Chapter 554: Treatment of a Great Landlord

Chapter 554: Chapter 554: Treatment of a Great Landlord

THUD. He Zhixuan’s heart instantly plummeted.

He Zhixuan didn’t blame Cheng Yuan for rejecting the engagement. After all, he was already married and couldn’t commit bigamy.

But still, He Zhixuan couldn’t control her emotions!

Dejected!

Utterly dejected!

The members of the He Family were all completely baffled.

’What was going on?’

’Why would Chairman Cheng reject their proposal?’

’Could it be that Chairman Cheng was just toying with Zhixuan?’

’If so, there would inevitably come a day when he grew tired of her.’

The He family members looked from Cheng Yuan to He Zhixuan, their gazes turning strange.

Cheng Yuan knew what the He family was thinking. Naturally, he wouldn’t embarrass He Zhixuan in front of them. In a solemn voice, he said, "Everyone, please don’t overthink this. Marriage is no small matter, how can it be treated lightly? An engagement is such a serious affair that I must report it to my parents, gain their consent, and have them formally propose the marriage! Only then can we be engaged. This is a sign of how seriously I take this and my respect for Zhixuan!"

In an instant, tears streamed uncontrollably down He Zhixuan’s face!

’She knew very well that Cheng Yuan was only saying this for show; he would never actually tell his parents!’

But even so, she was still deeply moved!

’For him to say that was entirely for her benefit, to prevent the He family from looking down on her!’

He Zhixuan stared at Cheng Yuan, infatuated. ’Just for those words alone, it was worth it to be with him!’

’Even if she could never have a proper title!’

The members of the He family finally breathed a collective sigh of relief. They tucked away all their little schemes and made a silent vow to themselves: ’We must never, ever get on Zhixuan’s bad side!’

He Guosheng lightly slapped his own face. "Look at this stupid mouth of mine! Chairman Cheng—oh no, Xiaoyuan is right. How can something as important as marriage be treated so casually? In that case, the He Family will prepare everything and eagerly await our in-laws’ marriage proposal!"

Xi Minglan announced solemnly, "Don’t just stand there. Let’s eat! We can’t let the engagement banquet go to waste. We’ll just consider it a welcome banquet for Xiaoyuan!"

"Yes, yes, Mother is right! Let’s make today’s banquet a welcome party for Xiaoyuan!"

He Zhirou looked at Zhixuan with a fawning expression. "Zhixuan, hurry and take our brother-in-law to the dining room! Please, have him take the seat of honor!"

He Zhixuan glanced at Cheng Yuan, seeking his opinion. Cheng Yuan refused without hesitation. "The matriarch is here. I’m just a junior, what right do I have to take the seat of honor? I’ll just sit anywhere."

Xi Minglan feigned a pout. "Xiaoyuan, you are the He family’s most honored guest. It is only right that you take the head seat! Otherwise, you’d be disrespecting this old lady!"

"Well..."

Xi Minglan looked to her grandson. "Zhenxing, quickly escort Xiaoyuan to the head seat in the dining room."

"You got it."

He Zhenxing replied eagerly, then turned to Cheng Yuan with a fawning expression and a welcoming gesture. "Brother-in-law, you can’t refuse a gift from an elder. Since Grandma has spoken, please, take the seat of honor!"

Cheng Yuan shook his head with a wry smile. "Alright, then."

Surrounded by the members of the He family, Cheng Yuan walked to the head of the table and sat down with an air of authority.

He Zhirou’s performance was even more dramatic. She quickly pulled out the chair next to Cheng Yuan, carefully wiped it with her own sleeve, and then looked fawningly at He Zhixuan. "Zhixuan, you sit here, next to our brother-in-law."

’This...’

He Zhixuan was completely taken aback by He Zhirou’s actions!

’Before today, every time her older cousin saw her, she would be met with a cold, angry glare. Never once had she received even the hint of a smile.’

’But now, her cousin was so obsequious it made her skin crawl!’

He Zhixuan knew full well that all of this was thanks to her junior!

’He Zhixuan secretly resolved to work hard and improve herself so she could keep pace with her junior and not become a burden to him.’

"Cousin, you don’t have to be so formal. We’re all family."

"Zhixuan is right, we’re all family. Your cousin isn’t being formal at all. Please, sit."

He Zhirou said she wasn’t being formal, but her actions couldn’t have been more so!

He Zhirou solicitously grabbed the teapot and carefully rinsed He Zhixuan’s utensils with hot water.

Although He Zhixuan felt a little uncomfortable with the attention, for some reason, she also found it incredibly satisfying!

’So this was one of the perks of power?’

He Zhenxing, suddenly inspired, also began fawningly rinsing Cheng Yuan’s utensils.

He Zhirou and He Zhenxing’s behavior was overly fawning, even servile, but no one in the He family looked down on them for it.

On the contrary, they thought they were doing the right thing!

The younger generation, in particular, was even a little annoyed. ’Why didn’t we seize such a perfect opportunity to get on the good side of Zhixuan and Chairman Cheng?’

At Xi Minglan’s command, the kitchen began serving the dishes.

He Zhiqian, quick on the uptake, snatched the serving chopsticks and, acting as a waitress, began placing food on Cheng Yuan’s and He Zhixuan’s plates.

"Brother-in-law, Sister Zhixuan, this is veal belly. It melts in your mouth, it’s delicious!"

Cheng Yuan and He Zhixuan exchanged wry smiles.

’This treatment was fit for a feudal lord of old.’

The corner of Cheng Yuan’s mouth curled up slightly. ’Once the He family fixed their attitude, they weren’t so bad after all.’

Cheng Yuan and He Zhixuan picked up the much-lauded veal to try it. And it had to be said, it was indeed excellent.

The He family elders nodded slightly. ’Zhiqian is perceptive,’ they thought. ’She’s worth cultivating in the future.’

Not to be outdone, He Zhixuan’s second-oldest cousin, He Zhenglong, also stood up. Acting as a waiter, he began to pour drinks for Cheng Yuan and He Zhixuan.

"Brother-in-law, Zhixuan, this is our He family’s own Nu’er Hong wine. It’s been aged for a full twenty years and easily blows the best Maotai on the market out of the water! Have a taste."

Cheng Yuan didn’t know much about wine, but he couldn’t reveal his ignorance now. He picked up his cup, swirled it gently, and pretended to inspect the legs of the wine.

Only then did he take a small sip.

The wine was exceptionally smooth, with none of the usual harshness.

A few seconds later, a rich, fragrant bouquet bloomed in his throat.

Even a novice like Cheng Yuan couldn’t help but nod in approval. "Truly worthy of a twenty-year-aged Nu’er Hong. It’s smooth on the palate with a rich, sweet finish. An excellent vintage!"

Upon receiving Cheng Yuan’s praise, the faces of the He family members flushed with excitement, and they all raised their glasses to toast him.

Cheng Yuan accepted every toast, and the atmosphere at the table became incredibly festive.

After a few rounds, Cheng Yuan was pleasantly buzzed, and He Zhixuan was feeling a little dizzy herself.

Cheng Yuan covered his cup, stopping He Zhenglong from pouring more. "I’m getting a little dizzy," he said gently. "Let’s call it a night!"

But He Zhixuan was already feeling it. "I’m not drunk! Pour me another! I can go another two rounds!"

Cheng Yuan smiled wryly. "My apologies! Zhixuan’s had a bit too much. I’ll take her to her room to rest."

He Zhirou, ever perceptive, chimed in, "Brother-in-law, I’ll show you to Zhixuan’s room."

Cheng Yuan nodded slightly. Following He Zhirou’s lead, the two of them entered He Zhixuan’s room.

He Zhixuan’s room had clearly been unoccupied for a long time; a thin layer of dust coated the furniture.

Cheng Yuan’s brow furrowed slightly.

He Zhirou’s heart skipped a beat. She quickly grabbed a rag and deftly began wiping the dust from the furniture.

Then, she solicitously changed the bedding.

After finishing, He Zhirou gave Cheng Yuan a suggestive look. "Brother-in-law, a spring night is precious. I won’t disturb your rest!"