CHAPTER 182: MARRY INTO THE FAMILY

After three days of quietly staying under Grandpa He’s roof, Qi Jianyi finally gathered enough courage to return to the Qi residence. She knew that the tension between herself and Miss Qi’s parents could not be left unresolved forever. It was time to face them.

Grandpa He and Grandma He had both wished to accompany her back, fearing that their daughter and son-in-law might say something sharp or wounding. Yet Qi Jianyi gently stopped them, with He Zeqing stepping in to reassure them on her behalf. Behind their backs, she secured a promise from He Zeqing that he would support her if anything were to go wrong.

Taking in a deep breath, she slowly exhaled, steeling herself. With her left hand gripping the handle of her luggage and her right hand clenching tightly at the hem of her clothes, she stepped forward toward the entrance.

Her heart trembled with unease, for beyond that door waited two figures whose faces bore such painful resemblance to the parents she once knew in her own world.

What Qi Jianyi did not know was that behind the door, seated stiffly in the living room, were the middle-aged couple and their twin sons. The four of them sat together in anxious silence, equally restless as they awaited her return.

Qi Jianyi had spent three nights away in her grandparents’ home, and in that time both Mr. Qi and Mrs. Qi had secretly worried that she intended never to come back, that she might choose to live there instead.

So when word came from the housekeeper that Qi Jianyi had returned, luggage in hand, their hearts surged with joy and relief. If not for the fear of making the moment awkward, Mr. Qi would have already gone to the door to welcome her himself.

As the housekeeper opened the door, both Mr. and Mrs. Qi felt their breath catch, while the twins, Qi Jinlu and Qi Jinli, grew no less nervous, their palms sweating as though awaiting judgment.

Meanwhile, Qi Jianyi stepped inside, greeting the familiar housekeeper with a polite nod. Handing him her luggage, she spoke softly, "Thank you, Uncle Li."

Her words of gratitude drew a gentle smile from the man.

Turning away from him, she moved toward the living room. The moment she stepped in, her eyes fell upon the Qi family. All four of them sat side by side upon the couch, backs unnaturally straight, their faces tense with anticipation.

Realising that they, too, were just as unsettled as she was, Qi Jianyi felt a small portion of her own nervousness ease away. Gathering her composure, she walked slowly in their direction.

"Dad, mo—Aunt He, Jinlu, Jinli," Qi Jianyi greeted haltingly, her voice laced with awkwardness.

She remained standing behind the empty couch before her, uncertain if she ought to take a seat or not.

At once, Mrs. Qi’s eyes reddened at the sound of that address. Even Mr. Qi appeared taken aback, stunned for a brief moment before releasing a long, quiet sigh.

"Do you hate me?" Mrs. Qi suddenly asked, her trembling voice shattering the fragile air of silence.

Qi Jianyi’s eyes widened as she stiffly shook her head, her lips parting in surprise.

"Then why did you not call me Mom?" Mrs. Qi pressed, her tone sharp with hurt, almost like a scolding.

"Am I not worthy of being called that?" Her voice cracked at the end, and she released a choked sob, tears slipping down despite her attempt to hold them back.

The sudden turn of events startled Qi Jianyi. But without hesitation, she rushed forward to Mrs. Qi’s side. Dropping to her knees, she placed her hands gently upon the woman’s lap, a gesture that came so naturally, one she had always done for her own mother back in her world whenever she had angered her.

"I thought... I thought you did not want me to call you that..." Qi Jianyi whispered, her head lowering as her voice muffled, the words breaking apart as if they had been held in her heart for far too long.

Mrs. Qi’s hands instantly reached out, seizing both of Qi Jianyi’s trembling ones. She gave them a gentle slap, more of a reprimand filled with pain than true anger.

"How could you say something like that?!" her voice quivered with emotion.

"You are my daughter. No matter where you came from, you will always be one of my daughters." Those words, resolute and unyielding, fell like rain upon Qi Jianyi’s parched heart.

The certainty in them shattered her fragile composure. At once, tears gushed forth, and she broke down completely, throwing herself into Mrs. Qi’s arms and clinging to her as though afraid she would vanish.

"Mom..." Qi Jianyi cried out between sobs, her voice raw as she buried her face against the curve of Mrs. Qi’s neck.

"Mom..." she called again, softer this time, the tender plea melting Mrs. Qi’s heart even further. Tears welled in the older woman’s eyes until they overflowed, and she wept together with the girl in her arms.

"Jianyi, can you give Mom a chance? Let me take care of you, let me love you, alright?" Mrs. Qi pleaded earnestly, her tears falling onto Qi Jianyi’s hair.

She could not bear to watch Qi Jianyi distance herself the way her own daughter once had. She had made mistakes in the past, grievous and irredeemable, mistakes that had carved an unbridgeable gap.

Now, with Qi Jianyi before her, she could not allow history to repeat itself. Qi Jianyi lifted her tear-stained face, her eyes shimmering as she nodded repeatedly, each motion filled with desperate sincerity.

If there was anyone in this world whom Qi Jianyi longed to be loved by—aside from Song Chengfeng—it was Mrs. Qi, the mother figure who stood before her now. Hearing her heartfelt plea, Qi Jianyi accepted without the faintest hesitation.

Mrs. Qi wished for the chance to build a bond with her, and Qi Jianyi, who had always feared the loneliness of being an orphan in this world, longed for acceptance just as deeply.

"Mom, don’t throw me away, okay?" she hiccupped, trying to act playful even as her eyes glistened with tears, her words brimming with vulnerability.

Mrs. Qi nodded vigorously, stroking her daughter’s back with trembling hands.

"No. Mom will never throw you away. You and Xiao Yi are both my daughters." Unable to endure the sight of her child’s tears, Mrs. Qi pulled Qi Jianyi back into her embrace, holding her as though she might disappear if she loosened her grip.

She prayed silently, thanking the heavens for granting her another chance to treat her daughter with love. She also vowed to never give up on Miss Qi, that she would continue to love her and wait for her, no matter how long it might take.

And perhaps, she thought, Qi Jianyi’s presence was heaven’s way of offering them redemption, a second chance to protect and cherish the daughter they had once failed.

Watching the two women weeping and clutching one another, Mr. Qi’s eyes filled with tears. With a heavy heart and trembling resolve, he stepped forward and wrapped his arms around both of them, enclosing them in a firm embrace.

Inwardly, he swore he would never again allow harm to come to them. The twins, Qi Jinlu and Qi Jinli, exchanged hesitant glances before quietly moving closer. Following their father’s lead, they slipped into the embrace as well, turning what had been a mother and daughter’s reconciliation into a complete family hug.

At the doorway, Housekeeper Li stood silently, his eyes moist. Lifting a hand, he discreetly wiped his tears as he gazed upon the sight. At long last, he thought with relief, their young miss had truly returned to their side.

...

"How are you and Xiao Feng?" Mrs. Qi asked gently as she placed a slice of tender meat into Qi Jianyi’s bowl.

After that heartfelt family embrace earlier, the atmosphere between them had shifted entirely. The tension and awkward distance that had weighed upon the household for days seemed to dissolve, replaced by the warmth and closeness they had once shared seven years ago.

Qi Jianyi sitting opposite her mother, picked up the piece of meat her mother had given her and slowly placed it into her mouth. She chewed with deliberate calm, knowing well that all eyes were fixed upon her, waiting for her reply.

"Mom, dad." She finally spoke after swallowing, her tone casual and even, as though she were stating the most ordinary of matters.

"I want to marry him." Her simple declaration struck the table like a thunderclap.

Mrs. Qi froze in stunned silence, her eyes widening, while Mr. Qi’s reaction was even greater. The chopsticks in his hand slipped from his grasp, clattering against the floor as he stared at his daughter in disbelief, utterly shaken.

Before Mr. Qi could give voice to the rejection already forming in his chest, Qi Jinlu hurriedly interjected. "Isn’t it too early for marriage?"

Qi Jianyi turned her head toward her younger brother seated on her left. Tilting it slightly, she raised her brows and countered with a question that left him speechless.

"Seven years of waiting, do you think it’s too early for marriage?"

The firmness of her words silenced Qi Jinlu entirely. But before she could take a breath of relief, her other brother spoke up.

"Will you leave us then?" Qi Jinli asked, his voice holding a trace of unease. Qi Jianyi chuckled lightly, her eyes softening.

"I’m just getting married, not leaving the country."

Mrs. Qi, who had been quietly observing, finally let out a long sigh. Having endured her own mother’s stern scolding not long ago, she no longer had the heart nor the intention to oppose. If Qi Jianyi wished to marry Song Chengfeng, then Mrs. Qi would stand firmly at her side, ensuring nothing would come between them.

"Sigh... then, when will he come to propose marriage?"

"You—why didn’t you ask for my opinion?" Mr. Qi suddenly cut in, his voice sharp with agitation, leaving Qi Jianyi no chance to answer.

His protest immediately earned him a piercing glare from Mrs. Qi. She had suffered hours of her mother’s reprimands, while her husband too had endured a far harsher lecture from his own father-in-law.

Grandpa He had explicitly warned Mr. Qi not to obstruct his granddaughter’s wishes again. And yet, it seemed the long sermon had already slipped from his mind, for the only thought consuming him now was how to prevent this marriage from happening.

How could he possibly marry off his daughter so soon? He had barely begun to dote on her to his heart’s content!

Sensing that her parents were on the brink of another quarrel, Qi Jianyi swiftly intervened, dropping yet another revelation that plunged the dining table into a heavy silence.

"Actually, he’s the one who is waiting for my marriage proposal." Her cheeks flushed as she recalled how boldly she had told him to wait until her family came forth to ask for his hand.

"What?" Mrs. Qi could only manage that single word, her mind reeling with confusion.

"He is going to marry into our family. So..." Qi Jianyi trailed off, her embarrassment plain as she rubbed the bridge of her nose. "So we should be the ones proposing to his family."

Mrs. Qi blinked rapidly, struggling to comprehend what she had just heard.

"Did he... did he know this?"

"Well..." Qi Jianyi lowered her head slightly, her voice softening. The entire family stared at her, their expressions demanding an answer.

"He was the one who suggested it," she admitted, her words barely above a whisper, "saying that he wished to be married into our family."

Mrs. Qi sighed softly and shook her head, utterly unable to comprehend the thoughts and actions of the younger generation these days.

While she was caught between doubt and worry, the three men in the room reacted in a completely different manner—their eyes brightened with unmistakable approval. For the first time, Song Chengfeng had done something that truly satisfied them.

Marrying into the Qi family? Naturally, Mr. Qi found such an idea delightful.

With a rare look of satisfaction crossing his face, he nodded firmly and said, "This kid is smart for once. Since he said so, Ling’er, you should begin preparing the betrothal gift, and we will pay their family a visit the day after tomorrow."

To Qi Jianyi’s surprise, the situation unfolded in a way she had not expected. She had thought it would be her father who was the most difficult to convince, yet it turned out to be her mother who fell into greater hesitation.

"You..." Mrs. Qi started, wanting to scold her husband, but words failed her midway.

She could only turn back to her daughter, her voice carrying concern as she asked, "Do you think his family will agree? Song Chengfeng is their only child after all."

Mrs. Qi hoped her daughter would reconsider, her tone almost pleading. Even though times had changed and such practices were no longer bound by the restrictions of the past, a man marrying into his wife’s family was still a rarity. More importantly, Song Chengfeng was the sole heir of the Song family. If he were to enter the Qi household, then his future children would bear Qi Jianyi’s surname rather than his own.

"What’s wrong with marrying into our family? Our home is large enough for everyone, and if he does not wish to stay here, the house we purchased for Jianyi remains unoccupied. They could live there instead."

Mr. Qi instantly refuted his wife’s concerns, his protective desire for his daughter outweighing everything else. His words, however, earned him a sharp pinch to the waist.

"What about their future children then? Whose last name should they carry?" Mrs. Qi pressed on, unwilling to yield.

"Of course, their child should have my last name. After all, he married into our Qi family." Mr. Qi declared without hesitation, refusing to give up what he considered the perfect chance to keep his beloved daughter close. He spoke with absolute certainty, disregarding entirely the complications such words would bring.

"Xiao Feng is the only child in his family!" Mrs. Qi finally raised her voice in exasperation. Her patience ran thin as she tried to make her husband see reason.

Did he not realize how difficult this truly was? Even if Song Chengfeng himself agreed, could the Song family accept it so easily? Especially with that strict grandfather presiding over the household! It was impossible to imagine the Song family relinquishing their only grandson so readily.

"Well, we agree that the first child should bear my last name, and if we have another, then that one can carry his last name." Qi Jianyi spoke at last, cutting into the rising quarrel before it escalated further.

Her calm but decisive words silenced the argument at once.

Hearing her suggestion, Mr. Qi laughed heartily, his happiness spilling over. He praised his daughter as if she were the most brilliant mind alive, his laughter echoing through the dining room.

Beside him, Mrs. Qi could only shake her head in exasperation, her heart weighed down by thoughts of the inevitable storm that lay ahead.

She could already imagine the chaos that would erupt the moment their family came forward to propose marriage.

And indeed, her unease proved true.

On the day when the Qi family, accompanied by the He family, officially visited the Song residence to present their proposal for the only son of the Song family, utter uproar followed.

Every household within their circle of influence was thrown into disbelief, and even the newspapers and reporters caught wind of the shocking affair.

Yet no matter how noisy and disorderly the world outside became, it paled in comparison to the turmoil that exploded within the Song residence itself.

But that, however, was a tale for another time—one that would later be remembered as one of the most startling episodes in the chronicles of the elite families.