The Green parents immediately understood what was going on. Mrs. Green said with a smile, "No one knows a son better than his mother. I have the most say in what kind of person my son is. Using these underhanded tricks to scheme against my son, so what if he gets beaten up? From your words, Stellan, I didn't hear any indication that you think it's a misunderstanding?"
Stellan realized he was being indiscreet and awkwardly laughed, "No, Auntie. I just wanted to say the beating was too severe..."
Mrs. Green countered, "It just didn't succeed. What if the plotting had succeeded? How would it be then?"
Stellan didn't know how to respond, so Benjamin spoke up, "Stellan has been too sheltered by me and her mother since young; she's too trusting."
"There's no need to mention this again." Jacob's expression was unreadable.
"Alright, then let's not talk about it." Stellan laughed lightly, "Jacob, honestly, I thought it over before and planned to accept your confession. But at the time, I was provoked by this incident and spoke insincerely. Now that your parents and mine are both here, in front of them, I want to say, I'm willing to be with you."
"Indeed, when someone is angry, their intelligence often drops sharply, but often what is said in such situations are the true feelings." Jacob didn't beat around the bush, "Whether a person likes you or not can definitely be felt by the other party. Stellan, you don't like me; don't wrong yourself."
"No, I do like you." Stellan said boldly, "I am willing to marry you, Jacob. Let's get engaged."
The waiter came in to serve the Western-style meal. Jacob smoothly unfolded the tablecloth and picked up the knife and fork, "When you make me feel that you like me, then we can talk about this topic."
Stellan wanted to say more, but Benjamin signaled her not to continue.
"Let's eat and talk," Autumn Fletcher said with a dry laugh.
Besides Jacob, who ate well, the other diners didn't enjoy their meals, each with their own thoughts.
As they left, Autumn hinted that Stellan shouldn't accompany the couple, suggesting Jacob go and see her off, wanting them to talk alone.
But Jacob pretended not to understand, returning to the old house with his parents.
Stellan ultimately went back with her own parents.
Just after getting into the car, Autumn sighed longingly, "Plans can't keep up with changes."
"He's hard to fool. So it's better like this. Stellan, you start to contact him more proactively from now on and settle him as soon as possible. I'm afraid dreams will be shattered if you wait too long. Now small companies wanting to cooperate with Green Corporation are racking their brains to send someone into his bed."
Jacob's attitude and reactions today made Stellan extremely uncomfortable, feeling she had lost control over him.
"If he accepts those women, doesn't it prove even more that he's not a man to depend on?"
"Send Jacob a message right now, inviting him for dinner alone in the evening." Autumn urged, "Quickly."
"Got it, let me think about how to say it first."
...
Jacob received the message just as he arrived at the Green family old house.
He glanced at the message, replied with a sentence, and put his phone in his pants pocket.
"How come you came back together?" Grandma Green asked when she saw the family of three enter.
"We just had dinner with The Quinns, so we came back together," Mrs. Green said, placing her bag on the sofa. "The Quinns want to arrange a marriage with us, but Little Third rejected it."
"Rejected?" Grandma Green asked, confused, looking at Jacob who just sat down, "That Quinn girl has a good temperament; she's simple and without guile, very polite. You also liked her, why reject?"
"She doesn't like me; proposing the engagement was just for her family's sake." Jacob said very naturally, showing no indication of displeasure.
"Did she say that?"
"Grandma, is that even necessary to say? I can feel it myself."
"Feelings can be cultivated slowly. Most matches between equals are like that. You like her so much; why not set the wedding date?"
Before Jacob could reply, a cold female voice came from the spiral staircase, "Stellan Quinn is unworthy of Little Third. I don't like her and don't want her to be my sister-in-law."
She was wearing a white women's suit with red high heels. Her long hair tied into a ponytail and clipped at the back. She wore black-framed glasses.
The exquisite and delicate face was taut, and she walked towards them at a steady pace. She was none other than Jacob's second sister, Lily Green, the vice president of Green Group.
"Does Little Third need to go through you to choose what kind of wife he marries?" Grandma Green said, smiling, "Before your brother gets married, you should consider marrying yourself."
"I'd rather go without if I can't find the best person for me. I'd prefer being single for life." Lily sat down, crossed her legs, took an apple from the fruit plate, and peeled it, speaking calmly and powerfully, "Though my brother's choice of a bride doesn't require my approval, we'll have to meet often in the future, and Stellan is someone who lacks a backbone and is easily swayed emotionally. Such a person isn't suited to be a Green's wife."
"As always, it depends on your brother's choice. As long as he likes her, there's nothing you can do even if you don't like her." Grandma Green hoped Jacob would marry quickly, "Your elder brother hasn't married, and you haven't either. I hope Little Third will give us a great-grandchild soon."
"Grandchild, grandchild, that's all you think about!" Grandpa Green said, coming over slowly with a cane, sitting down, "Never mind Stellan; you have to find someone who truly loves each other. It's obvious she likes John, not Little Third. Growing up, she stuck to John and never liked Little Third. I really don't see the value in making them marry."
Jacob heard, his eyes deepened, "Previously, Stellan's good friend Grace Hughes used her phone to message me. I thought it was her, went to the appointed hotel, and got drugged. Fortunately, I didn't let Grace have her way. Later, I had Grace beaten up. Stellan quarreled with me over this; she never believed what I said and claimed I couldn't compare to my eldest brother's character. She truly likes my elder brother."
"This issue came up during today's meal, too. Her mother said she realized it was all a misunderstanding, but none of us felt she perceived it as such. She still doesn't believe Little Third's words. I initially thought she was a good girl, but now I don't see it that way, having no depth, no vision, and unable to consider the big picture." Mrs. Green remarked.
"She's just too naive and without calculation." Grandma Green said, "I find that precious. Speaking of John, that brat went abroad for eight years and hasn't returned once. He's really not planning to keep this family!"