代练牛

Chapter 220 Marriage Invitation!

It seemed that his little secretary was taking the lead in interogatting Chen Yulan about her personal life, and he decided not to intervene.

He noted inwadly — The Secretary must be rewarded tonight for the assist!

"..." Chen Yulan remained silent for a moment before she shook her head, offering a soft, reassuring smile, "Nothing before marriage."

"What!?" Wu Xue exclaimed in disbelief, her eyes wide with astonishment.

"Hmm," Chen Yulan affirmed.

"You mean you haven\'t even kissed?" Wu Xue glanced briefly in Zhang Wei\'s direction, now pondering whether she had been moving too swiftly in her own relationship. She had already shared numerous kisses with him and might even share a bed tonight.

The prospect of it sent her thoughts racing.

Yet, much to her chagrin, Chen Yulan maintained her serene smile and reiterated, "Nothing before marriage."

"Damn!" Wu Xue\'s eyes widened further, a revelation striking her. "I\'m a hundred percent certain it was you who put the brakes on, right?" she exclaimed, trying to piece together the puzzle.

Chen Yulan clarified, "I didn\'t put brakes on. It was a mutual decision. We agreed to make it official only after I finished my studies."

Wu Xue fell into a contemplative silence, finding it hard to believe this scenario.

In her perspective, a man in this situation would usually be head over heels for the woman to agree to such terms. Wu Xue suspected that Liu Ming was most likely smitten with Chen Yulan.

After all, Chen Yulan\'s beauty seemed to reach the heavens!

In Wu Xue\'s eyes, she was perhaps the most beautiful woman she had ever seen.

There was a transcendent beauty about her, an aura of natural grace that set her apart, and her face was almost flawlessly perfect.

However, Wu Xue had her own preferences when it came to men, favoring assertive individuals like Zhang Wei over the simp-like tendencies she associated with Liu Ming.

Zhang Wei, who had been silently observing Chen Yulan, finally spoke up, his curiosity piqued. "Is this your engagement dress?" he inquired.

"Yeah..." Chen Yulan nodded in affirmation.

Zhang Wei couldn\'t help but probe further, "Are you sure it\'s alright to wear it before the ceremony? Shouldn\'t it be Liu Ming who sees you first in this special dress?"

His questions were laced with suspicion, a subtle attempt to glean insights into the dynamics of Chen Yulan\'s relationship with Liu Ming.

Chen Yulan took a moment to ponder, her fingers delicately tracing the fabric of her dress before she replied, "It\'s alright, it\'s just a dress."

Wu Xue let out a soft chuckle, her amusement evident. "Just a dress? Are you sure you even like Liu Ming?" Like Zhang Wei, she couldn\'t help but notice Chen Yulan\'s seemingly nonchalant attitude.

Chen Yulan fell silent, a response that genuinely surprised Wu Xue. "You don\'t like him?" Wu Xue asked, her brow furrowing in confusion.

Chen Yulan responded with a wry smile, her gaze shifting between Zhang Wei and Wu Xue. "Why does it matter whether I like him or not?" she questioned, her smile lingering.

Silence hung in the air, with both Zhang Wei and Wu Xue uncertain how to react.

Chen Yulan continued to explain, "He treats me well, and he has the financial means to provide for me. It\'s time for me to get married and stop being a burden to my brother."

"Oh," Wu Xue nodded, beginning to grasp the rationale behind Chen Yulan\'s decision.

Zhang Wei shook his head, contemplating. \'Even the whitest sheet of paper gets bloodied once exposed to the society,\' he mused.

Chen Yulan\'s words essentially conveyed her desire to be a traditional stay-at-home wife, using her looks to secure a suitable match.

This was a perspective that aligned with traditional marriage concepts from decades past. In today\'s age, where many women follow their emotions and impulses, Chen Yulan\'s practical approach stood out as foreign to Zhang Wei and Wu Xue, who were more accustomed to a different perspective on marriage.

Indeed, Zhang Wei and Wu Xue were more accustomed to encountering women with "green tea" tendencies, those seeking to marry into wealth for a life of luxury.

Chen Yulan\'s intentions, on the other hand, leaned towards a different paradigm, akin to an arranged marriage in its outlook.

She didn\'t aim to be a financial burden but instead aspired to be a diligent wife while seeking stability from her partner.

It was a less ambitious approach to life, one that showcased her capacity for forward-thinking and pragmatism.

She proved to be more \'intelligent\' than her innocent exterior might suggest.

There was a clear difference in the maturity of thought between Xiong Mei and Chen Yulan.

"Buzz!"

"Buzz...."

Amid their contemplations, Wu Xue\'s new cellphone buzzed to life, signaling an incoming call on WeChat.

She excused herself, rising from her seat and moving to a corner of the room.

Zhang Wei and Chen Yulan both recognized the caller as her mother, using the nickname "mom," and wisely refrained from intruding on her conversation.

A weighty atmosphere settled over the table after Wu Xue\'s departure, leaving Chen Yulan to fix her gaze on Zhang Wei, studying his face intently.

She noticed the remarkable transformation in his appearance from their childhood, a newfound radiance that came with growing up—something she could relate to herself.

Breaking the silence, Zhang Wei inquired, "How\'s your brother doing these days?"

Chen Yulan responded thoughtfully, "He has started a construction company, focusing on building residential houses."

Zhang Wei raised his eyebrows, nodding in acknowledgment. If Chen Dong had indeed ventured into entrepreneurship, he was likely earning a decent income, even if the business was based in the countryside.

"And what about aunt?" Zhang Wei asked, delving into the family updates.

"..."

Chen Yulan fell into a thoughtful silence at Zhang Wei\'s inquiry.

"Hm?" Zhang Wei, taken aback by her change in demeanor, raised his brows. "Did something happen to Aunt Lin?"

Chen Yulan managed a faint smile and replied, "She passed away ten years ago, due to cancer."

Silence hung between them.

Zhang Wei offered his heartfelt condolences and assured her to reach out if they needed any assistance.

In this moment, another realization struck him. The perpetual, faint smile on Chen Yulan\'s face that had initially mesmerized him remained steadfast, never wavering.

He had found it hard to believe that a person could maintain such a constant, gentle expression.

Yet, now he understood. It was likely a coping mechanism she had developed, and her outlook on life had been shaped by this approach.

He praised Chen Yulan inwardly—she was undeniably a mentally strong woman.

As Chen Yulan mentioned that Yao Lin had passed away ten years ago, it became evident to Zhang Wei that she had faced significant challenges and experiences that had shaped her unique outlook on life.

Yet, in the midst of his contemplation, Zhang Wei\'s thoughts took a different turn. He seemed to have made a decisive choice regarding Chen Yulan.

Regardless of who this Liu Ming was or whether Chen Yulan had genuine feelings for him, it had become insignificant to Zhang Wei.

He was now determined to pursue her, even if it meant burning bridges and jeopardizing his relationship with Chen Dong.

Zhang Wei had set his sights on a specific date, one that he believed would be the perfect opportunity: the day of Chen Yulan\'s engagement ceremony—April 10th.

He harbored a scheme to disrupt the proceedings, intending to deliver a "green hat" to Liu Ming.

As for how he would convince Chen Yulan to go along with this plan, Zhang Wei hadn\'t quite figured that part out yet.

Deep down, he knew he couldn\'t sway her, and the scheme he\'d devised was raw, brutal, and barbaric.

But hey, he is the Villain!

He steals others\' brides!

The women he desires can\'t be taken by anyone else!

Either they go to the graveyard or open a room with him; there is no second choice.

Zhang Wei had meticulously planned ahead for any woman who dared stir trouble or contemplate leaving him.

In his twisted mind, the graveyard was a destiny preferable to the embrace of another man.

However, before resorting to the graveyard, he\'d consider caging them, holding them captive to his sinister will.

The Yellow East River, wide and unfathomable, could conceal a multitude of bodies!

Though he never explicitly voiced these intentions, he expected his women to be aware of the consequences of betraying him.

A certain degree of fear, he believed, was necessary to deter any notions of disloyalty or escape.

"Cousin, could you share your address?" Chen Yulan suddenly inquired.

Zhang Wei raised an eyebrow before providing her with the address of Lin Ruoxi\'s bungalow.

Chen Yulan nodded, promptly saving the information in her phone. "I\'ll come tomorrow with Liu Ming to extend a personal invitation for my engagement ceremony to you and sister-in-law. You definitely have to come. Brother would be happy to see you back."

Zhang Wei nodded, understanding that both he and Wu Xue were already present right in front of her, making a formal invitation unnecessary.

However, knowing Chen Yulan\'s traditional mindset, deeply rooted in ancestral customs, he anticipated she would adhere to the formalities of extending a direct invitation.