Huo Qingning's direct offer made Liang Yan gradually give up the desire to break free, and she wanted to accept the proposal. After all, the Huo family was more reputable than the Liang family in Liao City.
"Wait!" Mr. Liang quickly approached them and wanted to stop things from getting nastier. However, there were many guests at the party. So, he could only pretend to be an amiable father, "Xiao Yan, today is your sister's engagement ceremony. Stop joking and ask your sister to come out. I will agree to all your conditions."
The sudden change in her father's attitude startled Liang Yan. She rarely heard such a friendly tone from him. Her father had been a jerk back then. After abandoning his mother, he married his stepmother. He had never been so concerned about her. However, she had grown up now. She did not need those cheezy feelings. She decided to follow whoever could help her save the welfare institute.
"Then, can you give up the plan of purchasing the welfare home?" Liang Yan was straightforward. She would turn around and leave without disturbing their intentions of getting married if her father agreed to her condition.
"Wh... What?" Mr. Liang frowned. He was about to demolish the Welfare Home. It would bring huge benefits within a year if he could turn it into a commercial building. Liang Yan was using that to blackmail him. Now, Mr. Liang was in a dilemma.
When Liang Yan's stepmother saw that, she directly pulled Liang Yan away and whispered angrily, "B*ct, don't you ever dream that we will agree to your request, but you must not to this marriage either. There is no compromise."
Liang Yan recalled Liang Youli's angry face when she saw her stepmother's evil face. The mother and daughter were alike when they were mean. Since the Liang family was unwilling to compromise, she naturally had to think of another way. Whoever could help her protect the welfare home would be her choice.
"Okay. Brother Qingning, I agree with your proposal. Let's go and register our marriage tomorrow," Liang Yan imitated Liang Youli's tone and acted coquettishly. She was indeed sweeter and cuter than her sister.
Huo Qingning smirked and looked at Liang Yan's parents. Then, he picked up Liang Yan and walked out of the house, leaving the stunned crowd and Liang Yun's anger behind.
"Liang Youwei! Look at that evil daughter of yours. She had affected my daughter's future!" Liang Yan's stepmother scolded her husband, yet she could not stop Huo Qingning and Liang Yan from leaving.
-- Huo family's villa --
The night was hazy. Huo Qingning still held Liang Yan in her arms. Liang Yan panicked when they arrived at the bedroom and struggled to get down, "Huo Qingning, put me down!"
Huo Qingning approached her before he had time to react. He pushed Liang Yan against the wall and pinned her there.
His breath was warm and carried a faint scent of mint. The atmosphere around them gradually became ambiguous. Liang Yan's face blushed because that was the first time she had been intimate with a man.
Huo Qingning noticed the blush on Liang Yun's face, "Girl, didn't you just call me Brother Qingning?"
Huo Qingning deliberately teased Liang Yan to make her even more embarrassed.
"Go away..." Liang Yan was not as strong. She placed her hands on Huo Qingning's shoulders, trying to push him away.
Huo Qingning knew very well that the woman in front of him was a naïve girl. She knew nothing about flirting. The only thing that could affect her attitude towards him was the welfare home. So, she turned around and left, lighting a cigarette, "I'll go away. But I'm afraid that no one will help you protect the welfare home if I leave. Our marriage certificate will only be delivered tomorrow. If you want to go back on your words and leave now, it's still not too late."
Liang Yan stopped resisting. The man in front of her was despicable. However, she had no guts to fight back. She had already given up her family because of him. If she went back on her words again, she might lose the welfare home.
The two of them stared at each other. After a few minutes, Huo Qingning said with satisfaction, "Since you have decided not to leave, then come over to me."
Huo Qingning lit up a cigarette and reached out his hand.
Liang Yan frowned. She didn't like the smell of tobacco on a man, "I won't go back on my word. You'd better keep your promise too."
Liang Yan clenched his fists and muttered in her heart. She knew the man in front of her was a man with brilliant plans, apart from being handsome. He could avoid Liang Youli's pursuit and Old Master Huo's intention to ask him to get married soon by helping her save the welfare home. That was a great deal.