"Fenfang, please do not scare your cousin like that." A woman's gentle, guiding voice reminded the girl softly from the doorway.
"Mom, look at her. She is just so cool!" The young girl exclaimed excitedly, pointing toward Qiao Meixia with unmistakable admiration shining in her bright eyes.
"You must be Sister Lan's biological daughter, right?" A woman stepped forward, a warm and welcoming smile gracing her face as she greeted Qiao Meixia in an incredibly friendly manner.
Qiao Meixia gave a small, polite nod. "I am Qiao Meixia."
"Oh... I am your aunt, Qi Meifeng. And this lively girl here is my daughter, Jiang Fenfang. Please, feel free to just call me Aunt Meifeng." Qi Meifeng introduced herself with a gentle, motherly warmth.
"And you can call me Fangfang! It is so nice to finally meet you, Cousin!" Jiang Fenfang added quickly, a bright and cheerful grin stretching across her face as she practically bounced with energy.
"Oh, I see you have arrived already. But where is Nianzu?" Old Madam Jiang asked, looking around curiously for her other son.
"He is still outside navigating the driveway and parking his car." Qi Meifeng replied. She then glanced at the gathered group and noticed they seemed to be heading somewhere. "What are all of you planning to do?"
"Oh... I was just about to take Meixia upstairs to show her to her room." Old Madam Jiang explained, her voice full of pride.
"I want to see Cousin Meixia's room too! Can I come?" Jiang Fenfang insisted immediately, not wanting to be left out of the excitement.
"Then let us all go up together." Old Madam Jiang stated decisively, taking the lead as they moved toward the staircase.
As Old Madam Jiang, Jiang Fenfang, and Qiao Meixia headed upstairs, Qi Meifeng finally took notice of Jiang Lukang's family sitting in the living room. Maintaining her poise, she walked over to greet them with polite grace.
"Brother-in-law... Sister Yan." Qi Meifeng said, greeting Jiang Lukang and Feng Yan warmly.
Jiang Lukang and Feng Yan, however, did not share her enthusiasm. They simply responded with a slight, almost dismissive nod toward Qi Meifeng. Soon, Qi Meifeng's eyes landed on the two siblings, Jiang Yanna and Jiang Chinan.
"Both of you must be very happy to finally have a new sister in the family." Qi Meifeng commented casually, offering them a kind smile.
"A new sister? The only sister I have ever had or will ever have is Sister Yanna. I absolutely refuse to acknowledge that country bumpkin as a relative." Jiang Chinan replied sarcastically, making no effort whatsoever to hide the deep disdain dripping from his voice.
Qi Meifeng was visibly taken aback, her eyes widening at Jiang Chinan's harsh and disrespectful words. She instinctively glanced toward Jiang Lukang and Feng Yan, fully expecting them to reprimand their son for such a blatant display of rudeness. However, to her shock, neither of them said a single word. It was painfully obvious that they had no intention of correcting Jiang Chinan's behaviour, which indirectly revealed that they harboured similar cold feelings toward Qiao Meixia.
'That poor girl might have an incredibly difficult time adjusting to life with her parents if this is how they are treating her already.' Qi Meifeng thought inwardly, her heart heavy with sadness at their icy reaction.
"Wife! Where is everyone?" Jiang Nianzu's loud, booming voice suddenly echoed throughout the living room.
Qi Meifeng immediately turned toward her husband as he strolled into the house. Without saying a single word of greeting, she reached out and firmly grabbed him by the ear.
"Ah... Ah! Ow! My wife... Let go, it hurts!" Jiang Nianzu yelped in an exaggeratedly dramatic fashion as his ear was pulled upward by his wife's firm grip.
"Can you please try to behave like a proper, dignified adult for once in your life?" Qi Meifeng asked sternly, glaring at him with exasperation.
***This novel is a work with w e b n o v e l. c o m. If it is not read this novel on w e b n o v e l. c o m, then it has been stolen. Thank you, from your shameless author, ZerahNeko***