"Shaohua, it's me, Mengqi."
Huangfu Shaohua heard Huangfu Mengqi's voice outside the door and immediately opened it. He looked at her and said, "Sister, why are you here? Did Mom send you to persuade me? Don't waste your time. Daisy and I are already married. I won't change my mind."
"You're quite clever with this move," Huangfu Mengqi walked in and gave him a thumbs up. "I'm just being pestered by Mom incessantly. What else can I do?"
She looked around the room and didn't see Daisy. She asked, "Where's your wife? Are you two living here?"
"She went back to her parents' home," Huangfu Shaohua threw her a can of beer and said, "Have a drink."
Huangfu Mengqi unceremoniously opened the beer, took a sip to moisten her throat, and said, "Did you upset her, or did you two have a fight?"
"No, can't you wish me well?" Huangfu Shaohua said. "Her parents want us to live together after we have a formal wedding."
Huangfu Mengqi said "Oh" and asked, "Mom and Dad both disagree. What do you plan to use to have a wedding with her? How much savings do you have? You're so stubborn, you must have saved a lot of money usually, right?"
"No money," Huangfu Shaohua said irritably. "Don't we usually use Dad's global gold card? We never had the concept of saving money. Now that he's blocked my card, where would I have any money?"
Huangfu Mengqi's expression turned surprised, and she almost choked on her beer. "Then you dare to fall out with the family? What do you plan to use to support your wife and children in the future?"
"I'll rely on my own abilities. Will I starve to death?" Huangfu Shaohua said with full confidence.
"Naive," Huangfu Mengqi threw him a card and said, "This is my personal wealth management account. Mom and Dad don't know about it. Take it to have your wedding."
Huangfu Shaohua caught the card and was about to refuse when Huangfu Mengqi interjected, "Don't spend it all. Return the rest to me. Whatever you use, you'll have to repay it when you're capable."
Huangfu Shaohua said "Oh" and accepted it without refusing, saying, "Can you help me with something else?"
"Don't push your luck," Huangfu Mengqi said grumpily.
"It's not a big favor. I just need you to attend my wedding as an elder from my side and go on stage," Huangfu Shaohua scratched his short hair.
Huangfu Mengqi put down her beer and said with an exaggerated expression, "Am I that old and frail? I can't accept the tea you'll be offering me."
"As my sister, you just need to say a few words on stage," Huangfu Shaohua pleaded with her. "Help me out."
"We'll see then."
"The date is set. I'll send you an invitation. Make sure Mom and Dad don't find out," Huangfu Shaohua remembered something else and said, "Has Mengyao returned? If she has, quietly tell her to come along too."
"Got it, got it," Huangfu Mengqi seemed to agree and asked him curiously, "I saw Daisy's photo, and she's not exactly a peerless beauty. Why are you so crazy about her?"
"I can't explain it myself. She just attracts me. I've always done things according to Mom and Dad's wishes since I was young. I just want to make my own decision for once."
"It's good that you've thought it through. Don't regret it later," Huangfu Mengqi reminded him.
Huangfu Shaohua said indifferently, "What's there to regret about pursuing the happiness you want? You'll only regret it if you miss out. Sister, can you accept having your marriage arranged by Mom and Dad, becoming a bargaining chip for the interests between groups?"
Huangfu Mengqi smiled and said, "I don't mind. I haven't met anyone I like anyway. I can also choose not to get married in my lifetime. If I have to get married, it's fine to follow my parents' arrangements."
After speaking, she finished the remaining beer in the can and said, "I have to go back and report to Mom and Dad that I couldn't persuade you."
"Thanks," Huangfu Shaohua saw her off and watched her get into the car before returning to the house.
With Mengqi's support, he felt much better and would always remember her kindness.
Mengqi drove, the wind blowing, and she was very clear-headed.
She didn't go home directly but drove around the ring road.
After returning from studying abroad, she dedicated herself to the work of the Huangfu Group, wanting her father to see that even as a girl, she had the same abilities as a man and was no worse than anyone else.
The age gap between her and Shaohua wasn't large; she was only two years older than Shaohua.
They grew up together. Perhaps there were things Shaohua didn't remember, but for her, they were a hurdle in her heart.
From childhood to adulthood, her father's eyes were only on Shaohua. He always said to her, "What do you know as a girl? Don't compete with your brother."
At that time, her father intentionally gave Shaohua some questions to test him. She watched from the side as Shaohua couldn't answer, and she would quickly provide her own answer before Shaohua.
She felt her answers were both correct and good, but her father never acknowledged them, saying she was just showing off.
She had been unconvinced since she was young. She wanted to prove to everyone that she understood everything, was strong in everything, and wasn't showing off!
Now, the facts proved that among the three of them, she had the most business acumen and was the most capable.
From her own selfish perspective, she actually hoped that Shaohua would persist for love and sever ties with the family forever.
With Shaohua no longer being the obvious heir in her father's eyes, she would have the opportunity to be the one to take over the Huangfu Group in the future.
However, Shaohua's words tonight reminded her that she had only focused on her career all these years and had never considered her own lifelong commitment.
It was true that she hadn't met anyone she liked, but what if she did? What should she do?
The image of Song Jiaping suddenly flashed in her mind. She thought she must be crazy to think of him.
This was a man with whom she absolutely couldn't be. She calmed herself down, stopped circling, and hurried home.
...
Wu Xiufang sat at home, restless, waiting for Huangfu Mengqi to bring back some good news.
But Mengqi couldn't persuade Shaohua either. Wu Xiufang sat down irritably and complained, "What does this child want to do? If he continues like this, he'll only ruin himself. By then, your second uncle's two sons will return from abroad, and he'll lose his inheritance!"
"Mom, Second Uncle's children are still young. Don't worry. I think Shaohua is just looking for novelty. Think about it, as long as Dad continues to cut off his financial resources, he and that Daisy won't be able to be romantic for long before they have to face the realities of daily life. Poor couples often have a hundred worries." Mengqi persuaded, "He's the second young master of our family. What hardship has he ever experienced? When he can't take it, he'll naturally bow his head to you."
Wu Xiufang looked at her and thought she made sense. "That's right. He has no money now. Even if they got the certificate, they can't even afford a house. That woman is after his family background and financial strength. If she gets nothing after being with him, she'll naturally retreat?"
Mengqi nodded and said, "It's just a matter of time. I think Dad is determined to do this. It depends on whether you can hold on."
Wu Xiufang patted her leg and gritted her teeth, "For his future, I'll hold on no matter what and stand on the same front as your father."