On the day she had agreed with Gong Ming, Yin Yiyan got up early in the morning and put on a simple makeup.
She wore a long dress suitable for meeting elders and paired it with a pair of light - colored high - heeled shoes with thin heels. Standing in front of the mirror, she took a few glances at herself.
Yin Yiyan was inherently a sexy and charming beauty. Although the style of this dress was quite conservative, the waist - cinching and hip - hugging design still outlined her exquisite figure.
After checking her outfit and makeup from head to toe, she unexpectedly felt a bit nervous.
Noticing her own emotions, Yin Yiyan couldn't help but smile, thinking she was being rather strange.
It wasn't as if she was really meeting his parents for the purpose of marriage. Why should she be so flustered?
To put it bluntly, she was just repaying a favor.
As she lifted the hem of her dress and gently walked downstairs, Gong Ming's car was already waiting for her.
The moment he saw Yin Yiyan appear, a flash of surprise passed through his long and narrow eyes, but he quickly suppressed it.
Gong Ming was dressed in a proper suit. His arms were slightly rolled up, revealing his strong forearms, which were resting on the car door.
"Miss Yin looks very beautiful today," Gong Ming said with a gentle smile. His eyes fell on her, and his pupils constricted imperceptibly.
After not seeing her for so many years, she had become even more charming, quite different from the tomboy she used to be.
That day at the swimming pool, he had felt her up close.
She was soft and voluptuous.
"Cough, cough. What are you looking at? Drive quickly," Yin Yiyan noticed his gaze lingering on her for quite a while and said awkwardly, "We're going to meet the girl's parents, right?"
According to what Gong Ming had said before, he was going to take her to meet the parents of his childhood - arranged fiancée and tell them that he had fallen in love with someone else, thus canceling the engagement.
Although Yin Yiyan thought it was inappropriate, since she had agreed to him, she could only let him make the arrangements.
She owed him after all.
Gong Ming raised his eyebrows slightly and replied casually, "Yes, but her father is often away. Only her mother will come."
Hearing this, Yin Yiyan nodded thoughtfully, "It's similar to my situation. My dad also works away from home. I can only see him once every few years."
Yin Yiyan's father was engaged in classified government work, specializing in combating major illegal and criminal cases. Naturally, he couldn't expose his whereabouts often.
This line of work destined him to live in anonymity.
Gong Ming squinted his eyes and didn't reply. He just tightened his grip on the steering wheel.
She was still as oblivious as before.
Yin Yiyan nestled in the passenger seat. Watching him drive attentively, she tentatively asked, "Whose daughter from Shanghai is she? Can you tell me?"
She wanted to have an idea in advance.
While paying attention to the road conditions, Gong Ming replied lazily, "You'll know when we get there."
He already had a feeling that the scene later would be quite interesting.
—
The car stopped steadily in front of the reserved restaurant. Yin Yiyan turned her head and looked out. Her eyes accidentally caught a glimpse of the license plate number of a car, and her eyes suddenly froze.
She wasn't mistaken. This was the Yin family's car.
For no reason, her heart suddenly started to beat faster. She couldn't help but wonder if Yin Yimo was also here for a business meeting.
It couldn't be such a coincidence!
Her younger brother, Yin Yimo, had also founded a company on his own. It wasn't unusual for him to come to a dinner to discuss cooperation.
Her muttering was heard by Gong Ming, but he chose to ignore it.
"Are you sure this is the right place? We didn't come to the wrong place, did we..."
Yin Yiyan was still a bit flustered. After all, if she ran into Yin Yimo here, it would be hard to explain.
Up until now, she still hadn't noticed the problem.
Gong Ming glanced at her and showed no reaction. He just lifted his chin and said in a deep voice, "No, this is the right place."
After saying that, he got out of the car.
Yin Yiyan's eyelids kept twitching. She prayed in her heart not to meet any acquaintances here and quickly followed him.
The restaurant waiter led the two of them to the door of the reserved private room. Gong Ming suddenly stopped and turned to look at Yin Yiyan.
Yin Yiyan's mind was not on him at all. Her eyes kept looking around from time to time, worried that some acquaintance would recognize her.
Her furtive appearance was even a bit cute.
Gong Ming's originally heavy mood relaxed a bit. He curled his lips and smiled, "Who are you looking for?"
"I'm looking for my..." Before the word "brother" could come out, Yin Yiyan quickly stopped herself and pushed him, "Why do you ask so many questions? Hurry up and go in. They're already waiting."
Gong Ming gave her a meaningful look.
It wasn't his fault. She was the one who was eager to go in.
He straightened his back and pushed open the door of the private room with both hands.
The moment the door opened, Yin Yiyan saw the woman sitting in the main seat. She was stunned for a moment. After reacting, she was shocked and her face was full of surprise.
The woman sitting in the room had a noble temperament and well - maintained skin. She was a typical rich lady, with a look of dignity and grandeur in her eyebrows.
But the moment she locked eyes with the newcomers, her already not - so - good complexion darkened even more.
Yin Yiyan was instantly stunned.
It was not for any other reason, but because the elder sitting in this room was her mother, An Ruoqing.
"… Mom?" She called out stiffly. She didn't know whether to let go of the hand that was holding Gong Ming's arm or keep holding it.
The moment An Ruoqing saw the two of them appear together, her face instantly turned cold. Her eyes looking at Yin Yiyan were full of warnings.
"Yanyan, come here."
Yin Yiyan had never seen her mother look so ugly before. For a moment, her hands and feet turned cold. She looked up at Gong Ming and then at her mother.
She didn't know what was going on, but her intuition told her that Gong Ming had done it on purpose!
He had known from the very beginning that she was the one he was engaged to in the childhood - arranged marriage!
When Yin Yiyan realized that she was the one he was supposed to marry through the arranged marriage, a sudden surge of surprise and excitement flashed through her heart.
But soon, she calmed down.
"Is there some misunderstanding?" Yin Yiyan was puzzled but still remained calm. "Mom, when did our family ever arrange a childhood - arranged marriage for me?"
An Ruoqing's face still looked grim. Her voice was cold, and every word was filled with solemnity, "It's never happened. Don't be deceived by him."
"Mrs. Yin, you should keep your word," Gong Ming said with a smile on his face. "Since the two families have arranged this marriage, you shouldn't go back on your word."
An Ruoqing's face instantly turned ashen.
The Yin family and the Gong family had once had the idea of an arranged marriage many years ago. This was an undeniable fact. However, later, Gong Ming's parents had had evil thoughts and engaged in dirty business, committing heinous crimes.
Gong Ming's parents were found out by Yin Yiyan's father, Yin Yu, who had personally sent people to arrest and execute them.
In a way, Yin Yiyan's father, Yin Yu, was Gong Ming's enemy who had killed his relatives.