jdhmnovel Chapter 391 Confrontation
Chapter 391 Confrontation
“Master Cui, Madam Cui, my acquaintance and friendship with your son are completely open and aboveboard, and our relationship is entirely voluntary. How can you say that I am trying to curry favor with you?”
"Although I, Shi Wanxia, came from an ordinary background, I was polite and virtuous, and I relied on my own abilities to make a living. I never thought of depending on anyone."
"My relationship with Choi Ji-ho is mutual, not the wishful thinking you all claim!"
"Mutual affection?"
Wang scoffed as if she had heard the biggest joke in the world, "A powerless orphan girl dares to say that she is in love with our Cui family's young master?"
"What a joke! I bet you have ulterior motives. You're trying to use some underhanded methods to marry into a wealthy family and rise to the top in one step!"
"Mother! Please say less!"
Cui Zhihao's face was ashen as he stood in front of Shi Wanxia, glaring angrily at his mother.
"Miss Shi isn't that kind of person! She and I are truly in love!"
"Really love each other?"
Cui Yi interrupted him sharply, "Can your sincerity feed you? Can it protect the Cui family's reputation? Huai'an, you've disappointed us greatly!"
"Let me tell you, this marriage is absolutely impossible! Your so-called affection for her is nothing but a secret affair, it doesn't count!"
"father!"
Cui Zhihao was both shocked and furious. "Miss Shi and I are truly sincere with each other. It's not some kind of secret affair!"
"Marriage is a major life event, and while parents' wishes must be taken into account, the wishes of the parties involved should also be considered! I will marry no one but Wanxia!"
"you dare!"
Enraged, Cui Yi pointed at Cui Zhihao and shouted, "If you dare to marry this woman, don't acknowledge me as your father! My Cui family has no unfilial son like you!"
“爹，娘，”
Cui Zhihao took a deep breath, his eyes unusually firm. He held Shi Wanxia's hand tightly, as if to give her strength, and also as if to show his parents his determination.
"I know better than anyone what kind of person Miss Shi is."
"She is kind, upright, and talented. Her goodness cannot be measured by her family background."
“I know you value social status, but in my heart, Miss Shi is the best.”
"We've made up our minds about each other, and no matter how much you object, I will never give up on her."
As Shi Wanxia felt the warmth and strength from Cui Zhihao's palm, her fear and grievances gradually dissipated, replaced by a strong sense of determination.
She grasped Cui Zhihao's hand in return, stood beside him, and looked at Cui Yi and Madam Wang again: "Master Cui, Madam Cui, I know you look down on my background and do not approve of my relationship with Zhihao."
"But matters of the heart are never judged by social status."
"My relationship with Mr. Cui is our own choice, and we are willing to take responsibility for our choice."
"No matter how many obstacles lie ahead, I will not back down."
Looking at the young couple standing closely together with determined eyes, Cui Yi and Wang Shi were furious.
Cui Yi laughed angrily: "Fine, very well! You think you've grown wings, huh?"
"You dare to openly defy your parents! I'd like to see how far you can go without the support of the Cui family!"
Wang pointed at Shi Wanxia, gritting her teeth: "You ungrateful girl! We were trying to advise you, and you dare to talk back!"
"Let me tell you, as long as Master and I are alive, you can forget about stepping into the Cui family's gate!"
The atmosphere instantly became extremely tense, with a palpable sense of impending conflict filling the air.
Lin Yiyu stood aside, speechless with fright at the scene. Looking at the determined Cui Zhihao and Shi Wanxia, and then at the furious Cui family parents, he finally understood that his previous guesses were actually hiding such intense contradictions and obstacles.
Sunlight filtered through the leaves, falling on Shi Wanxia and Cui Zhihao's tightly clasped hands, as if gilding them with a golden glow.
Cui Yi's chest heaved violently, and he almost couldn't catch his breath. He clutched his chest, his face turning from red to green, and then from green to white. He was clearly furious at Cui Zhihao's words, "I will not marry anyone but Wan Xia."
His trembling fingers stared intently at the hands clasped together by Cui Zhihao and Shi Wanxia. In his eyes, those hands were irrefutable proof of a disobedient and unfilial son who had disgraced the family.
"Very good! Very good!"
Cui Yi's voice sounded like it was being squeezed out from between his teeth, filled with a gnashing hatred.
"The world is truly going to the dogs, and people have no shame! In broad daylight, a man and a woman are seen cuddling and pulling at each other—what kind of behavior is this!"
His gaze suddenly shifted to Shi Wanxia, who was being protected behind Cui Zhihao, his eyes filled with contempt and anger that could almost burn a person: "You girl, how did your elders raise you?"
"As a woman, one should uphold virtues, know shame, and ensure that one's words and actions conform to propriety!"
"Look at yourself now, holding hands with a man in public! So promiscuous, you have no shame!"
Shi Wanxia's face turned pale from his scolding, her fingers curled slightly, but she still kept her back straight.
She knew that any explanation she gave would be seen as sophistry by Cui Yi, so she could only bite her lip and silently endure this unfounded accusation.
"father!"
Cui Zhihao held Shi Wanxia even tighter, his brows furrowing into a deep frown.
"How can you speak of Miss Shi like that? We were acting openly and honestly, and our feelings were beyond our control. What's wrong with that? In your eyes, is it a sin for people who truly love each other to even hold hands?"
"A sin?"
Cui Yi laughed in anger, pointing his finger at him and cursing, "You still dare to say you're right? You're a member of the Qinghe Cui clan, and your every word and action represents the face of your family!"
"Your association with this woman of unknown origin has already brought shame upon the Cui family!"
He took a deep breath, trying to calm his surging blood, but his tone became increasingly forceful: "Let me tell you, Cui Zhihao, you were born a member of the Cui family, and you will die a ghost of the Cui family!"
"Even if you have left the family, the blood of the Cui family of Qinghe still flows in your veins! Don't even think about breaking free from the family's shackles!"
"Your marriage was arranged by the head of the family three years ago. You are to marry Lu Qingyuan, the eldest daughter of the Lu family of Fanyang. This is a done deal!"
Cui Yi's voice suddenly rose, carrying an undeniable authority.
"As a member of the Cui family of Qinghe, you should abide by the family rules set by your ancestors, shoulder the responsibilities of the family, marry a woman from a prominent family, form a powerful alliance, and bring glory to the family! This is what you should be doing!"
When he mentioned Lady Lu, his tone was filled with obvious admiration: "The Lu family of Fanyang is a prestigious family that rivals the Cui family of Qinghe. Lu Qingyuan is the jewel of the Lu family, with stunning beauty, outstanding talent, and a refined and virtuous character. How noble she is!"
"Looking across the entire capital, the only woman worthy of you is her. She is only slightly inferior to the Cui family of Qinghe in terms of social standing, which is already an exceptionally good match!"
"You've given up a bright future to be bewitched by this woman of unknown origin. You're utterly foolish!"
Cui Zhihao's face was so dark it could drip water. He stared directly at Cui Yi, his voice filled with suppressed anger: "Father, I respect you as a father, and I understand the importance of family marriage to the Cui family."
"Over the years, I have always put my family first and have never overstepped my bounds in any way."
"But marriage is a major life event that concerns my lifelong happiness. Shouldn't I be able to make my own decision?"