At noon, the Guan and Ruan family was having their lunch together. Ruan Qishan was informing Guan Jianlin and Ling Qi of his plan to announce Ruan Zeyan and Guan Meiyi's engagement on the next day's anniversary dinner.
It was going to happen!
The Guan family had been waiting for that day for years. The past few years, even though the Guan family looked glamorous and wealthy on the outside, they had been less prosperous than before. Guan Jianlin desperately wanted to confirm the marriage with the Ruan's as to conveniently tie the two families with each other.
Even though the two kids had an arranged marriage since youth, it was still just a passing remark by the adults when they were young. It didn't hold much actual weight, and there was nothing stopping the Ruan's from going back on their word.
That was why Ling Qi had expended all her energy to groom Guan Meiyi since youth, cultivating her according to the the Ruan family's daughter-in-law's standards, or more accurately, Wang Zhiya's standards. Whatever Wang Zhiya's interested in, Ling Qi made sure that Guan Meiyi learned. Whatever Wang Zhiya liked, Ling Qi required that Guan Meiyi must love the same things too. Even her dress style is copied from Wang Zhiya's tastes. Over time, Wang Zhiya finds that she could click with Guan Meiyi, and gradually liked her more and more.
It was just, as the two kids gradually grew up, the Ruans had never brought up the issue again. That made the Guan family a little panicked, worried that there might be a change. They were the female side though, and it was definitely inappropriate for them to bring up the idea first.
That day, Ruan Qishan had finally officially brought up their engagement, a heavy weight had then been lifted off from Guan Jianlin and Ling Qi's shoulders. The two of them did not hesitate at all and agreed happily. They were quick to spread the news to their closest relatives and friends.
Ling Tao knew the information on that very same day and was all smiles when he headed home that night.
"Tao, did something good happen? You're in such a good mood," Qu Wan virtuously took over Ling Tao's jacket.
"Yeah, Daddy! What put you in such a good mood?" Ling Yuqing walked out supporting Madam Ling as well.
Ling Tao's face seemed to glow with happiness, "Didn't you hear? Today my sister told me that the Ruan family has officially brought up Mr. Ruan and Meiyi's engagement to the Guan's and is going to announce it at tomorrow's annual Yuan Teng's dinner!"
The moment she heard the news, Madam Ling's mouth immediately spread in a wide smile. She was completely over the moon, yet she couldn't help complaining, "Ling Qi that brat! Why didn't she inform me the moment she knew?"
"Hush Mom, don't be angry at her, most likely sister and brother-in-law forgot it in their bustle. The Ruan's only informed them today, and the dinner's tomorrow, they definitely have a lot to prepare." Ling Tao tried to explain the situation for Ling Qi.
Only then did Madam Ling put it down, "That's true, what great news, finally something important is settled."
Madam Ling and Ling Tao were both overjoyed by the news, but Qu Wan was perturbed, "I thought it would be something big, someone else's daughter is getting engaged, what are you so happy about? Others would think it was your daughter by how happy you are!"
Thinking about how arrogant Ling Qi would get after Guan Meiyi and Ruan Zeyan's engagement, Qu Wan couldn't help but feel irritated.
Hearing the petulant words, Madam Ling's face dropped. "What's with your tone?"
Sensing that Madam Ling wasn't too happy, Qu Wan scrambled to save herself, "Ah, Mom, don't misunderstand me, I'm happy about Meiyi's engagement too."
Ling Tao knew that Qu Wan's suffered a lot under Ling Qi's obnoxious actions, that was why she was feeling upset. That was why he gently coaxed, "It's a good thing that the Guan family and Ruan family have an engagement. Think about it, if the Guan and Ruan families are tied together, doesn't that mean that us, the Lings can take advantage of the situation as well? This is only good for us, and there's no cons to it, don't you think?"
It wasn't that Qu Wan didn't understand the logic behind it, it was just that she couldn't raise her mood thinking about how she had to keep a better facade around Ling Qi from then on. She was quick to recover though, instantly flashing Ling Tao a sweet, sweet smile. "Then, Tao, at tomorrow's annual Yuan Teng Corporation's dinner, why not bring me and Yuqing? There will definitely be many fine men then, it's a good chance to find a good husband for our Yuqing."
Ling Yuqing lowered her head shyly, but her eyes betrayed how excited she actually was.
"But…" Ling Tao hesitated, "I only have three invitation cards, I was planning to give one to Yaya, Yaya is her elder sister after all, and…" Ling Tao trailed off. "And my biological daughter," was what Ling Tao thought, but didn't say.