Chapter 686 - 394: A Wedding for Each of Them?

"Kiddo, I’ll give you a chance to rephrase your words. Say it again."

Li Qiyuan stood ramrod straight, pointing a finger at Li Peifeng’s nose, his eyes like a volcano on the verge of eruption.

Li Peifeng sighed helplessly, "Dad, I know this puts you in a tough spot, but I’ll pay extra, isn’t that enough? Also, five million, just one appearance fee of five million... Your rates are on par with top celebrities."

Li Qiyuan’s words came out through gritted teeth, "Even fifty million won’t make it happen!!"

"Is it Uncle?"

The call wasn’t disconnected yet, and Xu Manning’s clear and cute voice chimed through the phone, "Uncle, it’s me, Manning. Could you take the call~"

"For you?"

Li Peifeng felt anxious deep down, knowing he couldn’t convince Li Qiyuan on his own, so he handed over the phone, hoping that Xu Manning’s words might be more persuasive...

Li Qiyuan hesitated, clenched his teeth, and took the phone with a gloomy expression. But he still turned around to make sure Zhao Qingge was following, then walked quickly to the window at the far edge of the kitchen. His face remained somber, but his tone was amiable and smiling, and his volume low: "Manning, it’s me. What’s up?"

"Ta~ta~"

Li Peifeng noticed the footsteps from outside the living room getting closer and quickly stepped out of the kitchen to greet them.

"I’ll help; don’t make Uncle work."

Zhao Qingge said while walking forward, and Li Peifeng stopped her, embracing her with a smile, "Honey, after my dad meets your parents tonight, can our teacher-student relationship turn into something more?"

Zhao Qingge had a cold expression, "It can’t progress. I’ll always be your mentor until you graduate."

"You could also moonlight as my fiancée."

"Let go, your dad is still in the kitchen!"

"It’s fine, don’t worry about him. The dishes are ready, we can eat soon."

Li Peifeng, trying to buy time and prevent Zhao Qingge from discovering that Old Li was on a call with Xu Manning, embraced her and led her to the bedroom, letting his hands wander over her suit jacket and trousers...

Meanwhile, Li Qiyuan was still on a complicated phone call: "Manning, you should know the purpose of my visit to the Capital this time, right?"

"I know, to meet Zhao Qingge’s parents... but it doesn’t change anything."

Xu Manning tried to act nonchalant but couldn’t hide a bit of grievance, "Uncle, you should see them today. After all, Peifeng wants to marry Zhao Qingge first. But you must come to my house tomorrow; I’ve already informed my parents."

Li Qiyuan’s face took on a look of suffering akin to Jesus on the cross, a faint pain mixed with compassion for the world: "Tomorrow is Monday. I planned to go back to work tonight... Of course, I can take a leave, it doesn’t affect much. But the problem is, Manning, you want me to meet your parents for the same reason as with Qingge, right?"

"Right!"

After Xu Manning affirmed, she seemed more confident, "Uncle, you should know, technically speaking, I’m Peifeng’s official girlfriend. Only with me did he have a public relationship announcement. By the way, you’re not having dinner at Zhao Qingge’s family yet, right? I say you shouldn’t go, you should come to my house to meet my parents today. Peifeng and I have been together since last September, I’m his first love... You shouldn’t be meeting anyone else’s parents!"

The second daughter-in-law has appeared, has she? You’re giving me a challenge, aren’t you?

Li Qiyuan wiped non-existent sweat from his forehead and remained silent for a moment. When Xu Manning thought the signal was bad, he gritted his teeth and spoke, "Manning, here’s the thing, Peifeng and I visited Qingge’s place just now, and we had a video call with your aunt. The four of us had a discussion. After our discussion, we all thought it would be appropriate for Qingge to get married after Peifeng graduates. So, after dinner, I’ll ask Qingge’s parents’ opinion, and this matter will probably be settled then..."

"Yes, I understand."

Xu Manning’s tone was steady, "They planned it a long time ago, but it doesn’t conflict. I’m graduating in two years, so I plan to marry him in two years. But recently, my parents have been wanting to meet you and Aunt, and it’s coincidental that you’re here this time."

Pausing there, Miss Xu seemed to choke up a bit, "Uncle, if it’s inconvenient, forget it. We’ll discuss it next time there’s a chance... sob~ sob~"

That brat is truly despicable!!

Li Qiyuan couldn’t stop cursing inwardly and, hearing the faint sound of sobbing, felt like he had committed some heinous crime, instinctively saying, "Fine, I’ll meet your parents tomorrow..."

As soon as he spoke, Old Li realized something was off, and tried to recover, "Let’s see after tonight’s talk at Qingge’s parents, and then with..."

"Okay, it’s settled then. Uncle, goodbye!"

Xu Manning, smiling through her tears, interrupted him, not waiting for him to finish before hanging up first.

Li Qiyuan slowly lowered the phone, staring blankly at the kitchen knife on the chopping board.

Hold it in, hold it in, I can’t hold it anymore!

He picked up the knife and cut the meat in half!!

"Thud~"

"Dad, let me."

Li Peifeng showed up just in time, with Zhao Qingge following behind, "Uncle, no need for you to do it."

"Yeah, you should take a break."

Li Peifeng tried to take the knife, once, twice, unsuccessfully, tentatively applying a bit more force, and only then did Li Qiyuan yield the spot without a glance at his own son, speaking in a low tone to Zhao Qingge, "Can you contact your parents to move up the discussion a bit? It would be best to go over right after dinner, if we’re just sitting around uselessly, I have a train to catch tonight."

Old Li intended to wrap up the meeting with Zhao Qingge’s parents earlier to free up more time in the evening for a chat with Xu Manning and her family.