Chapter 281: Chapter 279: Marriage Is Not a Confrontation
Dan Mingyao rushed forward. "Stop it!"
She dragged Si Yuhuan away. "Let’s go!"
Back home, Dan Mingyao stood with her hands on her hips and lectured Si Yuhuan, "You’re bound to lose like this. Don’t you know it’s a major misstep in a confrontation if you’re the first one to break?"
Si Yuhuan raised an eyebrow. "Who told you a marriage with love is a battle? Is winning or losing that important?"
Just when the whole city was abuzz with discussions about Jian Xi going on blind dates to find a man to spend the rest of her life with, Si Yuhuan knew he was panicking.
The drive from the villa to the restaurant usually took a full hour, but he had floored it, arriving in just thirty minutes.
Seeing her fending off one unsuitable man after another, he finally felt a sense of relief.
He truly feared what he would do if someone compatible with her appeared and Jian Xi left his world completely. He couldn’t bear the thought.
"However, you were right about one thing," Si Yuhuan conceded. "Using the Thirty-Six Stratagems in matters of love isn’t necessarily a bad idea."
With that, he went upstairs.
"What are you talking about?" Dan Mingyao muttered, scratching her head as she stood there.
"So what if you’ve been married and dated before? You think that makes you so incredible, huh?"
There was a knock on the door.
"Coming," Dan Mingyao called, going to open it.
When she opened the door, a delivery man handed her a document. "Is Si Yuhuan here?"
"Yes!"
"This is an express delivery for him. Please sign for it."
Dan Mingyao’s eyes lit up. "It’s here already? Great!"
She quickly signed for it, her footsteps thudding as she ran upstairs with the document.
Si Yuhuan had just taken out his phone to call Jian Xi when he heard her voice, sharp and angry, on the other end. "Get lost! I saved your life, and you turn around and find a new flame? You heartless playboy! Are you a durian? With admirers clinging to every single spike?"
"Hello!" Si Yuhuan tried to interject, but the line went dead.
Hearing the beeps of the disconnected call, Si Yuhuan seethed with anger.
"Brother Yuhuan, the document..."
Dan Mingyao pushed open the study door. Seeing Si Yuhuan’s face as dark as a gathering storm, she tossed the document inside and bolted.
Jian Xi fought the urge to smash her phone, taking deep breaths. That bastard! "Don’t let me see you again! Next time, I won’t wait for Si Junyan to deal with you. I’ll flatten you myself!"
"Well, well, well!" Wan Yu walked in with a playful air, bringing a fruit platter over to Jian Xi. "Looks like the blind date didn’t go well?"
"Not a single one of them was remotely trouble-free."
Wan Yu smiled slyly. "It seems you not only met your blind date but also ran into Si Yuhuan?"
She looked at Jian Xi’s expression, which was like she’d eaten something foul.
"Ah! I guessed right?"
Jian Xi couldn’t help but retort, "Oh, please. If you ever quit New Fashion Media, you should set up a private detective agency. With your deduction skills, you’d definitely surpass the International First Detective Agency. You’d be making a fortune and a big name for yourself in no time."
"That’s a great idea! I should get on that right away. It would be a crime against nature not to use such a talent to secure my future."
She was actually serious!
Jian Xi was utterly speechless.
She bit into an apple fiercely, imagining it was Si Yuhuan, wishing she could just bite him to death.
"I heard all the guys you met today were oddballs, not a single good one among them," Wan Yu remarked.
"You certainly get your news quickly."
"Of course. I also heard Si Junyan was giving Si Yuhuan a hard time, and you stepped in to resolve it?"
Jian Xi’s face flushed slightly as she tossed the apple to Wan Yu. "Help Si Yuhuan? I just remembered I’d left something behind and went back for it. When I saw that detestable guy acting so arrogantly, I just dealt with it on a whim to vent some frustration."
"Alright, alright. You don’t have to admit it. But if you ask me, you still have feelings for Si Yuhuan."
"Don’t talk nonsense! Just eat your apple!"
"I won’t say another word, I won’t say another word." Wan Yu giggled incessantly as if she had discovered some incredible secret.
Jian Xi, frustrated and exasperated, said, "Get out, get out! I need to rest."
Lying in bed, she couldn’t close her eyes no matter how hard she tried.
To make matters worse, her mother called to inquire, "How were the men today? If none of them were suitable, there are five more lined up for tomorrow."
Jian Xi was rendered speechless.
To appease her mother’s misguided persistence, she forced a cheerful tone. "Okay."
Jian’s Mother kept admonishing, "Even though this would be your second marriage, Mom still hopes you can marry soon and have someone to rely on. But you absolutely cannot just settle for anyone. He must be a man of good character, capable, and most importantly, he must love you, be responsible, and always consider you. Only then can you have a lasting and happy life. Do you hear me?"
"Mhm, mhm," Jian Xi mumbled.
"That’s not enough! What I’m saying is for your own good. You’re being too dismissive," her mother pressed.
Jian Xi said, exasperated, "I got it."
"Still so dismissive."
"Then do you want me to list all the characteristics of each blind date so you can help me analyze which one is compatible with me?"
Jian’s Mother’s interest was piqued. "Oh, that would be wonderful! If you could..."
CLICK!
Jian Xi hung up the phone.
Jian’s Mother stared at her phone and gritted her teeth. This child! She truly doesn’t appreciate how good Fu Shengyuan is. I’m going to find her some more unsuitable dates!
A sly smile appeared on her face.
When Father Jian came out after his shower, he saw his wife’s sly smile and couldn’t help but shiver. "What mischief are you up to now?"
Jian’s Mother raised an eyebrow. "What are you talking about?"
"Nothing, I just wanted to ask—did Xixi have any luck with her blind dates?"
"What luck could there be?" Jian’s Mother said casually, then, realizing her slip, quickly corrected herself. "Don’t worry, I’ve found her the best candidates. How could I possibly let our own daughter down?"
"Yes, well, put some real thought into it. If you can find us a good son-in-law, we’ll both be able to relax and enjoy our later years."
"Fu Shengyuan is quite good, you know. He just had someone send me a jade bracelet, and the quality looks excellent..."
"Zhang Xi!" Father Jian exclaimed angrily.
"What are you yelling for!" Jian’s Mother glared back.
Father Jian’s imposing manner immediately softened. "Dear, please stop thinking about Fu Shengyuan. Men who manage family businesses like that are always scheming! Xixi has indeed improved a lot recently, and her abilities have grown, but she’s still no match for an old fox like him. Be careful you don’t bring disaster upon the Jian Family."
"What? Are you saying the Jian Family is like a piece of dough, for anyone to knead as they please?" Jian’s Mother retorted, unwilling to back down. "If we’re really talking about scheming, it’s not certain who would come out on top!"
Fu Shengyuan is so genuinely sincere towards Xixi. I’m so moved watching him; it would be wrong not to give him a little push.
No matter how much she tried to persuade him, Father Jian wouldn’t listen, and the two of them ended up quarreling unpleasantly again.
Early the next morning, Jian’s Mother woke up with panda eyes.
Jian Chuxin, walking downstairs, jumped in fright when he saw her. "Good heavens, Mom, what happened to you? Did you stay up all night playing cards?"
"Playing cards?!" Jian’s Mother gave him a sharp look. "You’re never serious! Can’t you bring home a daughter-in-law for me? I don’t ask for much: just that she’s good to you, comes from a respectable family with a clean background, and is, you know, a woman. I..."
"Mom, I’m off to work. Heading to the company now. By the way, I’m back home for a bit." As soon as Jian Chuxin heard his mother start her lecture, he turned tail and fled, faster than a rabbit.
How foolish of me! Why did I choose to come home for a relaxing break? This is more tiring than filming!
Jian’s Mother, clenching her fists in anger, stomped her foot. "You little scoundrels! Just wait until I’ve sorted things out for Xixi. Then I’ll find each of you a wife!"