Volume One, Chapter Two: Is There a Bride Price?

Shen Zhien’s eyes widened.

He actually agreed?

“Let’s sit down and talk,” Li Shen invited again.

Shen Zhien, unable to refuse any longer, walked over and sat opposite Li Shen.

“I agree to the marriage. Miss Shen?” Li Shen got straight to the point.

“I… I suppose it’s not impossible,” Shen Zhien stammered.

“Then I’ll take that as your consent. Looking forward to working with you, Miss Shen.” Li Shen stood up and extended his hand.

Shen Zhien was stunned for half a second, then stood and gently shook his hand.

“Looking forward to working with you, Mr. Li.”

“Good, my task is done. I’ll take my leave now,” Li Shen said with a sense of relief as he withdrew his hand.

Shen Zhien was left utterly confused.

Li Shen paid her no mind and strode out.

“Old Jin, you know what to say, right?” Li Shen said at the door.

“Yes, Young Master. You go ahead,” Old Jin replied respectfully, then entered the room and said to Shen Zhien, “Miss Shen, let me take you to meet the master and mistress.”

Shen Zhien, bewildered, followed Old Jin out of the private room, out of the club, and onto a shuttle car. The shuttle car traveled through Dongshan Huashu for five minutes and stopped in front of a luxurious villa.

Old Jin led Shen Zhien inside. In the lavishly decorated reception hall on the first floor sat a middle-aged couple—Li Shen’s father, Li Qitai, and mother, Xu Huaying.

As soon as Shen Zhien entered, she was intimidated by Li Qitai’s presence. He wasn’t frightening in appearance—in fact, he was a handsome, mature man—but he carried the aura of a strict principal, especially in those sharp black eyes that commanded respect without anger.

This mysterious Vice Chairman Li rarely appeared publicly. The few photos circulating online were from his youth. His popularity paled in comparison not only to his son and father but also to his late brother, Li Qidong.

“Miss Shen is here,” Xu Huaying greeted warmly, rising to lead Shen Zhien to a seat.

“Mr. and Mrs. Li,” Shen Zhien greeted nervously, then cautiously took her seat.

Li Qitai nodded slightly and frowned as he appraised her from head to toe.

“You’ve met with Li Shen. Regarding this marriage, do you have any conditions?” Li Qitai asked sternly.

Wearing a forced smile, Shen Zhien recalled her purpose here. Her family was in urgent need of money, and the Li family might be able to help. She had to swallow her pride and inquire directly.

“May I be so bold as to ask if there’s a bride price?” Shen Zhien’s head almost bowed to her knees.

“Bride price?” Li Qitai was surprised that this young girl would ask such a direct question right away.

“You’ve probably heard already that my family is in a difficult situation. We’ve been relying on my mother’s work as a maternity nurse to get by. Recently, my father was scammed, wiping out our savings and leaving debts. My sister needs urgent surgery…” Shen Zhien’s voice grew softer, shame clouding her vision.

“How much bride price do you want?” Li Qitai’s brows knit in clear displeasure.

“Could it be… six…” Shen Zhien slowly raised her hand, showing six. Since she’d started, she might as well be bold.

“Six million, plus six properties, and six shops in the Stellar Commercial Center. How does that sound?” Xu Huaying said carefully, knowing Shen Zhien’s modest background and not wanting to overwhelm her. After all, once married in, everything would belong to her.

Shen Zhien’s trembling hand silently withdrew from the six gesture. “Too six,” she whispered.

“What?” Li Qitai didn’t catch that.

“No, no need for that much. I meant sixty thousand, which I’d consider as a loan to cover my sister’s initial surgery payment. I can handle the rest myself.”

“Sixty thousand?” Li Qitai and Xu Huaying exchanged glances as if they had never seen such a small number.

“I’ll have Old Jin transfer it to you later. This sixty thousand isn’t part of the bride price. Consider it a meeting gift,” Li Qitai agreed with a trace of condescending disdain.

“Thank you, Uncle and Aunt! I’ll do my best and won’t trouble you!” Though uncomfortable, Shen Zhien was relieved to have achieved her goal and expressed her gratitude.

“Haha, girl, we’re family now. No such thing as trouble,” Xu Huaying patted her hand.

“Enough about that. I have only one request for you as my future daughter-in-law: stop making those ridiculous videos of yours. The Li family doesn’t need you earning money like that,” Li Qitai said.

Shen Zhien gave an awkward smile. “Ridiculous,” it seemed that was how the prospective father-in-law viewed her.

When she first switched to being a beauty blogger, her naturally beautiful face inherited from her mother had earned her some popularity. Once, after encountering some oddities on set, she posted a venting video that unexpectedly went viral.

Seizing the momentum, she renamed all her social media accounts “En Dian Yinghou” and released a series of crazy, sarcastic videos. The stark contrast between her wild persona and flawless makeup carved a niche for her.

With a solid fan base, she began accepting fan submissions, researching various looks, and making tutorial videos to guide her followers step by step.

Beautiful and lively, her career as a beauty blogger was thriving. Now being asked to give it up was too difficult.

After meeting with Mr. and Mrs. Li, Jin Bida led Shen Zhien to the courtyard behind the house. The dry landscape garden exuded a Zen-like atmosphere, where a smiling old man with white beard was leaning over a bridge, watching her approach.

“Little Shen, I’ve been waiting for you!” the old man said. Shen Zhien felt as if she were dreaming, looking at the legendary elder who frequently appeared in the gossip columns of top aristocratic families.

“Chairman Li, hello,” Shen Zhien said awkwardly, extending her hand.

“No need to be shy. Call me Grandpa, and I’ll call you Little En,” he said.

“All right, Grandpa,” Shen Zhien said sweetly. Li Zhenting smiled in approval as he stroked his beard.

“Oh, what a good granddaughter you are. Our Qingyun is pretty too, but she always wears a scowl like an old man,” Li Zhenting complained.

The name Li Qingyun was familiar to Shen Zhien from avid gossip reading. She was Li Shen’s younger sister, a little princess of the elite family, 21 years old, studying abroad, with an IQ of 146—a true prodigy.

“They showed me your videos,” Li Zhenting winked at Shen Zhien. “Beautiful, lively, optimistic, uninhibited.” He praised her highly.

“You resemble your grandmother very much,” he said seriously, looking deeply at Shen Zhien. “Shu Zhen was truly a good woman.”

“Years ago, your grandfather saved my eldest son Li Qidong. I wanted to repay him, but he refused. After he passed, I sought out Shu Zhen, hoping to bring you into the Li family, but she declined. I kept pressing until a marriage agreement was made for her granddaughter to marry the Li family heir.”

“Over twenty years ago, my son died in a plane crash. Since then, every year on his death anniversary, I’ve consulted Master Huang for fortune-telling. Last month, he predicted a great calamity for the Li family. He said a marriage to bring joy could avert it, but it had to be someone with a karmic connection to the family. That’s why I started looking for you.”

“Ah Shen, that boy of mine, he has a sharp tongue but a good heart. This time he agreed to the marriage partly because I pushed him. But don’t worry, he’s a good kid. I’ll watch over him to make sure he treats you well,” Li Zhenting confided.

After strolling with Li Zhenting, they left the courtyard. Jin Bida escorted Shen Zhien to the car.

The black Bentley was already waiting.

Only after driving a certain distance did her nervousness ease a little. Gazing out the window, she felt dazed. Was she really going to spend her life here? With someone so temperamental?

Her phone rang. It was her best friend, Zhu Yan. As soon as she answered, her eardrums nearly burst: “En En!! You’re trending! Are you really marrying into a wealthy family?!”