The scolding Mi Cai gave to Mi Lan made the atmosphere among the group become awkward. Finally, Mi Zhongde broke the silence. He raised his hand to check his watch and said, “It’s almost time. Let’s go into the terminal to wait for Sister-in-law…”
At this time, as the Spring Festival approached, the surge in passenger flow had prompted the airport to open a temporary outdoor parking lot. The incessant drizzle pattered down, adding to the irritation. Mi Lan was eager to leave the place and immediately pulled Fang Yuan towards the terminal building ahead of all of us. Mi Cai, however, looked dejectedly at the cars around her. Even though they had already arrived at the airport, she still strongly disliked the idea of meeting Yan Zhuomei.
We shared the same feelings. I held an umbrella and stayed close beside her. Her aunt gently said, “Xiaocai, Xiaolan has been spoiled by your uncle and me since she was little. Please don’t take her words to heart…”
“Auntie, I’m not upset about Xiaolan. I just really don’t want to face Yan Zhuomei. I don’t even know what I should say to her. We really can’t talk about mother-daughter affection between us!”
“Xiaocai, Auntie really hopes you can try to accept her… Despite everything, she is still your birth mother. That’s why she wants you to inherit her business. Regardless of whether or not you need it, these enterprises represent the efforts she has made over the years. So she doesn’t not love you—she just expressed her love in the wrong way!”
Mi Cai’s expression remained conflicted. Her aunt gave me a meaningful glance, signaling me to persuade Mi Cai. Finally, I gently put my arm around her shoulder and said, “Since we’ve come all the way here, what’s a few more hundred meters? Come on. Whatever comes our way, I’ll be right here with you.”
Mi Cai finally looked at me. I nodded encouragingly and took her hand, walking with her through the rain toward the terminal building a hundred meters away. Thus, the group split once again into three separate batches. We looked nothing like a family.
…
A few minutes later, we arrived at the exit of the terminal building. We merged together into the crowd of people waiting to pick up arriving passengers. I stayed with Mi Cai the whole time, observing her expressions, because having never seen Yan Zhuomei before, her reactions would give me some clues.
The announcement over the loudspeaker had already informed the arrival of the flight. Instinctively, I looked at my watch. It was 11:15 a.m. My heart tightened suddenly. I instinctively looked toward the exit. Especially knowing that Yan Zhuomei didn’t approve of me, I shared Mi Cai’s anxiety and also had no idea what to say to this woman who would technically be my future mother-in-law.
A moment later, I saw Mi Cai’s aunt waving at a woman dressed in a black business suit. I also saw Mi Cai’s complicated expression and immediately realized: the woman who appeared before me with an incomparable aura must be the legendary Yan Zhuomei… Her appearance needed no elaborate description, because Mi Cai’s looks were almost an exact replica of hers. The imposing presence she carried, honed through years in the foreign business world, could genuinely make one feel intimidated. This was no exaggeration—especially not for someone like me, who held a hostile attitude toward her. Even so, I couldn’t tear my eyes away from her. I told myself I must speak to this woman calmly, confidently, and rationally.
She finally approached us. Mi Zhongde almost reverently took her handbag and said, “Sister-in-law, you must be tired from the trip!”
“Not at all,” Yan Zhuomei replied, her eyes completely ignoring everyone else as she gestured to Mi Cai, who was standing at a distance. “Xiaocai, come here.”
Mi Cai held my hand and we walked together to stand in front of her. Mi Cai said nothing, but I could feel the pressure from her hand. Finally, I smiled slightly and politely said to her, “Auntie, hello…”
Only then did she look at me. Her expression was icy as she slowly and softly said, “I’m not fine… If I’m not mistaken, you must be Zhaoyang, right?”
This direct, oppressive statement momentarily left me struggling to adapt. I simply nodded. Mi Cai finally spoke at this moment. Her tone was equally soft yet direct, “Madam Yan, whether you are fine or not won’t affect us. He is the man I’m going to marry.”
Yan Zhuomei merely smiled, as if mocking us as foolish ants trying to stop a chariot. Mi Cai frowned at her, and the atmosphere instantly froze. Seeing this, Mi Cai’s aunt quickly stepped between us and said to Yan Zhuomei, “Sister-in-law, you must be tired from the trip. Zhongde and I have already arranged a banquet in Suzhou to welcome you. Let’s not waste time at the airport!”
Yan Zhuomei seemed in no hurry to settle matters at the airport. She ignored me and Mi Cai and turned her gaze to Fang Yuan and Mi Lan. She asked Mi Cai’s aunt, “Qiyun, the young man standing next to Xiaolan—is he your and Zhongde’s ideal son-in-law?”
Mi Zhongde hurriedly urged Fang Yuan and Mi Lan, “You two should quickly go and greet your auntie!”
Fang Yuan, seemingly stripped of his usual professional versatility under Yan Zhuomei’s imposing presence, only reacted when reminded by Mi Zhongde. He then obediently pulled Mi Lan to stand before Yan Zhuomei and respectfully addressed her as “Auntie.” Mi Lan, usually so spoiled and willful, also obediently called her “Mother Yan.”
Yan Zhuomei smiled and said to Mi Zhongde, “Zhongde, I couldn’t find time to attend the wedding of these two when they got married, but I’ve prepared their wedding gift long ago. It’s already in my handbag.”
Mi Zhongde handed the handbag back to Yan Zhuomei. She took out two gift boxes and gave them to Fang Yuan and Mi Lan. They both said “Thank you” and accepted them from her. Unable to contain her curiosity, Mi Lan immediately began to open hers, but Yan Zhuomei gently patted her head and said, “Xiaolan, open it when you get home. Right now, I really want to return to Suzhou and enjoy a good meal.”
The usually spoiled and willful Mi Lan showed no resistance at all. She put the gift into her handbag. Mi Zhongde took the handbag from Yan Zhuomei again and led the way with his driver, while Fang Yuan carried another piece of her luggage behind Mi Zhongde. The group walked toward the airport exit, while Mi Cai and I remained standing in place… Holding each other’s hands, in that vast airport, it felt as if only the two of us existed, filled with indescribable bitterness and helplessness… What lay before us seemed like a mockery—an inexplicable mockery!
…
Finally, Mi Cai and I also walked out of the terminal building and arrived at the temporary outdoor parking lot, where Mi Zhongde, Yan Zhuomei, and others had not yet left. They seemed to be waiting for us.
We approached them again. Yan Zhuomei finally said to Mi Zhongde, “You all go ahead first… I’ll ride with Xiaocai.”
I was somewhat surprised. Yan Zhuomei had already gestured for me to open the car door… Her gesture carried a natural, inherent pressure. Almost instinctively, I opened the car door for her… Then she got into the car. Only then did I realize that Mi Cai and I would once again face this woman who unsettled us both!
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