The Art of Teasing - Chapter 141

Chapter 141

After lunch, Ye Ling and Wen Zhengyu accompanied Old Master Lian and Grand Elder Zhang to the sofas. Ye Ling told Wen Zhengyu she had a business meeting scheduled that afternoon and asked whether she preferred to stay home or accompany her.

Wen Zhengyu had originally planned to stay home and paint, since she had nothing else to do that afternoon, but she also wanted to go out with Ye Ling. She hesitated briefly, then said, "You're meeting someone about business. Wouldn't it be inappropriate for me to tag along?"

Ye Ling said, "It's fine. Business matters—it would be good for you to listen in." She was worried Wen Zhengyu would be bored at home and wanted her company, though she couldn't say so in front of her grandparents.

Wen Zhengyu agreed. "Then let's go together."

Grand Elder Zhang could naturally see that Wen Zhengyu's heart had already run off with Ye Ling. Still, having Wen Zhengyu go out with Ye Ling and meet more people was far better than staying cooped up at home painting all day. As far as she was concerned, what use was painting? It was fine for cultivating one's sensibilities, but when real trouble came, you needed people and guns in hand. A writing brush was useless—not even as useful as having a bit of money.

Wen Zhengyu had watched television dramas where business negotiations took place in offices or with large groups of people sitting around a table. She imagined Ye Ling's business meeting would be in some massive, ultra-luxurious office building belonging to a major conglomerate, with a huge conference table fully occupied, both sides locked in verbal sparring even over a single cent.

When the car arrived at its destination, she realized they were at someone's private residence. The family was quite wealthy—in a place like the Imperial Capital, their home had a swimming pool and a helicopter pad with a helicopter parked on it. The house itself was a four-story standalone villa, built to be exceptionally bright and spacious.

The homeowner was a middle-aged man in his forties who looked thoroughly accomplished. When they arrived, the man was helping a little boy of about eight or nine and a little girl of around five or six with their homework. Upon seeing them, he came over warmly to greet them, and after exchanging pleasantries, invited them into the living room.

Ye Ling had already reviewed the project materials the other party had provided and had sent people to conduct site visits and assessments. This visit was for the principals from both sides to meet and negotiate, primarily regarding investment, risk allocation, and profit distribution. It was far more complex than the minor business dealings of the art studio, though not as complex as Wen Zhengyu had imagined, and completely devoid of the tense, combative, penny-pinching atmosphere she had envisioned. Listening to their discussion, she thought they were about to sign the contract, but after they finished talking, they didn't sign anything. Then Ye Ling took her leave.

Once in the car, Wen Zhengyu asked, "Aren't you signing a contract?"

Ye Ling said, "First, we settle the broad direction. The project teams will handle the contracts and finer details. The contract seal and company seal are both kept at the company."

Wen Zhengyu asked, "Will you be going back for that?"

Ye Ling said, "No need for me to go. The day after tomorrow is my sister-in-law's birthday. Shall we go have dinner together?"

Wen Zhengyu immediately felt a bit nervous. "Does this count as meeting the parents?"

Ye Ling took Wen Zhengyu's hand and laughed. "The ugly daughter-in-law must eventually meet the in-laws."

Wen Zhengyu's heart began to pound. She thought to herself, I'm not ugly. She said, "I need to prepare gifts. Tell me who's in their family and roughly what they like."

Ye Ling explained in thorough detail. Wen Zhengyu promptly dragged Ye Ling off to shop for gifts. The presents she had brought before weren't enough. Since she was going to meet Ye Ling's family this time, she had no choice but to buy them now.

She discovered that although Ye Ling was very mannish in how she handled affairs, she was still very much a woman when it came to shopping. The entire way, Ye Ling followed her with a beaming smile, radiating joy from the inside out. Her expression clearly declared: Zhengyu is spending money on me. I'm so happy.

Wen Zhengyu's mood, influenced by Ye Ling's, remained wonderful the whole time as well.

On the day of Ye Ling's sister-in-law's birthday, the two had breakfast and then headed to her brother and sister-in-law's home. Wen Zhengyu felt inexplicably nervous and uneasy, her face taut and expressionless, her back held ramrod straight.

Ye Ling held Wen Zhengyu's hand and said gently, "Don't be nervous. My brother and sister-in-law are both very easy to get along with."

Wen Zhengyu thought, If it were anyone else I was meeting, I wouldn't be nervous. The thought of meeting Ye Ling's family made her very nervous, yet she didn't even know what exactly she was nervous about.

Ye Ling continued coaxing her. "You've met my brother before."

Wen Zhengyu said, "Your brother seemed difficult to get along with."

Ye Ling laughed and wrapped her arms around Wen Zhengyu's arm. "If they are hard to get along with, are you going to turn around and go home?"

Wen Zhengyu silently shook her head, cast a faint glance at the slightly teasing Ye Ling, then turned her head toward the car window and ignored her.

The car came to a stop in the courtyard. Wen Zhengyu stepped out and was immediately taken by the hand by Ye Ling and led into the house.

They had arrived early—not yet nine o'clock. The household staff inside were busy setting out fruit and pastries for the guests they would be entertaining. A woman who appeared to be in her early forties came downstairs, greeting them: "And this must be Xiao Yu?"

Her smile was exceedingly warm, which immediately eased Wen Zhengyu's nervous mood.

Wen Zhengyu smiled and said, "Sister-in-law."

Ye Ling was delighted that Wen Zhengyu addressed her sister-in-law so naturally.

Her sister-in-law said to Wen Zhengyu, "Make yourself at home here. When Ah Zhan and I first met, this little brat was only this tall." She gestured. "She wasn't even ten yet back then. You could say Ah Zhan and I raised her. The two of us used to worry ourselves sick over how she'd ever manage to get married. Last time Ah Zhan went to your place, he came back and told me Ye Ling had met a fine young woman and was eagerly pursuing her, and that he was even worried you wouldn't take a fancy to Ye Ling." As she spoke, she took Wen Zhengyu by the hand and led her to sit on the sofa.

Wen Zhengyu thought, At that time, I really wasn't willing. She gave a soft laugh and said, "When I first met Ye Ling, my first impression of her was actually quite good. She came to my home to buy the estate, and I was thinking about giving her a proper tour of the property, hoping we could close the deal. I never imagined she would want to buy up all my paintings as a package deal. My goodwill evaporated instantly."

Ye Ling explained, "It was a rare opportunity. Miss that village and there's no next shop. I had to get the paintings in my hands first so I'd have an excuse to keep coming back."

Wen Zhengyu felt a stir in her heart and wondered, Ye Ling had designs on me even back then?

Ye Ling glanced sidelong at Wen Zhengyu and said, "Stop pondering. I had my eye on you from the very first moment I saw you." Back on her home turf, Ye Ling suddenly felt as though she had seized the upper hand. She radiated smugness from head to toe.

Her sister-in-law smiled and reminded her, "Don't get carried away now."

Just as they were talking, an elderly gentleman in his sixties, hale and spirited, came in from outside. His posture was straight as a pine, his entire being exuding a sense of vigorous vitality, brimming with energy.

Ye Ling called out, "Papa Cui."

Elder Cui sighed. "I saw your car come in, but neither of you came over to my place, so I had to come here instead." He then looked at Wen Zhengyu with a genial smile. "And this is Xiao Yu?"

Wen Zhengyu rose and followed suit, calling, "Papa Cui."

Elder Cui raised his hand to gesture for her to sit. "Sit, sit." He smiled. "She is indeed a fine young lady." After sitting down, he asked, "Are you fully recovered? Still dizzy at all?"

Wen Zhengyu replied, "Much better now. Hardly any dizziness left."

Elder Cui said, "You still need to take care. As for this matter, Ye Ling was also partly at fault."

Wen Zhengyu said, "It isn't Ye Ling's fault. There has only ever been a thousand years of thievery, never a thousand years of guarding against thieves. And the affairs of the world are unpredictable. You can't guard against everything. The only thing to do is meet soldiers with soldiers and stop floods with earth. Although there were some mishaps, Ye Ling got me out very quickly, and she's stayed by my side every single day since." She paused, then continued, "Truthfully, I wasn't afraid when I was taken. I hadn't committed any illegal or criminal wrongdoing. Ye Ling knew my whereabouts, and I knew she would come very soon. During those days in the hospital, my head was heavy and muddled, my vision very blurry, but I knew she was right there beside me, watching over me. I felt completely at ease."

Elder Cui said, "That's very good to hear."

Wen Zhengyu acknowledged this, then with slight hesitation added, "There is one matter I would like to... seek your consent on."

Elder Cui asked, "What matter?"

Wen Zhengyu said, "Once the current affairs are settled and I have all the betrothal gifts prepared, I would like to have the elders from my family formally come to propose marriage. Would you find that appropriate?"

Elder Cui's eyelid twitched. "Propose marriage?"

Her sister-in-law was equally taken aback. "Propose marriage?" She looked at Ye Ling in astonishment. For the two of them to be together and move as one family—that was fine. But she had never heard of anyone holding a wedding ceremony, and marriage law didn't have a clause permitting marriage between two women anyway.

Wen Zhengyu nodded. "To be together openly, honorably, and properly. I've also considered that we can't get a marriage certificate, so I would like to invite several elders to serve as witnesses and draw up a marriage contract, to ask a matchmaker to formally propose and present betrothal gifts. The proper procedures that should be followed, the banquets that should be held, the relatives who should be invited—they all need to be included. This is my own idea, but I don't know whether you are willing, whether you consent."

Elder Cui asked, "Does your family consent?"

Wen Zhengyu nodded. "They are willing. Adding a new member to the family is a happy occasion and a good thing." She understood what her grandfather and her maternal grandparents were thinking. They didn't agree to her marrying out to Ye Ling, but they were willing to let her take Ye Ling as her wife.

Elder Cui hesitated briefly, then said, "Ye Zhan has gone out to pick up his elder brother-in-law. This matter must wait until Ye Zhan returns for further discussion."

Wen Zhengyu responded, "Of course. That's only proper." As she finished speaking, she noticed Ye Ling laughing and gave her a puzzled glance.

Ye Ling, her smile brimming, said to Elder Cui, "What is there to hesitate about, you old gentleman? I'm just waiting to receive betrothal gifts and make a small fortune. Never mind Zhengyu herself—if you go by the betrothal gifts she's offering, I'd marry her anyway. Don't, upon hearing the word betrothal, start thinking up tests and trials first."

Her sister-in-law didn't know whether to laugh or cry. "Who's ever seen someone so desperate to marry out? I was hoping to keep you around for a few more years."

Ye Ling said, "Please, don't. I wonder who it was that fretted day in and day out, afraid I'd never find a match and end up unwed." She then told her sister-in-law, "You and my brother just need to help me prepare my dowry. My dowry has to be arranged by the two of you anyway."

Elder Cui immediately grew somewhat agitated. "You mean you're marrying out, not taking a wife in. Aiyo, this relationship between you two—aiyo, no, no, this matter of who marries whom can't just be settled like this. Isn't it just betrothal gifts? I'll prepare them for you. You bring Xiao Yu into the family as your wife."

Wen Zhengyu's eyes went wide. She stared at Elder Cui, utterly flabbergasted.

Elder Cui told Wen Zhengyu with decisive finality, "Rest assured, if you marry into this family, we absolutely will not mistreat you. Xiao Yezi has grown up under our care all these years, and we can't bear to marry her out either. She's been busy year in and year out, never staying home. If you marry in and live here with us, let's see if she doesn't come home." His tone shifted. "Then it's settled. We'll prepare the betrothal gifts. You just get your dowry ready."

Wen Zhengyu stared at Elder Cui, stunned for a long moment, before finally managing, "Ye Ling has already moved into my home."

Elder Cui said, "Her work is over there, so living at your place is convenient. But establishing a household is a major affair and must be carefully considered. I've already picked out the residence for her wedding."

Ye Ling pressed her hand to her forehead and cried, "Papa Cui, don't—"

Elder Cui cut Ye Ling off. "Don't interrupt! It's your sister-in-law's birthday today. There's a great deal to do. Get busy. Come, Xiao Yu, let's go talk in the study. Guests will be arriving soon, and this isn't the place for conversation."

Wen Zhengyu's instinct told her Elder Cui had a trap prepared and was about to spring it on her. She shook her head repeatedly and sat firmly in place, refusing to move. "I'm not going."

Elder Cui asked her, "Do you still want to discuss the marriage or not?"

Wen Zhengyu shook her head. "Not today."

Elder Cui glared. "What do you mean, not today? Hey, are you joking with me? Today is your sister-in-law's birthday, and you come here to play this kind of joke? Do you believe I won't throw you out?"

Wen Zhengyu shook her head. "I don't believe it. A guest at the door is a guest."

Elder Cui rose, his face stern. "Fine. No discussion, then. It's just as well if Xiao Yezi doesn't marry out. I'm loath to let her go anyway." He ambled away with unhurried steps.

Wen Zhengyu also understood that anyone hoping to become a son-in-law would inevitably face some difficulties. Putting herself in their shoes, her own family elders didn't want her to marry out, and similarly, Ye Ling's elders also wanted Ye Ling to take a wife into the family. She asked Ye Ling quietly, "Who makes the decisions in your family?"

Ye Ling pointed at Elder Cui, who had already reached the doorway.

Wen Zhengyu said to her sister-in-law, "Sister-in-law, please excuse me for a moment." With a faintly apologetic nod, she rose and quickly caught up with Elder Cui, reaching out to support his arm. "Papa Cui, let me help you. It's snowing outside, the ground is slippery. Please be careful."

Her sister-in-law sat watching the scene, thoroughly amused. "Xiao Yu is quite quick on the uptake."

Ye Ling pressed her hand to her forehead, deeply rueful. "Just a little too naive."

Her sister-in-law waited until the two had exited the door, then asked Ye Ling, "Are you really going to marry over there?"

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