Yao Lili muttered and shouted, “Come on, we are waiting for you for dinner!”
Hearing no sound outside the door, A-Miao began to smear her face until it turned dull yellow and her eyes became lifeless. Then she took a deep breath and said, “Mom, look. They found me even I have disfigured myself.”
“Don’t worry!” She clenched her fists and cheered herself. “No matter what they want, I won’t let them succeed!”
Going downstairs into the dining room, she found a few more people. One of the girls, who was at the same age as she, shouted with anger as soon as she saw her.
“She is so ugly. How can she marry Brother Bai!?”
“Marry?” A-Miao caught the point. No wonder they had to take her back. They wanted to sell her!
Xia Yongqiang pounded the table, “Sit down and eat.”
A-Miao did not listen to him. She asked, “I still want to make it clear. Since you didn’t recognize me a few years ago, why do you want me back right now? If you don’t make it clear, I can’t eat.”
The atmosphere suddenly became awkward. Xia Haixin coughed to smooth things over and said, “Come here. We can talk while eating.”
“I don’t eat!” The girl continued to shout.
“Xia Mei. If you don’t listen to me, you’d better not come back.” Xia Yongqiang glanced at her. “Your parents are on a business trip abroad, and I can’t control you. Go to live on campus!”
A-Miao didn’t care Xia Mei’s contemptuous look. She was looking at the girl who was sitting next to Xia Yongqiang.
“Hello, I am Xia Wan, your big sister!” The girl smiled at her. “Xia Mei is a few years younger than you. Don’t be angry with her.”
She remembered that when she came back with her mother’s cremains, she had seen Xia Wan once. At that time, Xia Wan was wearing a white dress, walking down from a car. She was as proud as a princess who didn’t look at her for once.
“A-Miao, this is my daughter.” Xia Haixin introduced to her, “Xia Mei is the daughter of your second uncle. You also have an elder brother and a younger brother. They are all going abroad to study. You will see them on holiday.”
Yao Lili had already started eating. Seeing that no one had moved, she twitched her mouth and said, “Hurry up and tell her about it, otherwise, no one can eat well.”
“There’s nothing to hide.” Xia Yongqiang looked at A-Miao and said, “The Xia family has a marriage contract with the Bai family. At the end of the year, we will hold a dance party to announce your engagement.”
Everyone thought that A-Miao would question them, but she suddenly smiled and asked, “The Bai family? Do they have money? Who is going to marry me? An old man or a handsome guy?”
Xia Mei looked at her with contempt and snorted, “Philistine woman.”
Xia Wan frowned and then stared at A-Miao, “You…have no objection?”
“Objection?” A-Miao showed a sardonic smile. “Does that work? If it works, please send me back.”
Yao Lili’s face darkened immediately. “What objections can she have? Everyone will thank this good opportunity. The Bai family is also one of the best in City S, if not…”
“Shut up!” Xia Yongqiang screamed while Yao Lili was scared to shrink her neck.
A-Miao blinked, “Do they know I am the one they are going to engage?”
As soon as they heard A-Miao, their faces became strange. A-Miao smiled and asked, “Oh, are you going to buy and sale by force?”
“Bah! Brother Bai will never like you. Stop dreaming!” Xia Mei shouted.
A-Miao snorted, “Since you like him so much, then you should marry him!”
“Enough!” Xia Yongqiang looked at Xia Mei coldly. “You are still young. Focus on your study.” Then he stood up, “Since you have known it, you can stay at home peacefully.” He frowned and reminded of something again.
“Take her to clean up and dress up, at least she should look more pleasing to the eye. Also, give your ID card to your Elder Uncle for safekeeping. It will be useful during the engagement.”
Yao Lili immediately responded, “Do not worry, Dad!”
A-Miao felt heavy in her heart. They were trying to trap her here. Without an ID card, she could not run.
“What a shame! I don’t know why we have to look for her and take her back…” Xia Mei snorted, kicking the chair, and ran away.
Xia Haixin and Yao Lili also left soon. Only Xia Wan stayed, sitting opposite her, and considerately ladled out a bowl of soup for her.
“Thank you!” A-Miao smiled at her.
Xia Wan’s face twitched, “Don’t you really mind?”
A-Miao responded by asking, “You always ask me if I mind. Then do you want me to mind or not?”
“Of course I hope that you will happily marry!” Xia Wan’s expression looked not very natural. “You don’t need to worry about school. My dad has arranged everything for you.”
A-Miao took a bite at the abalone and asked, “Bai Youran? My fiance?”
“Yes.” When Xia Wan found she didn’t mind it at all, she felt uncomfortable again. She couldn’t help saying, “You may rest assured. I will ask him to take care of you!”