The Ge family was not very peaceful today.
Mr. and Mrs. Ge had been sighing continuously, not daring to scold their precious daughter, let alone lay a hand on her.
What they feared had still happened.
Their daughter still got involved with that Chen Pingjiang in an ambiguous relationship.
The cause of the matter was this.
It was a rare day off, and Ge Bingyi personally cooked a large table of dishes his precious daughter loved, but Ge Mengshi didn't touch a single chopstick and had no appetite just looking at them.
Instead, she went to the refrigerator, rummaged around for a long time, and pulled out some preserved vegetables, eating them with great relish.
Ge Bingyi was somewhat incredulous, immediately picked up his chopsticks to taste his own cooking, and found that it was no different from usual.
After exchanging glances with his wife, both of them had strange looks on their faces.
After tasting the preserved vegetables, Ge Mengshi showed a satisfied smile, but when she turned back to see the way her parents were looking at her, her heart skipped a beat.
"You child, your dad rarely cooks your favorite dishes today, why aren't you touching your chopsticks and insisting on eating preserved vegetables?"
Mrs. Ge asked.
"No, it's just that my mouth feels bland."
"Sweetheart, have you been feeling unwell recently? Like vomiting or anything?"
"Oh, Dad, I know what you want to ask, don't probe, it's what you're thinking."
Seeing that her parents had already started to suspect, Ge Mengshi simply stopped hiding it.
They would know sooner or later anyway.
She just hadn't dared to say it before, but soon her pregnancy would show, and she wouldn't be able to hide it.
"When did this happen?"
"About two months ago."
By this point, even the most obtuse Mrs. Ge knew what the father and daughter were talking about.
Her expression changed, and she asked anxiously,
"Who is the father of the child? It's not that Chen Pingjiang, is it?"
Ge Mengshi put down her bowl and chopsticks and nodded silently.
Mrs. Ge waved it off:
"You child, we're not old fogies. Living together is very normal now, and getting pregnant before marriage is also common. Why hide it? Although your dad and I don't support this, since it's happened, we have to face reality. And Chen Pingjiang is very good, I like him a lot. Let's call his parents over later, quickly set a wedding date, or you won't even be able to wear a wedding dress if it's too late. Old Ge, don't you agree?"
Mrs. Ge nudged her husband and asked.
But to her surprise, her husband frowned deeply, seemingly unhappy.
Mrs. Ge still thought her husband was strongly against getting pregnant before marriage, and continued to explain for Ge Mengshi:
"They're young people, it's not like our time."
After a long pause, Ge Bingyi gave a bitter smile, turned to look at her:
"Don't celebrate too soon. Think about it. If it were truly that simple, why would she need to hide it from us?"
It took Mrs. Ge a long time to react. She asked her daughter with an incredulous look:
"You're not thinking of aborting the child, are you? Why?! Do you know how much a miscarriage or abortion hurts your body, and you might not be able to conceive again in the future."
"I'm not planning to give up the child."
Mrs. Ge blinked twice, still somewhat confused.
Finally, Ge Bingyi spoke:
"Stop guessing wildly, isn't it obvious? Hiding it from us definitely means there's something hard to say. If she really didn't want this child, she probably would have aborted it long ago, not waited until now. The only explanation can be that she plans to be a single mother. The news also said that Chen Pingjiang already has a girlfriend."
After that layer of truth was exposed, Mrs. Ge was instantly stunned:
"Whose idea is this? Is it your idea or Chen Pingjiang's? I'm going to ask him why he thinks he can just walk away without responsibility after getting you pregnant! I don't care what his status is, the media is very developed now, and if I get angry enough, I'll expose him."
"Oh, calm down, let's hear what Sweetheart has to say,"
Ge Bingyi sighed.
Ge Mengshi thought about her words:
"Stop guessing wildly. This decision was mine. I've told you before, I don't want to get married, I don't want to be tied down by marriage. This child was also an accident, and Chen Pingjiang knows about it too. I should have told you about this a long time ago, but I didn't know how to bring it up. Since you've found out, it's fine. In a while, I plan to go to Europe to await childbirth. It's useless for you to confront him, because everything was my voluntary choice."
Mr. and Mrs. Ge exchanged glances.
They had considered countless possibilities but never expected this reason.
In their parents' eyes, marriage and having children was the only solution.
How did it become about being anti-marriage and having a child through 'borrowed seed' when it came from their own daughter?
It was truly unconventional and unacceptable.
In that instant, as Ge Mengshi spoke, an image of herself in a pure white wedding dress also flashed through her mind.
If she could, how could she not want to walk down the aisle with the man she loved?
Unfortunately, there was no "if only."
Everything was her own choice, and of course, she didn't regret it, at least not now.
After taking a deep breath, Mrs. Ge struggled to control her emotions:
"Do you know how hard it is for a single mother to raise a child? When you were little, your dad went to Shenzhen alone to make a living and couldn't come back even once a year. I had to work and take care of you by myself.
Sometimes in the middle of the night, you would have a fever and cry heartbreakingly, and no matter how late it was, I had to take you to the hospital, stay up all night there, and then go to work the next day. Other parents picked up their children from school, but you always walked to and from school by yourself, from childhood until now."
"Even if it's hard to be a mother, the child won't have a good life either. A family without a father is incomplete, and the child's physical and mental well-being will also be affected. I don't know how you and Chen Pingjiang discussed this, but I don't recommend it."
Ge Mengshi smiled, putting on a lighthearted and unconcerned expression:
"It's not like before anymore, times are changing. We can hire two nannies at home, and aren't you still here? Besides, I just don't want to get married; it doesn't mean Chen Pingjiang won't come to see the child."
"You, you'll regret it someday. You're always so stubborn, it was clear from the blind dates. Let your dad talk to you."
Ge Bingyi frowned deeply:
"There's a question here: do you truly not want to get married, or is it that Chen Pingjiang is unwilling to marry you?"
Facing this sensitive question, Ge Mengshi looked up, met her father's eyes, and said in an incredibly firm voice:
"It's that I don't want to get married. Dad, don't force me. To be honest with you, I did think about marriage, but I can't do that."
"To be exact, when I was with him, I knew he had a girlfriend, and their relationship was very good. Everything was voluntary on my part, even I... I actively seduced him and actively wanted a child. Before this, I had already mentally prepared myself not to marry and to live with the child afterward.
And think about it, when he's in his forties, I'll be almost sixty. He'll be in the prime of his life while I'll be an old, faded woman; I don't think I'm worthy of him. And if it got out, how would the outside world view him? So our situation is not suitable for marriage, nor can we marry."
"He treats me very well. Since learning of the pregnancy, he has taken special care of me and shown me concern, even buying property in Europe just so I can go there to await childbirth. As long as there is love, I think it's more important than anything."
Ge Bingyi's fists remained clenched, especially when he heard the words "seduced," his knuckles turned somewhat white.
However, by the end, his fists loosened slightly.
Now, he was even somewhat unsure whether he should respect his daughter's choice or risk everything to bring down the 'emperor' and desperately force Chen Pingjiang to take responsibility for his daughter.
No one spoke at the dining table; there was an unusually low pressure.
After a long time, Ge Bingyi finally smiled.
"Yes, Dad isn't an old fogy either. We're old now, and having a grandson or granddaughter to enjoy is also good. Look, when can you get Chen Pingjiang to come over? I have some things I want to talk to him about face to face."
Ge Mengshi looked at her father gratefully:
"He can come over anytime. Actually, he wanted to come a long time ago, but I kept stopping him."
The meal was eaten without much taste.
Ge Bingyi said he understood, but he was still worried.
After the meal, he sat alone in the small courtyard, holding a cup and staring blankly.
Mrs. Ge also walked over:
"Old Ge, what are you thinking? Ge Mengshi is young and doesn't know what's important, but don't you?"
The midday sun at the beginning of July was dazzling.
When Ge Bingyi turned to look at his wife, he faced the sun directly, making his eyes tear up a little.
"How could I not know what's important? It's just that a grown daughter can't be kept at home; she's independent and stubborn, and she manages a catering group with tens of thousands of employees.
If I insist on causing a scene, even if I achieve my goal, what will be the result? Our daughter might not be grateful, Chen Pingjiang will definitely resent it, and it might even affect their relationship in the end. But if we respect our daughter's choice and don't make things difficult for Chen Pingjiang, perhaps Chen Pingjiang will treat her and the child even better?"
Mrs. Ge chuckled angrily:
"Old Ge, that's your daughter! Are you just going to let it go, let her have a child for Chen Pingjiang without proper status? Or are you intimidated by Chen Pingjiang's financial power and personal influence?"
"How could that be? Am I that kind of person?"
Ge Bingyi said:
"As for you, when Chen Pingjiang arrives later, don't show him a cold face; he's no ordinary person. Even if you have any thoughts, you can completely wait and discuss them later. First, let's see Chen Pingjiang's attitude. If his attitude isn't good, then you don't need to say anything; this old fogy can also cause a stir in society. But if two people are willing, one to give and one to receive, what else can you say?"
Mrs. Ge was ultimately persuaded by his experienced and prudent words.
Just like what was said before, if it were an ordinary person, the Ge family truly could cause a stir and force Chen Pingjiang to marry their daughter.
But when it came to Chen Pingjiang, both of them knew the chances were almost zero.
"I knew it! When that young man came to pay a New Year visit during the New Year, I felt something was off. How often does a boss visit a subordinate employee's home for a New Year's greeting? And that day, the way Ge Mengshi looked at Chen Pingjiang was like she had fallen into a honey pot. Never mind, it's too late to say anything now."
...
On the other end, Chen Pingjiang wasn't flustered after receiving the call; he had long been prepared for this day.
What needed to be faced would have to be faced sooner or later.
As long as he dealt with Mr. and Mrs. Ge, there would be no more obstacles between him and Ge Mengshi.
He put aside his work and arrived at the Ge family's home only forty minutes later.
As he walked into the Ge family's living room, Chen Pingjiang saw Ge Mengshi desperately winking at him.
Seeing Chen Pingjiang walk in with a composed expression, Mr. and Mrs. Ge had mixed feelings.
What a fine young man!
How wonderful it would be if he truly became their son-in-law.
He was handsome, had money, and had social status.
There was no better son-in-law than him; he would be quite impressive when visiting their hometown during holidays.
"Ahem, Uncle and Auntie, long time no see."
As the saying goes, one doesn't strike a smiling face.
Chen Pingjiang was prepared for today's visit; at most, he'd get a scolding.
After all, he had gotten their precious daughter pregnant, and without proper status at that.
"Mr. Chen, please don't be a stranger, come and sit."
No sooner had Mrs. Ge spoken than she felt rather disappointed with herself.
She had planned to put on a bit of a show, but ended up welcoming him first.
Her family wasn't short on money, and she wasn't a snob herself.
It was mainly Chen Pingjiang's overpowering aura.
A man's reputation precedes him; facing Chen Pingjiang, Mrs. Ge found it hard to ignore a person's social status.
This posture was akin to ordinary common people meeting a high-ranking provincial or ministerial official, a psychological gap caused by vastly different social statuses.
There were still hundreds of provincial and ministerial officials nationwide, but genuinely few billionaires in the country had assets reaching tens of billions.
Ge Bingyi silently poured Chen Pingjiang a cup of tea, his movements slow and solemn.
Unexpectedly, Chen Pingjiang spoke first:
"Uncle and Auntie, I'm here today to apologize to you. You already know what happened. I also want to state my position here: my affection for Ge Mengshi is definite. I am personally willing to give her thirty percent of Zhi Zhen Catering Group's shares.
Don't misunderstand, this isn't about throwing money to settle things, but to show my sincerity and provide a guaranteed safeguard for her and the child. Furthermore, if there is a second boy in the future, the child can take the Ge surname."
Ge Bingyi, in the midst of pouring tea, couldn't help but his hand tremble.
Mrs. Ge also gasped in surprise.
What a grand gesture!
After several years of development, Zhi Zhen Catering had grown considerably in scale.
Its brands, Miao Cha and Tai Er Suan Cai Yu, both had over five hundred stores nationwide, spread across first and second-tier cities.
Even Xiao Chen Shao Kao, which was developing a bit slower, already had over a hundred stores.
A catering group of this scale would have a conservative valuation of no less than ten billion yuan, and if it successfully listed in the future, three or four hundred billion yuan would not be impossible.
More crucially, with the help of the Ren Ren Gou platform, Zhi Zhen Catering's listing was practically a certainty.
Chen Pingjiang's opening offer was tens of billions in equity.
However, what made Ge Bingyi even more struck was the second point Chen Pingjiang mentioned.
The second boy taking the Ge surname.
This brought an indescribable feeling to his heart.
The Ge family wasn't so patriarchal, but if the bloodline and family tree could be continued, it would certainly be a good thing.
For a moment, Ge Bingyi was actually speechless.
Chen Pingjiang's sincerity was overwhelming.
These things were nothing to Chen Pingjiang.
Zhi Zhen Catering itself had been managed by Ge Mengshi single-handedly to this day.
Even giving out 30% of the equity, their respective holdings would still be considerable.
For Chen Pingjiang, anything that could be solved with money wasn't a problem, after all, he had so much money he couldn't spend it all.
As for a boy taking the Ge surname, Chen Pingjiang had no psychological burden whatsoever.
It was quite normal for a child in a legally married couple to take the mother's surname, let alone his situation.
In any case, Ge Mengshi had made great sacrifices, and Chen Pingjiang should have such an attitude.
On the other side, Ge Mengshi was utterly moved after hearing Chen Pingjiang's words, and her eyes began to redden slightly.
She didn't really care about the shares, but Chen Pingjiang's attitude made her happy; she hadn't misjudged him.
"Mr. Chen, this..."
"Uncle, just call me Xiao Chen, don't be so formal."
"Oh, Xiao Chen, I understand your attitude. Ge Mengshi's mother and I just discussed it. We can't control your affairs. No matter what, as long as you truly love each other, we wish you well. We only hope you can help each other through thick and thin and respect each other."
What more could Ge Bingyi say?
Chen Pingjiang had handled things too perfectly; there was nothing to criticize.
Ask for more?
He was afraid of a fallout, and even more afraid of his daughter getting angry.
Mrs. Ge also said:
"Xiao Chen, I think there might not be any need to go abroad to await childbirth, right?"
"Mom, I was the one who insisted on going abroad. There, I don't have to care about the opinions of the neighbors or the occasional visitors at home, which gives me more peace of mind. And the house has already been bought."
"But won't you be lonely abroad? Besides, the child will be so small later, and flying back home will be troublesome."
Chen Pingjiang smiled and said:
"Auntie, please don't worry. You and Uncle can stay there anytime or continuously. I've bought a private jet, so coming and going is very convenient. Nannies, confinement nannies, and bodyguards have already been arranged domestically, and they will go ahead in a few days to clean the house.
Furthermore, considering dietary preferences, since domestic sauces and vegetables might not be available in Europe, I will also regularly arrange for fresh domestic ingredients to be air-shipped, essentially ensuring that you can eat whatever you wish. I will also visit Ge Mengshi frequently."
Mrs. Ge's words were completely blocked.
She sighed inwardly, thinking how good it was to be rich.
Things that ordinary people wouldn't even dare to dream of were easily stated by Chen Pingjiang, and he had considered everything so thoroughly.
"You've been very thoughtful."
All the topics they wanted to discuss had been covered.
Mr. and Mrs. Ge felt a bit awkward just sitting there, so they found an excuse to leave, leaving Chen Pingjiang and Ge Mengshi at home.
"I originally thought it would be very difficult to get past your parents, but I didn't expect Uncle and Auntie to be quite reasonable!"
Ge Mengshi chuckled:
"It's easy to say when you're not in their shoes. While my parents wouldn't scorn the poor and adore the rich, they do care about being well-matched in social status. Aren't they being so reasonable because of your 'money power' plus your sincerity?"
After saying that, she slowly nestled into Chen Pingjiang's arms:
"I also want to thank you, thank you for everything you've done for me."
On the other side, Ge's father, taking a walk, teased:
"Didn't you just say you were going to put on airs? Why did you suddenly become so reasonable?"
Mrs. Ge glared at her husband:
"What else can I say? You all favor outsiders over your own family, making me the bad guy? I won't do it. I've also figured it out; their attitude is so good, what more can we ask for?"
"I've decided. I'll wrap up the business I have on hand. You go to Finland first to accompany our daughter, and I'll join you after I've handled my affairs. Also, after our first grandchild is born, no matter what, we must tell our daughter to quickly get pregnant with a second child."
"I say, Old Ge, was it Chen Pingjiang's offer to let the second boy take the Ge family name that truly moved you? Aren't you afraid if the second child is a girl?"
"A girl is fine, a girl is good too!"
(End of chapter)