When Mi Cai’s aunt mentioned that Mi Zhongde and Mi Lan were coming back, Mi Cai’s expression darkened, and I felt uncomfortable too. The upcoming gathering would be extremely awkward due to our differing positions. I wouldn’t sit down with Fang Yuan for a drink and call each other brothers, and Mi Lan wouldn’t even say to Mi Cai, “You’ve worked hard on your journey.” Therefore, having dinner together seemed completely unnecessary.
I looked at Mi Cai, whose thoughts were the same as mine, so I said to her aunt, “Auntie, there’s no need for dinner. This time, I specially came here with Zhaoyang from Xuzhou to borrow your household registration book because we are preparing to register our marriage. If it’s convenient, please give it to us now. We still have other things to do later.”
Her aunt’s expression changed instantly, but she remained silent for a long time without giving us a reply. A feeling of unease rose in my heart, and Mi Cai’s mood also changed. She asked again, “What’s wrong, Auntie? Is this really so difficult for you?”
Finally, she replied, “Xiao Cai, I can’t give you the household registration book. Your elder sister will return from abroad the day after tomorrow. You should discuss the matter of marriage with her before making any decision.”
Mi Cai frowned, “Has she been in touch with you?”
“Yes, otherwise your aunt wouldn’t hold onto the household registration book. You should really have a good chat with your elder sister. In this matter, your uncle and I can’t help but respect her opinion.”
“Auntie, tell me, how should I talk to her, and why does she have the right to interfere with my choice of marriage?”
“This…”
Mi Cai almost begged, “Auntie, the reason she asked you to hold onto the household registration book is to prevent me from being with Zhaoyang. You should know her character better than I do. Once she comes back, this matter will become non-negotiable. If you give me the book now, you will really save me a lot of trouble.”
Her aunt insisted, “No, Xiao Cai, I really can’t agree to this, and besides, your uncle has already taken the household registration book. Even if I wanted to give it to you, I wouldn’t be able to!”
Suddenly, I felt my heart sinking to the bottom. The situation was indeed not as simple as we had imagined. The difficulties we faced now were like a huge mountain pressing on us.
Mi Cai fell silent, and her aunt continued, “Xiao Cai, listen to your auntie for once. Wait until your mom comes back before making any decision. Actually, she just wants you to accompany her in the United States. These years, she has been alone and lonely, and she has a large business to manage. She needs her daughter by her side. Or, you could go to the United States with Zhaoyang to be with her. It would be a great option for you to inherit her business in the future. Over the past year, I’ve seen you and your uncle fighting for Zhuo Mei to the point of disregarding family ties. It really pains me, and seeing you living like this now makes me even more distressed. If you’re willing to go to the United States with your elder sister, I, as your aunt, would feel less guilty. After all, what you’ve lost with Zhuo Mei is really nothing compared to what your elder sister possesses.”
I heard a lot of information from Mi Cai’s aunt’s words, the most important being that her mother was an extraordinary career woman who hoped Mi Cai would follow her to live in the United States. I felt inexplicably anxious, as if the happiness I thought I had in my hands might slip away like sand through my fingers at any moment.
Finally, Mi Cai responded, “Auntie, if you truly wish for my happiness, you shouldn’t make things difficult for me. Moreover, it’s completely unrealistic for Zhaoyang to go to the United States with me. What you’re doing now is essentially tearing us apart. Lastly, I want to tell you firmly that I don’t need anything she can offer me because she already betrayed my childhood and my father’s middle age. Whatever she does now, whether it’s making amends or feeling guilty, has nothing to do with me.”
Her aunt tried to reason again, “Although your elder sister’s actions were a bit excessive when she abandoned you and your father and went to the United States back then, she’s still your birth mother…”
Mi Cai interrupted, “Auntie, you shouldn’t say that. Because when she resolutely went to the United States back then, she didn’t think about her marital relationship or her mother-daughter bond at all. She didn’t even consider how difficult it was for me and my father afterward. Therefore, I really cannot forgive her, nor can I forgive her on behalf of my father…”
This time, her aunt was silent for a long while before finally saying, “Xiao Cai, what you said isn’t entirely without merit. Auntie feels deeply for you and hopes you can live happily, without repeating the pain of your childhood… Unfortunately, your uncle knows I might be soft-hearted, so he has already taken the household registration book himself. Moreover, he has already informed the local police station, making it impossible for you to report the loss and get a new one… In this matter, you and Zhaoyang must wait for your elder sister’s return and ideally reach a consensus!”
At this moment, the sound of cars came from outside. After the engines were turned off, we heard the voices of Mi Zhongde, Fang Yuan, and Mi Lan. Although they hadn’t entered the house yet, the atmosphere had instantly become strange. The matter of the household registration book could only find a breakthrough through Mi Zhongde. No matter how slim the chance, we had to confront him, because this concerned whether we could get married and live together.
The door opened, and Mi Zhongde and the others didn’t show any surprise at our arrival, probably having already seen our car parked outside and thus mentally prepared. However, the atmosphere instantly became stiff, and no one spoke first.
Finally, Mi Lan asked Mi Cai, “Sis, why did you come back to Suzhou?”
Mi Cai didn’t respond but frowned at Mi Zhongde, resenting his approach of controlling her marriage. Mi Zhongde sighed lightly and said to Mi Lan, “Your sister came to get the household registration book.”
Mi Lan suddenly understood and said, “Sis, are you really planning to marry this unreliable man? I advise you to be cautious. Do you know that a few days ago, I saw him come to Suzhou with Jian Wei… He claimed he was here to see Yan Yan, who had adverse reactions after surgery. At first, I really believed it, but the more I thought about it, the more suspicious I became. How could there be such a coincidence? Compared to Yan Yan, Jian Wei’s recent troubles are what really concern him. After all, Jian Wei was his first love from four years ago. Whether he truly has genuine feelings for you, sis, is really worth discussing!”
My scalp tingled slightly, and Mi Cai’s face changed expression slightly. Fang Yuan’s face also changed, as he had also learned about Yan Yan from Mi Lan’s information. However, he soon regained his composure, and Mi Cai’s composure returned even faster. She calmly replied, “He already told me about this beforehand. He did come to Suzhou to see Yan Yan, who had adverse reactions after surgery. Wasn’t that on the 5th?”
Mi Lan thought for a moment and replied, “Yes, the 5th… Could it be that I misunderstood this matter?”
Mi Cai replied without any emotion, “You misunderstood… I’d like to remind you to check whether the man by your side is truly reliable. Compared to Fang Yuan, I think Zhaoyang is a man worth entrusting my whole life to!”
Fang Yuan’s face turned dark with anger, and Mi Zhongde and Mi Lan’s mother also slightly frowned. However, Mi Cai didn’t say anything else. She signaled me to leave with her first. She didn’t want to expose our conflict in front of others, so she chose to protect me against her own will. She was indeed very smart. She quickly calculated that I had come to Suzhou on the 5th, the same day she went to Yangzhou, which dispelled Mi Lan’s doubts and maintained my image… However, I could clearly see that beneath her calm exterior, she was secretly hurting!
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