Qin Man rushed forward in concern. “President Zhang! President Zhang, are you all right?”

Zhang Shou flung her hand away, his face dark and ominous.

He looked around and snapped at the other customers who were watching them with curiosity. “What are you looking at? Have you never seen a broken hand before?”

The other patrons quickly averted their gazes and carried on with their meals.

Feeling helpless, Qin Manelected to chewYao Tangout yet again.

“Is this how you should be acting toward your elders? This is the esteemed President Zhang, who took time off his busy schedule to come and meet you! And this is how you repay his kindness?

“Haven’t I been telling you? Your family is in a dire situation, and this man is willing to help you out. Where do you get the nerve to act up like this, huh?

“Your brother is a good-for-nothing lazy bum who can’t even score a marriage prospect. You’re both useless!

“Your only hope for a brighter future is to marry President Zhang.

“I had it all planned out, too. I’ve arranged everything; all you need to do was to agree. How dare you embarrass me in front of President Zhang?

“Now, come here, you insolent chit! Hurry and apologize to President Zhang!”

Zhang Shou was somewhat mollified byQin Man’s rebuke ofYao Tang, and his scowl eased up a little.

“All right, all right, don’t be too hard on her. I think I understand Little Sister’s feelings. There’s no rush. We can take our time getting to know each other, and I will teach her how to be a wife that suits my standards.”

He leered at Yao Tang. “Your aunt is right, you know. If you marry me, I will see to it that your brother gets a stable job. I’ll even give your family a new house to live in. These matters are of no consequence to me. This is why you asked to meet with me, isn’t it? I’ve given you my guarantee, and you’ve even maimed my hand. Surely, you wouldn’t demand anything more?”

Zhang Shou’s lips curled into a sneer, and his eyes glinted with rage. Naturally, he wasn’t all too pleased about being hurt, and by a girl, no less!

When the busybodies heard this, they began to shoot strange looks in Yao Tang’s direction. So this girl was a gold digger, after all. She probably wasn’t content with the man’s initial offer, hence the fight.

“Little Sister,” Zhang Shousaid with renewed confidence. “I bought tickets to tonight’s theater performance. Let’s go and have a great time together, shall we? It won’t do you any good to throw more tantrums.”

Yao Tang glanced at him briefly before lookingQin Manin the eye. “I do not need your concern, and neither does my brother.”

She had really been about to walk out, but then Qin ManmentionedYao Yan.

And while Yao Tangdidn’t know what her adoptive brother did for a living, she had a hunch that he wasn’t the bum thatQin Manwas making him out to be.

Qin Man shuddered atYao Tang’s warning tone, butZhang Shouseemed oblivious to it.

In fact, he became even more earnest.

“Your aunt is only thinking of you and your family. She’s doing this for your own good. Why are you resisting this arrangement so much? You won’t find a better marriage partner than me!”

At that moment, they were interrupted by a cold male voice.

“What of me, then?”

Everyone turned toward the door, and their eyes widened in a mix of surprise and admiration.

A tall man dressed in a tailored black suit was leaning against the door frame.

As he straightened and strode across the café, they could feel the air around him grow heavy and oppressive.

Once again, Yang Nianfound himself looking over despite his general feeling of indifference. He frowned when he spotted the man, and a vague sense of familiarity came over him.

For some reason, this guy was just like that man from Beijing.

But they couldn’t be the same person, could they? Why would that man be here?

Yang Nian pressed his lips together and decided it would be good to continue watching from the sidelines.

As for Yan Wei, she was stunned speechless as soon as she laid eyes on the newcomer. Her breath caught in her throat, and it was all she could do not to throw herself at him.

Even in her years in the capital, she couldn’t recall ever meeting anyone so charismatic at first glance.

But then something occurred to her, shattering her wild and hopeful imaginings.

Judging by the circumstances, it seemed that this prize of a man had come here for that worthless bumpkin, Yao Tang.