Qing Muye's handsome face curved into a slight arc. "Money is an external possession, brought neither in nor out of death. Even if my wife takes it all, I can still earn it back. But if life is lost, if the family is broken, what use is even more money?"
He patiently tried to persuade them with kind words.
Tang Si had walked through the gates of hell, and even resolved to become a monk. Although they hadn't dared to tell the Tang family when they found Tang Si at Baiyun Temple, Tang Si had informed them himself once he came down from the mountain.
Having experienced these two incidents, Qing Muye felt the Tang family should have restrained themselves. But now, it seemed he had thought too much.
"He's young, after all," Mother Tang sighed, her attitude towards Qing Muye polite. "The competition in business is so fierce now, and Tang Si's father is under a lot of pressure. Wanting to finalize the marriage with Wu Yan is also for Tang Si's future betterment."
"You keep saying it's for Tang Si's good, but have you ever asked him what he thinks?" Meng Jingwei couldn't stand it anymore and couldn't help but question them.
"Xiao Si is still young, his thoughts are pure, and he acts rashly. If we followed his wishes, what chaos would ensue?" Father Tang said with a stern air. "His marriage to Wu Yan is known by everyone in Lancheng. If they don't get married soon, let alone the Zhao family, even the Tang family will become a laughingstock."
The implication in his words was still that they hoped Tang Si and Zhao Wu Yan would get married quickly.
Meng Jingwei knew very well that Tang Si's parents were stubborn, but she hadn't expected them to be not only obstinate and old-fashioned in their thinking, but also excessively concerned with face.
"Uncle's meaning is..." Qing Muye's sharp features were tinged with a complexity and heaviness. "You insist on making Xiao Si marry Zhao Wu Yan?"
"Of course!"
Mother Tang immediately stepped forward to state her position.
Her stance suggested that the marriage was unavoidable!
Meng Jingwei inexplicably felt some pity for Tang Si. She pursed her lips with a sigh of helplessness and turned to look at Qing Muye beside her.
Their eyes met, and a lingering gloom was visible on both their faces.
At a certain moment, Meng Jingwei felt that Tang Si's predicament was exactly the same as Qing Muye's current situation – both had parents who insisted on commercial marriages for the sake of family prosperity.
They selfishly dictated their children's lives according to their own ideas, binding them with shackles, yet constantly spoke of love as their reason.
How absurd, how ridiculous.
"Are you trying to force Xiao Si to death?" Qing Muye's voice suddenly turned cold, his ink-black eyes also gaining a chilling glint.
Father Tang let out a long sigh. "Muye, you are Xiao Si's good brother, and he usually listens to you. Help us persuade him to marry Wu Yan obediently. This marriage is a decision by the Zhao family, and it is also the will of our family's patriarch. He has no choice!"
"I'm sorry, I'm powerless to..."
"Alright, I'll marry!"
Qing Muye had only spoken half a sentence when a voice suddenly rang out from behind him.
Everyone turned to look, and saw Tang Si emerge from behind a green plant, at some unknown time.
In the cold wind, he wore a thin black sweater, his hands tucked into the pockets of his casual pants. His lifeless face showed none of his former arrogance or wild, uninhibited spirit. He was like a pearl covered in dust, its brilliance dulled.
Let alone Qing Muye, even Meng Jingwei felt a pang of heartache seeing Tang Si.
"Are you crazy!" Qing Muye chided him lightly.
Meng Jingwei couldn't bear to watch and intervened, "Tang Si, calm down."
"What are you two doing?" Mother Tang, overjoyed to hear Tang Si agree to the marriage, didn't expect them to be causing trouble again. "Haven't you heard 'It's better to demolish ten temples than to break up one marriage'? Are you two still Xiao Si's friends!"