Seeing Ji Yunyang follow the two sisters out, someone let out a cryptic laugh.
Song Wenwen and Cheng Zhili both looked rather unpleasant. Ji Yunyang glared at them, trying to cover up his misunderstanding: "What are you laughing about? Are your skewers ready yet?"
"We need a professional like Wenwen to bake all sorts of fancy dishes."
"Song Wenwen, why don't you try to persuade your mother to give Zhili something? After all, Cheng Zhili is your mother's biological daughter. You can't be so obviously biased!"
"Exactly, Zhili, don't you have any ideas?"
Seeing that the Cheng family was declining while Song Xia's investments in various industries were flourishing, they began to make malicious jokes.
Song Wenwen went along with their wishes and said, "Zhili has the Cheng family, so my mother doesn't need to worry about anything."
Cheng Zhili nodded in agreement: "Wenwen was raised by Song's mother, so it's only right that she's treated better."
Cheng Zhibo frowned. If that were the case, wouldn't Cheng Zhili get nothing in the future? Could it be that Song Xia was planning to get the Cheng family to give Zhili a dowry?
How can this be allowed?
For a year and a half, the Cheng family has been trying to be friendly, but Song Wenwen remains unmoved and not close to the Cheng family at all. What will happen to the Cheng family if Song Xia abandons Cheng Zhili?
Thinking about the Cheng family's recent predicament, he became increasingly anxious.
Zhili too, how come she doesn't think about the family at all? She goes to the Song family so often, doesn't she know how to be affectionate with Song Xia?
Cheng Zhibo complained about everything but himself and his parents, who were too ambitious and incompetent, only eyeing other people's assets and fearing they wouldn't get any advantage.
Similarly, Ji Yunyang was also somewhat surprised. Why was Cheng Zhili so unsupported by Song Xia? He was afraid that his parents might have some objections if they found out.
After all, the Ji family had invested a lot in the Cheng family back then, and now they hadn't seen a single penny of return. They had thought that Cheng Zhili could rely on Song Xia, so they hadn't said anything. But if Song Xia really didn't give Zhili any property, then his engagement with Zhili would be over...
Sigh, what will he do then?
If it weren't for Song Wenwen, marrying Cheng Zhili in the future wouldn't be a bad idea for him. Even if the Cheng family fell into ruin, at least Cheng Zhili was gentle, generous, quiet, and intelligent. As long as he severed ties with the Cheng family, it wouldn't matter if she couldn't bring him any financial benefits.
However, he knew his own heart very well. He loved Song Wenwen, but if he broke off the engagement at this juncture, wouldn't it seem like he was being very heartless?
Most importantly, Cheng Zhili and Wenwen have a good relationship, and he is not sure that if he breaks off his relationship with Zhili, Wenwen will not have any objections.
So let's leave it at that for now. He really can't afford to deliver another blow to Cheng Zhili at this time.
If even her own mother doesn't care about her, how devastated must she be if her fiancé leaves her?
"Zhili, don't worry, I'm here."
Upon hearing this, Cheng Zhili was somewhat confused. What are you talking about?
Meeting his pained gaze, Cheng Zhili felt awkward. What was Ji Yunyang imagining this time?
She doesn't really think her current situation is difficult. Although her parents always pressure her to give money to the family, she won't kill herself if she can't give it to them.
Moreover, she is about to go to Europe to study her favorite major. She also has the initial start-up fund given by her mother and some gemstones. She is full of expectations and hopes for the future.
Why does everyone think she'll be sad and pitiful? Why does everyone think she should fight for it?
She could calmly respond to people her own age, but when she got home and heard that Aunt Ji and Uncle Ji were subtly questioning her, she got really angry.
“Mom, you all say I’m not cut out for business, so why would I ask Song’s mother for those companies and shops? Besides, Song’s mother is still so young, how could I possibly ask her for them? She can give her assets to whomever she wants; I won’t ask for them willingly.”
"Are you stupid? Do you know how much wealth she has? You're her biological daughter, who else would she give it to if not you?"
“Wenwen was raised by Song Mama, and she is more capable than me. Isn’t it more reasonable to give to Wenwen? I have enough with you all. Do you think you will give Wenwen a lot more?”
Yu Peiyan and Cheng Shizhang exchanged a few words: "Song Wenwen has so much stuff, what else do she need us to give her?"
"How can you be so useless? We've sent you to so many tutoring centers and hired so many famous teachers since you were little, and you're still not as good as Song Wenwen who's always playing outside?"
The two of them didn't mention their own problems at all, and only knew how to criticize Cheng Zhili.
Cheng Zhili took a deep breath. She was no longer the person who would do whatever her parents said. She had heard these words countless times and was already exhausted.
"Dad, Mom, I've mostly studied art since elementary school. Have you ever given me the opportunity to get involved in business? So now, the only thing I'm interested in is art. There's something I forgot to tell you: I didn't apply to any universities in Beijing. I've been accepted by a design school in Europe, and I'll be going to Europe to study next month."
"What?!" The two were furious upon hearing this.
"Ji Yunyang is studying in Beijing, how can you not go with him?"
"The Ji family already has a problem with you, and you're still not trying to win over Ji Yunyang. Do you know how much your family will lose if they break off the engagement?"
"This grown man, how come he doesn't know how to think about his family?"
"You still blame us for not raising you well? It's true what they say, you can't raise a child you're not your own."
As soon as Yu Peiyan finished speaking, both she and Cheng Zhili's expressions changed.
But at times like this, Yu Peiyan would not admit that she had said something wrong; she was only thinking about why Cheng Zhili was still not giving in.
Cheng Zhili was heartbroken. Over the past year, she had gradually realized that her parents' control over her was not simply a matter of paternal or maternal love. However, regardless of her parents' motives, their love and upbringing over the past ten years were still there, so she was willing to sacrifice her marriage and turn a blind eye to their exploitation.
But she never expected that even self-deception was no longer possible. Her mother could actually say such things. Wasn't she afraid of hurting her feelings?
If her mother loved her when she was little, that's true, but does that love still exist now that she's grown up? Cheng Zhili expressed doubt.
Ever since the decision was made to marry into the Ji family, it seems that her parents have never considered her feelings again. They only want her to be obedient, to listen to them, and to think more about the family.
Now, just because she wants to study abroad, she's starting to complain that she's not good enough for him?
What else should she do? How can she win over Ji Yunyang?
"Dad, Mom, I didn't refuse the engagement back then, and I won't now. Besides, we're not the ones who can make the decision about this marriage with the Ji family. My going away to study for a few years won't affect the outcome."
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