Alexander Westwood shot her an impassive glance, his large hand gripping the nape of her neck, dragging her along as if she were a small chick. They reached the doorway to his room, and he unceremoniously pushed her inside.

“Get some rest; we’re heading back to the old house early tomorrow,” he ordered.

Jane instinctively took a step forward, “I—”

He cut her off, “One more word, and I’ll throw you out.”

“……” Jane bit her lip, feeling both defiant and hesitant. It was as if he could read her mind, knowing exactly what she was planning.

Alexander’s cold gaze swept over her before he turned and entered the master bedroom, slamming the door shut the moment she followed.

“…” Jane huffed at the closed door, muttering under her breath, “Who does he think he is?”

Though she often found herself at odds with Alexander, she was used to her emotions flaring up and fading quickly, which didn’t affect her sleep that night.

The night quickly passed, and Jane was jolted awake early the next morning as Alexander dragged her out of bed and drove them back to the old house. It wasn't until the car came to a sudden stop that she snapped awake.

“Alexander! Do you know you can scare someone to death like that?!”

He raised an eyebrow, “Jane, I’ve already been indulgent by letting you drift off this long.”

Jane felt like he was looking at her not like a person, but like a well-trained machine. Her bravado diminished significantly, and she murmured, “Not everyone can be as obsessively disciplined as you.”

Alexander shot her a sidelong glance before stepping out of the car.

Relieved, Jane hurried to catch up to him. Although she dared to be playful with him, she still felt a bit intimidated. After all, he had been more like a drill sergeant during their school days.

As they entered the house, Xu Zhaosen was seated in the living room, watching the morning news. He looked up when he heard them, “Oh, you’re back.”

Alexander merely acknowledged him with a curt “Dad.”

Jane obediently followed suit, “Hello, Uncle Xu.”

Xu Zhaosen’s expression softened. “Xiao Ye, you should come back more often. It’s just me and your aunt at home; it would be nice to have you here for a bit.”

He occasionally glanced at the man beside her, and Jane sensed the look was one of silent reproach.

She nodded with a smile, “Uncle Xu, I will.”

If she ended up marrying Alexander, she could come home anytime.

Just as Jane’s smile lingered, she heard laughter coming from the stairs. Ding Yuan and Aunt Chen appeared, chatting animatedly.

When Aunt Chen spotted them in the living room, her eyes brightened. “You’re back! I was just giving Yuan Yuan a tour of the upstairs rooms.”

Alexander frowned slightly, “What’s so interesting about the rooms?”

“Yuan Yuan has never been upstairs before, so I thought it would be nice to show her around,” Aunt Chen replied cheerfully.

Jane was still trying to process the implications of Aunt Chen’s words when Xu Zhaosen turned off the television, and the suddenly quiet room was filled with his serious tone.

“The main reason I called you back today is to discuss your marriage with Yuan Yuan.”

—

In the living room, Ding Yuan and Aunt Chen sat together, while Jane and Alexander formed another couple across from Xu Zhaosen, who seemed to be presiding over a formal family meeting.

His words stirred a wave of surprise among everyone present, and for a moment, nobody spoke.

“Hey, why wasn’t I called to the meeting?”

The voice belonged to Xu Zhi, the second son of the Xu family, who sauntered down the stairs, yawning. He plopped onto the sofa, appearing drowsy but still exuding a charismatic aura.

“Xiao Ye is here?” he noted, looking pleasantly surprised.

Jane smiled brightly, “Little Zhi!”

“Yeah.” Xu Zhi nodded before turning serious, “Let's get started; I'm ready to hear the news.”

Jane struggled to suppress a laugh, lowering her head as her cheeks flushed. Only Alexander could catch the hint of amusement in her expression.

A flicker of humor crossed his face, quickly replaced by an expression of indifference.

After the interruption, Ding Yuan became even more bashful. Since Xu Zhi didn’t reach out to her, she felt too shy to speak, casting a pleading look toward Aunt Chen.

Aunt Chen reassuringly patted her hand. “You know how Little Zhi is; let’s not mind him.”

Xu Zhaosen took it all in, then turned to his younger son, scolding, “Look at you! Is this how you should behave?!”

“Why are you looking at me?”

Xu Zhi replied in confusion. “Aren’t you supposed to be talking about my brother’s marriage?”

Xu Zhaosen took a deep breath and, under Aunt Chen’s persistent signaling, finally calmed down. Gritting his teeth, he said, “Yes, we are discussing your brother’s matter. Then it'll be your turn!”

Aunt Chen shot him an amused glance and interjected, “So, Wei Yan, what are your thoughts on your marriage with Yuan Yuan?”