In the dead of night.
Soundly sleeping, Qiao Xingyin was woken up by the noise of argument and scolding.
She rubbed her eyes, slipped on her slippers, and walked to the staircase.
The sight of the living room downstairs left her teary-eyed.
"Wei Mingxia, I raised you and that burden for so many years. Now, at my time of need, can’t she make a little sacrifice?" Her stepfather, Nan Qingyuan, drunkenly pointed at her mother and slurred.
Wei Mingxia sat on the floor, her hair disarrayed, sobbing like she was made of tears. "The Sixth Master of the Jiang family is notoriously cruel and merciless, not to mention he's gay. Any girl who gets close to him ends up with a broken arm or a scarred face. My daughter is still young, how can she go through such torment?"
It was all because she was unable. Twelve years ago, after the death of her husband, she became a nightclub singer. Fortunately, she was noticed by Nan Qingyuan and moved into a luxurious mansion with her daughter.
But the bitter life that followed was not something you could share with outsiders.
Not only was she frequently beaten, but her daughter was also often bullied by the daughter of Nan Qingyuan's ex-wife.
Now, in order to secure the Jiang family's investment, Nan Qingyuan wants to send her daughter into the lion's den. How could she bear it?
Nan Qingyuan glanced at her with revulsion and jabbed at her forehead with his finger.
"Look at your pathetic state. The Jiang family is the most prominent family in the capital. Even if it costs half of one's life to get close to Master Jiang, women who wish to marry him could form a line that stretches out of the city. If it wasn't for Old Madam Jiang specifying Xingyin, do you really think this opportunity would fall into her lap?”
His own biological daughter, Nan Ruoxi, was twenty-two this year, at her prime. He had intended for her to marry into the Jiang family, but was flatly refused.
Wei Mingxia, looking ashen, clung to Nan Qingyuan's leg. "I am willing to work like an ox and a horse to repay the kindness you’ve shown us mother and daughter, but Xingyin is only twenty years old, still a student who hasn't graduated from college. I beg you to let her go!"
Nan Qingyuan kicked Wei Mingxia away, "Short-sighted woman, I tell you, Qingyin must marry into the Jiang family, don't blame me for being rude if you disagree."
Finishing his sentence, he picked up the whip hanging on the wall, preparing to lash out at Wei Mingxia.
"Stop!"
Qiao Xingyin, quickly ran down the stairs, heartbroken, she held Wei Mingxia in her arms.
"Mom, are you okay?"
Wei Mingxia shook her head, "I'm fine, go back to sleep now!"
Now with Nan Qingyuan not thinking straight, she feared he might lash out at Qiao Xingyin as well.
"No, I won't go to sleep, I can't sleep on this fancy bed. Let's leave now!"
She had been living in boarding school for all these years, occasionally seeing her stepfather abuse her mother when she returns home.
She tried to persuade her mother to divorce, even if it meant a poor life, she didn't want her mother to live such a humiliating existence, but all to no avail.
This time no matter what, she would take her mother away from this place.
Wei Mingxia held her daughter's hand, biting her lip, tears trailing down her cheeks.
"Xingyin, mom can't leave. If mom leaves, your grandma won't survive."
Qiao Qingyin was stunned at first, but she understood soon after.
Her grandmother had had heart disease for many years, and despite several surgeries, she didn't improve. She barely clung to life by the day with the help of expensive imported medicine. Without the money for medication, she probably couldn't survive a month.
Qiao Xingyin fell to the ground, a deep sense of helplessness welling up in her heart. Her eyes were dry and sore, she wanted to cry out loudly, but there were no tears.
After a long pause, she took a deep breath and whispered, "I'll...I'll marry him... But on one condition, you must never harass my mom again."
Nan Qingyuan was overjoyed, "Good! Good! Whatever you say, I'll agree. At least my daughter knows what's best for her!"
