Chapter 19

Shang Xuan was immediately flustered, forcing a smile on his face to appear calm. “Yanci, this is not proper etiquette. Miss Pei was engaged to Ah Heng. If this gets out, what will people think of the Shang family? What will they think of Miss Pei?”

Shang Yanci gave him a meaningful glance, speaking slowly and calmly, “Ningning and I developed feelings for each other after Shang Heng cheated. If you really want to talk about improper etiquette, then Shang Heng is the one who’s at fault. He cheated before the wedding and it made headlines, not only damaging the reputation of both families, but also betraying Ningning. Or, do you think it’s proper etiquette that even though Shang Heng has already cheated, Ningning should still swallow her pride and marry him, silently accepting the victim-blaming behavior?”

Three instances of “cheating” in one sentence, as if repeatedly reminding and emphasizing to everyone.

Shang Xuan’s face was extremely ugly, but he had no words to refute. He couldn’t understand, his father had mentioned having Shang Yanci return to China to manage the company’s development years ago, but he had flatly refused. Since he had already refused, why was he back now to snatch it away?

Old Master Pei’s expression was displeased, he snorted coldly, “I think Shang Heng won’t be back today, but we, the Pei family, must withdraw from this marriage!”

Old Master Shang had been scolded enough in the past few days, and now he repeatedly expressed his agreement to his old friend, “Yes, yes, that’s only right.”

Shang Yanci looked at the two elders of the Pei family, his tone sincere, “I apologize for bringing this up so suddenly. I will formally pay a visit tomorrow.”

The picture of the two of them standing together, hand in hand, was very eye-catching. Compared to Shang Heng, Old Mrs. Pei naturally preferred Shang Yanci’s demeanor and bearing, but neither family had ever considered this before.

Old Master Pei was not a traditionalist, he always put the wishes of the younger generation first. He turned to his beloved granddaughter, “What does Ningning think?”

Pei Yuning glanced at Shang Yanci and replied to her grandfather, “We plan to go get the marriage license tomorrow.”

Pei Yuchen instantly disagreed, “Little Princess, are you sure? How can you be in such a hurry? Have you checked your birth charts for compatibility? Have you looked at the calendar for tomorrow to see if it’s a good day for marriage?”

Old Master Pei glared at him, “Don’t interrupt, why you are scolding your sister?”

Pei Yuchen grumbled, “How could I dare scold her?”

Shang Yanci said good-naturedly, “Tomorrow is a good day for marriage. If all the elders agree, I will arrange for a matchmaker to come to your door in the evening twilight to formally propose and ask for your name; then, I will find a fortune teller to divine a good date for the betrothal ceremony, and after that, I will come to your door to formally propose and give the betrothal gifts; finally, I will set the date for the wedding and come to fetch you. All the three documents and six rituals will be complete, I will never wrong Ningning.”

“Since Ningning is willing, this old man has no objections.” Old Master Pei sighed with a deep meaning, “Only bad things are difficult, good things go smoothly.”

Pei Yunzhi’s emotions were unclear as he said softly, “Ningning, come here.”

Pei Yuning’s dependence on her brother was habitual, no one could replace his position in her heart.

She looked at Shang Yanci, Shang Yanci smiled warmly at her and let go of her hand.

Pei Yuning sat next to Pei Yunzhi, “Brother.”

Pei Yunzhi asked directly, “Did Shang Heng’s words last night make you hesitate?”

“No.” Pei Yuning shook her head, “I want to be with him.”

Pei Yunzhi was silent.

Jiang Minzhi asked, “Then how can Mr. Shang guarantee that something similar won’t happen again?”

Everyone knew what she meant by “something similar.”

Shang Yanci said, “Ningning and I have tentatively agreed on the contents of a few marriage agreements, you elders can add to them. In the agreed-upon agreement, if I cheat, then all my assets will be transferred to Ningning’s name, including all the shares of Xinoel Group.”

Jiang Minzhi was stunned. Xinoel Group was the largest financial group in France, and Shang Yanci was the company’s largest shareholder and the absolute decision-maker.

Pei Yuning had never heard of Xinoel Group, she would avoid everything in France because Jiang Minzhi lived there.

Seeing that no one had any more objections, Pei Yuchen was extremely unhappy. Ningning was the princess of the Pei family, raised in luxury, and she was just being handed over like this?

He was so angry that he was about to speak, but his mother pinched him, signaling him to shut up.

Pei Yuchen casually moved away, and asked in a low voice, “If my little uncle is with my sister in the future, how will the generations be calculated?”

Shang Yanci answered directly, “I will call you according to Ningning’s generation, Second Brother.”

Pei Yuchen simply chuckled, that’s too absurd!

Pei Yuning took a piece of pastry to stuff his mouth, and asked softly, “Does brother want me to call him according to his generation? I don’t mind being super-generations older.”

“You little ungrateful thing.” Pei Yuchen said coldly and carelessly, shaking his head, “If he bullies you and makes you cry later, brother is still willing to wipe your tears and beat him up.”

Old Mrs. Pei was very satisfied with Shang Yanci’s willingness to bend for Ningning, stinky male chauvinism was not acceptable.

So both families returned the previous betrothal gifts.

On the table lay the engagement contract between Shang Heng and Pei Yuning from two years ago.

Shang Yanci walked over, picked up a brush, dipped it in gold ink, and drew a vertical line through Shang Heng’s name.

On the engagement contract, only Pei Yuning’s name remained.

Old Master Shang said, “Is it that much of an eyesore?”

Shang Yanci didn’t confirm or deny.

After the annulment, the elders discussed the specific time for the matchmaker to visit, and the Pei family left.

Shang Yanci got up to see Pei Yuning off, and they walked slowly together.

Pei Yuning asked, “What if our birth charts are incompatible?”

“They won’t be.” Shang Yanci took out a signed paper from his waistcoat pocket and handed it to Pei Yuning, “I prayed for this yesterday, it’s a superior lot.”

Pei Yuning took it and looked down, it was the 100th lot of the Moon Old Temple’s lot: Flowers bloom, the moon is full, and people live long lives.

“You don’t look like someone who would pray to gods and Buddhas.” Pei Yuning laughed, “You’re so lucky, remember to fulfill your vow.”

Shang Yanci’s lips curled up, “Yes, I will.”

“Don’t worry about the compatibility of our birth charts. If our birth charts are compatible, we are a match made in heaven. If our birth charts are incompatible, we are materialists.” Shang Yanci’s tone was steady, with a reassuring sense of security.

Pei Yuning said, “I feel like you’re a little different today.”

Shang Yanci asked, “For example?”

“You’ve been talking a lot today.” Pei Yuning said, “And you’re also very… proactive, not as steady and reserved as before, making you hard to read.”

Shang Yanci lowered his gaze, staring intently at her, “I’ll make you see me more clearly in the future.”

Clearly sensing someone else’s gaze, Shang Yanci looked up and saw Pei Yunzhi sitting in the driver’s seat of the car, his eyes appraisingly fixed on him.

Shang Yanci politely nodded to him without any hesitation, his gaze returned to Pei Yuning, and he said in a low voice, “Your brother seems to be dissatisfied with me.”

“He wasn’t satisfied with Shang Heng either.” Pei Yuning comforted her, “My brother has a cold personality, but you’ll get along well with him after a while.”

Shang Yanci said, “I will get along well with him.”