Chapter 94 It’s a new century now. Young people won’t be happy if they get into arranged marriages.
The operation of Qin Group is finally back on track.
After the new order was established, Gu Manman felt much more relaxed.
What followed were invitations from all sides.
All the major banquets, cocktail parties, charity dinners in Jiangcheng... everyone wanted to see the true face of the new owner of the Qin family.
Gu Manman has always kept her distance from such occasions.
But she still had to go to the Huo family's banquet tonight in person and make things clear in person, thus completely cutting off the possibility of this "marriage" and giving them enough face.
This so-called "marriage", even if it was just a verbal agreement between the elders, involved many years of business dealings and personal relationships between the Qin and Huo families. As a junior who had just taken over the Qin family's mess, she really couldn't handle it too simply and roughly.
The Huo family’s mansion was brightly lit.
The servant led her to meet the current head of the Huo family.
After a few pleasantries, Gu Manman went straight to the point.
"Grandpa Huo, I came here today to talk to you about... the marriage that my grandmother mentioned when she was alive."
Mr. Huo paused as he picked up the teacup, as if he was a little surprised that she would be so direct.
"Oh?" He put down the teacup and motioned for her to continue.
"I am very grateful to you and my grandmother for your kindness," Gu Manman said in a steady voice, neither humble nor arrogant, "but I think this marriage... should be forgotten."
She paused, looked into Mr. Huo's eyes, and added, "Of course, the business cooperation between the Qin family and the Huo family over the years will not be affected in any way. I will continue to promote the implementation of the Qin family."
"Alas, you girl..." Old Master Huo shook his head, but he was more helpless. "To be honest, my two good-for-nothing sons were still complaining to me a few days ago. They said that it's the new century now, and young people won't be happy if they have arranged marriages. They insisted that I find a chance to talk to you about it."
He looked at Gu Manman with a hint of smile in his eyes: "Originally, your grandmother and I just mentioned it casually back then, thinking that strengthening the relationship would be good for both families."
"The times now are indeed different from our time."
"Young people, you have to make your own decisions."
Gu Manman nodded, picked up the teacup and took a sip.
"Now that everything has been said," Mr. Huo put down his teacup, "let's just forget about it. From now on, our two families will continue to cooperate well as before."
Old Master Huo looked at Gu Manman. This girl had top-notch appearance and temperament, and her speech and manners were impeccable. Now she was in charge of such a large family business as the Qin family. However, his two boys did not have this blessing.
He sighed inwardly but a warm smile appeared on his face.
"In the future, there will be many areas for cooperation between the Qin family and the Huo family."
"You haven't met my two grandsons yet, have you? The eldest, Yun Shen, and the second, Yun Ting, are both outside greeting guests. Come on, I'll have the servants take you to meet them. It won't hurt for young people to get to know each other better.
He raised his voice and called out, "Take Miss Gu to the garden to find the eldest and second young masters."
Gu Manman stood up, straightened her skirt, nodded to Mr. Huo, and followed the maid out.
The maid led the way in front, and Gu Manman followed behind, her eyes sweeping across the carefully maintained courtyard.
Rockeries, flowing water, famous flowers and plants, all reveal a low-key elegance.
After passing a moon gate, we arrived at the garden. The air was filled with the faint scent of flowers mixed with the aroma of wine. Guests gathered in groups of three or four, and the melodious sound of violin floated in the night sky.
The maid led her deeper into the garden, where there was a wisteria trellis with lush branches and leaves, and the drooping purple flower spikes blocked Gu Manman's view.
Before I got close, I heard the voices of several young men talking behind the flower stand, with a bit of impatience and contempt.
"…Just looking at Qin Yue's appearance, how pretty can her sister who suddenly appeared be? And we don't even know where in the countryside she grew up. I guess she's just that."
"Tsk, my brother is very smart. He would never take on this hot potato. Now you want to pass the blame to me? No way!"
"That's right. What era is it still like doing this..." another voice echoed.
The maid walking in front seemed to have heard it as well. She paused and looked embarrassed.
She coughed lightly in the direction of the flower stand.
The conversation inside stopped abruptly.
Several figures appeared from behind the flower stand.
Their eyes fell on Gu Manman behind the maid, and they were all stunned, with surprise and astonishment clearly reflected in their eyes.
The moonlight mixed with the floor lamps in the garden, softly falling on her.
Gu Manman wore a light green cheongsam today. It had no complicated embroidery, only simple piping outlined with silver thread on the neckline and cuffs.
The cheongsam perfectly outlines her slender and graceful figure. Her waist is barely wide enough to be held in one hand, and her curves flow downwards into smooth and graceful shapes.
She had her hair tied in a simple bun and a pair of emerald earrings hanging from her earlobes. The green color made her skin look whiter than snow and her eyes and eyebrows look like a painting.
She just stood there quietly, with no expression on her face, but she had a cool and unworldly temperament, as if she was a lady walking out of a classical painting, carrying the warmth of the misty rain of the south of the Yangtze River.
"Young masters, it is not a good habit to talk about people behind their backs." Gu Manman said with a smile.
The one standing in the front, wearing a dark blue suit, has the vague outline of Mr. Huo in his eyes and brows, except that he looks younger and sharper.
He was probably the second young master Huo who just complained about the "hot potato" that was thrown to him.
Gu Manman's gaze fell on him, without any evasion, but instead with a hint of scrutiny.
She took a half step forward, closing the distance.
She stretched out her hand to him, her fingertips white and her wrist slender.
"Qin family, Gu Manman."
The young man she was looking at rolled his Adam's apple unconsciously.
He seemed a little helpless under her gaze, and his eyes subconsciously avoided her and fell on her outstretched hand.
He hesitated for a moment, but still reached out and gently held her fingertips.
"Huo Yunting."
She raised her eyes and clearly saw an unnatural blush spreading rapidly from Huo Yunting's neck to his ears, and even his handsome face was dyed red.
He held her hand with a stiff grip, his eyes were vague, and he didn't dare to look her in the eye.
His friends behind him also came to their senses and forced smiles, trying to smooth things over.
"Ms. Gu, I've heard so much about you!"
"We were just chatting, don't take it seriously!"
Gu Manman ignored them and just looked at Huo Yunting.
"Why," Gu Manman chuckled, "The host won't even offer me a cup of tea?"
When Huo Yunting heard this, he felt like he had found a life-saving straw.
He hurriedly poured a glass of juice.
The movements were a little hasty and the juice almost splashed out.
When Gu Manman took the juice, her fingertips accidentally touched his fingers, and he shrank back as if he had been electrocuted.
"Um...you guys go over there first. I'll accompany Miss Gu."
The friends felt as if they had been pardoned and quickly found excuses to slip away.
Only Gu Manman and Huo Yunting were left standing under the flower stand.
"Um... Miss Gu," he tried to make his voice sound calm, "welcome to the Huo family."
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
