Volume One: High School Days Chapter Fifty-nine: The Matchmaking Chronicles

The entire month of July passed, and Yanagi had still not returned. At first, Ren Xiadong could reach him, but later, Yanagi’s phone was always switched off. However, every three days, Yanagi would check in via WeChat to let Ren Xiadong know he was safe.

During this time, Ren Xiadong successfully got his driver’s license. He also grew closer to Lele, and meanwhile, the dubbing work for the feature film was completed smoothly. Now, with Ren Xiadong at the helm, the promotional campaign had officially begun, and the film was finally scheduled to premiere on the first day of the Lunar New Year.

There was also a new saying circulating about Liuyao Universal Animation Company: they didn’t release works often, but when they did, they earned as much in one project as others did in a year.

On the morning of August first, Ren Xiadong, freshly licensed, was speeding through the suburbs beyond the Third Ring Road in his own car, singing loudly, stomping on the gas, and honking at every passerby—utterly smug.

Around noon, a black car suddenly stopped in front of a real estate office within the Second Ring Road. It was Ren Xiadong’s car. He got out, looked up at the tall building, and muttered to himself, “This is it!”

Walking into the office, he shouted without preamble, “I want to pay in full for an apartment—the sooner, the better!”

After a brief discussion, he ended up purchasing a duplex for six million yuan: the top two floors connected, with three bedrooms and a living room downstairs, and two bedrooms and a living room upstairs.

Once the money was paid and the contract signed, he called the head of his company’s procurement department, gave instructions about renovations and furnishing, and transferred one million yuan to the manager. He decided to wait for Yanagi to return so they could move in together; he wanted nothing else to do with the matter.

With everything arranged, Ren Xiadong planned to go home and catch up on sleep. But a call from Lele changed his mind.

Lele explained that her mother was gravely ill and bedridden at home, urging her to return immediately. Lele asked Ren Xiadong to drive her back to her hometown.

Without hesitation, Ren Xiadong picked up Lele from her office and set out for her home.

Lele’s hometown was in a county of Xinghai City, a place surrounded by mountains but far from poor, as it was a famous tourist destination and a revolutionary heritage site.

Had it not been for Lele’s directions, Ren Xiadong would never have found the place, even with GPS, given the terrain.

After winding through mountain roads all afternoon, they finally arrived at Lele’s home at six o’clock. Although her family lived in a village within the county, every house in the village was a two-story building. Ren Xiadong looked around and remarked, “Truly, the people live off the land and water. One tourist spot feeds countless villages!”

“Stop chattering and hurry inside—I’m really worried about my mom!” Lele snapped as she pushed the door open.

Having left in a rush, Ren Xiadong brought nothing, feeling a bit embarrassed as he entered Lele’s family home empty-handed.

Once inside, Lele saw her whole family gathered, including her mother, who appeared perfectly healthy. The village chief’s family was also present.

Upon seeing Lele, her mother exclaimed, “Ah, Lele, you’re finally back.”

“I thought you were seriously ill?” Lele, seeing her mother well and the village chief’s family there, grew visibly displeased and questioned her.

Her mother’s expression turned stern. “If I hadn’t said that, would you have come? You’re a grown woman now, but the moment we don’t indulge you, you run away from home! If you try it again, I’ll break your legs!”

At that, a young man just past twenty stepped forward and addressed Lele’s mother, “Aunt Aya, please don’t be angry. Lele’s home now.”

Her mother reined in her temper and said, “The village chief’s family is here to discuss your marriage to Qi Fei. Last time you ran away because of this. I had no choice but to trick you home this time. We’re in a village, not a big city. If you don’t marry now, in a few years, no one will want you!”

Lele had left for work in Xinghai City precisely because the chief’s son, Qi Fei, relentlessly pestered her. She had fled to escape an arranged marriage, only to be tricked home again for the very same reason. This time, she was completely enraged.

Realizing what was happening, Lele tried to bolt, vowing never to return, but her family seized her, refusing to let go. “Try running and we’ll tie you up! Marrying into the chief’s family means living in comfort and plenty!”

The village’s success in tourism was due in part to its revolutionary history, but also to the chief’s capabilities. He had profited handsomely himself, and everyone knew it. Yet no one reported him—not out of fear, but because he had also done much for the villagers’ welfare.

The village chief now spoke to his son, “Maybe we should drop this. Lele clearly doesn’t want to marry you.”

“No! I want Lele. If I can’t have her, I’ll never marry!” Qi Fei declared.

The chief, growing anxious, scolded, “You fool! You’re my only son. If you don’t marry, our family line ends! How could I face our ancestors after I die?”

Then, turning politely to Lele’s family, he said, “How about I add another hundred thousand to the bride price? Please, talk to Lele. My son has set his heart on her, as you all can see.”

He then addressed Lele, “Lele, if you marry into our family, we’ll treat you like our own daughter. Or you can name your price—we have the means, as you know.”

Upon hearing the offer of an extra hundred thousand, Lele’s family agreed before she could speak, “Good, good! No more persuading needed. Let’s just pick a date.”

As this was a family matter, Ren Xiadong, sitting in the living room, heard everything but was unsure if he should intervene, so he remained out of sight.

At that moment, Lele burst into tears and shouted at her family, “You’re selling me, not marrying me off! Can’t you care about my happiness?”

Her mother slapped Lele across the face. Qi Fei quickly tried to intervene, “Auntie, let’s talk this out—no need for violence.”

Lele’s mother said, “You have a younger brother. He’ll need to marry someday, too, and bride prices are so high now. If you don’t marry, your brother will never find a wife! I’m your mother, the one who gave birth to and raised you. Can’t you think of this family for once?”

These words pushed Lele past her limit. Why should she sacrifice herself for her brother, for this family? She retorted, “Isn’t your son your flesh and blood, but I’m not? You just want to sell me for money! If I want someone rich, I can find one myself! Who are you to decide for me—especially about my lifelong happiness?”

Her mother, growing furious at Lele’s agitation, shouted back, “The chief’s family is the richest in the village! Who else would pay three hundred thousand to marry you?”

Lele froze, then, through tears, laughed bitterly, “Three hundred thousand is all it takes to sell me? You value money more than me? Fine—you want money, right?”

Wiping away her tears, Lele’s heart ached with injustice. Other parents cherished their children; she was merely a sum on a ledger, to be sold to the highest bidder.

She suddenly shouted, “Ren Xiadong! How much will you pay to buy me?”

Hearing this from the living room, Ren Xiadong hurried in and cried, “Three million!”

Everyone was stunned, first by Ren Xiadong’s sudden appearance—he wasn’t a local and they wondered about his relationship with Lele—and second by the sum he declared.

Qi Fei, looking at Ren Xiadong, a man about his own age, demanded, “Who are you?”

Ren Xiadong pulled Lele behind him and replied, “I’m her boyfriend. Isn’t it a matter of the highest bidder? If no one else raises the price, I’ll take Lele with me.”

Lele, moved by his gesture, threw her arms around him from behind, sobbing too hard to speak.

Qi Fei turned to his father, “Dad! I need three million!”

The chief nearly had a stroke, kicking Qi Fei hard. “You idiot! I could scrape together three million, but if I give it all to you, what will you eat? What will you drink? For three million, you could marry ten wives!”

Qi Fei fell silent after the kick, but the chief said, “Let him pay three million if he wants to take Lele. If he can’t, we’ll take her for three hundred thousand.”

The chief was no longer polite; the sudden appearance of Ren Xiadong and his son’s demand for three million had exhausted his patience.

None of them believed Ren Xiadong could actually come up with three million. Lele’s family wasn’t counting on him either—they were all waiting for him to fail, so they could accept the chief’s three hundred thousand and let him take Lele.

Ren Xiadong then asked Lele’s family, “How should I pay you the three million?”

Everyone was momentarily stunned by his willingness. Finally, Lele’s mother pulled a bank card from a drawer.

Ren Xiadong took it and called his bank, instructing them to transfer three million to Lele’s mother’s account. After verifying his identity, the bank completed the transfer in a minute, and Lele’s mother received a notification that three million had arrived.

Both families were dumbstruck. No one expected someone so young to really have that kind of money. Before anyone could react, Lele declared, “From now on, I will never come back!”

She dragged Ren Xiadong away, leaving everyone else still reeling from the shock. By the time they recovered, the two were already gone.

On the road, Lele sat in Ren Xiadong’s car, weeping nonstop. Ren Xiadong wanted to comfort her but didn’t know what to say or what not to say.

While he was agonizing over whether to speak, Lele suddenly said, “Take me to the mountain top.”

Ren Xiadong carefully drove to the summit. Lele got out and shouted into the open air. Turning to him, she said, “When I was little, whenever I felt upset, I’d come here and yell.”

Ren Xiadong also shouted into the night, then said, “I’ll shout a few more times for you, so you’ll feel better sooner!”

Lele took his hand, standing face-to-face. Ren Xiadong’s heart pounded faster and faster—she was the second girl, after Ren Jing, to make his heart race like this.

Their eyes met and lingered, heat rising between them. Their lips drew near, brushed lightly, then parted again, both breathing hard.

Lele whispered, “I was bought by you for three million.”

Then they embraced tightly, their lips pressed together, hungrily seeking each other.

The mountain night was cold, but the air was fresh and clear. Without a trace of smog, the stars were dazzlingly bright. Atop the mountain, under the starry sky, a black car rocked gently in the painterly night.

And at last, Ren Xiadong understood why Yanagi had urged him so insistently to get his driver’s license.