Chapter 21. “Tsk! My Old Face Can’t Take This!”
Ye Chen finished his explanation with complete sincerity.
The room fell silent.
Lin Meizhi stayed quiet, while Bai Cheng lit a cigarette.
Smoke curled upward as he glanced between Ye Chen and his youngest daughter, who clung tightly to Ye Chen’s arm.
He scratched his head.
A few more strands of hair drifted down from his scalp.
“But no matter how you spin it, Xiyan was your sister-in-law before!”
“How—how could you go after her ?!”
Bai Cheng stomped his foot in frustration.
Bai Xiyan pouted. “Dad, what’s that supposed to mean? It’s not like I’m ugly.”
“Besides, haven’t people always said I’m a little prettier than my sister?”
Bai Cheng bared his teeth. “That’s not the damn point!”
Ye Chen chuckled but didn’t respond further.
Let the old couple say whatever they wanted.
At this point, the deed was done—he and Bai Xiyan had already gotten their marriage certificate. They’d crossed the line.
Seeing his indifferent expression, Bai Cheng was at a loss for words.
“Then—what are you planning to do about Xiyi?”
Ye Chen shrugged. “We’re already divorced. I’m Xiyan’s husband now. My responsibility is to her alone—what Xiyi does isn’t my concern.”
Bai Cheng looked stunned. “You—you’re really this heartless?”
Ye Chen glanced back at Bai Xiyan. “If I kept dragging things out with Xiyi, would that make you happy? Or do you want me to bounce back and forth between the two sisters?”
Just the thought of that scenario made Bai Cheng’s face turn green.
If things really went that way, his reputation would be ruined!
Lin Meizhi, however, wasn’t as conflicted.
She studied Ye Chen, then looked at Bai Xiyan’s gentle expression, and suddenly realized—her youngest daughter actually seemed like a better match for her former son-in-law.
At the very least, their temperaments aligned better.
Bai Xiyan was three years younger than her sister, and she was already willing to have children?
Did that mean her dream of becoming a grandmother would come true soon?
She rubbed her hands together, shot Bai Cheng a look, then stood up.
“Xiyan, come with me for a second.”
Bai Xiyan didn’t move immediately. Instead, she glanced at Ye Chen.
Ye Chen nodded. “Don’t worry, go ahead.”
Only then did she stand up.
That simple interaction made Lin Meizhi and Bai Cheng realize something—this was a level of harmony they’d never seen between Ye Chen and Bai Xiyi.
This was what a real marriage should look like.
Bai Xiyan followed Lin Meizhi into the kitchen.
“Xiyan, I’m going to ask you a few questions, and you better answer honestly!”
Lin Meizhi’s tone was deadly serious.
Bai Xiyan nodded firmly. “Go ahead, Mom.”
“First—when did you come back to the country?”
“You were back for a whole week and didn’t even call your own mother? You ungrateful brat!”
“And when did you—when did you and Achen get married?”
“Then, you and Achen, did you—”
“You don’t even know what I was going to ask!”
“Fine, whatever. Does your sister know about this?”
“She does. And—she was even livestreaming about it yesterday.”
“What?! Livestreaming?! So—a bunch of people already know?”
“Quite a few, yeah. I didn’t expect her to broadcast it.”
“So—do the neighbors know?”
“That—I’m not sure. But probably.”
“Tsk! My old face can’t take this! Right before you two showed up, I was telling people your sister and Achen were getting back together!”
“Last question—are you really ready to have Achen’s child?”
“I’ve been ready. The moment I get pregnant, I’m keeping it.”
“Good! Your sister always had excuses, but if you’re willing, then I won’t say another word. But—have you thought about how you’ll face your sister? How are you two going to interact from now on?!”
Just thinking about it gave Lin Meizhi another headache.
As for the whole two daughters, one son-in-law mess—
What could she do? The deed was done.
If it were anyone else, she would’ve exploded in rage and kicked the bastard out.
She loved this son-in-law. She couldn’t bring herself to hate him!
“Ugh, fine. I’m not dealing with you kids’ drama anymore.”
“Figure it out yourselves. Since you’re back, help me cook dinner.”
“And as for you and your sister—sort it out yourselves. I refuse to get involved!”
With that, Lin Meizhi actually let it go, pulling Bai Xiyan into making dinner together.
Bai Xiyan chopped vegetables with practiced ease.
Watching her, Lin Meizhi couldn’t help but smile.
“Hmph, looks like studying abroad didn’t make you forget how to cook. You’re still way better than your sister.”
Bai Xiyan chuckled but didn’t respond, her eyes curving happily.
Mother and daughter worked in perfect sync in the kitchen.
Meanwhile, in the living room—
Ye Chen and Bai Cheng, father-in-law and son-in-law, each smoked a cigarette in silence.
Clouds of smoke drifted between them.
An awkward stalemate.
Outside the neighborhood.
Bai Xiyi sat in her Ferrari, sunglasses on, absentmindedly scrolling through her phone.
Every now and then, she glanced up at her parents’ apartment.
“Sigh… Maybe I should go up and mediate. If they’re arguing too much, the old folks might get too worked up.”
After hesitating for a moment, she put on a face mask and stepped out of the car.
The whole way, she kept her head down, walking as fast as she could.
But no matter how much she tried to avoid attention, she could feel the whispers and pointing fingers behind her.
Her heart pounded uneasily.
Her high heels tapped against the pavement as she quickened her pace.
She reached the familiar door.
“Huh? Why is it so quiet?”
“Did something happen?!”
Her expression shifted slightly as she pulled out her key and unlocked the door.
She saw four people sitting around the dining table, laughing and chatting.
The parents she’d been worried about were now happily eating dinner—with her ex-husband and her younger sister!