Chapter 486 - 484: The Child is Gone
At the doorstep of their home, Xue Yuanxia refused to go inside. She plopped down on the ground, her voice sharp and loud.
"I raised Xiao Yang myself from the time he was in diapers! Now that he’s successful and getting engaged, he isn’t even inviting his only aunt? If this gets out, won’t people curse them behind their backs?"
Yang Xiaozhi was drawn out by her voice. Seeing his mother at the entrance acting like a common shrew, he simply couldn’t bear to look.
"Mom, please stop yelling. My uncle and his family can’t hear you, but all the neighbors can. Do you really want to make a spectacle of yourself for them to laugh at?"
Xue Yuanxia paused for a moment, then went back to slapping her thighs and wailing, "Then what am I supposed to do? Should I really not go? How will that make me look to others?"
She had already boasted to everyone that she was going to the big city for her nephew’s engagement ceremony, even mocking others who had never had the chance to visit one. Now that she had offended everyone and couldn’t go, she was too ashamed to face them.
"Are you only now worried about how others see you? When our cousin moved into his new house, did you ever stop to think how people would see him after the things you said?" Yang Xiaozhi demanded. "And now you’re sitting here wailing at our doorway, just smearing his family’s reputation! If things go badly for them, how does that help us? Do you want me to go back to working at the factory?"
His rapid-fire questions left Xue Yuanxia speechless. She didn’t know how to respond.
"I was just..."
"Don’t say you were doing it for others’ good. If you really cared, you’d learn to keep your mouth shut. Don’t you understand that trouble comes from a loose tongue? In the old days, a relentless, sharp tongue like yours would have been dunked in a pig cage many times over."
With that, Yang Xiaozhi ignored her and left for work.
Chen Fang stood at the door and watched her husband leave, then leaned against the doorframe as she went inside. Her baby bump was already showing. For some time, she had been resting at home, cooking for the family at mealtimes. She tried her best to let Xue Yuanxia’s unpleasant words go in one ear and out the other. But even when she swallowed her anger, her mother-in-law still found ways to make her miserable.
Today was a perfect example. Having been slighted outside, Xue Yuanxia came home to take it out on her daughter-in-law. She might hold her tongue with others, but surely she could scold her own daughter-in-law? Little did she know that this time, her words would lead to disaster.
"Mom, it’s not like I’m the one keeping you from going to Yancheng, so why are you pointing your finger and scolding me?"
Hearing Chen Fang dare to talk back, Xue Yuanxia pointed a finger at her, fuming, "What? I can’t even scold you now?"
Constant scolding would make anyone snap, and Chen Fang decided not to remain silent anymore. "My parents hardly ever scolded me, but ever since I joined your family, you’ve scolded me without reason. Even if you don’t like me, the baby in my belly is still your grandchild, isn’t it?"
"Oh, so now you’re using the child in your belly to threaten me? If you give birth to a son, I suppose you’ll think you can walk all over this house! Let me tell you, Chen Fang, Xiao Zhi came from *my* belly. *We* are the real family. You just stay as far away from me as possible."
As she spoke, she shoved Chen Fang.
Chen Fang’s expression changed drastically. She clutched her stomach, and within seconds, her face turned deathly white.
"Mom, my stomach hurts."
"I’m telling you, stop playing dead. I only pushed you lightly; you didn’t even fall. How could that do anything? Back when I was pregnant with Xiao Zhi, I fell while working in the fields and just got right back up and kept on working without any problem."
Without another glance at Chen Fang, she went into her room to sleep.
***
Xue Yang listened as Mrs. Zhong recounted the whole story. He couldn’t help but feel that his aunt was simply too much trouble. It was precisely because she was so dramatic that he had been adamant about not letting her attend the engagement dinner. Now, it seemed his decision had been absolutely correct. He decided he wouldn’t invite her to his wedding in the future, either.
"By the way, we’ve been talking for so long, but why haven’t I seen Xiao Xi? Where is she?"
"She went home. We’ll see each other again at the engagement."
Zhong Hailan nodded. While the arrangement was fine, she hesitated. "Mom and Dad couldn’t help with anything. You don’t blame us for that, do you?"
For something as big as their son’s engagement, they felt like mere bystanders. They wanted to help but didn’t even know where to begin.
"Mom, what are you talking about? How could I possibly blame you? I couldn’t love you more."
His parents were ordinary, but they respected him deeply and supported him in everything he did. Just for that, they were already better than ninety percent of parents. What more could he ask for? Xue Yang was actually very easy to please.
"Oh, my good son." As she spoke, Zhong Hailan’s eyes reddened. She remembered when her son was just a tiny thing in her arms, like a little mouse. In the blink of an eye, he was all grown up and about to be engaged.
***
The next day, Xue Xing woke up close to noon.
Looking at the luxurious surroundings, his brain blanked for a moment.
That’s right, I came to Yancheng last night. This is my brother’s villa. He’s not home; it’s just me and Sister Si Wen. I already finished all my homework last night.
Well, except for the worksheets Sister Si Wen gave me.
Those aren’t urgent. I can do them when I get back.
He threw back the covers, got out of bed, and walked out onto the room’s balcony. Breathing in the fresh air, he stretched lazily.
Then he saw the swimming pool. Located in the center of the garden, it was built from white marble and was the perfect size—not too large, yet not too small. Several tall palm trees and clusters of light-blue flowers dotted its perimeter. A circular fountain sat in the middle of the pool, its surging water creating a small whirlpool. Sunlight filtered through the overhead sunshades, making the entire surface glisten. The water was so incredibly clear, it looked as if his reflection was shimmering on the pool’s floor.
Xue Xing’s mouth formed a perfect O. There’s even a private swimming pool!
This kind of life... I wouldn’t even dare to dream of it. My brother is incredible. If only I were half as good as him, Xue Xing thought, sighing to himself. But that’s just a fantasy. He was well aware of the gap between him and his brother; he could never be half as amazing in this lifetime. Despite a small pang of disappointment, he was still incredibly happy to have such an amazing brother.
After freshening up, Xue Xing opened his door and stepped out.
I wonder if Sister Si Wen is up yet.
However, he didn’t see Si Wen. Instead, he ran into his brother, Xue Yang.
The two brothers were somewhat stunned to see each other.
"Bro~" Xue Xing said, a wave of guilt washing over him.
"When did you get here?" Xue Yang asked, clearly surprised.
"Just... last night..."
"Are you staying in the villa by yourself?"
"No, Sister Si Wen is here too..."