Chapter 180: Forced Marriage

Liu Kexin did not notice Xiao Bing swallowing. She smiled sweetly, “In truth, the happiness people are looking for is right beside them. Do you like feeling the summer breeze on your palms? That light and cool feeling, does it make you feel comfortable? If it does, that’s a kind of happiness.”

Xiao Bing nodded, “You are right.”

“We are often so busy with work and making money that we overlook the truly invaluable things that seem so ordinary and easily available to us. Sometimes I feel that even breathing the fresh morning air is a kind of happiness. I also find it enjoyable bargaining with the vegetable sellers and chatting with them.”

“Watching familiar trees and skyscrapers passing by when sitting in a car is also happiness.”

“Sometimes happiness is knowing how to enjoy the things you already have. I have my parents who love me very much, I can bargain with the aunties in the market, I have friends who care about me, I have eyes that can help me see beauty in nature and I can feel the differences of the four seasons. I really feel I’m leading a very blessed life.”

Liu Kexin smiled happily.

Xiao Bing was taken aback. Maybe he had been so tensed up for so long that he had missed the most precious things in life, even forgotten how to enjoy.

The two talked about their happy childhood memories. Though Xiao Bing’s childhood was in an orphanage, he was not deprived of happiness. He had friends in the orphanage and they loved each other and played with each other, which left them so many beautiful memories.

Xiao Bing stood up to send Liu Kexin home. She waved as she arrived at the door of the house. “You’re sure you don’t want to come in? Bye then,” said she with a sweet smile.

“Bye.” Xiao Bing returned her smile. He headed downstairs after watching her walk into the house, then drove out of the neighborhood.

The moment Liu Kexin stepped into her home, her parents smilingly asked her to sit on the sofa. Though Liu Kexin was little nervous, she did what they asked. She sat beside her mother and grabbed the woman by the arm while pouting, “Mom, what’s matter? Can’t we talk tomorrow? I’m sleepy.”

Liu Kexin’s mother patted her daughter’s hands and smiled lovingly, “Honey, you smell of alcohol. Did you drink?”

“Just a little,” answered Liu Kexin, slightly abashed.

“You rarely touch alcohol. Were you happy about something?”

“Yes.” Liu Kexin bobbed her head and said with delight, “Today is the 60th anniversary party of the company. I performed and it was a success.”

Liu Kexin’s mother grinned, “Only because of the show? You have always been working hard. You deserve all the praise. By the way, are you seeing someone lately?

Liu Kexin’s father, sitting opposite them looking stern, spoke in a serious tone, “If you’re dating him, you should invite him in. Don’t let him stand outside every time he brings you home. We’re not that strict here and we are hospitable people.”

Annoyed, Liu Kexin stamped her foot and said, “Why did you bring that up again? I’m still young and I’ve not thought about dating at all. I won’t listen to your nonsense anymore. I’m going to bed.”

Liu Kexin stood up and walked towards bedroom. Then her beaming mother said, “Not dating? Fine. But do you remember what I have told you before?”

“What? What did you tell me?” Liu Kexin had a bad feeling while pretending to be nonplussed.

“When your dad and I lived in the country, we had a good friend whom we owed a lot to. We might not have been able to return to the city if it weren’t for him. We made an agreement that if both our children were daughters or sons, they would be considered as siblings, but if one family had a boy and the other a girl, we would marry them.”

“Not long ago, your father met that friend during a business trip to the provincial capital. It turned out that his friend has become someone of great importance. Your father did not mention that agreement, since we don’t want others to think that we’re eager for his wealth. However, he brought it up and said that he has a son and a daughter. So whether we have a son or a daughter, we can still arrange a marriage for our children.”

“Your father is true to his word, but he’s not that rigid. So he said to his friend that he should ask you first if you’re dating anyone. If you were, then he had a reason to refuse the offer. But if you’re not seeing anyone, then it’s not a bad thing for you and his son to have a date and get to know each other. His son is quite a man, so I was told.”

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Liu Kexin said angrily, “Mom, there’s no hurry. I’m still young!”

But her father turned sullen and spoke seriously again, “Not young anymore. And we merely want you two to get to know each other for now. We’re not asking you to marry him. I’ll ask your uncle Yu to arrange a meeting for you two. If it weren’t for him, we would not have been living so comfortably, no matter how well-educated I am. Besides, his family is far wealthier and more powerful. We can’t be so inconsiderate.”

“Inconsiderate?” Liu Kexin’s eyes reddened. “You were the ones who agreed to the marriage, not I! Why did you promise the future of your child to another? I won’t see him!”

Liu Kexin stormed into her room crying, sobbing as she flung herself on her bed. She had always been a good girl and her family loved her very much, never forcing her to do anything. This was the first time she had felt wronged and it was difficult for her.

Her father returned to his room gloomily. Her mother followed him in and shut the door. She complained gently, “Didn’t we agree not to force her on the matters of marriage. You need to figure out a way to resolve this.”

“Do you think I don’t know that?” The man sighed, “But you yourself know how much the Yu family had done for us back then. If he hadn’t mentioned it, I could just forget about it. But since he brought it up, we can’t just ignore it. Honestly, that was a stupid promise I made when alcohol got a hold of me. But the Yu family are also decent people. Given the wealth of his family, their son will surely not be lacking in female admirers. Yet his father still remembered that promise.”

“But you know our daughter’s temper. She’s always been a good girl, but she won’t accept being forced to date or even marry a man she barely knows.”

“I also know that. Things will be much easier if she had a boyfriend. I can even break my promise if that’s the case. But she hasn’t one. She said the boy who has been sending her home is just a normal friend.”

His wife shook her head, “They seem to be more than friends to me. I should have a talk with our daughter. If she really has someone in mind, then we won’t trouble her. But if she doesn’t, then we can arrange a meeting for the two.”

“That’s what I thought. You go talk to her then. She will definitely listen to her mother.”

Liu Kexin’s mother walked out of her room and stood outside her daughter’s room. She gently knocked and heard Liu Kexin faint sobbing. She felt a little guilt because her daughter had always been their precious treasure. They had never forced her to do anything before and she’d never acted like a spoiled child. Liu Kexin had never annoyed her parents as she had always been a good-tempered girl.

“Who is it? I’m already in bed,” grumbled the sobbing girl.

Her mother replied gently, “It’s me. Can you open the door? I want to come in and talk to you.”

“I’m already in bed.”

Liu Kexin’s mother could not help laughing, “But you’re still awake. You won’t even let your mother in?”

Liu Kexin hesitated, then said, “Alright. I’m coming.”

It was a while before the girl opened the door. Her mother guessed she was wiping her tears. After walking in, the mother took a glimpse at her bed and found a big wet patch on the sheet. Then she looked at her daughter and saw that her eyes were still red, though the tears were wiped off.

Liu Kexin’s mother took her daughter’s hand as she entered the room smiling and shut the door. “What? Are you angry with us?”

“No.” There was a stubbornness in her voice.

But the hurt on her face betrayed her.

Her mother knew this girl too well. She sat down with her daughter and grinned, “Come on. Are you still angry with us?”

Liu Kexin again felt tears stinging her eyes. She grumbled, “You two are bullying me.”

Her mother grinned, “You know what your father’s like. He has been a scholar his whole life. He’s pedantic, always concerned about details and strict with his own students. He barely smiles even at me. But from day one, he’s always doted on you more than me. So how could he ever bully you?”

“Then why does he want me to date the son of his friend that he made in the country?” said Liu Kexin, crying again.