Thus, no matter how Shang Jingchen ridiculed her, she would bear with it.

Upon hearing that the marriage arrangements between Shang Jingchen and Ye Lu were finalized, Madam Shang was in disbelief. In a fit of anger, she stormed into the study.

"Father, what on earth is going on? How could you agree to such an utterly absurd matter? This girl is so vain and greedy for wealth. Marrying into our family, she will undoubtedly disgrace us and cause unrest within the household."

Madam Shang strongly objected.

Old Sir Shang sighed, "Daughter, you’re still so persistent in your opposition. Even to the extent of causing such a strain in your relationship with Jingchen. Is it worth it? This just proves that you have not let go of the past."

Madam Shang’s face hardened; he had hit her where it hurt the most. She stubbornly looked away.

"I am merely concerned about my son, is that wrong? All the pain I endured in the past, I don’t want him to experience. Am I wrong to do so?"

"Sigh, why can’t you let go? It’s been so long since that incident."

Madam Shang was devastated, "How can I let go? Back then, he deceived me and entered into the family, pretending to be gentle, caring, and loving me deeply. He convinced me to transfer half of my shares into his name. But while I was pregnant, he resumed his affair with that woman, and shortly before I gave birth, heartlessly took a huge sum of money and eloped with her. The shock caused me to give birth prematurely; I nearly died giving birth to Jingchen.

Father, I can’t forget in my entire life, how he hurt me. I hate that man. Yet for Jingchen’s sake, I concealed the truth, merely saying his father passed away because I did not want him to know about his heartless and greedy father. I’ve seen it clearly now, that these people at the bottom of the pyramid would stop at nothing for money. Now, this Ye Lu, she’s just after our wealth. Am I wrong to stop it?"

"Not everyone is like that. Don’t you trust your father’s judgment?"

"If he really wants to marry a woman from a lower class, I would prefer Yuan Jiayin. At least she’s not as greedy as Ye Lu, and she’s relatively pure. Anyway, I just dislike Ye Lu. These women who fish for wealthy old men, it’s disgusting." Madam Shang always had a bad impression of Ye Lu.

Old Sir Shang sounded helpless: "Regardless, the matter is now settled. One can easily be deceived by outward appearances without experiencing each other. If she really is that bad, they can simply divorce later." 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝚠𝚎𝚋𝗻𝗼𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝚘𝐦

"Father..."

"I have made up my mind. The matter is settled." Old Sir Shang too, was very obstinate.

****

"Damn, you’re marrying into the Shang Family, the renowned Shang Family! What on earth is going on? Sister, you’re not joking, are you?" Feng Aoxue leaned over, her eyes wide with disbelief.

By this time, Ye Lu had no reason to hide anything. She told her how she had met Shang Jingchen and why her father was forcing her to marry into the Shang Family.

"So, you’re marrying in for the child. I was wondering why I have never heard of you liking any man, and suddenly you’re getting married. Your father is awful."

"Aoxue, if it wasn’t for my desperate situation, I wouldn’t have come to this point." Ye Lu forced a bitter smile. She was on the brink of plunging into the abyss and didn’t know how hard she would hit the ground.

"Sigh, marrying a man you don’t love is painful. By the way, will you still be participating in the beauty contest?"

Ye Lu shrugged, "Why not?"

"You’re soon going to be the young mistress of a prominent family. Do you still need to earn this little money?"

"The money in the Shang house is not mine. Moreover, given the situation, do you think I could last with Shang Jingchen?"