In Room 302 at Riverside Garden, Nelson and Isabella sat by the window. Glancing at her watch, Isabella muttered to herself, "This rascal, why does he always have to be so late?"
Nelson lifted a teacup, took a sip of oolong tea, and frowned slightly. "No strong fragrance, can this even be considered oolong tea?"
"Dad, I don't think this scoundrel is going to show up. Should we just call it off?" Isabella looked out the window, not seeing Louie's white Passat yet. Turning back to Nelson, she continued, "I didn't want to do this in the first place. Since he's unwilling, you don't need to worry about what others might think."
Nelson smiled at Isabella, and she felt a bit uneasy. "What's up with Dad? Why is he suddenly smiling?"
While Isabella was puzzled, Nelson continued, "Isabella, do you think I can't see it? There's something between you and Louie. I've never heard you mention a man before, but now I frequently hear you talking about Louie at home. Why is that?"
Isabella shook her head repeatedly. "Dad, you've got it all wrong. I don't have any feelings for him. I'm just angry because he's so bad, always deliberately teasing me. Moreover, since that ridiculous trial marriage last time, he's become even bolder, calling me his wife whenever he sees me. Dad, you know how it is. At this rate, how can I face anyone? Out of anger, I asked Cousin Tianfeng for help, hoping to make him back off. I didn't expect Cousin Tianfeng to admire him instead. Thinking about it makes me even angrier."
After Isabella finished speaking, she pouted her rosy lips, leaning against Nelson and coquettishly said, "Dad, you have to figure something out. If there's a way to make him leave me without resorting to trial marriage, that would be the best. I really don't want to use the trial marriage method to keep him away, but I don't have any other choice."
Nelson laughed. He looked at his daughter and said, "Isabella, as someone with experience, don't you think I understand these things? You claim to dislike him, but when I brought up the trial marriage last night, why did you agree so easily? Have you ever considered what might happen when you two are alone?"
"Dad, I have thought about it. That's why I asked Ms. Lu to accompany me. I believe with her around, he won't dare do anything."
"Isabella, I know your temper very well. You think one thing but won't say it out loud. Well, I won't say more. Since things have reached this point, we have to go through with it. You've seen the house I picked for you two. Now, we just need Louie's agreement. This marriage was arranged by old friends, regardless of how absurd it might seem. Since I promised, I'll go through with it. During the trial marriage, if you and Louie get along well, I will officially announce your marriage to the outside world. We'll have a grand wedding, and I'll have an heir. Of course, if it doesn't work out between you two, we'll just part ways. I don't think Mr. Zhang will blame me."
Nelson patted Isabella's shoulder and said, "Isabella, based on my many years of experience, Louie is not a simple person. Perhaps you might really fall for him."
"I won't. I absolutely won't fall for him. The only reason I agreed to the trial marriage is to make him give up on me. That's it." Isabella reiterated.
Just as Isabella finished speaking, the door to the private room opened, and Louie walked in. "Sorry, sorry, traffic was terrible." Louie sat in the seat near the door, glanced at the empty table, and said, "Why isn't there any food? I know this meal is meant to treat me, but you didn't have to wait for me to order. I'm a very easy person to entertain. Bring a plate of abalone, sand ginseng, with fish roe on the side. Add an 80% cooked steak and a bottle of French wine, and that's enough."
Isabella, after listening, said sarcastically, "This is considered hospitality? If your demands were any higher, should we spend a few hundred thousand to send you to France or England for a meal?"
"If you have such an idea, I wouldn't mind." Louie, with his thick-skinned demeanor, was impervious even to steel needles; Isabella was no match for him. Each time, he left Isabella pouting.
However, Nelson did not see Louie in the same light. In his eyes, Louie might appear casual on the surface, speaking without reservation, but in reality, he was far more complex. Nelson smiled and habitually placed his right hand on the table, lightly tapping the tabletop with his little finger. "Louie, I've already ordered the dishes, and we're waiting for you to serve them."
"Uncle, there's really no need for that." Louie respected Nelson and put on a serious expression, putting an end to teasing Isabella. "Uncle, you don't have to say it. I also understand why you invited me for this meal."
"Oh, I'd love to hear your thoughts." Nelson was interested in Louie's reasoning.
"It's very simple. You hope that Isabella and I can live together to see if we're compatible. However, you're concerned about your daughter. Therefore, you want to convince me to move nearby. Uncle, I didn't need you to say it; I already knew why you invited me for this meal."
Nelson's approving gaze reflected admiration. He lightly clapped his hands and laughed, "Well said. That's exactly what I had in mind. But I'm curious, how did you guess?"
"Just a little deduction, coupled with some observation." Louie smiled and shifted his gaze onto the glaring Isabella. "Firstly, it's Isabella's behavior. From the moment I arrived until now, Isabella has been angry. However, this anger isn't because I offended her with words; it carries a sense of injustice and unwillingness. Second, your invitation for this meal indicates that you're not here to blame me for offending Isabella, but rather to discuss matters. Third, when you agreed to this marriage last time, given your status, you aren't someone who goes back on their word easily. Even if you regretted agreeing later, you wouldn't backtrack. Considering these three points, I believe you want to discuss the marriage, and considering you don't know much about me personally, you likely hope that Isabella and I would live near you. This way, you can regularly check if we have any conflicts. I wouldn't be surprised if you assigned some people to protect Isabella, just in case I have any untoward intentions. Uncle, don't blame me for being suspicious; perhaps you'd even assign guards to protect Isabella on the spot if I made any improper moves."
Louie's words completely impressed Nelson. He was certain that Louie was no ordinary person. Louie's observational and judgment skills were precisely what Nelson was looking for in a successor to Century International Group.
"Good, well said. Just based on your words, I wholeheartedly support this marriage." Nelson's sudden statement left both Louie and Isabella dumbfounded. Louie thought he misheard and quickly asked, "Uncle, what did you say?"
"I said I approve of you being my son-in-law."
In her haste, Isabella accidentally knocked a teacup to the ground, shattering it into pieces. She first glanced at her father and then at Louie, wondering, "What's going on? How did this scoundrel manage to manipulate my dad? Is my entire life ruined? No, I absolutely do not agree!"
Just as Isabella was about to voice her thoughts regardless, she heard Louie say, "Uncle, I decline."