-011- Mrs. Zhou.
In the mid-afternoon, the vast Xuan Family Villa was eerily quiet.
When Xuan Yang entered, Aunt Wang, the live-in nanny, was wiping down the antique vase in the entrance hall.
Her adoptive mother, Chen Yinrou, and Xuan Yao were talking in the living room, their voices not loud but not trying to hide anything either.
"Mom, you know I don't like Zhou Lin," Xuan Yao said impatiently and with grievance. "The person I've always wanted to marry is..."
Xuan Yao bit her lip, too embarrassed to say it, but her mother understood. She sighed. "Mom knows, Mom knows all of it."
"But Yaoyao, we can't reach Zhou Dang. The heiress of the Huo family, who is his social equal, has already returned home. Soon enough, the two families will definitely settle the marriage." Her mother spoke earnestly. "My dear, how can our Xuan family compete with the Huo family? And how can you compete with Huo Yuntang?"
If the person in front of her were Xuan Yang, Chen Yinrou would not be so considerate of her feelings.
But Xuan Yao was her own biological daughter.
Thinking back, it was because she and her husband, Xuan Yinnian, had been too strict and demanding with her when she was young that their daughter had sneaked out and been lost for so many years.
Chen Yinrou couldn't bear to say another harsh word to her and could only patiently and gently persuade her.
"Your second aunt said that Zhou Dang's father is very fond of Huo Yuntang. The marriage between the Zhou and Huo families is already a done deal."
"Your father and I are only thinking about your future."
"Although Zhou Lin is not as powerful as Zhou Dang, he comes from the Zhou family, has a gentle and steady nature, and you won't suffer if you marry him."
Besides, with her cousin Chen Yinrong also in the Zhou family, if Xuan Yao married into it, she would have an elder to look after her. That would put Chen Yinrou and Xuan Yinnian at ease.
Xuan Yao's eyes reddened, and she shook her head in refusal. "I don't want to. I want to marry someone I love."
Chen Yinrou: "..."
Only after the two in the living room fell silent did Xuan Yang step out from the entrance, casually greeting them. "I'm back."
Chen Yinrou straightened her posture, while Xuan Yao turned her face away to hide her失控的情绪.
As if the conversation between them had never happened.
Chen Yinrou frowned at Xuan Yang. "Where have you been? You've only been back a few days, and you're out every day."
Xuan Yang answered truthfully. "I went to the school anniversary event at Jingbei No.1 High School."
Chen Yinrou said, "You're quite relaxed. Have you contacted Xingyue yet?"
Xuan Yang had originally planned to greet them and go upstairs to her room, but she hadn't expected Chen Yinrou to drag her into this.
She paused for a moment, then walked into the living room. "He still hasn't accepted my friend request, and his phone is unreachable."
"What did Uncle say? Has he found him?"
Chen Yinrou was speechless for a moment, her brow furrowing deeper. "Your uncle is counting on you to keep Xingyue in line after you marry him. Now that he's missing, you should be more concerned."
Xuan Yang sat down on the single sofa, picked a seedless green grape covered in water droplets from the fruit bowl on the coffee table, and ate it, directly sidestepping the topic. "I want to tell you something. I plan to move out."
Xuan Yao, who had finished wiping her tears, glanced at her. "Sister, is it uncomfortable living at home?"
Chen Yinrou also said, "You're about to get married. Why move out?"
With the marriage alliance between the Xuan and Chen families imminent, Chen Yinrou naturally wanted Xuan Yang to stay at home for easy control.
But in her heart, Xuan Yao wished Xuan Yang would leave the house. When sharing the same space with Xuan Yang, she always felt overshadowed and reminded of the past when she had been rescued by her.
Facing Xuan Yang always made her uncomfortable.
Xuan Yang only answered her adoptive mother's question. "It's convenient for work."
Earlier, while eating with Zhou Dang, Xuan Yang had received a call from the HR department of Junda Law Firm.
Her written test results were out, and Junda was very satisfied, asking when she would be free to come in for an interview.
Judging by the other party's tone, they seemed very pleased with her performance.
The interview was probably just a formality.
Xuan Yang planned to go for the interview in the next couple of days and also sort out her accommodation.
As for the marriage alliance, since Zhou Dang had asked her to wait two days, she would wait patiently.
Chen Yinrou hadn't expected Xuan Yang to have already secured a job. She was surprised and a little displeased. "Why are you looking for a job at a time like this?"
"Once you marry Xingyue, you should focus on the family."
In Chen Yinrou's view, it made no difference whether Xuan Yang found a job or not. After marrying Chen Xingyue, she would definitely have to quit and become a full-time housewife.
Xuan Yang took a few green grapes and walked away, still saying, "We can discuss these things after the wedding."
Chen Yinrou had long realized that Xuan Yang was no longer the little girl from nine years ago who could be disciplined and manipulated.
Although she still appeared gentle, quiet, obedient, and sensible on the surface, deep down she had her own ideas.
But no matter how strong-willed she was, without the Xuan family, she was nothing.
Being able to marry into the Chen family was already the best outcome for her.
With these thoughts, Chen Yinrou let Xuan Yang be and focused on persuading Xuan Yao.
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