Chapter 6: The Warmth of Family Only Lasts…

The atmosphere between Xia Mi La and Xia Ying Cai was quite pleasant.

The father and daughter had always shared a good relationship. They had dined out together like this a few times before.

The female lead was genuinely kind-hearted and consistent inside and out a pure, innocent type of heroine. She carried sincere goodwill toward everyone around her, especially her family. Whether it was her father or her usually aloof grandmother, she held genuine affection for them.

She kept the tastes, preferences, and habits of her elders firmly in mind.

Today was no exception. Although the menu was in Xia Mi La’s hands and her father had asked her to order, every dish she chose was one her father loved.

Xia Ying Cai looked at his daughter and chuckled affectionately, “Is our Mi La a mind-reading witch? How do you always know exactly what Dad is thinking?”

“Exactly,” Xia Mi La laughed. “I am a witch. Let me listen again.” She playfully tilted her ear as if concentrating, then nodded as though she had truly heard something. “Dad also wants a little wine today Petrus?”

Xia Ying Cai laughed heartily, graciously nodding. “That’s right. Petrus it is.”

Xia Mi La didn’t drink; that wasn’t part of the persona she maintained in front of her father.

One sipped wine, the other juice, yet they chatted just as happily.

They talked about Mi La’s visit to her grandmother the day before, her father’s work that day, and finally, about selecting a dress earlier.

“In the end,” Xia Mi La said, “I chose a red dress.”

“How come?” Xia Ying Cai clearly knew his daughter well. “Don’t you prefer light colors?”

“Yes, I originally wanted a white dress. But,” a touch of nostalgia flickered in Xia Mi La’s eyes, “when I was alone in Busan a few days ago, I really missed you and Mom, so I looked through some old photos. I saw one where Mom was wearing a red dress she looked incredibly beautiful. So today, I suddenly felt like trying a red dress too.”

“Ah, yes.” Xia Ying Cai sighed, surprisingly still remembering that occasion. “Your mother rarely wore such a vibrant color, but she was truly stunning back then. All those young men couldn’t take their eyes off her.”

Xia Mi La teased mischievously, “So Dad remembers that because he was jealous?”

“Hmm?” Xia Ying Cai pretended to glare at her, then broke into a hearty laugh. “Yes, I was jealous. But your mother only had eyes for your dad back then, so rather than jealousy, it was more like pride.”

“Because my dad is the most handsome,” Xia Mi La declared triumphantly.

In truth, Xia Ying Cai hadn’t been among the most outstanding in his youth. His intellect was average, and his looks weren’t exceptional either. Mila’s mother had had many suitors, yet she had singled him out for special attention.

Just as Mila’s mother had seen him that way back then, now Mila saw him the same.

In their eyes, he seemed to be the best husband and father in the world, giving him the sense of recognition and belonging he had always lacked.

And the more recognition he received, the more he strived to live up to it.

Now, he wanted to be the best father in the world.

“Red is good,” he said to Xia Mi La with emotion. “You should choose red. My daughter will surely look wonderful in red.”

Xia Mi La seemed to let out a sigh of relief: “I’m relieved to hear you say that, Dad. I was a little worried before.”

“There’s nothing to worry about,” Xia Ying Cai said. “My daughter deserves everything in this world.”

Xia Mi La appeared somewhat shy but couldn’t help smiling at her father’s praise: “Yes.”

The family warmth lasted only one night.

The next morning, just after Xia Ying Cai had gotten up and finished washing, the other daughter in the household came crying to complain.

“…Mi La took my red dress,” Bai You Na said with reddened eyes. She had intended to play the victim, but as she spoke, she couldn’t help growing genuinely angry. “She’s gone too far! She already has a white dress, yet she still took the red one from me!”

Having dined with his daughter the previous evening, Xia Ying Cai hadn’t drunk much alcohol, so he clearly remembered the conversation he’d had with Xia Mi La yesterday.

His daughter had gone out alone for the first time, traveling all by herself to Busan. When she missed her parents, she had looked through old photos. After returning, she chose a red dress because she was thinking of her mother how could that be considered stealing?

He was already predisposed, and after hearing Xia Mi La’s story, he was filled with compassion for his deceased wife and daughter.

“Oh?” He raised an eyebrow slightly. “Had you already purchased that dress?”

“No,” Bai You Na said indignantly. “I didn’t have time to go to the store, but I asked the clerk to hold it for me.””

As they spoke, Bai You Na’s mother, Jiang Xiu Zhu, was also present.

She was helping Xia Ying Cai prepare his outfit for going out.

After smoothing his collar, she casually picked up the new tie Xia Ying Cai had brought home last night, intending to unwrap it and tie it for him.

Catching sight of this from the corner of his eye, Xia Ying Cai waved his hand: “Not today. Save this one for the banquet night.”

Jiang Xiu Zhu’s raised hands paused slightly before she obediently turned to select another tie.

“If Mi La went there first, then there’s nothing to be done,” Xia Ying Cai continued to Bai You Na. “In business, there’s always an order of priority.”

Bai You Na couldn’t quite accept this.

“But I asked them to hold it for me!” Her indignant crying was somewhat shrill. “Xia Mi La did it on purpose! She always wears light colors! She knew perfectly well I would choose that red one! She’s deliberately competing with me!”

Both her voice and her words made Xia Ying Cai frown.

He felt Bai You Na was being unreasonable: “How could Mi La be doing it on purpose? Just because she always chooses light-colored dresses doesn’t mean she can’t try a bright color once in a while?”

Bai You Na was somewhat stunned. She hadn’t expected Xia Ying Cai to be so biased this time, completely taking Xia Mi La’s side.

“But… but,” she stammered incoherently, “she took the white dress and the red dress. She took both dresses I had on hold! Clearly, clearly she could have just taken the white one!”

Xia Ying Cai was growing impatient.

He needed to go to the company soon there were many troublesome business matters to handle recently. He wasn’t particularly capable, and at his age, he still had to live under his mother’s scrutiny every day.

So why did he have to bother with a little girl’s dress drama right before leaving?

Couldn’t You Na be more sensible like Mi La?

“Are you telling me there isn’t a second dress in all of South Korea that would satisfy you?” Xia Ying Cai asked. “Do you really have to have that particular one?”

He had spoken too confidently in front of Mi La yesterday, claiming she deserved everything in the world.

Besides, it was just a dress. Since Mi La had already chosen it, You Na could simply pick another one why insist on making such a fuss?

Xia Ying Cai was irritated, and more scenes flashed through his mind: “Don’t you occasionally wear light-colored dresses too? Why have I never heard Mi La complain to me about it?”

Bai You Na grew flustered. She had never seen Xia Ying Cai look so serious and had no idea how to respond to his words.

“Brother,” Jiang Xiu Zhu interjected with a timely smile. As she helped Xia Ying Cai into his suit jacket, her hands softened by years of comfort gently smoothed the hem. Her tone was gentle: “Don’t take a child’s complaints to heart. You Na is acting this way because she adores her dad and wants to act spoiled.She framed her daughter’s unreasonable behavior as mere acting spoiled.

Xia Ying Cai, annoyed by the noise, wasn’t usually quick-tempered.

Hearing Jiang Xiu Zhu’s explanation, he let the matter drop.

He hadn’t understood why Bai You Na was acting so unlike her usual sensible self, but Jiang Xiu Zhu’s words clarified everything.

So she was just acting spoiled with her dad.

Before leaving the dressing room, he comforted Bai You Na: “You Na, go pick another dress choose an expensive one. Dad will buy it for you.”

Bai You Na still felt resentful, but under her mother’s subtly warning gaze, she obediently lowered her head: “Yes, thank you, Dad.”

The moment Xia Ying Cai left the house, Bai You Na smashed a set of crystal glasses in her room.

“Look at you!” Jiang Xiu Zhu was furious. “What are you doing? Why can’t you keep your composure?”

“Mom, do you expect me to keep tolerating this?” Bai You Na was nearly hysterical. “Xia Mi La took my dress, and Dad only defends her just because I’m not his biological daughter? No matter how obedient I pretend to be, I’ll never carry the Xia name. I’ll never be his real child! If that’s the case, why did you even bring me to the Xia family? You might as well have left me to fend for myself! At least then I wouldn’t have to ”

She was getting increasingly out of line, and Jiang Xiu Zhu, unable to bear it any longer, slapped her across the face.

Bai You Na was stunned.

“Snap out of it,” Jiang Xiu Zhu said coldly. “Are you really going to let one dress from Xia Mi La drive you insane?”

Indeed, it was just a dress hardly worth the outburst.

But this was Xia Mi La’s first act of defiance. Her very first resistance had left Bai You Na powerless and completely at a disadvantage.

Jiang Xiu Zhu was also frustrated. She recalled the tie Xia Ying Cai had treasured earlier.

He had brought it home last night the same brand as Xia Mi La’s gown. Clearly, it was a gift from his precious daughter.

Rubbing her temples, she warned her daughter: “This ends here. Go pick another dress, and never bring this up again.”

Seeing her daughter’s clenched jaw and defiant expression, she reached out and gently patted her head, comforting her: “Be good. I’ll talk to your dad about it again tonight. What’s the use of throwing a reckless tantrum like that?”

Although Bai You Na was not Xia Ying Cai’s biological daughter, she possessed one major advantage that Xia Mi La lacked she still had her mother who could engage in pillow talk with her stepfather.

Xia Ying Cai was also having a rough day at work.

During his lunch break, his secretary brought him a cup of Chinese Dragon Well tea.

Fragrant and emerald green, perfectly brewed with ideal strength, even the water temperature was precisely controlled.

After just one sip, Xia Ying Cai smiled and said, “Secretary Zhang, this doesn’t seem like your usual standard.”

“Indeed, it wasn’t me,” Secretary Zhang replied with a laugh. “It was Miss Mi La. She came by to brew you this tea and told me to remind you to smoke less.”

Mentioning his daughter warmed Xia Ying Cai’s heart. “Where is Mi La now?”

“The young lady has already returned, saying she didn’t want to disturb your work.” Secretary Zhang couldn’t help but sigh in admiration. “The young lady is truly thoughtful. With her tea-brewing skills alone, I doubt anyone in this world understands your taste better than Miss Mi La.” He added somewhat enviously, “No wonder people say it’s better to have daughters. Only daughters can be this sensible and caring.”

“Of course,” Xia Ying Cai couldn’t suppress the pride in his voice. “Our Mi La is the most considerate daughter in the world.”

Xia Mi La received a call from her father while in the car on her way home.

“Why did you leave so quickly?” Xia Ying Cai asked. “You didn’t even come in to say hello.”

“Dad…” Xia Mi La’s voice sounded full of self-blame and guilt. “This morning… I overheard that You Na sister only got so angry because of me. It’s our fault for making you worry about such trivial matters. This afternoon… once You Na sister has calmed down a bit, I’ll go see her and return the dress to her. I’m sorry, Dad…”

By the end, her voice trembled with suppressed sobs.

Only then did Xia Ying Cai realize his daughter had come specifically because she felt guilty.

Hearing her nearly tearful voice, his heart ached for her. “What are you talking about? That’s your dress you don’t need to give it to anyone else. This was your sister’s mistake. I’ve already spoken to her about it, so don’t dwell on it.”

He patiently comforted her for a while, and Xia Mi La, knowing when to stop, turned the conversation around to express concern for her father before ending the call on a note of familial warmth.

After hanging up, Xia Mi La expressionlessly raised her finger to wipe the moisture from the corner of her eye, then turned her attention back to her phone.

There were several unread messages on the screen.

From Xu Lian Yi: Mi La, are you okay? I heard Bai You Na threw a huge tantrum at the store last night. Did she cause trouble for you at home?

Xia Mi La replied: I’m fine, no need to worry.

From Jin He: My suit this time is in blue tones. Your gown should be light blue too.

Xia Mi La swiped past the message, calmly ignoring it as if she hadn’t seen it.

There was another message from an unknown contact: Miss Mi La, I’m Li Xiu Zhi. I apologize for disturbing you, but could I trouble you to spare some time to meet with me?

Author’s note:
———————-
Mi La: I cried. I faked it. [Hugs]