Chapter 62：Two choices

Xinyi froze.

"What?"

As she read through them, she found that they were indeed legal marriage papers.

"W-what is going on?"

"I want you to marry Zhiyuan."

Xinyi looked at him, aghast. "Marry Zhiyuan? That is impossible. He-"

"Loves An Caihong?" Han Huizhong chuckled. "I don't care about that. I have decided that you will be my granddaughter-in-law."

She clutched her dress. Her heart thudded in fear to oppose him, but she had to.

"H-how can you not care? Zhiyuan's happiness is with Caihong. You cannot force him to marry someone he...he doesn't love."

The last part hurt her heart.

Han Huizhong leaned back on his seat. He rested his cheek on his palm and said, "Listen Soo Xinyi. I have two principles in life. Do you know what they are?"

Xinyi kept quiet.

He smiled. "Peace and profit. Peace at home and profit in business. I can go to any lengths to achieve that balance. If I want you to marry Zhiyuan, that means you will marry Zhiyuan. End of the story."

Xinyi was stunned to see his indifference regarding his own grandson's marriage. It was such an important decision, and he was taking it without his consent.

That made her angry for Zhiyuan's sake.

She looked at him and said, "Sorry, Sir. But I cannot accept this. This is too harsh. You know what Zhiyuan is going through right now when Caihong has suddenly left him. He is still searching for her, and you want him to marry at this time? How can you not think of his feelings?"

Han Huizhong was impressed. "So, you can talk back too? I thought you are too used to listening to others."

Xinyi's lips stretched into a thin line.

"And if An Caihong left him, that is her problem."

"They love each other. Of course, it is Zhiyuan's problem too."

"Exactly to avoid that from happening is why I am doing this. She left him. How long will he mope around like a sad Romeo? So, it's time to bring someone in his life that would make him forget her. Here. This is my favorite pen. Take it and sign on the papers."

She was shocked to see him unaffected.

"I just said I cannot accept this."

There was silence for a while.

He narrowed his eyes. "I know that you love him."

Xinyi stiffened. Her heart almost jumped out of her chest.

She quickly said, "T-that is not true. I don't-"

"Don't bother lying. Nobody has been able to fool me, and you are not any exception."

A thin line of sweat formed on her forehead. She had never confessed her feelings for Zhiyuan to anybody, not even to Zizi and Shuang. It was her tightly guarded secret. Ignorance was the only way for everyone to be at peace.

She knew her feelings would only bother Zhiyuan and make everything complicated.

Han Huizhong said, "And I also know that you planned to leave abroad on the pretext of further studies. But it's because you cannot bear the pain anymore, right? Of seeing Zhiyuan with someone else."

She turned pale.

How does he know…

She had planned to leave in a few days, but then she came to know that Caihong and Xiaosi suddenly left together, leaving Zhiyuan devastated.

And now, she wasn't so sure if she should leave or stay back as a friend to support him in this difficult time.

"So, you see, Soo Xinyi. This is a perfect time. You like Zhiyuan anyway. What is the problem? I am making things easier for you. You should be grateful to me and here you are resisting. Such foolishness," he sighed.

She never believed she would have this conversation with him.

How can be a grandfather be so indifferent?

"It is not foolishness. Zhiyuan doesn't like me. I cannot ignore his feelings and selfishly marry him just because it's convenient to me. How can you expect him to be happy in the marriage when he doesn't even love me?"

He snorted. "Feelings can be cultivated. That is your job to make him fall for you."

Xinyi didn't know what else to say. He was hell-bent on making her his granddaughter-in-law even if it meant at the cost of Zhiyuan's feelings.

She took a deep breath and said, "I will not change my decision. You are right. I love him, and that's why I care about him. This forced marriage will bring nothing but pain and suffering to him."

Xinyi's determined gaze met his. "I will not go through this because I cannot hurt him."

She lowered her head and turned to leave.

Suddenly, she heard Han Huizhong say, "Soo Enlai. Forty-five years old. Has a job in XYZ contracting firm. A simple and honest white-collar worker. Soo Yunru. Twenty years old. Recently completed his military training. Has applied to work in Beijing Police and Law Enforcement."

Xinyi slowly turned and faced him with a stupefied expression.

Han Huizhong smiled. "I wonder what will happen if I make some calls to cast your father out of his job and make your brother unable to work in any law enforcement agency in China. Two men sitting jobless in their home. Such a shame. Tsk."

"...You are threatening me?"

"You caught it quick," he chuckled.

Xinyi had a hard time digesting all this. Not in a million years had she expected him to do this.

He said, "So, you have two choices. Either marry Zhiyuan and save your family or reject marrying Zhiyuan and destroy your family. Either you help Zhiyuan or help your father and brother."

She trembled.

"Y-You cannot do this... Why are you bringing Dad and Yunru in all this?"

Han Huizhong shrugged. "Remember what I said? Peace and profit? And me going to any lengths to achieve it? This is a part of that drill, dear."

Tears threatened to rim in her eyes.

Soo Enlai worked hard every day at his job to earn for his family, and he had had difficult times raising his children on his own when his wife passed away.

Yunru had also given his all to endure the harsh military training, and now he was finally about to realize his dream to become an officer.

Han Huizhong tapped his finger. "It would be such a shame if you let your father and brother's career go to waste for the man you love. Destroying two people to save one."

Xinyi clenched her fist. Her voice choked. "Please don't do this…"

How can I choose between my family and my love?

"Sure, I won't. I just need your signature on those papers and we are good."

She stood rooted to her spot.

He sighed. "You are wasting time. I got your answer. You leave me no choice."

He picked his phone, but she quickly stopped him. "No, stop! D-Don't do anything to Dad and Yunru. I...I…"

"Will sign?" He smiled. "You know dear. At such times you should think about your family because you have lived with them from the beginning. They came into your life first. Do you want to betray them for the man you just know for two years?"

Xinyi had no answer. She thought for a long time before she tremblingly held the pen.

Tears plopped down her cheeks as she took the papers and signed her name.

*Present time*

"Mr. Han."

Han Huizhong slowly opened his eyes. He felt as if he had a dream of the past. He was in a daze.

How much I regret forcing you at that time Xinyi...

The cold expression on his face returned as he looked at the nurse.

"What?"

"Mrs. Han Xinyi is conscious now. You can meet her."