The Sickly Fake Daughter, But a Beloved Darling of All - Chapter 83

“I want to marry you—”

Those few words stirred up stormy waves on what had been a calm lake. Mother Xu stood up abruptly and looked at Si Yu, her eyes filled with total shock at the statement: “Si Yu, what nonsense are you talking about?”

Si Yu ignored Mother Xu; her entire heart was focused on Xu Chengjin. “Xiaojin, I am serious. I’m not joking.”

Every word she spoke was clear, yet Xu Chengjin could hear the trembling in her voice. In truth, Si Yu was terrified as well.

For a few seconds after hearing Si Yu’s proposal, Xu Chengjin’s brain failed to process it. She even thought, quite mournfully, why the other woman would choose this specific moment to propose. What was their relationship? Friends, or something more?

“Si…”

Xu Chengjin reached out, wanting to grasp Si Yu. The other woman immediately sensed her intent and gripped her hand tightly. She heard Si Yu say: “This isn’t a whim. In fact, I’ve thought about it for a long time—much longer than you can imagine. Xiaojin, I don’t know if it’s just my delusion, but I feel like you need me. At that moment, I didn’t want to wait anymore. Marry me.”

Marry—

Xu Chengjin blinked. Feeling the warmth radiating from her palm, she remained silent for a moment, offering neither sound nor response.

Sometimes, silence represents a refusal.

Seeing this, Mother Xu immediately said: “President Si, this matter is far too hasty. Xiaojin is still sick. If you truly like her, we can discuss this later—”

“Go home.”

Xu Chengjin suddenly spoke, interrupting Mother Xu. She lifted her head and tightened her grip on Si Yu’s hand: “Not marriage.”

“Not marrying?”

Si Yu was stunned for a moment, but remembering what Xu Chengjin had just said about “going home,” she immediately asked: “Then… does an engagement work?”

Xu Chengjin didn’t say a word. Her other hand fumbled against the quilt. Si Yu had brought out many things; it felt as though she had truly brought out her entire net worth. Xu Chengjin’s lips curled into a smile, and she randomly grabbed two cards and kept them.

The meaning behind the gesture was self-evident.

“Xiaojin?”

Mother Xu frowned, her tone deepening significantly: “Don’t be reckless. This matter must be discussed at length; it isn’t child’s play.”

Xu Chengjin remained silent, still holding the two cards. Seeing that Mother Xu refused to give in, she suddenly wrenched her hand away from Si Yu and directly pulled out the IV needle. Droplets of blood immediately began to flow down the back of her hand. “Mom.”

She turned her head to look over, looking somewhat panicked because she couldn’t see clearly: “Let me… leave.”

“Child, what are you doing?”

Mother Xu hurriedly used a tissue to wipe Xu Chengjin’s wrist, her eyes reddening with heartache. She knew full well that this was a form of threat, and that Xu Chengjin’s attitude was resolute. She was forced to soften her tone: “I… I will not agree to a marriage. At least, I won’t give in for the short term. You are a member of the Xu family; many things cannot be handled so casually. Otherwise, what will happen if you are bullied in the future?”

As she spoke, she looked up at Si Yu and said in a low, frowning voice:

“We shall each take a step back.”

Xu Jing had been in meetings all day. By the time she got off work, she felt as if her body was falling apart. She didn’t have time to rest and rushed to the hospital. Father Xu was already asleep, but the light in Xu Chengjin’s ward was still on. She pushed the door open softly and found that both Mother Xu and Xu Chengjin were still awake.

“Mom, Xiaojin.”

Xu Jing sat down and let out a silent sigh: “How are you feeling today?”

“Good.”

Xu Chengjin responded to Xu Jing. She lowered her head, her eyes curving slightly. The two cards she had taken from Si Yu were tucked under her pillow. Even she felt this whole situation was absurd, yet she had done it anyway.

It was as if she were trying to prove something, or perhaps satisfying a powerful emotional need within herself.

“What’s wrong?” Xu Jing noticed the atmosphere was off. She retracted her smile: “Mom, did something happen? Why so serious?”

“Did something happen?” Mother Xu let out a light, dry laugh and pursed her lips. “Si Yu came by this afternoon.”

Xu Jing raised an eyebrow: “It’s normal for her to come, but we should let her in less often in the future. What business does an outsider have listening to a family conversation?”

“An outsider?”

Mother Xu snorted coldly: “Do you know what she came here for? She came to propose!”

The color drained from Xu Jing’s face. Her eyes widened as she stood up abruptly, looking at Xu Chengjin in total disbelief: “Xiaojin, you agreed?”

“Yes.”

Xu Chengjin lifted her head slightly. Fearing Xu Jing hadn’t heard her, she nodded again: “I agreed.”

The blood vanished from Xu Jing’s face instantly. Without a second thought, she said: “I don’t agree! How can such a massive matter be left to Xiaojin’s word? She’s only nineteen, what does she know? Mom, she’s been tricked, but you haven’t.”

She didn’t give anyone else a chance to speak, continuing to herself: “Regardless, I will never give in on this. Even if she were an immortal, I wouldn’t agree. Did Si Yu coax you into this? Xiaojin, she isn’t a good person.”

Xu Chengjin frowned slightly: “She is. And I’m not a child.”

“I’m going to find her.”

Xu Jing couldn’t listen to anything anymore. As she made a move to leave the ward to find Si Yu, Mother Xu immediately barked: “Xu Jing!”

“Mom!”

Xu Jing’s eyes turned red. She had just gone to work for one day—how did things turn into this the moment she came back?

What the hell was Si Yu?

She suppressed her emotions with all her might, wishing she could grind her teeth into her own stomach. Every word she forced out seemed to carry a trace of blood:

“You know—”

“You clearly know how long I’ve been waiting.”