Jiaxi's aunt finally quieted down, not daring to make another sound.
Mengyao felt as if she had been slapped in the face. Whatever she ate now tasted like ash. It seemed the infighting among Jiaxi's father's generation in the Hong family had already escalated into an unconcealed white-hot battle.
She thought it was probably because the old master was advanced in years, and the question of who would inherit the Hong family and hold power in the family had become extremely important.
After dinner, Mengyao, enduring her discomfort, still presented the gifts she had brought to everyone.
With the old master present and keeping things in check, no one dared to speak out of turn or stir up trouble.
Mengyao finally endured until everyone dispersed. She and Jiaxi returned to their room, and unable to hold back any longer, her eyes welled up with tears from her grievances.
Jiaxi quickly hugged her and said, "Don't pay attention to my aunt. She's always like this; she just speaks without thinking and offends people as soon as she opens her mouth. Her husband couldn't stand her, so they divorced. She's just a sharp-tongued old spinster now. You'll get used to her if you interact with her more in this house and won't take her words to heart."
Mengyao now realized that his aunt was divorced and asked, "Does your aunt live in this house too?"
"Yes, she divorced and isn't very capable herself, so she came back to rely on Grandpa. Grandpa pities her, so he took them in, mother and son. My cousin is also quite useless, but he wasn't home today, and who knows where he went off to play."
Mengyao felt less wronged. She realized that although they were childhood sweethearts, she had only occasionally visited the Hong family before and actually knew nothing about their family situation.
Jiaxi didn't hear her speak and thought she was still angry. He coaxed her, "Good wife, don't be angry anymore. From now on, just pretend that your uncle's family and your aunt's family are invisible in this house. Just ignore them."
"I understand now, but you never told me before."
"Sigh, every family has its troublesome matters. I've been used to this kind of infighting among relatives since I was little, and I've always ignored them. But if they provoke me, I won't be polite either."
Mengyao felt more assured and said, "I understand now. I know how to get along with them and won't cause you any trouble."
"Then you're not angry anymore?" Jiaxi said, pushing her onto the bed.
Mengyao pushed him away forcefully and said, "Stop messing around, I need to take a bath."
Jiaxi wouldn't let her go. Mengyao picked up a pillow and playfully hit him with it.
He caught the pillow she threw and knelt on the bed, saying, "Don't rush to take a bath, I still have something to say."
Mengyao also sat up and asked, "What is it?"
"Don't you want to know what the rules of our Hong family are? So you don't get caught by them again and have them twist things."
Mengyao was also curious and asked, "What are your family rules?"
"Come here, move a little closer, and I'll tell you one by one."
Mengyao leaned closer to him, but he directly kissed her to silence her.
She realized she had been tricked and immediately broke free, saying, "You lied..."
"What family rules? Don't listen to my aunt's nonsense. If there are any family rules, I am your family rule." Jiaxi smiled and kissed her again, this time more passionately.
Mengyao couldn't resist his advances and was pinned down on the bed again.
Jiaxi was already very familiar with her body and soon had her completely disarmed.
No matter how piercing his aunt's words were, Mengyao now belonged to him and could no longer escape his grasp.
...
The next day, Jiaxi went out due to urgent company matters.
Mengyao was still on her honeymoon and stayed alone in the room, sleeping to adjust to the time difference.
She was woken from her sleep by a knock on the door and sat up, saying, "Please come in."
Jiaxi's mother pushed the door open and walked in. Seeing her as if she had just woken up, she apologized, "Did I disturb your sleep? Then you sleep, I'll come find you later."
"Mom, don't go. I'm awake now, it's fine," Mengyao called out to her mother-in-law and asked, "Is there something you want to tell me?"
Jiaxi's mother nodded and said, "I'm really sorry about yesterday. Jiaxi's aunt is just like that, her mouth is very venomous."
"Jiaxi has already told me. Mom, don't worry, I'm fine now and won't argue with people like that," Mengyao said with a smile.
Jiaxi's mother breathed a sigh of relief, "That's good. By the way, when are you and Jiaxi planning to visit your parents' home? Your dad and I have prepared some gifts for your parents, so remember to take them."
"Mom, it's not necessary. Jiaxi and I have also bought gifts for my family..."
"What do you mean not necessary? You are you, and we are us. How can it be the same?" Jiaxi's mother smiled and tidied her hair.
Mengyao couldn't refuse further and said, "Alright then, thank you, Mom and Dad."
"We're all family now. By the way, if Jiaxi dares to bully you or treat you badly, just tell us. We'll help you teach him a lesson," Jiaxi's mother said with a serious expression.
Mengyao couldn't help but smile and nodded, "Mom, thank you for backing me up. He doesn't dare to bully me."
"Then you sleep some more and rest well," Jiaxi's mother said, not wanting to disturb her further. "I'll have the household staff bring the food to your room later."
Mengyao watched her mother-in-law leave and lay down again, thinking that although Jiaxi's uncle and aunt had ill intentions towards her, Jiaxi's father and the old master treated her very well. She had nothing to worry about, as Jiaxi's grandfather was still in charge of the household.
She rolled over, hugged a pillow, and fell asleep peacefully again.
...
Jiaxi's mother came out of their room and returned to her own. Jiaxi's father was also there.
Jiaxi's father put down his phone and asked, "How did it go? Did she complain to her parents?"
"I think she's fine. Jiaxi has already appeased her."
Jiaxi's father asked again, "What is she doing in her room?"
"Sleeping."
"She's still sleeping at this hour?" Jiaxi's father said with some displeasure. "She didn't even get up early to greet us. Sigh, although Min Ting's words yesterday were unpleasant, they were also true. Jiaxi has married a precious gem who needs to be pampered daily."
Jiaxi's mother was about to go to the kitchen to instruct the servants to bring food to Mengyao's room and didn't have time to listen to his complaints. She said, "Think about it, the Huangfu Group thinks of us for all the benefits they get. It's all because they want us to treat their daughter well. Of course, I have to do everything properly so the Huangfu family has no complaints."
Jiaxi's father nodded in agreement. After all, their family still relied on the Huangfu Group for many things, but he was also afraid that his son would suffer or be taken advantage of.
"You said Mengyao left with someone. What did she do with that man during those years she was away from Lancheng? She wouldn't have remained pure. In the end, Jiaxi is too simple-minded, and he's the one who lost out. I hope that Mengyao, after marrying into our family, will behave herself and not make Jiaxi sad again."