Xia Yuhuan stared blankly at Xia Zhuyu, who burst into tears in one second and was sobbing uncontrollably in two.
Wait, weren’t these tears coming on a bit too quickly?
Logically speaking, Xia Zhuyu had grown up spoiled by Xia Jianyong and Li Rouyue, getting everything she wanted without needing to put on an act. Her tears shouldn’t be able to appear so effortlessly.
But then it dawned on her—Xia Zhuyu’s delicate “innocent white flower” act was highly appealing to men.
In the original story, it was precisely this “innocent white flower” persona that captured the hearts of many men, turning them into her devoted followers and weapons.
Case in point: wasn’t Chi Zhenghao’s heartstrings tugged by her tears right now?
She watched as he hurriedly handed her a tissue to wipe her tears, comforting her, “Xia Zhuyu, please don’t cry. Let’s talk this out properly. Crying won’t solve anything.”
Xia Zhuyu sniffled and dabbed at her tears, saying, “Thank you, Brother Zheng Hao. I just feel like my sister doesn’t like me. She always excludes me at home, and I’m so hurt I couldn’t hold back.”
Her tears fell pattering down, her sobs coming in hiccups, making her look utterly pitiable.
Yet, despite her crying, her words were clear and articulate, without the slightest hint of someone in tears.
Chi Zhenghao said, “Although her words were a bit inappropriate earlier, she didn’t exclude you. Aren’t you being a bit too sensitive?”
Xia Yuhuan nearly laughed out loud upon hearing this.
Seriously, was Chi Zhenghao on their side or hers? Why was his comment so backhanded?
Watching Xia Zhuyu freeze in place, looking both stunned and disbelieving, Xia Yuhuan couldn’t hold back and burst into loud laughter.
Her laughter was undeniably mocking.
Hearing her laugh, Xia Jianyong turned to glare at her angrily. “Your sister is crying because you bullied her, and you have the nerve to laugh? You shouldn’t have come back. All you do is cause trouble!”
Xia Yuhuan finally managed to stifle her laughter and pouted. “Didn’t you hear what my cousin said? I didn’t exclude your precious pig. She’s the one crying for no reason, okay.”
Chi Zhenghao now realized his earlier comment had stirred up trouble. Already cold by nature, his expression turned even frostier.
Beside them, Li Rouyue quickly pulled Xia Zhuyu closer, soothing her in a gentle voice.
She couldn’t let her continue making a scene like this.
If this embarrassment went on any longer, the marriage arrangement might fall through.
Xia Zhuyu also realized that her tearful, pitiful act wasn’t working on Chi Zhenghao, so she quickly dried her tears and switched to carefully trying to please him in other ways.
As Xia Yuhuan observed their interactions, she finally began to see the underlying scheme.
It was at this moment that Xia Jianyong spoke up: “Nephew, I see that you and my Zhuzhu get along quite well. Do you have any thoughts about taking things further? What do you think about the marriage between you two? When would be a good time to put it on the agenda?”
Hearing this, Xia Yuhuan immediately understood—this was the plan the three of them had come up with.
By having Xia Zhuyu marry, she could avoid being sent to the countryside.
After all, there was indeed an official policy allowing this.
Upon hearing Xia Jianyong’s words, Chi Zhenghao immediately set down his bowl and chopsticks, looked at him seriously, and said, “Uncle Xia, I do have some fondness for Xia Zhuyu. However, matters of marriage should be decided by parents. I’ll need to go back and discuss this with my family.”
Xia Jianyong quickly nodded upon hearing this. “You’re right, nephew. Matters of marriage should indeed be discussed with family elders.”
“Then when are your parents available? Let’s arrange a time for both families to meet and discuss your marriage.”
Chi Zhenghao glanced at Xia Zhuyu and agreed.
Hearing this, Xia Zhuyu felt overjoyed and cast a provocative look toward Xia Yuhuan.
Hmph! Once she married Chi Zhenghao, she would make sure Xia Yuhuan suffered.
That bitch had humiliated her so badly in front of Chi Zhenghao today—she wouldn’t let her off easily!
Xia Yuhuan scoffed lightly. “Tell me, Old Xia, is your precious pig too desperate to marry, or are you just that eager to get rid of her? Discussing marriage directly with the person instead of their parents—is that even the proper procedure? Tsk tsk…”
Her mocking tone immediately sent Xia Jianyong’s blood pressure soaring.
“Xia Yuhuan, shut up! Just eat your meal and stop babbling,” Xia Jianyong snapped.
He couldn’t stand hearing this wretched daughter speak even a word.
Every time she opened her mouth, she contradicted him, and he feared she might drive him to an early grave.
Xia Yuhuan pursed her lips and raised an eyebrow at Chi Zhenghao. “My dear brother-in-law, don’t say I didn’t warn you. Your precious pig seeking you out at this time certainly doesn’t have good intentions.”
Chi Zhenghao frowned slightly. “What do you mean by that?”
“Oh? You don’t know?” Xia Yuhuan feigned surprise.
The other three immediately grew uneasy.
Xia Zhuyu, being the most impatient, stood up and shouted, “Xia Yuhuan, shut up! Don’t spread lies and slander me in front of Hao Gege!”
Then she turned to Chi Zhenghao with a pitiful expression. “Hao Gege, don’t listen to my sister. She’s just jealous that I’m marrying better than her, so she’s badmouthing me and trying to sabotage us.”
“Hao Gege, let’s ignore her. I’ll take you away now so you don’t have to listen to her nonsense and dirty your ears.”
Without waiting for a response, Xia Zhuyu hurried over to pull Chi Zhenghao away.
Meanwhile, Xia Jianyong rushed to restrain Xia Yuhuan.
“Xia Yuhuan, shut your mouth! If you ruin this for me and mess everything up, I’ll scatter your mother’s ashes to the wind—believe me!” Xia Jianyong threatened in a low voice.
Xia Zhuyu was busy talking and tugging at Chi Zhenghao, so he didn’t hear the threat.
But Xia Yuhuan shuddered, her hair standing on end.
Her pupils contracted as she stared at Xia Jianyong in disbelief.
She never expected Xia Jianyong to be so vile as to threaten her with her own mother’s ashes.
He truly was the scum who abandoned his own daughter, schemed against his first wife until her death, and seized her inheritance to raise his mistress.
She had never met anyone more disgusting than Xia Jianyong!
A sharp, sour pain erupted in her chest, and Xia Yuhuan instinctively pressed a hand over her heart.
Was it Xia Jianyong’s cruel words that triggered the original host’s emotional outburst? Otherwise, why would her heart ache as if it were about to shatter?
Seeing Xia Yuhuan frozen in shock, Xia Jianyong breathed a sigh of relief and quickly moved to cover her mouth, attempting to drag her away.
I can’t let her say anything more explosive. If I allow her to keep spouting nonsense, this marriage arrangement might really fall through.
However, at the most critical moment, Xia Yuhuan reacted swiftly, preventing Xia Jianyong from covering her mouth.
She quickly stepped back, her originally careless and indifferent pretty face now completely icy.
With red-rimmed eyes fixed intently on Xia Jianyong, Xia Yuhuan sneered, “Xia Jianyong, you’ve really outdone yourself. You actually threatened to scatter my mother’s ashes to keep me from speaking the truth.”
Seeing her shout it out so brazenly for Chi Zhenghao to hear, with such a reckless attitude, Xia Jianyong’s mind began to buzz uncontrollably.