Chapter Forty-Six: A Clumsy Attempt Backfires

If one were to ask what it means to be hoisted by one's own petard, Yuan Yaor had a taste of it today—her pride stung with a resounding slap across the face.

After changing into her outfit and applying a delicate, meticulous makeup, she appeared especially demure and charming. Compared to everyone else, Yuan Yaor was truly a solitary bloom amid a sea of flowers.

Yuan Xiangdie had been watching this mother and daughter from upstairs since early morning. They busied themselves with endless tasks downstairs, and though she couldn’t quite tell what they were up to, a guess would suffice.

Enjoying a rare moment of early morning peace, she noted that the pair was too preoccupied with their trivial affairs to pay any attention to her.

“Aunt Li, could you boil me a bowl of millet porridge? If not, just bring me a bowl from the pot that’s been warming. Nothing else is needed,” she requested simply, taking up her chopsticks and settling at the dining table.

“Go on, don’t make trouble. Give her whatever she wants—today is a grand day. Don't let those unlucky people ruin your mood for no reason.” Zhang Xi was merciless, her priorities clear—none mattered more than the person before her.

Clinging tightly to her diamond bachelor was the true path; just yesterday, she’d discussed this matter with several ladies of similar status. Turning around, she saw the astonishing news—delighted, of course.

“Oh my dear daughter, your hairstyle doesn’t look quite right. Let Mama fix it for you,” she fussed.

“Really? Is it off? Please help me check,” Yuan Yaor exclaimed in surprise, wishing she could be even more refined. Had this not been so sudden, she’d have called Tony over to give her a full beauty treatment.

Aunt Li, unwilling to stir up trouble, brought over the millet porridge from the pot and thoughtfully added a portion of pickled vegetables.

“Miss, please try it. This porridge has been simmering since dawn—it’s plenty thick now.”

Yuan Xiangdie nodded at the bowl, thinking it better than what they served in prison.

She sat at the table, waiting to watch the drama unfold, certain that Jin Yuan would arrive to find this flamboyant woman, whose appearance was surely more dazzling than hers last night.

She pondered, realizing she had yet to see this man in any state of panic; at least she could claim to have brought him to meet the family.

Her thoughts drifted to childhood memories—her father never did anything like this, nor did her mother lose her life over that matter. What a happy family it must have been back then. But alas, too many things are lost forever, left only to reminisce.

Jin Yuan’s car arrived, trailing media to the door, where he found the house bustling with people. It had nothing to do with him; he walked in directly, even refusing Housekeeper Hu’s offer to help.

“Sir, yesterday Miss... Madam slept rather late. Perhaps I should…” Hu began, but the moment he mentioned “Miss,” a piercing gaze made him pause.

Jin Yuan glanced over, silently forcing Housekeeper Hu to change his address before an engagement was even settled.

The media speculated furiously—who was this, after all? This family had two daughters, and their recent scandals had been headline news.

“He’s here, look!” Yuan Yaor’s heart brimmed with affection, almost overflowing—this diamond bachelor was about to become hers.

She found nothing odd about it; despite barely interacting and no mention of a proposal, somehow a company with a promising future had suddenly taken an interest in the soon-to-be bankrupt Xiang Group.

Zhang Xi sensed something was amiss, but her mind was clouded with excitement. She held down the giddy girl, thinking herself calm after having experienced similar events.

“Calm down, don’t make such a fuss. Remember, your family has its merits—if not, I wouldn’t have insisted…” She hadn’t expected to say that, but no one paid much attention except the one sipping porridge.

Yuan Xiangdie feigned ignorance, asking loudly, “Stepmother, what’s going on? Why is it so noisy this morning—and why is my sister so dressed up? Surely no one’s here to propose?”

The two were in high spirits, but her words doused them like a cold bucket of water.

Yuan Yaor, annoyed, was about to retort, but was stopped.

Zhang Xi covered her mouth and patted her smooth hair gently.

“Xiangdie, there’s no point in saying more. It’s fate—when it’s good, it’s good; when it’s bad, nothing can be done.”

Such was their way, always dodging the truth. But today, surely it would be the mother and daughter’s turn to disgrace themselves. Yuan Xiangdie waited to see Yuan Yaor receive her just deserts.

The doorbell rang twice. Yuan Yaor moved to the entrance, eager to open the door at the sound of footsteps, but Zhang Xi insisted on propriety, holding off until the third ring.

Yuan Yaor calmed herself, her cheeks rosy—she looked every bit the dream goddess for any shut-in. Yet the man before her was no ordinary recluse; Jin Yuan had seen every kind of woman, even the most ethereal, and hardly gave them a glance.

Opening the door, her good mood evaporated at the sight of his face. But then she caught a glimpse to the side: the smooth hair, the crisp shirt, and those utterly mismatched baggy shorts and slippers.

It was clear this woman was being deliberate. She shifted her lips slightly, betraying a hint of a smile, her gaze full of determination.

Yuan Xiangdie felt someone’s gaze, closed her eyes, and met it with a challenge.

“If you want to play, today I’ll let you play to your heart’s content,” she said.

Jin Yuan raised an eyebrow, but Yuan Xiangdie showed no surprise.

“Thank you, boss,” she replied.

Their silent exchange never reached Yuan Yaor, who blushed like a shy bride.

“Mr. Jin… what brings you to our home so early, and with so many people?” she asked, casting occasional shy glances at the media. The cameras never allowed a moment’s respite, and the flashes could blind, but Yuan Yaor remained composed.

Yuan Xiangdie couldn’t help but admire her—this woman truly knew how to handle the media.

Standing before the relentless flashes, she knew she’d be blinded if it were her. While sipping her porridge, she contemplated fleeing upstairs to grab her sunglasses, hidden among the bottles and jars.

Eyes are precious—if the photos turned out ugly, it didn’t matter. Beauty shines through regardless.

Jin Yuan balanced the situation, attentive to Yuan Xiangdie’s moves, secretly satisfied by her lively gestures. This was vitality—lifeless things, even if beautiful, held no interest.

But not everyone could play the role of a vase; the woman before him, even as a flowerpot, would be an insult.

Jin Yuan fought the urge to clear the room, while Housekeeper Hu, discerning as ever, suspected another scheme between husband and wife and pitied the mother and daughter. To keep appearances, with so many media present, he hoped no gossip would arise at the engagement.

“Today our master is here to propose—indeed, it’s sudden. Miss Xiang shouldn’t mind, but if she does, compensation will be made at the wedding banquet,” Housekeeper Hu announced, striking true as a javelin.

Zhang Xi had never imagined things would go so smoothly; she’d expected hurdles, given their ruined reputation and the effort needed to restore it.

Yuan Yaor’s cheeks were crimson—so this was why her mother wouldn’t let her use blush; she hardly needed it, her face already red as a monkey’s bottom.

She longed to flee to a mirror to check if she looked too shy—would Jin Yuan think her overly bashful?

Such thoughts ran wild in her mind, but the real protagonist of this event was not her. Yuan Xiangdie, unhurried and detached, acted as if nothing concerned her.

“Miss Xiang, am I to stand at the door all day?” Jin Yuan asked, his tone unmistakably authoritative.

Yuan Xiangdie mentally saluted him, lips curling in amusement, though her urge to turn off the flashes grew stronger. She wondered how the reporters had all managed to barge in.

Even the person sipping porridge in the back was clearly photographed, and someone boldly asked,

“May I ask, Mrs. Zhang, did you know in advance that Mr. Jin Yuan would be coming today? If I’m not mistaken, your daughter isn’t wearing a custom dress from Xunfang, but a new release from an internationally renowned high-end brand.”

Every society lady has her secret channels, and Zhang Xi was quite pleased with hers.

Her face blossomed with a smile—just as she was about to speak, she was abruptly silenced.