"Mei Yun, Xi Xi, I'm telling you this because I want you to understand that Xue Lan's personality has a reason behind it. It's something her father and I owe her.
If in the future you still face her sarcasm and ridicule in the Qin family, you don't need to consider my feelings. If you have to retort, just do it.
Let her know there's always someone better, and that her arrogant and overbearing nature needs to change."
Hearing Xu Zhilan's final words, Mei Yun turned to exchange a look with Shen Xi, feeling a pang of sympathy for her.
It was unfortunate for a woman of Xu Zhilan's intelligence and cultivation to have raised such a daughter.
Qin Xiuyi drove, his eyes fixed on the road ahead, remaining silent.
Upon returning to Villa No. 1 in Hua Ban Li, Shen Xi and Mei Yun helped Xu Zhilan settle in before they left.
Qin Xiuyi offered to drive Mei Yun back, but Mei Yun asked him to stay and take care of Xu Zhilan, saying she would take a taxi back later.
Walking out the door, the two linked arms and headed towards Villa No. 3.
"Auntie, why did you come back so suddenly? You didn't even let me know in advance?" Shen Xi glanced at her, a smile forced onto her face.
"Didn't I want to give you a surprise? I thought I'd run into you at the Qin family's today, but who knew your relationship with Si Ye was progressing so slowly?" Mei Yun patted her hand, a hint of reproach evident in her eyes.
Shen Xi knew her aunt was in a bad mood today and didn't want to bring up that matter herself, so she deliberately shifted the topic back to her and Qin Xiuyi.
"Then it seems your relationship with Uncle Qin is progressing by leaps and bounds! He's already decided you're his future wife. Come on, tell me, what has he been doing these past few days, and how did he win you over?"
At this point, they had reached the entrance of Villa No. 2. Seeing no one around, they stopped.
"Oh, it's nothing really. We just went on a trip together, talked everything through, and it happened naturally." Mei Yun said calmly.
She and Qin Xiuyi were already kindred spirits, and being at their age, they had been through a lot.
When people their age dated, they were usually very direct, without so many twists and turns.
"Auntie, have you really thought it through? Do you want to spend the rest of your life with Qin Xiuyi?" Shen Xi, however, held her aunt's hand and asked very seriously.
Mei Yun had experienced a failed marriage and was deeply hurt by it.
For years, she had resisted entering into another relationship. Shen Xi felt it was necessary to ask since marriage was suddenly being discussed.
"It's not that fast. We're just officially dating. The reason Qin Xiuyi said that today was to save face for me in front of his sister."
They had only known each other for a few months, so how could they be talking about marriage so soon?
Besides, that man hadn't proposed to her yet.
Mei Yun paused for a moment, looked at the river shimmering in the setting sun ahead, and continued,
"However, Qin Xiuyi is really my type. He embodies many of my ideal qualities in a man. But the prerequisite is that you and Si Ye also end up together. Otherwise, I don't think I can be with him."
"Auntie, how can you think like that? Why should your fate be tied to ours?" Shen Xi's heart skipped a beat at her words. "My situation with Qin Si Ye is very complicated and may not be easily resolved.
I really don't want our situation to affect your relationship with Uncle Qin."
Mei Yun pulled her hand and said, "Xi Xi, what's so difficult to resolve? It's just about the three children. I see Qin Si Ye's attitude is very firm, it's just his father..."
Sighing softly, Mei Yun then recounted what had happened at the birthday banquet that day to Shen Xi.
"He really argued with his father for me and the children?" Shen Xi, although she had thought they had quarreled, was still shocked to hear about such an intense scene firsthand.
"Yes. The last thing he said, 'I won't marry anyone but you,' completely angered his father into a fainting spell." Mei Yun patted her hand. "Si Ye performed exceptionally well today. I didn't misjudge him.
You have to remember, there were many people from the Qin family and his friends at the birthday banquet.
For him to say such firm words in front of so many people shows how important you and the three children are to him.
And it seems like he had already made up his mind..."
Mei Yun continued to chatter about what had happened during lunch and her opinions.
But Shen Xi's thoughts had drifted far away, and she was no longer listening.