” well, I’m happy for you mother. Your second son succeeded in fulfilling your expectation ” He said tonelessly to his mother. She would get the perfect plastic doll she always wanted as her daughter-in-law. The nation’s sweetheart was Yuan’s fiancee.

” You know First brother, Sarcasm is not your cup of tea”, Yuan gave his a dirty look. The topic of his fiancee was always his sore point. He wanted to ask his brother why he was getting included out of nowhere.

” Says the man who’s marrying an annoying plastic doll” Long Jie fired back.

Most days, he thought about what triggered his brother to engage with that woman. The lousy excuse of a socialite woman. Women like her did not fit us men. We killed for our benefits and did morally questionable things.

” Congratulations brother you finally shared your views” Yuan snickered.

” What the heck is wrong with both of you,” Their mother asked shooting daggers at both of them.

They answered with silence.

” You, long Jie What’s wrong with Liu Shishi. She is such a beautiful and warm young lady of noble origin. She is the best man like you can get” She said proudly pointing her fingers at him. what she did not realize that she unconsciously insulted her sons.

It was on the tip of his tongue to ask her what did she meant by men like them. She was also married to one like him. He, however, avoided joining the rest of the conversation. He sometimes pitied his father.

“Now, now.” Zhao Nuan, aka his auntie, tried to ease the discussion. “We’re all very excited about the new addition to the family. My very first grandchild.” She clasped her hands, looking dreamily into the distance. “Hopefully one of many.”

‘At least, the child would get one sane grandmother’ he thought.

” Well, Ma you have to make sure the mom-to-be won’t participate in the community activities for the time being,” Long Wei said to his mother. He was worried his wife might exhaust herself.

His wife was a crazy philanthropist but he could not call her wrong. This was her way of dealing with guilt. Moreover, she was cleaning Long’s reputation and it was more than enough for him.

” What about you Jie?”Elder Long turned towards Long Jie. The person who did not like him even a bit was asking him something and he damm well knew what he meant. But he decided to play ignorant.

” What about me?” he answered his question with another question.

” When are you getting married?” Elder Long asked as if he really cared. Hypocrite bastard.

” I suggest you to ask my wife” He answered him. We were supposed to have dinner with Xins tonight but they canceled at the end moment. This infuriated his grandfather. However, his father had expected it.

” You don’t have a wife. First Brother ” Yuan chimed. It was his turn to infuriate his brother .

” Well, I was supposed to meet her tonight but my In-laws postponed the dinner” Long Jie replied to no one in particular.

” Xins are testing our patience. If they don’t desire to continue the marriage agreement then there is no need to insist. There are many girls out there. Even I can choose one for you” Elder Long’s voice rang out. He never wanted that Xin girl to enter Long family at the first place .

Elder Long was a selfish and arrogant man. His arrogance was more important than his family. Since Long Jie’s childhood, he was praised as the golden boy but his grandfather always highlighted his mistakes and encouraged his other grandsons and

Long Shaoming was his perfect son. But this decision of his belittled him in his grandfather’s eyes.

” Are you done, grandfather? ” Long Jie asked his grandfather and his mother gasped as if committed a sin. What a perfect daughter-in-law and a shitty mother!

“Did not you always asked me to be a perfect son? I’m acting according to my father’s order. If he wants me to marry Xin Zhenyi I will marry her and no one can change it ” He said firmly.

Elder Long pushed off the table, rising to his feet with a finger pointed at Long Jie.

” I’m the father of your father. A leopard never changes its stripes. I will never accept any Xin in this house. If you want to find out about the road ahead, then ask about it from those coming back. I have been there before. Your uncle trusted them but what happened to him. You all know he is dead. Xins are snakes and snakes always bite” he said and walked out of the dining room.

Good riddance.

Long Jiesmiled serenely, addressing everyone at the table as if this had nothing to do with her and Yuan had an urge to applause his brother for such a wonderful performance.