Song Ruoxin was a bag of nerves these next few days, She rushed to her phone at every single buzz, hoping that it would be good news.
She sometimes looked just sat by her room window with her eyes locked on her phone as if somehow hoping to will the Qin family to send a message.
After the Excruciating wait, she finally received the long-awaited mail informing her that she had been hired. It came in during a short break before her second shift.
She squealed and jumped out of her seat. Which earned her curious stares from her colleagues. She bounced from foot to foot as she read through the Mail.
The rest of her shifts went swiftly, she had a wide grin throughout her shift which was a sharp contrast to the long face she had on for days.
As soon as her shift ended, she rushed into her manager's office to submit her resignation letter.
She had written the letter after her interview but held on to it until she was certain she had got the job.
Everyone at the book cafe was like family, her manager congratulated her as she accepted the letter.
Since she wasn't expected to start working at Qin mansion until Sunday. Song Ruoxin offered to come in the remaining two days but that was turned down by the manager.
As she stepped out of the book cafe, Song Ruoxin fished her phone out of her bag and held it up. Her phone vibrated as her finger hovered over the call sign beside Tang Yun's number.
She frowned as Mum in bold letters appeared on her screen, she let out a heavy breath and rolled her eyes before swiping up.
"Your grandmother and aunts are staying over for a few days, don't be stubborn. Come over for a family dinner".
"But..."
"Didn't you hear me? I told you not to be stubborn. Must you be so difficult!"
Song Ruoxin shivered and held the phone away from her ear as her mother screamed into her phone.
A few seconds later she returned it to her ear and replied in a very firm voice, "I will be there soon".
She met their neighbor on her way up, she stayed back to greet the 67 years old woman before going up.
It was already dark when she arrived at the front door, she ran her hand through the sides of her jet black and skillfully pulled down the unruly strands.
Song Ruoxin pulled out her phone to inspect her work. She sucked in a deep breath and forced a smile before returning her phone to her bag.
She blinked and glared down at the door as the key failed to open the front door, "what... Why won't_" she took out the key and glanced from the key to the door.
She pressed her lip into a thin line, "Don't tell me that she changed the locks? Are you kidding me!" She fished out her phone and dialed her mother's number.
"What is it?"
"I am at the door, Mum".
"... Hold on," the middle-aged woman took off the apron and walked to the front door. She looked into the living room, her mother and aunt were watching a variety show.
She sent her son a looked before heading to the door. "You lost weight," she said as the door opened.
Song Ruoxin's eyes narrowed but she kept quiet and walked to the apartment. She couldn't make a scene when her grandmother and aunt were here.
She would receive zero support if she did, she might even get hurt by them. Her grandmother and aunts were cut from the same cloth as her mother.
"Greet your grandmother and aunts then come help me in the kitchen. Do not embarrass me in front of them," her mother whispered as they walked to the living room.
She smiled wide as they arrived at the door and held Song Ruoxin's arm affectionately, "Mother, Xin Xin is here!"
After over two decades, Song Ruoxin was used to the performative behavior her mother put on whenever they had people over.
She smiled and stepped forward, Hello grandmother, Aunts"
"Xin Xin ah, you have gotten more beautiful. Sister-in-law must be proud," her uncle's wife, a woman dressed richly in a light pink foreign designer gown said smiling up at her.
"Don't flatter me, sister-in-law. How can Xin Xin compare to your Qiao Qiao".
The other woman grinned and nodded, "You just reminded me that Qiao Qiao called me a few days ago to inform me that she is having a baby".
"Oh my, congratulations"
"Congratulations"
"Thank. you so much,' Aunt Gu said.
"Qiao Qiao is Five years younger than Xin Xin, isn't she? She has been married for less than a year and is already pregnant. Wow," her mother's eldest sister looked up at Xin Xin,
"You will be 29 this year, Xin Xin. You should start thinking of marriage. Considering you do not have a proper job yet, just get married and start having children before it is too late".
Aunt Gu nodded, "eldest sister-in-law is right. Don't worry about working, your husband will provide for you.
"Qiao Qiao's husband works at Qin Electronics, he had a lot of single colleagues. How about I ask him to introduce a few suitable ones to you"
Song Rouxin clenched her hand at her side, she glanced at her mother whose smile remained the same. She opened her mouth to respond but was cut off by her mother.
"No need for that, sister-in-law. Xin Xin is already dating someone, and it's getting serious. I already met his family too. He is quite capable. I was planning on letting you all know tonight".
Song Ruoxin's head snapped to her side, she glared at her mother silently by her mother just ignored her rattled-on about her imaginary boyfriend.
Song Ruoxin blinked not believing what she was hearing. The other women did not notice her actions and just congratulated her.
Her mother as aunts talked in length about her 'relationship' for some minutes before her mother made a clean escape.
Her mother did not let her stay with her grandmother and aunt, out of fear that she would ruin her plan. She grabbed her arm tight and dragged her into the kitchen.
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