Nie Rougang's lips curved into a cold, restrained smile instead of becoming outrightly angry, "Whether the school is mine or not doesn't matter," he said evenly. "But one thing is certain. It will never be yours."
His gaze sharpened slightly.
"And Song Yue isn't either. Stay away from her."
His voice wasn't raised, yet it rang clearly through the office, steady and unmistakable.
Li Meiran's eyes slid toward the principal, sharp and merciless. "Principal," he asked calmly, "do you dare refuse my donation?"
Before the principal could even form an answer, Nie Rougang turned as well. His expression remained calm, but the pressure behind his gaze was crushing.
"And do you dare accept it?" he asked.
The principal felt his legs go weak.
Only now did he truly understand how scalding money could be.
Cold sweat soaked through his collar as he looked back and forth between the two men. Offending either one would ruin him. Offending both would bury him alive.
"I… I…" His lips trembled helplessly. In the end, survival won out. "Our school has decided not to proceed with renovating the library or the laboratory for now! Thank you, Duke Li Meiran and President Nie Rougang, for your generous intentions!"
It was a coward's retreat.
But it was the only one that kept him breathing.
Li Meiran let out a low whistle, clearly amused. "Ah, what a pity," he said lightly. "No money to take, no fun to be had."
He shrugged casually. "I'm leaving."
As he turned to go, Nie Rougang followed him out of the office.
"Li Meiran," Nie Rougang said coldly, stopping just behind him. "If you dare harass Song Yue again, don't blame me if I stop being polite."
Li Meiran turned back, his smile crooked and provocative. "Impolite? You?" He laughed softly. "I do whatever I please."
His eyes glinted. "Who knows? One day, if I'm in the mood, I might even marry her."
Before Nie Rougang could respond, Li Meiran's phone rang.
"Mom?" He froze mid-step, listening. His expression shifted rapidly, disbelief flashing across his face. "Mom, wait. We'll talk when I get back."
He ended the call abruptly and strode away, jaw clenched tight.
Nie Rougang watched him leave, a faint unease settling in his chest. Whatever mess was unfolding in Li Meiran's family was clearly not simple—but it had nothing to do with him.
Before leaving the campus, Nie Rougang paused outside Song Yue's classroom.
Through the glass window, he saw her bent over her desk, focused and quiet, pen moving steadily across the page. The noise of the hallway seemed far away.
He stood there longer than he realized.
At the gates of the Song family mansion, a luxurious car was already parked.
Inside sat a graceful, well-dressed woman of western origin, her posture elegant as she held her phone. Sikong Jue sat stiffly in the driver's seat, shoulders tense.
"What?" Elizabeth's brows arched sharply. "You're not coming?"
She scoffed lightly. "Do you think I need your permission? I'll go in and propose right now. With our family background, the Song family won't refuse."
"Mom!" Li Meiran's voice crackled through the phone. "Where are you?"
"At the Song family's front gate," she replied calmly. "Whether you come or not, the proposal is happening today. You've already been involved with the girl. Our family won't shirk responsibility."
"What?!" Li Meiran felt his head throb. "Who told you that?"
"Sikong Jue," Elizabeth replied casually. "Who else?"
Sikong Jue went pale.
He had just signed his own death warrant.
"Wait there!" Li Meiran barked. "I'm coming right now!"
The sports car roared down the road, tires screaming as Li Meiran sped toward the mansion, his thoughts in complete chaos.
The words he had thrown at Nie Rougang earlier echoed relentlessly in his mind.
One day, if I'm in the mood, I might even marry her.
Had his mouth cursed him?
The car screeched to a halt at the Song mansion gates. Li Meiran jumped out and lunged straight toward Sikong Jue.
"Auntie, save me!" Sikong Jue yelped.
Elizabeth rose gracefully from her seat. "Let him go," she said coolly. "I forced him to talk. If you're angry, be angry at me."
Then, as if on cue, she burst into tears. "My own son bullies me! After everything I've done for you—!"
Li Meiran rolled his eyes, pinching the bridge of his nose.
"Enough, Mom."
The tears vanished instantly. She pulled out a compact mirror and fixed her makeup with practiced elegance.
"It works every time," she said smugly. "Your father fell for it, too."
Li Meiran wondered, not for the first time, what kind of fate had saddled him with such a mother.
Sikong Jue seized the chance and slipped away.
Li Meiran sank into the seat beside his mother. Reasoning with her was pointless, but he had to try.
"Mom, it's too rushed. Let me think about it properly."
"Nonsense," Elizabeth waved him off. "You finally met a woman you don't avoid. Do you know how rare that is? You must take responsibility."
"I'm not even happy yet," Li Meiran snapped. "She even dared to trick me. I haven't decided what to do with her."
Elizabeth smiled knowingly. "Oh, you'll decide soon enough."
She leaned closer. "Didn't she steal the photo from your wallet?"
Li Meiran's eyes darkened. "Yes. That's exactly why I can't marry her."
Elizabeth laughed softly, satisfied. "She stole it? Then it's settled."
Li Meiran stared at her. "What are you talking about?"
Elizabeth gazed toward the Song mansion, her smile deep and certain. "Fate," she said calmly. "This is fate."
Li Meiran stared at his mother as if she'd just announced the sky was green.
"Mother," he said slowly, "did you forget to take your medicine today? Why are you happy that she stole my photo?"
Elizabeth waved a hand, perfectly serene. "Nonsense. Your mother's mind is crystal clear. Besides, she didn't steal it. She returned it to its rightful owner."
Li Meiran's brow furrowed. "Returned? What do you mean?"
Elizabeth smiled, radiant and unbothered by his scowl. "The girl in the photo is Song Yue. The photo belongs to her."
Li Meiran froze.
"You knew who the girl was," he said incredulously, "and still sent me here to 'look for her'?"
"Of course," Elizabeth replied cheerfully. "If I told you outright to find your future wife, would you have come? So I let fate do the work. You searched, you met, sparks flew. Isn't that how stories begin?"
Li Meiran's jaw tightened as memories surfaced. Sparks? All he remembered were arguments, tricks, and that infuriatingly clever girl outmaneuvering him at every turn.
"I've completed your so-called mission," he said coldly. "I'll return home tomorrow."
Elizabeth nodded. "That's fine. But you'll bring her back with you. After the engagement."
"I refuse," Li Meiran snapped. "Even if she's the girl from the photo, I won't agree."
Elizabeth's eyes sharpened. "Refuse? I've already decided. Do you know why you only wore one earring? That was your betrothal token."
She leaned closer, suddenly noticing his bare ear. "Wait. Where is it?"
"I lost it," Li Meiran muttered.
"Lost it?" Elizabeth's composure cracked. "That earring was worth over ten million!"
She inhaled, then waved it off briskly. "Never mind. We'll replace it. As long as Mr. Yun doesn't find out."
Li Meiran blinked. "Who is Mr. Yun?"
"Don't interrupt," Elizabeth snapped, then opened the car door. "We're going in."
"Mother!" Li Meiran reached out too late.
The Song mansion gates opened just as Su Xiao stepped outside. Her gaze landed on the luxury car, then on the woman who emerged from it.
Su Xiao's breath caught.
Elizabeth smiled and spoke first. "In-laws, I'm here to propose a marriage."
Su Xiao stiffened. Propose… marriage?