Shen Yang bowed. "It will be my honor, Madam Lixue. I feel overwhelmed that the Jiang family acknowledges me and regards me as a suitable man for the young mistress. I will do my very best to make the young mistress happy. I know I don't have as much money as the other rich heirs, but I assure you that I will give her a comfortable and respectable life that everyone wants for her."
The sincerity in his voice and stance was so unshakable that many of the socialites teared up. Some even felt envious of Jiang Ruiling.
Even if Wen Yaoting was out, she still got a best man on the same night!
Wen Yaoting and Ruomei could only watch this drama unfold and do nothing about it. No matter how much they screamed the truth, nobody believed that this time, they were saying the truth.
It was like that story where a young man fooled the villagers that there was a tiger in the forest. Every time, they would come with him to fight with the tiger but got to know that the young man only lied to them for fun. The villagers cursed him for his behavior. One day, when the tiger really appeared before him in the forest, he shouted for help in panic but none of the villagers came to him for help, thinking that he was fooling them again. In the end, he somehow managed to escape with grave injuries and learned his lesson.
Ruomei and Wen Yaoting were in a similar situation. After lying through their teeth so many times, they couldn't get through to anybody that Jiang Ruiling and Shen Yang's love was true.
Jiang Weiyuan calmly said, "If it's decided, then we can go ahead with their engagement right now. The guests are already here."
Jiang Li added. "Doesn't make sense to cancel the arrangements tonight."
Lihua looked at them, dumbfounded. She pulled Wei's coat. "Woah, woah, Uncle and Jiang Li already thought so far."
Wei nodded. "They don't want to delay anymore since the pan is already hot."
"What do you mean?" She blinked her eyes.
"Yes. After all, they aided us too in bringing the situation to this point."
"Huh? How? Didn't you…" she whispered even more softly, "handle Shi Ruomei's spy and bring her recording with Wen Yaoting?"
"Yes. But Li brought Mu Qing into the picture and exposed all his dealings."
Lihua was speechless.
"What? It wasn't you?"
He shook his head. "No."
Her lips started in shock. "How can Jiang Li be so ready with this in such a short time? I mean investigating, gathering evidence and then bringing Mu Qing here…"
He craftily smiled. "What do you think?"
Lihua thought about it and then her shoulders drooped in sadness.
"Umm... it's too much for my brain, hubby," she whined.
He patted her head. "Don't take stress. It's not good for your health."
She nodded hard. "En!"
The Old Madam said, "Sounds good enough."
Jiang Ninghong looked at her daughter-in-law. "Lanying. Help me in fixing Ruiling's makeup."
"Yes, Mom," she nodded.
The guests were excited to see this engagement. "Oh wow! Let's go back! The bride and groom have to get ready."
The crowd quickly left, leaving the Jiang and Wen family behind. The Jiang family's guards forcibly took Ruomei and Wen Yaoting away.
"Old Madam, please help me! Believe me they are lying! Don't throw me out, Old Madam!" Ruomei cried. "Give me one more chance!"
Wen Qiang tried to stop them from taking his son away. "Jiang Weiyuan, where are your people taking my son!"
He narrowed his eyes. "You don't think that I will let him go after how he plotted against my daughter now do you? There is a heavy price to pay for messing with the Jiang family. Don't forget who we are."
"Y-you…"
"Dad, dad please save me! You cannot let them take me! What are they going to do to me?"
They also took the goon away and then there was finally silence.
The Old Madam said, "I am tired and will be resting until the ceremony starts."
Jiang Li said, "I will go and arrange a suit for Shen Yang. He cannot get engaged in his bodyguard attire."
Jiang Weiyuan and Jiang Ninghong along with Jiang Lanying left to make some more arrangements.
Lihua quickly shut the door and jumped into her hug. "Ahhhhh congratulations! I cannot believe our plan succeeded without a hitch!"
Jiang Fai smirked. "It's all because of me actually who spoke at the right time."
"FaiFai!!!!" She smothered him in such a hug that he felt crushed.
Jiang Xiurang was shocked. "T-that was your plan?"
Lihua winked. "Yup."
She complained. "Why didn't you tell me Fai?"
He rolled his eyes. "Mom, you get too nervous if you have to act. You would have given us away with your fidgeting and twitching."
She couldn't help but agree.
Shen Yang stammered. "T-that...a-are young mistress and I really going to get engaged?"
His only hope was to get the family's approval. But now they took one large stride ahead that went all the way to their engagement!
Lihua chuckled. "Look at poor Shen Yang. He is still in such shock."
Jiang Ruiling tiptoed and kissed on his cheek. "It is true, my future husband. You can believe it already. We won."
Shen Yang snapped out of his daze. He stared at her, his heart beating faster and faster. "Yes...we won…"
*Meow*
Lihua, the cat, lazily purred.
Yeah, yeah, it's all happy and fluffy now, but where is my food? I am hungry.
Lihua, the human, hugged her hard. "Lihuaaaa!!! You took away the spotlight tonight!"
Of course, dumb human. Who else can take this Queen's place?
A few minutes later, everybody gathered for their engagement ceremony. Jiang Ruiling changed into a different dress while Shen Yang had donned an expensive suit with a shiny brooch on his coat.
They exchanged rings and the whole hall resounded with cheers and claps.
Jiang Weiyuan and Jiang Ninghong glanced at each other and clinked their glasses. "Cheers."