Auntie, Let's Talk Through This Peacefully

Watching the motorcade slowly pull up in front of the villa in the distance, Zhang Yuanqing stood at the edge of the rooftop, gripping his phone as he fell into thought. His future mother-in-law's purpose in coming to Songhai was crystal clear: she was definitely here to take Guan Ya away and sever all ties between her daughter and Yuanshi Tianzun. After all, as a rising star within the official faction, Yuanshi Tianzun wasn't someone she could casually kill. Taking her daughter away was thus the best way to strangle this ill-fated romance in the cradle. A clash was inevitable. Although Guan Ya had repeatedly declared that if her mother dared break them apart, she would make herself an orphan, forcing the girl he loved to cut ties with her family and parents for his sake was an admission of his own powerlessness. Zhang Yuanqing didn't want things to come to that. Polite persuasion would certainly never convince his future mother-in-law. Fu Qingyang had already explained the motives behind Guan Ya's parents arranging the marriage with crystal clarity. Zhang Yuanqing asked himself honestly: if someone ruined a project of his worth hundreds of billions, he would probably beat their brains out. "To get my future mother-in-law to change her mind, I'd probably have to be a young master from a prominent Spirit Realm family myself. Well, technically I am, but my dad and his brothers returned to the Spirit Realm twenty years ago. Nowadays, the only person I could possibly call on to back me up is an older sister from a family friend." However, the Palace Master obviously wouldn't back him up in something like this. If the Palace Master came, she would probably help Guan Ya's mother bully Guan Ya instead, and personally escort mother and daughter back to the Fu family. His family background was useless, and Fu Qingyang couldn't be counted on either. Last time, Fu Qingyang had said that as a cousin, he could block Guan Ya's arranged marriage once or twice, but he couldn't block it a third time. Furthermore, Money Prince believed in the "heart of the strong." Sheltering her over and over would be indulging Guan Ya's weakness, which went against his philosophy. "I'll have to rely on myself," Zhang Yuanqing muttered under his breath. "Getting my future mother-in-law to change her mind and choose me over the Miller family is practically impossible. At least in the short term, I can't win her favor. "So my goal this time isn't to change her mind, but to send her packing while delivering an effective degree of deterrence." After racking his brains for a long while, his gaze happened to sweep over the Elvis speaker, and Zhang Yuanqing suddenly drew inspiration from that audio clip of Demon Lord. —Crafting a Peach Talisman. Of course, he wasn't trying to follow Demon Lord's example and sleep with his girl's mother. A Peach Talisman could win him a woman's favor and goodwill, effectively lowering his future mother-in-law's hostility and laying the groundwork for the upcoming negotiations. Just imagine: when his future mother-in-law saw him, her eyes would light up, and she'd think, *Ooh, this kid isn't half bad~* Wouldn't she be much easier to talk to after that? *I'm such a clever little genius.* Zhang Yuanqing immediately texted Guan Ya: "Sister Guan Ya, stall her for now. Give me fifteen minutes." *** The grand villa's courtyard. Fu Qingyang stood ramrod straight beside the fountain pool, watching his aunt, Fu Xue, step out of the car and walk toward him, flanked by bodyguards. Judging purely by appearance, this aunt of his didn't look like a woman in her forties at all. She was impeccably dressed in professional business attire: high heels, black stockings, a tailored skirt suit, and a crisp white blouse. Her gorgeous hair was pinned up with a crystal hairpin, yet it wasn't done up too neatly; wispy strands cascaded down, exuding an air of languor. The hairstyle seemed casual, but was actually meticulously styled. It infused her stern, aloof glamour with an aristocratic languor, underscoring the poise of a high-society lady rather than an overworked corporate worker. Facially, she possessed the supremely elegant features of an Eastern woman, sharing Guan Ya's oval face shape. However, her features bore little resemblance to her daughter's exquisite Eurasian looks; instead, she shared a fifty to sixty percent resemblance with Fu Qingyang. However handsome Fu Qingyang was, his aunt was just as beautiful. Her sharp, spirited phoenix eyes harbored subtle ripples of charm; her nose was tall and delicate, her lipsticked lips luscious and alluring, and her eyebrows long and straight. Paired with her outfit, she looked like a glamorous female CEO who had stepped straight out of a TV drama. Fu Xue's looks remained frozen in her thirties, and her figure hadn't lost an ounce of its shape. Her long, stocking-clad legs were supple and straight, her skirt hugged rounded hips, and the hem of her white blouse was tucked neatly into the waistband, accentuating a slender waist. At her net worth, and being a Spirit Realm walker to boot, she had countless methods to maintain herself. "Aunt." Fu Qingyang nodded without expression. Fu Xue stopped in front of her nephew. Fu Qingyang could catch the delicate, lingering scent of perfume wafting from her. "Qingyang," Fu Xue said, reaching out to stroke her nephew's sturdy chest with a flirtatious smile. "It's been years since I last saw you. You've grown so dashing and handsome. Even your aunt's heart fluttered." Fu Qingyang said blandly, "Show some respect, Aunt." Fu Xue's expression abruptly turned frigid, and she sneered, "So Money Prince still acknowledges me as his aunt!" With that, she brushed past her nephew and led her three bodyguards straight into the villa. Clearly, this wasn't her first time here. Fu Qingyang sighed. This aunt of his had an eccentric, capricious temperament—what young people nowadays would call a "yandere." He thoroughly disliked dealing with her. Fu Qingyang was far more adept at matching wits with old foxes, where both sides sat across a chessboard and employed calculating schemes. A yandere was different; a yandere would flip the board and then pounce to bite your throat. Therefore, Fu Qingyang had always dealt with his aunt through threats of force. While very effective, it was still exhausting and gave him a headache. *** In the study. Fu Xue headed straight behind the desk, usurping Fu Qingyang's seat of honor. With a cold face, she demanded, "Where is Guan Ya? Have her come see me." Fu Qingyang didn't reply. Walking over to the liquor cabinet, he poured a drink and said, "Guan Ya isn't the child you could beat and scold at will anymore. She has her own thoughts and her own life. You and your husband shouldn't sell your daughter for personal gain." "I don't like the phrasing 'selling our daughter.' Qingyang, stop trying to provoke your aunt." Fu Xue folded her arms across her chest, accentuating her ample bust. Facing this cold-natured nephew of hers, she remained overbearing. "Marrying into the Miller family means endless glory and wealth. Everything we do as parents is for our child's sake." "You mean endless glory and wealth for you and Uncle Will, don't you? Oh, former uncle," Fu Qingyang said, his words hiding needles beneath velvet as he brought up her failed marriage and picked at her scar. He continued, "Uncle Will can be promoted to Tier-2 Gold Inspector, while the assets under your name will see explosive growth, giving you even more money to nurture Spirit Realm walkers. "A double harvest of career and wealth for the both of you, all at the cost of sacrificing a single daughter. What a bargain." Fu Xue paid no heed to her nephew's mockery. Leaning languidly against the back of the chair, she crossed her shapely stockinged legs and giggled softly. "My wealth is Guan Ya's wealth too. "You know the Fu family's rules better than anyone: strength comes first, blood ties second. Guan Ya has squandered years. Though nominally part of the main branch, she has gradually been pushed out of the Fu family's core of power. "If she's like this, what about her descendants? But as long as she marries into the Miller family, our branch will maintain its exalted standing. Qingyang, before coming here, I obtained approval from the Council of Elders to take Guan Ya back to the Fu family." She casually played her trump card. Approval from the Council of Elders was tantamount to an official order issued by the family. The Fu family was a Scout clan that governed itself by military law; orders from the Council of Elders were akin to military commands. With Fu Qingyang's current standing, intervening wasn't impossible, but he still had to follow protocol—he could return to the family to negotiate personally with the elders. However, forcible intervention would be viewed as defying the family. Right now, Fu Qingyang had only just advanced to Dominator and still needed the clan's influence to spar with headquarters. Fu Xue was confident he wouldn't turn against the family at this juncture. Just as Fu Qingyang was about to speak, the study door swung open. Guan Ya walked in with a chilled countenance. She wore a black skirt paired with a white open-knit sweater over a small black camisole. It had less of the seductive allure of a mature woman and more of a young woman's vibrant youth. Both mother and daughter were gorgeous, tall, and shapely, each complementing the other. Yet as their gazes locked across the room, there wasn't a shred of warmth—only frost. Fu Xue suddenly pushed back from the desk and stood up. Striding forward in her high heels, she raised her hand and delivered a hard, crisp slap to Guan Ya's cheek. The fair, delicate cheek immediately flushed red and swollen. *** In the bedroom, Zhang Yuanqing sat by the desk. All clutter had been cleared away, leaving it piled with paper talismans, cinnabar, red thread, and other materials. Zhang Yuanqing methodically ground the materials, mixing them into ink. Lifting the brush and dipping it into the ink, he traced spirit talismans brimming with Daoist charm onto the yellow paper. As the brush strokes curved and turned, the Taiyin power channeled into them shifted in tandem, without permitting the slightest error. Talisman crafting depended on practice making perfect. Technique was something that easily dulled if neglected for too long. After ruining two sheets of yellow paper, Zhang Yuanqing finally refined one. "Done!" Zhang Yuanqing set down the brush, shook the Peach Talisman, and triggered it to ignite. *Sizzle!* A bright flame flared, licking the thin yellow paper and reducing it to ash. *All set. When my future mother-in-law sees me, she'll definitely be enchanted...* Having no time to tidy up, Zhang Yuanqing snapped his fingers and dissipated into starlight. *** Guan Ya clutched her cheek, her head tilted. After a few seconds of silence, she looked at her mother and sneered, "How nostalgic. How long has it been since you last hit me? Why not hit this side too?" She leaned the other side of her face forward, her eyes brimming with sarcasm and disdain. Fu Xue's expression abruptly shifted to heartache, switching faces on a dime. Stroking the swollen half of Guan Ya's face, she said tenderly, "Yaya, did Mommy hurt you? "Mommy only wants what's best for you. Please don't hate Mommy. Mommy will never hit you again. Come home with me, all right? Mommy can't live without you." Guan Ya took a step back. "Go home to get married and become a sacrifice for your personal interests?" Fu Xue coaxed gently, "Even that is better than staying with that Yuanshi Tianzun. What Ron Miller can give you is something Yuanshi Tianzun never could. He's a direct scion of the Miller family, an heir to the family headship. "If you marry him, your child will be the future master of the Miller family. How many generations does it take to build a prominent Spirit Realm family?" She pleaded earnestly, "No matter how great Yuanshi Tianzun's potential is, can he create a prominent Spirit Realm family?" "But I love him," Guan Ya said, looking at her mother, her tone and expression dead serious. "Love?" Fu Xue sneered, as if hearing the biggest joke in the world. "Yaya, you have too little romantic experience. You don't understand men. Men are like crows—all black as pitch. Your so-called love is nothing more than temporary novelty. "Love fades with time. When you end up with nothing, it'll be too late for regrets. Mommy wouldn't harm you. Marry Miller, and you'll have everything. I've seen far too many heartless, ungrateful men. Listen to Mommy, and stop throwing a tantrum." Fu Xue's tone gradually turned stern. She was determined to take Guan Ya away on this trip to Songhai. Breaking up the lovebirds now was still feasible; if things dragged on and Guan Ya ended up pregnant, the Miller family would never accept her as a daughter-in-law. To this end, Fu Xue had brought along plenty of hands. If gentle coaxing failed, she would take Guan Ya away by force. Guan Ya looked at her mother with a calm gaze. "Mom, I already told you: I will walk my own path from now on. I won't accept any of your arrangements anymore. I'm letting everything from the past go. All I ask is that you don't interfere in my relationship. Don't..." Pausing, Guan Ya stared at her mother with an uncharacteristically fierce gaze, enunciating each word: "Don't push this to the point where we can't even remain mother and daughter." Fu Xue was stunned. Staring in shock at her daughter's determined eyes, she suddenly felt as if she didn't recognize her. Growing up, had Guan Ya ever defied her? Not once. Even when most unwilling, Guan Ya had only dared to run away in secret, hiding in Songhai to seek Fu Qingyang's protection. How could such a submissive daughter dare to rebel? And even speak such brazen, outrageous words? *Can't even remain mother and daughter?* "Guan Ya, I think you've been bewitched by that Yuanshi Tianzun!" Veins bulged on Fu Xue's smooth forehead, fury contorting her fair face. Raising her hand, she moved to deliver another slap. "I'd like to see this legendary Yuanshi Tianzun for myself today! What's so great about him that he's possessed your mind like this?!" The slap never landed. A steady, powerful hand caught Fu Xue by the wrist. "Auntie, let's talk through this peacefully." A youthful voice rich with masculine magnetism rang out.