Chapter 79 - Marriage Meeting (1) (2/2)

”What?” Song Ren went rigid.

”You will attend the marriage meeting in a couple of days, or lose your position,” he threatened. Song Ren tightened her hands around the edges of the desk, digging her fingernails into the wood.

”With who?” she asked.

”You'll meet him soon, and he's better than the Su Feng.” He spoke as if he knew it all. Song Ren gritted her teeth. Before she could kick him out, Song Rui rose, straightening his jacket. Without saying good-bye, he left the room.

Song Ren exhaled deeply.

--

”You should go,” Su Feng said to Song Ren over dinner. When she arrived at his house, she told him everything about seeing her father, about the marriage meeting. She only told him because she wasn't planning on going.

”Why?” she asked him, puzzled.

”I think you should broaden your options,” he said jokingly, but she wasn't in the mood for humour.

”No,” she said.

”Ren,” he called out to her softly. He wore a sad smile on his face. His golden blonde hair neatly combed to the side of his head; he looked devastatingly handsome. ”You should do as your father wishes, at least for now.” Song Ren's lips parted at what he said. She felt defeated.

”I will sabotage it,” she began, ”I'll make sure he doesn't like me.” Su Feng smiled grimly at her, taking her word for it, but he was still sad.

After dinner, they went to bed together, just going to sleep. Some nights they made love, other's they just slept peacefully, as much as they can try. Song Rui weighed heavily on their relationship. She only wished her father was more accepting. Song Ren held onto him, with her long black hair framing her as she looked into Su Feng's eyes. His ice-blue eyes resembled a storm, sullen and grey.

--

The next morning, Song Ren went to search for Qian Meigui, by showing up at Song Mansion. She went to find Song Jun and Song Jinyi playing video games. ”Where is Mei?” Song Ren asked them. The twins shrugged at the same time; their gazes remained on the television screen.

Feeling defeated, she went to her room, running into her mother. ”Mom,” she called out softly. Yang Rei face her. Her hair was still black, no silver yet, and her eyes were a deep rich brown.

Yang Rei couldn't meet her eyes; she felt guilty. ”Can you help me?” Song Ren asked her mother. ”I'm sorry,” she began. Song Ren's shoulders slumped. ”I'm sorry that your father is making you go through this,” she continued. Yang Rei grabbed hold of her fingertips, looking into her golden-brown eyes. ”He's stubborn. But he's trying to look out for you, for everyone in our family. Including Mei,” she said with a sad smile.

A tear slipped from Song Ren's eyes, but her face didn't twist, it remained defiant. ”I love you and father. But I can't take it. It makes me unhappy that I can be with Su Feng,” she said.

Yang Rei looked down. ”Go to the meeting,” she said. ”Make sure the man you're meeting does not take any interest in you. Observe him. The best way to break a marriage meeting is to ensure that the other man has no desire to marry you,” she advised, her eyes full of warmth.

”How did you agree to marry dad, when your families arranged it?” she asked. Yang Rei smiled, ”I fell in love with him,” she said. ”Just as you did with Su Feng,” she held the tip of Song Ren's fingers tightly, before letting go and walking away, without saying another word.

Song Ren's heavy heart softened. She was determined that whoever this man was, she would convince him not to take her.