Chapter 13: A Change of Plans
946 Words
Within a few minutes, Catherine returned to the living room with Sophia Shang trailing behind her.
“Mom, what’s the matter? I was on the phone with my classmates!” Sophia’s expression showed clear reluctance.
“Oh, just wait a bit before calling,” Diana Wang said, pulling Sophia over.
At that moment, Edward Shang arrived, having just parked the car, and walked in.
“Edward! You’re just in time. I think we need to discuss Mr. Long’s situation again,” Diana Wang said, casting a glance at Catherine before walking toward Edward Shang.
“Alright, let’s head to the study,” Edward Shang responded with a meaningful look.
“Sophia, come here,” Diana Wang called, grabbing Sophia’s hand and leading her toward the study.
Watching the family’s retreating figures, Catherine felt once again isolated. She thought of Rose’s suggestion from earlier.
“Catherine, hurry up! What are you daydreaming about?” Diana Wang’s voice called out sharply.
“Oh, coming,” Catherine snapped back to reality and quickly followed.
The car sped along the highway, and Elliot, overwhelmed with questions, finally couldn’t hold back any longer.
“You seem to be in a good mood tonight?” Elliot asked, his hands gripping the steering wheel.
At least in some ways, he had sensed something was off, like how the dinner, which should have ended much earlier, dragged on for over three hours—it was suspicious!
“Don’t you find Catherine Shang interesting?” Ryan Long asked, rolling down the car window and lighting a cigarette.
“Interesting?” Elliot raised an eyebrow, clearly not agreeing.
Throughout the evening, Miss Shang had hardly spoken a word. If she hadn’t greeted them at the beginning, she might have been mistaken for mute.
“I think she’s very straightforward, and her temper is less gentle than her appearance suggests,” Ryan Long said, exhaling smoke out the window, a smile lingering at his lips.
Last night, she had kicked him. And earlier in the VIP room, she had resisted him vehemently.
“When did you become so good at reading people?” Elliot shot him a questioning glance.
“I’m not reading people.”
“Then how do you know if she’s gentle or straightforward?” Elliot was beginning to wonder if he had missed out on something significant.
“I’ve met her before!” Ryan Long took another drag of his cigarette, letting the smoke drift out the window.
“You’ve met her before?” This revelation surprised Elliot greatly.
“Not just met her, but almost slept with her,” Ryan Long said with a grin, focusing on the glowing tip of his cigarette.
“Ah?” Elliot was almost shocked speechless.
“Do you really need to be so surprised?” Ryan Long gave him a sharp look, as if he were scanning for any more reactions.
“Given that, does this marriage proposal get called off?” Elliot asked, hopeful.
“I’ve changed my mind!” Ryan Long leaned forward to stub out his cigarette in the ashtray.
Elliot had a bad feeling about this.
Ryan Long propped his chin on his hand. “At my age, getting married just for fun doesn’t sound too bad.”
Elliot nearly fainted upon hearing this!
“Are you kidding?” He wanted to live a few more years and wasn’t ready to be throttled by his cousin.
“A few years ago, my mom was pressuring me to get married,” Ryan Long replied casually.
“That was one thing; this is another,” Elliot realized his scalp was starting to tingle.
“I don’t see the difference. It’s still just marriage, right? Just having a woman move in with me! But ideally, she should be smart enough not to interfere with my private life.”
“Ryan, I know you’re joking,” Elliot said, his eyes trembling.
“I’m not joking.” Ryan Long reclined his seat, closing his eyes to relax.
Elliot persisted in trying to dissuade him. “Actually, if this resort doesn’t get built, it won’t be a huge loss for the whole group.”
Ryan Long covered himself with his discarded suit jacket. “You should know that I am a person who sees things through to the end.”
“But to become in-laws with Mr. and Mrs. Shang…” Elliot hesitated, knowing the next words wouldn’t be pleasant.
“Like greedy nouveau riche, right?” Ryan Long opened his eyes lazily.
Elliot nodded vigorously in agreement.
“I’m not marrying the couple, but their daughter.” He closed his eyes again.
“Have you not heard the saying, ‘Like father, like son; like mother, like daughter’?” Elliot was sweating—whether from the car’s air conditioning or from fear, he wasn’t sure.
“Your Chinese has improved quite a bit,” Ryan Long remarked with a hint of sarcasm.
“…” Elliot muttered under his breath.
“Arrange a dinner for them tomorrow night and have them come to Taipei.” He made a firm decision, and it wouldn’t be easily changed.
Catherine Shang followed into the study, closing the door behind her. Turning around, she immediately sensed the tension in the room.
“Catherine, come over here and sit down,” Diana Wang gestured to the sofa.
Looking at the sofa, Catherine saw that Uncle Shang and Sophia were already seated, forming a triangle that resembled an interrogation. She couldn’t help but shiver.
“What are you still standing there for? Hurry up and come over. Mommy needs to talk to you,” Diana Wang urged.
Catherine Shang steeled herself and walked closer.
- Writer
