Chapter 44: From Matchmaking to a Sudden Marriage?

Song Huan Yan hadn't said anything yet, but the chef was proactive, immediately asking, "Miss Song, could you kindly give me a contact method?"

Since it had come to this, Song Huan Yan could only nod, "Alright."

Song Huan Yan gave the number to the chef.

She set down the spoon, feeling she could leave, and said, "Well... Sir Nan Gong, I'll... be going now."

Earlier, after handling the matter with Chu Yue, the two ate without speaking.

Now Nan Gong said that if she wanted dessert, she'd have the chef prepare it and send it to the Song Family; the implication being she wasn't interested and didn't plan a Marriage Alliance?

Hearing that, Nan Gong paused, "Are you busy with something?"

Song Huan Yan smiled, maintaining composure, "A little."

Nan Gong glanced at his wristwatch, then looked at her, "Is it important?"

Song Huan Yan was also taken aback, thought a moment, then said, "It's not a big deal. But your time is precious, so I won't... hold you up."

Nan Gong looked at her for several seconds and said, "I don't mind. But haven't we not even started the matchmaking yet?"

Song Huan Yan widened her eyes slightly, "Huh?"

Not started yet?

She thought it was already over.

Nan Gong probably thought of something too.

But he didn't linger on it; instead, he lifted his wine glass and explained, "I want you to fill your stomach first, then we can begin."

Song Huan Yan felt embarrassed now.

She suddenly recalled... the last matchmaking hadn't been filling enough.

She felt a bit awkward.

Fortunately, Nan Gong raised his glass to her, "Does this count as our first official meeting?"

Come to think of it, it really does.

Song Huan Yan also lifted her glass, "Hmm, very... pleased to meet you."

Nan Gong nodded, "Me too."

Song Huan Yan sipped her wine, thinking she considered herself fairly calm and composed, with a decent aura, unhurried.

But sitting with Nan Gong, she still felt like a primary school student.

Throughout, it seemed he was the one controlling the situation.

Even during the meal, he said nothing, yet still seemed dominant.

The man's aura and dominance were truly overwhelming.

They set down their glasses, and Song Huan Yan wondered whether she should speak first; since the matchmaking had just begun, the necessary conversation still needed to happen.

She hadn't decided what to say yet, but Nan Gong was the first to speak, asking, "Miss Song, what do you expect of a husband?"

Song Huan Yan was taken aback.

Previously, during a matchmaking, Leng Jian Yue had taken the initiative to state his requirements for a wife.

Nan Gong, however, proactively asked about hers.

Clearly, Nan Gong was many levels above Leng Jian Yue, yet he was so modest and gentlemanly.

Being asked that suddenly, Song Huan Yan hadn't thought of an answer at all.

Seeing that she seemed stunned, Nan Gong said, "No rush, think it over."

After speaking, he lifted his glass to taste the wine, an elegant gentleman, truly impeccable.

Song Huan Yan thought for a while before saying, "Considerate, responsible, dependable, filial. Treat the spouse gently at home."

Nan Gong set down his glass, "Not excessive."

Song Huan Yan asked, "And you? What do you require of a wife?"

Nan Gong looked at her, "I have no particular requirements."

Song Huan Yan was stunned again, "No requirements??"

Nan Gong added, "I have no hope for romance. Mutual respect as guests is enough."

Song Huan Yan's eyes widened slightly.

Nan Gong asked, "Miss Song, can you accept that?"

Song Huan Yan recovered, "What a coincidence, I feel the same."

Nan Gong raised an eyebrow, "Oh? Sad? Because of an ex‑boyfriend?"

Song Huan Yan lowered her eyelids, stayed silent for a moment, then shook her head, "I can't explain right now. I want a suitable alliance, mutual respect as guests is fine. But there are some things I still need to make clear to you first."

"You speak." Nan Gong said.

Song Huan Yan said, "You should already know about my birthday party. That was just the beginning; after March and May there will be a major upheaval that might bring some prestige, but I won't sacrifice my revenge against scum for the sake of prestige. So, Sir Nan Gong, if you choose me, it may damage your face."

Nan Gong said nothing, just stared at her in silence.

After a moment of silence, he said, "My wife shouldn't compromise herself for so‑called prestige. A man's face isn't earned by a woman; on the contrary, if a man's face is big enough, his woman need not suffer."

His words surprised Song Huan Yan, "You don't mind?"

Nan Gong replied, "I don't mind. I'm not young anymore; I want to marry, have a stable spouse. Miss Song, in my eyes, is a suitable candidate; my mother likes you very much. I wonder if Miss Song would be willing to compromise a bit and marry this old man."

Song Huan Yan remained surprised.

He... seemed to have decided early on?

Completely prepared?

Did he decide from the start that if she came for matchmaking, he would agree to an immediate Marriage Alliance?

Seeing Song Huan Yan's surprise, Nan Gong was also unhurried.

Song Huan Yan said, "You don't mind that I have a few years of romantic history?"

Nan Gong Yu said, "I've been there too. And from what you said, it seems you were betrayed and hurt. So what's there to mind?"

Song Huan Yan thought, "True, if you have no hope for love and only seek mutual respect, there seems to be nothing to mind."

"But some people would still mind even if they only pursue mutual respect, especially since he's Nan Gong Yu."

"He actually… doesn't mind."

Song Huan Yan said, "Oh. So your romantic history is with Miss Leng?"

Nan Gong Yu nodded, "Hmm, we dated."

Song Huan Yan, gathering courage, asked, "I heard you got along okay; why did you break off the engagement at the end?"

Nan Gong Yu's answer was simple: "She doesn't want to marry. She wants too much, she's very high‑maintenance. I can't satisfy her, so she kept making a fuss, kept arguing, and wouldn't marry. I, on the other hand, need to marry, and I don't like too much noise, too pretentious, a woman with a full‑blown princess complex."

Hearing this, Song Huan Yan suddenly felt like she'd just bitten into a sensational scandal.

She almost couldn't restrain herself and kept firing questions, such as: Do you like her? Do you still have lingering feelings? You aren't getting married just to spite her, are you? How far have you progressed?

Song Huan Yan pinched herself hard to hold back.

Nan Gong Yu hadn't even asked about her ex‑boyfriend, so why was she the one probing him?

Seeing her silent, Nan Gong Yu said, "Miss Song, do you need time to consider?"

Actually, after all this talk, there doesn't seem to be anything left to consider?

Anyway, she never expected to first fall madly in love with Nan Gong Yu, love to death and rebirth, then marry…

Song Huan Yan thought, then tossed the question to him, "Have you considered it?"

Nan Gong Yu nodded, "I've considered it; if you agree, we marry right now."

Song Huan Yan suddenly felt a bit unsettled, a bit stunned.

"Wasn't she here for a blind date?"

"Why does it feel like we're heading for a flash marriage?"

"But he seems very serious."

"It's because she dated Leng Bai Wei and it went sour."

"So she doesn't want to waste time?"

"Indeed, this is not just a blind date; it's a Marriage Alliance."

"A Marriage Alliance inherently has little small talk and doesn't require any feelings; it's merely forming a community of interests."

He just stared at her, cold to the bone, patiently waiting for her answer.

Song Huan Yan tried hard to think; if she refused, there should be no further development.

If she proposed to date first, he probably wouldn't agree.

Seeing him like this, he must be tired of the pattern of dating first and then it going sour.

As a business tycoon, he pursues efficiency.

Thinking back to his time with Leng Bai Wei, it probably drained his limited enthusiasm.

In that respect, they really are alike.

But going straight from a blind date to a flash marriage.

Will she accept or refuse?