Chapter 157: Chapter 157

Xu Youxuan hadn’t found the right opportunity to tell her mother about having a boyfriend, and was caught off guard, inevitably feeling a bit nervous and helpless.

Xu Jingyi was also startled and stammered, "Mom..." unable to say anything else.

Mrs. Xu held a plate of sliced fruit in her hand, pushed the half-closed study door open wider with the other hand, and said incredulously, "You said you have a boyfriend?"

Xu Youxuan stood up from behind the study desk, walked over slowly, and closed the door.

Since her mother overheard, it was unrealistic to keep hiding it. Besides, she originally planned to confess to her mother first: "You didn’t hear wrong."

Mrs. Xu looked at her obedient and understanding daughter, unable to accept it for a moment, placed the fruit plate on the table, and turned away from her, "Are you not aware of the arranged marriage between our family and the Fu Family?"

She should be more aware than anyone, because the family had mentioned it to her more than once, that her future husband would be the most outstanding person in the current generation of the Fu Family.

"I don’t like Fu Jichen." Words she had held in her heart for a long time, Xu Youxuan had long wanted to confide to her mother, "I know I was born into the Xu Family, enjoyed the superior conditions provided by the family, grew up carefree until now, I should know to reciprocate this kindness, and not defy the wishes of my elders. So, you asked me to learn the piano, chess, calligraphy, and painting, even though I had no interest, I learned seriously. You wanted me to maintain excellent grades, sent me abroad to study when I reached the age, I endured all the hardships and didn’t disappoint you. But, after all, I am a person, not an object, I have my own emotions, emotions that cannot be controlled by family, not even by myself. Mom, I really don’t want to marry Fu Jichen, I want to marry someone I love."

As she spoke, Xu Youxuan couldn’t help but cry.

Her personality was quiet and reserved, yet not timid. She never thought of using tears to achieve her goal. However, reaching this point, she couldn’t hold back her tears.

Mrs. Xu, having been through this age herself, found it not difficult to understand her thoughts, her expression somewhat moving.

"When did this happen?" Mrs. Xu struggled to maintain outward calm, asking her, "I mean your relationship."

Xu Youxuan raised her hand to wipe the tears from the corner of her eye, replying truthfully: "We officially started a relationship a year ago, but we knew each other for a year and a half before that. He came to my school to give a lecture, and I happened to attend with a friend, that’s how we met. He’s very outstanding, knowing that I’ll stay in the country after graduation, he already resigned from his job in the United States and plans to develop his career here. Last night he said over the phone that he accepted an invitation from Kairui, and will take a position as the head of the technical department."

Mrs. Xu listened quietly, not interrupting her.

Kairui is one of the top automobile manufacturing companies in the country, fiercely competitive, and for someone to be a supervisor, they are at least forty years old, which indeed from another aspect proves that the boyfriend is exceptional.

"He’s four years older than me, very caring toward me, when I was abroad, the homemade dishes I posted in my friend circle were all made by him. He’s not native to Beicheng, both of his parents are teachers, a scholarly family." Xu Youxuan tried her best to convince her mother, "Mom, I really like him, I want to be with him for a lifetime."

Xu Jingyi was seeing this determined look on her gentle sister’s face for the first time, she seemed to have made up her mind about this man, that no one else would do.

She really didn’t understand, as outstanding as that man might be, could he compare to the family-chosen arranged marriage partner?

Fu Jichen is the eldest grandson of the Fu Family, the head of the Junshan Group, whole Fu Family is under his say, marrying him means becoming the young lady of the Fu Family, group’s president’s wife, so prestigious.

If it wasn’t for the Xu Family having high officials for generations, this kind of opportunity would never go to their family.

Setting aside these worldly possessions, Fu Jichen himself is tall, handsome, steady in temperament, a desirable object of many noblewomen.

Her friends, after catching a glance of Fu Jichen in the corridor of the western restaurant that day, became obsessed, constantly mentioning Fu Jichen’s name in her presence, casually inquiring about him.

She could feel their admiration towards Fu Jichen.

Her sister truly didn’t know how fortunate she was.

Mrs. Xu could naturally see her elder daughter’s determination, after all, she’s a piece of flesh that fell from her body, reluctant to see her sad or troubled, but the arranged marriage between the two families was set by the elder, not something that can easily be changed by a few words.

Not to mention the elder generation, even her husband, she wasn’t sure she could persuade him.

"Mom understands you, but you have to know, the matter of the arranged marriage involves so many people, your grandpa has already discussed it with the elder of the Fu Family, the engagement will be finalized by the end of this month at the latest." Mrs. Xu stated this as a fact, not to scare her, "Before that, Mom will talk to your dad first."

Xu Jingyi knew it would end , Mom would feel sorry for her sister, but she couldn’t make the decision for the family.

Xu Youxuan was also mentally prepared, not showing despair, she tugged her lips into a faint smile: "I understand, thank you Mom."

Mrs. Xu wasn’t trying to pour cold water, she was just giving her a reminder from a perspective of someone who had been there: "Mom believes you have your own judgment, but after all, you’re young, with little experience, sometimes, you only know the person’s face, not their heart. Can you guarantee that the man you choose will treat you well for your whole life? Maybe he’s interested in your family, or what if he changes his heart in the future, what will you do? The family didn’t choose a husband for you just considering that the Fu Family is a good match, more importantly, Fu Jichen is a person of honest and reliable character. Regardless of what your relationship is like after marriage, at least he won’t bully or mistreat you. Besides, feelings can develop, as you live together over time. You’re so outstanding and considerate, he will see your good qualities."

The previous words, Xu Youxuan couldn’t find a reason to refute, being aware that her mother had her best interest at heart, not intentionally belittling the boy she liked, just making a hypothesis.

She still had something to say regarding the last sentence: "Fu Jichen might be as good as you say, but he has someone he likes. Is it possible that he, like me, doesn’t look forward to this arranged marriage? Since neither party is willing, why bind ourselves together because of family?"

Mrs. Xu wasn’t aware of the news buzzing online, hearing her words, she looked puzzled: "You say he has someone he likes?"

Xu Jingyi grabbed the newspaper on the desk to show her mother, forgetting her sister’s teachings, couldn’t resist: "Who knows if he really likes someone, I think it’s that white lotus clinging to him."

Xu Youxuan looked at her, disapproving, "Yiyi, stop talking."

Xu Jingyi pouted at the corners of her mouth.

Mrs. Xu saw the entertainment section of the newspaper, her brows slightly furrowing.

Even if there’s no formal engagement, the matter of the arranged marriage had been verbally agreed upon between the two families, currently, with Fu Jichen getting involved in a scandal with another woman, it indeed looked improper.

"I will ask your father about this and see what he says." Mrs. Xu’s tone was displeased, clearly angered.

She had just praised Fu Jichen, and then saw this piece of news, there was no way she could maintain a good face.

The Xu Family was in such a state, the Fu Family was even more tumultuous.

Fu Yuling was the first to see that newspaper, and instantly tore it to pieces.

Not appeased, she sent someone to buy another copy, then took it and knocked on her parents’ bedroom door.

Last night it rained, the temperature dropped, Wei Ronghua caught a cold, in the morning felt dizzy with nasal congestion, and went back to sleep after breakfast. Being woken by her daughter now, she looked tired, asking what happened.

Fu Yuling exaggeratedly repeated the news from the newspaper to her, taking out the "evidence" she had at hand for her to see.

Wei Ronghua felt her headache terribly, and seeing the newspaper, the bold text read "Fu Family Crown Prince and Shen’s daughter romantically cozy on street, suspected of being in love."

The accompanying photo was the most intimate of the two.

Shen Jianian was wearing a light-colored trench coat and dress, curled up in the passenger seat of a black Maybach, Fu Jichen standing by the car, holding a transparent umbrella, using a cloth to wipe her feet.

Wei Ronghua instantly felt a rush of blood to the head, her heartaches loving her son dearly, seeing him wiping the feet of an unsavory woman in public, was simply stabbing her heart!

"What kind of Shen’s daughter is that woman supposed to be! Doesn’t the writer of the article do any investigation?! Call the relevant personnel and retract today’s newspapers!"

Wei Ronghua was so angry her chest hurt, covering her chest while gasping.

Fu Yuling saw her mother’s unpleasant face, fanning the flames beside her: "Do you even need to say it? Surely it’s that Shen Jianian acting coquettish and clinging to brother, maybe she even hired the paparazzi to take the pictures, seems like she’s set on our family."

Wei Ronghua could no longer remain calm, taking a deep breath: "Have someone check Shen Jianian’s number."

According to Fu Yuling, Shen Jianian was tightly protected by Fu Jichen, nobody could enter the villa in Yunding Palace easily, Shen Jianian had bodyguards accompanying her when going out, meeting her was harder than reaching the sky.

Since she couldn’t meet her, she would let her come willingly to meet her.