"I'm sorry, please excuse my manner." Sang Xiu said as she took in a deep breath to control her laugher.
Yang Jiu looked at Sang Xiu with a frown and asked "Did anyone say something funny."
Sang Xiu looked at Yang Jiu in confusion and asked "Weren't you and mother making a joke right now. I was even surprised that Yang Jia could make such jokes as well."
"Sang Xiu!" Grandma Yang shouted.
"Perhaps the money your son sends you monthly has made you to forget the social standing of the Yang family. Do you really think the Yangs has the right to arrange a marriage alliance with a family like the Fus or could it be that been invited to the same social gathering as them have made you to forget that the Fu family is out your league. Indeed, the Sang Family has a close relationship with them and Meiyi has developed a closer relationship with both grandpa Fu and Fu Mingze. Maybe I could go to them with a marriage alliance, but read my lips: it will never be for Yang Jia."
Grandma Yang scoffed and said "So you are finally showing your true colors, you have never seen Yang Jia has your true daughter."
"You are wrong mother, this isn't cinderella and I'm definitely not the evil stepmother. At the age of ten, my daughter announced her affection for Fu Mingze and even till now she still love him, what kind of mother will I be if I fix Yang Jia marriage to him?"
"Yang Meiyi is a child who doesn't know what she wants." Grandmother Yang spoke viciously.
"I know what I want." Yang Meiyi suddenly spoke out.
Grandma Yang glared at Yang Meiyi and said "Is this how you trained her? To speak when her elders are still talking."
Sang Xiu sighed deeply and said "I'm sorry if I didn't raise my daughter to your expectations but as long as i am a member of the Yang family, Yang Jia will never marry Fu Mingze."
"Then you no longer have to be a member of this family." Grandma Yang spoke out in anger.
"Enough!" Yang Jiu shouted. He looked at Sang Xiu and said "What has come over you to speak to mother like that and who are you to decide who my daughter marry or not."
"Your daughter has been in love with Gu Zhen for so many years and now that he is getting engaged to someone else, she is suddenly in love with Fu Mingze?" Sang Xiu asked and looked at Yang Jia "You asked me to show my sincerity as your mother right? That's exactly what I am doing, by ensuring you don't get yourself involved in a loveless marriage." She stood up from the dining table and looked at Meiyi as she asked "Aren't you full yet?"
Meiyi immediately stood up and followed her mother upstairs.
Old madam Yang slammed her spoon in anger and said to Yang Jiu "This is all your fault, the only reason that woman could speak to me in such manner is because you did not tame her. I hope you are now satisfied with her humiliating your mother." She stood up and left the dining table as well.
Now, it was only Yang Jiu and Yang Jia left in the dining table. The man looked at his daughter who haven't uttered a word and asked "What's going on in your mind?"
Yang Jia looked at her father with a smile and said "I'm just wondering, what kind of control does my stepmother have over the Yang family. For a moment, I thought you were the head, but now that I think about it, since childhood, you have always listened to Sang Xiu. Always done whatever she says, now that I am grown I think I understand. Even though you became a millionaire and bought the Yang family up, you will never lose the shackles the Sang Family has over you. What a shame!"
Yang Jia was about to stand up when she heard her father asking "Do you really want to marry Fu Mingze?"
Yang Jia was silent for a few seconds before saying "Yes." To her, she didn't really care whether Fu Mingze married her or not, she just didn't want Yang Meiyi to have him, she just wanted Yang Meiyi to be unhappy, just the way Sang Xiu ruined her mother's life, Yang Meiyi and her mother will never deserve any happiness in her eyes.
After, Yang Jia left, Yang Jiu sat on the dining table alone. His eyes were filled with anger as he remembered Sang Xiu behavior and he thought to himself that perhaps it was time to put an end to everything.
...
Days went by and the day for Suwei entrance exam finally came.
"Don't be scared or nervous. You have studied hard for this, I believe you can do this. Regardless of the result, Mommy will always be here for you, ok?"
Yang Meiyi nodded and kissed her mother cheek before going into the exam hall.
Yang Meiyi felt excited as she answered the questions because 95% of the questions were already taught to her by Fu Mingze, she felt so grateful for him teaching her and though the exam was one hour thirty minutes, within fifty minutes she was done.
Yang Meiyi came out of the exam hall excitedly and smiled more brightly when she saw Fu Mingze waiting for her, she immediately rushed to where he stood and hugged him tightly.
Fu Mingze chuckled when Yang Meiyi suddenly hugged him, he wrapped his arm around her and asked "Was the exam that easy?"
Yang Meiyi nodded her head and looked at him as she said "I could only do it because of you."
Fu Mingze smiled and said "Since you are very grateful, what do i get for tutoring you so well?"
Yang Meiyi held his waist with a smile as she said "I will agree to be your girlfriend."
Fu Mingze scoffed and said "I never asked you to be my girlfriend." He smiled when Yang Meiyi hid her face in his chest and said nothing. He slowly separated himself from her and said "The result will be announced within twenty four hours, does that make you nervous?"
"A little."
Fu Mingze patted her head as one would do a child and said "Regardless of what the result will be, always remember, you did good."
Yang Meiyi smiled and suddenly asked "Will you always be with me like this?"
Fu Mingze remove a strand of hair from her eyes as he replied "I see no reason why I wouldn't."
"Then promise me that nothing and no one will separate us." Yang Meiyi said.
Fu Mingze froze for a moment when he saw how serious she was, he wasn't a man who made promises to people, but he wanted to promise her this, so without removing his eyes from her gaze he said "I promise."
Yang Meiyi smiled and said "A promise should be sealed with a kiss, right?"
"Meiyi." Fu Mingze called out helplessly
"It doesn't have to be on the lips." Yang Meiyi quickly added.
Fu Mingze looked at the girl who was looking at him with a smile on her face, he slightly leaned down and gently pressed his lips to her forehead.
His lips lingered there for a moment before he pulled away and asked "Is our promise sealed?"
Yang Meiyi looked at him in surprise before replying "Yes, it is."