I Want a Lifetime with You novel Chapter 162

Just as Shi Nuan reached the door, it slid open. It was Su Shaoqing. He glanced at the two ladies in the room before his eyes settled on Shi Nuan.

Shi Nuan was not expecting Su Shaoqing to turn up. She then recalled that Fu Chengyan had assured her that it was safe to come to this meeting, so she assumed that he had informed Su Shaoqing beforehand.

With one hand in his pocket, Su Shaoqing broke into a subtle smile. “Where are you going Ms. Shi?” asked Su Shaoqing.

“Is that Mr. Su?” said Jiang Yu as she hurried to the door to welcome her guest. “Shi Nuan thought it would nice to welcome you at the door,” she explained.

“Is that so?” said Su Shaoqing as he looked at Shi Nuan. Shi Nuan pursed her lips and remained silent. Worried that Shi Nuan might seem rude, Jiang Yu discreetly squeezed her arm and whispered, “Go on and greet him, do not mess this up.”

“Please come in Mr. Su, do not stand on ceremony! Shi Nuan has come all this way just to meet you!” Jiang Yu said as she reached out to give Su Shaoqing a tug while prompting him to have a seat. Su Shaoqing dodged her outstretched hand and gestured at Shi Nuan, “Ladies first.”

Shi Nuan smiled courteously. “After you, Mr. Su.”

Seeing that Shi Nuan was being cooperative, Jiang Yu heaved a sigh of relief. Jiang Yu turned away from Su Shaoqing and glared at Shi Nuan, wordlessly telling her to behave herself before turning back to offer him some tea.

Su Shaoqing declined Jiang Yu’s offer, so she swiftly passed the teacups to Shi Nuan and ordered her to prepare the tea instead. “I remember that you have lots to tell Mr. Su,” Jiang Yu prompted.

Shi Nuan ignored her pressurizing mother and made tea for Su Shaoqing. “Please have some tea, Mr. Su”

“Thank you,” Su Shaoqing replied with a wink. Shi Nuan shot him a warning look, afraid that Jiang Yu would catch on. They must not let Jiang Yu find out anything.

All Jiang Yu could think of was to matchmake Su Shaoqing and Shi Nuan, with the hopes a marriage in the near future. Once the two get married, the Shi family would finally have a relationship bonded by marriage with the Su family.

“Why are you being so quiet, Shi Nuan? You were talking about him nonstop!” exclaimed Jiang Yu. “Please do not mind my daughter, Mr. Su, she is a little more shy in person. Believe me, she has been asking so much about you in private.”

“Is that so?” asked Su Shaoqing septically, intrigued by the pair of mother and daughter. Though, he was more impressed by Jiang Yu’s ability to lie through her teeth so naturally.

Su Shaoqing looked at Shi Nuan, who kept mum regardless of what Jiang Yu said. She was unaffected by everything that went on.

“It is my honor to be on her mind,” said Su Shaoqing.

Shi Nuan looked at Su Shaoqing and could not help but cringe at what he had just said.

All Jiang Yu could think about was how she could marry Shi Nuan into a wealthy family and benefit from the marriage ties. She was completely oblivious to the sarcasm in Su Shaoqing’s replies.

“Please do not say that, the honor is ours. Shi Nuan is lucky to be acquainted with you. Don’t you agree, Shi Nuan?” asked Jiang Yu, surreptitiously giving Shi Nuan a pinch. “Go on, tell him about your feelings.”

Shi Nuan was unable to conceal her unhappiness. She stood up with a frown, “Please excuse me while I go to the restroom.”

Jiang Yu called out for her repeatedly but Shi Nuan ignored her and continued to walk away.

“I am sorry about that,” Jiang Yu said apologetically. “I must have had spoilt her when she was young. Please do not take it personally. Young ladies tend to be a little more shy when it comes to romance, but she did mention that she really likes you and is in favor of this marriage.”

All of a sudden, Su Shaoqing spat out the tea.

Taken aback by Su Shaoqing’s actions, Jiang Yu handed him a piece of tissue while she collected herself. “Is everything alright? Was the tea too hot? Let me apologize on Shi Nuan’s behalf. She should not have served such a hot tea for you. I am so sorry!”

As Jiang Yu seemed rather unconcerned about Shi Nuan, Su Shaoqing could not help but wonder if she was genuinely matchmaking her daughter with ‘Su Bancheng’. However, judging from how desperate Jiang Yu was, it did seem like she was in favor of the marriage. Su Shaoqing was confused, yet amused by Jiang Yu.

Su Shaoqing could not help but sympathize with Shi Nuan’s plight as he could easily guess how she was being treated at home just from Jiang Yu’s attitude towards her.

“Do not worry about it, I drank it in a rush and choked. Thank you for your concern,” Su Shaoqing replied coldly. “Shall we place the order for the food first? Do you have any preferences, Mr. Su?” asked Jiang Yu.

The food had already been served when Shi Nuan got back. She glanced at Su Shaoqing and sat down. “Ms. Shi, please have a seat. I have ordered some dishes, though I am not sure if they suit your palate. Feel free to let the waiters know if you would like to change any dishes,” said Su Shaoqing.

“No worries, I’m not pick,” Shi Nuan responded quickly as she did not want to prolong this meeting.

Jiang Yu’s eyes lit up, “Look, even your food preferences are the same! You two must be a match made in heaven! In my opinion, we should arrange for a meeting with both families to discuss about the wedding!”

Jiang Yu’s words had taken both of them by surprise. Unable to conceal her feelings, Shi Nuan frowned, unintentionally revealing her displeasure.

“Hold on, did you say ‘wedding’?” Su Shaoqing let out a bark of laughter. “Aunt Jiang, I think we have a misunderstanding here.”

“Misunderstanding? There is no misunderstanding. Are you not marrying my daughter? Your mother is a good friend of mine, and she has agreed to this marriage,” replied Jiang Yu. “I cannot be wrong about this. I could tell that you were interested in Shi Nuan the last time I saw you at my elder daughter’s wedding”, added Jiang Yu confidently.

Shi Nuan clenched the pair of chopsticks in her hands, feeling deep resentment for her biological mother.

Seated next to Shi Nuan, Su Shaoqing could sense her emotions. Even if he was not perceptive, he knew that anyone would be infuriated after listening to Jiang Yu’s words.

At that moment, Su Shaoqing wiped off the smile on his face. “I have to admit I do admire Ms. Shi as she has accomplished so much at such a young age. And with her beauty, it was only natural for me to be drawn towards her. However, I am afraid that you may have to clarify this matter with my mother, because I have not heard anything from her regarding this. Even If she had agreed to it, she has no rights to intervene my relationships. I seek your understanding,” Su Shaoqing responded politely but firmly.

“How dare you speak to me in this manner? I am your elder after all. You should be respectful!” gasped Jiang Yu in disbelief.

“I have been, Aunt Jiang. It is precisely because you are a friend of my mother as well as an elder, I have been really polite. I admire Ms. Shi, and I would love to be friends with her. However, since I stepped into the room, all you did was force Shi Nuan into a marriage with me regardless of her feelings. Why are you doing that when she is clearly uncomfortable with it?” replied Su Shaoqing.

Without a smile on his face, Su Shaoqing sounded assertive.

Shi Nuan was shocked hearing Su Shaoqing’s response.

She had never seen Su Shaoqing like this. Although he was a cunning man, he was always well-mannered and spoke confidently with composure. To have made Su Shaoqing respond like this, Jiang Yu must have really angered him.

“You…” Jiang Yu was rendered speechless.

“With Ms. Shi’s caliber, you will not have to worry about potential suitors or her marriage at all. I would love to join you for a casual meal another time, but this meal has been rather unpleasant, so please excuse me. I will explain to my mother personally in regards to my relationship with Ms. Shi. I seek your kind understanding, Aunt Jiang,” said Su Shaoqing.

It was rare for Shi Nuan to find Su Shaoqing admirable, and it was even more rare to see her mother speechless.

“Please excuse me as I have something else to attend to, Ms. Shi. Would you be leaving now too?” asked Su Shaoqing.

“Oh, yes! I would love to leave too as I have work tomorrow.” Shi Nuan nodded with a smile.

“Let me give you a lift, Ms. Shi,” Su Shaoqing offered, but Jiang Yu was quick to reject it on Shi Nuan’s behalf.

Su Shaoqing furrowed his brow, “Are you against us being friends now, Aunt Jiang?”

Upset with the turn of events, Jiang Yu replied, “I need to have a word with my daughter. Since you have something on, do make a move without us.”

Jiang Yu refused to let her daughter leave with him. “It is okay, Mr. Su. Thank you for the offer. We drove here,” Shi Nuan complied to Jiang Yu’s wish. “Alright then,” Su Shaoqing said with a curt nod.

The moment Su Shaoqing was out of sight, Jiang Yu vented her anger on Shi Nuan and pinched her. “Are you a mute? Did you not hear how Su Bancheng insulted me just now? Why did you not speak up for your mother? I thought you were good at arguing?” Jiang Yu exclaimed.

“What were you expecting, Mother? Would you have wanted me to go against Mr. Su? Was it not your wish for me to get married into their family? If I had offended him, you could stop dreaming about marrying me into their wealthy family!” cried Shi Nuan.