“Miss, the master’s calling for you.”

“Okay.”

Facing the maid’s message, Xi answered calmly. After the maid bowed and left,

“Dad suddenly came back,” Xi looked a little flustered.

“What’re you panicking for?” Lily Wu looked totally relaxed.

“If he sees you, Lily…”

“So what if he does? He won’t recognize me that easily. Anyway, I’m really happy you’re worried about me, but shouldn’t you think more about whether this guy’s gonna behave?”

Lily Wu pointed at me.

Xi looked at me with a complicated expression, and I was just glaring at her, furious.

“Please think more about your family, You. If you don’t cooperate, then Xi can only ask Lily to… so…”

Hearing that from Xi left me so shocked I couldn’t speak for a long moment. It just didn’t sound like something Xi would say.

Lily Wu said happily, “Xi, I’m seeing you in a whole new light. With trash like him, you have to be tough.”

Xi nodded slightly.

“You two are really in this together…”

“Shut your filthy mouth. Killing you would be the easiest thing in the world.”

Lily Wu pulled a delicate little pistol from under her skirt.

“I brought this from overseas just to protect myself. Of course, it can kill people too. It only holds one bullet, but putting a hole through your head won’t be a problem at all.”

I’d thought this blonde villainess was just sharp-tongued and knew some basic fighting, but it seemed she really didn’t pull her punches when things got real.

A man can bend and stretch.

“That’s better. Playing the quiet little lamb is your only way out.”

Seeing how proud she looked made me want to spit at her.

“You, let’s go see Dad.”

Xi hooked her arm through mine. I used my free hand to check if my phone was still there.

“Don’t even think about calling the cops or anything. You’ll just be putting your family in danger. Don’t assume I’m joking.”

There was a flippant smile on Lily Wu’s face, but I couldn’t rule out that she’d really do it.

Was I completely suppressed now? What had I been reduced to?

I gave up on calling the police for now and followed Xi to the living room.

On the leather sofa sat a slightly chubby middle‑aged man, smoking a cigar with a very displeased look. Next to him sat a heavily made‑up woman, her expression just as sour.

“Dad, Mom,” Xi still called out sweetly.

“So this is the guy?” Xi’s father looked at me with open disgust.

“That’s him… Luckily, his family never changed their address. Xi finally found him.”

“That so? He’s not much to look at.”

“How is someone like this worthy of our Xi?”

Xi’s mother chimed in. Her parents clearly looked down on me, thought I didn’t deserve her. Instead of getting angry, I actually felt relieved.

I was about to say, “I also think we’re totally mismatched. This isn’t suitable at all.”

But Lily Wu shot me a glare from the side.

“But either way, a promise is a promise. No matter what kind of person he is, Xi will go with him.”

“No way!” Xi’s mother snapped. “Dear, say something about your precious daughter. What part of this country bumpkin deserves Xi?”

Xi’s father took a long, hard drag on his cigar.

“Dear… say something!”

“Enough! Since that’s how it is, the wedding will be the day after tomorrow. We’ll get it over with early. Butler! Butler!”

“Here… Master, what are your orders?” An old man with a white beard in a butler’s uniform appeared in our sight.

“Send out invitations everywhere. Invite every well‑known businessman. The wedding has to be lively. We can’t lose face.”

“Yes, Master.” The butler bowed and withdrew.

But there wasn’t the slightest joy on Xi’s father’s face. He just crushed the cigar out in the ashtray, stood up, and left. Xi’s mother, full of pent‑up resentment, followed right after him.

“Xi, we did it. You don’t have to marry off to Japan now.”

“Mm…” Xi seemed happier than anyone, but I had a faint feeling something was wrong.