Chapter 9: Grandmother in-laws Give a Jade Bracelet

Qingling hugged herself. Her fear hasn't disappeared. Since then she tried to look brave. Especially when she met Ma Zhihuan. Actually, she felt scared and angry when she met him.

Qingling saw her trembling hand slowly improve. She continuously took a deep breath and breathed slowly. She did it so she didn't feel like she was breathing anymore.

"I have to turn my fear into anger. I must be strong. I have to take revenge for Ma Zhihuan's actions to me," Qingling said to herself in her heart.

When she tried to calm herself, the door of her room opened.

"Qingling!" Lijuan shouted then ran towards Qingling then hugged her. Qingling was shocked, after realizing that her mother was hugging her, she cried.

"Mother!" Qingling shouted hysterically. She took out all her fears. She hugged her mother very tightly. Zihao approached both of them. Then he embraced his wife and daughter. Lijuan cried, while Zihao tried to remain calm.

"My daughter. I'm sorry. Mother should not return to our city that day. I'm sorry," Lijuan asked between her crying.

Long enough Lijuan hugged Qingling until Qingling calmed down. Lijuan let go of her daughter's embrace and then sat next to her. After that, Zihao took a glass of water on the table. He gave it to Qingling. Qingling drank it slowly. Her cry stopped.

"How can you here?"

"That bastard sent his assistant to meet us in front of your apartment. He brought us to here. Your cousin also came. He is waiting in our car outside this house," Zihao answered.

"Qingling, that man said that you decided to get married with him," Lijuan said and she looked at her daughter carefully.

"Did he force you to marry him?" Lijuan asked her. Qingling shook her head. In her heart, Qingling hoped that her mother would trust her.

"We talked about this all night. We finally made this decision," Qingling replied.

"Qingling, you don't be afraid. If you don't want to marry him, we will fight him in court. Father will struggle with you," Zihao spoke firmly. Lijuan nodded her head.

"Your father said is right," Lijuan spoke.

"If you want to fight him, now we will take you to leave this house. Your cousin is waiting in our car. He will take us away from this house," Zihao said again. He tried to look strong in front of his daughter. However, his hearth is broken.

Qingling smiled slightly. She felt happy to see her parents who were determined to protect her. Qingling did not know her biological parents. However, her adoptive parents are more than biological parents. They really care about her.

"Thank you, Father. Thank you, Mother," Qingling said sincerely. She lowered her head for a moment. Her heart became hesitant for a moment. She wondered about her decision to marry Zhihuan. However, she remembered that man's threat. Qingling saw her father's face. She did not want his father's reputation was destroyed by Ma Zhihuan.

"I have to survive. I will marry him. I have to make sure that he can't hurt my family, Renshu and Yanmei. After that I will destroy that man and leave him," Qingling said in her heart. She sighed. Then she look at her mother and father.

"Please trust me. I've thought about this carefully. I will marry him," Qingling said. Her father sighed.

"If that is your decision, we will support you. If he does something bad to you, you have to leave him and then we will sue him in court," Zihao said. Qingling nodded her head.

Suddenly the door to her room was knocked.

"Can I enter this room?" Meihua asked from outside the room. Qingling looked at her father and mother.

"That seems to be Ma Zhihuan's grandmother," Lijuan said. Zihao walked to the room door and opened the door.

"Please come in, madam," Zihao said to her. Meihua nodded her head. She entered and saw Qingling for the first time. Meihua approached Qingling. She sat before Qingling.

"Miss Xue. I hope that if you could forgive my grandson, then marry him," Meihua said softly while holding Qingling's hand. Qingling pulled her hand. Her heart is not calm.

"I will marry him," Qingling said.

"But I will never forgive him," Qingling said in his heart. Qingling stared at Meihua's eyes. She was aware that she was being looked into by Meihua.

"What your grandson did to me is a very vile act," Qingling said quietly.

"However, I will give him a chance," Qingling continued her words. Meihua sighed. She took off the jade bracelet she was wearing. Then put it into Qingling's hands.

"This is our family heritage bracelet. We give it to oldest daughter-in-law from generation to generation," Meihua explained the bracelet she gave to Qingling.

"Miss Xue, I give you my blessing," Meihua said in a calm voice.

"I know from your eyes if you don't love Zhihuan. However, this is his karma. I hope you and Zhihuan will learn to love each other," Meihua said softly.

"Qingling, if you don't want to marry Mr. Ma, father and mother will take you away from this house. You don't be afraid to make decisions," Lijuan said again. Qingling shook her head.

"I've decided this, Mother. I hope that father and mother will support me," Qingling said while looking at her mother. His mother nodded her head. Her tears fell. Qingling removed it with her hand.

"Old Madam, I will marry your grandson. I have already decided. I will not change my decision," Qingling said while looking at Meihua. Meihua nodded her head. She smiled.

Qingling knew that Meihua smiled forcefully. She didn't know what kind of person Meihua was at this time. As long as the woman in front of her is kind to her then she will also be nice to her.

"Thank you," Meihua said to him.

"Miss Xue, I'm sorry to come in without asking your permission," a female servant entered the room. The maid brought several paper bags. There are famous boutique brands printed on the paper bag.

"What's wrong?" Meihua asked in a voice that showed that she was upset. The maids became nervous.

"I'm sorry Old Madam. Forgive me. Mr. Ma told me to give ir to Miss Xue. This clothes is for a press conference this afternoon," the maids explained.

"Bring it here!" Meihua gave the order. The maids immediately approached. Meihua took the paper bag she was carrying. Meihuan gave it to Lijuan.

"Madam, I think you can choose clothes with Miss Xue. I said goodbye because I had to prepare myself too," Meihua said politely.

"I am truly sorry for the actions of my grandson. After this, I hope that we can start a new sheet," Meihua said softly. Lijuan nodded his head. Meihua lowered her head to Lijuan and Zihao then came out of the room.

Qingling saw the paper bag in her mother's hand. Actually, she felt that her heart was broken. However, she will survive until her goal is reached.

***

Ma Zhihuan sighed. Finally he had to meet all these annoying reporters again. They are like piranhas in their eyes. Waiting for him to fall then they will eat him together.

The press conference this time attracted the attention of many journalists. Even journalists from abroad are also present. Zhihuan recalled Li Minzhe's words about the developing Me Too Movement throughout the world. Zhihuan realized that he could not respond to his actions casually. He must be careful in choosing his words.

"Today, I will make a statement," Ma Zhihuan began his words.

"I am very sorry about what I did. I realized that I had hurt hearts of all women in this world. I have done a very despicable act. I am not worthy of forgiveness," Ma Zhihuan began his words.

"I ask all of you not to forgive me," Ma Zhihuan tell controversial words. All reporters take photos simultaneously.

"However, I have discussed this carefully with Miss Xue. I want to make amends for her. I want to marry her and try to erase the bad memories that I have given him slowly," Zhihuan continued his words. All reporters fell silent. They froze to hear Zhihuan's statement.

"I know you are all surprised. However, this is our joint decision," Qingling continued Zhihuan's words. Zhihuan and Qingling together lowered their heads.

"Miss Xue, does Mr. Ma force you to marry him?" A reporter asked.

"No," Qingling answered quickly.

"Why did you accept the proposal? Don't you insist on taking this matter to court? "

"I really insisted on bringing this matter to court. However, Mr. Ma came and showed his sincerity to me. My heart is touched and I am willing to be his wife," Qingling replied.

"Therefore, I appeal to my demands," Qingling continued. Qingling looked at Zhihuan acting as if he felt very guilty to her. Qingling lowered her face. She clenched her fists tightly.

"Hold on! You must be strong against this bastard," Qingling said to herself.

"I hope all of you willing to support my decision," Qingling said again to the journalist.