Using power to force marriage

The banquet was held in a private castle, a luxurious and magnificent European-style building from the last century, showcasing an exotic atmosphere.

The car drove through the ornate iron gate and came to a steady stop in front of the courtyard.

The castle servants rushed forward to open the car door for him, bowed respectfully, and invited the guest to get out of the car.

The two got out of the car, and Zhao Jingnian offered her an arm, which Ruan Fu took in affectionately and naturally.

"Whose party is it?"

Given Zhao Jingnian's current status and position, there aren't many banquets or parties that would warrant his presence.

"Mr. Peter, President of the Asia-Europe Transnational Capital Alliance".

Born into a long-established European capitalist family, he coordinates top-tier business resources both domestically and internationally, holding a pivotal position in the global business world.

Ruan Fu's slender eyes were deep and thoughtful. "It's such an important banquet?"

Zhao Jingnian walked slowly into the main hall with her. "Are you nervous?"

"Tch, how could that be?"

Born into a prestigious family, Miss Ruan has experienced countless important occasions since childhood, so how could she be stage-frightened?

The main banquet hall was filled with the clinking of glasses and the aroma of wine.

As the head of the elite in Beicheng, Zhao Jingnian became the current president of the Beicheng Chamber of Commerce at the young age of 30.

Upon his arrival, guests who came to exchange greetings and pleasantries swarmed around him like a flowing stream.

The Zhao Group was well-managed under his leadership, with its business empire spanning the globe. As the head of the Zhao family, Zhao Jingnian's net worth and power had long been at the pinnacle of the business world.

He didn't get to where he is today because of his family's protection.

A few years ago, the Zhao family was controlled by Zhao Qi. The old man became stubborn and muddle-headed as he aged, blindly believing Zhao Qi's slander. The uncles and cousins ​​also caused trouble, turning the entire family upside down. The century-old Zhao family was on the verge of collapse.

It was Zhao Jingnian who turned the tide, using swift and decisive measures to clean up the family's bad habits, and led the Zhao family back to a position of great power.

Many people came to toast him, but he ignored them all.

Mr. Zhao, who has always been a man of few desires, brought a female companion to the banquet for the first time, and Ruan Fu undoubtedly became the talk of the town at the banquet that night.

"Who is that woman? How come she's able to attend such an important party with Mr. Zhao?"

"Of course it's Mr. Zhao's wife, the second daughter of the Ruan family. Haven't you heard about the marriage alliance between our two families?"

"I have heard about it, but the rumors say it's a business marriage with no real feelings. But I don't think Mr. Zhao and her walking hand in hand look like a fake couple."

"This Mrs. Zhao looks very young. Does this naive and ignorant young lady deserve to sit in the position of the mistress of the Zhao family?"

"She's the daughter of a distinguished family with a century-long history. She's a perfect match for the Zhao family. She's not worthy of being Mrs. Zhao. Do you think you are?"

"I think she's just average-looking, not particularly beautiful. Why did Mr. Zhao choose her as his wife?"

"You call that average? You're so sour. Miss Ruan comes from an exceptionally wealthy and well-educated family; how is she not a good match for Mr. Zhao?"

"Exactly, Mr. Zhao isn't the kind of superficial person who only cares about appearances."

……

Ruan Fu clearly felt that from the moment she appeared in the banquet hall arm in arm with Zhao Jingnian, there were many scrutinizing and probing gazes around her, mixed with whispers.

It was obvious that people were talking about her.

Many of the socialites and heiresses at the party looked at her with envy.

But she didn't care at all. Her expression was calm and serene, without a trace of panic or fluster in her eyes. She leaned gracefully against the man beside her, her posture dignified and elegant, calm and composed.

A blond, blue-eyed man came up and offered him a glass of wine. Judging from Zhao Jingnian's attitude towards him, this man must be Mr. Pete, the host of tonight's banquet.

After exchanging a few pleasantries, Ruan Fu found it somewhat amusing.

The two of them together must have over 800 cunning schemes; any one of their sentences could be turned into a reading comprehension exercise.

They talked about business matters, which Ruan Fu couldn't quite understand.

Pete noticed her presence and asked, "This must be Mrs. Zhao? It's my first time meeting you, my apologies."

Pete has been doing business in China for many years and speaks fluent Chinese.

"My wife doesn't take my surname," Zhao Jingnian corrected calmly. "Her name is Ruan Fu; you can just call her Miss Ruan."

Upon hearing this, Ruan Fu's heart skipped a beat, and she subconsciously looked up at the man beside her, a look of astonishment and surprise instantly appearing in her eyes.

At such a prestigious banquet, powerful men bring female companions, but this is merely a decorative accessory to enhance their image, a byproduct to highlight their status and wealth.

This is Zhao Jingnian's home turf, so it's only natural for others to address her as "Mrs. Zhao" according to custom.

It was just a title, just like how she was Ruan Zhengyang's daughter and others called her "Second Miss Ruan." It was just a name or code, and Ruan Fu didn't take it to heart.

But she didn't expect that Zhao Jingnian, who was always aloof and indifferent, would specifically tell others to address her as "Miss Ruan" instead of "Mrs. Zhao" in front of so many powerful and famous people.

He did not want Ruan Fu to become his appendage. She was surnamed Ruan, and there was no reason for her to lose her surname after marrying him.

Ruan Fu looked up at the man beside her, and a warm feeling inexplicably rose in her heart.

"Feel sorry."

Pete immediately changed his tune, giving Ruan Fu a standard gentlemanly bow and addressing her as "Miss Ruan."

Ruan Fu smiled at him.

"Miss Ruan is a beauty of unparalleled grace; she is the most beautiful woman at the entire party."

Foreigners can even use idioms and are quite good at praising people.

Zhao Jingnian and Pete continued their discussion of the same topic, which was all about business. Ruan Fu found it boring.

"You guys chat first, I'll wander around by myself."

Zhao Jingnian nodded, telling her not to go too far.

The main banquet hall was mostly filled with men, and some of them couldn't help but glance at Ruan Fu.

Ruan Fu took a glass of champagne from the champagne tower, her eyes narrowed slightly as she glanced indifferently at the lavish and extravagant castle. Looking at the various business leaders inside, she felt that they were all hypocritical.

Some people recognized her as Zhao Jingnian's wife, so they came over in a fawning manner to offer her a toast, say a few nice words, and try to become acquainted with her.

Everyone at the party was wearing a mask, spouting insincere platitudes. She didn't like these kinds of occasions; she felt much more at ease with the cats and dogs at her rescue center.

Ruan Fu walked around the entire party and found it quite boring, but the small cakes on the dessert table tasted pretty good.

Meng Shutan wasn't there either, otherwise we could have chatted about gossip.

She was wearing 10-centimeter high heels, which made her heels ache.

She bought these high heels a couple of days ago, and felt they were a little uncomfortable when she tried them on.

But there was no way around it; these shoes were just too beautiful, and she loved them to death.

Ruan Fu felt that all "beautiful torture devices" were like this; for beauty, one always had to pay a price.

But she overestimated the strength of her feet.

The first time I wore these shoes out, I was planning to dress up for the party, but unexpectedly, they blistered my heels and made me stagger when I walked.

At a party where celebrities gather, it wouldn't be appropriate to take off your shoes in public; what kind of talk would that be?

Wearing ill-fitting high heels, she went to find Zhao Jingnian.

Zhao Jingnian rarely attends banquets or parties, so when he does get to see someone, people keep coming up to chat with him, and he probably won't be able to finish his business anytime soon.

Ruan Fu tiptoed, trying her best to keep her balance while walking, but her feet were in so much pain that every step felt like torture.

She was furious and was going to throw those ill-fitting, worn-out shoes into the trash can when she got home.

"How much longer until it ends?" Ruan Fu walked to the man's side and asked in a low voice in his ear.

Zhao Jingnian reached out to support her and noticed the unusual condition on her foot.

"What's wrong? Are you feeling unwell?"

"My feet hurt so much."

Zhao Jingnian looked down at her feet; the diamond-encrusted high heels were dazzling.

Only such gorgeous and exquisite shoes could match her.

But when it comes to comfort, that's another story.

"Don't the shoes fit?"

She endured the pain so intensely that she inevitably became a little irritable, saying, "Nonsense."

Ruan Fu came over to complain to him that her shoes didn't fit. Several directors and presidents standing next to Zhao Jingnian, who were originally talking to him about business, all looked at her feet when they heard their conversation.

Ruan Fu suddenly felt a little embarrassed and tried to cover her feet with her skirt, but the skirt was only ankle-length and couldn't cover them at all.

She involuntarily moved her feet behind Zhao Jingnian, wanting to hide; how embarrassing!

Ruan Fu bit her cheek, wondering if her lifelong reputation was going to be ruined by a pair of ill-fitting shoes.

"Come up."

Zhao Jingnian's deep, captivating voice rang in my ears.

Ruan Fu asked in surprise, "Where to?"

He opened his arms. "Come into my arms."

As soon as she finished speaking, she was lifted off the ground and held firmly in Zhao Jingnian's arms.