It's okay

On the way home, Qing Mian kept thinking about what happened earlier.

Her pale fingers gently pressed against her chest. She was usually expressionless, but now, she had a look of confusion. Her body had been feeling fine since the afternoon when she was at school.

However, the thought of what she felt earlier was still surprising and blood rushed over cheek.

Her heart was beating so fast... Why is this happening?

Even when she arrived at home, she still could not make sense out of it. Just as she was absent-mindedly heading upstairs, she heard Qing Qin surprised voice coming from behind. "Brother Yin, Brother Lu!"

She paused in her footsteps and realized that there were guests at home.

Qing Qin smiled as she sat on the sofa in the living room while Ding Xian sat beside her. Opposite the two people were two handsome men. The man smiled at Qing Qin before turning to look at Qing Mian. After sizing her up from head to toe, he pouted and made a flippant remark. "This is Mian? She looks quite cute..."

Qing Qin was stunned, and before she could reply, Ding Xian harrumphed. "That's right, she grew up in the orphanage since she was young and has had no upbringing. She doesn't even know how to greet people and is slow-witted. She is unlike our family's Qinqin who has been sensible and hardworking since she was a child."

"..."

Instantly, Qing Mian shut her mouth.

Qing Qin , on the other hand, smiled sweetly before running to sit between the two guys. She acted cutesy and hugged their hands before fawning on and asking, "Brother Yin, Brother Lu, what brings you guys here?"

The two immediately turned awkward and remained silent.

Instead, Ding Xian said casually, "They're here to discuss the marriage arrangement between the two families! You're turning 18 years old soon, and once your birthday is over, I'll let you and the Lu family's boy..."

"Jing Xian" Qin suddenly cut her off. "This marriage arrangement is too early, you can't do this!"

Ding Xian drooped her eyelids and said sternly, "The Lu family and ours are best friends. We'd set this marriage arrangement back then to ensure that both families can work together and get closer. If you insist on delaying it, aren't you interfering into what doesn't concern you and won't that enstranger both families? We won't become united but will breed enmity then!"

Qin stood up all of a sudden and shouted with grievances, "Why will we be breeding enmity if you delay the engagement and didn't agree on marrying the first child into the Lu family?"

She was upset that the daughter whom she'd recovered painstakingly was detested by others.

Ding Xian, however, did not think she went overboard. "Since you're asking, let me put it across clearly. We all know how outstanding Lu Rui is. He has always been the best at everything and has a promising future. But what about your daughter? How can a dimwit like her be worthy of Lu Rui? Do they have a common language?

"Will she be able to answer when Lu Rui discusses academic matters with her? When Lu Rui attends banquets, can she dance? Does she know how to play the piano? She knows nothing at all! If they get together, they will be the butt of jokes!

"But our Qingqin has always been excellent. Qinqin and Lu Rui being together will be a perfect match."

Qin could no longer argue. She tried to open her mouth, but before she could say anything, this Din Xian left her with no chance. She turned to look at Qing Mian. "Mianmian, what do you think?"

When the question was asked, everyone in the living room turned to look at her.

Looking at them sizing her up, feeling conceited or being worried, Qing Mian furrowed her brows.

Although she'd been back for only three days, she understood the situation of this family well.

A jealous stepmother, a powerless yet sincere mother, that evil younger stepsis, and the two guys staring at her with a scared expression...Is she scary?

As for that Lu Rui, she can never have anything with him ever again and he was nothing as outstanding as they said. Just his looks alone were way inferior compared to that of the man earlier.

A look of impatience flashed across her beautiful eyes and she said slowly, "Leave it like this."

After saying that, she looked away aloofly and headed upstairs, leaving them staring at each other speechlessly in the living room.

Why does her attitude make it seem as though she couldn't care less about Lu Rui?

Qing Qin frowned and was slightly upset deep down.

After a while, Ding Xian laughed and said, "Since she knows her own place, this matter is set! Let's discuss the children's engagement."

The atmosphere lightened up instantly.

It was unsuitable for Qing Qin to stay on, so she stood up. "Please continue to chat. Cousin probably didn't do too well in her papers today as she handed them in early. I'll go see if she needs help."

Before heading upstairs shyly, she did not forget to tell tales about Qing Mian.

Qin gritted her teeth and shot a glance at the boys. Indeed, there was a look of surprise in the latter's eyes. She quickly explained, "The orphanage has only nine years of mandatory education and Mianmian hasn't attended high school. It's normal if she doesn't know things. I'm thinking of getting her a home tutor..."

Ding Xian sneered and cut her off. "Is there any use in hiring a home tutor? I think that's just a waste of money and you should just spend it on getting Qinqin and Ziqi more clothes... Our Qing family's children are all very intelligent. This child is so slow-witted, and coupled with your family's genes, she might even become retarded in the future!"

Qin's face turned crimson red from the embarrassment.

She balled up her fists as anger flashed across her eyes.

Her family... Her father was originally a businessman, but he suddenly had an accident a few years back and lost part of his memory. Ever since then, Ding Xian, who is not fond of her to begin with, keeps being sarcastic to her.

Now that she is cursing my daughter...

She jumped out of her seat. "B*tch, it doesn't matter what you say about me, but you can't speak of Mianmian like this!"

Pak!

Ding Xian gave Qin a tight slap and interrupted her. "You're revolting now! How dare you call me a bitch in front of outsiders! We're going to discuss Qinqin's marriage now and it's none of your business. Go meet your adopted daughter"

Qin's face burned as she looked at the Ding Xian in disbelief.

Momentarily, she covered her face and ran upstairs.

...

Qing Mian went straight to her room and threw her school bag on the desk in a slipshod manner and lay on the bed. With her hands behind her head, she stared blankly at the purple curtains moving with the wind.

 Perhaps because she grew up in an orphanage, she'd had no wild ambitions ever since she was young.

Her only hobby was studying, acting and singing.

She had a terrifying love for knowledge and acting as though it had become a disease. However, all that she came across usually were too simple, and only advanced art schools had more profound knowledge.

Therefore, her goal was to get into the best art university.

Yet she still had to wait for another year.

Just as she was deep in her thoughts, she heard the commotion downstairs.

Realizing that her mother was still downstairs, she stood up and opened the door. It so happened that she saw Qin heading up.

Qin paused in her footsteps and instinctively turned her head away. She did not want her daughter to see her like this. However, when she walked past Mianmian, the latter grabbed her hand. Her eyes looked sharp and her voice was icy. "What's wrong with your face?"