But how can I admit? If I do, it’ll break Xiaobai’s heart. Therefore, Du Xiaoyu immediately denied her daughter’s accusation. “No, because you didn’t agree. So, why would I still do that? Like I said, I subsequently realized that I’ve been putting too much pressure on you. You didn’t want to be in a relationship, but yet I kept forcing your hand that you had to put on a show with a fake boyfriend, whom you eventually ended up dating. So, after a careful deliberation, I decided that you both should put a stop to it before things take a bad turn.”
In fact, those words were a plausible explanation that Du Xiaoyu made up to deflect her daughter’s suspicion, which did not appear to be convincing. Nonetheless, her daughter was too clever to see through her fear that the fortune tellers’ presentiment would come true. Liang Yahe and I were going to put this behind us, but I had a nightmare about my daughter’s marriage the same night. After all, those who know nothing fear nothing, but once they know and wish to try again, they’ll always be held back by fear. It wouldn’t take long before Jiang Xiaobai found loopholes in Du Xiaoyu’s explanation.
“I don’t buy your story, mom. You were previously hopeful about us, but you’re now acting like a different person.” Upon saying that, Jiang Xiaobai started becoming more serious. “Mom, I need you to tell me honestly. Did you sneak behind our back to consult a fortune teller with our horoscopes? Then, when the result turned out to be unfavorable, you want me to break up with Xiao Su.”
“How could you say that, my girl?” Du Xiaoyu said with a timorous voice as she was afraid that her daughter would see through her. “I already told you I didn’t. I even asked you earlier on, didn’t I? I gave up the idea right after you disagreed.”
“That’s not who you are.” Jiang Xiaobai said in disbelief, “Mom, I know you too well. No one can sway you once you make up your mind. You’ve always been this way since I was little. In fact, it’s not just me because you hardly ever listen to dad’s words as well. So, I doubt you didn’t visit the fortune tellers. Moreover, Xiao Su’s mom is desperate to make me her daughter-in-law, so she’ll likely agree to any condition you put forth to her.”
Oh gosh! She’s gotten every detail precisely correct. Du Xiaoyu was rendered speechless by her daughter, not knowing what else she could say in her defense. She was reluctant to admit it because she didn’t want to break Jiang Xiaobai’s heart. Besides, as the latter’s mother, Du Xiaoyu knew her daughter wouldn’t have begun a relationship with a man if she hadn’t fallen for him. After all, Jiang Xiaobai used to be a free spirit who deemed that a relationship would tie her down. It seems that she is serious about her relationship with Xiao Su now that they have become a couple and are well liked by the elderly. However, that’s exactly why I want to make her see my point, but my girl is too clever to see through me.
At the thought of that, Du Xiaoyu let out a sigh. “Alas! Since you’ve figured it out, I guess there’s nothing much I can say.” Jiang Xiaobai knew she was right, but when she heard her mother’s confession firsthand, she still felt a sting of pain. She then bit her lips as her anger slowly overwhelmed her. “Mom, didn’t I make myself clear about my objection? Why didn’t you listen to me?”
“I did this for your sake, my girl. I’m your mother, and do you think I’d set you up?”
“But I don’t need it at all!” Jiang Xiaobai exhaled deeply, blowing her bangs upward. “I told you nobody believes that anymore in this modern era, but you wouldn’t listen. Now that you went ahead and got an unfavorable result, you start acting paranoid, even wanting me to break up with him.”
“I know things like this can be odd to believe, but they turn out to be true most of the time. I consulted a few fortune tellers with Xiao Su’s mom yesterday, and they all said the same thing. I wouldn’t believe it if it was just one man’s words, but how can I not be worried when all of them gave the same answer?”
“That’s all because you were too stubborn to listen. It wouldn’t have happened had you listened to me!”
“But what’s done is done. It’s too late to turn back now.”
“It’s all your fault that you didn’t listen!” Jiang Xiaobai said with an angry voice. I just want a peaceful relationship, but my mom is definitely not helping. “Initially, I didn’t want to be in a relationship, but you kept pushing me so far that I had to rent a room outside because I didn’t dare to go home. Now that I’m finally in a relationship, you’re forcing me to break up with him. Mom, are you really doing this for my good? Why must my life go on as you plan? I’m not a kid anymore. I’m a grown adult, and I want to decide for my own future!”
For the first time, Jiang Xiaobai talked back to Du Xiaoyu, while the latter was surprised by her obedient daughter’s response, as she didn’t know what to say in that instant. “Xiaobai, I’m just…”
“Alright, mom. Cut it off.” Jiang Xiaobai interrupted her words agitatedly, as she still hadn’t calmed herself down. She then took a deep breath and said, “I’m sorry, mom. I didn’t mean to be rude, but those words are my actual thoughts. I don’t want you to keep making life decisions for me because I want to be in control of my own life, and I’m prepared for any outcome no matter how it plays out. As for my relationship, it’s my decision to make whether I’ll marry him. If I don’t want to marry him, you can never force my hand, but if I want to, you can’t change my mind either, not even with the words you heard from those fortune tellers. That’s all I want to say.” Upon saying that, Jiang Xiaobai immediately hung up the call.
“Xiaobai, hear me out…” Before Du Xiaoyu could continue her words, she heard a busy tone, which began to panic her. What’s wrong with my girl? She wasn’t like that. Du Xiaoyu tried to call Jiang Xiaobai again, but to no avail as the latter had turned off her phone. Why does she seem to know every move I was going to make? Therefore, Jiang Xiaobai was out of reach at the moment.
After turning off her phone, Jiang Xiaobai threw her phone to the bed and leaned on the balcony. I was thinking about shopping with Fang Tangtang on this sunny day, but I guess I’ve lost all my mood for that. Oh man! I’m so worked up! I told her not to match our horoscopes, but she just wouldn’t listen! More importantly, she didn’t get the result she wanted. Troubled and disturbed, Jiang Xiaobai stayed in the balcony for a while before she entered the house.
Although Xiao Su is now at work, I’m not sure how he is going to feel as my mom if he finds out about this because he still hasn’t completely fallen for me yet. At the thought of that, something suddenly sprang to Jiang Xiaobai’s mind as she paused. Wait a second! Didn’t mom say Xiao Su’s mother tagged along with her? Now that she doesn’t want me to be with Xiao Su, is Xiao Su’s mother going to feel the same way? After all, every parent would want what’s best for their children. So, has Xiao Su’s mom brought this up to him? As she thought about that, she soon felt her blood running cold all over her body.
