Chapter 297: Going All In

Later on, Jiang Muye and Xia Xiran didn't have much contact.

As a top student, she was always the "other people's child" in everyone's mouths.

She smoothly got into the excellent West City University, though only later did she discover that Jiang Muye had actually gotten into the same university as her, and had been secretly crushing on her for a long time.

After that, he even proposed to her 99 times, yet she never gave an answer, nor did she refuse.

She naturally enjoyed his kindness, entirely unprepared for the fact that he would give up on the idea of a hundredth proposal, drift further and further from her, and fall in love with Leng Ruoli.

Standing on this piece of land now, everything flashing through Xia Xiran's mind was those beautiful memories of her and Jiang Muye. If she truly could do it all over, she really wanted to go back, hoping that the very first time Jiang Muye proposed to her, she would have said yes—perhaps then so many things wouldn't have happened afterward.

At this thought, tears were already glistening in Xia Xiran's eyes.

She only wanted to stake everything on one throw.

Some people, if you don't fight for them, are truly lost.

So she bought a late-night high-speed rail ticket and returned to City A.

However, Xia Xiran knocked on the front door, yet no one came to answer for a long while.

She was a bit frantic with worry. What's going on? Could it be that no one's home?

"Little girl, who are you looking for?" The old woman next door saw her knocking and asked in confusion.

Xia Xiran answered politely, "I'm looking for Auntie Jiang. I have something to discuss with her."

"Their family's struck it rich. They don't live in this house anymore. Mrs. Jiang's whole family has moved into the city—I heard it's a big villa!" The old woman was quite envious.

"What, they don't live here anymore?" Xia Xiran was astonished. She had never imagined she'd come all this way for nothing.

"Yes." The old woman nodded, then picked up her vegetable basket and left.

Xia Xiran felt utterly lost. For a time, she didn't know what she should do.

She had come here specifically to enlist Jiang Muye's parents as advocates, to properly work on Jiang Muye—after all, there was no way Jiang Muye wouldn't even listen to his parents, right?

But she had never imagined the Jiang family had long since moved away.

Xia Xiran was terribly disappointed, her thick, feather-like lashes full of dejection.

But she still had a bitter refusal to accept what was happening.

After hesitating for a few seconds, she redialed the phone: "Auntie, I'm at Jiangjia Village. Mm… I came to find you, but I got lost. Could you come pick me up?"

No matter how slim the chance, she had to try harder and see.

Very quickly, a private car pulled up in front of Xia Xiran.

Looking at the luxurious car before her, Xia Xiran was slightly taken aback, somewhat flattered, but she still got in.

She sat rather stiffly, tensing her body against the car seat.

Soon the driver brought her into the city, and before long they arrived at a villa.

This villa was extremely luxurious, with a large fountain outside, immaculate landscaping, and even a dedicated gardener tending to it—exactly like the grand mansions on TV dramas.

The Jiang family's little house from before couldn't compare at all to the grand villa before her now.

After getting out of the car, Xia Xiran looked around.

Servants were everywhere, all of them thoroughly respectful in this imposing house.

There was even a servant specifically to lead Xia Xiran into the villa.

This villa was far more lavish and extravagant than Xia Xiran had imagined: crystal chandeliers, marble walls, European and American murals—a very strong European-style design that directly displayed the power of money, yet without losing its artistic taste.

"Sir, Madam, the guest has arrived." The servant respectfully came before the sofa in the living room and spoke to the Jiang couple.

Father Jiang and Mother Jiang nodded and said, "You may go."

Their gazes locked onto the somewhat reserved Xia Xiran.

Xia Xiran was nervous, but she strove to put on a poised and generous appearance, calling out, "Uncle, Auntie, I'm sorry for troubling you."

After that last phone conversation with Mother Jiang, Xia Xiran had become a bit timid.

Mother Jiang, however, faced Xia Xiran with great kindness: "Come, Xiran, sit. You should've told us you were coming back—we would've come to pick you up. What trouble is there? I was already thinking of you, Auntie was."

"Auntie," Xia Xiran sat down and said to Mother Jiang, "I came today because of Muye."

"Auntie knows." Mother Jiang nodded, cutting off the rest of what Xia Xiran was going to say, smiling. "Xiran, I quite like you. You're clever, bright, and generous, your grades are excellent, you're beautiful, your family background is good, and you've never made your parents worry—you're a good child."

Hearing Mother Jiang's words, Xia Xiran felt a bit embarrassed: "I'm not as good as you say."

Mother Jiang liked her this much—as long as she performed well, it would surely add to her score, and when the time came, with Mother Jiang as her backer…

Then she could easily win back Jiang Muye's heart.

While Xia Xiran was making her calculations, Mother Jiang took the jadeite bangle off her wrist and slipped it onto Xia Xiran's: "Here, Xiran, put it on. This jadeite bangle suits you perfectly—your hand is so fair, it looks lovely."

Xia Xiran was secretly delighted.

Was this the legendary betrothal jewelry a mother-in-law gives her daughter-in-law?

She couldn't put the bangle down, and a bit of confidence took root in her heart.

At least she had beaten Leng Ruoli—she had won Mother Jiang's favor.

No matter how much Jiang Muye liked Leng Ruoli, so what? Mother Jiang might not like Leng Ruoli.

Just as Xia Xiran's lips curved up slightly, Mother Jiang's next words dealt her a head-on blow: "I quite like you as a child, and I never had a daughter—it's been a regret my whole life. So let me take you as my goddaughter."

Goddaughter?

Xia Xiran's eyes went wide.

This was Shrimp and Pig Heart! Lovers turned into siblings?

If she became the goddaughter, how could she possibly still be with Jiang Muye?

That was simply absurd!

Looking at Mother Jiang's gentle expression now, Xia Xiran finally understood—Mother Jiang wasn't accepting her as a daughter-in-law at all, but sealing off her path to becoming one!

High. Truly too high.

An absolute master!

And most importantly, Father Jiang was especially cooperative with Mother Jiang: "A goddaughter is wonderful. I like this daughter too. Xiran, our two families have such a good relationship—as long as we have a word with your parents, they'll agree soon enough."

"No, I don't want to be your goddaughter…" Xia Xiran shook her head, her heart full of grievance. "I like Muye. I want to marry Muye."

"Feelings can't be forced by one person." Mother Jiang spoke to Xia Xiran with earnest sincerity. "I made it very clear to you on the phone before as well. I feel for you too, but Auntie promised you she'd definitely find you a fine match."

Xia Xiran's tears pattered down: "No one is as good as him. I came today just to ask one thing—will you or won't you accept me as your daughter-in-law?

"Back then, it was you who arranged the Childhood Betrothal. Now it's you who wants to call off the engagement. So the Xia family is just easy to push around, is that it? And the friendship between you and my mom all these years—was that just a joke too?!"