And it was this attitude of hers that really didn't settle well with Mrs. Yi who believed that as a daughter-in-law, Nan Xing was not only supposed to lower her head in front of her but she had to do everything to please her. After all, which daughter-in-law didn't please her mother-in-law? How could a daughter-in-law ride on mother-in-law's head?
If it was in Mrs. Yi's hands she did not wish to make Nan Xing her daughter-in-law. She had never liked her much but since the time she came back from abroad, Mrs. Yi disliked Nan Xing even more and grew displeased with her, finding faults everywhere. Whenever she attended a party, a dinner, or a simple gathering, someone would mention her prospective daughter-in-law Nan Xing, and tell her how they envied her for having such a capable daughter-in-law.
However, it was exactly this that made Mrs. Yi dissatisfied. Her eldest son, Yi Jingyan had been her pride for years and she was used to everyone praising him in front of her. But now, it was Nan Xing whose name people spoke and seemed to have forgotten Yi Jingyan. She hated the fact that Nan Xing had a more outstanding presence than her pride, her son!
"I have told you before and I'm saying it again, I don't like you working. What's the use of working? You're about to become the eldest daughter-in-law of the Yi family. You'd have to take the responsibilities that come with this status. You can't be a hands-off shopkeeper."
Nan Xing raised her eyes to look at Mrs. Yi and seeing the dark look in her eyes, Mrs. Yi felt her heart shudder for a moment. But she didn't want to lose her momentum and let Nan Xing know that she was scared of her a little.
"Go! Go and help Xiao Qiu with the dinner. Don't just stand there," Mrs. Yi hurriedly waved her hand to let her leave. She did not wish to continue. She always tried to keep her prestige as the mother-in-law but would also get scared of a girl who was half her age!
"Yes, Auntie!" replied Nan Xing keeping her manners as impeccable as ever. Honestly speaking, Nan Xing never tried to show off in front of her mother-in-law. She was a woman with manners that one could hardly find faults with. It was never her intention to scare her mother-in-law but she could also understand why Mrs. Yi would get so easily scared of her.
Seeing that, Nan Xing was about to come out, Yi Qin ran away to hide. He didn't think it was a good idea to let Nan Xing know that he was eavesdropping and heard how his mother was trying to discipline her.
Nan Xing came out of Mrs. Yi's bedroom and closed the door politely. She stood there looking at the closed door with who knows what on her mind before she rubbed her tired neck and turned to leave. Passing through a corner, she stopped and said, "It's not the first time you eavesdropped, what are you feeling ashamed about?"
Yi Qin froze when he heard her words.
"If you don't want me to find you, do a better job at hiding," with those words, he strode away without waiting for a response from him.
Nan Xing went straight to the kitchen and greeted the house help. She was about to take off her watch when Auntie Zhang stopped her, "If you're here to help me, then you better not. How can I let you work?"
Nan Xing smiled sincerely at the woman who was in her early forties and said, "I am already here. Besides, I don't mind helping you, Auntie Zhang."
"But I mind," replied Auntie Zhang to her. "Those hands are meant to do big things. These trivialities of the kitchen don't suit you." She came over wiping her wet hands on the apron and touched Nan Xing's soft hands, "Look, you have such beautiful hands. I really can't bear to let you work with me in the kitchen. Don't think about your mother-in-law. Sister Zhu is just a little bit old-fashioned. Miss Nan just has to know that her opinions won't change anything. You are meant to dazzle and Sister Zhu will eventually accept that fact too."
Nan Xing continued to smile at Auntie Zhang but didn't respond. She really wanted to tell this kind-hearted woman that she had a very wrong opinion of her Sister Zhu. No matter what happens, Mrs. Yi would never like her and would never be able to accept that she shines brighter than her son.
Since Auntie Zhang didn't let her help, Nan Xing could only stand aside and watch her work or occasionally answer her questions. When Grandpa Yi woke up, she went to sit with him. In the Yi family, she liked this old man very much. So, she was willing to chat with him and even play chess with him leisurely.
Mr. Yi and Yi Jingyan came back at half past 5. Only after they came did, everyone gather at the dining table to have dinner. Because of Grandpa Yi's arrangement, Nan Xing sat with Yi Jingyan as always.
Looking at the table full of his favorite food, Yi Qin was excited to eat and moved his chopsticks but even before he could clip a piece of beef, he heard his father's voice, "I heard someone saw you at the hospital. What did you do this time?"
Yi Qin looked up at Nan Xing who was sitting opposite him and glared at her with accusation in his eyes. Nan Xing met his eyes with her clear eyes.
"Why aren't you talking?" asked Mr. Yi.
Yi Qin sat up straight and replied, "Dad, I didn't do anything. A friend of mine is sick and my friend's family is abroad these days. No one is here to take care of her. I'm just being a good friend."
Mr. Yi gave him a suspicious look but stopped asking when Mrs. Yi placed her hand on his to placate him. Mr. Yi didn't continue to ask about it but changed the topic, "When are you gonna join your brother's company?" Yi Qin lowered his head and stayed silent which irked Mr. Yi and his voice raised again, "You don't want to join the family business, I didn't say anything. Your brother offered you to come and help him with his company but you are also running from that? You're getting an excellent job offer after graduation but you refused that too. What exactly do you want to do?"
"I..." Yi Qin opened his mouth and hesitated. It took him a while to say, "I already told you what I want to do."
"And I also already told you that you can forget about those outlandish ideas of yours! I will never agree!"
Yi Qin pursed his lips and looked like he was holding back a lot of his emotions. He wanted to fight for his ideas and dreams but he also knew it was all pointless. He had this argument before he went to college too. What was the result? He had to choose the university and major of his father's choice because as the youngest, he had no rights of his own to decide anything for himself.
"Enough!" said Grandpa Yi. "This is the dining table. We have gathered here for dinner. I don't want to hear anything else here. Eat!"
Yi Qin had already lost his appetite. Even seeing his favorite food didn't excite him at all. He barely moved his chopsticks and looked rather down. This is why he didn't want to come back home. Yes, he wasn't like his elder brother. Yes, he was rebellious! But so what? Who even cared here? They all just wanted to force him to become what he was not.
He really felt wronged right now and his lips puckered up like a child too.
Seeing his expression, Nan Xing's lips curled up imperceptibly. She had to say, Yi Qin was the most amusing person in the Yi family and sometimes, it was even hard to tell that he was from this family. Even when he stood with his parents, he didn't look like their son. Yi Qin looked more like his grandmother, with his peach blossom eyes that seemed to be able to enchant anyone.
But this guy was actually a bit pitiful to Nan Xing too. Poor guy had no right to voice his opinions and was always being controlled by everyone. Even his own brother didn't seem to support him at all. Even if she pitied him, she wouldn't voice her opinions on the matters of the Yi family.
After the meal, Nan Xing went to the kitchen, seeing Auntie Zhang packing a lunchbox, she asked her about it. Knowing that it was something Yi Qin asked for his friend, Nan Xing said, "You should pack some of his favorite things. He didn't eat at dinner. Maybe he'd have an appetite if he ate with a friend."
Auntie Zhang sighed when she heard it, "My poor Gungun is having it tough these days. He doesn't even like coming home because of this."
Nan Xing almost laughed hearing Yi Qin's nickname that no one has used in a long time and said, "Auntie, be careful. Don't call him Gungun or he is gonna start crying again."
Auntie Zhang also smiled at that, "The one who loves to make him cry is you. You have no idea how many times my poor Gungun has cried behind closed doors because of you."