Chapter 298: May All Lovers Finally Become Sisters

Xia Xiran's righteous interrogation made Mother Jiang's brows knit together.

Father Jiang also looked rather troubled. "Xiran, you're making a mountain out of a molehill. We did arrange the Childhood Betrothal back then, but we still advocate free love. We never said we'd force you two into marriage—the final choice was always in your hands. But now that Muye has found someone he likes, as his parents, we can't very well force him!"

Tears welled in Xia Xiran's eyes as she said in utter anguish, "But there's really nothing I can do about losing him. I really do love him!"

Ever since Jiang Muye stopped liking her, she had drifted through every day in a daze.

In the end, Yu Xi had even threatened her. Yet even with Yu Xi's help, she still had no way to infiltrate that area.

Was it a crime to like someone?

She was just fighting for her own happiness.

As Xia Xiran sobbed and cried, feeling utterly miserable, Father Jiang and Mother Jiang let out a long sigh.

They had both seen with their own eyes how outstanding and cheerful a child Xia Xiran had been in the past.

Deep down, Mother Jiang liked this girl and had even raised her as a future daughter-in-law. Especially after learning her son liked Xia Xiran, she had felt that everything was heading in a good direction.

But Xia Xiran had rejected her son's proposals time and again, which made Mother Jiang realize that even with a betrothal, you couldn't force feelings. So she had let it go.

Later, seeing her son find happiness, she had been happy as a mother. But she had never imagined that Xia Xiran actually liked her son. Then what had all that before been about?

"I respect my son, and I won't beat a pair of mandarin ducks apart. Xiran, listen to me—true love is being able to let go." Mother Jiang took Xia Xiran's hand and soothed her, "If you really like him, you shouldn't force him."

But Xia Xiran shook her head through her tears. "I really do love him. My heart hurts so much. I've tried to forget, but it's really so hard."

Mother Jiang embraced Xia Xiran, gently stroking her hair to comfort her. "However long you've liked someone, the best way is to let time smooth away the pain. You can try using twice the time you liked him—even three times, five times—to forget someone. As long as you work at it, you'll definitely be able to forget your feelings for him."

Xia Xiran's eyes were wet and glistening as she choked out, "It's just too hard. There's nothing I can do about that. Boohoo, I really can't do it."

Being a tsundere ruins your whole life.

If she hadn't been so obsessed with saving face before, she wouldn't be suffering now.

She really wished there could be a rebirth, a do-over. Could she change this current tragedy?

Unfortunately, there was no such thing as rebirth in this world. It was all just her fantasy.

Compared to forgetting her feelings for Jiang Muye, Xia Xiran still felt that completely losing him was a far more terrifying thing.

Xia Xiran's eyes were red to the extreme as she said to Mother Jiang, "Please help me. He'll definitely listen to you. I can pay whatever dowry you want. I can scrape together a 1,000,000 dowry, plus a BMW and a house—as long as you agree to let me be with Jiang Muye."

Seeing Xia Xiran's obstinate look, Father Jiang's head ached. His son had suddenly become so sought-after, remembered by such an outstanding girl. It really was a hard decision to make.

"Fine. Since you're willing to use a 1,000,000 dowry, plus a BMW and a house, then I'll use 50,000,000, plus a Porsche 918 and three houses, to buy the death of your feelings outright." A domineering voice rang out.

Xia Xiran froze. She saw an elegant, beautiful woman walk in from the doorway carrying an Hermès bag, stepping on black high heels, her presence overwhelming.

Time had left no trace on her face at all. She was very well maintained, with delicate features and a sharp gaze fixed on Xia Xiran.

Xia Xiran was completely cowed by the other woman's presence.

"Sister, you're finally here." Father Jiang looked as if he'd seen his savior.

The woman who had appeared was Aunt. She instantly lit a lady's cigarette and began smoking right in front of Xia Xiran.

She looked at Xia Xiran with complete composure. "I heard you're my nephew's former fiancée."

Xia Xiran had also learned from Mother Jiang that Jiang Muye had such a formidable aunt. She had married the chairman of Chen Group and smoothly acquired all the assets.

Otherwise, it would have been impossible for Jiang Muye to become the future heir of Chen Group.

Xia Xiran knew the woman before her was no simple character. She was somewhat trembling and tried hard to act well-behaved. "I hope Aunt can give us her blessing."

"Pfft." Aunt laughed out loud. "Blessing? Why call me Aunt? Are you my nephew's wife? Don't make it sound like we're so close."

Xia Xiran's little face turned deathly pale.

"I've never seen anyone shameless enough to invite themselves into someone's home." Aunt lazily curled the corner of her lips, her deep red lipstick carrying a cold sheen, and even the look she gave Xia Xiran was full of mockery.

Mother Jiang was full of admiration for Aunt in her heart.

Sure enough, the moment Aunt appeared, the whole scene was under control.

"I just like Muye…" Xia Xiran choked out a grievance.

"Then does my nephew like you!" Aunt delivered a finishing blow.

"I… He'll like me in the future." Xia Xiran forced out a sentence through sheer willpower.

As a result, Aunt burst into laughter.

Xia Xiran felt as if cold water had been splashed over her face.

"Oh? When? You can't possibly think that my nephew will like you just because he breaks up with Leng Ruoli. Do you think you have what it takes? Is it your pretty face, or your figure…" Aunt's teasing gaze examined Xia Xiran up and down several times over.

Xia Xiran felt very uncomfortable under such a gaze.

Now she could only awkwardly hug a throw pillow.

Her ears had turned burning hot.

"Or do you think your family background is good enough to assist my nephew?" Aunt raised an eyebrow. "My nephew is the future CEO of Chen Group. Of course, he's already successful enough now. As long as he breaks up, there's no shortage of temptation around him—plenty of young girls want to throw themselves at him."

Aunt smiled. "Do you think you can beat them and come out on top? Of course, to put it bluntly, Muye and Leng Ruoli haven't even broken up right now. Even if you wanted to rise up, you'd need Muye to give you a chance. But from what I know, the two of them are very close—otherwise you wouldn't be throwing caution to the wind and coming to my brother and sister-in-law, would you?"

Aunt's every word was a pearl, piercing Xia Xiran's heart.

Xia Xiran had originally felt she still had some advantages. Now she was suddenly made to feel inferior.

The gap between her and Jiang Muye was huge—one in heaven, one on earth. Even if she was never convinced by Leng Ruoli, Leng Ruoli really had helped Jiang Muye a great deal, so much that she couldn't catch up no matter how desperately she tried.

Not to mention her own family was a complete mess, entirely unlike the glamorous picture she had imagined.

If what happened back then came to light, would she still be the Goddess in outsiders' eyes? She'd probably become a rat crossing the street, cursed by everyone.