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When Xu Yi returned home, his family gathered for a meal fell silent. Some watched him and Hua Yan as spectators. Xu Yi, afraid, bowed his head and said, “I’ll return to my room.”

As they left, his family’s mockery lingered. A man remarked mockingly, “Mother, now you believe little brother went out to see Miss Jing, right? We told you so.”

Xu Yi stiffened, gripping his handkerchief tightly, tears welling in his eyes as panic threatened to consume him.

How did they know he went to find that person? Would he be expelled from the Xu family again? If cast out, she might want him even less. What should he do now?

Xu Yi lowered his head, his voice hoarse and choked, “What does Mother want to say to her child?” He was obedient yet cautious.

Mother Xu looked at him and sighed, “Perhaps I should not have let you marry into the Jin family.” Initially, the eldest son was supposed to marry into the Jin family, but after finding Xu Yi, they allowed him to replace the eldest son as a form of compensation for his hardships. At that time, the Jin family was furious, accusing them of insulting their family by marrying into someone with an impure background. For Xu Yi’s sake, she had endured the Jin family’s pressure, unaware that it would almost ruin his life.

Xu Yi looked up in panic, “No, I am happy to marry into the Jin family.” If it weren’t for the chance to see her, he would not have returned to the Xu family when Mother sent someone to fetch him. Over the years, to gain some status to see her, he had endured humiliation in the Xu family, living carefully and never resisting, fearing that he would be driven out and that she would dislike him even more.

After Mother Xu ordered Hua Yan to leave, she said to Xu Yi, “I have instructed them not to spread today’s matter. You are not to secretly see her anymore. Prepare yourself to get married.”

“No, I don’t want to get married. Mother, I will not marry anyone but her. Please don’t marry me off to someone else.” Xu Yi shook his head urgently, pleading.