Before Xue Jinxu flew to Shanghai the Xue siblings went over to the Old Xue mansion.
Mother Xue was ecstatic and was overly excited to see her children. She prepared their favorite dishes.
Actually it was her who called them home. It had been several weeks already since Xue Guangxi had left the lavish abode.
The Old Mansion had been extremely quiet without the rowdy teenage boy.
"Mother! I specifically took a day off work today just to spend time with you!~" Xue Jinxu started to brownnose her mother as soon as she alight from her car. She grabbed her mother's arm and wrapped her own arms around it. She was also rubbing her face to Mother Xue's shoulders while they entered the house. Mother Xue was silent but she's elated.
Xue Guangxi followed behind. He was playing with his phone. He wasn't even looking at the walkway. Being brought up here he knew very well where he's going.
They went to freshen up in their respective rooms first. Then they gathered again the gazebo near the well-kept garden. Snacks were served to them.
Mother Xue was the Head Lady of the house. In the elite circle she was known by the name of Zhao Feiyan. She also came from a respectable family of businessmen. She's elegant and still had a youthful beauty even at her fifties. Jinxu and Zhao Feiyan could even be mistaken as sisters.
"Xu-er, I'm already at my fifties. When can you settle and finally give me grandchildren? I want to take care of them while I'm still strong…" Mother Xue started with her insinuations.
At this point Xue jinxu was toying with a paper fan. They were enjoying the view. "Mother, not in the near future. Guangxi will surely be able to give you some cute little munchkins. But you have to be patient for now."
*Cough* *Cough* It was Xue Guangxi who was exaggerating the coughing. "Why are you implicating me? I'm being silent here!"
"How about you, Xu-er?" Mother Xue gave her a side glance.
Honestly she was restless the past couple of days. She did not know how to bring up the engagement.
"Jinxu dear, to tell you frankly, your Grampa had already arranged your betrothal. It's to the Shi Family's young heir, dear. We believe you are the best match."
Xue Jinxu was scowling but she was not saying anything. She's still toying with her fan.
"One of these days the two families will have to meet." Zhao Feiyan continued.
"Mother, I can't. I'm busy with work. You could meet with them but I won't join you. I'm going to Shanghai."
"Then, postpone it! This dinner is important!"
"The meeting in Shanghai cannot be postponed Mother." Xue Jinxu was firm.
"Then I'm going to move the dinner until you come back from Shanghai." Mother Xue was persistent.
"As I've said Mother, you can meet with them. But I won't join you." Xue Jinxu was being hardheaded.
"Xue Jinxu!" Mother Xue was annoyed and could feel her blood boiling.
"Mother!" Xue Jinxu went head on with her own mother.
"You are going to the dinner with us to meet with the Shi Family. I will tell Butler Lee to drag you here!" Mother Xue was losing her cool.
"I don't want to, Mother! Nobody can make me go!"
Xue Guangxi's head went back and forth towards the women who were arguing. He did not know how to butt in. Seeing that Mother Xue was getting sensitive, he came to the rescue.
"Mother, please relax for a while. Your blood pressure might be rising again! Quick, Mother please drink some water first."
He grabbed the fan that Xue Jinxu was holding and fanned his mother.
Xue Jinxu just sighed.
"Mother I'm sorry but don't push it. We can talk about it in a few more years. Not now."
"I'll talk to Grampa and pacify him too. I know he wouldn't be able to resist my charms. I'm his favorite granddaughter after all." She smiled brightly and confidently at them. Her almond eyes were smiling too.
Mother Xue tried not to talk for a while. After several breathing exercises, she relayed her disappointment and frustration to them.
"I'm really useless I cannot convince you to go to a simple dinner!" Mother Xue was using the pity card. She shook her head and knitted her brows. "My children don't even listen to me anymore! Once they grow up into competent adults, they just brush off their own mother!"
Xue Jinxu rolled her eyes.
She put her arms around her mother and tried to coax her.
"Don't be like that, Mother. You know I will obey anything that you say, except for this one. Anything about marriage, I cannot endure, Mother. Can you let me suffer even for just a second? If I join you, I would not be able to last for a few minutes, and would have left, still. Then I will appear rude and ill-mannered. Can you handle that, Mother?"
She's using all her resources now to argue out of it.
"I'll choose to marry at my own terms, Mother. You don't have to worry about that." She leaned and kissed her mother on the cheek, and hugged her to coax her more.
"If only your brother is still with us today." Mother Xue could not hide her grief.
Jinxu kissed her mother again on the cheek and sighed.
"I'll be meeting Man Rui in Shanghai. I'll say our family's regards."
Mother Xue turned her head towards her daughter. "That's right, Xu-er. Send our family's regards well. What a pity to have missed the perfect daughter-in-law!"
Guangxi looked up from his phone. "Mother, I'm going to the Zhihua temple in a few days. Do you want to go with me?"
"That's a great idea Guangxi! I'll go with you. I'll seek the monks' blessings for our family's continuity." She was looking at Xue Jinxu while saying this.
Xue Jinxu just shook her head.