Chapter 112 - My Love For You Is Your Prerogative (2)
Ruan Zeyan took to the stage amidst the roar of applause, starting his speech. The surroundings darkened. He stood shining brightly on the stage, as though he was the esteemed king that could control everything. His voice was low and controlled yet piercing. It was one that drowned people in its charisma, lured people in with its allure, and yet not daring anyone to step too close.
Guan Meiyi ogled at Ruan Zeyan, the man would be her fiance soon. She had controlled herself for so many years, waited for even longer, all for this day that was finally there.
“Ling Tianya, that little bitch, let’s see how I’ll deal with her after today!” Ling Qi’s harsh voice hit Guan Meiyi, jolting her out of her trance.
Guan Meiyi turned back to look at Ling Tianya, who was standing beside Ruan Zeyan’s grandma, her eyes filled with absolute disgust. She didn’t like either of those people.
Right then, Ruan Zeyan’s speech ended, and the stage lights had fully turned on again. Guan Meiyi was quick to switch back, back into the elegant and friendly persona.
Followed by applause, Ruan Qishan went on the stage with Wang Zhiya’s hand in his hand. Ruan Qishan raised his glass, politely offering a toast to the guests, before wasting no time in getting to the main topic of the night.
“The Yuan Teng Corporation was built single-handedly by my father. For these dozens of years, Yuan Teng grew from a nameless company to the huge empire that it is today. By now, I have no more that I would like to pursue business-wise, and the company has been handed over to my son, Ruan Zeya. I merely am just a figurehead, here to split some profits. I’m old now, and the future’s in the hands of the young, isn’t it!”
The audience applauded and cheered in vibrant interaction with Ruan Qishan, and he smiled before continuing, “It’s good for the young to chase success, but they have to settle down and start a family sooner or later. What do they work so hard for if they don’t?”
“Is it coming soon? Are they announcing it soon?” Guan Meiyi thought, she was absolutely nervous, her dream that she’d been wishing for so many years was about to come true. She thought that her heart was going to leap out of her throat, her palms clammy with tiny beads of sweat.
Ling Qi grabbed Guan Meiyi’s hand in excitement, her’s damp with sweat too. For so many years, she had groomed Guan Meiyi with all her heart just for that moment. As Guan Meiyi grew older and older, there were so many people out there that tried to butter her up yet were waiting for her downfall in private. After all, the Guan family and the Ruan family only had a verbal agreement.
“Things were different now! The Ruan family’s going to admit that I’m their future daughter-in-law!” Guan Meiyi thought.
With that in mind, Ling Qi immediately sat up straight, even her eyes twinkled in excitement.
Guan Jianlin’s expression was as though he had gotten an amazing offer on an organic cabbage that he had raised for years.
Even Ling Tao, the uncle, couldn’t hide his excitement. It was not just about Guan Meiyi and Ruan Zeyan’s engagement, but also that Ling Tianya and Madam Ruan knew each other. Ling Tao couldn’t help his small seed of regret, he shouldn’t have shown such an attitude to Ling Tianya before. Ling Tao had originally thought that Ling Tianya came to huff at him because she knew that he brought Ling Yuqing to the dinner and not her, wanting to embarrass him. He was the one that got it wrong in the end, Ling Tianya really was invited there.
He only regretted it for a split second. To him, Ling Tianya was his biological daughter, as long as he put in an effort to conciliate with her, their relationship could still be saved.
On stage, Ruan Qishan continued to talk, “Therefore, today is not only Yuan Teng Corporation’s thirtieth anniversary. It is also my son, Ruan Zeyan, Yuan Teng Corporations’ current president’s, engagement! Guan–”
Just as the words left Ruan Qishan’s mouth, he was interrupted by the previously quiet Ruan Zeyan.
“Dad, let me say it.” Ruan Zeyan’s voice was calm, not a single sign of hesitation.
Ruan Qishan nodded his head approvingly with a smile. He was more than happy to see Ruan Zeyan being so invested in things.
Ruan Zeyan took slow steps down the stage. Wherever he went, the people parted for him to reveal a path. Knowing that the powerful man was going to ask for someone’s hand in marriage, many ladies teared up in regret.
Guan Meiyi watched as the distance between her and Ruan Zeyan shrunk with each passing second. She could feel her heart in her throat, her hands not knowing where to go. Her eyes were full of expectation and had fixated onto Ruan Zeyan, but the man had instead gone around her, walking towards her back.
Guan Meiyi was dumbfounded for a second, frantically turning around, “Zeyan!”
Ruan Zeyan was seemingly deaf to Guan Meiyi’s shouting and had crossed the room to stand before Ling Tao.
Ling Tao was confused, he didn’t understand what Ruan Zeyan’s doing before him.
Right then, Ruan Zeyan’s voice was laced with sincerity that no one had never heard before, “Uncle, may I ask for your daughter’s hand in marriage?”