Shocked Speechless

One by one, the aunts, uncles, and cousins turned to Li Chen with shock, disbelief, and astonishment on their faces.

"En...en..engaged? Already engaged?" Aunt Hong stammered.

"Bother-in-law, when did Qing Qing get engaged? How come we never heard anything about this?" Aunt Si, similarly stunned and pale-faced, added.

"Sister-in-law, Yue'er's marriage was fixed on the day she was born. Her fiancé is the only son of my best friend, Great Commander Long Hongwu, Long Tian..."

"Gr...Great Commander's son...Long Hongwu's only son...? Long Tian?" The aunts and uncles were shocked speechless.

"Qing Qing is engaged to Long Tian!? The Great Commander's only son, Long Tian!? Ahhh!" Yan Su jumped out of her seat and screamed in thrill.

Her comical look, wide-eyed and panting like she'd run a mile, made Qing Yue inadvertently chuckle behind her hand.

But no one on the table missed the melodious note. All eyes swiveled to the chuckling Qing Yue and stared at her like they'd seen a ghost.

In all the years they had known the girl, it was the first time they heard her laugh. Usually, Qing Yue always wore a gentle and well-behaved smile, leaving the impression that nothing in the world could move her heart. And as the only daughter of Li Chen, the Aunts and Uncles found nothing wrong with the image, deeming it as only a matter of fact.

After all, what could move the heart of a girl that had everything at her fingertip?

But now that they heard Qing Yue's chuckle, they felt surreal, as if they were dreaming.

How could Li Qing Yue's chuckle be so full of...life?

Li Chen's eyes darkened when he heard his daughter's light chuckle.

18 years.

In the past 18 years, he had only ever seen his daughter smile.

He'd never heard her laugh.

What had he been doing for 18 years?

Li Chen pressed a hand to his throbbing head, his breath coming out in shallow gasps as he shamefully lowered his gaze.

Qing Yue didn't mean to laugh and attract everyone's attention. She was in the midst of blocking out her Aunts' words when her father's cold voice broke her trance.

His declaration stunned her as she hadn't anything about the engagement. But when she heard him mention Uncle Long, her shock ebbed and her fear scattered.

She knew more than anyone else how close her father and Uncle Long were. There were no secrets they didn't share, no trials they hadn't overcome together.

But more than that, she knew Uncle Long considered her as a daughter. Her father fixing her marriage with his best friend's son was tantamount to handing his most prized treasure to his most trusted friend.

Qing Yue's heart warmed and a small smile spread across her lips. Just knowing her father cared for her enough to entrust her to his best friend made her happy.

So when Yan Su made such a comical appearance, she couldn't contain her laughter.

Yan Su blew her a kiss, her flushed expression displaying her excitement and joy, as she docilely and demurely sat back down with a smile.

"I...I'm sorry." Qing Yue embarrassedly apologized and bowed her head.

"Qing Qing, why are you apologizing? It's only natural to smile when you hear such good news." Aunt Hong wore a stiff expression, her words barely audible as she forced them out.

"Yes, Qing Qing. I heard the Great Commander's son is handsome and capable. As the heir of the Great Commander, you'll live the rest of your life in honor and glory." Aunt Si seconded.

"But Qing Qing, is the son of Commander Long the one you want to marry? After all, with Long Tian's famed appearance, capability, and outstanding status, he's bound to have many females flocking around him." Aunt Mei covered her mouth as she coyly remarked.

Her words seemed to be praising the Great Commander, but indirectly, she was hinting at how Long Tian might not be faithful and loyal to her.

Aunt Mei didn't have a son to marry to Qing Yue, so when the other two were buttering and cajoling her, she sat in a corner and writhed in hatred, cursing her luck for giving birth to a useless daughter.

But when she heard Li Chen's announcement, her eyes flashed with happiness for a brief moment, before darkening and writhing in a swirl of dark and complex emotions.

Li Qing Yue, Li Chen's only daughter, already pricked her eyes. If that same Li Qing Yue became the only daughter-in-law of Long Hongwu, then wouldn't she puke to death out of intense jealousy?

No, I won't let that happen! If my daughter marries Long Tian instead, then I'll become the mother-in-law of Long Tian, the only son of the New World Formation's Long Hongwu!

Aunt Mei felt threatened when she heard Li Qing Yue would marry Long Tian. The girl already had everything she needed, so why did she still have to snatch Long Tian, the only one that could make her trash and useless daughter raise her worth?

So with flickering eyes and a sickly sweet smile, she filled Qing Yue's ears.

"Qing Qing, I understand your father trusts Long Hongwu a lot because he's his best friend. But marriage isn't a game. It's a question of your entire life. If there's someone that you like, tell Aunt Me. I'll personally speak to your father and persuade him."

With her status and looks, she didn't believe the girl didn't have someone ardently pursuing her.

Right at this moment, Yei Yi, who sat dazedly, raised her head and turned to Qing Yue with a fervent gaze in her eyes.

"Aunt Mei is right, Qing Qing. Marriage isn't a game. You need to think carefully because it concerns your entire life. If Uncle Li knew you liked someone else, I'm sure he won't force you to marry against your wish. Brother Tang..."

"Aunt Mei, you're worrying baselessly." Qing Yue shot Yei Yi a frosty glance that instantly silenced the rumbling girl.

Yei Yi's heart shuddered from the chilly gaze and inadvertently trembling, she slinked back in her chair.

This Li Qing Yue scared her. Because she looked nothing like the good-natured, easy to manipulate Li Qing Yue that she'd come to know...

Yan Su was observing the reaction of everyone in the room when she saw the brief clash between the two girls. For a brief moment, her eyes widen in shock and astonishment, but an instant later, a smug smirk formed on her lips as her eyes disdainfully skimmed over Yei Yi's slumped figure.

This Yei Yi is always speaking in Qing Yue's matter as if she is Li Qing Yue. It's just great now! She wanted to speak in a matter unrelated to her and decide for Qing Qing like she always does.

However, Qing Qing displayed her power and silenced her with a single glare, hahaha...

This is how Li Chen's only daughter, Li Qing Yue should be. Silent as a mouse, fierce as a wolf, skinning the prey without shedding a drop of blood!

Yan Su felt giddy with excitement at her cousin's sudden burst of cold aura. She couldn't help but secretly give her a thumps-up

The chill in Qing Yue's eyes receded when she saw Yei Yi deflate into her seat. She felt baffled. What was up with Yei Yi recently? It wasn't that long ago that Qing Yue had lashed out at her for connecting her name with Tang Fang.

But not even a day had passed and the girl was already bringing up the same matter?

This couldn't just be a coincidence, could it?

For the first time in the 14 years Qing Yue had known Yei Yi, doubt surfaced in her heart.

An amiable smile on her lips, Qing Yue turned to Aunt Mei.

"Aunt Mei, you don't need to worry about me. As everyone knows, I'm not much of an extrovert and aside from Yei Yi, don't know anyone else outside the family. So there's no one that I like. As for my father's decision...I know and clearly understand that everything Dad does, he does it with my best interest in mind. If he wants to fix my marriage somewhere, I have no objections. Because I know that Dad won't place me in the hands of anyone he doesn't trust or have confidence in." Firm and unwavering, Qing Yue's speech shocked everyone at the dining table.

This was the first time anyone had ever seen Li Qing Yue speak more than three sentences. What's more, the noble aura and firm conviction with which she spoke caught everyone by surprise.

It was only now that the Li brothers and their wives realized that the person sitting before them wasn't just a nameless or gullible girl. She was Li Qing Yue, the only daughter of Li Chen, the most powerful and undisputable leader in the business industry.

Underestimating her or considering her as anything less than Li Chen's heir would be their biggest mistake...

Li Chen's eyes brightened as a natural smile formed on his lips. At this moment, as he looked at his daughter and heard the amount of trust she placed in his judgment and decision, he felt an unprecedented pride and honor bloom in his heart.

The desire to scream and shout to the world that this was his, Li Chen's daughter, Li Qing Yue, almost overwhelmed his senses.

Under the tense and gloomy atmosphere, Li Chen's voice, with a surprisingly warm edge, resounded in the hall.

"Ahem! My daughter is happy with my decision. As for everyone else, you're welcome to attend the engagement ceremony. But I won't force you if you don't want to."

"Brother, what're saying? As Qing Qing's Uncles, of course, we'll attend her engagement ceremony." Li Wang immediately corrected his expression and declared firmly.

What a joke! If they cut off relations with Li Chen because of this matter, then how will they survive in the future? In the current New World Formation, having connections with someone like Li Chen was an envious and hatred-worthy matter!

Of the original Li Family, the three Li brothers were the only ones who still had a connection with Li Chen because they didn't outrightly bully him in the past.

"That's right, that's right! Brother-in-law, we only had Qing Qing's best interest in mind. But since Qing Qing herself has no objections to this arrangement, then we'll say no more." Aunt Hong covered her mouth and giggled happily, but out of everyone's eyesight, a fierce gleam flashed through her eyes.

Li Qing Yue, you dare to turn down my offered hand?

I'll make you regret this!

"Yes Brother-in-law, don't take our words to heart." Aunt Si added with an ugly smile. At the moment, it was all she could offer.

"If Qing Yue wants to marry Long Tian, then let her marry. No young woman can turn down the allure of a rich and handsome man. But if a mishap occurs in the future, don't say I didn't warn you." Aunt Mei coldly scoffed and turned her head.

She hated Li Qing Yue even more than the two aunts combined because the girl had crushed and shattered her dream.

I offered her such an easy way out, but since she's unwilling to descend nicely, then...heh, she can't blame for what happens!

"Qing Qing, come to Uncle Wei. I still haven't given you your birthday present." At his words, it was as if a bucket of ice had been dumped over the three Aunts and Uncle's heads. They froze still, their eyes flickering with complex emotions, with strained and stiff smiles on their faces.

They had come to wish Li Qing Yue, but they hadn't brought a birthday gift.

"Cough! Cough! Brother, please excuse me. I think I might be coming down with a cold. It's best that I leave." Coughing unnaturally, Uncle Wang got to his feet and clapped Li Chen's shoulder. With a flushed face and hurried steps, he headed out the Li Mansion's golden door without a backward glance.