Actually, under Yang Yuanshan, Ling Mingrui, and Luo Liansheng’s similar sentiments, Luo Ziling has become somewhat interested in the arranged marriage.
The outcome of killing multiple birds with one stone is indeed quite tempting. Luo Ziling feels that if he were already in his forties or fifties, with reality dominating his thoughts, he would surely consider it seriously and agree.
But at this moment, Luo Ziling is still agitated about having his feelings used.
If those elders did not explicitly express their intentions for an arranged marriage, even if they hold such purposes, he would gladly accept.
Conversely, if his close relationship with Yang Qingyin could improve relations between the two families and please the elders, Luo Ziling would also gladly accept. Although the substantive aspect is about the same, the feeling is just different.
"I don’t want my feelings to be used!" Yang Qingyin suddenly said as Luo Ziling was feeling emotional.
Luo Ziling glanced at Yang Qingyin, knowing that this woman shares his thoughts.
So he couldn’t help but smile, "I actually know you think the same, but I still can’t help wanting to ask you!"
"Have you already agreed to them?" Yang Qingyin appeared quite surprised, "Weren’t you always opposed?"
"I’m indeed opposed!" Luo Ziling nodded, "But I think, if we do as they say, but ultimately take control ourselves, wouldn’t it be a happy ending for everyone?"
Yang Qingyin quietly looked at Luo Ziling and eventually shook her head, "Actually, for any woman involved in a family-arranged marriage, the ending is usually tragic. My mother’s situation is already considered good. She is different from others; she no longer sees herself as part of the Chen Family and cannot return there, so she wholeheartedly becomes a daughter-in-law of the Yang Family. But I also know she has many ideas, and lately, she’s been quarreling more with my dad because she has many thoughts and can’t do things as she wants. You know, the struggles among the families in Yanjing are ongoing, and we are already involved. If we were to bear the burden of an arranged marriage as well, everything would be too overwhelming.
"Perhaps you think agreeing to them on the marriage is just pretending to cooperate, but you may not realize, after agreeing, we have to do many things per their demands. Most of these things are against our hearts, and during that time, you’ll have to work with some Yang Family members you don’t like and act friendly. You may even have to put on a smile on occasions when you know you’ve been deceived. I might have to deal with the Ling Family similarly. So, if we really agreed to them, we’d suffer many grievances."
"Alright, I’ll listen to you!" Luo Ziling smiled, not wanting to discuss further in this regard with Yang Qingyin.
"A lot has happened these days, hasn’t it?" Yang Qingyin nestled into Luo Ziling’s arms and softly asked, "You’re constantly busy dealing with these things, you must be very tired, get some sleep early!"
"I thought you wanted to ask what had happened!" Luo Ziling chuckled as he brushed Yang Qingyin’s hair, "I was all ready to tell you how!"
"I’m sleepy and don’t want to know too much; women are happier being a bit silly. If you figure everything out, then every day becomes unhappy."
"Then sleep!" Luo Ziling knew Yang Qingyin meant something by her words, but wisely chose not to expose it.
Yang Qingyin nodded, said no more, and just lay beside Luo Ziling with her eyes closed, soon falling asleep.
Early the next morning, before Luo Ziling got up, he received a phone call from Fang Dongxun.
"Ziling, are you free today? Want to meet for brunch!" As soon as the call connected, Fang Dongxun’s cheerful voice came through the phone, "I assume after your parents’ wedding days ago, you would be free now?"
"I really haven’t had time to myself; these days have been unbelievably busy!" Although Luo Ziling said this, he didn’t intend to refuse Fang Dongxun’s tea invitation, "But Mr. Fang inviting me to tea, I’d drop anything for it. Tell me, where should we meet later, and I’ll come over as soon as I get up, even skip breakfast!"
"No way? Aren’t you someone who gets up early for morning exercises daily? So you slacked off?" Fang Dongxun sounded surprised, "It’s already past eight-thirty, and you’re not up yet?"
"I slept late last night and couldn’t wake up today." Luo Ziling checked the time; indeed, it was almost eight-thirty, and couldn’t help but sigh at his own folly, "I’m getting up now!"
"Alright, I’ll send you the location later." Fang Dongxun tactfully avoided gossiping, and ended the call without teasing Luo Ziling further.
Last night Yang Qingyin also slept soundly; she was similarly awakened by the phone ring.
When Luo Ziling arrived last night, it was already eleven-thirty. They messed around for a while and talked for quite a long time; they fell asleep close to one o’clock. Young people tend to sleep heavily, so they slept until this time.
When Luo Ziling finished the call, Yang Qingyin was already up and preparing to wash up.
Freshly awoken, Yang Qingyin looked charmingly sleepy, and her pajamas couldn’t fully cover her alluring physique, making her appear very enticing.
Luo Ziling couldn’t help but feel his desires flare up again, and he pulled Yang Qingyin back.
Yang Qingyin naturally couldn’t resist.
By the time they finished washing up, it was already past nine o’clock.
Upon dressing up, Luo Ziling bid farewell to Yang Qingyin and prepared to meet Fang Dongxun.
Yang Qingyin wasn’t curious about what Luo Ziling and Fang Dongxun would discuss in their meeting; she was fully aware that Fang Dongxun must have matters to discuss if he invited Luo Ziling.
She told Luo Ziling she planned to visit her grandfather, Yang Yuanshan, who should have nothing to do this morning and would be at the old residence.
She wanted to talk to Yang Yuanshan about the arranged marriage, intending to express her clear stance to him.
However, she didn’t disclose her plans to Luo Ziling.
Luo Ziling arrived at the elegantly decorated tea room where Fang Dongxun had invited him, around nine-forty.
Fang Dongxun was sitting alone drinking tea in the elegant room, and when the server led Luo Ziling in, he stood up to greet him.
"Getting ready and coming over in an hour is quite fast!" Fang Dongxun eyed Luo Ziling up and down, jokingly, "Can I suspect your late waking is due to the grace of a beauty today?"
"You’re overthinking it; I don’t have the same romantic luck as Mr. Fang!" Luo Ziling sat down with a bit of embarrassment and said, "I’ve already asked the server to prepare breakfast for me. Have you eaten?"
"I’ve eaten; my mother made breakfast. I went home to sleep last night!" Fang Dongxun responded casually as he sat down next to Luo Ziling, "Your parents are on their honeymoon and haven’t returned yet?"
"Two more days!"
"I really envy them!" Fang Dongxun said reflectively, "After twenty years, they’ve finally achieved the best result; many people are envious!"
Luo Ziling asked knowingly, "What is Mr. Fang referring to?"
"The grandeur during their wedding; so many are envious! I guess no one else will ever receive such treatment."
"But for them, they’d rather not have such grandeur; they’d prefer a simple wedding twenty years ago."
Fang Dongxun nodded, not responding further to Luo Ziling’s words, choosing to remain silent.
After a brief silence, he gently said, "My father will come by later; he wants to speak with you about some matters!"
"Oh?!"