After a few days, Mu JingYuan and Bai XueQing entered through the doors as a pair. There was a trace of a rare shy smile on XueQing's face. YiHan's heart skipped. He counted out the days. Wasn't this when his sister and JingYuan announced their engagement in his last life?
His brain buzzed and hummed. Subconsciously, his arm clenched tight at the armrest of the sofa. The bones and veins on his hand popped into sight, deathly pale. It's been over two years since he last came face to face with JingYuan. All he could feel now was the pounding of his heart. His ears were filled with white noise. He nearly ran away once more. It took him a tremendous force of will to control himself, stop himself from acting out of fear.
He watched as JingYuan walked over with his sister, shoulder to shoulder. The bitter pain from his heart swelled in his throat. Yet he can't run away again. He'd made the decision, didn't he? To be a good child.
JingYuan's gaze bore straight into YiHan. "HanHan," he greeted.
YiHan looked away. His sore eyes blinking hard. After a pause, he looked back at JingYuan and put on the smile he'd been using recently.
"Sis, you're back," he said.
He'd decided to use the most perfect smile to greet JingYuan, but he couldn't do it. He sighed internally. He really was the most useless human ever.
JingYuan let out a sigh.
"What made the both of you come home together?" Ma asked, curious.
XueQing walked up to the sofa and ruffled the fur on her little brother's head. Once that was done, she pulled JingYuan down to sit with her. "Where's Father? And Big Bro?" she asked.
"You know how your father's been planning on retiring and handing the company over to your brother? They're holed up in his study talking about the handover of who-knows-what," Ma replied.
"Really. Father's still young. Why is he already thinking of retiring? He just wants to slack off and throw all his mess at Brother and me!" XueQing unhappily said.
"Ungrateful girl. In other families, fathers who aren't willing to let go of powers will cause the younger generation to rebel and mutiny. You're lucky. Your father wants to retire early, yet you're not happy about it!" Ma scolded with a smile.
"How could our family be the same as others'?" XueQing said with a pout.
"Indeed. Our children are all so mature. Your father and I would frequently wake ourselves laughing over this," Ma replied with a happy grin.
At that, a laugh burst through XueQing's lips. "Mom, stop pulling our legs," she said. She then took a closer look at YiHan. "What's made you so upset today?" she asked.
"I'm not. I'm quite fine," YiHan replied, forcing an awkward smile.
Ma shot a look at her daughter, hinting that her youngest son and JingYuan were still locked in a cold war. XueQing blinked back.
"Ma, can you ask Father and Bro to come down? JingYuan and I have something to say," XueQing said.
YiHan's body went stiff. Ma looked between the two of them before giving them both an understanding smile and going upstairs.
Soon, the three descended and the whole family gathered together on the sofas.
XueQing cleared her throat and said in a solemn tone, "Father. Mother. Brother. HanHan. JingYuan and I have decided to get married."
YiHan closed his eyes and did his best to breathe calmly. What will be, will be. His fingers twitched. His eyes stared down at his two knees.
"FuRen's brows furrowed. "You're getting married?" he asked. His gaze then turned to JingYuan.
JingYuan nodded.
FuRen then asked his daughter, "When did you two start dating? Why did your mother and I not know this?"
"We grew up together. It naturally came to be so," XueQing smiled.
"This is the children's matter. We're already outdated. Don't ask so much. This is good. We've watched JingYuan grow up. We know his abilities and character. I'd worry if I hand my daughter over to someone else," Ma interjected with a smile.
"When do you plan on getting married?" Yan asked.
"The faster the better, of course," XueQing said.
"You're a lady. Have some restraint. What does JingYuan want?" Ma scolded again with a hand covering the smirk on her face.