Chapter 161: Marriage Alliance
In the woman's eyes, while Xiao Ye was technically the young master of the Xiao Family, he was just a country bumpkin they had found and brought back.
And she, on the other hand, was a lady from a prestigious family. She wasn't from a top-tier family, nor was she particularly doted on, but still.
But at least she had some company shares, which made her far better off than someone like Xiao Ye, who had only just been brought back into the fold.
'Then again,' she thought, 'I don't have any companies or positions to my name. My days are just filled with shopping and afternoon tea.'
'When you put it that way, I guess I am a pretty good match for this newly-found young master of the Xiao Family.'
The woman's mood improved slightly, and she politely extended her hand.
"Hello. Allow me to introduce myself. I'm Wang Qiaoqiao of the Wang Family."
Xiao Ye gave a slight nod but made no move to shake her hand.
Wang Qiaoqiao waited for a moment, her expression growing sour.
'What a country bumpkin,' she thought. 'He doesn't even have the most basic manners!'
She simply retracted her hand and sat down opposite him. "I know you're Xiao Ye, the young master the Xiao Family brought back."
"Let's be blunt. This is a matchmaking meeting."
"You may be the young master, but you didn't grow up in the Xiao Family, so your position is unstable. You need an arranged marriage."
"The same goes for me. There's no doubt we're the most suitable match for each other. I can help you, and you can help me. What do you say?"
"Besides, this is just a business alliance. We only need to keep up appearances. If you fall for another woman, you can do whatever you want, as long as you don't bring her home."
Seeing that Xiao Ye still wasn't talking, Wang Qiaoqiao grew a little impatient. "What? Do you already have someone you like? Don't tell me you're planning on making it official with her?"
Xiao Ye looked at her. "Let's eat first."
Wang Qiaoqiao was left speechless. Just then, the waiter arrived.
She had no choice but to swallow her dissatisfaction.
At another table not far away.
A person took out their phone and snapped a series of pictures of Xiao Ye and his companion.
After confirming the photos were clear, they quickly left.
After the meal, Wang Qiaoqiao dabbed her mouth primly. "Alright, I'm asking you now. Do you agree or not?"
"I need to go back and ask about it first." Xiao Ye, of course, had no intention of agreeing to a marriage alliance with her.
'For one, I only love Lin Chuyue.'
'And I can't treat my own marriage like a game just for the sake of my investigation.'
'But I can still stall for time.'
Wang Qiaoqiao stood up in disgust, storming off without wanting to say another word to Xiao Ye.
Unfazed, Xiao Ye leisurely savored the last of his red wine before getting into the Xiao Family car and departing.
「That night.」
Imperial City Times Media.
As a third-rate prestigious family, the Xiao Family was still prominent enough to make the entertainment news.
And Xiao Ye, as the recently returned young master of the Xiao Family, was a hot topic in his own right.
A news story quietly surfaced and began climbing the trending charts at a breakneck pace.
Xiao Family's Bumpkin Young Master in Suspected Marriage Alliance with Wang Family Heiress
Xiao Ye, who was about to turn in for the night, also saw the story.
He paid it no mind, simply closing the article and placing a video call to Lin Chuyue.
'For a minor family like the Xiao Family, and an unknown person like me, to be photographed like this... it's obvious someone is pulling the strings.'
'In that case, I don't need to get involved.'
RING... RING... RING...
The phone rang and rang.
But no one picked up on the other end.
Frowning slightly, Xiao Ye could only dial the villa's landline.
The butler answered quickly. "The young miss has returned. She's in her study. I was just in there to bring her something. Everything is fine."
"She's probably busy and didn't hear the phone. I'll let her know you called."
Having no other choice, Xiao Ye could only wait.
But he waited until bedtime, and Lin Chuyue never called back.
When he tried calling her, no one picked up.
With a sigh, Xiao Ye decided to go to sleep and deal with it in the morning.
「Two days passed.」
Lin Chuyue still wasn't answering his calls.
Xiao Ye grew agitated, even considering heading back to check on her.
Fortunately, Assistant Huo reported that everything was normal and she wasn't in any danger.
The gates to the Xiao Family estate swung open.
A pink Mercedes drove in.
The car door opened, and out stepped none other than Wang Qiaoqiao.
She walked into the Xiao Family home, a sweet smile instantly appearing on her face. "Uncle Xiao."
Xiao Wenbin was all smiles. "Qiaoqiao, it's been too long."
"You're too kind, Uncle Xiao." Wang Qiaoqiao set down the health tonics she was carrying. "My father picked these out specially. At my age, I never know what to get."
"Oh, your father is too kind. We couldn't possibly let you bring all these gifts."
Though Xiao Wenbin said this, he still accepted all the gifts.
The unspoken message was clear: he accepted the Wang Family's overture, and it was time to move forward with the matter of the two youngsters.
Xiao Wenbin looked up and shouted, "Xiao Ye, get out here! Qiaoqiao has come to see you."
After a long moment.
Xiao Ye finally emerged from his room.
Seeing Wang Qiaoqiao sitting demurely on the sofa, he frowned slightly. "What is it?"
"What do you think it is? Qiaoqiao is here to see you."
'He may have a handsome face, but he's still a country bumpkin,' Wang Qiaoqiao thought, unable to stop herself from rolling her eyes.
She stood up. "Uncle Xiao, I just came to drop these things off. I'll leave you to discuss the rest."
With that, she hurried away.
Xiao Wenbin's face darkened. "You took forever to come out, and now she's left in a huff!"
"What's wrong with you? Making the girl take all the initiative!"
"Xiao Ye, since you two seem to get along so well, I'll discuss it with the Wang Family, pick a suitable date, and you'll get engaged."
Standing on the second-floor landing, Xiao Ye said, "I don't agree."
"You'll agree whether you like it or not!" Xiao Wenbin stormed up the stairs to confront him. "Xiao Ye, don't forget your place."
"This is the Imperial City, not some backwater town. And the Xiao Family is no ordinary family. Here, marriages are arranged by parents and decided by matchmakers!"
"If you want to become the future Patriarch of the Xiao Family and inherit its fortune, you have to agree to this!"
Xiao Ye looked at his father's calculating face and raised an eyebrow. "Fine. I'll consider it."
"Then I'll start the discussions with the Wang Family. You get ready, and don't mess things up when the time comes!"
News that the two families had confirmed the marriage alliance spread quickly.
The Imperial City Times Media published a follow-up story.
Explosive! Xiao and Wang Families to Unite in Marriage! Young Master Xiao and Heiress Wang Share a Candlelit Dinner!
Beneath the bold headline were the clear photos snapped by the tabloid reporter.
This time, the story generated even more buzz.
Media outlets everywhere were reposting it.
It was seen even by people as far away as Jiangcheng.
「Lin Family Company.」
An assistant walked into the office, hesitated for a moment while looking at Lin Chuyue, then handed over a phone. "President Lin, you should see this."
Lin Chuyue took it. When she saw the news on the screen, her beautiful face turned ice-cold with fury.
"How dare you, Xiao Ye!"
'He just went back not even half a month ago, and in the blink of an eye, he's getting engaged to another woman.'
'Although my engagement to Xiao Ye wasn't my choice, Lin Aoshan has already spread the news.'
'Now the entirety of Jiangcheng knows that he and I are supposed to have our engagement party in mid-December.'
'And now Xiao Ye has transformed into the young master of the Xiao Family, trading up his marriage alliance for a family more powerful than the Lin Family.'
'But what about the Lin Family?'
'What about me?'
Lin Chuyue was so angry she almost smashed the phone.
'In the end, Xiao Ye will walk away from this engagement fiasco unscathed, leaving the Lin Family looking like a bunch of clowns!'