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Several people chatted for a while, and Huang Wei listened to their stories, feeling both anxious and joyful alongside them. Shangguan Shaoyi's voice gradually slowed down, coming to a stop with the last syllable. His hand remained tightly clasped around Cheng Mo Su's, feeling her soft palm melt into his grip, gentle as water.
Before they knew it, it was lunchtime. Unable to resist Huang Wei's enthusiasm, the two had no choice but to stay for the meal. The transparent goblets were filled with red liquid, and the three raised their glasses together, clinking them with a crisp sound. Under the sunlight, the glasses sparkled, reflecting the smiles on their lips.
"Mo Su," Huang Wei said while cutting his steak, "if your father really agrees to your marriage, won't you be able to come back very rarely?"
"I suppose so," Cheng Mo Su replied, her watery eyes shimmering, a faint smile on her lips tinged with sadness. "But I will come to see you as soon as I return."
"You're prioritizing romance over friendship!" Huang Wei scoffed. "I can't tell you how boring it has been while you've been away. If it weren't for Mr. Xu visiting me often, I would have been completely bored out of my mind!"
Cheng Mo Su's delicate hand holding the knife and fork paused. Xu Hua... did Huang Wei still like him? Her gaze fell on Huang Wei's oval face, but he seemed to realize something and quickly changed the subject. "Shaoyi, who else is in your family? They won't bully our Mo Su, will they?"
Shangguan Shaoyi did not look up; although he didn't know who Xu Hua was, he was well aware of the awkwardness from earlier. He was happy to continue with Huang Wei's newly introduced topic. "I have an older sister who really likes Mo Su. You should be more worried about her teaming up with Mo Su to bully me."
Huang Wei chuckled softly and quickly covered his mouth. "Shaoyi, you're really different from before. Back then, you were so gloomy and reserved; you hardly spoke at all. Now you're making jokes."
The sunlight enveloped him as he slightly closed his eyes. Back then, he might not have even had his life; how could he have had the leisure to joke around? He continued cutting his steak into small pieces while Cheng Mo Su smiled gently and took over the conversation. "I actually think this is quite nice." She looked at Huang Wei's sparkling eyes and felt a heaviness in her heart. "Huang Wei, if you have time, come visit me in Feng Province; there are many nice gentlemen there..."
Before she could finish speaking, Huang Wei diverted the conversation again. "By the way, when are you two getting married? I'll be your bridesmaid! Will the wedding be held in Shanghai or Feng Province?"
Cheng Mo Su sighed; she had wanted Huang Wei to meet some boys from outside so that he wouldn't keep thinking about Xu Hua. Xu Hua was older than Huang Wei by quite a bit, but that wasn't a problem; the key was that he was entangled with Huang Wei's aunt, and she didn't want innocent Huang Wei to get hurt.
After chatting casually for a while longer, Huang Wei seemed to be shrouded in a layer of dark clouds; even his laughter appeared forced. Seeing this, Cheng Mo Su took Shangguan Shaoyi's hand and bid farewell. Huang Wei did not insist on keeping them there but agreed that they would go together to watch a play in a few days.
Shangguan Shaoyi held Cheng Mo Su's hand tightly as their warmth intertwined. Suddenly feeling a pang of sadness in her heart, she thought about how Huang Wei had grown up with her as a good friend; now that she was so happy, Huang Wei remained trapped in his nightmare of Xu Hua.
"Tell me, who is this Xu Hua?" Shangguan Shaoyi stopped walking and fixed his intense gaze on Cheng Mo Su. Cheng Mo Su was taken aback and looked up to ask, "You noticed?"
Shangguan Shaoyi raised his eyebrows and smiled, "I'm not foolish, Consort Shangguan."
"Who is Consort Shangguan..." She lowered her beautiful face, a blush dancing on her snow-white cheeks, adding a touch of grace.
Shangguan Shaoyi chuckled affectionately, no longer saying anything, still tightly holding her hand. The two strolled between the willows and Apricot Blossoms, unaware that the sky had darkened.
Cheng Mo smiled gently at him, her eyes filled with reluctance, but her tone remained casual, "Well... I'll head back first. It's getting late. You can come visit my father tomorrow."
"Okay," he replied. Her smile became even clearer, and her Water-colored Eyes reflected pure joy.
After a moment of silence, neither of them moved to leave. Shangguan Shaoyi was somewhat puzzled, "Mo Su, why don't you go in?"
"Every time it's me watching your back; I've gotten used to it." Her gaze fell downwards, her Rose-Colored Lips pressed into a straight line, creating two small dimples on her cheeks.
Shangguan Shaoyi's heart seemed to be stirred by her words, reaching the softest corner. He reached out to tousle her hair and softly said, "Then this time, let me watch you."
Cheng Mo paused for a moment, then looked up and smiled at him, waving her hand while reminding him, "Then I'll go in first. You must come to my house tomorrow." Her voice grew softer until it was barely audible.
He smiled faintly and nodded.
Cheng Mo walked towards the mansion but turned back with every step until she entered the gate. Afu closed the door behind her, and only then did she shift her gaze. Afu brought her a plate of fruit, but she didn't pay attention to eating and asked, "Where's my father?"
"The master is in the study discussing matters with Mr. Xu." Cheng Mo's heart jolted; an ominous premonition arose within her. Her father never brought work home; since she could remember, he had never had business partners come home to discuss matters. Her gaze drifted upwards towards the study.
Inside the study, the scent of ink filled the air, mingling with smoke. The desk was cluttered with various documents, and sunlight streamed through a slightly open crack onto the floor. Cheng Yi put down his pipe and said slowly, "Do you think I shouldn't marry Su'er to Shangguan Lin?"
"Absolutely not." Xu Hua adjusted his gold-rimmed glasses. "Director Cheng, you must understand that this marriage is equivalent to a political alliance. Can you guarantee that Shangguan Lin will definitely win against the Southern Government? The Southern Government has gained the support of another capitalist family in Shanghai, the Zhu Family, and with the Southern Government's existing army and assets, Shangguan Lin cannot compete with them."
"I know this," Cheng Yi said lightly. "But if I support him, he might win, and Mosu likes him so much."
"Director Cheng, you are misjudging the situation because of the young lady," Xu Hua urged. "Even if you support him, his chances of winning are only forty percent. The Southern Government has just eliminated other warlords in the south and unified the region; unifying the north is only a matter of time. Moreover, the Zhu Family will not be favored by the Southern Government. If Director Cheng helps the Southern Government now, your future prospects will surely be even greater," Xu Hua argued confidently.
"Oh? Why do you say that the Zhu Family will not be favored?"
Xu Hua smiled slyly. "The Southern Government is composed entirely of American-educated elites who look down on families like the Zhu Family that lack culture and started from scratch. They prefer to promote those who have studied in America. Joining their government at this time is not too late; standing at the forefront of this era will surely allow you to reach the peak of your career once again."
Cheng Yi took a puff of smoke; he had considered these points before, but seeing Mosu's determined attitude yesterday made him hesitate.
Xu Hua seemed to sense his thoughts and continued, "Director Cheng is probably worried about the young lady's happiness. In my opinion, marrying Shangguan Lin would be the most unhappy thing for her. Just think about his character—he can hide in the Cheng Family for so long, enduring and biding his time, yet when it comes to seizing power, he acts decisively and ruthlessly. Such a person must have great ambitions and talents. He will not negotiate with the Southern Government; if he were to lose in battle, he might even take his own life. What would happen to the young lady then? Even if we assume he miraculously wins, he would attract unwanted attention. Unlike the Southern Government, which has America's backing, he would have to deal not only with various domestic forces lurking in the shadows but also face the covetous eyes of various empires. Ultimately, he could become a victim of war and politics. What would happen to the young lady's happiness then?"
Cheng Yi nodded, exhaling smoke rings that floated gracefully into the sky and blended into the air. If it weren't for the lingering scent, he might have forgotten how many cigarettes he had smoked. Strangely enough, while he usually couldn't hear birds chirping or insects buzzing, at this moment everything was so clear.
On one side was his daughter's happiness; on the other was her resentment. Yet one path led to an unknown peril while the other promised a controllable future.
How should he choose?
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