chapter 38 Bad idea ===

"You shouldn't underestimate the value of carousing!" Alexander gave his father a look and said proudly, "I met this person while drinking. At that time, I hadn't even seen him before, but he asked me to treat him to an outrageously expensive drink! I thought, since I have more money than I can spend, I might as well splurge just this once, so I spent hundreds of thousands to treat him to a drink! He found me interesting, so we got to know each other..." He lied without blinking because it was a true story, just with the characters swapped. Azure Dragon and Dragon General had met in exactly this way. Everyone marveled at his story. The world was indeed full of wonders! A playboy spending lavishly on a stranger just for the sake of wastefulness, only to end up meeting a master? His luck was just too good! "Haha, my boy, for once your wastefulness paid off!" William clapped and laughed, then looked at Chloe Song, who was lost in her thoughts, and suddenly felt it was inappropriate to laugh. He quickly stifled his laughter. "Thank you for telling me all this," Chloe said to Alexander, her face complex with emotions. She smiled sadly, "It seems I'm destined to be a tool for family alliances after all..." She had been trying to escape this fate since graduating from college. After three years of fleeing, she still couldn't escape. Was this destiny? Alexander looked up at her, seeing the proud swan finally grounded. "If you don't want to marry this Harrison Han, why don't you run away? Find a place where no one knows you," Hannah suggested, pulling Chloe to sit beside her. "Every woman wants to marry the man she loves in her lifetime. Are you unable to let go of your family?" Chloe nodded and then shook her head, "I do find it hard to leave my family, but more so, I have nowhere to escape. With my grandfather's influence, no matter where I go, he will find me." Indeed, with the Song family's power, where could she escape? Perhaps only abroad, but now, it would be difficult even to leave Huaxia. "Why don't you get plastic surgery, or maybe scar your face? I guarantee Harrison Han won't want to marry you then!" Alexander suggested with a teasing tone, his arms crossed. Hannah glared at him, "Alexander, she's at a loss right now. Why are you adding insult to injury? Where's the gentleness you showed me recently?" She thought about his recent kindness towards her and felt a surge of happiness: it was good to have him by her side. Despite being usually angered by such a suggestion, Chloe couldn't muster any anger now and replied with a wry smile, "Even if I turned into a pig, for the sake of the alliance, Harrison Han would still have to marry me." It was true. If that happened, Harrison Han would probably be the one seeking help everywhere. Underneath the glamorous exterior of these prestigious families lay unknown pain. Compared to them, ordinary people, though lacking power and influence, were mostly able to marry for love. Truly, every family has its own difficulties. While everyone was sympathizing with Chloe's plight, Alexander suddenly laughed and said, "Chloe, my condition remains. Smile for me, and I'll give you a suggestion that will guarantee the Han family won't want to ally with the Song family." "Alexander, don't always bully Chloe!" Grace scolded him. He used to fawn over Chloe all the time. Why was he treating her so coldly now? Could it be that the old man's concerns were coming true? Chloe quietly looked at Alexander, "If you really have such ability, why shouldn't I smile for you?" Her lips slowly curved upwards, creating ripples on her previously calm expression. Then her smile bloomed like a flower. Though somewhat forced, she smiled! "I've smiled for you. Now, Alexander, keep your promise. I want to hear your brilliant idea!" Chloe's smile faded, returning to her usual cold demeanor. "Uh..." Alexander was caught off guard by her decisiveness and said, "Actually, the idea is quite simple. Find a man you like as soon as possible, and, well, make things a fact. I don't think any prestigious family in the capital would want to take in a wife like that!" Those big families' facades he understood all too well. They might let their young marry someone ugly or overweight, but they would never allow them to marry someone tarnished. It was a matter of family honor. Hearing his words, Chloe pondered and then slowly brightened up, nodding, "I must say, your idea is indeed good!" After saying this, Chloe's icy expression completely melted away, her lips curved upwards again, and her face was filled with a warm smile, like a gentle spring breeze. This time, she genuinely smiled again, a smile from the heart. "Chloe, you're not seriously considering doing this, are you?" Hannah asked, worried. Having found the most effective method, Chloe replied with a laugh, "Sister Hannah, the idea is a bit crude, but it's indeed the best option for now." "You're not calling my cousin 'Ms. Lin' anymore?" Alexander asked in surprise. Chloe rolled her eyes at him, "Why should I call her that? We're not at the company. Hannah and I have a good private relationship!" This woman, just after he gave her advice, started turning her back on him! He should have let her marry Harrison Han and see if she could still be so proud. After rushing in without even having time for dinner, Chloe stayed for dinner at the invitation of William and his wife, something she hadn't expected herself. After dinner, the parents, as usual, took Evelyn for a walk, leaving the young people at home. "Sister Hannah, seeing you come out, I feel relieved!" Chloe said, holding Hannah's hand. Everyone knew about Andrew Yang's incident. She had briefly spoken with Hannah on the phone before, but at that time, Hannah hadn't yet recovered from her grief and had hung up quickly. Chloe had wanted to visit Hannah, but after learning she was staying at the Xu family, she gave up the idea, not wanting to see Alexander's annoying face. Hannah said softly, "The past is past. Evelyn and I still have to live on." "Hehe, you're so beautiful, Hannah. You'll definitely find a better man than Captain Yang in the future!" Chloe joked playfully, leaving Alexander amazed. She was so cheerful, yet always so cold in front of him. Hannah shook her head with a relieved smile, "I won't marry again..." "No!" Two voices spoke at once - one was Alexander's, the other Chloe's. The same word, but Chloe's was filled with sighs, while Alexander's was more domineering. Both women turned to look at Alexander in surprise, with Hannah saying, "Whether I marry or not is none of your business! You should find a woman to solve your own problems instead of worrying about mine!" "Sister Hannah, don't bother with him. He's just a nuisance!" Chloe said irritably. "Hey, Chloe, you're turning on me too quickly!" Alexander complained, "Next time you need help, don't expect it from me!" Chloe ignored him, continuing to persuade Hannah, "Sister Hannah, you're still so young. Do you really want to spend the rest of your life alone? Even if not for yourself, think of Evelyn. She's so young. Can you bear to see her grow up without a father's love?" Hannah remained unmoved, shaking her head, "I've made my decision. You don't need to persuade me. Actually, things are quite good now. Alexander's parents treat Evelyn better than their own granddaughter, and Alexander treats her like his own daughter. She won't lack anyone's love." Perhaps this was the best outcome, Hannah thought to herself. Chloe glared at Alexander and huffed, "With you around, I fear for Evelyn's upbringing!" "Chloe, you might as well leave! With your constant criticisms, I feel ashamed!" Alexander said with a wry smile, "Alright, I admit, I'm terrible. I'm uneducated and despicable. Seeing someone as lowly as me, aren't you afraid of sullying your noble eyes, Miss Song? You better leave quickly, lest your noble eyes get contaminated and Commander Song threatens to execute me again..." Damn it, she's indeed beautiful, but what's the use? He didn't care for her! Hannah and Isabella Tantai, which one of them was inferior to her? "Yo, Young Master Xu, you've really grown a tongue!" Chloe said with a teasing tone. Hannah watched the two bicker and shook her head helplessly. These two seemed born to be enemies. Previously, it was just Chloe being annoyed with Alexander, but now, as soon as they met, they clashed like a pair of fighting cocks. "You two stop arguing. Chloe, Alexander really has changed. If you spend more time with him, you'll find many qualities in him that can mesmerize a woman. Weren't you looking for someone to love and cook the rice? Maybe you should consider him!" Hannah suggested, half-jokingly but also trying to matchmake. "Hmph, with him (her)?" Both said at the same time, then glared at each other and turned away, their faces showing disdain. What a pair of enemies! Hannah sighed helplessly. Just then, four bruised and weary men walked in. "Excuse me, I'm going to the backyard," Alexander stood up and headed to the backyard.