The Pei family's dining table was filled with sumptuous dishes. Everyone sat around the table, and the midday sun shining in added a layer of warmth to the harmonious atmosphere.

Li Sisi picked up a piece of temptingly colored braised pork with chopsticks and put it into the bowl, praising it generously: "Auntie, your cooking is really delicious! I love your cooking the most. I feel that every dish has the taste of home. It is much better than those chefs in restaurants outside."

Aunt Pei smiled from ear to ear when she heard her compliment: "Your little mouth is as sweet as honey!"

She smiled and put a piece of meat into Li Sisi's bowl, saying lovingly, "If you like it, you can come over anytime in the future. Auntie, you're welcome to eat here. As long as you don't mind that my cooking skills are simple."

"How is that possible? Auntie, you have so many varieties of dishes to cook!" Li Sisi said seriously, making others laugh.

Aunt Shen smiled and continued, "It's great to have such a lively atmosphere among neighbors. When you have time, come to my house someday and try my cooking. It may not be as good as Sister Pei's, but it's still some good home-cooked food."

Li Sisi agreed with a smile: "Okay, when the kitchen of our new house is ready, you can all come to my house for a meal and taste my and Nian Nian's cooking skills."

"That's great." Aunt Shen responded with a smile.

After that, she looked at Pei Yanli and spoke hesitantly: "Yanli, you and my Bai Ying have known each other for so many years. This girl is stubborn. She doesn't like those boys who pursue her. She only has her heart set on you."

"You're getting quite old now. I think it would be better to settle your relationship sooner rather than later. This would also put an end to the worries of us elders."

After Aunt Shen finished speaking, she winked at Aunt Pei: "Sister Pei, what did you say?"

Aunt Pei quickly agreed: "Sister Shen is right. Yanli, you are not a child anymore. It's time for you to get married."

Shen Baiying lowered her head in shame. Why did this bring up her marriage with Brother Pei?

Her mother said such words bluntly in front of so many people! Shen Baiying suddenly felt a burning sensation on her face. She poked the bowl with her chopsticks pinched in her fingers.

"Mom, what are you talking about~" She poked the food in the bowl while secretly glancing at Pei Yanli, feeling shy but unable to help but looking forward to his reaction.

But Pei Yanli's originally smiling mouth instantly straightened, and he frowned seriously and coldly: "Auntie Shen, I'm afraid you misunderstood."

He put down his chopsticks. "There's nothing innocent between Miss Shen and me. I've said this many times. I only treat her as my sister and never have any other thoughts. You should find her a good family to marry as soon as possible and don't waste your time with me. As for my marriage, you don't have to worry about it.

No one expected that Pei Yanli would say such a ruthless rejection in front of everyone.

The happy atmosphere just now was broken in an instant.

The smile on Aunt Shen's face froze, and a surge of anger suddenly rose in her heart. Her voice trembled slightly with anger: "How can you talk like that!"

Aunt Shen felt like everyone was watching her like she was watching a play. Unable to save face, she couldn't help but raise her voice, "You are such a cruel child! My Bai Ying has been devoted to you for so many years, and everyone has seen it. She has rejected so many good families for you, but I didn't expect that in return you would be treated with such a heart of stone!"

Shen Baiying looked at Pei Yanli with red eyes, his face full of indifference. The air around him seemed to condense into the coldness of broken ice.

She tried her best to control her trembling voice and choked up, "Don't blame Brother Pei. It's my own fault. I knew Brother Pei didn't like me, but I still pestered him for so many years."

Aunt Shen looked at her daughter's sad face and angrily looked at the cold Pei Yanli: "What's wrong with my Bai Ying? I have wasted so many years of my youth on you. How could you bear it..."

Before Aunt Shen could finish, Shen Baiying suddenly interrupted her: “Mother! Stop talking!”

She stood up suddenly and said in a crying voice, "I'm full, you guys take your time eating."

After saying that, he covered his face and ran out.

The atmosphere in the room dropped to zero with Shen Baiying's departure.

Li Sisi looked at Pei Yanli with some reproach and whispered, "Boss, Bai Ying is a girl after all. Even if you don't like her, you can't be so rude to her in front of everyone. At least be more tactful!"

Pei Yanli glanced at her with deep eyes, stood up with a cold face and turned away without saying a word.

Aunt Pei looked in the direction where Pei Yanli left, feeling a little uncomfortable.

She sighed softly and said to Aunt Shen, "Bai Ying is a good girl. I would be so happy if she could be my daughter-in-law! Unfortunately, my son Yanli is a stubborn donkey. I can't control his affairs at all!"

Shen Baiying ran out of Pei's house crying and came to the bustling and noisy street.

Looking at the pedestrians coming and going on the street, everyone seems to be filled with joy and happiness.

Only her unrequited love over the years, like a bud about to bloom, has withstood the test of time and Pei Yanli's indifference, but she still firmly believes that one day she will be able to wait until the day comes when it blooms.

Every time Pei Yanli said cold words to me in the past unconsciously emerged in my mind, and a strong sense of bitterness surged from the bottom of my heart and spread throughout my body, like a bitter fruit that was difficult to swallow, unwilling and hopeless.

Shen Baiying's tearful eyes were like stars that had fallen into darkness, their light gradually fading.

A desire to escape reality spread in my heart.

Until a familiar voice suddenly rang out: "Bai Ying, what's wrong with you?"

Shen Baiying saw Lin Hongsang's face through her tearful eyes and burst into tears.

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