Chen's father spoke earnestly.
"Think about it, if you reject him, marry someone else, and then flaunt it right under his nose, do you think he'll be happy?"
"If he's unhappy, with his father's influence, will you have a good life? I can't just watch you jump into a fire pit!"
Chen Jiaojiao snorted dismissively.
"Lu Mingzhe's father is just a minor city construction bureau leader. He can't control everything. How much trouble can he cause me?"
"Daughter, Dad has always thought you were smart, why are you acting foolish today?"
"Collusion, understand? He can't do anything to you directly, but won't he find a roundabout way?"
"If you provoke him, do you still want to pursue your career? If he wants to deal with you, you'll be finished. Don't be so naive, okay?"
Chen Jiaojiao's expression immediately darkened.
Having followed her father around since childhood, she understood the implications.
If she had known that knowing Lu Mingzhe would be so troublesome, she wouldn't have gone to Nancheng to find him!
"But I really don't like Lu Mingzhe. He has significant personality flaws, and I won't be happy marrying him."
"Is he really that bad?"
"Of course, he is! Dad, I wouldn't dare lie to you about this sort of thing?"
Seeing her conviction and Chen's father not having met Lu Mingzhe, he believed her.
He pondered for a moment.
"How about this. We'll agree to the matter for now, so as not to offend either family. When they arrive tomorrow, I'll observe."
"If it's as you say, Dad will find a way to dissuade them. But if young Lu is a decent person, you'll listen to me!"
"I knew Dad cared about me the most."
Chen Jiaojiao happily hopped over, hugged his neck, and kissed him.
"Don't worry, you definitely won't look down on someone like Lu Mingze!"
In fact, she had already made her own plans.
She would deliberately act contrary to Lu Mingzhe's wishes.
She would do things that the Lu family would disapprove of.
Did she think Lu Mingzhe would succeed?
The next day, Chen Jiaojiao went to the company as usual.
Lu Mingzhe and his parents arrived at the airport, and Chen's father personally picked them up.
He first took them to the hotel, then arranged for them to go to a restaurant.
All the way, he observed Lu Mingzhe.
Seeing that he was young, handsome, tall, and had an extraordinary presence, and spoke elegantly, and was reportedly a psychologist.
Chen's father was furious.
That darn girl. She almost tricked him!
Upon arriving at the restaurant, after the Lu family of three sat down, he went out to call his daughter.
"Chen Jiaojiao, I'm warning you, don't cause any more trouble. Hurry up and come!"
"Young Lu is clearly good-looking, refined, and incredibly decent. And you say you look down on him? Who do you think you are?"
"Hurry up! If you're not here within half an hour, I'll break your legs!"
Returning to the private room, he chuckled and explained to everyone,
"I'm truly sorry. Because I haven't been feeling well lately, I've handed over all the major and minor matters of the company to Jiaojiao."
"She's busy from morning till night and can't personally pick you up. I apologize for making you wait."
"Not at all. It's commendable for young people to have ambition, especially girls."
"We're idle anyway, so waiting is fine. Let her take her time, no rush. We fully support her."
Seeing how pleasant Lu's father spoke, the entire family appeared refined.
Chen's father was even more pleased.
His own father had good judgment. He said Jiaojiao wouldn't be able to endure hardship, and he was right.
Marrying into such a family was clearly falling into a nest of fortune!
Meanwhile, upon receiving her father's call, Chen Jiaojiao immediately drove out.
She first went to her usual hair salon and had them give her an exaggerated, temporary "instant noodle" perm.
Then she applied heavier makeup, making herself look as if she had just woken up from a drunken stupor.
She pulled her skirt up to just cover the base of her thighs and changed into a pair of bright red high heels.
Looking utterly out of place, she went to the restaurant.
Upon entering and seeing her appearance, her father almost dropped his jaw.
"You... did lightning strike you? Chen Jiaojiao, what are you doing!"
"I'm not doing anything. The weather is nice today, and I felt like dressing up beautifully to reflect my good mood."
"What's wrong? Don't I look good?"
Chen Jiaojiao shook her permed hair, walked towards everyone in her garish high heels.
After shaking hands and greeting everyone, she sat down next to her father and casually picked up the cigarette pack in front of him.
"How long have you been here? Did you have a good trip? People in Jincheng are very warm and outgoing, not as reserved as in Nancheng. Are you used to it?"
"Do you smoke? Want one?"
Lu's father and mother: "??"
"It seems you don't smoke. I understand. After all, you're older, and smoking less is good for your health."
She took out a cigarette and put it in her mouth.
"You don't mind if I have one, do you?"
Chen's father hadn't expected her to go to such lengths to sabotage the marriage.
She was practically throwing his old face away.
He slapped Chen Jiaojiao's hand.
"You wicked girl, what's gotten into you today? When did you learn to smoke? And you dare to smoke in front of me? You're asking for death!"
He snatched the cigarette from her hand.
"You speak properly! If you spout any more nonsense, I'll beat you!"
Chen Jiaojiao pouted, looking completely unconcerned.
"It's just smoking, what's the big deal?"
"To be honest, I've been smoking for several years. I'm young, unlike you, who have one foot in the grave. I won't die, so don't interfere too much."
"You!"
"Mr. Lu, Mrs. Lu, this brat was spoiled by me since she was little. Her biggest dream is to be an actress, she's very quirky."
"She often puts on impromptu plays for me, and I can't keep up with her acting. This isn't her true self, so please don't take it to heart. She's usually very normal."
Lu Mingzhe's parents turned to look at Lu Mingzhe, their expressions carrying a hint of meaning.
Lu Mingzhe's expression was calm.
"Indeed. I think she's just feeling dramatic today and is deliberately teasing you. Don't take it seriously. She's not like this usually."
Lu's mother, a woman with high emotional intelligence, quickly chimed in.
"I didn't expect Jiaojiao to be so versatile, capable of both a career and entertaining people. That's great."
"She's not pretentious and is bold and unrestrained, no wonder A'zhe likes her."
"..."
Chen Jiaojiao hadn't expected that even after acting so outrageously, she would be praised by accident. It was rather anticlimactic.
After that, she stopped acting out and just drank and ate whatever they were talking about.
Before the pleasantries were over, she had already finished a bottle of foreign liquor by herself.
Chen's father and Lu's father were engrossed in their conversation and only noticed her actions after a while.
Seeing his daughter's flushed cheeks and signs of intoxication, he couldn't help but scold her again.
"What's wrong with you today? Can't you act normally?"
"You started acting as soon as you came in, and now you won't even talk. Chen Jiaojiao, are you deliberately trying to embarrass me?"
Lu Mingzhe smiled and finally interjected.
"Uncle Chen, don't worry. I know what's going on with her."
Oh?
Everyone turned their gaze towards him.