Chapter 21: The Girl I Don’t Fancy, No One Can Force Me To Marry

That night’s frozen persimmons were soft, glutinous, and juicy, like crushed snow in the summer.

Lu Huaiyan never ate soft and glutinous foods, but he finished the bowl of frozen persimmons without leaving a single bite.

When leaving, knowing he was going to Han Mountain Temple, Jiang Se went inside and grabbed an enamel jar, about the size of a fist, to have him take the frozen persimmons to Han Yin.

The enamel jar was snow-white, and besides the frozen persimmons, it was also filled with white, fluffy snow.

On the way to Han Mountain Temple, afraid that the snow in the enamel jar would melt, Lu Huaiyan stubbornly did not turn on the heater. He drove with the windows down all the way back to Qi Han Mountain.

The next morning, as Han Yin returned after finishing her early lessons, she saw Lu Huaiyan sitting on a cloth stool at the entrance, holding the enamel jar wrapped with a hemp rope.

Lu Huaiyan had a special residence here in the bamboo forest, just on the other side of Bamboo Sound Lake. Han Yin didn’t know when he had arrived.

While taking out the keys to open the door, she smiled and said, “Why are you up so early? I heard from Assistant Li that you had him set off fireworks last night. I thought you’d sleep until late today.”

“Still adjusting to the time difference.” Lu Huaiyan took off his shoes as he entered the house, bringing the enamel jar inside with him. “Jiang Se asked me to bring these. The persimmons are from her yard.”

“Perfect for making persimmon tea.” Han Yin took the enamel jar and glanced at Lu Huaiyan, smiling as she said, “The fireworks were for Se Se, right? How did she like them?”

Did she like them?

Naturally, not so much, and she wasn’t really moved.

At least, not as much as she liked the frozen persimmons.

Last night, while shivering from the cold, her expression eating the frozen persimmons was much more lively than when she was watching the fireworks.

Lu Huaiyan said, “Why don’t you ask her yourself later?”

Han Yin intended to create more opportunities for Lu Huaiyan, so she agreed immediately. “Alright, I’ll call Se Se later to see if she wants to come up the mountain.”

Lu Huaiyan nodded, then after a moment, looked at his watch and suddenly said, “Call her after ten o’clock, it’s too early now.”

He seemed to be thinking of something, and when saying this, his lips were slightly lifted, showing an unusually gentle expression.

Han Yin reminded him, “When Se Se arrives, smile at her like this. Don’t keep a cold face. When you look stern, Se Se might not even drink tea with you.”

Lu Huaiyan glanced at the enamel jar and, with good temper, agreed, “Alright, I’ll remember.”

Han Yin placed the cut persimmons into a tea bowl. While doing so, she looked at Lu Huaiyan and said earnestly, “It’s not easy to find a girl you like, don’t scare her off.”

She was returning the words Lu Huaiyan had said to her on the phone yesterday.

Lu Huaiyan replied leisurely, “Got it.”

Han Yin wasn’t sure about his attitude, but she didn’t want to interfere too much. After all, her son had never been the type to be easily influenced. She didn’t ask him about his progress with Jiang Se and only asked a couple of questions about his upcoming schedule.

She heard that he would be returning to the northern city in a few days, so she asked, “Is Se Se coming with you to the northern city? Ah Li said she contacted Se Se and asked her to return to the northern city to attend the Cen family’s New Year’s Eve party.”

Lu Huaiyan was holding an iron kettle to fetch water when Han Yin’s words reminded him of something Jiang Se had said to him last night:

“Cen Yu is a junior I really admire and like. The Cen family’s New Year’s Eve party will be one of the most important events in her life, so please, Mr. Lu, make sure to attend.”

She was really protective of her junior.

Lu Huaiyan placed the filled iron kettle on the stove to heat up and casually said, “She won’t go.”

The Cen family’s New Year’s Eve party was where Cen Yu would officially enter the upper circles of Northern City society as the Cen family’s eldest daughter.

She was the undeniable focal point of that event.

If Jiang Se went, people would only focus on the gossip between her and Cen Yu, and what should have been a wonderful party might turn into a gossipy chat session.

“Not going is fine too.” Han Yin smiled. “There are plenty of New Year’s Eve activities by the Fuchun River. It’ll be lively for her here as well. Since you’re going back to the northern city, stay a few more days and spend time with your grandfather.”

Lu Huaiyan nodded, “I’ll return on the 27th.”

For the past six months, he had either been in Europe or Tongcheng, and whenever he returned to the northern city, it was only for a day or two before leaving again. Old Master Lu had probably urged him to return to the old house countless times.

If he didn’t go back soon, the old man would likely come to Tongcheng himself to drag him back.

The urgency for him to return to the northern city wasn’t just because of his age; he had already established his career, and it was time to address the matter of his marriage.

Even Han Yin knew about Old Master Lu’s plans.

She looked at Lu Huaiyan and said, “Your grandfather has mentioned a few times that he wants to arrange a blind date for you. Yesterday, he even sent me some photos of girls, asking me to discuss them with him.”

Lu Huaiyan poked the charcoal fire in the stove, casually replying, “Did you mention Jiang Se to him?”

“I haven’t even mentioned it. There’s nothing concrete yet, how could I bring it up?” Han Yin said. “As for you and Se Se, you should talk to your grandfather yourself. Otherwise, he’ll waste time and effort arranging blind dates for you.”

Lu Huaiyan smiled slightly. He picked up the already boiling iron kettle and said, “Don’t worry. I’m not planning for a blind date. Even if my grandfather puts a knife to my throat, I won’t go. No one can force me to marry a girl I don’t like.”

Han Yin finally relaxed.

Lu Huaiyan stayed and had tea with her for a while before heading to the nearby empty room to handle some work. After making a few international calls, it was already past ten.

He walked out of the room, crossed the living room, and went to the study across the hall.

Han Yin was inside, holding a brush, writing scriptures. Hearing the noise at the door, she asked, “Done?”

Lu Huaiyan responded with a simple “Mm,” then asked, “Is Jiang Se not coming?”

Han Yin didn’t stop writing as she answered, “She has something to take care of at Jinxiu Alley. She said she’ll come visit me when she has time in a few days.”

Lu Huaiyan raised an eyebrow.

Jinxiu Alley?

That qipao shop?

---

Jinxiu Alley, No. 39.

Jiang Se stood on the steps of the shop, her expression neutral as she looked down at the people below.

“I’ve never seen such shameless people, just taking a random painting and daring to come here to extort money!” An elderly woman with graying hair sat in the snow, tears streaming down her face, pointing at Jiang Se and cursing loudly. “I’ve lived this long and have never met such a black-hearted person!”

Standing next to the old woman were three tall, muscular men, all in their thirties or forties and resembling her in some way. The tallest one was holding a cellphone, filming the scene.

Inside the shop, He Miao watched Jiang Se’s back. After thinking for a moment, she said to Zhang Yue, who was inside, “Master, you go inside. I’ll go outside to take a look.”

As she was about to step past the counter, Zhang Yue stopped her.

“Why are you going out? The police are on their way. Besides, didn’t Miss Jiang say she can handle this? We can just wait here.”

“I know Miss Jiang is very capable. The last time these people came and smashed up the shop, it was Miss Jiang who brought the police and chased them away,” He Miao said, pressing her lips together. “But the police haven’t arrived yet. She’s alone, and I want to go out to give her some support!”

“Are you not afraid?”

The men outside were all fierce-looking, and they certainly weren’t people to be trifled with.

For the next few days, Jiang Se made several more trips to the police station.

He Miao was only nineteen this year. To say she wasn’t afraid would be a lie, but a person couldn’t just hide behind others out of fear and wait for someone else to stand up for them.

“Even if I’m scared, I have to stand out! We can’t just rely on Miss Jiang to always be in front!”

Her voice was firm and full of youthful courage, like a newborn calf unafraid of tigers. Zhang Yue was momentarily stunned, her hand frozen midair as she forgot to withdraw it.

He Miao didn’t notice her reaction. She took large strides to stand beside Jiang Se and shouted, “I’ve never seen people as shameless as you! We’ve already told you there are surveillance cameras here! Everything you do will be evidence in court, do you understand? Do you really think our shop is your backyard, where you can smash it up whenever you want?”

She stood so close to Jiang Se that her voice rang loudly in Jiang Se’s ear, making it tingle.

Jiang Se tilted her head slightly and caught sight of He Miao’s trembling hands. The expressionless look on her face finally shifted.

“There’s no need to be afraid of them. The louder and more aggressive people act, the more cowardly they usually are,” she said softly. “The truly dangerous ones don’t make a sound.”

Down the steps, the old woman was still wailing. When she heard this, she immediately jumped up from the snowy ground, her mud-stained hands reaching out to grab Jiang Se’s coat.

Because of the holiday season, Jinxiu Alley, usually deserted, had a few more pedestrians than usual. Several onlookers, drawn by the old woman’s cries, stood at a distance, watching the commotion.

Yet, not a single person stepped forward to help.

Jiang Se ignored the surrounding crowd. She stood quietly on the steps, not retreating a single step, her face showing no trace of fear.

In the opposite shadowed building, Li Rui stood behind a second-floor window, hesitating. “Young Master Lu, are you sure you don’t need to go help? That old lady is a real troublemaker. Last time at the police station, she almost screamed the ceiling down.”

Lu Huaiyan’s eyes were half-lowered, hidden behind his glasses, making it hard to read his emotions.

He said indifferently, “If she hasn’t called for help, then there’s no need to interfere.”

He Miao, standing beside Jiang Se, was even more nervous than Li Rui. When the old lady charged forward, she instinctively stepped up to shield Jiang Se.

But Jiang Se’s next words stopped the old lady in her tracks.

“This coat is worth 200,000 yuan.”

With her hands tucked in her pockets, Jiang Se’s lips curved into a warm smile. “That’s the same amount you got when you sold this shop eight years ago. If you stain or damage it, you’ll have to compensate me—at best a few thousand, at worst the full price. Add in the emotional distress compensation, and while it might not be as much as the painting last time, it’s still not a small sum for you.”

She leaned in slightly, her delicate, porcelain-like face gradually losing its smile as she looked the old woman dead in the eye and said, word by word, “If you dare, go ahead and try.”

It was a pearl-white coat, with no visible brand or clear material, but no one doubted her words.

Because her entire presence radiated an air of wealth—someone born with a silver spoon in her mouth. If she said the painting was worth a million, then it was a million. If she said the coat was worth 200,000, then it was 200,000.

The old woman’s murky eyes met Jiang Se’s dark, gleaming pupils. A chill ran down her spine, and the wailing that had been caught in her throat abruptly stopped. Her outstretched hands froze midair, unable to continue forward.

The commotion ended with the arrival of the police.

Jiang Se and He Miao followed the officers to the station to give their statements. Before leaving, Jiang Se glanced at Zhang Yue and said flatly, “If you’re scared, close the shop and go home. If you’re not, then keep it open.”

The police car drove away, the crowd dispersed, and within moments, Jinxiu Alley returned to its usual quiet.

Zhang Yue sat silently behind the counter for a while. Then she stood up, locked the door, and left Jinxiu Alley.

Lu Huaiyan remained in the shadowed building, watching her figure disappear into the distance. He took out his phone and made a call.

“Delete all the videos they took,” he said after a pause. Then, glancing at the steps where Jiang Se had just stood, he added, “And look into Zhang Yue, the owner of No. 39 Jinxiu Alley.”

Cen Li had booked a private room on the fourth floor. Lu Huaiyan arrived late, and by the time he stepped inside, more than a dozen people were already seated.

Cen Li, with a cigar between his fingers, caught sight of Lu Huaiyan’s figure and immediately patted the main seat beside him. “Come here. If you don’t sit in this spot, no one else dares to. Why are you so late? Did your old man set you up on another blind date?”

The fact that Old Master Lu kept arranging blind dates for Lu Huaiyan was no secret in Beicheng.

Unlike the rest of them, who had long been resigned to marriage alliances, Lu Huaiyan had won his right to choose his own spouse from Old Master Lu when he was twenty-one.

Even the old man couldn’t force anyone on him. All he could do was keep nagging and occasionally sneaking in a few arranged dates.

Back when Cen Li first heard about the bet between Lu Huaiyan and his grandfather, he had been quite curious and asked, “Did you finally meet ‘the one’?”

Old Master Lu’s original intention behind the bet had been to push Lu Huaiyan to reconcile with Lu Jinzhong. If a full reconciliation was impossible, at the very least, he hoped they wouldn’t remain bitter enemies.

Everyone in their circle knew how much Lu Huaiyan loathed Lu Jinzhong. To accept this bet just for the right to marry whomever he wanted—it was hard not to be surprised.

For people like them, marriage was just a formality. It didn’t mean they had to stop having fun afterward.

But Lu Huaiyan had never taken the so-called marriage autonomy seriously. He had responded carelessly back then, “A guaranteed win—why wouldn’t I take the bet? Consider it a bonus.”

After saying that, he had even glanced sidelong at Cen Li and chuckled. “‘The one’? Cen Li, you’re quite the romantic.”

Romantic, my ass.

Unlike some of the other guys in their group who had been through countless flings, Cen Li had had a few relationships, enough to know that romance was just a waste of money and time—definitely not something he had any interest in.

Tonight, there were plenty of people at this gathering, but the only ones who were truly close to Lu Huaiyan were Cen Li and Guo Song.

Lu Huaiyan casually dropped into a single-seater sofa and smirked. “You’re that interested in whether I went on a blind date?”

His words immediately reminded Cen Li of a particularly unpleasant memory. He clicked his tongue. “Relax. I have no intention of playing matchmaker.”

As someone with two younger sisters, he’d rather die than introduce another one to Lu Huaiyan.

Back in the day, he had been too naïve. Seeing that Lu Huaiyan was disciplined and indifferent to women—and that Se Se had feelings for him—he had thought about setting them up.

Now, just thinking about it made him want to slap himself. He must have been blind to ever consider making Lu Huaiyan his brother-in-law.

Lu Huaiyan cast him an unreadable glance and let out a soft laugh. “You even brought out your prized cigars. Just get to the point.”

Everyone present knew why Cen Li had arranged this gathering.

It was nothing more than paving the way for his newly reclaimed sister.

Cen Li raised his glass and spoke seriously, “You all know about my family’s situation, so I won’t say much more. As for my sister Cen Yu, I’ve really felt for her these past twenty-three years. As her older brother, I’m sure you all care about her even more. From now on, I’ll ask you all to take good care of her. If anyone bullies her, stand up for her. If she’s involved in any projects, try to be generous and show some brotherly kindness—let her earn a little pocket money. This one’s for her.”

After his shameless speech, someone in the private room immediately cursed, “I knew it! There’s no way you’d let us have a free cigar after all these years!”

The glass of liquor in Cen Li’s hand was not only high in alcohol content, but it was also filled to the brim. He laughed and knocked it back in one go, then immediately filled it again.

“There’s one more thing I need to ask from you all,” Cen Li said, raising his glass. “Tomorrow at the banquet, my other sister might come too. You’ve all seen her grow up, so I’m not asking for much. I just want you to treat her the same way you’ve always treated her. Tonight, everything—whatever you eat, drink, or play with—it’s all on me!”

As Cen Li spoke, Lu Huaiyan, who had been holding one of Cen Li’s prized cigars, absentmindedly played with it in his fingers. He lazily leaned back against the sofa, clearly uninterested in Cen Li’s words.

It wasn’t until Cen Li mentioned his “other sister” that Lu Huaiyan seemed to show some interest. He raised his eyelids and stared at Cen Li, who was speaking passionately, for a moment.

Earlier, Cen Li had used the word “might.”

Given Jiang Se’s personality, she would definitely refuse to attend the Cen family’s banquet the next day. Unless… someone insisted on bringing her from Tongcheng.

In the entire Cen family, only one person would be bold enough to do something like that.

Lu Huaiyan lightly tapped the smooth, soft armrest of the sofa with his fingers and asked in a calm voice, “Cen Li, has your aunt returned to Beicheng?”

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