Chapter 81 - The Plan (4/4)

"Oh? It's a good thing you don't want to dissolve a promise between my dear friend and me. If that's what you are worried about. No problem!" Yang Zheyan's grandfather scoffed at Li Roulan's excuses. He put a better idea out on the table, "She will learn faster by becoming a married woman." 

Li Roulan didn't want to anger Yang Zheyan's grandfather. He was someone who was an old schemer, much better than her. She will never win in a verbal debate with him. She doesn't know what is so special about Xiong Jingfei and a promise to uphold. 

Clearing her throat, meekly, Li Roulan proposed a compromise, "How about this..."

"No."

"This..."

"No, no, no."

"This-"

"No!"

Li Roulan and Yang Zheyan's grandfather went back and forth until they came to a compromise. The rest just listened to one making a suggestion and the other saying no. 

It came down to that Xiong Jingfei, and Yang Zheyan's marriage will be held off until Xiong Jingfei turned twenty-three. The only thanks Xiong Jingfei will ever give Li Roulan in her life. Attempting to hold off the marriage to the best she can. It's just that Xiong Jingfei is already twenty-two and about to turn one year older soon. The year she wished to never arrive is arriving, and delivering a marriage along. 

She tried avoiding all these problems for the last five years. At the same time, she hoped the Yang family will eventually cancel the arranged marriage on them. Being a reputable family in Sinwang City, they would not want to have a mute daughter-in-law. As for her, she didn't want to get in a loveless marriage. Her voice hasn't recovered in the slightest for the past years. So she hoped that hopefully, they would be against her for that. 

Obviously, they were not! The marriage was still set in stone!

"Is this all?" Xu Cheng asked, making sure he got all the paperwork he needed. Now that he was appointed to be her lawyer in this contracted marriage. 

Xiong Jingfei pulled out another letter from a different envelope. It wasn't with the first one because she just got it. All the essential information she needed to sign on her behalf was signed. Everything else can be filled out at a later time. 

Xu Cheng didn't have to read through it to know what it was. The big bolded title on the letterhead was more than enough information. 

Xiong Jingfei couldn't read Xu Cheng's emotions. He was good at hiding it, and something you needed as a lawyer. 

Then he asked a question. A question he will never ever ask his client, but the person sitting in front of him wasn't just anyone. "Are you sure about all of this?" 

For the first time during their conversation, Xiong Jingfei finally inked the paper and wrote down one word. Her nervousness from earlier was no longer there. Having this conversation with Xu Cheng made her assertion stronger. 

'Yes.' 

He sighed and returned back to his professional self, "Everything looks good. Our session here for today is over." 

Xiong Jingfei gave him a dry smile. She knows why he asked her to rethink her decision again. This is not something small, especially in Sinwang City. When the time comes, she can just move away and out of sight? Maybe. She couldn't bring herself to imagine living anywhere else besides in Sinwang City. 

This will change her entire life forever. At least she'll have a year to plan her next step and future. 

"Are you guys done?" Xu Suying whispered, scared her mom will find out she was slacking off. However, seeing Xiong Jingfei resolute eyes, she was given her answer.

"I'm assuming this was all your idea, huh?" Xu Cheng unloosened his necktie like he was getting ready for a fight. His younger sister was such a meddlesome person. Reaching out, he pinched Xu Suying's cheeks as punishment.

Xiong Jingfei grabbed Xu Cheng's hand like how she used to when they were kids. She mouthed, 'It's not Susu's fault.'

Xu Cheng instantly let go of Xu Suying's cheeks. 

Xu Suying rubbed out her cheeks to ease out the pain. She whimpered, "It hurts! Oh! You cannot tell mom and dad! They'll skin me alive..."

Xu Cheng shook his head. He obviously got that hint when Xu Suying volunteered to help out in the kitchen, diverting their mom's attention elsewhere. He replied, "You do know dad will find out sooner or later. We work at the same law firm, or did you forget?" 

Ding!

"What is it?" Xu Suying asked, noticing Xiong Jingfei's face turned into a frown after reading the text message. Oh! She knows that frown. "Is it from your dad?"

The timing of the text and what they were doing was so in sync. Xiong Jingfei's plan was coming together without her having to put in any effort yet. She grinned and wrote down the paper, 'The date has been set up to meet my beloved fiance.'

"Do you want me to come along?" Xu Suying asked, trying to offer some sort of comfort to her friend. "Also, my brother can come along as your lawyer."

Xiong Jingfei smiled, thanking her friend and Xu Cheng for their unconditional support. However, she wants to do this on her own. 

"I can give you my personal number, so you can reach me even when it's not office hours." Xu Cheng entered his phone number into Xiong Jingfei's phone. 

The Xu Cheng in front of Xiong Jingfei today felt foreign. However, this side of him still remains the same. Showing his worries for her indirectly. As mean as he used to be to her, never once had he not lent her a helping hand. He matured a lot within the time they had spent being apart. 

Xiong Jingfei wrote down one last thing on the piece of paper to him, 'Thank you, Xu Cheng. You've become a great man." 

Then she used the bravery still inside of her and sent a text to Yang Zheyan. She had his phone number the day her father and Li Roulan visited her. Visiting was too nice of a word to use. More like barging in uninvited and rummaging through her stuff. The phone number was on that piece of paper she tossed into the trash. 

"Brother, are you sick?" Xu Suying asked, noticing her brother's face become slightly red. 

Xu Cheng took a peek at Xiong Jingfei and mumbled, "Maybe."