As Chen Lishu and Su Nian took a step forward, a woman in a red qipao darted out from the crowd and blocked their path.
"Miss Chen, Miss Chen, please wait a moment." A fawning smile appeared on the woman's face.
Hearing herself called, Chen Lishu found it strange. She had just arrived in the capital and didn't know anyone, nor did she know why this person was looking for her.
While Chen Lishu was still bewildered, the woman introduced herself with a sweet laugh, "Miss Chen, my surname is Mo, and my name is Mo Lan. I'm a well-known matchmaker in the western district of the city, and I'm here today primarily to arrange a marriage for you."
Arrange a marriage!
Before Chen Lishu could react, Su Nian, standing beside her, became more agitated than she was. "What nonsense are you spouting? Our Madam doesn't need to be introduced! Who sent you?"
Madam? Hearing Su Nian's address for Chen Lishu, Mo Lan's brows furrowed tightly. She hadn't heard anything from the Lu family mentioning that Chen Lishu was already married!
However, she was getting paid for this. The Lu family had promised her a substantial reward if this matter was successful. Forget about a married woman; even a nun would have this match made today!
With this thought, Mo Lan flicked her handkerchief, completely ignoring Su Nian's presence, and began showering Chen Lishu with compliments. "Miss Chen, you truly are radiant. Your beautiful appearance is a perfect match for the young master of the Lu family. I, Mo Lan, am the Yue Lao of the heavens; any marriage I arrange is destined to last forever and end in a lifelong union!
You are a pretty young lady, but unfortunately, you are already this old. Since you and young master Lu are old acquaintances and have known each other for so long, you might as well seize this opportunity to get married and avoid becoming an old maid."
Listening to Mo Lan's anxiety-inducing words, Chen Lishu let out a cold laugh and casually retorted, "What, are matchmakers this meddlesome these days? Is my being unmarried hindering your life, or are you eating my food?"
"I..." Mo Lan was, after all, a renowned matchmaker in the western district. Everyone greeted her respectfully and spoke politely, asking her to introduce a good match for their children. This was the first time she had lost face in front of a young girl, and her expression immediately turned grim.
Hiding in the crowd, Wu Xiaohong watched all this, her heart sinking. She couldn't let Mo Lan ruin this marriage prospect.
She hurried through the crowd, approaching Chen Lishu. Then, feigning a tearful demeanor, she grabbed Chen Lishu's hands and choked out, "Child, my poor child! Lu Gen has already told me about what happened yesterday. How could you have been involved with the editor-in-chief of the newspaper..."
Wu Xiaohong paused at this point. She deliberately brought up the matter, knowing that people are most vulnerable when their emotions are at their peak, and only then can their defenses be breached.
Her intention was to use this moment to get Chen Lishu to agree to the marriage. Even if she regretted it later, having said the words in front of so many people, backing out would be impossible unless she wanted to be ostracized in the capital, having lost all her face.
With this in mind, Wu Xiaohong immediately put on a benevolent expression and said, "I feel a connection with you, my child, and I genuinely treat you like my own daughter. I am heartbroken by what happened, but I cannot let you remain unmarried. Therefore, I've decided to let Lu Gen marry you."
Chen Lishu was unsure whether Wu Xiaohong was sincere or hypocritical. She pursed her lips, her mind already strategizing a polite refusal.
Wu Xiaohong, seizing her silence, winked at Lu Gen beside her, signaling him to make his move.
"Auntie, I feel about Lu Gen..." Chen Lishu was about to deliver her tactful excuse when she was interrupted.
Lu Gen's voice rang out, a heartfelt declaration, "Miss Chen, I felt an instant connection with you. I also hope you can give me this opportunity to take good care of you for the rest of my life."
Wu Xiaohong also seized the moment to declare, "Child, you see, my son is also interested in you. Why don't you accept his proposal? I will treat you like my own daughter from now on. We don't mind what happened to you; consider yesterday's events a bad dream. How about it?"
Seeing the mother and son's relentless push, Chen Lishu raised her eyebrows, suddenly understanding everything.
If she had indeed lost her purity to Wu Lu yesterday, and if she were unmarried, hearing Lu Gen's declaration and Wu Xiaohong's statement today, she might have actually been tempted!
After all, which mother would watch her son marry a girl whose reputation was compromised? In this era, losing one's purity meant being gossiped about. If it were her, she wouldn't dare gamble with her son's future, lest his reputation be ruined.
Furthermore, for such an important matter, shouldn't they have approached her, the person involved, to inquire about the situation before arranging the marriage? Look at everyone from the entire community gathered here to watch the spectacle. This didn't seem like seeking the woman's opinion but rather forcing her to agree.
Chen Lishu crossed her arms, and under the expectant gazes of Wu Xiaohong and Lu Gen, she frowned and said coldly, "Lu Gen, these repeated incidents make me feel that you are completely unsuited for the position of Sales Director at the company. You are too impetuous and need to spend a few more years tempering yourself in society.
Tomorrow, go to the HR department and submit your resignation. Complete a handover of your work. After a few years, when you've truly matured and I see your capabilities, you can return to work for the company. To put it simply... we'll meet at the peak."
Upon hearing this, the onlookers gasped. Many began whispering among themselves:
"What's going on? From what the young lady is saying, it doesn't sound like she's going to accept this marriage proposal?"
"Not only is she not accepting the marriage proposal, but she's also gotten the Lu family's son fired. I thought these two were genuinely in love, but it turns out it was a one-sided affair by the Lu family."
"If you ask me, this young lady is being a bit unkind. She could have refused privately, but why bring it up in front of so many people? Isn't she deliberately trying to embarrass them?"
"..."
Some fragmented whispers reached Wu Xiaohong's ears, and a look of anger flashed across her face. In her opinion, Chen Lishu's actions were ungrateful!
With her job gone and her proposal rejected, having lost everything, she no longer bothered to maintain her pretense. She dropped all pretense and said, "Miss Chen, you are promiscuous, and yesterday you were defiled by a superior. A dirty and unbearable woman like you, having my son be with you, is actually doing you a favor!
If you don't agree, fine, but why should my son resign? If it weren't for the fact that you are carrying my son's child, do you think I'd be eager to have you join this family? Hmph!"