Xu Yao was at the Wen residence.
Though Xu Yao and Wen Yiyi had never gotten along, the adults from the Xu and Wen families were friends, and Xu Yao had visited the Wen home often in the past.
After the Xu family went bankrupt, this was Xu Yao's first time stepping through the Wen family's door.
At first, when Xu Yao claimed she'd gotten married, Lin Meixian didn't believe her.
However, upon learning Xu Yao had taken several days off work, Lin Meixian grew concerned for her daughter. Tonight, she personally went to Xu Yao's rented apartment for a mother-daughter heart-to-heart. Unexpectedly, upon arrival, she found the rental unit completely emptied. Lin Meixian was instantly thrown into panic.
Xu Yao was packing up at Shenghai Garden when she received Lin Meixian's call.
When Lin Meixian asked where she was, Xu Yao replied she'd moved into her new husband's home. The words sent Lin Meixian reeling.
This wasn't the first time Xu Yao had mentioned marriage to her mother, and the more Lin Meixian heard it, the more real it seemed.
"Yao, you're being foolish!"
The thought of her daughter rushing into marriage with another man filled Lin Meixian with fury.
A woman's marriage was no less significant than a second chance at life. Lin Meixian understood this better than anyone, and she assumed Xu Yao should too.
Lin Meixian refrained from harshly reprimanding Xu Yao over the phone. Yet two hours later, Xu Yao received a call from Wen Zhicheng.
"Uncle Wen."
"Come to the house. See your mother."
This was the first time Wen Zhicheng had ever made such a firm demand of Xu Yao.
...
After returning home, Lin Meixian locked herself in her room. Wen Zhicheng thought she was ill, but she broke down crying and told him about Xu Yao's whirlwind marriage.
"Zhicheng, I'm a terrible mother!"
Wen Zhicheng didn't know how to comfort her.
Putting himself in her shoes, if Wen Yiyi had rushed into marriage with a stranger Wen Zhicheng didn't know, his reaction would likely be even stronger than Lin Meixian's!
Every parent feels the pain for their own child. Likewise, only the parents can truly educate their child. Since Wen Zhicheng and Lin Meixian weren't married yet, his position was truly awkward.
Seeing Lin Meixian's distress, Wen Zhicheng had no choice but to call Xu Yao. After several years, Xu Yao once again stepped through the gates of the Wen residence.
Before seeing Lin Meixian, Xu Yao encountered Wen Yiyi first.
Leaning against the sofa, Wen Yiyi spoke with a sharp edge, "Xu Yao, I hear you eloped with some man?"
This time, Xu Yao offered no courtesy. "Who I marry is my business. Why the sudden interest? Eager to give me a wedding gift? Forget it. I don't want to have to return the favor when you marry—and I won't be attending your wedding anyway."
Wen Yiyi sat up straight, her curiosity turning to shock and fury.
"How dare you—"
"How dare you speak to me like this?"
Xu Yao cut her off. "What's there to be afraid of? I've tolerated your arrogance not out of fear, but to protect Uncle Wen and Mom's relationship. I want them to be happy, so I've stepped back for your sake. I understand your worry about the Xu family burdening the Wens with debt—that's why I signed new promissory notes with the creditors... I've done everything within my power. I have no regrets before anyone!"
Three years after the Xu family's bankruptcy, Xu Yao had been forged by society's harsh blows, while Wen Yiyi remained a sheltered princess in her ivory tower.
Wen Yiyi believed Xu Yao and Lin Meixian were scheming to seize the Wen family's assets, which was why Xu Yao constantly yielded. Little did she know Xu Yao had never coveted anything from the Wen family—all her concessions were solely for Lin Meixian's happiness!
Now, Xu Yao had done everything within her power to facilitate her mother Lin Meixian's remarriage. As she herself stated, having acted with a clear conscience, why should she keep retreating?
Wen Yiyi was speechless at Xu Yao's stance.
This version of Xu Yao reminded Wen Yiyi of the past, when she had always been at a disadvantage in front of Xu Yao.
Snapping back to reality, Wen Yiyi's anger dissolved into glee, as if she'd finally caught Xu Yao off guard. "Well, well! Your true colors are finally showing. You've been putting on an act all along just so your mom could marry into the Wen family! Why stop now? My dad hasn't even married your mom yet!" Xu Yao looked at her as if she were a fool.
"I trust Uncle Wen's judgment."
If this wasn't enough to reassure Wen Zhicheng, then he wouldn't be a suitable match for Lin Meixian either.
Just as Wen Yiyi was about to speak again, Wen Zhicheng scolded her from upstairs, "Wen Yiyi, where's your manners!"
Xu Yao looked up. Wen Zhicheng's hand rested on the second-floor railing, and she didn't know how long he'd been standing there.
Xu Yao wasn't afraid Wen Zhicheng would overhear her conversation with Wen Yiyi. This was her statement. She'd been worried Wen Yiyi wouldn't understand—better to say it to someone as sharp as Wen Zhicheng!
After scolding Wen Yiyi, Wen Zhicheng spoke to Xu Yao with surprising gentleness. "Yiyi's spoiled by me. Don't take it personally. Come upstairs. Your mother is in her room."
Xu Yao ascended the stairs, leaving Wen Yiyi seething.
Wen Zhicheng asked Xu Yao to have a proper talk with Lin Meixian, while he summoned his own daughter, Wen Yiyi, who looked utterly aggrieved, to the study.
Xu Yao knocked lightly on the door.
Lin Meixian's voice was weak and weary. "Come in."
Xu Yao stepped inside. Lin Meixian turned her head away, wiping her tears with her hand.
"Mom—"
Xu Yao nestled close to Lin Meixian. "Please don't be angry with me. I don't want you to be sad."
Anger wasn't what Lin Meixian felt—it was more heartache.
Mother and daughter sat in silence for a long while. After a moment, Lin Meixian asked in a hoarse voice, "You really got married?"
Xu Yao nodded softly.
Lin Meixian sighed. "Then
there's no chance left for you and Shen Yan."
Xu Yao nodded again. "I know."
At this point, no matter how much Lin Meixian blamed Xu Yao for acting impulsively, she couldn't change what had happened.
If only the Xu family hadn't gone bankrupt.
Lin Meixian had sighed over this countless times.
She wasn't unaware of the shift in Shen Yan's mother's attitude after the Xu family's collapse; she simply pretended not to care. Marriage required emotional foundation and material stability. Shen Yan was the best choice Xu Yao could realistically hope for. If she could swallow her pride and marry into the Shen family, she wouldn't have to worry about material comforts for the rest of her life.
But Xu Yao couldn't bear it.
Xu Qinghua had always insisted on raising his daughter in luxury, and he had done just that. His lavish lifestyle had nurtured Xu Yao's pride.
Lin Meixian deeply loved her late husband. At this moment, she desperately wanted to curse him: Why didn't you just die? Yao-Yao is so stubborn—who knows how much suffering she'll endure in the future!
With matters having reached this point, Lin Meixian steeled herself and asked Xu Yao, "Tell me about him. What kind of person is he?"
Lin Meixian inquired about Xu Yao's whirlwind marriage husband.
Learning that Gu Jun was Xu Yao's senior from high school, Lin Meixian felt slightly reassured—at least there was some emotional foundation.
When it came to Gu Jun's profession, Lin Meixian felt both joy and worry.
A son-in-law who'd made it to senior engineer—most mothers-in-law would be over the moon. But with Shen Yan's dazzling success as the benchmark, Gu Jun was merely an engineer. How could Lin Meixian not feel a pang of regret?
Xu Yao mentioned Gu Jun's home was in Shenghai Garden, allowing Lin Meixian to roughly estimate his income and net worth.
Objectively speaking, Xu Yao's whirlwind marriage partner wasn't lacking in merit—it was his poor choice of birth, his family background simply too meager!
Xu Yao hadn't mentioned a prenuptial agreement, and Lin Meixian hadn't asked either.
How could an engineer possibly help Xu Yao pay off her debts?
Xu Yao's debts would still need to be resolved by Lin Meixian.