Biming gasped and inhaled a single grain of rice. The grain shot straight to her throat and she instantly choked on it. She coughed profusely before she could finally breath and drink some water to flush it down.
"Hahahaha, no need to get so excited. Do you like Xue Changmin that much?" Huanting teased her as he refilled her cup of water.
"I don't like him! You just caught me by surprise. I thought you were going to talk to me about Jade Atelier or Xia Textiles." She lowered her head and her voice at the same time.
"Okay, let's say you don't like him. But mom and dad really like him. Grandma and grandpa, too. I think they've set their sights on him. If you date anyone else, they'll just compare him to Chang."
"I already told you. I don't want to date anyone. And I don't want to date Xue Changmin. I just don't think we would get along. Did I tell you he's hurt me twice already?" She was sure that her brother was not aware of this and if he knew he would back her up.
He raised his voice, "How did he hurt you? Did he force you to do anything?!"
"Nothing like that! Get your mind out of the gutter! Aiya, brother you really need to find a woman."
"I don't. Now tell me what he did." He couldn't even swallow the food in his mouth at this point.
"The first time was at that one auntie's noodle shop. I ordered take out and he bumped into me spilling the hot soup all over me!" She tried to make it sound dramatic but just ended up making a fool of herself. She then continued to tell him about the jogging incident.
"Oh, I thought he did something serious to hurt you."
"How was this not already serious, what if I had died during either situation?!"
"Biming stop being a drama queen. He took responsibility both times. And they were also accidents. He must've felt awful."
"Well… Well… Oh! I saw him at the mall with Han Roushan! They were holding hands and hugging all lovingly. It was sickening. And he still wants to court me. Hmph!" Heh, Biming was sure her brother would back her up this time.
He laughed at how childish his sister was acting, "Biming, don't mind Han Roushan. She's not a serious contender for the Xue family. Han Roushan's mom keeps trying to push Han Roushan towards Xue Changmin but he doesn't see her like that. Grandmother Xue thinks she's to ditzy and materialistic."
Was her brother siding with the enemy? How could he not back her up? She said in a pitiful voice, "Brother Ting… are you trying to sell me off? I thought you'd protect me." She placed her chopsticks down.
"Oh now, don't think like that. You know that I love you and you're my favorite baby sister. I'd do anything for you. But I also see how the elders are look at this situation. And I trust Xue Changmin. He wouldn't lie to you and he won't cheat on you. If he did, I'd castrate him myself."
Okay, now Xia Biming really couldn't eat anymore. Thanks for the visual!
"Do you also want me to marry him?"
"I'm not asking you to marry him, just… give him a chance. I think he likes you. He always looks like a lovestruck fool when he sees you. And he acts all weird whenever I mention your name."
"Well, you're older than me. How can you marry me off before yourself? I won't date until you find yourself a woman too! This isn't fair!" Xia Biming used her last trump card.
"You can't use that against me, Biming. It is fair because the elders want it. Nothing else matters."
"Not happening then!" She refused to accept defeat!
He kept eating while Xia Biming crossed her arms over her chest and sighed angrily. He would wait it out and see how long until she stops putting up this act. He calmly ate the food his sister made. He nearly finished it, too.
"Hey! Save some food for me!"
"Well if you would eat, you wouldn't need to worry about that. Now hurry and eat. Also stop being so stubborn. Chang is a nice guy. I'm not trying to endorse him but there are too many deceitful men out there. I can't let you out into that world when I get myself a wife. All my attention is going to be on her. I need to make sure you're taken care of before I do so. You got that?" Xia Huanting finally let his sister hear his concerns.
This softened her demeanor and also surprised her. She didn't think this was the reason why he kept up with his ideas. Well, if her brother trusts him that much, would it be okay for her to open up to him?
Finally waving her white flag in defeat, "Okay. I'll listen to you. But I can't promise anything! I will just try to get to know him. But if I don't like him that way, I'm not going to pursue him. But you need to find someone too! Only then will I also be at peace."
She made her brother promise and he obliged with his cheeky sister. They took out the cake and served themselves.
"Mmmmm! Where did you get this cake, brother? It's the best I've ever had." She kept shoveling bites into her tiny mouth. It was truly so delicious.
The berries were just sweet enough to compliment the creaminess of the Chantilly cream. The cake was nice and light, not dry at all.
"I got it at a bakery I frequent. The baker is really talented. She always makes delicious treats. I'll take you there someday." He smiled as the image of the baker filled his mind.
"I'm going to hold you to it!" She served herself second slice before they finished their meal and she sent her brother off.
Xia Biming cleaned the dishes and the kitchen before she got ready for bed. With her tummy full, she slept well that night. She slept so well that she even dreamed a sweet dream.
In her dream, she felt happy. And she was in love. It was a great feeling. She could see the rays of the sunshine as they shone above the beautiful cascading waterfall. She sat on a picnic blanket with lots of delicious snacks and treats on it. There was a strong warm arm wrapped around her waist.
Her stomach fluttered with love and she looked up at him to kiss him. Their tongues intertwined and danced a dance of love. She pulled back to look at the man. The sun was shining to brightly that she couldn't get a good look at him. He pulled her in for another breathtaking kiss.
Then it hit her. This smell. The smell of this man, she's sure she's smelled it before. A mix of aftershave, camphor, and bergamot.
No!
She jolted awake in her bed to find that it was still the middle of the night. She pinched herself to make sure she was awake. 'Oh… it was just a dream.'