This question put Leon in a tough spot. From his few encounters with the Xiang family, he knew they were very conservative, and Isabella Xiang held a significant position within the family. If he dared to say no, he would not only be accused of toying with Isabella's feelings but might not leave the house alive tonight.
But agreeing to marry her was out of the question. They had barely spoken ten times, and the total number of words exchanged wouldn't even add up to a hundred. Talking about marriage was absurd.
"Isn't it a bit early to discuss this?" Leon tried to dodge the question.
"I want to know your stance," Victor Xiang was not buying it. His stern face made it clear that one wrong word from Leon could make him disappear from the face of the earth.
It was hard to blame Victor for being so strict. Isabella was his precious daughter, and as a leading figure in the Xiang military, her status was immensely important. Even he, as her father, had never kissed her, yet this young man had dared to.
"Even if I wanted to marry her, Isabella might not want to marry me," Leon tried a more tactful approach, unable to voice any cheesy promises.
Victor pondered for a moment, seemingly agreeing with Leon.
"How long have you been seeing Isabella?" he asked.
Leon hesitated, then replied, "Isabella is very well-known at school; many admire her, so uh..."
"Hmph," Victor snorted, prideful of his daughter. Her beauty, talent, and brilliance made her stand out, and if not for her cold personality, she could outshine even the most famous women.
Victor continued asking about Isabella's school life, his demeanor gradually softening. The subject of marriage was dropped, though his hints made it clear that the Xiang family's daughter was not someone to be trifled with.
The conversation went on until after five in the morning. Finally, Victor said, "You must be tired. I'll have Red take you to rest. We'll have breakfast together, and you can talk to my daughter then."
Leon nodded, feeling exhausted.
Red, the woman in the cheongsam with the eerie smile, seemed surprised to see Leon leave the hall unscathed.
Due to her position, Red didn't say much but repeated one phrase.
"Next time you want to be a playboy, make sure you know who you're dealing with."
Leon could only smile awkwardly.
Did she think he had wanted to take advantage of Isabella? Honestly, Leon had meant to kiss Lucille in his excitement and relief at escaping danger, thinking the French girl wouldn't mind. Who could have foreseen this outcome?
Thinking of Lucille, Leon sighed.
...
Victor Xiang continued reading in his study. Soon, an elderly man entered through another door.
In the dim light, the elder's eyes, weathered by time, gleamed with wisdom.
"You've seen it all, Elder?" Victor set down his book and smiled.
"Indeed," the elder nodded. "From the boy's actions when he entered to his demeanor with you, he showed no fear or hesitation. Quite impressive. Isabella's taste is commendable."
"I appreciated his understanding of the Doctrine of the Mean and his idea of making others run out of options," Victor said with a smile.
The elder looked intrigued. "His confidence is puzzling, almost comparable to that of Jiang's boy."
"Jiang's boy was groomed from a young age to be a wise and ruthless leader. His confidence is no surprise," Victor said dismissively. "But Leon comes from a humble background, yet he's steady and thoughtful, which is commendable."
"Have you verified his background thoroughly?" the elder asked.
"We'll investigate further," Victor replied.
"Are you considering making him the proxy for the Xiang family's other path?"
Victor shook his head, a faint smile on his lips. "Such a position is too important to decide hastily. We need to observe him further."
The elder nodded in agreement, then chuckled. "I never thought Isabella would have a suitor..."
"Whether this is good or bad remains to be seen," Victor sighed. "Tomorrow, I need to gauge Isabella's feelings about him."
"Is that wise?" the elder looked concerned.
"I know my daughter well," Victor smiled like a loving father.
Leon was awakened at 8 AM by a maid, having slept for less than three hours. The Xiang family had strict rules, reminiscent of ancient traditions.
After washing up, a maid brought him a new set of clothes.
Following her, Leon arrived at the main hall. Arriving late last night, he had only gotten a general impression of the villa's grandeur and simplicity.
Now, he saw the villa in full splendor. The interior was made of top-quality spruce, redwood, and basswood, decorated with jade, white jade, and gemstones. The walls, window lattices, screens, ceiling panels, floors, and furniture were intricately carved and gilded, creating a scene reminiscent of an ancient noble family.
Even the dining table and chairs were made of rare huanghuali wood, each piece worth tens of thousands. The grandiosity of the Xiang family left Leon in awe.
Victor was already seated, reading an ancient tome. He nodded in greeting when he saw Leon.
Declining the assistance of the beautiful maids, Leon wasn't so spoiled as to need someone to serve him his bird's nest soup.
From the second floor, the sound of footsteps descending could be heard. The maids in the hall respectfully greeted, "Good morning, Miss."
Leon turned and was taken aback at the sight of Isabella Xiang.
She wore a burgundy dress, her hair elegantly pinned with a jade hairpin, her figure graceful. Her features, comparable to a queen's, were strikingly beautiful. Even from a distance, her cold beauty was overwhelming.
The title of "The Ice Cold Beauty" truly suited her.
Seeing Leon, Isabella showed no surprise, as if expecting him. However, her cold eyes were filled with concern. This morning, she had learned from Red that due to Leon's ordinary background, the old master of the Xiang family had decided to eliminate the man who dared to defile their daughter, with the act to take place right after breakfast.
Isabella glanced at her father.
Victor's gaze made it clear that Leon's fate was in her hands.
Descending the stairs, Isabella walked straight to Leon and said, "Leon, let's go."