The Family Head sighed.
“Orange Peach is a classic case of a sharp tongue but a soft heart. She’s always yelling about breaking your legs, but she’s never actually hurt you, letting you waste your youth at home. As an elder, I can’t stand by and watch. I just… wanted to give you a push from behind and pull you out.”
Upon hearing this, Orange Quiet Forest immediately put on the most perfect young lady etiquette, folding her hands and bowing her head deeply, her tone sincere.
“I understand, Family Head. I’ve already completed the re-enrollment procedures and am going back to university. I also realize that hiding at home won’t help me find any meaning in life. I plan to move forward and slowly discover my own direction. Even if I take the wrong path temporarily, it doesn’t matter… Please, give me the chance to make my own choices.”
The room fell into a long, gentle silence.
The only sound was the crisp drip of dew striking the stones in the courtyard.
After a long moment, the Family Head finally spoke slowly.
“Alright. As long as you don’t slack off anymore or cause any major trouble, I won’t interfere with your life choices anymore. This marriage arrangement… was me being too impatient.”
The alarm was completely lifted! Long live freedom!
Hearing this, Orange Quiet Forest felt a huge weight lift from her heart and immediately launched into a frenzy of acting cute and ingratiating herself.
She sidled up to the low table like a clingy little kitten, sweeping away all her previous grievances, and started firing off sweet talk like a machine gun.
“Family Head, you’re not confused at all! How could this be your fault? It’s all because that scumbag from the Kujū Family hid it too well! You’re the pillar of our Orange Family. Every decision you make is for the good of the family! Jing Ling will definitely come visit you more often to massage your back and brew tea!”
Bombarded by this relentless flattery, the Family Head’s usually stern face finally cracked.
He pointed at Orange Quiet Forest and couldn’t help but laugh as he scolded her.
“You… your tongue is always so clever.”
The invisible antenna on top of Orange Quiet Forest’s head perked up happily, and she couldn’t help but blurt out in response.
“Hehe, of course meow~”
“…”
“Ah, no! I mean, of course, Family Head!”
Orange Quiet Forest stuck out her tongue.
“Alright.”
The Family Head resumed his authority and arranged matters.
“Now, regarding this marriage—since the groom is no longer with us, I’ll keep it in a semi-abandoned state so it won’t cause you any more trouble. Even if the two families continue to cooperate in machinery, it will never involve you again.”
After a pause.
“As for tomorrow evening’s dinner, I’ll have my secretary arrange it and give the Kujū Family a heads-up in advance. I guarantee that at tomorrow’s banquet, neither side will use this matter to make things difficult for you, nor for those two helpless girls from the Kujū Family. There… can you be at ease now?”
“Awesome!”
Orange Quiet Forest was so excited that she jumped up from her cushion, her perfect young lady composure instantly broken.
She rushed over and tightly hugged the stern-looking Family Head.
The Family Head was startled by her pounce but didn’t push her away.
Instead, he scolded her with a mix of helplessness and affection.
“You… still so coquettish, still unable to control your emotions. Look at yourself now! What’s the proper conduct?”
“Sorry~”
“However…”
The Family Head suddenly changed the subject, his tone turning serious.
“You still… at least until you’re 25, you cannot marry. This is absolutely not personal bias or interference on my part, but given the current family situation and various entanglements, this is the best buffer.”
“I know that! I wasn’t planning to get married anyway!”
Orange Quiet Forest let go and agreed readily.
‘Are you kidding? Right now, all I can think about is how to raise my game rank and how to kill that dead fox Jing He Xuanyiang in an online match. Get married? Not even dogs get married! I’ll put it off as long as I can. As for after 25… whatever, I’ll think about it then, meow!’
The Family Head looked at her carefree expression, shook his head, and downed the last sip of tea in his cup.
Ah, actually, he had noticed her mischievous nature since she was a child, but she used to hold it in well.
Who would have thought that after turning eighteen, she stopped pretending?
Still… after this conversation today, he felt that Orange Quiet Forest now wasn’t so bad.
After all, every younger generation member tiptoes around him, watching his expressions.
Although Orange Quiet Forest also watched his expression, interacting with her was really fun, and she could cheer you up.
It had been a long time since he’d felt this playful with a junior.
Orange Quiet Forest quickly got up with good timing and gracefully re-boiled the water, rinsed the cups, warmed the cups, and brewed tea.
Her fair, nimble hands moved among the tea set, completing the subsequent tasks perfectly without a single flaw.
“Jing Ling, since you’re an idol, don’t let yourself be lured away by strange people. Don’t privately contact strange men, you hear? Our family isn’t short of money.”
“Oh, I told you, I don’t have that intention.”
Time dissipated completely amidst the fragrant steam of the tea.
Orange Quiet Forest silently swore that she would never call him “old guy” in her heart again.
This time, she’d upgrade his title a bit.
But!
The married status was really annoying!
‘Married is just such a pain!’
Watching Orange Quiet Forest, who had returned to her dignified posture and was obediently brewing tea, the Family Head sighed helplessly.
“Really…”
*
“You…”
“Mm-hmm, I’m listening.”
“Why didn’t you do this earlier? Why did you have to take that risk yourself!”
“So I’m locking the stable door after the horse has bolted and going to eliminate the source…”
Orange Quiet Forest was in her family’s residence, letting her mother and the staff she had brought do her makeup and dress her up.
Soon enough, Orange Peach of course found out about Orange Quiet Forest’s solo adventure.
It scared her badly.
Orange Quiet Forest wasn’t involved in family affairs, so she didn’t know the Family Head’s methods.
If she really offended the Family Head, their entire branch family might not escape.
Looking at her daughter in the mirror—squinting as the makeup brush swept over her, with a completely careless attitude—Orange Peach helplessly rubbed her throbbing temples.
As for Orange Quiet Forest, because of her slacker attitude, Orange Peach had never let her take over family affairs.
It wasn’t just since she started slacking off.
Orange Peach’s thoughts inevitably drifted back to an afternoon when Jing Ling was in middle school.
Back then, Orange Quiet Forest was still a perfect young lady in the eyes of outsiders—well-behaved and sensible.
Orange Peach tried to have her help draft a relatively simple business contract.
Although Jing Ling obediently accepted it, Orange Peach could definitely see the reluctance written all over her daughter’s face.
In the end, the contract was handled perfectly by Orange Quiet Forest, without a single error.
Similar things happened several times after that.
Orange Quiet Forest was always like this.
Any task placed in her hands, she could complete beautifully, but the deep-seated reluctance in her bones could never be hidden.
From then on, Orange Peach never bothered her with the family business again.
Orange Peach was a smart person.
She knew very well that excellence achieved under pressure wouldn’t last.
If she didn’t want to do something, then don’t do it.
One day, she would exceed her tolerance limit and collapse.