Sure enough, the faces of the Great-aunt’s family instantly paled.
The Great-aunt rushed over and grabbed Ma Xiaoli’s wrist, her face full of wrinkles twisting into a fierce grimace. “What?! You actually lent her the Jade Buddha?!”
Her wrist squeezed painfully tight, Ma Xiaoli refused to put up with it and cried out loudly right in the old woman’s ear: “Great-aunt, you’re hurting me so badly!”
The Great-aunt’s ears buzzed. Just as she was about to snap, Mai Zixuan rushed over and pulled her back.
“Mom, what are you doing…”
The Great-aunt wanted to argue, but under her son’s stern glare, she reluctantly shut her mouth.
Mai Zixuan took Ma Xiaoli’s hand, putting on a front of concern. “Xiaoli, auntie remembers that your Jade Buddha is a family heirloom. How could you just lend it out to an outsider like that?”
“Well, she said she wanted to bring it to a jewelry store to have a copy made for her mother. I couldn’t really say no to that.”
Using Mai Zixuan’s own excuse to throw cold water back in her face, Ma Xiaoli watched as Mai Zixuan’s smile stiffened slightly. However, Mai Zixuan quickly pulled herself together and asked, “Then where is your classmate now? Could you help contact her? Auntie can just go straight to the jeweler with her to order it. It would save everyone the hassle.”
“Okay, give me a moment.”
Seeing Ma Xiaoli fall for her words and pull out her phone to send a text, Mai Zixuan let out a sigh of relief. She then glared at her husband, signaling him to keep the old woman in line.
Noticing Ma Xiaoli put her phone down, Mai Zixuan put on her flawless, fake smile once more—little did she know, Ma Xiaoli hadn’t contacted Luo Xiaoxiao at all. She hadn’t even bothered to open the WeChat message Luo Xiaoxiao had sent her.
Naturally, that didn’t stop Ma Xiaoli from lying through her teeth: “Auntie, Xiaoxiao’s younger brother came over today, so she’s probably staying at a hotel with him. But she refuses to give out the room number and said she’s heading back to school next week anyway, so there’s no rush to look at the Jade Buddha right now… How about I just wait until I see her at school next week to ask for it back?”
The entire family’s expressions shifted dramatically once again—
Damn it!
The apocalyptic acid rain arrives in three days!
Luo Xiaoxiao intentionally claiming she won’t be back at school until next week… is she trying to pocket the Jade Buddha on purpose?!
Could it be that this Luo Xiaoxiao was also reborn?!
The Great-aunt was naturally the first to jump up: “No! A family heirloom isn’t something an outsider gets to make calls on! Tell her to bring it back to you immediately!”
Ma Xiaoli chuckled inwardly, though she feigned a troubled look on her face: “Great-aunt, do you also want to take my Jade Buddha to get a replica made? But my Jade Buddha is completely ordinary; the streets are full of the exact same style…”
Hearing this, Mai Zixuan’s expression changed, and she quickly shot a sharp glare at the Great-aunt. Turning back around, she hurriedly chimed in: “Xiaoli, I remember you mentioning that this Xiaoxiao isn’t doing so well financially, right? Wouldn’t staying at a hotel with her brother for a few days be really tough on her? How about this: why don’t you invite her and her brother to come stay with us for a few days?”
Even the notoriously stingy Great-aunt chimed in hastily: “Yes, yes! Classmates should help each other out. Xiaoli, just tell them we have empty rooms and invite the siblings over to stay…”
Ma Xiaoli scoffed internally while keeping her face a picture of utmost dilemma: “But her brother rarely comes to visit her, and our place… even my room was taken over by little cousin. Every time I come back, I have to sleep with Grandma. If they come over, are they supposed to sleep in the living room?”
Mai Zixuan immediately replied, “Oh! Nonsense! Xiaoli, auntie will have your little cousin give the room back to you right away. He was only keeping it warm for you since you rarely come home, not taking it over…”
Noticing her son squirming and about to ruin everything again, Mai Zixuan awkwardly covered his big mouth tightly while letting out a nervous laugh. But Ma Xiaoli had no intention of letting them off the hook: “Even if little cousin gives the room back to me, there still aren’t enough rooms! We can’t possibly let Luo Xiaoxiao’s brother share a room with us! Her brother is already a college freshman!”
Mai Zixuan: “That’s easy! Auntie and your Great-aunt can squeeze into your Grandma’s room, and we’ll let Luo Xiaoxiao’s brother stay in your Great-aunt’s room…”
Ma Xiaoli’s expression sank, and she immediately interrupted: “No, Grandma’s health isn’t good to begin with. It’s better to let her brother continue staying in the hotel.”
Mai Zixuan gritted her teeth: “Then how about this: Great-aunt, little cousin, and I will stay in my original room, Luo Xiaoxiao’s brother can sleep in Great-aunt’s room, and as for your uncle, he works late all the time anyway, so he can just sleep in the living room…”
Suddenly losing his room, Li Jiarong’s eyes widened in disbelief. But before he could object, he was gladdened into silence by joint glares from both his wife and mother.
Ma Xiaoli pretended not to notice their scheming and said she would go ask Luo Xiaoxiao.
She walked methodically to a corner, opened the file transfer interface on WeChat, and pretended to make a call.
The family immediately perked up their ears, itching to lean right against her to eavesdrop on the conversation.
However, the corners of Ma Xiaoli’s lips curled up imperceptibly. She intentionally mumbled softly, then suddenly raised her voice loudly when they tried to get closer: “No, Xiaoxiao, you’ve misunderstood! I’m not forcing you to come stay just because of the Jade Buddha… If you keep talking like that, I’m going to get mad… Hello?! Hello?”
Turning around, Ma Xiaoli feigned surprise upon seeing the family practically glued to her back, quickly turning off her phone screen.
Mai Zixuan hurriedly asked, “What happened? Is she refusing to come?”
Ma Xiaoli bit her lip in annoyance, waiting a long moment before speaking: “I don’t know who set her off, but she suddenly lost her temper with me. She said I was being stingy by forcing her to come over, worrying she’d lose the Jade Buddha or something. She threw a huge fit…”
The entire family’s faces turned sour upon hearing this rejection—that damned wench! She must have already obtained the Jade Buddha and is refusing to take the bait!
They had to snatch that Jade Buddha back as soon as possible!
As if blinded by anger, Ma Xiaoli jabbed her fingers aggressively on her phone screen, muttering, “Don’t worry, Auntie. I’ll definitely figure out where Luo Xiaoxiao is staying!”
The family held their breath instantly.
Yet Mai Zixuan put on a hypocritical front and said, “Xiaoli, even though Auntie is in a hurry, don’t go ruining your friendship over this…”
Ma Xiaoli smirked internally, then suddenly exclaimed, “Ah, got it! My roommate said she’s staying at the 666 Hotel Chain, though she doesn’t know which floor…”
Mai Zixuan instantly exchanged a quick glance with Li Jiarong, then put on another fake smile: “Xiaoli, upset as you are, let’s just drop it. Since Xiaoxiao isn’t willing, let’s not force her. It’s fine if you ask her for the Jade Buddha next week when you see her. Auntie can wait.”
Ma Xiaoli hesitated: “But…”
Mai Zixuan gestured subtly behind her back for the others to get ready, then said, “Ah, I almost forgot I have to submit a report to my boss today! Xiaoli, you stay home for now. Auntie still has work at the company, so I’ll head off to work first!”
“Honey, wait for me!”
“Dad! Mom, I want to go to school too!”
“Grandma’s little darling, Grandma will take you to school!”
Having “learned” where Luo Xiaoxiao was, the family became as anxious as ants on a hot pan. Throwing away all pretense of dignity, they threw together flimsy excuses and rushed out the door, leaving Ma Xiaoli behind.
If only they had the awareness to turn back and look, they might have seen Ma Xiaoli standing in the entryway, cheerfully waving goodbye to their retreating backs with a big smile.