The grand hall was quiet.
Qin Jiang's urgent voice rang out, "Dad, please, let's talk this through."
"Then you talk to me properly," Qin Lihui said, looking at Qin Jiang.
"I can get married, but can we wait to have kids until we've developed feelings for each other? Right now..."
"If you're getting married, isn't it only natural to have a child?" Qin Lihui said coldly.
"But..."
"Are you not interested in having a proper discussion?" Qin Lihui's expression darkened.
Qin Jiang didn't dare say anything more.
He didn't dare talk back now.
He quickly blinked at Ye Jinghuai.
Hadn't he said he would help?
Why was he playing dumb at this critical moment?
His buddy's happiness was about to be ruined!
Ye Jinghuai noticed Qin Jiang's gaze. He put down his teacup and turned to Qin Lihui, saying, "Uncle Qin, forcing Qin Jiang like this isn't the way."
"If I don't force him, he'll never learn!" Qin Lihui said, exasperated.
"You have a point there."
"Jinghuai," Qin Jiang couldn't help but call out to him.
"Who allowed you to address the young master by his given name?" Qin Lihui said coldly.
Qin Jiang didn't dare speak again.
"But people say that to establish a career, you must first establish a family," Ye Jinghuai said. "I feel Uncle Qin's arrangements are quite reasonable."
"You're not my brother, are you?!" Qin Jiang said to Ye Jinghuai, on the verge of breakdown.
"Keep your mouth shut!" Qin Lihui scolded his son.
Qin Jiang felt terribly wronged.
He just couldn't understand how casually sleeping with a woman had landed him in the grave of marriage!
"Get married on the sixth day of next month. You will definitely have the child," Qin Lihui decided.
Qin Jiang didn't dare speak up.
"Your name is Bai Xiaotu, right?" Qin Lihui turned to look at Bai Xiaotu.
Bai Xiaotu was stunned speechless too.
Hadn't she been going to get an abortion today?
Now the child hadn't been aborted, and was she going to have to give up her future as well?
If she'd known, she might as well have let that creepy old man take advantage of her that night.
"Yes," Bai Xiaotu quickly answered.
She was also fearful due to the Qin family's influence.
"Where is your home, and who is in your family? Tell your family I'm coming over tomorrow to propose the engagement," Qin Lihui directly arranged, without considering anyone else's opinion.
"Um, uncle," Bai Xiaotu hesitated for a long time before addressing Qin Lihui.
"Hm," Qin Lihui responded.
His attitude was much better compared to how he treated Qin Jiang.
"Because of personal reasons, I'm not on good terms with my family right now. I'm not from Qingcheng, my hometown is a small county. My parents don't really support me entering show business, they feel I'm overreaching. So I haven't contacted my family for a long time," Bai Xiaotu explained.
"Go on," Qin Lihui said coldly.
"Does the child really have to be born?" Bai Xiaotu really didn't want to give birth.
Although she would feel guilty over a lost life, she really wasn't that noble to have a child for someone she didn't love, who didn't even love her.
"The child must be born," Qin Lihui affirmed.
Bai Xiaotu bit her lip.
That was what she meant.
But clearly, it was a bit too selfish.
Hearing Qin Lihui put it that way, she felt somewhat ashamed.
"I won't allow such a thing, so you must also get married," Qin Lihui was very firm.
Bai Xiaotu didn't dare object further.
She was afraid for her life.
She glanced over at Qin Jiang.
Qin Jiang was kneeling on the ground, not daring to fart.
He usually strutted around arrogantly outside.
You could tell how powerful Lord Qin was.
After a few seconds of silence.
Qin Lihui asked, "Any other issues? If not, next month on the sixth..."
"Uncle," Bai Xiaotu mustered her courage again.
Surprisingly, Qin Lihui didn't get angry, "What other requests do you have?"
"I just said my parents and I aren't on good terms right now, and I don't want to go see them for the time being."
"So you mean I don't need to go to your home to propose the engagement?"
"What I mean is, since my parents won't be participating anyway, can we skip the wedding banquet? Qin and I can get married now, but keep it secret for the time being?" Bai Xiaotu cautiously asked.
She was very afraid Lord Qin would get angry.
Qin Lihui's brow furrowed tightly.
Qin Jiang hurriedly chimed in at this time, "Dad, you're making us get married and have a child, and we've agreed, so grant us one request! Bai Xiaotu and I really aren't familiar with each other right now. If we really can't get along later - I'm just saying if, of course we also want to give the child a complete family. But who knows if we're compatible or not? If we really can't make it work later and end up hurting each other, it'll be much better if we split up."
Qin Lihui pondered silently without speaking.
Qin Jiang didn't dare say anything else either.
Bai Xiaotu also didn't dare speak.
They just waited for Lord Qin to decide.
After a good while, Qin Lihui took a sip of tea, then finally spoke, "Alright, we'll do as you say."
Bai Xiaotu breathed a huge sigh of relief.
Qin Jiang also relaxed.
At last.
No need to go public.
As long as it stayed private, getting a divorce later would be much easier, without having to worry about gossip.
"But there are some things I need to make clear," Qin Lihui immediately assumed his imposing manner again.
Bai Xiaotu and Qin Jiang both had a well-behaved appearance.
"First, since there won't be a wedding, go get your marriage certificate tomorrow. I've looked at the calendar, the date is good. If not for needing wedding preparations, I would have set it for tomorrow to begin with. Second, starting today, Bai Xiaotu will move into the Qin family estate and live together with Qin Jiang, one room. I will send people to go pack your things later. Third, from now on Qin Jiang must be home by 6pm every night..."
"Isn't 6pm too early?" Qin Jiang was about to spit blood. "Dad, you know our nightclub doesn't get busy until 7pm. If I come home at 6, how can I work there?!
"Don't try to fool me, I know all you do at the nightclub is drink and chase girls, when have you ever managed the business? I certainly know to arrange for others to take care of it," Qin Lihui said coldly.
Qin Jiang said emotionally, "Then what will I do, just sit around the house freeloading every day?"
