Chapter 13: It Was I Who Was Ignorant and Narrow-Minded

“Hello? Peng Jiaxin, don’t play dead—say something!”
Zhou Xuejing was still speaking urgently.
She was genuinely upset. She had stayed silent about the sudden marriage, but now she was being stood up?
Chen Fan didn’t want to get involved in their girlfriends’ discussion and intended to return the phone to her.
Peng Jiaxin waved her hands repeatedly; she knew all too well how terrifying an angry Zhou Xuejing could be.
“I can’t! Chen Fan… husband, you’re the best. I’ll treat you to dinner later.”
Since it had come to this, Chen Fan had no way to refuse. He cleared his throat twice and responded,
“Hello.”
There was a two-second pause on the other end, then a puzzled voice asked,
“Who is this?”
“Chen Fan, well… Peng Jiaxin’s fiancé.”
“Oh~ so it’s you.”
Zhou Xuejing suddenly understood. Of course, aside from her father, the only man who would have access to Peng Jiaxin’s phone must be this newlywed gentleman.
“Don’t worry, little brother. I’m here to set things straight. That one actually tricked you into marriage just to appease her parents. If you have any grievances, you can tell your sister.”
Chen Fan: “???”
Sister, did you pick up the wrong script?
He glanced at Peng Jiaxin, who looked equally puzzled. Clearly, she hadn’t expected Zhou Xuejing to focus on this angle.
“Sis, what if I told you we’re truly in love?”
“Don’t try to fool me. Tell me, how much money did she give you?”
Peng Jiaxin couldn’t hold back. She snatched the phone away.
“Zhou Xuejing, I’m not so desperate that I need to pay someone to marry me!”
“That’s true. Our Xin Xin has the body, the looks, intelligence, and money—who wouldn’t like her?”
“But that’s not a reason for you to drag someone into marriage!”
Zhou Xuejing lowered her voice.
Peng Jiaxin fell silent.
“If you two are dating, I won’t say a word, but this is marriage! Have you considered the difference between you and that child? What if Uncle Peng doesn’t agree? What will that kid do? Marry quickly and then divorce just as fast? Or do you want to act out some melodrama about life and death?”
Peng Jiaxin glanced nervously at Chen Fan.
“I was going to the matchmaking just as they wanted. How did it become my fault in your mouth?”
Besides, her family wasn’t truly an aristocratic clan. She didn’t believe her parents would play the class division game.
Zhou Xuejing sighed, unwilling to argue stubbornly with Peng Jiaxin.
“I’m going straight to Uncle’s place to feel things out for you.”
“Hehe, Xuejing, you’re the best~”
“Cut the chatter. You better think about how to make it up to your husband.”
Because after tonight, who knows what might happen.
Zhou Xuejing hung up and sighed again.
Let’s hope everything goes smoothly tonight.

...

Zhou Xuejing did lower her voice, but Chen Fan was simply too close.
He could hear every word of their conversation clearly.
“Sorry, Chen Fan.”
Peng Jiaxin bit her lip. Her father’s doting had made her subconsciously believe that no matter what she did, he would support her.
But when it came to marriage, if Peng Guojun truly disapproved, even if she insisted on continuing, their relationship would surely become tense.
In a few days, when her uncle and aunt arrived, how would she explain?
Her parents suddenly had something come up and couldn’t make it?
Known in the business world for being cold and decisive, Peng Jiaxin was experiencing feelings of frustration and anxiety for the first time.
It felt as if she had truly ruined Chen Fan’s life.
Chen Fan chuckled wryly.
Zhou Xuejing did have a point, but Chen Fan was no ordinary man. Those arguments didn’t necessarily apply to him.
“Don’t worry. I’ll get Uncle’s approval.”
At that moment, Peng Jiaxin’s voice cracked slightly with emotion.
“Really?”
“Yes.”
Chen Fan took her small hand and gently squeezed it without a word.
“Think about it, if I can win you over, what if Uncle and Auntie like me the moment we meet?”
Peng Jiaxin smiled through her tears.
“Quit joking around. I’m talking serious.”
“That’s serious! It’s not every day I marry such a beautiful wife—I’m not letting go easily.”
“Hmph~ then it depends on how you perform tonight.”
“Leave it to me! Alright, get up. Let’s get ready; we should head out.”
“Okay.”
Half an hour later, after a shower and a change of clothes, Chen Fan and Peng Jiaxin arrived at the underground garage.
“Why aren’t you wearing the suit I bought you?”
Chen Fan wore the outfit he had on at his graduation ceremony when he received his diploma. It was a formal suit that cost him several hundred yuan. But compared to the suit Peng Jiaxin bought for him, it probably didn’t measure up.
“I can’t give Uncle the impression that I’m here to sponge off the family right from the start.”
Though there was some truth to that, it certainly shouldn’t be obvious in front of the father-in-law.
“Makes sense.”
Peng Jiaxin casually picked a black Maybach and gestured for Chen Fan to get in.
While fastening his seatbelt, Chen Fan asked what he had been wondering.
“Peng Jiaxin, this car…”
“It’s mine too. You know, sports cars have low chassis, and driving them too much strains my back, so I bought this one to alternate.”
“...”
Sorry, I was ignorant.
“All the cars around here are mine. If you want to drive any, the keys are in the second compartment above the shoe cabinet.”
“Uh… okay.”

Although he only said two words, Chen Fan felt his lips dry and instinctively licked them.
You could say that sometimes, relying on someone else’s support isn’t something you can just refuse.
“My parents live in the suburbs. I’ve already prepared the gift for you; it’s in the trunk. You just need to bring it along.”
“Please don’t say it’s some cheap liquor.”
“It’s not.”
Peng Jiaxin awkwardly wiggled her fingers.
“Sit tight, I’m about to start driving.”
“Okay.”

...

In the villa district of Su City, which Peng Jiaxin called the suburbs, the Peng family’s elderly couple welcomed some unexpected guests.
“Mom, why are you here?”
Peng Guojun looked surprised at the elderly man before him.
Madam Peng, stooped and leaning on a cane, stood at the doorway, wearing a smile on her face that Peng Guojun hadn’t seen since the passing of the old master Peng.
“I’ve been learning how to use a phone recently. I saw Xin Xin’s marriage certificate and wanted to come see if it’s real.”
Peng Guojun was momentarily speechless.
“Huh? What’s wrong?”
“Nothing. Mom, why didn’t you tell us you were coming? We could have picked you up.”
Bai Meilan came out, pushing the stunned Peng Guojun aside to help Madam Peng inside.
“It’s no trouble. This phone is very convenient; you can do everything with it.”
Madam Peng usually lived in the countryside, reluctant to leave her old friends there. But Peng Guojun and the others knew she was really just unwilling to be far from her late husband.
Coming here by herself must have taken great effort.
Madam Peng followed Bai Meilan into the villa. In the living room on the first floor, two young people sat at opposite ends of the sofa, the atmosphere slightly awkward.
Seeing Bai Meilan helping the old lady in, Zhou Xuejing immediately stood to greet her, while the man straightened his posture.
“Grandma~”
Zhou Xuejing called sweetly. Madam Peng recognized this girl who had played with her Xin Xin since childhood.
“Xuejing, long time no see.”
The old lady smiled warmly.
“By the way, have you heard about Xin Xin’s marriage?”
Zhou Xuejing nodded.
“They’re very much in love.”
Bai Meilan smiled and added,
“Yes, Mom, it’s the first time I’ve seen Xin Xin so fond of a man.”
“That’s good, that’s good. That’s the best.”