"It's not a big deal, really," Xia Qingtian said, tapping her fingers lightly on the table. She glanced at Erya, who had been secretly playing with Xia Shang's fingers under the table. "I mainly wanted to take advantage of everyone being here to discuss the marriage between Erya and my uncle, Xia Shang."
Hearing this, the people from the Miao and Tang families gasped.
Even Erya gasped and immediately cupped her burning red cheeks in her hands, her voice trembling slightly. "Qingtian! What are you talking about! Marriage or no marriage~ You didn't give me any warning!"
"If you don't want to marry my uncle, then consider me to have said nothing," Xia Qingtian replied.
"No, no, no! That won't do! You've already said it!" Erya immediately became anxious. "How can you just take it back!"
"Erya!" Tang Youxi looked at Erya with disappointment, as if she couldn't be salvaged. Couldn't this girl be more reserved and steady?
"How can that be!" Miao Tong was the first to object. His brother was the next head of the Miao family, so how could he marry someone from the Tang family! Especially this Tang Erya who always clashed with him!
Miao Tong's attitude instantly darkened the faces of the Tang family.
"Miao Tong, it's not like it's your wedding, what business is it of yours?" Xia Qingtian glared at Miao Tong, thinking this brat clearly hadn't been beaten enough. A few more rounds of punishment would make him behave.
"I..." Miao Tong's words were cut off by Mrs. Miao before he could finish.
"Miaosang, Mom wants to hear your thoughts," Mrs. Miao said, looking at Miaosang, the son she had finally recovered. Her eyes were full of tenderness.
Mrs. Miao's words drew everyone's attention to Miaosang.
Miaosang, who was already shy and introverted, now had a stiff expression and an ugly complexion, appearing restless and anxious.
"It's not like you're the only one she's willing to marry, why put on such a face!" Seeing Miaosang's expression, the Tang family became even more furious.
"No, you've misunderstood," Xia Qingtian quickly said. "My uncle's facial expression control isn't very good. Although his expression looks unpleasant now, he's actually just a little shy. He's really just shy. Look at his earlobes, they're red."
Everyone immediately looked at Miaosang's earlobes and indeed saw that his earlobes had become visibly redder.
"I..." Miaosang finally moved his lips. He looked increasingly flustered, his breathing deepening. "I... I don't want..."
Hearing these three words, the Tang family's faces fell. Erya's eyes even became misty.
Miao Tong secretly breathed a sigh of relief. If he had to call that Tang Erya sister-in-law, he'd rather be stabbed to death.
"I don't want..." Miaosang swallowed before continuing. "I don't want to be the family head... I, I want to go back to the Xia family, I want... I want to marry Erya..."
Hearing Miaosang say this, Erya, who had been on the verge of tears, was first stunned. Then, she immediately pounced forward, wrapped her arms around Miaosang's neck, and sat on his lap, nuzzling her head against his chin and acting spoiled. "You bad person! You scared me to death! I thought you didn't want to marry me anymore! You're something else! It's one thing that you never speak fluently, but at such a critical moment! Can't you stop gasping for breath when you speak! You scared me to death!"
"Erya, don't rub, it tickles," Miaosang said, tilting his head back, his brow furrowed slightly. His hands, however, still protectively circled Erya's waist, preventing her from slipping off due to her excessive movements.
What if she got hurt? That would be terrible.
Xia Shang's words and actions somewhat eased the expressions of the Tang family. It seemed he didn't dislike their Tang family's girl.
It appeared that this Miaosang wasn't a bad person, just someone with very poor expressive abilities and facial control.
He wasn't quite qualified to be the Hidden Master of the Tang family, but if Erya liked him very much, they could turn a blind eye.
"Brother! You! Can you reconsider!" Miao Tong was dumbfounded. He immediately said, "Tell me what kind of girl you like, and I'll introduce you! There are plenty of beautiful girls in the capital! You, you don't have to marry someone like that..."
Facing the death stares from the Tang family, Miao Tong dared not utter the word "monkey" and instead changed his words to, "The Tang family's Hidden Master who only loves freedom and is unconventional!"
"But..." Miaosang looked at Miao Tong. His usually cold and gloomy tone was rarely tinged with a hint of grievance. "But I only like Erya..."
Upon hearing Miaosang's sudden confession, Erya, who was nestled in Miaosang's arms and making faces at Miao Tong, froze. Her cheeks instantly turned red, the flush spreading to her neck.
Erya, uncharacteristically, moved away from Miaosang and hid behind Dayya, feeling as if she were being cooked.
Seeing the scene with the young couple, the elders of the Miao and Tang families couldn't say anything more and could only wear expressions of helplessness.
"Brother! You are the future head of the Miao family! You can't marry the Tang family's Hidden Master!" Miao Tong, unable to help himself, clung to this point.
"But I, I..." Miaosang's words were interrupted by Mrs. Miao.
"Miaosang, your brother is right. You are the next head of the Miao family, and you cannot marry the Tang family's Hidden Master." Mrs. Miao looked at Miaosang and asked, "Miaosang, are you willing to voluntarily give up your position as the next head of the Miao family for the Tang family's Hidden Master?"
Upon hearing Mrs. Miao's question, the Miao family members immediately looked at Miaosang with stern expressions. Even Erya peeked out from behind Dayya to look at Miaosang.
"Yes, I am willing." Miaosang never felt like he was someone who could lead a family. He was very uncomfortable facing crowds. In his life so far, his time at the Xia family was the happiest.
He wanted to return to City Z, to return to a normal life, to work, to code.
He didn't want to be any family head.
Moreover, he didn't want to be separated from Erya.
Although others found Erya noisy, he didn't think so. He liked Erya's noisiness.
They had grown up together. He was used to it, and he had liked her for a long time.
Hearing Miaosang's words, Erya felt enveloped by a feeling she had never experienced before. She wanted to pounce on Xia Shang and hug him, just like before, clinging to him.
But now she felt extremely flustered and uneasy. She was startled by the sound of her own heartbeat, and at the same time, it felt like fireworks were going off in her brain.
This feeling made Erya somewhat at a loss, even wanting to run away.
It seemed that just making eye contact with Xia Shang made her feel like she was going to die.
Damn it, was she poisoned?
Erya panicked inwardly and immediately tugged at Tang Youxi's sleeve, whispering, "Dayya, am I poisoned? I feel a little off! My heart is beating so fast! My body temperature is abnormal, and my brain is not right!"
Tang Youxi had intended to mock the Miao family's self-importance. Their Tang family hadn't even spoken yet, who gave them the right to be so sentimental?
But seeing Erya like this, Tang Youxi could only swallow her sarcastic words and say helplessly and lovingly, stroking Erya's head, "You're not poisoned, you've just fallen in love."
"Fallen... fallen in love..." Erya blinked, looking a little dazed. Hadn't she fallen in love with Xia Shang long ago?
Why now...
"Before, it was a child's play kind of liking, because you were familiar, or perhaps because you were used to it," Xia Qingtian said, looking at Erya. "It's only now that you've truly fallen in love."
"Is... is love such a complicated thing?" Erya cupped her face and blinked, looking lost.
Seeing her like this, everyone could only smile helplessly.