Chapter 4: You actually took the childhood betrothal seriously?
"Haha, my daughter, he is going to be your future fiancé, you can't treat him like that."
"What! Fiancé? Dad, are you kidding me? He's going to be my fiancé?" Just as Nangong Bing was about to take a sip of her brewed tea, her father's words nearly made her spit it out in shock.
"Er... it's a long story. More than twenty years ago, I was underachieving in business and burdened with a huge debt. I was homeless, and I even nearly got chopped up once. In the end, it was his father who saved me. To repay the life-saving grace... That's why back then..."
"So you arranged a childhood betrothal for me?" Nangong Bing exclaimed both shocked and angry. Being a woman of both beauty and intelligence, she could guess the whole story without much thought.
But even so, she couldn't use her happiness as repayment.
"That was the only thing I could do, who else but his father saved our lives?" Nangong Shui's embarrassed voice came through the phone...
"You... Don't you consider my feelings?" At that moment, Nangong Bing couldn't keep her composure.
Lin Zifeng glanced at her and said, "Am I that bad, sister? Don't I deserve you to marry me?"
"It's none of your business, just drink your tea." Nangong Bing gave Lin Zifeng a fierce look.
"Well... let's do it this way. They have already approached us after all. You can't make me lose face, right? So, you two should just get to know each other slowly."
On the other end of the phone, Nangong Shui was speechless and laughed, "If you really don't like him, then just find a reason. As long as the reason isn't too outrageous, that should do.
Either you two spend some time together, randomly give him a senior executive position or something, as a way to repay them. If you make him disgusted with you, maybe they won't pester you anymore. What do you think?"
"Dad," Nangong Bing suddenly cooed. If any of the company professionals saw her, the news might spread all over, that the beautiful CEO of Tianyu Group could actually act so girlishly – that would be utterly inconceivable.
Even Lin Zifeng, who was tasting the tea, was shaken by her little act. It seemed that his CEO wife, who appeared so cold and distant, could turn incredibly charming when she cooed. Watching her pout her cute little mouth, Lin Zifeng felt a bit wicked inside.
But he stayed calm. Having reached his twenties and after all he'd experienced outside, he was long past the age of youthful impulsiveness.
"You'll have to handle this yourself. If you truly dislike him, then make him hate you. Only if he hates you will your marriage issues be easier to handle." After saying that, Nangong Shui quickly hung up the phone.
"Hello, hello, Dad..." No matter how Nangong Bing reasoned, her father kept making excuses. Was it her turn now to pay back the debts of the older generation? Is this what they call 'the son paying off the father's debt'?
"See? I wasn't wrong, was I? I bet your father said the same thing. Although we're childhood betrothed, as the major chairman of Tianyu Group, you can't go back on your word, especially you, Chairman Nangong." Lin Zifeng squinted his eyes into a line, but they shone with keenness; Nangong Bing always felt this guy was definitely not as simple as he appeared on the surface.
"Hah, you're taking the childhood betrothal seriously?" Only now did Nangong Bing calm down, her voice cold and nasal with a snort.
"Definitely serious! Your father, as a leading figure of an international conglomerate, his words are like a sacred decree! How can I not take it seriously?"
"You..." Although Nangong Bing remained calm and composed, at this moment, Lin Zifeng's shameless demeanor truly hurt her inwardly.
"How much do you want to call off this ridiculous arrangement made by our elders?" Nangong Bing stood with her hands behind her back, squinting as she sized up Lin Zifeng from head to toe. Seeing that he was dressed in a rustic manner and clearly a penniless man, she thought poverty really did breed desperation. The destitute would dare to do anything. Thus, she spoke, "Name your price. How much money do you want? I am willing to give it to you, but don't get too delusional!"
Nangong Bing exuded the aura of a fierce businesswoman.
"Money? I don't want money. Once I've married you and taken you home, won't your money become my money? Hehe." Lin Zifeng continued to grin, flicking the ash from his cigarette nonchalantly and enjoying it to the fullest. Nangong Bing clenched her teeth in anger at his impudence—the likes of which she had never seen before.
She wished she could send Lin Zifeng straight to the eighteenth level of Hell. Growing up, she had never encountered such a bizarre creature! Truly a rare specimen in the world.
In her mind, she furiously plotted, thinking, fine. You want to marry me? You want me to be your wife? Then I, Nangong Bing, really want to see what kind of monster you are! Let's see whose skills are more formidable between us.
"Hey, I'm talking, Madam President, your husband here is exhausted from a long day! Surely you need to reimburse me for the taxi fare I just paid, right? You've seen it yourself, your husband here is so poor that he's rattling with each step. You wouldn't want your husband to go out and embarrass you, would you?" Lin Zifeng really didn't know the meaning of 'keeping a respectful distance'! He was already acting the part of a CEO's husband to the hilt.
Nangong Bing's pretty face turned shades of green and purple with anger. This... this person was just too much.
"Wife, what's wrong? Why is your face so red? Could it be heatstroke? Impossible, right? This is an executive office. Even if the entire world were to suffer heatstroke, it wouldn't reach you," Lin Zifeng said, intentionally emphasizing the word "you."
"Giveme a roll!" Nangong Bing could no longer tolerate the disturbance of this peculiar man and completely lost her temper!
"Sorry, hubby doesn't understand English, would you mind explaining it to me, dearest wife?" Lin Zifeng continued to smile warmly, not allowing the current difficulties to defeat him. Having lived abroad for five years, enduring the baptism of fire and blood, he had long since shed the vanity of saving face characteristic of youth.
To Lin Zifeng, face—a seemingly cheap commodity—was not something he cared about. If someone were to slap Lin Zifeng now, he probably wouldn't retaliate on the spot, but if it had happened five years ago, hah! It would result in either a broken arm or leg, decisively deciding to return to his country to lead an ordinary life; thus, he had to remain calm in his dealings.
The best phrase Lin Zifeng used to admonish himself was: To be esteemed in front of others, one must first endure hardship behind the scenes!
Nangong Bing almost fainted. She nearly blurted out an expletive! He couldn't even understand such classic and simple English?
Givemeout. It translates to: 'Get out'!
Apparently, whatever she said was futile.
Nangong Bing couldn't endure this unbearable man any longer.
Without saying another word, she walked towards the office exit and directly to the elevator, waiting for it as the phone call didn't go through. She decided it would be better to personally have someone throw him out.
But who knew Lin Zifeng would be quicker than she anticipated? As soon as she set foot in the elevator, Lin Zifeng followed suit and stepped in right behind her!..