mother Li turned to Madam Shen, whose expression was somewhat awkward, and apologized, "I've spoiled Xiu Xiu too much. Please don't take it to heart."

Madam Shen hurriedly smiled. "How could I? I've watched Rongxiu grow up since he was little. How could I not understand his temper? He probably had an argument with someone at school and is feeling upset. When Manyao comes home tonight, I'll have her call Rongxiu and talk him around."

Mother Li smiled gracefully, then shifted the subject to the food and wine for the engagement banquet.

Because of Li Rongxiu's earlier behavior, the Shen family women did not stay for dinner at the Li family home as they had the past few days. Once the tasting was over, they rose and took their leave on the excuse that they had matters to attend to at home.

At dinner, Grandma Li, Mo Wanrou, watched Li Rongxiu silently shovel food into his mouth and said slowly with a smile, "Since when did our family have a rule about not speaking while eating or talking while sleeping? I certainly wasn't told."

Grandpa Li, Father Li, and Eldest Brother Li, who had just returned from work, did not know what had happened earlier. Hearing this, they looked suspiciously at Mo Wanrou.

Mo Wanrou merely cast a light glance at Li Rongxiu, who was eating with his head down, and smiled. "I don't know what came over him. When the Shen family was here today, he threw a terrible tantrum without a care for anyone else. Fortunately, Madam Shen is cultivated and even-tempered, so she did not mind. Still, Rongxiu, as a junior, you shouldn't make an elder lose face in public. People will say our Li family has no manners... Besides, don't you usually like your Aunt Shen the most? Every day, it's 'Auntie this' and 'Auntie that,' as if you can't wait to stick yourself to her. What happened today? Don't tell me you and Manyao had a disagreement?"

That was what she said, but judging by Mo Wanrou's expression and tone, it was clear she did not take Li Rongxiu's earlier rudeness to heart at all. She was only using this as an excuse to gossip about whether her grandson had quarreled with his fiancée. The rest of the Li family also looked over with great interest. Such was reality; it was easy to see how Li Rongxiu's spoiled temperament had come about.

Hearing his grandmother probe so subtly, Li Rongxiu, who had always been straightforward and unguarded around his family, instinctively sneered. With utter disdain, he said, "Would she be worth making me unhappy? Grandma, stop guessing. I really don't feel well. I'm not upset with anyone."

After saying that, he suddenly thought of something else and told Mo Wanrou and Zhuang Meiru, "...I have a classmate whose family is opening a club soon. They only moved to Wancheng a few years ago, so they're worried they won't be able to get anyone to show up and support them on opening day. I told him... that if Mom has time, she'll go with me to their opening ceremony?"

Father Li frowned at this. "You mean the Zhao Family in the west of the city, right? President Zhao did send me an invitation a few days ago, but unfortunately I have to go to the United States next month on business, so I can't attend that day... It works out well if you take your mother with you."

Mo Wanrou asked suspiciously, "What's gotten into you today? A few days ago, you were throwing a fit, saying the Zhao Family had no sense of propriety. You said they knew your good friend's family was in this business, yet they insisted on joining in. Why have you changed your tune today?"

"No, I just suddenly felt that Dad was right. In business, you can't monopolize everything. Some appropriate competition is necessary. Besides, Zhao Qijun is a pretty decent person. There's no need for me to undermine him." Li Rongxiu answered as if he did not care.

Yet parents knew their children best. Given how well the Li family knew Li Rongxiu, they naturally understood that without some other reason, someone as stubbornly opinionated as him would never change his mind so easily. What was more, from his words and behavior to the tips of his hair and the ends of his toes... there was not a single thing normal about Li Rongxiu today.

The Li family members, whose hearts all skipped a beat, exchanged glances without giving anything away and stopped discussing the matter. Only after dinner, when Li Rongxiu had eaten fruit and had tea, and then accompanied his elder brother Li Rongyu to walk the dogs at Li Rongyu's request, did Father Li call Li Rongxiu's assistant.

A short while later, Father Li hung up and met the questioning eyes of the Li family. Meaningfully, he said, "Fei Man said Xiu Xiu ordered him not to reveal a single word about this matter. Otherwise, Xiu Xiu would find every possible way to send him to Africa as a permanent posting."

"So something really did happen?" Mother Li, Zhuang Meiru, raised her brows and set down her teacup. With great interest, she said, "It seems our baby has really grown up. He even has his own little secret now. Tell me... as parents, should we respect our child's privacy and wishes and refrain from asking about it, or should we secretly investigate and make sure everything is all right for him?"

The Li family exchanged smiles. Grandpa Li made an immediate decision and instructed the butler, Lin Zhong, "Find out what Xiu Xiu recently had Fei Man investigate. I want all the information on my bedside table before I go to sleep tonight."

Chapter 3

The Li family kept several hunting dogs, including German Shepherds and Doberman Pinschers. Intelligent by nature, strong-bodied, swift-moving, and imposing, they were among the world's bravest and most powerful breeds. After rigorous training, they could capably serve as guard dogs and attack intruders. Such large dogs were therefore also among the most valuable household pets. Most of Wancheng's wealthy and prominent families liked to keep expensive breeds of hunting dogs and horses at home to display their aristocratic taste and status.

But as far as Li Rongxiu's personal preferences went, compared with sharp and capable German Shepherds and Doberman Pinschers, he actually preferred Siberian Huskies. Though the latter were goofy and silly, always wearing a ridiculous expression, they had rich expressions and were truly unmatched tools for acting cute, stupid, and shameless. Unfortunately, their intelligence was too low, making them difficult to communicate with. After all, no one could expect a dog that never recognized its owner for its entire life to be of any help when hunting or guarding the house. Still, if one simply wanted a pet, a husky was not a bad choice.

Li Rongyu turned his head to look at Li Rongxiu, who had become silent and absent-minded the moment they left the house. After pondering for a moment, he smiled and asked, "Has anything interesting happened at school lately? Are things going well between you and Manyao?"

Li Rongxiu came back to himself. Looking at his elder brother, whose expression was striving to remain composed but whose eyes shone brighter and brighter with gossipy curiosity, he thought for a moment. He did not much like lying or deliberately concealing his emotions, so he said vaguely, "...These past few days, I've been thinking about how Manyao and I get along. I think maybe I don't love her. It's just... you know, I don't have many female friends, and someone as outstanding as Sister Manyao is even rarer. Besides, Grandpa, Grandma, Mom, and Dad all like her a lot. They think we'd be good together..."

Li Rongyu understood at once and said with a smile, "Believe me, whether it's Grandpa and Grandma or Mom and Dad, they only started considering whether the two of you were suitable after seeing that you liked being with Shen Manyao. In handling this matter, what we care about most is your feelings—not Shen Manyao, not the Shen family, and certainly not anyone else."

After noticing his younger brother's resistance whenever he mentioned Shen Manyao, Li Rongyu immediately changed how he addressed her, using her full name instead of calling her Manyao. This change did not mean Li Rongyu had any prejudice against Shen Manyao herself. Or rather, Li Rongyu held no prejudice toward Shen Manyao or the Shen family. But he knew his younger brother extremely well, and he did not think that, given his brother's temperament, Shen Manyao would be his best partner.

There was no other reason. Li Rongxiu had been spoiled too well by his family. Since childhood, everything had gone smoothly for him, and no one had dared defy him. This had made him proud and domineering, but in truth he was innocent and pure, kind and soft-hearted. He never guarded himself against his family or those he accepted in his heart. He was also easily influenced by others; in old-fashioned terms, he was soft-eared. He might not know how to lower himself to accommodate or please others, but he would never act one way in front of them and another behind their backs. Even if he disliked someone, he would show it directly through polite distance rather than deign to play along hypocritically.

Considering Li Rongxiu's temperament, the Li family elders hoped that his other half would be sharp and capable while also gentle, agreeable, and sensible. She would need sufficient ability, charm, and patience to stay by Li Rongxiu's side, persuade him, and guide him. After much searching, Mother Li chose Shen Manyao, the eldest daughter of the Shen family, who had grown up alongside Li Rongxiu as his childhood friend. Grandpa Li and Father Li could also see at a glance Li Rongxiu's infatuation with Shen Manyao and were happy to see it happen.

Once they understood the Li family's attitude from top to bottom, the Shen family, whose business had been suffering losses for the past two years, immediately began making plans. Through Sun Minqiu, Shen Manyao's mother, dropping hints in Li Rongxiu's ear, as well as several probing attempts by the Shen family patriarch at dinner gatherings, the Li family ultimately decided to propose marriage to the Shen family. Their subsequent joint business ventures were merely a natural result of becoming in-laws.

Everything seemed to be developing so perfectly and fitting together so seamlessly. Yet in Li Rongyu's eyes, this perfect development felt somewhat unreliable—he always felt the Shen family was far too attentive and eager, giving him the uncomfortable impression that they were highly utilitarian, wanted to use this marriage, and were desperate for quick success. But those minor feelings of aversion were secondary. What Li Rongyu disliked most was Shen Manyao herself—

In other people's eyes, Shen Manyao, the goddess of Rende High School, was always that young lady from a good family who was gentle and diligent in her studies. She never judged others by their background and never behaved inappropriately or against propriety in public. Her test scores were always A's or A+'s, her papers always contained precise data, sharp wording, and thorough arguments. She was always so polite and orderly, like a beam of moonlight quietly shining over others, peerlessly graceful.