Chapter 1: The Irresistible Betrothal Gift

Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation  Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation

After Fang Xiaonuan learned that her parents were “Selling their daughters for glory,” she hurried home.

As soon as she entered the house, she saw a mountain of gifts piled up by the door. She just stood there. She placed her hands on her hips and shouted loudly, “Dad! Mom! Come out and explain what this is!”

Hearing her voice, Fang Xiaonuan’s mother came over and poked Fang Xiaonuan’s flushed cheeks. “Look at you. You’re in such a hurry. You don’t look ladylike at all.”

“If I didn’t look ladylike you would’ve sold me off by now. Looking ladylike doesn’t do me any favours either,” Fang Xiaonuan grumbled and kicked the presents that were in her way. Then, she angrily followed Mrs. Fang to the living room and sat down.

Mr. Fang sat a little ways away and drank his tea silently. His usual cheery face was full of worry. Even Fang Xiaonuan’s gentle and generous mother wore a worried expression. Fang Xiaonuan rolled her eyes. She had just finished her final exams for her sophomore year. Before she could arrange her holiday itinerary, she heard that someone had come to her house to ask for her hand in marriage. Her parents had even accepted the betrothal gifts. Fang Xiaonuan did not ask for details and just hurried home.

But now, it seemed that the situation was not quite what she had expected. No matter how she looked at it, her parents did not seem to be selling her for wealth.

“Dad, mom, those things…” Fang Xiaonuan raised her chin at the gift mountain at the door and asked, “Who sent them?”

Mr. Fang glanced at her, put down the teacup, and sighed. “The Ji family.”

Who?! Whose family?! Fang Xiaonuan was stunned. She sat on the sofa with a shocked expression, unable to move as if she had been struck by lightning. No wonder her parents were so worried. The Fang family certainly could not offend the Ji family. In Jing City, the Ji family was a behemoth that could shake the country’s economy with a single stomp.

“Today, a person who identified himself as the Ji family’s butler came to our house with gifts. He said that his master thinks that you are a perfect match for him and wants our families to join in marriage. He even made a lunch appointment for tomorrow. Your father and I wanted to refuse, but his demeanour was polite and uncompromising. He insisted on settling the matter. We didn’t even have the chance to refuse.” Mother Fang held Fang Xiaonuan’s hand, her well taken care of face was full of worry. “Xiaonuan, tell me, why are you acquainted with the Ji family? How could Old Master Ji…”

Never mind Old Master Ji, Fang Xiaonuan had been so busy recently that she had barely even met any men!

“Mother, I have no relationship with the Ji family, and I don’t know Old Master Ji.” Fang Xiaonuan cupped her chin as she thought. “As for what the Ji family wants, we can just ask them tomorrow.” In any case, with the Ji family’s influence, they had to attend the dinner, even if they did not want to.

Mr. Fang and Mrs. Fang looked at each other, their eyes filled with uncontrollable worry.

The next day, Fang Xiaonuan and her parents arrived at the restaurant as promised. However, Fang Xiaonuan’s originally fair and tender little face was now covered with red scars and blemishes. When she grinned, one could see that two of her front teeth were missing. Her hair was messy and looked like it had not been washed in 800 years. Mrs. Fang was shocked when she saw her, and Old Master Ji would no doubt have a worse reaction.

Mr. Fang coaxed Fang Xiaonuan forward and introduced her to Old Master Ji. “Old Master Ji, this is my daughter, Fang Xiaonuan.”

Old Master Ji’s hair was white, and his face was full of wrinkles. He looked at Fang Xiaonuan with a little doubt in his expression. “This… Are there any other girls in the Fang family who are of age?”

Mr. Fang coughed softly and shook his head. “No, Xiaonuan is the only daughter in our family.”

Old Master Ji frowned, put on his glasses, and compared the photo he had of Fang Xiaonuan with the girl before him. In the photo, Fang Xiaonuan had delicate features, and when she smiled, her eyes were bright and sweet. No matter how hard he looked, this slovenly girl before him did not resemble the girl in the photo.

Fang Xiaonuan could guess what Old Master Ji was thinking. She deliberately used her finger to pick her nose. She pretended to be inconsiderate and rude. “There’s no need to look so closely. The person in the photo is me. You’re too old to understand modern technology. Photo editing applications now have beauty filters that can people look beautiful.”

Old Master Ji hesitated for a moment. If he were to set this girl up with his second son, Ji Lingchen, his second son would sever their father-son relationship, right?

Fang Xiaonuan saw Old Master Ji’s expression and instantly felt that this might work out. Although she did not know why the Ji family had taken a fancy to her, a wealthy and influential family could not possibly accept a rude and ugly woman as their daughter-in-law, right?

Mr. Fang took the opportunity to speak. “I’m sorry, Old Master Ji. We’ve spoiled our dear Xiaonuan. Our spoiling her was inevitable. I’ll get someone to return the gifts you sent over yesterday to the Ji residence later. The marriage you mentioned earlier is also…”