Chapter 17: Can't you have any shame?

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"Ruyan..."

Seeing his daughter's dazzling appearance, Mr. Liu's face beamed with pride.

He then chuckled, "Perfect timing! Catch up with Xiao Chang. You two were so close when you were little, practically living together all the time, hahaha."

Mother Fang's eyes also lit up with satisfaction upon seeing Liu Ruyan.

This kind of girl is worthy of her good son.

"Mm..."

Liu Ruyan nodded slightly, then walked up to Fang Chang and extended a hand.

"Hello, Fang Chang, it's been a long time..."

Liu Ruyan's voice was melodious and pleasant, like a gentle spring breeze, instantly endearing her to everyone.

Fang Chang, however, was not fooled by this facade, for he clearly saw the disgust deep within Liu Ruyan's beautiful eyes!

A minor villain, after all, should have the self-awareness of a minor villain.

Fang Chang extended his hand, offering a polite smile in return: "Hello, Miss Liu..."

The two shook hands lightly. Fang Chang could feel the coolness and softness of her hand. Although it felt pleasant, he didn't intend to enjoy it, only giving it a brief squeeze before releasing it.

"Oh, right!"

Fang's mother seemed to have thought of something and quickly said, "Xiao Chang, there are too many people here. We'll inevitably have to keep greeting them. How about you take Ruyan over there for a drink?"

Seeing Fang's mother constantly giving him meaningful glances, Fang Chang nodded and then gestured for Liu Ruyan to proceed.

Liu Ruyan didn't stand on ceremony. She gracefully moved towards a corner.

In the corner.

Liu Ruyan's smiling expression vanished, replaced by a calm expression.

"Fang Chang, it's been a long time. Your reputation has spread far and wide over the years; I've heard everything."

"Hmm?"

Fang Chang looked at Liu Ruyan, whose appearance had changed drastically, and chuckled, "Alright, I know what you're going to say. You want to say we're not a good match, and you want me to take the initiative to ask my parents to dissolve the engagement, right?"

Hearing this, Liu Ruyan paused for a moment.

After a moment, she nodded slightly, "Yes, that's good. I was planning to have you tell your uncle and aunt, otherwise, it would be difficult for me to explain."

"Since you already know, that saves trouble. I..."

"Stop!"

Before Liu Ruyan could finish speaking, Fang Chang interrupted her directly.

He had never intended to be engaged to Liu Ruyan, much less have wanted to have any further involvement with this Empress Ruyan.

But it was his initiative. If he were to be forced by Liu Ruyan and then bring it up, wouldn't he be in a passive position?

The moment Fang Chang learned of the cheat system, his mindset shifted.

So what if you're chosen ones? You're the only ones with cheat codes? I don't!

"Miss Liu..."

Fang Chang said calmly, "Excuse me, you might not know, but I'm a bit direct, so I'll just say it..."

Hearing Fang Chang's words, Liu Ruyan stared directly at him, waiting for him to continue.

"Can't you have any shame?"

"???"

Liu Ruyan's pupils dilated, her brows furrowing slightly: "Fang Chang, what are you saying..."

"I'm saying, can't you have any shame!!!"

Fang Chang repeated his previous words word for word, showing no intention of backing down.

Then, without giving Liu Ruyan a chance to react, he continued, "To be honest, I'm not very interested in this engagement. I've already mentioned it to my parents, but they still insisted we meet."

"And after we met, the first thing you said to me was that I should take the initiative to break off the engagement, otherwise you'd be in a difficult position, right?"

"How can you be so shameless? If you want to end this disgusting engagement between us, go and do it yourself. Don't keep passing the buck to others."

"You want me to take the initiative? Oh, so you're the pure and gentle young lady, and I'm just a spoiled brat who doesn't know how lucky I am?"

"I don't owe you anything, and our Fang family owes your Liu family nothing. As far as I know, it was your family that proposed the engagement, right? Our Fang family did your Liu family a favor back then, and now your Liu family has finally risen up."

"You're just going to wash your hands of it and expect me to take the initiative to break off the engagement? You want both sides, don't you!"

"So what's wrong with me saying you're shameless?"

"Oh right, sorry, forgive me for being so direct, I already warned you!"

"..."

Fang Chang's barrage of "attacks" completely stunned Liu Ruyan. She stood there dumbfounded, staring at Fang Chang in disbelief.

Liu Ruyan had imagined their conversation a thousand times before—Fang Chang's anger, Fang Chang's shamelessness—but she hadn't expected this.

And most importantly, everything Fang Chang said was true.

The Liu family did indeed owe the Fang family a debt of gratitude, and given the good relationship between the two families, Liu's parents had taken the initiative to propose an engagement.

"You..."

After Fang Chang finished speaking, he picked up his wine glass and began to savor the wine.

Even knowing she was in the wrong, Liu Ruyan couldn't help but feel a surge of anger.

"Fang Chang, you mean you have to enter into this engagement with me, right?"

"I've thought it through..."

Fang Chang swallowed a mouthful of wine and said with a smile, "I have absolutely no interest in you. The engagement can be dissolved, but you have to listen to me. Don't worry, don't look at me like that."

"I won't play those tricks of a pre-arranged engagement for the sake of appearances."

"I won't try to play hard to get."

"Dissolve the engagement? Fine, but you have to bring it up, and today! Tell Uncle Liu you have no interest in me. Call me a playboy, call me a good-for-nothing, just end this farce."

"Simple, right?"

With that, Fang Chang handed the glass of wine he had just drunk from to Liu Ruyan.

“Miss Liu, have a drink. This wine is quite sweet, but please sip it slowly, or you might choke.”

“…”

Liu Ruyan pursed her lips, a hint of anger flashing in her beautiful eyes.

“Fang Chang, do you have to be so rude?”

“So what?!”

Fang Chang retorted, “You’re allowed to be ungrateful, but I’m not allowed to say anything rude, right? If you think it’s rude, then don’t do what you just did. Weren’t your words rude?”

"Excuse me, but I'll treat people with respect. You don't even treat me like a human being, so why should I indulge you?"

"If you really can't say it, that's okay, I'll help you!"

With that, Fang Chang turned to leave, but as soon as he turned, Liu Ruyan grabbed his sleeve.

"Miss..."

Fang Chang turned back, his expression strange, and said, "We may be familiar, but if you grab me like that, I'll still sue you for indecent assault!"

"You can't speak up, can you? I went to tell you myself, and you got upset again. Why are you so difficult to please?"