Chapter 28 Let's Not Be Relatives Anymore
In this family, the only person Meng Xi didn't dislike was her second uncle.
She stood at the dimly lit headboard, her thoughts suddenly drawn back to several years ago.
She still remembers the year her parents had their accident. She was in junior high school, and she was the only orphan left in the family. She was weak, helpless, and her life was bleak.
In front of the police officers handling the case, her second uncle offered to take care of her.
However, Meng Xi also remembered clearly that her second aunt's face immediately fell, and after saying a few awkward words, she pulled her second uncle to a secluded corner.
It was raining that day, and Meng Xi stood in the drizzle, watching her second aunt berate her second uncle not far away.
She couldn't hear what the two were saying, but she could see that her second uncle initially replied with a few words, but later he silently smoked his cigarette. When he came back, he didn't dare to look at Meng Xi at all.
Meng Xi knew very well.
Nobody wants her anymore.
It was from that time that Meng Xi realized clearly that there were no longer any relatives in this world who truly loved her.
She only has herself.
Later, at her parents' funeral, she saw Aunt Xu, who had returned from abroad. The moment she saw her, Aunt Xu hugged her and said that she would take her parents' place in raising her.
Only then did Meng Xi find a place to stay.
However, Meng Xi had no recollection of Aunt Xu. She had only heard her say that they were good friends. She was very saddened that such a thing had happened.
Aunt Xu was gentle and sincere. Meng Xi had no way out, so she obediently and timidly said thank you, Aunt Xu, and was led to the Lu family by the hand.
When she first entered the Lu family home, she was intimidated by the luxurious and grand environment. Later, when she met Lu Yu, who always had a cold and unapproachable demeanor, she became even more cautious and dared not raise her head.
Although Uncle Gu treated her very well, and the servants in the house never gave her a hard time, this was not Meng Xi's home; she was an outsider, and more importantly, a guest.
Aunt Xu was busy and often away, so for Meng Xi, the huge Lu family mansion was completely unfamiliar to her.
She tried her best to be transparent, not to cause trouble for anyone, and to be self-aware of being dependent on others. She studied desperately and finally managed to finish her college entrance exams, where she saw a bright future.
All of this is thanks to Aunt Xu, which has allowed her to get to where she is today with such smooth sailing.
Although she rarely spoke, was always timid, ate little, and spent very little money.
Aunt Xu takes everything to heart, from food and clothing to housing and transportation, including schooling and even the monthly needs of girls.
Meng Xi was sincerely grateful to her, and even felt fortunate that her mother had such a good friend.
But what did my second uncle's family, who are related by blood, do?
A hint of sarcasm appeared on Meng Xi's calm face.
My second uncle isn't a bad person.
only.
They simply didn't persevere.
He was also persuaded by his second aunt, who agreed that raising her would be an added burden and that he would have no say in anything; everything was decided by his second aunt.
Indeed, no one is obligated to help her.
If you're not going to help her, then you should just treat each other like strangers. Why do you have the audacity to keep asking her for money and leeching off her again and again?
Looking at his second uncle, Meng Xi suddenly felt a pang of sadness.
What were the closest family members doing when the second uncle, who had sacrificed everything for his family, lay in his hospital bed?
A daughter eating watermelon and watching TV, a son playing video games in his room as if no one else is around, and a wife whose mind is full of scheming and who has no time to take care of her bedridden husband.
It's so harmonious.
She suddenly realized that it was a blessing not to have been raised by someone else.
Meng Xi turned on the bedside lamp, set the air conditioner to a comfortable temperature, and tidied up the trash in the room.
Her second uncle was still unconscious, so she tiptoed out without waking him.
At this moment, her second aunt came out with the dishes and greeted her, "Xi Xi, come and eat."
Meng Jinwei, with her sharp eyes, glanced at the plate of food and excitedly jumped up from the sofa: "Shrimp!" She turned and shouted into the inner room: "Brother, come out and eat!"
Meng Xi stood still and said, "Second Aunt, I've seen Second Uncle. It's getting late, so we won't eat."
Auntie paused, her expression turning sour, and quickly tried to salvage the situation, saying, "Why aren't you eating? You must not have eaten after get off work tonight. You've come all this way to our home, how can you not eat?"
These words were spoken with such sincerity that if Meng Xi hadn't already known what kind of person her second aunt was, she might have actually been able to sit down and eat as if nothing had happened.
Meng Xi insisted on not eating, and Meng Jinwei turned around and said sarcastically, "Mom, why do you keep urging her to eat at home? She eats delicacies every day, how could she possibly look down on our ordinary meals? Besides, my brother and I don't even have enough shrimp, so please stop trying to get her to eat."
Second Aunt rarely put on a stern face: "Weiwei! Shut up!" (Old 10 Light)
After scolding Meng Jinwei, she put on a smiling face again: "Xixi, don't listen to Weiwei. She's always been a loose tongue and says hurtful things. Don't take it to heart."
Auntie wiped her hands, looking troubled, and said, "Actually, I came here today because I want to discuss something with you... Why don't you sit down and we can talk it out?"
Meng Jinwei and her brother turned their heads instantly and stared at her intently.
A bad feeling welled up in Meng Xi's heart.
She unlocked her phone and checked the time. The screen showed unread messages on WeChat, presumably from Lu Yu.
Meng Xi decisively rejected her request, saying, "No need, I have to go back."
As Meng Xi finished speaking and was about to leave, her second aunt raised her voice and shouted, "Xi Xi! You can't just leave your second uncle and aunt to fend for you! We were the ones who handled your parents' funerals when they died! You can't do this!"
Meng Xi opened the door, and her neighbor across the hall, who was changing her shoes at the door, happened to hear this and looked up at her with a curious expression.
Meng Xi pursed her lips and remained silent for a while.
She turned her head indifferently: "You want money again, don't you?"
Seeing her calm expression, her aunt went straight to the point. A little taken aback by her question, the aunt nodded: "Your second uncle's illness still costs money. In a month or two, Weiwei and her brother will both be going to school, and the family doesn't have that much money..."
Meng Xi then asked, "What about the money?"
As far as she knew, her second uncle's monthly salary for working in the mine was not low, and he would also receive a lot of medical compensation for work-related injuries. In addition, he had just asked her for money once before.
Where is her money?
The family has no money, yet they still took Meng Jinwei shopping for clothes today. They have no money, yet they still ate shrimp and bought watermelon. Is this what it means to be broke?
She has money; they're just using this as an excuse to swindle more from her.
Meng Xi sighed, her clear eyes looking quietly at her second aunt: "Second aunt, have you ever thought that I am also a student and will soon be going to university?"
Auntie was taken aback by the question again, "But you live at someone else's house, how could you possibly lack food and flowers..."
It was the answer I expected; Meng Xi had heard it enough and was tired of it.
She said casually, "That's someone else's money."
After Meng Xi finished speaking, she stood at the door, facing their door, and said, word by word, "If I remember correctly, you took the money from my family for my parents' funeral and burial. You also secretly held onto my house and refused to give it to me, isn't that right? I was ignorant when I was young, and you manipulated me for quite some time."
She paused, then said, "But I'm all grown up now, and I'm not the Meng Xi I used to be. I can't give you a single penny today, and I never will. What's rightfully mine, I'll take back."
Meng Xi turned to leave, saying before she did, "Let's not be relatives anymore, it's ridiculous."
Just then, Lu Yu called on WeChat. Meng Xi answered as she walked down the old staircase and heard him say, "I'm downstairs."
Her smile was gentle, and her heart softened and hardened instantly: "Okay."
After hanging up the phone, Meng Xi gradually deleted all contact information about her second uncle and aunt.
WeChat, phone calls, and so-called family groups.
The moment the screen was cleared, Meng Xi looked up and saw Lu Yu leaning against the car.
He stood in the warm orange sunlight of the evening, his handsome profile backlit, making him appear almost divine.
Meng Xi suddenly felt a pang of sadness and quickened her pace to get closer to Lu Yu.
Lu Yu reached out and touched her head: "What happened?"
He opened the right-side car door for Meng Xi, pushed her inside, then sat in the driver's seat and quietly watched Meng Xi.
Meng Xi shook her head, feeling a sense of clarity breaking through the clouds: "It's nothing. I won't have any relatives anymore. It's over."
When Lu Yu heard these words, a sudden pang of heartache welled up in his heart.
It felt like something was twisting around his heart, making it hard for him to breathe.
He had also thought about how Meng Xi had lived in his home for the past few years, how cautious and timid she was, and how she had shrunk herself to an infinitesimal size.
Although he loathed his biological parents and their indifference and cruelty, he still grew up well under their protection and was not an unwanted child.
In some ways, he was luckier than Meng Xi.
His girl suffered too much injustice and hardship.
Lu Yu leaned to Meng Xi's side, lowered his head slightly to gaze at her, and brushed away the stray hairs at her temple with one hand. "Meng Xi, I'll be here for you from now on."
No matter what happens, I'll always be there for you.
Meng Xi smiled gently, stretched out her icy hand, and tapped Lu Yu's forehead: "Then let's pray that I can get into university smoothly."
If I pass the exam, I'll have the confidence to stand by your side.
In case you make any choices in the future, I can be there to support you.
This is what true, evenly matched love looks like.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com