"It's a good thing Yin'er will be here soon. Yaoyao can discuss this matter with him," said Yuan Xin. "But if you ask me, I hope you won't have to marry someone who lives far away, too."
Startled, Hexin clung to her arm and muttered, "You're thinking too far ahead, Mother. I'm only thirteen—there are two more years until I come of age. Isn't it too early to be talking about this?"
"Two years will pass very soon." Yuan Xin stroked her hair, smiling. "It'll be too late if we wait until then to talk about this."
"I'm not marrying anyone. I'm going to stay with you forever and take care of you and Father," Hexin vowed solemnly.
Yuan Xin could not help laughing at the girl's naive words. "All girls need to marry, silly goose. If you don't, you'll become an old maid."
"I'll be an old maid, then." Hexin wrinkled her nose indifferently. "As long as you and Father don't get tired of me."
