Leng Xiaoyao gritted her teeth in frustration, remembering how she had been defeated in the first round. She would definitely remember him!
"Ha, it's alright. Miss Leng is candid and adorable; I won't mind," Han Chenyu said, his mood lifting as he watched her grimace. She was still too inexperienced to take him on.
"Chenyu, our daughter is here now. Didn't you say you had something important to announce?"
Without a word, Han Chenyu suddenly stepped in front of Leng Xiaoyao, kneeling on one knee and reaching into his pocket.
"W-What are you doing? Don't you dare!"
Leng Xiaoyao was so startled that she instinctively backed away toward the sofa, as if he were a wild beast.
Han Chenyu pulled out an exquisite jewelry box and opened it to reveal a stunning diamond ring. Holding it up, he looked deeply into Leng Xiaoyao's eyes and said, "Miss Leng, at your mother's birthday party, I fell head over heels for you. Your charming looks, beautiful dance, and graceful demeanor have lingered in my mind. So today, here in front of your father, I, Han Chenyu, propose to you. Will you marry me?"
As he finished his declaration, the entire villa fell silent, so quiet that one could hear a pin drop. Leng Xiaoyao was utterly bewildered; she had not expected this petty man to be serious.
Her mouth twitched as she stammered, "Mr. Han, you… you must be joking, right?"
"No, everything I said is true. Please marry me."
"I refuse! Daddy, I don't want to marry him!"
Leng Xiaoyao turned to her father for help, knowing he spoiled her and wouldn't want her to marry so young.
Leng Feng finally snapped back to reality. What had Han Chenyu just said? He had fallen in love with Xiaoyao at first sight? And wanted her to marry him?
"Mr. Han, are you serious?"
Han Chenyu turned to Leng Feng, his expression earnest. "Uncle, I am serious about Xiaoyao. I like her, and I want her to be my wife. Please give us your blessing!"
Seeing his sincere confession, a flutter of emotion sparked within Leng Xiaoyao, but she quickly pushed it away. This man was only seeking revenge; all his sweet words were empty. She couldn't trust him.
"I don't want to marry you! You're just a petty and arrogant man!"
Ignoring her protests, Leng Feng pondered for a moment. Indeed, from every angle, Han Chenyu was the best choice for a son-in-law. If he truly liked Xiaoyao, then marrying him would be for the best.
"Here's the deal: if you can make my daughter willingly agree to marry you, then her mother, her brothers, and I won't object. But if Xiaoyao is unwilling, there's nothing we can do."
"Thank you, Uncle. I'd like to take Xiaoyao outside to talk."
"I'm not going! Daddy, I don't want to go!"
Leng Xiaoyao shook her father's arm, trying to use her usual charm to escape this dilemma. But her tried-and-true tactics failed her this time. Was the universe conspiring against her?
"Go talk to Chenyu outside. It'll be good for you."
Thus, Leng Xiaoyao was reluctantly pulled by Han Chenyu into the garden.
"Let go of me, you stingy man! Let me go!"
"Not a chance."
Han Chenyu easily dragged her into the garden, his demeanor now devoid of the tender affection he had shown in front of Leng Feng. Instead, a playful smirk graced his lips, reminiscent of a cat toying with a mouse.
"Xiaoyao, we meet again. Did you miss me?"
"Why would I?! What do you want from me? Just because we had one encounter? You're a first-timer, and so am I. We're even now, so why are you still bothering me?"
Leng Xiaoyao planted her hands on her hips, glaring at him defiantly. She demanded justice!
"Hmm, if I were to step back inside and tell your father that his daughter, after getting drunk, not only has surprising strength but also enjoys pressing men down in bed, how would you explain that?"
"My dad wouldn't believe you! Just give up on that idea!"
"Shall we test that theory?"
Han Chenyu turned and began walking back toward the house, taking one step, then another, then a third. "Wait!" Leng Xiaoyao called out, stopping him in his tracks.
"See? You're still scared."
"What a hypocrite! You only know how to use that trick against me!"
Han Chenyu seemed unfazed by her accusation. He shrugged and replied coolly, "You know, I'm a businessman."
"Then why do you insist on marrying me? You have plenty of ways to take revenge; why choose this one? This would only harm you too!"
Leng Xiaoyao put all her effort into persuading him not to marry her. She was still young and wanted to enjoy a few more years of freedom. More importantly, she didn't want to marry a man she had only met three times!
"Remember the last time, at your mother's birthday party? When I said I wanted to marry you, and you were scared like a mouse? Seeing you so frightened made me very happy; that was my revenge on you."
"Since you've already gotten your revenge, why do you still want to marry me? You… can't actually like me, can you?"
"Are you really that confident in yourself? To be honest, the main reason I want to marry you is that my mother wants me to bring home a daughter-in-law. I have a cleanliness obsession with other women. You, well, although your figure is a bit thin and frail, you're still acceptable."
"Acceptable? What do you mean I'm just 'acceptable'? Is my figure really that bad?!"