Muchuan and Xiang Wan

Xiang Wan’s mom was the second child; she had an elder sister and a younger sister.

Starting from the eldest sister, their names were respectively, Tan Xichun, Tan Yunchun, and Tan Yuechun, which were rather poetic as these names were rather similar to characters in a famous China literature classic—”Dream of the Red Chamber”.

When she was young and read “Dream of the Red Chamber” for the first time, Xiang Wan always thought that her maternal grandfather was a fan of that book. Later on, she learned that he could hardly recognize any Chinese characters. At most, he watched the TV series of “Dream of the Red Chamber”.

Amongst the three sisters, her youngest aunt was no doubt the most outstanding of them all.

She graduated from a top university in the capital, married a rich husband, had her own career, and lived in a different world from her two sisters.

Usually, Xiang Wan and Fang Yuanyuan were often taken care of by their youngest aunt financially. Therefore, she had a say in their family that they would usually try not to go against her wishes.

The economic foundation would determine the superstructure. Such a thing couldn’t be helped.

…

The next day was the weekend.

Xiang Wan and Fang Yuanyuan slept in together till after 10 o’clock when Xiang Wan’s eldest aunt woke them up.

After washing, eating, and dressing up, the four of them got into a car to go to their destination.

Their youngest aunt stayed at the west of the city, where she lived in an upscale neighborhood in an expensive villa—a world of difference under the same sky.

Ever since Xiang Wan began writing her novels, she stayed at home more than she used to, and hardly ever stepped out of her place, let alone visit her youngest aunt.

The car drove into a courtyard, and they could hear merry laughter coming from inside the house.

Xiang Wan furrowed her eyebrows.

She heard the voice of her youngest aunt’s daughter, her other cousin—Xing Feifei’s voice.

The young girl was 19 years old, like a pretty flower bud. She was doted upon by her family like a precious treasure. Even when she had a baby brother later on, that did not affect her position in the family as the “little princess”.

However, both Xiang Wan and Fang Yuanyuan were not on good terms with this young cousin.

Unless there was something that everyone needed to gather together, they hardly made contact with this cousin of theirs.

They did not have anything against each other. It was more of when they get together, they have nothing to talk about.

The reason being, they were of different social backgrounds.

Their youngest aunt and their mothers were sisters. When they were kids, they ate from the same pot and slept on the same bed. Even when their youngest aunt became successful in life, she did not forget about her parents as well as her sisters, and she also did not forget to give her sisters a bowl of soup whenever she ate meat.

But Xing Feifei was different.

She was born with a silver spoon. She grew up in a different environment from her two other cousins, and she was unable to build a relationship with them.

Their youngest aunt heard the sounds of the car and came out to receive them with a smile.

“Ah, finally here! We’re all waiting for you to start the meal,” said their youngest aunt. “Come on inside, don’t dilly dally!”

Xiang Wan and Fang Yuanyuan greeted their youngest aunt. Eldest aunt and uncle laughed and explained they were caught in a traffic jam.

“Traffic jam? It must be these two that refused to get out of bed.”

“Hahaha, it’s the weekend after all. Just let them sleep more, they’re also tired from working.”

“Both of you have been indulging them! Which promising youngster sleeps in every day?”

“Have you both heard your youngest aunt’s words? You two should be more hardworking…”

The group talked and laughed while walking into the house. Xiang Wan pursed her lips slightly when she saw her mom.

On the living room sofa, her youngest uncle was chatting with a man. Her cousin, Xing Feifei, was also conversing with them joyfully. Xiang Wan’s mom was wearing an apron and was feeding water to youngest aunt’s three-year-old son, Tiantian.

Yes, Xiang Wan’s mom was helping to take care of her three-year-old cousin.

To be exact, her mom was the nanny of youngest aunt’s family.

She had persuaded her mom before that it was perfectly fine to help out youngest aunt, but if they were to enter an employment relationship, the nature of their sisterly relationship might undergo changes, and both parties might become sensitive. Nevertheless, her mom refused to listen. Reason being, her youngest aunt offered a salary that even the market rate could not be compared with…

“Everyone’s here? Quick, come in and take a seat!”

Their youngest uncle greeted them while remaining seated on the sofa.

The man whose back was facing them turned around at that moment.

Xiang Wan took a glance and her heart skipped a beat.

It was Cheng Zheng.

…

Xiang Wan’s ears felt a little hot.

Such a miserable life… she was actually meeting him again?

…

She had thought that her youngest aunt would have changed another matchmaking candidate. She didn’t expect that… it was still him.

Just how much does youngest aunt like him? That she’s trying so hard to pair me with him.

“This child, why are you in a trance? Come give me a hand?” Xiang Wan’s mom beckoned at her and was busy cleaning up the water dripping from Tiantian’s bib. She was a little cross at her for being ignorant. “Didn’t you see your youngest uncle and Captain Cheng?!”

Then she got worried that others might be unhappy, so she quickly explained on behalf of Xiang Wan with an awkward smiling face.

“My daughter is born timid and reserved, and she’s also a little shy. Please don’t mind that, Captain Cheng!”

After she said this…

Xiang Wan’s ears were burning.

Since when was she timid and reserved?

Why were all mothers the same? Even if they knew that in their heart their daughter was fine, they would criticize them and be modest in the presence of outsiders.

Of course, her mother was not being modest here as she really did not think well of her daughter.

Xiang Wan felt her scalp going numb as she tried to squeeze out a smiling face.

“Good afternoon youngest uncle, Captain Cheng.”

“Teacher Xiang, good to see you again.” Cheng Zheng nodded his head politely at Xiang Wan.

Under the bright lights of the living room, Xiang Wan could make out very clearly the indifference deep within his eyes.

It was evident that he didn’t have much enthusiasm to meet her again.

That could also mean, in this “forced” matchmaking session, he could also be a “victim”, and he might have been reluctant to come as well.

Xiang Wan smiled at him awkwardly and went to help her mom clean up the mess that her toddler cousin spilled on the floor without saying another word.

As all of them came into the house, the living room got livelier.

Xiang Wan’s mom left the toddler with Xiang Wan and went to the kitchen to lay out the table for lunch.

Fang Yuanyuan’s family of three sat on the sofa. She greeted the youngest uncle and said a few lines. They hardly had any “common topic”, so she just sat down to drink her tea and listened to the others talking.

Xing Feifei’s happy, sweet voice filled the room, behaving as the main host.

She was sitting beside Cheng Zheng, her innocent little face glowing with excitement. Obviously, she was exceptionally curious about Cheng Zheng’s work and life.

“Brother Cheng, I’ve been to Baltimore. I’ve been to the university that you went to. Ah yes, Johns Hopkins University. I went inside there before and took pictures as mementos. I also want to study abroad, but my parents won’t let me. What’s not safe about it? There’re so many overseas students that live well in foreign countries as well…”

Cheng Zheng smiled.

“Although I’ve been to so many cities, I only like Maryland, especially Baltimore. When I oversee the sun setting by the sea, where the waves turn golden, while sitting on a beach chair under a parasol, looking at the sunset by the coastline, I feel like life is full of wonders…”

How poetic!

This put Xiang Wan, who wrote novels for a living, to shame.

“Yuanyuan, help me carry Tiantian, I’ll help my mom lay the table…”

Xiang Wan’s ears could not take it anymore. She passed her little toddler cousin to Fang Yuanyuan and wanted to go to the kitchen.

However, she was playing with her little cousin and had squatted for too long. When she got up, the edge of her clothes swiped the teacups on the coffee table.

Clang! The cups fell, and tea splashed all over the place. That loud sound also disrupted Xing Feifei’s delightful travel memories…

She looked over, wearing a rather unkind gaze.

Everyone in the room looked over, and the living room suddenly became quiet.

Xiang Wan felt the word “orz” written on her forehead.

“I’m sorry!”

She said softly, lowering her head and picking up the pieces of glass.

Xiang Wan’s mother happened to come over to get everyone to eat. “Oh dear!” When she saw this, she quickly came over to help clear up the mess and chided Xiang Wan in a low voice.

“You’re now an adult and yet still so careless and impetuous. How are you going to get married like this?!”

Xiang Wan was embarrassed. She lowered her head and didn’t utter a word.

Those beside them were saying it was alright, and were asking their “honored guest” to proceed to the dining table. Xing Feifei, on the other hand, was feeling exasperated as Xiang Wan had interrupted her. When she walked past Xiang Wan, she intentionally stepped on the hand that was picking up the pieces of glass…

“Tsk!”

The glass penetrated inside the flesh, causing a sharp and piercing pain.

Xiang Wan let out a scream. Xing Feifei had jumped away quickly and moved far away from her, looking shocked.

“Ah! I’m sorry, I’m sorry, cousin, I didn’t mean it…”

…