Chapter 86: Argument

Chapter 86: Argument

After sending the message, Ming Can stared at her phone screen, feeling warmth creep up her cheeks. This was the first time she had sent a selfie to Chi Xiao; the more she looked at it, the less satisfied she became with the angle and her expression. She should have edited it before sending... Fortunately, she hadn't mentioned the origin of the scarf, so if her intuition turned out to be wrong, it wouldn't be too awkward.

Ming Can sat down in a chair, tapping into Xiao Chi's empty social media feed, closing it, then opening it again, repeating the action aimlessly.

When will he reply...

Just then, the sound of a car pulling up outside caught her attention. Ming Can walked to the window and looked down.

In the dim twilight, she saw her father get out of the car. As if sensing her gaze, he looked up at her window, their eyes meeting. Ming Zheng smiled at Ming Can and mouthed for her to come downstairs.

Ming Can put her phone in her pocket and quickly left the room.

On her way downstairs, her phone vibrated twice in her pocket, but she didn't notice. She walked straight to the living room on the ground floor and asked Ming Zheng, "Dad, have you eaten dinner?"

"I have." Ming Zheng handed his suit jacket to the servant and said to Ming Can, "I heard you were home, so I bought a box of milk ice on the way. Do you want some?"

It was something she used to love when she was in elementary school.

Ming Can nodded quietly and sat at the dining table, watching as the servant took out a small, snow-like dessert from an elegant paper box. The creamy milk ice was topped with mini croissants and fresh strawberries. Ming Can scooped a spoonful and put it in her mouth, her eyes following Ming Zheng as he sat down beside her and asked the servant to brew a cup of fruit tea.

Ming Can: "Did you drink tonight?"

"A little." Ming Zheng often drank fruit tea after alcohol. After the servant brought the tea, he sipped it and watched Ming Can eat the dessert without speaking for a long time.

The atmosphere made Ming Can uncomfortable. She put down her spoon and asked frankly, "Dad, is there something you want to talk about?"

Ming Zheng hesitated, and Ming Can couldn't help but guess what he might say.

He might bring up the topic of finding a stepmother, which would give her a chance to find out if he had reconnected with Jiang Yichu.

Or it could be about an arranged marriage.

Previously, when planning her marriage to Chi Yao, Ming Zheng would frequently ask how she got along with him. Now that the marriage prospect had changed to Chi Xiao, he had become much more reserved, hardly asking about it at all recently.

Ming Zheng took another sip of tea, still looking hesitant.

Finally, he spoke, "Can Can, do you remember the son of Chairman Chi, Chi Xiao, whom I mentioned last time?"

"Of course," Ming Can replied, "Not only do I remember, but I'm quite familiar with Senior Chi Xiao. Just ask me anything you want."

"Is that so?" Ming Zheng was surprised but quickly found it reasonable, "Both of you are top students. Compared to Chi Yao, you and Chi Xiao probably have more in common."

Ming Can thought to herself, not just common interests, we even have a child together.

"Senior Chi Xiao is not only academically excellent," Ming Can said, savoring the sweet ice cream. After a moment's thought, she decided not to hide her feelings, "He's also very good-looking and has a great personality. In short... he's pretty much perfect."

Saying such things about a boy in front of her father made Ming Can feel a bit embarrassed, and she slowly lowered her head, nibbling on her food like a squirrel.

Ming Zheng had never heard Ming Can praise a boy this way. His mood became inexplicably complex, "So, you really like him?"

Ming Can: "Yes."

Ming Zheng leaned back, watching his daughter for a while before suddenly saying, "If that's the case, how about getting married after you graduate from university?"

Ming Can was stunned.

This was the second time her father had talked about Chi Xiao. He had always been indirect before, but now he was suddenly bringing up marriage, which was quite shocking.

Ming Can instinctively frowned, "I still want to pursue a master's degree. I'll consider marriage after I finish my studies."

Ming Zheng: "You can get married first and then continue your studies."

Ming Can looked at him warily, her tone heavy, "Is this your idea, or is it the Chi family's suggestion?"

Before she even asked, Ming Can already knew the answer.

Regarding the arranged marriage, Ming Zheng had always told her, "No rush," "You're still young," and had never pressured her to marry.

What benefit would there be for a girl who hasn't finished her education to enter marriage early?

The only ones who would benefit would be the in-laws, who could snatch her away before she fully matured, trapping her in the family.

Ming Can thought this topic was enough to make her angry, but there was something even more cruel waiting.

Since the topic was already open, Ming Zheng decided to spill everything he had been holding back.

"Can Can, the Chi family hopes that after your marriage, you will join the Chi family's charitable foundation to manage their philanthropic activities," Ming Zheng said, "Your finance major is quite suitable for this role."

Ming Can felt a buzzing in her ears. She recognized every word her father said, but she couldn't understand them when put together, "The Xingchi Group's charitable foundation? What is that?"

Her tone was harsh, as if she were talking about a pile of trash on the ground.

She wasn't belittling charitable foundations; almost every large enterprise established one after growing. Some wealthy families even had charitable foundations as big as major financial groups. However, this was the first time Ming Can had heard of the Chi family having a charitable foundation. It must be a newly established, small-scale operation, far inferior to the Ming family's charitable foundation. Ming Can had always aspired to lead the Ming family. Asking her to work for the Chi family's charity now seemed like a joke.

Thinking this, Ming Can actually laughed, her eyes cold and piercing, making her father sweat as he continued.

"Because it's just starting, it needs someone to manage and develop it," Ming Zheng subtly avoided his daughter's icy gaze and continued, "Additionally, the Chi family hopes that after your marriage, you won't interfere with the Ming family's business."

Hearing this, Ming Can stood up, her face flushed with anger, "Dad, what are you saying? Will I no longer be a Ming after I marry? Am I supposed to dedicate myself entirely to the Chi family? Why bother with education then, I might as well start cooking for them right away!"

"Calm down," Ming Zheng also stood up, placing a hand on her shoulder, "They just don't want you to overwork yourself."

Ming Can sneered, "So they'll be happy if I do nothing after I get married?"

Ming Zheng: "You can still do what you like, like playing the violin..."

"I don't play anymore!" Ming Can clenched her fists, "I haven't liked the violin for a long time!"

Ming Zheng: "I saw you still practicing every day during the New Year?"

"That's because, that's because..." Ming Can couldn't continue.

She knew she had just lied. She didn't dislike the violin; she had always loved it. It was the pressure from everyone around her that made her feel forced. She didn't want to be defined by the violin; she had many other talents and could also conquer the battlefield of power and wealth like a boy. That's why she had to give it up. But then one day, the person she liked suddenly gave her a handmade violin, making her realize how much she still loved music. Now, however, the pressure was unbearable again, and she found herself venting her anger on the violin...

Why did she have to be manipulated like a doll? Why couldn't she have fairness and freedom? If marriage meant being bound, why did people get married?

"Can Can." Ming Zheng, unable to bear his daughter's distress, sighed, "Think about it seriously first, and then let me know your thoughts..."

"I don't need to think about it."

Ming Can took a deep breath, her voice icy,

"My opinion is, this match is not suitable, so let's just call it off."

Pausing, her dark eyes met Ming Zheng's, seeing his struggle, a mocking smile appeared on her lips: "What did Mr. Chi promise to cooperate with you on? You listen to him so readily, without considering my feelings at all?"

Ming Zheng's brows furrowed, at a loss for words.

"Forget it, I don't want to hear it." Ming Can took another deep breath, "Anyway, you won't be able to cooperate with them in the future."

She turned away, not sparing another glance at the man who shared her blood, and left resolutely.

Walking down the stairs, despite the tightly closed windows and doors, Ming Can felt a cold wind ravaging her, chilling her to the bone, her extremities numb.

Outside, the night was dark and heavy, thick clouds obscuring the sky, not a single star visible.

She had thought the worst scenario would be hearing that her father was dating Jiang Yichu, but the real shock was waiting for her here.

Slowly reaching the second floor, Ming Can leaned on the banister, finally understanding why her relationship with Chi Xiao was so strained in the other timeline.

今天的揭露不仅仅触及了她的底线，它们将其切开，并用污秽和淤泥填充了它。

Ming Can knew herself well.

In the other timeline, before she fell in love with Chi Xiao, if she had experienced what she was going through now,

It wouldn't just be impossible for her to fall in love with him.

She would never, ever want to see this man again.

She only hoped he would stay far away from her life.

Forever, never to bother her again.