Chapter 257: Other than marrying me, you have no choice

Qin Yiyan's words could be described as blunt, even causing Liu Xin'ai to lose some face.

Liu Xin'ai froze in place, never having imagined that the conversation between the two would have such a beginning.

She quickly gathered her thoughts, looking at the expression on the person before her, which seemed to be a mix of a smile and no smile, and then said, "Marriage is not a one-person affair; if only I have the power to decide, I'm afraid it won't be of much use, right?"

"Hmm, a smart answer." Qin Yiyan seemed very satisfied with her reply and nodded casually.

He then continued, "However, I have no intention of refusing this matter. As it stands, you are the only one holding an opposing view on this marriage."

"You don't oppose it? Why?" Liu Xin'ai's eyes widened abruptly, and she looked at Qin Yiyan in disbelief.

A dark glint flashed in the depths of Qin Yiyan's eyes, and he said indifferently, "Does this need a 'why'? We are all adults. As the eldest daughter of the Liu Family... you wouldn't be so naive as to not understand what 'interests come first' means, would you?"

Liu Xin'ai was simply speechless, not knowing what to say.

This man before her treated marriage as a bargaining chip for interests?

Just because the Liu Family and the Qin Family, both being among the Four Great Families, would become more powerful after uniting?

Liu Xin'ai felt a bit angry and couldn't help but say, "Interests? You..."

But before she could finish, she heard Qin Yiyan say in a low voice, "Don't be in such a hurry to refute me. If you want to tell me that two people being together requires some kind of ethereal love, that would be too childish! Miss Liu, you should be past the age of believing in such things, right?"

All of Liu Xin'ai's words were stuck in her throat, and for a moment, she didn't know how to refute him.

Qin Yiyan had completely gained the upper hand.

His demeanor was not at all like that of a man facing his future wife, but rather like an opponent at a negotiation table.

Seeing that Liu Xin'ai had stopped speaking, he immediately pressed his advantage: "I didn't refuse this matter from the start precisely because I can distinguish the pros and cons, and you..."

As Qin Yiyan spoke, his gaze swept up and down over Liu Xin'ai.

He then reached out with great gentlemanly conduct to place the dishes brought by the waiter in front of Liu Xin'ai.

Only then did he continue in a steady tone: "To be honest, I should have known about this matter earlier than you, and I have already privately investigated you. Compared to other young ladies of the noble families, whether it is your education or your gentle personality, you are very suitable to be the Young Mistress of the Qin Family. Furthermore, I can guarantee that after we marry, you can continue to live your current life. I will not stop you from working, nor will I restrict your financial spending. You will still be able to live very happily, and you can even make any requests to me; as long as they are not excessive, I can help you fulfill them."

Qin Yiyan spoke with great logic, laying out the marriage of the two like a detailed contract, with every clause clearly listed and spread out before Liu Xin'ai.

Liu Xin'ai listened without saying a word, then helplessly retorted, "Young Master Qin is simply treating our marriage as a transaction, is that it?"

"Yes." Qin Yiyan nodded without hesitation and picked up his wine glass: "All marriages in this world are essentially transactions; otherwise, where would the concepts of bride price and dowry come from? It's just that what I can offer is naturally different from what an ordinary person can."

"The reason? Why must it be me? Given Young Master Qin's conditions, you should be able to have any kind of woman you want, right?" Liu Xin'ai suddenly asked back.

Upon hearing this, Qin Yiyan's gaze flickered for a moment, and he immediately replied, "That is indeed true. I have seen too many women... but it is not so easy to be the Young Mistress of the Qin Family. I have already said that I investigated you and felt that you were the most suitable candidate."

"But I am not willing!!!" Liu Xin'ai finally couldn't hold back and gave a firm rebuttal.

Was she some kind of commodity?

Why should she be picked and chosen by others?

And did this Qin Yiyan have some kind of narcissistic problem?

Did he really think that every woman in the world liked him?

It was rare for Liu Xin'ai to start a frantic internal monologue, and she was too speechless to say anything.

Qin Yiyan's hand holding the wine glass paused slightly. He stared at Liu Xin'ai for a few seconds, seemingly surprised that she could have such a firm attitude, and a trace of slight surprise finally appeared on his face.

"It seems my investigation into you had a slight deviation, but that won't affect anything."

Qin Yiyan put down his wine glass, his expression suddenly becoming much more serious.

Only then did he say unhurriedly: "Miss Liu, you have no choice in this matter. I think... your father must have told you the same thing. So, please prepare yourself to be a well-behaved Young Mistress of the Qin Family in the future; I will not treat you poorly."

"Excuse me, I have never agreed to this matter myself!!!"

Liu Xin'ai could no longer tolerate it. She didn't even want to eat, so she stood up from her seat, grabbed her bag, and prepared to leave.

Just as she took a step, she heard Qin Yiyan behind her say in a low voice: "You had better reconsider. I will tell your father that we had a very pleasant lunch today."

Liu Xin'ai's footsteps came to a sudden halt. Finally, she gave him a deep look and walked away without hesitation.

Back in the car, she had no heart to go home, so she said directly to the driver: "Go to a nearby park; I want to clear my head alone."

"Very well, Miss." The driver replied in a low voice.

Not long after, he parked the car at the entrance of a nearby park.

Liu Xin'ai got out of the car without looking back and walked deep into the park.

Her mind was filled with everything Qin Yiyan had just said.

Thinking of the man's calm face and incredibly clear logic when he spoke, she couldn't help but shiver.

Dealing with this kind of person... life in the future would be very exhausting.

Because he seemed... simply impeccable!

She had absolutely no room to refute him just now.

It seemed that as an adult raised in a noble family, his approach was the most correct one possible.

But could marriage really be something that is traded?

Was her desire for a two-way, mutual love really that childish and ridiculous!

Liu Xin'ai walked until she was a bit tired and slowly sat down on a bench by the edge of the woods. She couldn't help but open her bag and take out a delicate little box.

With a "click," the lid of the small box was gently opened.

A diamond ring lay quietly inside, shimmering with faint light.

That was the engagement ring she had once shared with the person she loved most.

Liu Xin'ai looked quietly at the little object in the box, and a bitter smile couldn't help but appear on her face.

"Cheng Hao... if only you hadn't met with an accident? Then we... should have even had children by now..."