As night fell, a Rolls-Royce Phantom drove into the Tan Palace affluent area, heading towards Villa No. 10.
Villa No. 10 was Huangfu Qing's residence, and this Rolls-Royce Phantom with a license plate consisting of a series of sevens was his exclusive vehicle.
His heart was filled with anxiety.
Huangfu Qing was a superstitious man. He wished for himself to smoothly become the next patriarch of the Huangfu family and to further advance his position in the business world of Longguo.
Over the past few years, he had already laid a solid foundation and gained the approval of Old Master Huangfu.
This engagement between Huangfu Weixia and Wei Qianyuan would completely facilitate Huangfu Qing's 'ascension' to power!
"Stop at the entrance of Villa No. 9, and then you can drive the car back."
After the Rolls-Royce Phantom entered the Tan Palace affluent area, Huangfu Qing, who had been resting with his eyes closed in the back seat, suddenly opened his eyes and gave instructions to the driver.
"Understood, boss."
The driver responded immediately and, as instructed by Huangfu Qing, stopped the car at the entrance of Villa No. 9.
Villa No. 9 was Chu Wansong's residence.
"Brother Qing, what brings you here?"
When Huangfu Qing was led to the villa's living room by Chu Wansong's subordinate, Chu Wansong stood up, smiled slightly, and then waved his hand, signaling his subordinate to leave.
"It seems Wansong doesn't welcome me," Huangfu Qing teased with a smile.
"What are you saying, Brother Qing? Please sit," Chu Wansong invited Huangfu Qing to sit, then began to boil water to make tea.
"Wansong, I'll skip the tea. I'll be leaving after I'm done. I have other matters to attend to tonight," Huangfu Qing waved his hand to stop him.
"In such a hurry?"
Chu Wansong looked somewhat surprised and then asked, "Brother Qing, what is it?"
"Wansong, you should have heard that Weixia will be engaged to Wei Qianyuan at the Donghai Hotel in three days," Huangfu Qing said.
"Brother Qing, this news has spread throughout Donghai and even the entire Longjiang Delta. How could I not know? Congratulations!"
Chu Wansong smiled, but a question arose in his mind: what did his daughter's engagement have to do with him?
"Wansong, it's like this. Wei family and I have discussed it. For this engagement ceremony, besides the people from our Huangfu family and the Wei family, we will also invite some friends to grace the occasion."
Huangfu Qing saw Chu Wansong's confusion, first offering an explanation, then inviting, "Wansong, do you have time to attend?"
"What are you saying, Brother Qing? Weixia's engagement is a momentous occasion. Even if I have no time, I will make time," Chu Wansong smiled.
"Heh heh… Then I'll send you the time and location later," Huangfu Qing smiled.
"Alright, Brother Qing."
Chu Wansong nodded, and seeing that Huangfu Qing had no intention of leaving, understood that Huangfu Qing had other matters to discuss, but he did not ask, waiting for Huangfu Qing to speak first.
As expected, after a brief silence, Huangfu Qing spoke again, "By the way, Wansong, do you have Jiang Wuming's contact information?"
"Yes."
Upon hearing this, Chu Wansong first nodded, then his pupils contracted slightly, and he stared sharply at Huangfu Qing, "Brother Qing, do you need something from Wuming?"
"He saved Weixia in the Ren Country. I want to invite him to Weixia's engagement ceremony," Huangfu Qing said.
"Oh?"
Chu Wansong raised an eyebrow.
Although Huangfu Qing's words were logically sound, he felt that Huangfu Qing's invitation to Jiang Wuming to attend Huangfu Weixia and Wei Qianyuan's engagement ceremony was not for simple reasons.
After all, he had heard from both Chu Weiyang and Chu Feng that Huangfu Weixia was deeply infatuated with Jiang Wuming, and had publicly confessed her love to him.
Although Chu Wansong suspected Huangfu Qing's motives, he did not inquire further, instead giving Huangfu Qing Jiang Wuming's contact information.
After obtaining Jiang Wuming's phone number, Huangfu Qing immediately stood up and took his leave.
"Is Huangfu Weixia really going to marry that Wei Qianyuan? This is too unbelievable!"
After Huangfu Qing left the villa, Chu Feng walked down from upstairs.
As a seven-star martial artist, his hearing was far superior to that of ordinary people, and he had heard the entire conversation between Chu Wansong and Huangfu Qing clearly.
"Compared to Weixia being willing to marry Wei Qianyuan, Huangfu Qing inviting Wuming to this engagement ceremony is even more peculiar!"
Chu Wansong frowned. To this day, he couldn't figure out Huangfu Qing's purpose in inviting Jiang Wuming to Huangfu Weixia's engagement ceremony.
"It is indeed strange," Chu Feng was also completely bewildered.
Meanwhile, after returning to his villa, Huangfu Qing entered his study, lit a cigar, took a few puffs, and then dialed Jiang Wuming's number.
"Hello, Master Wuming, I am Weixia's father, Huangfu Qing." The call was quickly connected, and Huangfu Qing spoke first, introducing himself.
"Hello, Uncle Huangfu."
Jiang Wuming responded politely, but a hint of confusion arose in his mind. Why was Huangfu Qing calling him?
"Master Wuming, Weixia's engagement will be in three days. You are Weixia's martial arts teacher and also her savior. I would like to invite you to attend her engagement ceremony. Would that be alright?" Huangfu Qing extended the invitation directly.
"Don't you think this is a bit much?"
Upon hearing this, Jiang Wuming's heart stirred, and he instantly saw through Huangfu Qing's intention. His tone was no longer polite.
"You… Master Wuming, what do you mean by that?"
Huangfu Qing's heart leaped, an ominous premonition surfacing, but he feigned ignorance.
"For the sake of the Huangfu family's interests, you arranged a marriage for Weixia without her consent.
Then, you feared my presence would affect her engagement with Wei Qianyuan, so you sought me out in the Ren Country and asked me to stay away from Weixia. I thought Weixia knew all of this and understood your difficult position as a father, so I agreed, only to become your pawn.
You used my absence from Weixia to induce her to agree to the engagement when she was most distressed and lost.
As a result, today, Weixia came to school, attended my class, and publicly clarified some matters.
At this point, you are worried that Weixia might resist or even refuse the engagement ceremony in three days, so you specifically invited me to the engagement ceremony with the purpose of completely making Weixia give up!"
Jiang Wuming did not mince words as he laid out Huangfu Qing's series of plans, saying coldly, "If I'm not mistaken, as soon as I agree, you will call Weixia immediately after ending this call to tell her the news, right?"
"—"
Huangfu Qing was secretly startled. He never dreamed that his meticulously crafted plan would be so easily seen through by Jiang Wuming.
Despite his shock, Huangfu Qing desperately controlled his emotions, feigning difficulty and sighing, "Master Wuming, I am not against Weixia being with you. It's just that you cannot be together—you are already engaged!
And Weixia is deeply infatuated with you. I had no choice but to resort to this plan. Please understand and forgive me!"
"For Weixia's sake, I will not hold you accountable for using me as a pawn before. However, this time, it's impossible. I will not attend the engagement ceremony in three days!
Furthermore, you don't need my understanding or forgiveness. You should save those words to say to Weixia!"
Jiang Wuming replied sternly and then hung up the phone directly.
Thump!
Listening to the dial tone from the receiver and recalling what Jiang Wuming had said, Huangfu Qing's heart trembled once more, his face filled with unease.
That unease stemmed not only from Jiang Wuming's refusal to attend Huangfu Weixia and Wei Qianyuan's engagement ceremony but also from his worry that Huangfu Weixia might already know his plan.
He uneasily picked up his cigar and took several deep drags. After his emotions calmed down, he thought for a moment and dialed Huangfu Weixia's number.
"Weixia, are you staying at school tonight or coming home?"
When the call connected, Huangfu Qing spoke first, intending to gauge Huangfu Weixia's reaction to determine if she knew his plan.
"I'm staying at school."
Huangfu Weixia's tone was the same as it had been for the past two days; she sounded dejected.
"I understand. In two days, I'll have the driver pick you up from school, and we'll make preparations for the engagement ceremony at home," Huangfu Qing added.
"Okay."
Huangfu Weixia agreed readily.
Hearing Huangfu Weixia's reply, Huangfu Qing let out a long sigh of relief, his suspended heart finally settling.
As Huangfu Weixia's father, he understood her. He knew that Huangfu Weixia was straightforward and could not keep things to herself; she would even express her emotions directly in her words and actions.
Since Huangfu Weixia did not inquire about Jiang Wuming, it proved that she did not know about his meticulously planned scheme.
More importantly, Huangfu Weixia had not resisted or refused the engagement ceremony!
"Jiang Wuming, oh Jiang Wuming, if you weren't an enemy to the world and in constant danger, with the martial arts skill, talent, and intellect you've displayed, I might have agreed to you and Weixia being together. But there are no 'ifs' in this world. You are not qualified to be a son-in-law of the Huangfu family!"
After hanging up the phone, Huangfu Qing thought again of Jiang Wuming's impolite words and couldn't help but sneer.
At the same time, in the dormitory of the Donghai Martial Arts Academy.
Huangfu Weixia put down her phone and walked to the balcony, looking in the direction of Jian Valley.
"I can overlook you using my marriage as a bargaining chip for your own benefit, but I cannot forgive you for treating Teacher Wuming as a pawn and deliberately creating misunderstandings and conflicts between me and Teacher Wuming!"
As she watched, Huangfu Weixia couldn't help but murmur softly, "In three days, you will regret everything you have done!!"
…
ps: I've been attending the China Online Literature+ Conference out of town these past few days. I just got home today and will resume two updates starting tomorrow.