"Mother, please calm down," Wu Qianxi said as she pulled her mother back to her seat.
Although she also felt furious for being called a homewrecker by those bitches, she needed to maintain her image as a classy lady in front of the Longs, especially to Long Tengfei and the elders.
She didn't think much of Yang Jiahui. After all, she was already the third wife. It was possible that she might not be the last. Why should she be worried about someone easily replaceable? Besides, she would eventually become the next Madam Long when Long Hui succeeded.
"Jiahui, I advise you to be careful of your words," Long Jufang spoke for the first time since Long Tengfei silenced the elders with his threat. "The Wus are long-time friends of our Long family. And most importantly, our two families have partnered in several business projects over the years. As the Madam of our Long family, it is not wise to alienate them with your careless words."
The Wus looked smug after hearing the Long elder defend them.
Long Tengfei spoke next. His impassive expression made it difficult for the others to read his thoughts. He looked at the Wus. "So tell me what you want to happen? Is it for my son to break up with his fiancée and marry Wu Qianxi instead?"
Long Hui and Jiang Ying Yue both tensed, while the expressions of Iris and the others darkened. Long Jian also wore an impassive expression like his father, but inside he was laughing at Long Hui's misfortune.
"Yes, that's the most ideal scenario," Long Meng replied. "It's also what is right and what should happen since our two families already have an agreement to marry Young Master Hui and Miss Wu Qianxi."
"Agreement? Why wasn't I informed that there is a signed agreement between our two families? Who's the one who made this decision and bypassed me, the head of the family?"
"There is no written agreement, Father," Long Hui said.
Long Tengfei looked at Sir Wu like the man had just lost his mind. "We're both businessmen. You know very well that verbal agreements don't mean anything, only written and signed ones do. What were you thinking, using a verbal agreement from a long time ago to force a marriage between our two children? This is absolutely ridiculous.
"I also want to make something clear. Even though I am their father, I don't have the right to control the lives of my adult children. They are their own persons. Whatever decision they make is completely up to them. I can influence them, yes, but it's still their choice whether they do as I say or not. As a father, I don't have the right to dictate my children's lives. All of you have even less right than me to do so.
"This meeting is over. My son, Long Hui, will decide who he wants to marry. It will not be decided by me, and most certainly not by any of you. End of discussion." Long Tengfei's tone was final and dared anyone to defy his decision.
Delight and relief filled Long Hui's expression. "Thank you, Father!"
Long Jian's eyes turned cold. He was displeased that the scolding of Long Hui that he was expecting didn't happen. He thought that this was another example of their father's favouritism towards the legitimate son.
Wu Qianxi started sobbing once again. Her parents' expression became ugly.
Sir Wu couldn't accept it. "Brother Tengfei! You want to throw away our friendship for that gold digging slut?! Think about the close business relationship between our companies! If you continue to allow your son to hurt and humiliate my daughter and embarrass our Wu family like this, we'll pull out of all our business partnerships with Long Industries!"
The elders paled when they heard his threat.
"Calm down, you two," Long Jufang requested. "Tengfei, please think about this matter more carefully. Long Industries will lose hundreds of millions if the business partnerships between the two companies are dissolved! Both sides will suffer!"
However, they were wrong.
Long Tengfei might not ever win any Best Father awards because of his hands-off approach of parenting, but he truly loved all of his children. To him, they were his most precious treasures and the most important accomplishments of his life.
"It seems that I, Long Tengfei, have been too complacent in these last few years. I'm actually being threatened. It seems that people think that I am an easy target now. Let me make this clear to all of you. My children, my own flesh and blood, are of course more important to me than any so-called 'friends'. And what kind of 'friend' will threaten me to sacrifice my own child's happiness or they'll make my business suffer? I'll be more than happy to cut such a 'friend' out of my life. Good riddance!"
Sir Wu was enraged. "Tengfei, you dare say that to me?! Fine! All the Wus will pull out from all the business partnerships we have with Long Industries! Even though both sides will suffer, I'll make sure that if we're going down, we'll take the Longs down with us!"
"I plead for the two of you to calm down!" Long Meng cried in a panic. "This is not a trivial matter that should be decided in the heat of the moment. The two of you are friends. Our families are long-time friends. Let's not destroy our years of friendship in just one night!"
Madam Wu pointed a furious finger at Jiang Ying Yue. "This is all the fault of that gold digging slut! Not only did she steal my daughter's happiness, but she's also the reason why our two families' long-time friendship is destroyed!"
"Please stop insulting and accusing my fiancée, Madam. She has done nothing wrong to warrant such treatment," Long Hui defended Jiang Ying Yue while tightening his hold on her hand.
Long Jian finally spoke up for the first time in the meeting. "Father, I think this decision to cut all ties with the Wu family is too extreme. The Wus are a major partner for some of our major projects. Please think about our employees who'll suffer because of this loss."
Iris wasn't pleased that someone sitting together with them wasn't taking their side. Her currently evolving emotional range was far from stable yet. It was still filled with ill feelings regarding the Long family. Long Jian's comment made Iris dislike him even more along with the elders.
Knowing his youngest daughter's true capabilities, Long Tengfei nodded. "Alright. I feel more at ease with your words."
Everyone was shocked by Iris' audacity to claim such a thing. What was even more shocking was that Long Tengfei acted as if he trusted her words. Even Long Jinjing, Chen Fei and Long Jian couldn't believe what she just said and how Long Tengfei reacted.
"Tengfei, have you gone mad?!" Long Jufang exclaimed in disbelief. "What can Xiulan do? She knows nothing about business! So what if she started a business recently? That doesn't make her an expert who can save Long Industries!"
Long Meng also piped in. "Young Miss Xiulan, please stay out of this serious business discussion. You don't know what you're saying. This is business, not showbiz where you can bluff your way to greatness."
The other Long relatives present also expressed their incredulity at Iris' claim. Of course, the Wu family didn't miss this chance to mock her for her "delusions".
Iris just raised an eyebrow at them.
As for Long Tengfei, Yang Jiahui, Meimei, Long Hui and Jiang Ying Yue who knew about Iris' status as a Cross Academy student, they looked calm and even amused at how the others continued to underestimate the true hidden dragon among them.
Suddenly, they were interrupted by a knock on the door.
A young relative in his early twenties entered the library. He looked extremely excited. "I apologize for disturbing your meeting, but a super important guest has just arrived! I think that Uncle Tengfei and Aunt Jiahui should greet them as soon as possible!"
"But it's Sir Lu Jianhong! The newly arrived guest is the business genius himself, Sir Lu!!!"