He rushed to the group before Mengyao could say anything more.
Wu Xiufang saw him off and returned to the dining room, finding Mengyao still sitting there in a daze.
She walked over and put an arm around Mengyao's shoulder, saying, "Yaoyao, don't overthink it. Since this matter has blown up so big, just marry Jiaxi. You have feelings for him, and your father and I always thought you two would go from dating to marriage smoothly. It's fate."
Mengyao hugged her tightly, her voice choked with tears, "Mom, but I feel like Jiaxi is different now. I'm afraid to marry, especially to him."
Wu Xiufang stroked her head and said, "He did go too far this time. But you're still hesitant about him now, and I think he wants to marry you as soon as possible to feel at ease. He still loves you. Besides, even if you get married, your father and I will still be your backing. If Jiaxi and his Hong family treat you badly, we won't let them get away with it."
Mengyao wondered if she truly had no other choice.
Wu Xiufang continued, "Don't be afraid. With your family background, marrying into the Hong family is like a princess marrying out. Just maintain your dignity and don't be too kind or lower your status. The kind are often bullied. In their Hong family, you need to show your bearing and spirit. Old Master Hong's other children are not easy to deal with."
"Mom, I still want to be by your and Dad's side. I don't want to get married."
"Don't say foolish things. You will eventually get married properly. We'll set your wedding date a bit later. Prepare yourself well and don't waver anymore; it's too hurtful. Be firm with Jiaxi, and he will treat you well."
"Mom, I understand." No matter how much helplessness she felt, she had no other choice.
Mengyao had breakfast with her mother and then went to the research institute as usual to submit her report.
She noticed that her colleagues' gazes towards her had completely changed. They all knew her background now, saying she was a low-key second-generation rich. Besides congratulating her, they all wanted to get acquainted with her.
Mengyao didn't explain anything, just smiled and dealt with her colleagues.
Fortunately, she could leave after submitting the report today. She didn't linger at the research institute but didn't want to go home either. She thought of finding a quiet place to sit by herself.
"Mengyao!" someone called her.
She saw her eldest sister, Mengqi, getting out of a bright red Maserati and waving at her.
Mengyao ran towards her and hugged her tightly, asking, "Big sister, what should I do?"
Mengqi was taken aback. Mengyao had never hugged her like this since they grew up, which made her feel sorry for Mengyao. She asked, "Jiaxi's proposal was so grand, and you're about to get married. Why aren't you happy? What's wrong?"
"Big sister, I don't want to get married yet," Mengyao said, her voice catching.
Mengqi, who had come to congratulate her, felt she was sad. She put her arm around Mengyao and helped her into the car, saying, "What's going on between you and Jiaxi? If there's anything, tell me slowly at my place."
Mengyao hummed. Holding so many things in her heart made her feel terrible, and she had no one to talk to.
Now that she saw her elder sister, she just wanted to confide in her.
Mengqi took her to her and Yao Feili's home and asked Mengyao to wait in the sky garden while she called a servant to prepare some tea and snacks.
It was Mengyao's first time visiting her elder sister's home in Lancheng. She was surprised by the novel and fashionable design of the villa. Each floor had a 270-degree panoramic balcony, the living room was designed as a sky garden, and the rooms were like pavilions in the sky.
The villa's layout broke the traditional villa design, refreshing and yet feeling warm and comfortable.
Mengyao sat in the sky garden, looking at the lawn outside, feeling refreshed and happy.
Mengqi walked over and smiled, asking, "We've been airing out the villa after the renovation, so we haven't invited you and Mom and Dad over yet. Next time, I'll have Feili invite a chef, and then we'll invite you all over for a family meal."
"Yes, big sister, you're truly happy. Your husband designed this place like this, prioritizing your preferences everywhere, right?" Mengyao said with great envy.
Mengqi hadn't thought that much about it; the renovation was handled by designers hired by Yao Feili.
After it was completed, she moved in and simply felt the design was very tasteful and she liked it very much, but she hadn't expected Yao Feili had designed it specifically for her.
"Really? I always thought this was your brother-in-law's preferred style too."
"Big sister, seeing you happy after marriage makes me happy for you too." As Mengyao spoke, she was uncertain about how her own marriage to Jiaxi would turn out, feeling lost.
Mengqi saw her expression dim again and asked, "Jiaxi formally proposed to you, why aren't you happy at all? Do you even want to marry him?"
Mengyao said dejectedly, "At first, I hadn't made up my mind, but now I don't want to marry him at all. He has become so... so calculating. He's forcing me to marry him, leaving me no way out."
"Explain it clearly. How did he force you? I'll help you analyze it," Mengqi asked.
At this moment, a servant brought tea and snacks.
Mengyao looked at her fingernails. After the servant left, she gritted her teeth and told Mengqi everything that had happened recently.
After listening, Mengqi was shocked and angry. She immediately pulled Mengyao up and said, "He'll resort to any means to get you. Such a person is too unscrupulous. I'll take you to confront him!"
"Big sister, I'm not going. I don't want to see him," Mengyao tugged at Mengqi, feeling that these matters couldn't be reasoned with him.
Mengqi felt that if these things weren't brought to light, how could Jiaxi's true colors be revealed? Was Mengyao really going to continue to wrong herself?
"Whether you want to see him or not, you have to. Don't be afraid. If Mom, Dad, and the Hong family knew about this, what face would they have to talk about your marriage with our family!"
"Sister, making a scene like this won't help. Mom and Dad said this morning that the fact I accepted Jiaxi's proposal is already known to everyone. I have to go through with this marriage; there's no turning back."
"Then they don't know Jiaxi's character now. If they did, perhaps they would help you..."
"I don't want anyone else to know about this," Mengyao pleaded. "Sister, I just want to confide in you. Please don't tell anyone, okay?"
Mengqi felt she was too weak. "You, don't be so foolish. I think Jiaxi is taking advantage of this very point..."
"He also loves me too much, afraid I'll run away again." Mengyao was afraid Mengqi's temper would cause a scene at the Hong family's place, and like the proposal incident, it would become known to everyone. How could she continue working at the research institute or stay in Lancheng?
Mengqi said indignantly, "He calls this love? This is clearly disrespecting you! If you marry him like this, he'll only become more excessive. It would be better if Song Jiaping loved you..."
She stopped herself immediately after saying that.
Song Jiaping had left without a trace, and mentioning him would only make Mengyao sadder.
Mengyao's eyes indeed lit up, and she asked, "Sister, how do you know Song Jiaping loves me? Did he say anything to you? If he loved me, why was he always distant, unwilling to get close to me, and unwilling to pay attention to me?"