Of the four sons the eldest Dong Yunzhou looked coldly at him. If they do not start trouble I will treat them as family he said. The implication was clear. Any provocation would be met with no mercy.
The second son Dong Yunhuai sat straight on the sofa and said nothing. The third son Dong Lie grinned. Does that mean I finally have a sister? Count me in! The youngest Dong Shuyan kept his head bowed and stayed silent.
Dong Jun nodded satisfied. Good enough that they have been told. The older two were reserved and Shuyan was quiet but Lie was lively and would surely get along well with the girl. His heart swelled with joy.
He had nearly lost his mind when he learned Xiulan had married that scoundrel Xu Hui. Now things were set right yet anger still burned within him how dare Xu Hui cast her aside like that? Eldest! he called out sharply. Look into Xu Hui for me.
Dong Yunzhou nodded his expression unchanged. Preparations for the wedding began. Xu Qingru accompanied Ma Xiulan on shopping trips and they gathered many things. Ma Xiulan wanted simplicity but Xu Qingru insisted only the best.
Dong Jun visited often. At first there were whispers but word spread that he was an army officer and the match was proper so gossip faded. When anyone made cutting remarks Xu Qingru met them head on. Yes we are lucky — jealous?
One day Dong Jun invited the children to a meal. Yunzhou was at the lab Yunhuai was on duty and Shuyan never left the house. Only Lie appeared. The others are busy with their work Dong Jun said. Don’t take it personally Qingru. You will meet them all in good time.
Xu Qingru did not mind. What mattered was that Dong Jun truly loved her mother and Ma Xiulan would be cared for. As for brothers in her past life Xu Yingying had never gotten along well with them and she expected much the same. She would not be living in their home anyway so their approval meant little.
You are my sister! Lie’s face lit up and he moved eagerly to her side. You are so beautiful! Will you come meet my friends? They will be so jealous when they see my pretty sister! He was genuinely delighted.
Xu Qingru blinked surprised and nodded. Elsewhere Xu Yingying had arranged for Xu Hui to meet Chen Jiashu in what was meant to be a promising introduction. This version of Chen Jiashu was nothing like the brilliant researcher she remembered dull and with no background in science at all.
Frustrated she excused herself to the restroom and passed the dining room where she saw Lie sitting with Xu Qingru. Her blood ran hot. Why was Xu Qingru not preparing for the countryside and how had she connected with the Dong family? She burst into the room. Xu Qingru you…
She stopped seeing Dong Jun and Ma Xiulan sitting together. This was wrong. They should not have met yet. Why was everything different from before? Who are you? Lie asked with genuine confusion.
Unlike the disdain she recalled he looked at her as a stranger. Do you know her sister Qingru? Invite her to join us he said warmly. In her past life he had turned her away saying she was not good enough. Could it be that meeting earlier changed everything?
Perhaps the other brothers would be different too. Regret flooded her if only she had chosen Ma Xiulan instead. Marrying into the Dong family would have spared her the countryside and she could have won all four brothers over. She would have been the beloved youngest daughter.
I don’t know her Xu Qingru said flatly cutting in. Xu Yingying turned on tears instantly and approached Ma Xiulan. Mother I have made a mistake she sobbed. Let me come with you and let Sister go to the countryside with Father.
Lie frowned. What an act he thought glad his new sister was nothing like this. Ma Xiulan did not fall for it. I am not your mother she said firmly. Xu Yingying wept harder. Please Mother.
If Ma Xiulan had not seen through her before she might have believed her. Yingying? Xu Hui appeared having found Chen Jiashu disappointing and followed the sound of her voice. He walked in and saw Ma Xiulan then Dong Jun.
Shock turned to accusation. What are you doing here! Then he looked at Ma Xiulan in outrage. You have been unfaithful! His voice boomed across the room.
Watch your mouth! Dong Jun slammed his fist on the table and stood up. Ma Xiulan held his wrist gently pulling him back beside her. We are divorced she said to Xu Hui. Our lives are separate now. Is that so hard to understand?
It has been barely any time! I do not believe you had nothing before! Xu Hui’s face was red with fury. He could have spread lies about her but he could not bear the truth especially with Dong Jun. Come back with me he demanded reaching for her arm. You will have nothing to do with him!