Chapter Four: Three Conditions

Seeing that Chen Fan remained silent, the beautiful woman assumed he was curious about the benefits, so she continued, “As long as you can help me get through this, I’ll give you fifty thousand yuan!”

“So you’re worried about your family pressuring you to get married tonight?” Chen Fan asked with a smile.

The blush on her face had faded, replaced by a cool and aloof demeanor. She nodded, clearly unwilling to say more.

Just as Chen Fan was debating whether or not to agree, several cars slowly approached from behind. Without another word, the woman leaned against Chen Fan, lowered her voice, and said, “Just help me, and you can name your price.”

As she spoke, she slipped an affectionate arm around his waist.

In this intimate, ambiguous pose, the two walked into the main hall of the Xia family estate. Chen Fan, noticing the lively crowd and the servers carrying food, asked curiously, “What’s the occasion for the Xia family today?”

“It’s my grandfather’s birthday. All the Xia family members are here,” the woman answered simply, then pulled Chen Fan into a corner, clearly wishing to avoid attention.

At that moment, everyone in the hall turned their attention to one side.

An energetic old man entered, his steps steady and assured, accompanied by several core members of the Xia family. Scanning the group, Chen Fan only recognized Xia Xin’s father, Xia Jianye.

“Beautiful lady, I still don’t know your name,” Chen Fan murmured.

“My name is—”

Just as she was about to reply, the sound was drowned out by the old man tapping the microphone, creating a burst of static. Smiling, the old man addressed the crowd in a strong voice, “Thank you all for coming to my birthday celebration. I am truly grateful.”

He paused, sighing softly, “As one grows old, one’s desires change. All I wish for in my twilight years is to see my family prosper, with children and grandchildren all around me. Through my efforts, nearly every eligible member of the Xia family has found an excellent match, except for one.”

“I believe you all know whom I’m referring to. Xin’er was long ago betrothed to Chen Fan of the Chen family, but as fate would have it, Chen Fan’s whereabouts are now unknown. I cannot let Xin’er remain alone forever, so I have decided—”

His words were abruptly cut off by a clear, determined voice.

“Grandfather, I… I already have a boyfriend. You needn’t worry about me anymore.”

Everyone turned in surprise to see a young man and woman step forward, hand in hand. Xia Xin clung to Chen Fan’s arm, looking resolutely at her grandfather.

The old man’s expression darkened, displeasure showing in his eyes. “Why have you never mentioned this before?”

“He comes from a humble background and is rather insecure about it. But I insisted he come with me, and we are already discussing marriage,” Xia Xin explained, making up an excuse. She was about to prompt Chen Fan to speak, hoping to assuage her grandfather’s doubts, but to her surprise, Chen Fan stepped directly in front of the old man.

Bowing slightly, Chen Fan smiled with confidence. “Chen Fan from the Chen family greets Grandfather Xia.”

The words fell, and the entire hall fell deathly silent.

Everyone stared at Chen Fan in disbelief.

After ten years away from Dongcheng, Chen Fan had returned!

Xia Yaoyang narrowed his eyes, thinking that Chen Fan’s face had seemed familiar for a reason.

After a brief pause, Xia Yaoyang forced an awkward smile, patting Chen Fan’s shoulder. “Chen Fan, I didn’t expect you to return. What brings you to the Xia family today?”

Chen Fan’s gaze was unwavering. Turning to gesture at Xia Xin’s complex expression, he replied slowly, “I am here to fulfill the marriage contract that my grandfather and you arranged. I want to marry Xia Xin.”

The effect of these words was even more explosive than before. After a brief shock, a fierce wave of protests erupted.

“Absolutely not! What right does Chen Fan have to marry Miss Xia Xin?”

“The Chen family is as worthless as a pile of garbage now, completely unworthy to become relatives of the Xia family!”

“I strongly object! Miss Xia Xin can marry someone far better!”

The Xia family members were all riled up, their opposition growing even more intense.

“That’s enough!” Xia Yaoyang’s face turned grim as he shouted, his voice cutting through the commotion. Instantly, the hall fell silent.

After a moment, he turned his gaze to Chen Fan, locking eyes with him for nearly a minute before speaking. “Chen Fan, as you can see, no one here has any faith in the Chen family, nor in you. But the marriage contract was my own promise. If I were to break it, the Xia family would be labeled as untrustworthy.”

He paused, his eyes growing even sharper. “Here’s what I propose: I’ll give you three conditions. If you can meet them all, then no matter how much the Xia family objects, I will personally support your marriage to Xia Xin.”

“Now that’s interesting,” Chen Fan thought to himself.

“The first condition: a dowry of ten million yuan, plus two chests of gold and jewels. Second: the Xia family recently had a shipment seized in the capital. If you can get it back within three days, it’s yours. As for the third condition, you, Chen Fan, must marry into the Xia family as a son-in-law.”

Xia Yaoyang enunciated each condition carefully. He had thought it all through: the first two demands were impossible for the Chen family’s current status. If Chen Fan succeeded, it would mean he had some real abilities. Such a man could be squeezed for all he was worth, and the third condition would test Chen Fan’s pride as a man.

It was a clever move.

But Xia Yaoyang had completely underestimated Chen Fan, knowing nothing of his true strength.

Chen Fan smiled faintly, feigning difficulty. “Normally, with such unreasonable conditions, I’d blow up and call off the engagement right away. But for a wife as beautiful as Xia Xin, I’ll endure and agree.”

Before anyone could react, he took from his pocket a check for two million yuan—money from a previous engagement break—and handed it to Xia Yaoyang. “The first condition will take some time to prepare, but here’s two million as a deposit. I’ll gather the rest within a day.”

The moment he saw the check, Xia Yaoyang and the other Xia family members were dumbfounded.

No one expected Chen Fan to agree to such terms.

“As for the second condition, I won’t need three days. Give me five minutes to call a friend,” Chen Fan said lightly. He took out his phone and dialed Kirin.

“Brother, could you look into the Xia family’s shipment held in the capital and have it released within five minutes?”

Kirin, waiting outside the Xia estate, instantly understood, hung up, and took care of it right away. In no time, it was done. He coughed lightly and said, “Xiao Fan, your request is handled. Don’t trouble me with such trivial matters again.”

Chen Fan responded quickly and hung up. Then, with a smile, he looked around at the assembled Xia family, his gaze finally resting on the now-stony-faced Xia Yaoyang. He raised a finger.

“In about a minute, Grandfather Xia, your phone will ring.”