Xiao Mei was feeding MinDe some sliced fruits when her phone rang.
It was her father, Xiao Guan.
MinDe noticed her reluctance to answer the call. He raised his hand and caressed her hair.
"Don't worry. Answer it."
Xiao Mei looked at him and nodded.
"Hello?"
"Stupid Child!! Why are you not contacting Robert these past few days?!
I've been waiting for you to contact him but you never did!! Where are you?! Come here this instant!!
You ingrate!! I've been feeding you and raising you for many years but you are as thankless as ever!
I've been doing everything to ensure that you will live a life full of luxury but you stubbornly refused to marry Robert!!
Robert loves you dearly!! He's even willing to marry a stained woman like you!! He did not even care that you are with a man!!
Where can you find someone like him?! You stupid child!! Why are you so stupid? Was it him? That arrogant man who was with you?!
Can't you see?? He's just using you!! You are just a plaything in his eyes!!"
When Xiao Mei heard her father's words, her face paled. She felt that her heart was dugged out of her chest and was trampled on a couple of times.
She already expected that her father would call her and press her to marry Robert but she did not expect that he would not even care about her well-being. What happened in LuXury Hotel was all over the news but her father never once asked about her situation, if she was okay or if her life was not in danger.
Instead of showing his concern towards her well-being, he immediately bombarded her with hurtful words.
As his child, how can she not be affected?
Since young, she dreamt of having her father's love. Unfortunately, all he cared about was their business and the position of the next heir of Xiao Family.
Since Xiao MuYi[1] was now assessing his sons, trying to look for the best suitable candidate to be his sole heir, Xiao Guan wanted to use Xiao Mei to gain the support of Johnson Holdings.
Xiao Mei could not stop herself. She laughed sorrowfully.
"Dad... Did you hear the news? During Ah Jiu's celebration, the hotel where we celebrated her birthday was bombed. The explosion was very strong, many people were wounded."
"So? What does it have to do with me? I do not care about anything else. All I want is for you to marry Robert immediately!"
Xiao Guan impatiently replied.
Xiao Mei closed her eyes and took a deep breath.
"I was there."
Xiao Guan snorted.
"You are currently speaking to me, which means you are not harmed in any way. Why are you saying stupid things? I do not care about that. Since you were not injured or anything, come back here quickly! Where are you staying? I thought you are living in the ancestral house but the servants told me that you never even once visited here!!
I've been waiting here in the ancestral house! You never even told me that your grandfather was away for many months. Before he comes back, you must marry Robert!"
Xiao Mei bit her lower lip. His words hurt her a lot. He did not even bother to show his fake concern.
"Dad... I told you, I'm not going to marry Big Brother Robert."
"XIAO MEI!!"
Xiao Guan exploded.
"You---- Hao!! You are forcing me to do this! If you are not going to marry Robert, then I will sever our Father-Daughter relationship!!! I do not have a thankless wrench as a daughter!"
Xiao Mei weakly sobbed. She wanted to turn off the phone when MinDe snatched it from her hands.
"How much?"
Xiao Guan was taken aback when he heard a man's voice.
Her daughter was being rebellious because of this man.
It was all this man's fault.
"Excuse me? Who are you to meddle in my daughter's and my discussion?"
MinDe did not respond to his mocking question. Instead, he once again asked Xiao Guan.
"How much?? How much money did you use to raise Xiao Mei?"
Xiao Guan snickered.
"This arrogant young man, you better shut your mouth or you will just embarrass yourself.
What? You took a fancy towards my daughter? Too bad, you don't have the right to be with her. The man she will marry is the heir of the biggest company in America.
Who are you? Just a man with good looks, nothing more, nothing less. You can never be his rival. But if you are really willing to be with her, then I must see your sincerity."
Xiao Guan knew that the man was only bluffing. He heard his daughter called him MinDe.
As far as he was concerned, there is no aristocratic family with the surname of Min.
(A/N: lol. FengJiu also thought MinFeng was surnamed Min a few months ago XD)
He and his family were living in America ever since Xiao Mei was young and they have not returned to China for many years.
Xiao Guan only knew the old generation of businessmen before leaving China. Obviously, he did not recognize MinDe. He was arrogant enough to pay attention to somebody that he thought was beneath his family's social standing so he never bothered to hire someone to investigate that man's background.
MinDe, once again, did not respond to his sarcastic remarks.
"Expect a blank check in two hours. After you receive the check, yours and Xiao Mei's relationship will be over. Do not show your face in front of her ever again, or else, I will not spare you for hurting her."
"You----"
*tuut!*
MinDe did not wait for Xiao Guan's response and turned off the phone.
He immediately gave it to Xiao Mei who was looking at him like he held all the powers in this world.
He raised his hand and wiped the tears in her eyes.
"He is not worthy to be your father. How dare he make you cry. I am the only one who has the right to bully you."
Xiao Mei smiled and nodded. She hugged MinDe and buried her face on his chest.
'Is it really over? Just like that?'
Xiao Mei felt sad.
She knew MinDe did that for her but she could not help but expect her father to reject his offer.
In the end, her father only saw her as a business collateral or someone he could exchange for money and not as his daughter.
She could not help but question if she really is his flesh and blood.
MinDe kissed her hair.
"Do not be sad. I am here."
NEXT CHAPTER TITLE: Severe All Ties
[1] Old Man Lu's friend and Xiao Mei's grandfather, Xiao Xiao (Little Xiao).
Author's Side Note:
I'm back!! Did you miss me??
HAHAHAH I'm still alive and kicking~
Thank you sooo much for your concern~
I could not respond to your messages but I will try to read all of it~ thanks guys!!
Wait for SS Gift Card later~ I'll post two~