The plush carpet outside the Fu Family's grand and stately study muffled any sound of footsteps.
If it wasn't for coming home to fetch something, Song Weiyi would have had no idea that Fu Zining and her daughter were secretly scheming against her in the study.
When she overheard her own name during their conversation, Song Weiyi paused mid-step, curious about what they could be saying.
"The old master of the Sheng Family saw you last time, you wretched girl, why did you flutter around in front of him? Do you know that just yesterday he asked your dad for your information?"
Fu Zining's voice was shrill with alarm when she mentioned the old master of the Sheng Family, and Fu Qishan beside her turned pale with fright.
"Mom, what does the old Sheng want?"
"That old lecher! He actually wants to marry you, pah, he should look in the mirror at that bear-like face of his. How could my daughter, beautiful as a flower, be defiled by an old man nearly seventy?"
Fu Zining was so angry that she gritted her teeth and her face turned an ashen hue at this topic.
"What? He dares to make such a request? That disgusting old man, go to hell." The curses of Fu Qishan echoed non-stop.
An old man of seventy marrying Fu Qishan? Song Weiyi laughed outside the door at this far-fetched tale, knowing full well that Zining, as a mother, would be the first to refuse.
But an old man wouldn't dare to casually propose marriage to a young woman, unless he had some remarkable quality.
Song Weiyi held her breath, listening to Fu Zining and her daughter continue their conversation inside the study.
"Alright, calm down, I've already declined it. If not for the fact that this old man Sheng has a lot of money and influence, I would have slapped him on the spot." Fu Zining's voice had a constricted edge as she uttered these words.
Song Weiyi thought to herself that Fu Zining, who usually carried herself with such dignity and grace, almost lost her composure, all thanks to this old Sheng.
But soon she sensed something was amiss.
When Fu Zining used the phrase "a lot of money and influence," it implied that at least Old Master Sheng was wealthier than the Fu Family.
Would a man of high status tolerate being rejected? Even though he was old!
Song Weiyi quickly learned the answer.
"Old Sheng certainly isn't easy to fool. If it weren't for the fact that we have another option, our family would probably be in trouble."
"Mom, are you talking about?" Fu Qishan blinked, a flash of excitement in her eyes.
"Doesn't your dad have another daughter?" Fu Zining scoffed with a scornful smile.
Through the door, Song Weiyi could well imagine the expression on Fu Zining's face, which must be smug and overjoyed, right?
So, the old man that Zining had declined for Qishan was now to fall on her, to marry a man old enough to be her grandfather?
Song Weiyi was immediately infuriated and wanted to burst through the door and demand why they were doing this!
But Fu Qishan's voice made Song Weiyi regain her composure.
"But will Song Weiyi agree? Mom, what if she knows and throws a tantrum or even attempts suicide in protest?"
Fu Zining laughed, "Silly girl, if you can think of that, do you think I haven't? But that's not a problem. We'll just let the 'raw rice be cooked' first, and then see if Song Weiyi refuses to marry!"
"'Raw rice be cooked'?" Fu Qishan repeated, puzzled.
"Don't worry, I have everything arranged. Tonight when we meet old Sheng, I'll add something to your sister's cup. Won't she then obediently be taken away by old Sheng? And as for what happens tonight, isn't that up to old Sheng?"
At her words, Song Weiyi nearly cried out.
That morning, Fu Zining had called her, tenderly advising her to dress up for a family dinner at a restaurant outside.
At the time, Song Weiyi had not thought much of it; although surprised by Fu Zining's action, she believed it really was just a dinner!
Song Weiyi never expected Fu Zining to have devised such a scheme. If she had naively gone, she would have definitely become exactly what Fu Zining said, a meal on the platter for that old man from the Sheng Family.
"This must succeed, that old man from the Sheng Family has taken a liking to Song Weiyi, too. He promised that once the deal is done, he'll give our family ten million as a betrothal gift."
By then, all of Fu Zining's ulterior motives had come to light.
So, it was all about selling her for money!
A few minutes later, Fu Zining and her mother came out of the study. It was deathly quiet outside; nobody was around.
————————
Feinan Cafe, the music played melodiously, and the afternoon sunlight streamed through the glass windows, casting a golden hue on the floor. The lush greenery of the potted plants was a feast for the eyes.
As Song Weiyi entered the cafe, she had completely calmed down.
She wore a white dress that showed off her long, fair legs, and her wedge sandals were of a moderate height. The tassel on her dress swayed gently as she walked, which was quite attractive.
Song Weiyi's eyes searched the cafe seriously. In the afternoon, there were only a few people scattered around: a couple, some girls, and by the window, there was a young man with his back to her.
That was him! Song Weiyi's target was fixed on the man.
"Knock knock knock," the sound of tapping on the table caused Pei Yibai to raise his head, and a young, beautiful girl came into view.
"May I help you?" His deep voice made Song Weiyi couldn't help but give the man a few more glances. His dark eyes were looking up at her, but they carried a sort of inverted condescending attitude.
Under such a gaze, Song Weiyi couldn't help but straighten her back and pull in her belly to boost her confidence.
"Are you married?" she asked loudly.
"Hmm?" Pei Yibai thought he had heard wrong.
Song Weiyi's large eyes blinked, and she continued staring fearlessly at him. The man wore a pair of gold-framed glasses, giving him a bookish look. She felt quite favorably towards him.
"So what is your answer?"
Surprise flickered through Pei Yibai's deep eyes. What kind of question was that? A girl he had never met was asking him such a thing?
"No," he replied. He wanted to see what game this girl was playing, as he had been working continuously for several hours and needed something to distract his attention.
"Then do you have a girlfriend?"
"No."
Upon hearing this, Song Weiyi was secretly overjoyed. No wife and no girlfriend either—this was like a perfect match made just for her by heaven itself!
"Then, you don't have a boyfriend, right?" She suddenly came up with this question.
The man across from her darkened his face at the question. What kind of damned question was that?
"No!" The word was forcefully squeezed out between clenched teeth.
What normal man would be happy to hear such a question?
Song Weiyi's eyes brightened further, her long eyelashes fluttering with her movements, reflecting a clear and bright silhouette of Pei Yibai in her pupils.
She pulled up a chair opposite Pei Yibai and sat down as neatly as a schoolchild, placing her hands squarely on the table. "Then marry me!"
"Pff!" Even Pei Yibai's expression changed slightly.
"I'm an excellent cook, fair-skinned, beautiful with long legs, I can be coquettish and keep the bed warm..." She paused, a blush spreading across her pretty face as Song Weiyi gathered her courage and looked at Pei Yibai with innocent eyes.
"And, I can also help you have kids. Missing out on a girl like me is like missing the deal of a lifetime. You should give me some consideration!"