"When did you wake up?" Shen Manrong walked to the sofa and sat down. Seeing the newspaper on the coffee table, she picked it up. "Huh? Why is Xin Xin on the entertainment headlines?"
"Look at the newspaper carefully, and you'll understand."
Shen Manrong stared at the newspaper in confusion for a long time, her expression gradually turning grim.
"Honey, this can't go on like this for Xin Xin!" Shen Manrong angrily threw down the newspaper. "How can our Xin Xin become an entertainment reporter? Our Xin Xin is the only granddaughter of the Shi family, how can she be an entertainment reporter?"
Shi Jinsong sighed and said nothing.
"Xin Xin was raised like a pearl in our hands. How can she be an entertainment reporter? If this gets out, won't our Xin Xin lose all face?" Shen Manrong became angrier the more she thought about it. "No, I must call Shi Zhengxuan and tell him to retract the news immediately."
"Why would you call him?" Shi Jinsong frowned. "Shi Zhengxuan is a businessman. He will definitely use Xin Xin for hype."
"Then what can we do? Xin Xin is our entire world!" Shen Manrong wailed, her face crumpled. "Xin Xin was raised by us through hardship. How can she expose herself to the public? I absolutely will not allow such a thing to happen!"
"Manrong, calm down." Shi Jinsong held his forehead. "Doing this will only harm Xin Xin."
"What do you mean?" Shen Manrong asked, confused. "Are you afraid Xin Xin will suffer a loss marrying Lu Mingyu?"
"It's more than just a loss," Shi Jinsong shook his head. "Lu Mingyu is the future heir of Sheng's Group. Xin Xin marrying him will not bring her happiness."
"How do you know he won't be Xin Xin's happiness in the future?" Shen Manrong excitedly grabbed Shi Jinsong's arm. "Xin Xin likes Lu Mingyu, and Lu Mingyu likes Xin Xin too."
"But does Xin Xin like Lu Mingyu's power? Does Xin Xin like Lu Mingyu's money?"
"No," Shi Jinsong said. "Xin Xin likes Lu Mingyu himself."
"What's so good about Lu Mingyu?" Shen Manrong said with frustration, wishing he had more ambition. "Besides spending money and dating female celebrities, what else is there for our Xin Xin to like him for?"
Shi Jinsong pursed his lips. "Xin Xin is not someone who judges people by their wealth or poverty."
"You're covering for Xin Xin!" Shen Manrong shouted angrily. "Xin Xin is still young, she doesn't understand anything. She doesn't realize the gap between her and Lu Mingyu."
"Lu Mingyu's father is the CEO of Sheng Corporation, and Lu Mingyu himself is a leading young entrepreneur in City A. He also has three younger brothers and two younger sisters. Do you think Xin Xin will have how much pressure dating someone like him?"
Shen Manrong was stunned.
"Xin Xin has always been well-behaved and sensible since she was a child. I believe she will understand her parents' good intentions," Shi Jinsong said. "Don't pressure her anymore, let her think it over carefully."
Shen Manrong gritted her teeth. "If Xin Xin really ends up with Lu Mingyu, will the Sheng family tolerate her? Then the Sheng family will have opinions about Xin Xin because of this, and Xin Xin will be caught in the middle and wronged. Xin Xin is still a child, she shouldn't bear such great pressure."
"I know," Shi Jinsong held his wife's hand. "But we can't give up on Xin Xin just because she might be wronged in the future, letting her miss this marriage. We should support who Xin Xin likes."
"Who Xin Xin likes, she decides for herself. We shouldn't force her," Shen Manrong choked out. "If she truly wants to marry Lu Mingyu, we should also respect her choice."
"You... sigh..." Shi Jinsong shook his head helplessly, stood up, and prepared to leave.
"Dad." Shi Xin Xin suddenly rushed out and blocked Shi Jinsong's path, looking up at him. "Xin Xin has already made up her mind."
Shi Jinsong froze for a moment, then smiled with relief.
He knew his daughter, intelligent and kind, would eventually see reason.
"Xin Xin, are you sure?" Shi Jinsong asked.
"Mhm." Shi Xin Xin nodded earnestly. "I'm sure I want to marry Brother Mingyu."
Shi Jinsong patted his daughter's shoulder with relief. "Since that's the case, I'll have the lawyer handle Xin Xin's reputation. You go back to your room first, I'll contact the media shortly."
"Thank you, Dad." Shi Xin Xin threw herself into Shi Jinsong's arms, tears streaming down her face uncontrollably.
Shen Manrong sat beside them, watching Xin Xin cry, her heart aching as she wiped away tears.
Shi Jinsong stroked the back of Xin Xin's head. "Don't cry anymore."
"Mhm." Shi Xin Xin looked up, a smile on her lips. "I want Daddy and Mommy to tell me a story before I can sleep."
"Okay."
"Also, from now on, Xin Xin can spend four to five hours with you two elders every week."
"Really?"
"Mhm."
Shi Jinsong and Shen Manrong were very happy, but beyond the joy, there was more sadness.
They knew that Shi Xin Xin wasn't clinging to the warmth provided by her parents out of greed, but because she desperately craved their pampering.
"Xin Xin, you are a good child," Shen Manrong hugged Xin Xin and gently coaxed her. "Don't be sad, Mom will compensate you doubly from now on."
"Thank you, Mom." Shi Xin Xin tilted her small face up. "Xin Xin's favorite person will always be Mommy!"
Looking at her daughter's innocent smile, Shen Manrong couldn't help but her eyes redden.
—
Saturday morning, the sun was shining.
Lu Mingyu woke up, looking at the woman sleeping beside him. He curved his lips and kissed Shi Anqi's cheek.
He had plans to have dinner with friends tonight, so he got up early to get ready.
As soon as he went downstairs, Li Sao brought a lavish breakfast to the table.
"Young Master, good morning." Li Sao greeted him with a smile.
Lu Mingyu nodded, walked to the dining table and sat down, taking a sip of milk.
"Young Master, last night..." Li Sao hesitated for a moment, then mustered the courage to say, "After I closed the door for you last night, I went back to my bedroom and saw Miss Shi lying on the sofa."
Lu Mingyu's action of drinking milk froze.
Seeing Lu Mingyu's stiff expression, Li Sao quickly corrected herself: "I mean, Miss Shi's shoes were placed beside the sofa. She went to sleep wearing slippers. When I called her to wake up, she wouldn't, and she muttered for me not to disturb her. I saw she was really exhausted, so I didn't bother her and let her sleep, and even covered her with a jacket to prevent her from catching a cold."
Lu Mingyu frowned. "Why didn't you wake her up?"
"Young Master, I was also worried Miss Shi would catch a cold," Li Sao explained. "Miss Shi cried all night last night. I guess she was dreaming of her mother. I could see she was in great pain."
Lu Mingyu lowered his head, his mood heavy.
Was she crying because she dreamt of her mother?
Lu Mingyu sighed and put down his cup.
"Young Master, aren't you eating breakfast?" Li Sao asked, confused.
Lu Mingyu said indifferently, "Not hungry."
Li Sao nodded. "Then I'll save some for Miss Shi."
Li Sao turned to leave. Lu Mingyu stared at the half-eaten fried egg on the plate, then suddenly thought of something. He picked up his chopsticks and ate it.
"Young Master, this..."
Li Sao looked at Lu Mingyu in surprise. "Didn't you say you weren't hungry?"
Lu Mingyu glared at Li Sao, who wisely shut her mouth and quickly went to the kitchen to find something to put in a bowl.
When Shi Xin Xin woke up, she found herself in an unfamiliar environment and screamed in fright.
"Ah! Help! Help!!"