Already Engaged 2

"Xiao Yi, don't mind Li Mu's attitude. He is usually like this." Li Heng said.

"Brother Heng, don't worry. I don't mind Brother Mu's behavior." Yei Yi smiled brightly, but her eyes still swirled with tears of grievance that made Li Heng feel guilty.

He had failed to remember her too...

"Look, just look at her! We all know Brother Mu isn't the extrovert type, and yet, she still tried to rope him into her melodrama. She's using him as a bridge to rope in Brother Heng!"

"Yan Su, can we not talk about Yei Yi's affairs? What did you get me for my birthday?"

"Qing Qing, I know you're trying to change the topic, but please be careful around her." Yan Su dejectedly leaned back on the couch, helpless and clueless on how to alert her cousin to the danger roaming around her.

No matter what she said or how she said it, Qing Yue failed to see what she saw...

"Mistress, Master sent me to inform you breakfast is served. Your presence is required in the Dining Hall." A female servant in white appeared at the entrance and informed.

"Sister Chu, we'll be there." Qing Yue pushed out of her seat and Yan Su took her arm.

"Qing Qing, let's go." Li Wei took the other and the boys got up to follow them.

In the Dining Hall, Li Chen indifferently sat in the head seat. The other Li family members occupied the seats on his left and right.

When Aunt Hong saw the youngsters coming in, she immediately brought up the topic she'd wanted to talk about all day.

"Brother-in-law, Qing Qing isn't a kid anymore. You need to fix her marriage with a good household where she'll be treated like a princess."

"Yes, Brother-in-law. Qing Qing is at a marriageable age now. You should immediately fix her engagement with someone of status. If you ask me, the kids in our family aren't bad either." Aunt Mei added.

Qing Yue felt awkward when she heard the conversation, but still, she expressionlessly continued to her seat. If there was one thing she'd learned in this world that didn't contradict what she'd learned in her previous life, it was the act of impeccable performance and self-control.

She couldn't show her real feelings to anyone if she didn't want to be controlled.

Sister Chu stepped up and pulled Qing Yue's regular seat.

"Qing Qing, you're here." Aunt Hong smiled warmly at her and the Yan Su threw her a knowing glance before sitting beside her mom.

"Aunt Hong, we're here as well. How come you only noticed Qing Qing and not us?"

"Haha...Yan Su, what're you saying? Today is Qing Qing's special day, so of course, she'll receive more attention."

"That's right, Yan Su. When it's your 18th birthday, you'll receive the same treatment." Aunt Mei added.

Yan Bi sat next to his mom, his gaze briefly drifting to the silent Qing Yue before falling back on the table. There was nothing he could say in between the elders, but at that moment, he really wanted Qing Yue to stop behaving like a statue and take a stand for herself.

He didn't want her to be manipulated like a puppet between the aunts.

When Yei Yi saw everyone sit down and ignore her, she felt embarrassed and resentful. Even if she was a distant cousin, she was still a member of the Li Family.

But everyone ignored her existence as if she was a nobody.

With a lowered head, she took the last seat on the table and smiled stiffly.

Yei Yi, you have to endure...endure patiently until your time comes.

As the words drifted through her mind, her stiff smile softened and became more natural, brightening her pretty appearance.

"Everyone, sorry for the delay. Breakfast is ready." At this moment, Aunt Li came in pushing the trolley of foods and smiled at Yei Yi, causing her to flush red. Still, her composer didn't crumble, her smile didn't crack. Seemingly unbothered and at ease, she gently listened to the elders with a lowered head.

Only her clenched fists displayed her internal shame.

The breakfast ended in peace as everyone was lost in their own thoughts.

Once Aunt Li cleared the table, Aunt Hong brought up the topic of Qing Yue's marriage again.

"Bother-in-law, our Heng'er isn't bad in both appearance and capability. Instead of sending our delicate Qing Qing to a stranger's house, why don't you match her with Heng'er? Truthfully, I've always loved Qing Qing like a daughter. If she comes to our house as a daughter-in-law, my long-buried wish will be fulfilled."

"If Heng'er isn't to Qing Qing's liking, then there's still Mu'er. He is about Qing Qing's age and the two will understand each other better. Brother-in-law, how about you consider Mu'er and Qing Qing?" Aunt Si looked at Qing Yue dotingly and warmly smiled at Li Chen.

Li Chen paused and looked up at his daughter.

Did Yue'er like Li Mu?

His cold gaze closely scrutinized her, but he couldn't find anything on her expression that could clue him in on his daughter's feelings.

Sighing helplessly, he turned his sight to the wolves intending to devour his flesh and blood.

He wasn't born yesterday and clearly knew the visit today was nothing more than an excuse to force an engagement.

"I'm afraid that won't be possible, Sisters-in-law. Yue'er is already engaged."

The words were like the drop of a bomb, instantly silencing the chattering group and filling the atmosphere with an unnatural tension.