Chapter 216: Are you going to propose to her?

In the bright and clean office of the Xu Clan Group, a man who bore some resemblance to Xu Yanfeng appeared on the large computer screen, wearing an olive-colored suit, a white shirt, and a dark blue polka-dot patterned tie with a dark gold tie clip, his manner graceful, his brows and eyes smiling.

The man leaned against the chair back, his two hands crossed and resting on the edge of the black stone tabletop, leisurely watching Xu Yanfeng occasionally lower his head to check messages.

He was Xu Yanfeng's older brother, Xu Junmo.

Xu Junmo tapped his finger joints on the tabletop, two clear sounds, and said in a good temper, 'Why don't we wait until you finish chatting before we continue?'

'No need.' Xu Yanfeng placed his phone upside down on the table and said calmly, 'It's already settled.'

'Let me guess.' Xu Junmo propped his chin on the back of his hand, the smile at the corners of his eyes deepening, 'Is it the one you're planning to give the ring to, your girlfriend?'

In front of his own older brother, Xu Yanfeng had no need to deny: 'It's her.'

Xu Junmo's interest grew: 'Have you sent out the ring? What was her reaction? Was she moved to tears?'

Xu Yanfeng tilted his head slightly, lips pressed thin, his expression showing he was at a loss for words.

Xu Junmo raised an eyebrow: 'Still can't say?'

Xu Yanfeng glanced at the date circled with a pen on the table, the corner of his mouth twitched, adding a smile: 'It's not yet her birthday.'

'Oh, I see.' Xu Junmo nodded, 'You plan to give it to her on her birthday.'

Xu Yanfeng's previous overseas business trip was to inspect a laboratory, during which he met Xu Junmo face to face. On the way to dinner, Xu Yanfeng told the driver to stop, entered a brand store, and picked out a collection-grade diamond ring. Xu Junmo was there at the scene; initially he thought Xu Yanfeng was buying it to give to Zhong Yinghong, but seeing the ring's style, he suddenly wasn't so sure.

The main stone was an exceptionally clear square pink diamond, surrounded by a circle of tiny petal-shaped white diamonds, with the band also paved with white diamond chips. The style was very simple, yet absolutely no one would say it lacked splendor.

The problem was that Zhong Yinghong did not like pink diamonds.

'Not for Mom?' Xu Junmo asked him then, 'Who are you giving it to?'

Xu Yanfeng only focused on admiring the ring, picturing it on Xia Xi's hand, and without raising his head answered, 'Girlfriend.'

Xu Junmo slapped his forehead, suddenly realizing. He of course knew his younger brother had a girlfriend; though the brothers were separated by great distance, they kept in touch often, and Xu Yanfeng had mentioned Xia Xi several times. Yet when picking the ring, Xu Junmo hadn't imagined he might give it to his girlfriend. In Xu Junmo's impression, his brother was not the type to play romance.

Being allergic to romance, that description fits Xu Yanfeng exactly.

'Are you going to propose to her?'

Xu Junmo had just overheard the salesperson talking with Xu Yanfeng, knowing this pink diamond ring cost 14 million, in US dollars. He hadn't misheard; it was indeed US dollars.

Besides a proposal, Xu Junmo couldn't think of any other occasion that would call for such a 'heavyweight' diamond ring.

'If that's really the case, I'm afraid I'll have to make a trip back to the country.' Xu Junmo patted his brother's shoulder, 'After all, it's an important moment in your life. Besides, I also want to meet the female warrior who won you over.'

Being able to handle someone as steadfast and cold as a glacier like his brother, shouldn't she be called a 'female warrior'?

Xu Junmo also didn't know which of his words had been wrong; Xu Yanfeng's eyes darkened slightly, and he put the ring back into the indigo velvet tray.

'What's wrong with you?' Xu Junmo asked.

Xu Yanfeng ignored him, switched to English to communicate with the salesperson, saying he wanted this ring and asking them to pack it up.

The salesperson wearing white gloves smiled all over, carefully and reverently picking up the ring and placing it into a black square box with an outer layer of lambskin and an inner lining of velvet.

Xu Yanfeng signed the slip efficiently, took the ring and left, as if he had bought a cabbage.

Leaving the brand store, Xu Junmo pressed on: 'What does your silence mean? Hey, I'm saying, doesn't your girlfriend mind that you're such a tight-lipped gourd?'

Xu Yanfeng gave him a cool glance, answering his earlier question: 'Not a proposal. It's too early; she wouldn't agree.'

Xu Junmo froze, then chuckled, realizing he had been glum all this while for that reason. He laughed while comforting his innocent younger brother's heart: 'You've never proposed before, how do you know she won't agree? Maybe if you present flowers, kneel on one knee, and offer the ring, she'll be moved and nod.'

Xu Yanfeng: 'You don't understand her.'

Xu Junmo shrugged: 'Of course I don't understand; I've never even seen her face.'

Recalling that scene, Xu Junmo still wanted to laugh; he urged Xu Yanfeng: 'Birthday, that's a good opportunity—are you sure you don't want to try proposing? Being turned down isn't a big deal; you can just look for another chance.'

Xu Yanfeng didn't want to discuss this, narrowed his eyes, and put on a serious, businesslike expression: 'Let's talk about the real matter.'

Xu Junmo, addicted to gossip, ignored him: 'When will you arrange for me to meet her?'

Xu Yanfeng didn't look at him, organizing the documents on the table: 'You need to return to the country first.'

Xu Junmo thought of the pile of work at hand and got a headache, then realized Xu Yanfeng was sitting at the Xu Clan headquarters and would surely be even busier, and he couldn't help but sigh.

Hearing the sigh, Xu Yanfeng lifted his head, looked at the person on the screen, his eyes slightly doubtful.

Xu Junmo explained why he sighed: 'I suddenly realized I'm a bit unfilial; as the older brother, I cast off the burden early and didn't give you a chance to choose.'

Since he was underage, he had felt the control of Xu Guanshan, that oppressive pressure like a mountain weighing on his head, often leaving him breathless; even in his dreams he could see Xu Guanshan with a stern face scolding him for doing this wrong and that wrong.

To escape that control, he voluntarily applied to study abroad, taking charge of the Xu Clan's overseas business under the pretense of honing his abilities. Once overseas, outside Xu Guanshan's line of sight, he tasted the flavor of freedom—it felt like a bird long caged finally taking flight, the sky vast, he could go wherever he wished.

He no longer wanted to live under Xu Guanshan's control, so he found various excuses not to return.

Xu Guanshan, because of this, gave him the cold shoulder for a long time, until he discovered the younger son's talent, then he indulged the elder son's wish, letting him roam freely abroad while focusing on cultivating Xu Yanfeng, keeping him close by.

Xu Guanshan thought there was still plenty of time; who would become the heir was still uncertain, so he decided to wait and see.

As the years passed, Xu Junmo repeatedly declared himself an absolute bachelor, vowing never to marry or have children, which completely dispelled Xu Guanshan's notion of picking an heir from his two sons—the heir of the Xu Clan Group would only be Xu Yanfeng.

Xu Guanshan also feared repeating past mistakes; in disciplining Xu Yanfeng he stressed a balance of leniency and strictness—demanding rigor without overbearing restraint, giving him his own space.

This bit of freedom Xu Junmo earned for his brother through his own experience may be small, but it's better than nothing.

The premise is that Xu Yanfeng must stay within the framework set by Xu Guanshan; once he strays, steps out of line, and does something out of the ordinary, Xu Guanshan will not indulge him but will spare no expense to pull him back onto the right path.

Xu Yanfeng chuckled, showing agreement with his brother who had suddenly begun self-reflection: 'You only just realized.' He had no right to choose, only to endure passively, but fortunately he could bear it.

Xu Yanfeng lifted his wrist, tapped the watch face with his fingertip, and reminded him again: 'Is the meeting still on?' Ending early would let him meet Xia Xi sooner; he was eager to know what she wanted to say.

To be honest, her attitude has been cold lately, and he feels a bit uneasy.

Xu Junmo threw up his hands in surrender: 'Open, open, open. Wait while I pull someone in.'

Xia Xi was sketching a few strokes on the blueprint when the phone rang; she immediately picked it up and put it to her ear: 'You're done already? That fast!'

'May I ask if this is Miss Xia Xi?' a completely unfamiliar male voice came from the earpiece, polite and earnest, well-bred, sounding like a middle-aged man.

Xia Xi's expression stalled; she held the phone up to her eyes and only then realized it wasn't Xu Yanfeng calling. She had been too hasty, answering without checking the caller ID.

'Ah… it's me.' Xi Xi drew out her tone, half doubtful, half wary, asking, 'May I ask who you are?'

She couldn't possibly lose her due vigilance just because the other party was polite.

The middle-aged uncle on the phone said gently, 'Could you tell me where you are? I'll come pick you up.'

Xia Xi felt puzzled, even laughable and vexing, not even using honorifics: "You haven't even told me who you are, why should I see you? This is strange."