Shen Xingling frowned. "Mu Tingshen? That Mu Tingshen? It couldn't possibly be… Grandpa Mu’s grandson, right? The heir to the Mu Group..."
Mu! Ting! Shen!
The Mu Family was also rooted in Yuncheng. As a family that had been in business for generations, they were a famous, prestigious clan in the city, controlling its very economic lifeline.
"This isn't someone we can afford to provoke," she muttered. "Forget it! It’s not like it matters anyway."
Shen Qingwen draped an arm around Xia Lan, pulling her into his embrace. "Wife, don't be so anxious. Let’s ask Xingling what she thinks first. What if they grow fond of each other after they’re married? Besides, our precious daughter isn't someone who would let herself be taken advantage of."
Just as he was about to get up to call Shen Xingling and ask when she would be home, he saw her standing in the entryway, frowning.
Before Shen Qingwen could even ask if she had overheard the conversation, Shen Xingling preemptively demanded, "Dad, is what you and Mom were saying true? I’m only twenty-one! Are you really marrying me off already? Doesn't your conscience hurt at all? I knew it, I really am just an accident!"
She showered her father with a string of three accusations. Marry? She hadn't even had enough fun yet! That was a joke! She was nothing more than an "obedient and well-behaved" student about to enter her senior year of college!
She walked over and slumped into a single-seater sofa.
Xia Lan and Shen Qingwen exchanged a look. Shen Qingwen then said, "Xingling, we were just about to discuss this with you once you got back. Since you’ve already heard, we don't need to give you a heads-up anymore. This afternoon, your Uncle Mu and Aunt Mu came over with betrothal gifts to propose. This marriage was arranged by your grandfather and Elder Mu."
The couple looked at their daughter with concern.
Shen Xingling was still in a state of shock. Even though she had heard it at the entryway, she still couldn't quite accept it. Why was she, a vibrant college student in the prime of her youth, suddenly about to step into the grave of marriage?!
"Xingling, both families are planning to sit down for a meal this weekend. What do you think..."
"Mom, Dad, I'm going upstairs to sleep. I just want some quiet right now." Shen Xingling trudged heavily toward the stairs.
Once in her room, she lay on the bed, propping her face up with her hands. "Ah! What do I do? How did I just go out to play for half a day and suddenly end up with an arranged marriage?"
Frowning, she pulled out her phone and opened WeChat.
Group Name: [The Three Super Bossy Princesses]
Xingling: [Help me, sisters! How can such a regressive thing like an arranged marriage still exist in this day and age? I, a young, beautiful little fairy, am actually about to step into the grave of marriage! No! I absolutely refuse! o＞_＜o]
Xinyue: [What?? What’s wrong with our little Xingling? Tell us everything!]
Wanwan: [Xingling, are you really getting married? No way! Did your parents arrange it?]
Xingling: [My parents said my grandfather made a betrothal arrangement for me a long time ago, and the other party came today to finalize it. Oh god, what do I do? Is the little fairy really going to fall into the mundane world now? (＞_＜) I don't want to! And they scheduled a dinner for this weekend to discuss the wedding. Our weekend hangout is going to be ruined too～～]
Xinyue: [Tsk tsk tsk! Whose family is proposing? They must have a death wish! Whoever dares to marry off our little fairy, I’ll fight them to the death!]
Wanwan: [So, what are you planning to do?]
Xingling: [The eldest young master of the Mu family, Mu Tingshen. I just don't understand how such an outrageous thing can happen nowadays! Sigh... Xinyue darling, do you still dare to fight to the death? I guess I’ll just have to play it by ear, but I must find a way to ruin this engagement.]
Xinyue: [Ahhhhh! The heir to that top-tier conglomerate, Mu Tingshen? Forget it, then. Hehe! As much as I want to fight, my life is too precious. But we will always be your strongest support!]
Wanwan: [That’s right, Xingling, the two of us will always be your strongest support!]
Xingling: [You two really are my best sisters!]
[Friendship suspended for one hour!]
[Hmph! Plastic friendship!]
Xinyue: [Little fairy! Don't be mad! You said it yourself, he’s the young master of the Mu family—he could have any beauty he wants. Maybe he’s secretly liked you for a long time and has been nursing a crush on you! Hahahaha! That's why he just went with the flow and accepted this engagement. After all, our Xingling is so charming!]
Xingling: *Read, but didn't reply! Even angrier.*
Wanwan: [Baby! Are you really mad? If you truly don't want to agree to this marriage, we can call it off. But we can't overpower the big shots—we definitely can't be the ones to break it off. It has to be that Young Master Mu who calls it off.]
Xinyue: [Wanwan is right. If you back out, you'd be slapping the Mu family in the face, and they definitely wouldn't let you off.]
Xinyue: [I've got it. A prestigious family like the Mus definitely wants a refined, elegant lady. So, we should do the opposite—let's act like a...]
Wanwan: [Xinyue actually has a good idea at a critical moment. *Like.jpg*]
Xinyue: [Of course. *Proud.jpg*]
Xingling: [Then let’s go with Xinyue’s plan.]
Xingling: [Let's stop talking about this depressing topic. The little fairy is going to go play games! Sisters, are you coming?]
Xinyue: [...]
Wanwan: [...]
Uh... maybe not. Our gaming ranks aren't quite on the same level.
Time flew by.
Weekend.
The two families met at the Mu Hotel, and she went along.
Nearly everyone from both families was there, with the sole exception of the groom-to-be.
"Tingshen went on a business trip yesterday, but the marriage will proceed as I say," Elder Mu lied, his tone firm.
Shen Qingwen gave a slight nod to show he understood.
"Uncle Mu, this is my daughter, Shen Xingling," Shen Qingwen said, gesturing toward her.
Elder Mu looked at the young girl before him. Her face was elegant and dignified, and her thick black hair hung loosely over her shoulders. However, she was sitting with her legs crossed, bouncing one foot rhythmically, and gnawing on a pig’s trotter.
This behavior... it was as exaggerated as it could possibly be.
Was this really the "obedient and well-behaved" girl Old Man Shen had described?
Elder Mu looked at Shen Xingling, feeling a bit doubtful.
Beside him, Madam Mu was also sizing up her future daughter-in-law, feeling slightly dissatisfied with her posture. Though she lacked the refined grace of a high-society lady, she was willing to accept her, provided she could live a stable life with Tingshen.
Father and Mother Shen noticed the slight displeasure on Madam Mu’s face. After all, the Shen family was punching above their weight by marrying into the Mu family.
Father Shen decided to tentatively suggest calling it off. "Elder Mu, setting aside the fact that these two children have no emotional foundation, my Xingling is used to being free-spirited. I'm afraid she might accidentally turn the Mu household upside down—that would be a huge problem. Besides, we are the ones climbing the social ladder by marrying into your family. Perhaps we should just call off the marriage?"
"No, I like this child, Xingling. And I haven't forgotten the agreement I made with your father."
*I've acted like this, and he still wants it?*
*What is this old man thinking?*