As a luxury brand in the jewelry industry, Merald naturally held a significant position in the hearts of the wealthy women of Pingcheng. Among them were the brand's devoted fans who, upon seeing Ming Si's photos and interviews posted on the official account, immediately forwarded them to Cen Xinyan.
Accompanying these messages were numerous compliments; it wasn't hard to sense the genuine envy.
Actually, Cen Xinyan found out even earlier than these friends—she had some connections with Merald's artistic director. It was through a casual conversation one day that she found out the talented and spirited Chinese jewelry designer mentioned a while back was none other than her own daughter.
Strangely, Cen Xinyan's emotions at that moment were more than just a moment of surprise. After settling down, an indescribable feeling settled in.
It was because she had learned about this from someone else's mouth. Despite Ming Si coming back home a couple of times in the past few months, she hadn't mentioned a single word about it. If her friend hadn't brought it up, when would she have known?
And this was her own biological daughter.
Perhaps this is what happens when one grows older; one's mind became so heavy that one couldn't sleep. These past couple of nights, Cen Xinyan had been tossing and turning, thinking about things from the past.
Actually, when Ming Si was very young, she wasn't the type to keep her excitement contained. Especially when she received praise from the kindergarten principal, won awards at the provincial and city levels, or participated in sports events, she would happily run home to share the news. Her eyes and brows would be raised, waiting for compliments.
Even though Cen Xinyan divorced Ming Si's father, it hadn't caused much impact on Ming Si. She was quite understanding, knowing it was her father's mistake and that separation was the right choice. She even clearly stood by her mother's side.
However, as Cen Xinyan became more successful in the fashion world and had to invest more time in her work, the scenes of Ming Si discussing her school life at home became less frequent.
Cen Xinyan finished one busy period after another, and when she paused to catch her breath and looked back, she realized that years had passed unnoticed.
The slightly arrogant yet beautiful little girl from the past had grown into a vibrant and beautiful teenager. At school, she was surrounded by admiring classmates and smiles, but when she returned home, the mother and daughter had trouble finding topics to talk about, appearing silent and unfamiliar.
Cen Xinyan felt a sense of indebtedness and tried to make up for it in various ways. But she wasn't good at getting close to people or showing goodwill, so over the years, she had taken one wrong step after another.
Unfortunately, Ming Si's personality was stubborn, seemingly retaliating for the years of neglect. Even a few offhand remarks could trigger her resistance. In a certain way, she resembled Cen Xinyan.
Just as Cen Xinyan was thinking this, the household maid knocked on the door, "Madam, Young Lady Ming and Young Master Liang have arrived."
Cen Xinyan understood and got up.
Ming Si didn't visit home frequently after her marriage. Firstly, she was a stepdaughter, which meant this was only half her maternal home. Secondly, Cen Xinyan was often absent from home, so her visits were often in vain. She would come over for meals and leave afterward, talking casually, as though checking off a task on a list.
However, this time, she clearly felt that something was different.
Ming Zhengyuan had always been the type to assert his authority as the head of the family. Even if he casually mentioned wanting grandchildren, it was as if he was assigning quarterly tasks—systematic and methodical.
Ming Si barely suppressed her laughter, enduring his serious talk with a series of Mhmms. After dinner, though, she was stopped by Cen Xinyan.
She instinctively thought that Cen Xinyan wanted to continue the topic from the dining table and discuss having children. But what she heard was, "Don't worry about what your father said. If you want to play, play for a few more years. He was just speaking casually. The Ming family still has your older brothers."
Ming Si naturally understood this reasoning; she didn't take Ming Zhengyuan's words seriously to begin with. But when it came from Cen Xinyan's mouth, it felt a bit strange.
She didn't know how to react for a moment. It was as if she had been contending with Cen Xinyan for half her life, and suddenly, the other party released a signal of reconciliation... In the end, she could only say, "Oh."
"I saw your design works. They are beautiful and unique," Cen Xinyan added.
Given her personality, for her to say these words was already quite rare. Moreover, from Cen Xinyan's words and expression, Ming Si could sense a kind of unspoken apology.
Or maybe it was just her imagination.
"Do you think I should find someone to exorcise my mom?" On the way back, Ming Si walked alongside Liang Xian.
Liang Xian glanced at her and chuckled, "Are you talking about your own mother like that?"
Ming Si pouted, "I just feel like she's acting strange today."
She knew that Cen Xinyan did a lot of things with good intentions, only her understanding was off, and changing her controlling nature wasn't something that could happen overnight. She had resisted a few times with no effect, so she didn't feel like bringing it up anymore.
That's why it felt so strange when today, for once, Cen Xinyan didn't meddle in her life or criticize her, and instead, she expressed approval for her design work. Ming Si found it difficult to describe that feeling.
It was elusive, unfamiliar.
"Actually, I didn't want to become a designer before, probably because my thoughts were a bit naïve back," as they left the Ming Family Residence, Ming Si held Liang Xian's hand and gently swung it, "It's because I didn't want to be like her."
The car was parked just outside the gate, but at that moment, they seemed to have an unspoken understanding—they didn't get in the car but strolled along the path outside the courtyard.
The driver was in the car, maintaining a distance that wasn't too far behind.
Snowflakes began to fall from the dim sky, small and sparse, and time seemed to slow down, shrouded in silence.
Liang Xian uttered an En, then asked, "And then?"
Back when she was in junior high and had a rather naïve view of the future, the homeroom teacher asked everyone to write about their aspirations.
Ming Si had written: To become a cellist and go on a world tour.
She had started learning the cello at the age of 5, and her teacher praised her for being talented, so everyone believed that she truly would become a cellist.
Only Ming Si knew; when she was very young and saw Cen Xinyan's design drafts in the study, she became fascinated by the feeling of conveying ideas through design to the outside world.
However, in junior high, she was still quite immature, obstinately refusing to admit it, even though she was captivated by the concept. She stubbornly held onto cellist as her primary life goal.
"But in the end..."
When it was time to apply for school, she chose to study jewelry design at CSM.
"Maybe I just wanted to achieve something that would get her to acknowledge me," Ming Si finished and seemed a bit embarrassed. She bit her lip and continued, "You're not allowed to laugh at me."
"Why would I laugh?" Liang Xian's finger brushed against the palm of her hand, and his tone softened, "Your mom acknowledging you like this means a lot."
"I know," Ming Si stopped in her tracks, tilted her face to look at him, and said, "It's just that I don't feel as happy as I had imagined."
It's not that she wasn't happy.
And that was the strange feeling she had been feeling until now. Cen Xinyan, who had always been domineering, was showing good-will and trying to mend their relationship. However, Ming Si didn't feel as triumphant as she had imagined.
Liang Xian made a sound of agreement, then brushed off the snowflakes from her forehead, "Why?"
Ming Si thought for a moment and suddenly said, "I guess it's because I have you."
Perhaps, even before Cen Xinyan's approval, someone else had already recognized her, supported her, loved her, and indulged her.
After saying this, Ming Si found herself being too cheesy for a couple of seconds. She didn't want to stick around to face him, so she quickly pulled her hand from his and ran towards the car. But halfway there, someone lifted her from behind.
She let out a startled cry, but her lips couldn't help but curl upwards. She struggled a bit dramatically, then stopped struggling and wrapped her arms around his neck.
His eyes were filled with smiles that were reserved just for her.
The end of the year was the busiest time for Jinghong Group. The acquisition of Jiali Hotel was also in its final stage, with both sides exerting tremendous effort to negotiate and maximize their respective interests.
On the surface, Liang Xian maintained a nonchalant and carefree attitude, adopting an air of a young master who couldn't care less. In reality, he was also incredibly busy with this matter, working tirelessly.
After a few days of stalemate, his cold treatment seemed to have worked. The representatives on the other side finally agreed to sign the contract.
Interestingly, the representative of Jiali Hotel shared similarities with Liang Xian. He, too, was a second-generation successor who had recently taken over the family business. However, his first major task upon inheriting the business was dealing with an acquisition, and the price was negotiated down to its lowest point. Looking at the young scion of the Liang family, who was of same age as him, across the table, it was impossible not to feel a twinge of pain, sourness, and bitterness.
Both seemed to lead leisurely lives, so why had the newly appointed Vice President of Jinghong Group achieved such remarkable success?
It wasn't until his assistant provided some insights that he discovered the other party was a renowned capital sniper in the industry abroad, highly skilled in financing methods. Not only did he collaborate to establish an investment company, but he also guided a well-known corporation to rake in substantial profits within three years by capitalizing on market fluctuations. Only then did he fully acknowledge this fact.
And there were rumors that he had already tied the knot.
The pressures of providing for a family must be even more daunting.
Perhaps it was best to concede this round to him.
The representative from Jiali Hotel adopted a somewhat self-mocking spirit, akin to the character of Ah Q.
In a way, the Jiali Hotel representative's thoughts weren't entirely wrong.
The paperwork for the South African private mine that Liang Xian purchased has been completed and the expenses were not insignificant. Ming Si has also become a true loaded individual with her own mine.
When Lin Xijia found out, her expression was one of complete bewilderment, "Wait a minute, other people's husbands or boyfriends give gifts like necklaces or rings. He actually went and got you a whole mine? Can it get any more extravagant?"
"There's also a freshwater pearl farm. The location looks promising, but the procedures are a bit troublesome," Ming Si hadn't finished when Lin Xijia fiercely threw a pillow at her. She caught it in her arms, her smile exceedingly radiant.
Lin Xijia gritted her teeth, "Can I still kidnap you for ransom now? Or should I remind you of what you said about Liang Xian when you were venting to me about him half a year ago? I can find time to tell him, you know?"
"You'd actually do this to me," Ming Si placed a small box in front of her and huffed, "Hmph," before continuing, "After all, I specially designed a small bracelet for you."
Lin Xijia: "?? Wait, I take it back!"
Actually, Ming Si hadn't anticipated Liang Xian's sudden interest in the freshwater pearl cultivation farm. While she did launch a successful pearl collection for the opening, there wasn't a real need for her to start her own freshwater pearl farm.
It wasn't until that day, when she was soaking in the hot spring pool, pondering and playing with a rubber duck, that she suddenly came up with an idea related to pearls.
Without even bothering to properly dry her hair, she threw on a bathrobe, quickly tied a belt around her waist, and rushed upstairs.
Liang Xian was reviewing the group's reports at that time. As she entered the room and approached him, a fresh and pure scent of rosewood permeated the air.
He raised a hand and twirled her damp hair, sitting up a bit straighter, "Why haven't you dried your hair?"
"I'll do it later," Ming Si's eyes were bright, her lips curved slightly in a proud smile. She cleared her throat a couple of times, "Did you get me that freshwater pearl farm because you snatched my pearls in the past?"
Liang Xian took the white towel draped over her shoulders, removed it, and then got up to wrap it around her wet hair, gently absorbing the moisture.
At her words, he arched an eyebrow in disagreement, "I found them first."
However, she had shown interest in them first, so using the term snatch didn't seem too far off.
"Hmph, isn't it a bit too much to use force with a girl?" Since they were already discussing this topic, Ming Si wanted to make things clear. She sat down on his chair, "And you hit my hand."
"Impossible." Liang Xian didn't even think about it, paused, and then added, "Although it's possible that I wanted to shield myself from you and accidentally ended up hurting you."
Ming Si responded with another hmph.
However, she didn't actually remember things very clearly.
After all, she had been quite young at the time, and now when she looked back, her memories were all hazy.
She only remembered the two of them tumbling on the beach. If she moved her hand, it was highly probable that Liang Xian moved his as well.
Listening to him now, she realized that she might have misremembered.
"No, wait. We're discussing the matter of the freshwater pearl farm. You're not allowed to change the subject," Ming Si quickly got back to the point, "So, is this your way of making it up to me?"
"No," Liang Xian dried her hair, changed his position, and then carried her onto his lap.
Ming Si let him carry on with his actions, curiously asking, "Then what is it?"
"I wanted to tell you," he lowered his head, his forehead gently touching hers, "I won't snatch things you like anymore, and I'll give you the best of everything."
Liang Xian, this guy!
Although he's usually lacking in self-preservation instincts and quite deserving of a good beating, he can still be quite charming when he occasionally says sweet things.
The next day, with no need to wake up early, after Liang Xian went to the company, Ming Si indulged in her warm bed for a while. The more she thought about it, the more she felt the need to share with someone.
She sat up in one swift motion, reached for her phone on the bedside table, and in a small group chat with five friends, she initiated a one-sided dog abuse with the opening line:「Do you guys know what Liang Xian bought for me?」
No one responded.
Feeling a bit left out, Ming Si individually tagged each of them and sent several emojis.
Ke Lijie was the first to respond:「??? If you keep this up, I'll leave the group!」
Cheng Yu quickly followed:「If Lijie leaves, then I'm leaving too!」
Ke Lijie, with teary eyes:「Truly my brother!」
Cheng Yu added:「The best brother!」
Ever since Ming Si got together with Liang Xian, Cheng Yu had declared that they were no longer the world's best. Ke Lijie had succeeded to that title. Actually, Cheng Yu originally wanted to share it equally with Yu Chuan, but Yu Chuan's entire demeanor was a resounding No, showing a complete lack of respect.
So now, Ke Lijie had become the big brother of the small group—below him was only Cheng Yu as the younger sibling.
Ming Si, bored and looking for someone to engage with, couldn't pass up the chance when Ke Lijie and Cheng Yu walked right into it. She sat up straight and took on both of them, responding to anything they said with a witty retort. Plus, in WeChat group chats, even if they left, she could easily bring them back.
It was truly a case of tormenting the dogs without letting them resist.
Ke Lijie and Cheng Yu thus embarked on a painful yet spirited start to their day.
Initially, Ming Si had only wanted to boast a little, but with Ke Lijie and Cheng Yu bouncing off each other's comments, she felt the competitiveness rise within her. So, she kept flaunting her affection in the group chat more and more, until she was reminded—
Cheng Yu:「By the way, Ming Si, isn't Brother Xian also in the group? Are you two always this lovey-dovey?」
Barely two seconds after this message was sent, they saw the little peacock, which had been displaying its feathers, suddenly retreat in a guilty manner by swiftly retracting four or five messages.
Messages sent two minutes ago cannot be retracted anymore.
Ming Si tossed her phone aside and, frustrated, buried herself in the blankets, kicking her legs a couple of times. Then, as if remembering something, she quickly got up to review what she had sent in the group.
"..."
Did she really send out that kind of cheesy messages with her eyes closed!
Ming Si cringed so hard at herself that her scalp tingled. Her gaze landed on the clock in her bedroom, and suddenly, she had a brilliant idea. Maybe there's still hope!
At this hour, Liang Xian should be in a meeting without access to his phone, right?
Ming Si swiftly accessed the group chat info, confidently removed Liang Xian from the group, and then discreetly swiped left to delete the entire chat history.
After completing all of this, she gradually calmed down.
Sitting on her bed, she curled her lip, feeling somewhat pleased with her quick thinking.
Actually, it was Ming Si's first time removing someone from a group, and she naïvely believed that by removing the person, he wouldn't be able to see the previous chat history. Little did she know that not only could he see the chat history, but WeChat would also thoughtfully send him a notification: You have been removed from the group chat by Ming Fairy.
A very cold and heartless notification.
When Liang Xian came home, Ming Si was humming a tune while trimming the tulip blossoms on her worktable. She was pondering when and under what pretext it would be suitable to pull him back into the group.
She remained completely oblivious to the impending danger.
It wasn't until the scissors in her hand were taken away, her wrist was held, and she was pulled to the side, that she stumbled into the arms of the person behind her. Only then did she faintly sense that something was off about the atmosphere.
"What's wrong with you?" For a brief second, Ming Si felt guilty, but she leaned in, feigning calmness as she pinched his cheek, "Is something up at work... mmm!"
She didn't even get to finish her portrayal of the caring wife before she was lifted up, pressed against the nearby wall.
A bunch of green plants were positioned in the corner of the wall. The leaves brushed against her clothes and bounced back. Later, there was a prolonged and ceaseless flurry of movement.
Due to her impulsive decision to remove him from the group, Ming Si ultimately paid a rather heavy price.
And she was being dealt justice right there and then.
"I didn't do it on purpose either. You saw everything. What about my dignity?" Nestled under the covers at night, Ming Si pulled Liang Xian back into the group chat and couldn't resist muttering softly, "Stingy."
Liang Xian wrapped an arm around her waist, his gaze shifting towards her with a hint of danger, "You want to do it again?"
"No, no more," Ming Si quickly hugged him.
She never let herself lose in such situations. In the past, she used to bicker with him every day when they weren't getting along, but now that she wanted to confront him, it would undoubtedly lead to suffering.
Liang Xian lowered his head and placed a kiss on her cheek.
The two of them nestled in silence for a while. He lifted a strand of her hair and gently caressed it.
In reality, they were no strangers to such intimate actions on ordinary days, but tonight, Ming Si felt that Liang Xian was acting a bit strangely.
Adjusting her posture, she reached out and playfully tapped his nose, "Is there something on your mind?"
"Do you have time the day after tomorrow?" Liang Xian held her hand.
Ming Si was puzzled but nodded.
Although she was busy, she still had flexible working hours.
"Accompany me to visit your mother-in-law," he said softly.
It was a simple and plain request, to the extent that it took Ming Si a while to react.
She didn't know what to say, her fingers tightly entwined with his, and she nuzzled her cheek against his shoulder, uttering a soft En.
Back then, when Bai Wenxin insisted on marrying Liang Zhihong, her relationship with the Bai family became very tense. As a result, her grave wasn't located in the private cemetery of the Bai family but in a cemetery on the outskirts of Pingcheng.
The snow in Pingcheng's winter fell intermittently. As they walked up the stone steps, snowflakes started to drift down slowly.
Ming Si wore a black coat and minimal makeup. She watched as Liang Xian bent down to brush away the accumulated snow from the tombstone and place a bouquet of flowers in front of it.
However, what flashed before her eyes was the memory of their previous visit – pouring rain, crowded black umbrellas, and a silent Liang Xian.
Back then, she felt sorry for him but didn't know how to console him as a friend.
Now, she could hold his hand.
He needed her too.
On the way back, Liang Xian received a call from Bai Wenxin's former attending physician. So, he had the car take a detour and headed to a suburban villa nearby.
During the ride, Ming Si listened to him talk about the attending physician and vaguely remembered an incident.
Back then, an attending physician joked about Ming Si marrying Liang Xian, so that Aunt Bai could become Ming Si's mother.
"Does she still remember me?" Speaking of someone from the past always brought a hint of joy, and Ming Si pondered for a moment, "She should be around fifty or sixty now? Do you still keep in touch?"
Liang Xian responded with a quiet En and continued, "The old lady is in her sixties."
This doctor had taken good care of his mother back then, wholeheartedly and with dedication. They had become close friends who shared everything.
After Bai Wenxin passed away, Liang Xian regarded this doctor as an elder. Over the years, he sent gifts back to China for holidays and visited her when he returned.
The joyful thing was that the old lady was still spirited. Seeing the two of them, she smiled and said, "I knew you would come today. Is this the wife? She's really beautiful."
Ming Si exchanged glances with Liang Xian and curved her lips. "Auntie, don't you recognize me?"
The old lady looked at her but couldn't recall.
After so many years, Ming Si's cheeks had lost their baby fat, and now she was fully grown. How could she still be recognized?
In the end, it was Liang Xian who introduced her with a light chuckle.
He had only spoken a few words and the old lady clapped her hands with delight, "I remember now! So you're married? I always thought you two were a perfect match when you were kids."
They continued talking as they walked.
"At that time, both Wenxin and I got used to seeing you two quarrel. They were all trivial matters – what's there to argue about?" The old lady reminisced about the past, still retaining a good memory, perhaps due to her vivid impression of these two, "But it was all quite amusing."
Her granddaughter, who was in junior high, chimed in, "Fighting is love. We call them bickering couple."
"Yes, yes!" The old lady nodded repeatedly, smiling as she followed up, "When you were young, you fought, but now that you both grew up and got married, you shouldn't argue anymore."
"Not fighting," Liang Xian paused, holding Ming Si's fingers, and smiled, "There won't be time to fight. I'll be busy pampering her."
The old lady's face was full of kindly satisfaction. Her granddaughter exclaimed in admiration.
Ming Si also felt her face warm up a bit. Her heart was pounding so hard it felt embarrassing, but she couldn't suppress the surge of emotions.
In the presence of the elders, she didn't dare to make any rash movements. In the end, she gently curled her fingertips, brushing against his palm, and softly responded in her heart—
Me too.