Chapter 45

Lin Cheng Hui had always been very caring toward Xia Mi La.

Just like today.

Jin He ignored their engagement at school, getting intimate with other girls and trampling his fiancée’s dignity underfoot.

But Lin Cheng Hui’s presence served to remind everyone that regardless of what Jin He said or did, Xia Mi La was the only future daughter-in-law she recognized.

Actually, it wasn’t just today – it had always been this way.

Jiang Xiu Zhu was exceptionally good at maintaining appearances. But when someone is merely pretending, flaws are bound to surface eventually. Whenever Jiang Xiu Zhu showed less concern for Xia Mi La, or tried to use Xia Mi La to elevate her own biological daughter, Lin Cheng Hui would stand behind Xia Mi La just like today, warning everyone that although Mira had lost her mother, she still had her future mother-in-law backing her up.

Although these gestures were originally meant for the original host, Xia Mi La had taken them all to heart.

“Acan went to play basketball today,” she said to Lin Cheng Hui with a smile. “Otherwise, you could have seen him in the lounge just now.”

Lin Cheng Hui held her arm and gently patted her hand. “Thanks to your care, Acan has been adapting very well since he returned.”

“I haven’t done much,” Xia Mi La said modestly. “Acan is smart and has a good personality himself. Everyone likes him.”

Speaking of Jin Can, Lin Cheng Hui’s mood lightened somewhat. “That child Acan doesn’t give us much to worry about. He’s suffered too much since childhood, unlike A He, who remains so immature even now.”

Xia Mi La listened quietly without responding to this comment.

“Mira,” Lin Cheng Hui said softly to her, “I’ve heard from Chairman Jin about your wish to cancel the engagement. You’re a child I’ve watched grow up. Ever since you got engaged to A He, I’ve considered you my own child. Seeing things come to this makes me feel both guilty and regretful.”

“I know, Auntie,” Xia Mi La said. “You’ve always taken good care of me.”

Lin Cheng Hui stopped walking and looked at her earnestly. “You and A He – is there really no possibility for you two? You should know that in both A He’s father’s and my hearts, you’re the only one we recognize as A He’s fiancée. A He is being foolish, but his father and I will properly discipline him this time. Would you be willing to forgive him and give him another chance?”

Xia Mi La didn’t avoid the question, meeting her gaze with equal seriousness. “Auntie, feelings can’t be forced. A He and I have gotten along well over the years. I see him as an older brother, and he sees me as a younger sister – but that’s all it is. Now that A He has met a girl he likes, as his childhood friend, of course I choose to support him. In the current situation, if we continue to be bound together as fiancés, it would only consume whatever affection remains between us. We might even end up resenting each other.”

As Lin Cheng Hui looked at her, these words pained her deeply by the end.

She certainly didn’t want to see them grow to resent each other, and from Xia Mi La’s words, she could tell that she had made up her mind with no intention of turning back.

There was a time when Mira’s affection for A He would spill from her eyes even if unspoken, but now, all those emotions and ripples were gone. She simply looked at him calmly, using a placid tone to categorize all their past experiences as nothing more than sibling affection.

The heartbroken girl chose to let go with dignity and rationality, without any crying or clinging. Such a girl couldn’t become her daughter-in-law, which made her feel regretful yet heartache for her.

“I understand,” she sighed again, then took Xia Mi La’s hand and slowly continued walking forward. “It’s my fault for putting you in such a difficult position.”

“Not at all,” Xia Mi La said softly. “You’ve always been very kind to me.”

“Since you can’t be my daughter-in-law, then be my daughter instead,” Lin Cheng Hui said with a laugh. “You’ll still come visit our home when I invite you, won’t you?”

“Of course,” Xia Mi La also curved her lips into a smile. “As long as you invite me, I’ll definitely come.”

*

Before the parent-teacher meeting, Jin He’s mother specifically came to meet with Xia Mi La. Even Xia Mi La’s nominal mother hadn’t done this.

This matter quickly became the subject of discussion among the students.

Everyone eagerly speculated whether this would affect Jin He’s romantic direction again.

Essentially, they were waiting to see Pei Duo Xing become the butt of jokes, dragging her out for renewed mockery at this moment.

“Even if Jin He likes you, what good does it do? Do you really think you can become Han Lin’s wife?”

“Jin He’s mother probably hates her to death. Everyone knows how much she adores Xia Mi La.”

“Actually, as long as Xia Mi La herself doesn’t let go, no one can take away her position as Jin He’s fiancée. At most, she’d just have to tolerate Pei Duo Xing being Jin He’s mistress.”

“How ridiculous! Why should she tolerate that? Look at the situation – the Vermilion Bird Hall has already surpassed the Azure Dragon Hall in power.”

“Exactly. I’ve noticed Xia Mi La has been doing quite well on her own lately.”

“This semester, I haven’t seen Xia Mi La pay much attention to Jin He either.”

“Anyway, regardless of what Xia Mi La chooses, it doesn’t change the fact that Pei Duo Xing is nothing but a cheap homewrecker.”

Even within the Azure Dragon Hall, people didn’t show Pei Duo Xing much respect. She only had Jin He’s affection but hadn’t gained recognition from others.

Hearing the surrounding discussions, Pei Duo Xing found it hard to stay.

She stood up and walked out of the lounge, running into Jin He who happened to be returning at the doorway.

Pei Duo Xing pressed her lips together, looking at him stubbornly without speaking.

Seeing her eyes, Jin He could imagine the impact his mother’s visit had caused her. She must have become the subject of gossip again.

“Let’s go,” he said to her. “Let’s get some fresh air together.”

Pei Duo Xing didn’t refuse. She nodded and walked with him toward the terrace.

Not long after, Cui Zhe also found them.

He carried several cans of drinks, walked over, and handed one each to Jin He and Pei Duo Xing.

The sunlight was warm, the campus tranquil. The three of them leaned against the railing side by side, the current relaxation slightly easing their earlier anxious moods.

“Mira… never had a mother since childhood,” Jin He said. “My mother always regretted not having a daughter, so she’s always taken special care of her.”

His words served as an explanation – that his mother’s visit was just habitual care for Xia Mi La and had nothing to do with the fiancée situation.

Pei Duo Xing sipped her drink without speaking.

The words held no impact for her, yet they instantly transported Jin He and Cui Zhe’s thoughts back to the past.

To that pitiful little Xia Mi La from those days.

Xia Mi La never tattled. Only when Jin He and Cui Zhe noticed something amiss and asked her would she slowly explain.

She didn’t hold grudges either.

“Dad hasn’t been this happy in a long time. Aunt Xiu Zhu manages the household perfectly… After all, it’ll be Aunt Xiu Zhu who stays by Dad’s side in the future, not me. So I shouldn’t be so calculative and make everyone unhappy.”

She was the type who always considered others, consistently repaying unkindness with kindness.

She treated Jin He the same way.

Back then, Jin He couldn’t bear to see her wronged either.

Having grown up together, with Xia Mi La’s naturally vulnerable disposition, there were times when they unconsciously saw protecting her as their responsibility.

He would sometimes grow impatient with her personality, yet he would also stand before her to confront Jiang Xiu Zhu and Bai You Na.

But upon reflection, he realized he hadn’t fulfilled this protective role for some time. Since the semester began, more often than not, he had been the one causing Xia Mi La embarrassment.

Thinking of this, he felt a pang of guilt.

Cui Zhe, however, was preoccupied with different thoughts.

He briefly reminisced about the Xia Mi La of the past, then his memories jumped to the amusement park and to this morning.

Xia Mi La had undergone a noticeable transformation; he found it difficult to connect her current self with who she used to be.

This was why he felt helpless this morning.

If she were still the vulnerable girl needing protection and care, he would likely find it easier to grow closer to her.

“You’ve both been looking out for her, haven’t you?” Pei Duo Xing remarked. “A-Zhe even picked her up for school this morning.”

Jin He glanced at Cui Zhe. “You picked her up this morning?”

“Yeah,” Cui Zhe nodded. “I went to deliver her birthday invitation.” He paused briefly. “I assume I don’t need separate ones for you two.” Another pause. “Don’t forget the gifts.”

Jin He nearly laughed in disbelief. “You want gifts without even preparing invitations?”

Cui Zhe chuckled. “Don’t worry, they’re already prepared. I’ll give them to you before school ends.”

With his playful diversion, the topic smoothly shifted away from his morning encounter with Xia Mi La.

Pei Duo Xing kept her unspoken question to herself.

She wanted to ask: Why did you specifically go to Xia Mi La’s house to pick her up when you could have just brought the invitation to school like you did for us?

Was it because Zhao Taihe picked her up last Monday?

She remained silent. Jin He and Cui Zhe chatted casually, occasionally bursting into laughter. Their drinks were nearly finished when Xia Mi La’s figure appeared in the distance.

After escorting Lin Cheng Hui to the conference room, she was slowly making her way back alone.

Both Jin He and Cui Zhe fell silent simultaneously. All three pairs of eyes turned toward Xia Mi La below.

With no one else moving across the campus, the slender girl walked forward with her head bowed under the sunlight, her solitary figure emanating loneliness.

Just as Cui Zhe was about to impulsively turn and descend the stairs, another figure entered their view.

Jin Can.

He appeared behind Xia Mi La.

He seemed to have come looking for her deliberately. His steps were initially hurried but noticeably slowed after he spotted her.

He watched her like that without greeting her, simply following behind her.

Xia Mi La walked slowly, and he remained leisurely too. With hands in his pockets, he gazed ahead lazily, walking at an unhurried pace, maintaining a distance neither too close nor too far from her.