Chapter 36: Conversation

Seeing that it was about to rain, the group headed towards a small restaurant, where they could at least have a meal.

In the private room, Zhao Chengyu mentally calculated that this probing attempt had yielded fruitful results.

He picked up his teacup, gently blowing on the floating tea leaves, his gaze, however, lingered on the distant view through the rising steam.

His mind replayed his brief exchange with Li Yaqin, meticulously analyzing every glance, every subtle change in expression.

This probing of the He family was part of his plan, intended to ascertain their bottom line and attitude on certain key issues.

Li Yaqin's appearance, and the shrewdness and cunning she displayed, so different from her outward appearance, were a completely unexpected bonus.

A slight smile played on Zhao Chengyu's lips. He enjoyed these challenging "prey"; the more elusive they were, the more it fueled his desire to conquer.

He slowly set down his teacup, making a soft "tap," like a chess piece settling on a board.

He Chengyu completely disregarded He Chengyang's anger and resentment; they didn't even stir a ripple in his heart.

In Zhao Chengyu's eyes, He Chengyang was nothing more than a spoiled brat, overprotected by his family and lacking in experience and shrewdness.

He Chengyang's role was, at best, to be a future valiant general for the He family, charging into battle for them, but never a strategic decision-maker.

Zhao Chengyu, on the other hand, had been groomed from childhood as the sole heir of the Zhao family, receiving the most rigorous training and education.

This stark difference destined a vast gap in their perspectives and vision, and also destined He Chengyang to never become his rival.

Zhao Chengyu had a strong intuition, an almost instinctive premonition, that Li Yaqin would be his perfect ally in the future, an indispensable link in his ascent to the pinnacle of power.

This intuition wasn't unfounded; it stemmed from the keen judgment he had honed over many years in the business world and in the struggles of power.

In the past, it was this intuition that helped him make the right choices in countless perilous situations, ultimately turning danger into safety and even defeat into victory.

Therefore, this time, he firmly believed in his intuition as well. Li Yaqin, this woman, was destined to become his wife, Zhao Chengyu's wife, and the future matriarch of the Zhao family.

This decision was unquestionable and unshakeable; not even the old fogies in the family could change his mind.

Zhao Chengyu's eyes deepened and darkened, like a beast lurking in the night, having locked onto its prey.

Now, he needed to consider how to approach this cunning little fox step by step, how to set up ingenious traps to make her willingly fall into his control…

His slender fingers tapped lightly on the table, producing a rhythmic sound, as if composing a silent symphony, the theme of which was conquest and control.

He Chengyang's face instantly darkened, as if water could drip from it.

Li Yaqin's refusal without hesitation was like an invisible slap in his face, stinging painfully.

What infuriated him even more was that Li Yaqin's rejection contained not a trace of regret or reluctance, but rather a palpable impatience, as if he were some annoying fly.

He Chengyang almost laughed out of anger at this sudden "disdain."

He, the dignified young master of the He family, had never been treated like this before!

The women surrounding him, weren't they all like bees to a flower, using every trick in the book to fawn over him?

They meticulously dressed themselves, showered him with sweet words, and carefully tried to understand his thoughts, afraid of doing anything to displease him.

Ridiculous.

Truly ridiculous.

Even more ridiculous was that he actually felt resentful about Li Yaqin's rejection.

Was he supposed to abandon his dignity and status as the eldest son of the He family to explain to a country girl how remarkable and powerful the He family was?

Would he tell her that if she nodded, she could rise to the top and enjoy endless wealth and luxury?

He Chengyang shook his head self-deprecatingly.

That would truly make him a clown, a joke of someone groveling for a woman.

He sighed softly, his voice filled with helplessness and frustration.

Before leaving home today, he had specially commissioned his personal stylist to meticulously design his hairstyle, ensuring he looked handsome and debonair.

He had also selected his most expensive custom-made suit from the dressing room, striving for perfection in every detail, all to present his best self to Li Yaqin.

Now, all this careful preparation seemed like a ridiculous farce, utterly meaningless.

What troubled him even more was that his and Zhao Chengyu's presence here today was seen by the elders as a meticulously planned blind date.

Although they both knew perfectly well that this was merely a tacit agreement reached by both families to cope with the pressure from their elders to get married.

Initially, they did indeed harbor some intention of using this opportunity to mutually benefit and exploit each other.

To put it bluntly, it was a charade where both parties were willing to play along, and neither would lose out.

However, when Li Yaqin rejected him so ruthlessly, He Chengyang felt as if something was tightly choked in his heart, causing him immense pain.

It felt as if something he had always cherished and was proud of had suddenly been carelessly discarded like trash.

Disappointment.

Frustration.

And a vague sense of defeat, like a tangled mess, swirled in his mind, making it hard to breathe.

He Chengyang smiled bitterly to himself. What was wrong with him?

How could he have such complicated feelings for a girl from the countryside?

This was utterly abnormal.

No, he had to banish this ridiculous thought from his mind immediately.

He was the eldest son of the He family, the future head of the family. How could he let a woman lead him by the nose?

He Chengyang secretly resolved to make Li Yaqin regret her decision today.

He wanted her to understand that rejecting him, He Chengyang, was the biggest mistake she had ever made, a mistake she would deeply regret.

However, the most important thing right now is to figure out how to get through today's farce.

He Chengyang took a deep breath, trying to calm his agitated mood.

Next, he needed to have a serious talk with Zhao Chengyu and discuss a plan.

After all, they were in the same boat now; neither could escape responsibility, and they had to face the current predicament together.

He needed to come up with a foolproof plan that would save face for himself, satisfy his family, and prevent this blind date from becoming a complete joke.

Ideally, he could also teach that arrogant girl Li Yaqin a lesson, showing her that offending He Chengyang wasn't something to be easily forgiven.

He Chengyang scratched his hair in frustration, his carefully styled hair instantly becoming disheveled.

His eyes also became troubled, losing their usual sparkle. He noticed Zhao Chengyu's unusual behavior and seemed to be deep in thought.

Zhao Chengyu's unusual behavior made He Chengyang extremely uneasy. His doubts, like wildly growing weeds, threatened to overwhelm him.

The Zhao Chengyu who was always arrogant and disdainful of women, actually showed interest in a country girl?

This was more unbelievable than the sun rising in the west.

He Chengyang's gaze, like two searchlights, was fixed intently on Zhao Chengyu.

His eyes were filled with inquiry, doubt, and a hint of incredulous bewilderment, as if he wanted to see right through Zhao Chengyu.

He wanted to grab Zhao Chengyu by the collar, shake him violently, and question him at the top of his lungs.

"Brother, are you out of your mind? Are you sure you're not out of your mind? Are you serious?"

In the performing arts troupe, every single one of those beautiful girls was graceful, talented, and like vibrant, blooming flowers, vying for attention.

But what about you, Zhao Chengyu?

You completely ignored them, not even giving them a second glance.

Yet you treated this rustic, rude, and unapproachable village girl with special favor?

What exactly are you up to?

What are you really up to?