Chapter 20

Study Room.

Old Master Shang sat on the sofa, looking at Shang Yanci, who remained expressionless across from him.

His son had not been raised by his side since childhood, his temperament and nature were unclear. Although he was respectful and polite to his father, he always seemed to be separated by a thin veil, making it difficult to see his true nature.

“Yanci, are your feelings for Ningning genuine, or just a passing fancy?” Old Master Shang knew he shouldn’t ask this, but Pei Yuning was a child he had watched grow up. She had already been betrayed by Shang Heng once. If Shang Yanci did it again, he would truly be ashamed to face the Pei family.

Shang Yanci replied, “Of course it’s genuine.”

Old Master Shang sighed, “But you’ve only known each other for a few days? You haven’t really spent time together, gotten to know each other.”

The faint, bitter fragrance of the bitter orange blossoms outside drifted into the study. Shang Yanci lowered his gaze, looking at the misty pink “papillon” tattoo on his left pinky finger, and murmured, “I know her.”

Old Master Shang simply assumed he had investigated Pei Yuning, and then asked again, “After you get married, will she be willing to go to France with you to live there permanently?”

Shang Yanci said calmly, “No need, I’ll stay in Beijing.”

Old Master Shang was slightly stunned. After a moment, he said, “So you’ve agreed to my previous request?”

The request he was referring to was for Shang Yanci to return to China to manage the company and develop it. Shang Xuan was incompetent, and the company’s annual data analysis had been declining year after year. If it weren’t for the company’s deep foundation and a few dedicated shareholders, Shang Group would have been ruined by him.

Since Shang Yanci took over, Xinoel Group had flourished under his strict leadership, becoming the largest financial group in France.

Furthermore, Shang Group’s development to this day was inseparable from the great help of Shang Yanci’s mother back then. Compared to his eldest son, Old Master Shang still hoped that his younger son would inherit the group.

Shang Yanci didn’t confirm or deny, “Yes.”

Old Master Shang was incredulous, “You really agreed? No matter what I said these past few years, you wouldn’t.”

Shang Yanci’s tone carried an imperceptible hint of blandness and sarcasm, “The annual report is too ugly.”

He was practically saying that Shang Xuan was useless.

Leaving the study, Shang Yanci began to arrange for a matchmaker, prepare the betrothal gifts, and apply for a return flight route between France and Beijing.

As for how Old Master Shang would arrange for Shang Xuan, it wasn’t within Shang Yanci’s consideration.

Shang Xuan’s anger erupted once again when he received another call from his bodyguard, reporting that they still hadn’t found Shang Heng.

He grabbed a vase from the entrance of the room, smashed it on the floor, overturned the wooden stand, and shattered all the cups and saucers on the coffee table, not caring if anyone would hear.

Ever since Shang Yanci mentioned Pei Yuning accepting his proposal, Shang Xuan had been on the verge of a breakdown. His father had called Shang Yanci to the study alone, he was sure it was to seize his power.

Shang Xuan glared at his helpless, tearful wife, “Where the hell is Shang Heng? Did you hide him?”

Yi Hua shook her head and cried, “I really don’t know.”

“Look at the good son you raised, on the verge of marriage, he’s openly cheating!” Shang Xuan, burning with anger, walked up to her, grabbed her hair, “You’re retaliating for my pre-marital infidelity back then, you planned all this, didn’t you?”

Yi Hua’s eyes flickered with resentment and unwillingness.

Shang Xuan sneered, “Song Xi was my first love. If you hadn’t interfered back then, I would have married her long ago.”

Yi Hua mocked, “But now she’s just a mistress who can’t see the light of day.”

“The one who’s not loved is the mistress, like you.” Shang Xuan patted her face contemptuously, then threw her to the ground like trash, ignoring her, and turned to leave.

Yi Hua grabbed his pants leg, asking through gritted teeth, “Where are you going? You haven’t found your son yet.”

Shang Xuan kicked her away, “I have more than one son. Without the Pei Yuning marriage, what value does he have?”

Yi Hua fell to the ground, her hair disheveled, her nails digging into the floor, her words dripping with blood, “You can’t go find her! You can’t do that to me!”

Shang Xuan didn’t even seem to hear, and walked away.

Yu Hua Manor.

As evening approached, orange-pink fire clouds hung upside down in the carp lake, reflecting each other, and the shimmering surface of the lake was rippled by the evening breeze.

Vehicles passed by, and occasionally a few playful carp jumped out of the lake, curiously looking at the humans on shore, poking their heads out and blowing bubbles.

Old Master Shang brought the matchmaker to the door, his mood that day was more exciting than a roller coaster, a hundred times, a thousand times more exciting.

According to the customs of Beijing, during the betrothal and name-asking ceremonies, only the elders of the male and female sides need to attend.

Pei Yuning stayed in her bedroom and checked the “Xinoel Group” that Shang Yanci mentioned.

After reading the full introduction, she couldn’t understand why Shang Yanci really needed to take back Shang Group.

But then again, this was Shang Yanci’s intention for his deceased mother, so it was understandable.

He was willing to go to such lengths to gain control of Shang Group. After all, once they were married, if he cheated, all his assets would be transferred to her name. A slight misstep would mean losing everything.

However, this was also a kind of guarantee for her. At least for a year, Shang Yanci would definitely not cheat. As for whether they would continue their marriage relationship afterwards, it would depend on how their feelings developed.

The bedroom door was knocked by Old Mrs. Pei. After Pei Yuning responded, she walked in, her eyes smiling, “Ningning, the Shang family has left. Go downstairs with grandma and have a look at the betrothal gifts.”

Pei Yuning wanted to go but also didn’t want to.

Old Mrs. Pei knew what was going on in her heart, “The Shang family left not long ago, she also left.”

Pei Yuning followed her downstairs.

Old Mrs. Pei said as they walked, “Originally, I thought time was tight, I was afraid it would be rushed and unfair to you, but the Shang family’s betrothal gifts are very thoughtful, it shows that Shang Yanci takes you seriously.”

In the hall, dozens of betrothal gifts symbolizing marital happiness and fulfillment: ten geese with red silk tied around their necks, clear wine, millet, longevity threads, lucky fragrant herbs…

Red clouds filled the eyes, leaving no room for footfall.

The most precious was a half-meter tall dragon-stone jade Buddha statue.

Pei Yuning remembered that one year she bought a dragon-stone jade ring for her grandmother, the size of a pigeon egg, the asking price was 13 million, and the final transaction price was 19 million.

The value of the jade Buddha statue in front of her was immeasurable. This betrothal gift, compared to the betrothal gift, was even more generous.

No one would dislike this feeling of being cherished and held in the palm of one’s hand.

Pei Yuning’s heart beat faster, she ran back to her bedroom upstairs, picked up her phone, and sent a WeChat message to Shang Yanci.