"Are you refusing to marry into my family because you don't think I'm attractive?"
"Of course not. Qingqing, your looks are easily within the top five among the girls I've met."
"Oh, I see. Since Yang Wangshu is too young, and Su Lili isn't human, so out of Yuanzhi, Wanrou, Jinqi, and Princess Nankang, I can actually make it into the top five. How delightful..." Chu Qingqing narrowed her eyes dangerously and smiled, "So, tell me, according to your standards, what exact rank do I hold?"
"Qingqing," Cheng Jinyang said earnestly, "Am I the kind of guy who compares you with other girls? Saying you're in the top five is acknowledging your 'charming beauty.' As for comparing you to them, who is prettier—I've never considered that. Why must I rank girls by their looks?"
"Apart from your looks, you have many more shining qualities, which make me like you even more. For instance, your excellent culinary skills, your meticulous and caring personality, your incredible emotional intelligence that can navigate any situation, and your brave and heroic spirit that rivals any man's... I think each of these qualities alone is as attractive as your beauty and even more captivating."
"Where did you learn this entire set of flattering words?" Miss Qingqing had initially planned to say something harsh to jab at this scumbag, but with his string of praises, she couldn't help but feel a bit happy inside. On the surface, she still forced a cold smile, "Do you think I'm Yuanzhi or Cui Jinqi, who would be easily fooled by your cheap tricks?"
"Flattery?" Cheng Jinyang scratched the back of his head, looking embarrassed, "Haha, now that I think about it, it is a bit shameless. I don't know why I said it just now, but it was all heartfelt. If you don't like hearing it, just pretend I didn't say anything."
How could I pretend I didn't hear that? I love it, say more... Miss Qingqing thought secretly, but outwardly she spared him, saying:
"Alright, I'll let you off this time. So, be honest with me, you're not rejecting me because you dislike me, but because you don't want to marry into my family, right? What's the reason? If you're worried about losing dignity or rights, we can discuss those."
"It's not that," Cheng Jinyang said seriously. "It's for your sake."
Chu Qingqing: ???
"Look, in our aristocratic marriage culture, men can marry down, but women must marry up. That means a woman's evaluation largely depends on her husband."
"If I were to become a son-in-law, I'd be doing it for my family's benefit, and I believe I'll rise to the fifth grade eventually, so I have no worries. But what about you, Qingqing? People would look down on your husband for being a son-in-law, which means they look down on you, thinking you couldn't find a more suitable, equally matched husband and had to 'marry down.'"
He continued passionately, with an incredibly sincere expression and tone, "So, I don't want you to suffer damage to your reputation and dignity just to relieve the difficulties I'm about to face. Even if you're willing, I can't bear to see you make such a sacrifice. Besides, didn't we agree? Rising to the fifth grade is just a matter of time, so why rush it? Do you think I, Cheng Jinyang, am a coward who will be defeated so quickly and have to hide under a girl's protection?"
"That's not what I meant." Hearing him use the word "coward," Miss Qingqing interrupted, "I just... Forget it, as long as you understand, it's an open offer."
"Thank you, Qingqing." Cheng Jinyang pretended to be moved, "But I'm quite surprised that you actually want me to marry into your family."
"Because I..." Chu Qingqing paused, seeming a bit hesitant, and finally said slowly, "I actually don't really believe in love, and I have some personality flaws."
"So, rather than waiting for my father to arrange a marriage for me, I'd rather pick someone I find pleasing to the eye. Whether it's equally matched or marrying down, at least I won't regret it later."
"I see." Cheng Jinyang understood, then he laughed, "Should I be happy that you find me pleasing, or sad that you don't love me?"
"You should feel ashamed." Miss Qingqing rolled her eyes at him.
"Why should I feel ashamed?" Cheng Jinyang asked, puzzled.
"Because you're too scummy." Miss Qingqing said coquettishly.
Cheng Jinyang: ?
"How am I scummy?" He asked incredulously, pestering Miss Qingqing, "Which of my words made you angry?"
"No, no, just stop bothering me." Chu Qingqing impatiently pushed him away.
I'm really not mad at you.
At most, I'm just a bit moved, but don't get to conceited.
...….
At a large venture capital firm, Cui Jinqi, who is the chairman's assistant, also finished her work for the day.
Incidentally, this company was directly controlled by her family, and the chairman was her older brother.
As a result, everyone in the company, from the junior employees to the management and decision-makers, treated her with kindness and care. Even the most senior industry veterans in the company had no ill feelings towards this young and beautiful girl.
After all, it was clear to everyone that she was there to learn seriously, unlike those aristocratic children who joined out of impulsiveness or merely to pad their resumes.
After sending the daily report email, Cui Xiaoniang packed up her things, called the family car, and prepared to head to the ancestral land of the Shendu Cheng family.
It's been a long time since she last saw Jinyang (a week), and she missed him a little.
I hope those little bitches didn't succeed in getting ahead of me.
Back to the point, although she was worried that other girls would take advantage of their proximity to him and secretly make advances, Cui Jinqi did not regret her decision to return to the family.
After all, the Qinghe Cui family did not prioritize bloodline status due to the non-practical nature of their supernatural abilities. Instead, they valued business acumen more.
As long as she secured the family's approval, she would have the authority over marriage decisions. In contrast, those girls were busy vying for Cheng Jinyang's favor, but in the end, they couldn't even secure their own family's approval. It was laughable.
Cui Jinqi hummed a song in the car, and began to carefully examine her appearance in the reflection of the car window.
Well, I have too little sleep recently. I only slept for six hours last night. I seem to have some dark circles under my eyes...
"Sister Gao, could I borrow your makeup?" she turned to the driver and asked.
The driver silently took out a small bag from her right side and handed it to her, thinking that the young lady must be putting on makeup to meet her lover.
Should I keep this a secret from the master? Or should I keep it a secret from the master? Or should I keep it a secret from the master?
If I didn't keep it a secret, the young lady would surely resent me for telling on her; if I did keep it a secret from the master, I could always claim ignorance if the truth came out. After all, I am just a female driver…
So, she focused her attention back on the road ahead and didn't bother with Cui Xiaoniang, who was busy applying powder and lipstick in the back seat.
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Low EQ: I would never become a live-in son-in-law.
High EQ: Becoming a live-in son-in-law would hurt you; I can't let you be hurt.