Xu Zhe lowered his head, but his ears perked up.
She wanted to hear Xu Zhengxi's feelings too!
She was so frightened by her grandfather that she didn't understand much of what he said.
It was only then that Xu Zhe realized that Xu Zhengxi was actually rejecting the marriage proposal!
Reject Jiang Shuning, reject the arranged marriage!
So, was he trying to break free from the shackles of arranged marriages in the old society? Or was it for the love of his life: Xu Zhe?!
Xu Zhe couldn't suppress the urge to smile as he thought of himself.
I never imagined Xu Zhengxi loved her so deeply! Was she just too wonderful, or was he just too devoted?!
She thought about it for a moment, and soon she had the answer in her heart: because it is beautiful, she is infatuated!
Xu Zhe quickly covered his mouth with his hand, afraid that he would burst out laughing.
Pei Li didn't want to look at Xu Zhe, but he couldn't help glancing at him out of the corner of his eye. The person who was just pretending to be dead was now... chuckling?
Xu Zhengxi's taste in women...
Pei Li shook his head.
Xu Zhengxi met his uncle's gaze, his expression calm.
His feelings? Now is not the time to reveal them.
Xu Zhe is still in school and has not reached the legal marriage age. It is inappropriate to focus all the attention on her now.
He had experienced firsthand the Jiang family's ruthless methods in achieving their goals.
“I have absolutely no feelings for Jiang Shuning,” Xu Zhengxi said, deliberately avoiding mentioning Xu Zhe.
Xu Zhe lowered his head even further upon hearing this, his smile deepening...
Pei Li frowned slightly; he had expected Xu Zhengxi to say that.
Luckily, we called him out separately. Otherwise, if he had disobeyed the old man in front of the entire Pei family and embarrassed Jiang Shuning, would this kid have thought he had nothing to hide?!
With the Jiang family's ways, they can smear even the cleanest place!
"Does it matter what the intention is?" Pei Li asked slowly.
Xu Zhe looked up. Doesn't his heart matter?
"I've told you before, for families like ours, the most important thing about marriage isn't romance, but how much help it can bring you!" Pei Li sighed almost imperceptibly.
His marriage was nothing less than a tethering of power and profit. Born into such a family, Xu Zhengxi still dared to dream of living according to his own desires? How naive and laughable!
"As for how many women you want, that's a matter outside of marriage. Shu Ning is born into a large family and naturally understands these principles; she would never interfere with you."
Pei Li intentionally said these things in front of Xu Zhe, so that he could make it clear to the little girl where she stood when she followed Xu Zhengxi.
Xu Zhe understood what he meant. Being with Xu Zhengxi meant she was a "concubine" in the old society, not even a concubine.
The "legal wife," Jiang Shuning, understood the rules of a large family and wouldn't hold a grudge against her, the "outsider," nor would she be so foolish as to displease her "master," Xu Zhengxi...
What is all this nonsense?!
Xu Zhe couldn't help but look at Pei Li. Were these people's minds still stuck in the pre-liberation era?!
Are women either victims of family interests or objects to be played with by men?
It turns out that people's worldviews are being swayed by these people. No wonder women are still at a disadvantage despite their long struggle!
"If you can't even choose your own marriage, no matter how much power or wealth you have, you're still just a pitiful person."
"Uncle, I just don't want to become a slave to power and profit."
Xu Zhengxi looked calmly into Pei Li's eyes, each word piercing his heart.
Pei Li's legal wife came from a long-standing family friendship with the Pei family. After their marriage, she gave birth to a daughter but had no more children.
His mistress did have two sons, but due to the suppression of the legitimate wife's family, the children of his mistress could not receive any strong support. In addition, they were spoiled by his mistress, so Pei Li had no hope for them anymore.
Xu Zhengxi's words struck a nerve with his uncle. He wasn't afraid that his uncle would stop helping him.
Because Pei Li had no choice but to support Xu Zhengxi.
Pei Xun, Xu Zhengxi's maternal uncle, was separated from his unequal social status by his maternal grandfather. From then on, he focused solely on running the family business and refused to marry or even find a woman.
In his generation, only Xu Zhengxi was a promising talent, which is why the entire Pei family spared no effort to help him rise to prominence.
Having no other choice, Pei Li's face darkened considerably.
The little brat has really grown wings. Not only is he out of control, but he also thinks his uncle is a pitiful person, a slave to power and profit?!
Pei Li felt a tightness and pain in his heart, and he waved Xu Zhengxi away.
Xu Zhe stared wide-eyed: Xu Zhengxi hadn't even fully expressed his feelings yet, and they were already leaving?!
Disappointment...
After watching the two leave the room, Pei Li opened his desk drawer, took out a dozen or so quick-acting heart pills, poured them into his palm, and shakily put them into his mouth.
Then he clutched his chest, closed his eyes, and rested for a while.
At that moment, the study door was knocked twice and then quickly pushed open.
The family doctor, carrying his medicine kit, strode over to Pei Li's side.
"Pei xx," the doctor addressed him by his title.
"Is your heart feeling uncomfortable? Have you taken your nitroglycerin pills?"
The doctor asked questions while examining his body with a stethoscope.
Pei Li nodded.
He thought to himself: "The little brat figured it out? He managed to make his own uncle so angry he had angina; he's really grown wings. But the Pei family won't make things difficult for him; there are plenty of people watching him!"
Little brat, get ready for a storm!
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