Chapter: 3079
A family of four was enjoying a meal filled with food and drinks. Xiao Changkun had already had a bit too much to drink, and his words were starting to slur. It was clear he had overindulged.
Ma Lan and Xiao Churan weren’t big drinkers either. However, when Ma Lan found out that the red wine cost one hundred thousand a bottle, she decided to drink more than half of it. Xiao Churan drank less than Ma Lan. Her cheeks were slightly flushed, but her mind was still sharp. With only an hour left before the concert, she turned to her husband, Charlie Wade, and said, “I’m going upstairs to change. Let’s get ready for the concert!”
Charlie smiled and nodded, “Go ahead, I’ll wait for you downstairs.”
At that moment, Ma Lan, feeling the effects of the wine, held up the bottle of Lafite and said, “Oh… look at me, Ma Lan. I can live like this, drive a luxury car, live in a fancy house, use expensive skincare products, and drink high-end red wine worth over a hundred thousand… I swear, the old lady never enjoyed this kind of life even at her best!”
Xiao Changkun, also feeling emotional from the alcohol, chimed in, “Who doesn’t agree? My mother’s old villa was falling apart. It was nothing compared to our Tomson First-Class villa.”
Ma Lan nodded in agreement, saying, “See, Xiao Changkun, this is our family’s good fortune! If I hadn’t given birth to such a wonderful daughter, we wouldn’t be here today!”
Then she added a bit angrily, “When you married me, your whole family looked down on me, especially your mother. To her, I was…”
Ma Lan looked at Xiao Changkun with teary eyes and said, “I feel like I’m tied to your Xiao family because of my big belly. Do you remember how much I was hated back then? Everyone adored Qian Hongyan. She is beautiful and brings joy to those around her. When she goes out, she makes the family look good. But me? I come from a rural background, and I don’t look as nice as she does. It feels like I brought shame to the Xiao family. After all these years in your home, I’ve faced so many judgmental looks and unspoken anger.”
Taking a moment to collect herself, Ma Lan sighed and continued, “But look at us now! Who in your family has treated us well?”
Xiao Changkun chuckled awkwardly, unsure of how to respond.
Ma Lan pressed on, “Why are you being quiet, Xiao Changkun? Just tell me, who has had a good life with us?”
Xiao Changkun sighed and replied, “Yes, yes, you’re right.”
Feeling hurt, Ma Lan said, “You’re just brushing me off! After all these years of marriage, you act like you’re the only one who has suffered. Have you thought about how I feel?”
Xiao Changkun scratched his head and smiled nervously, “It’s been so long; why are we even talking about this?”
Ma Lan exclaimed, “I’m not just saying this for fun! Don’t pretend you don’t know that everyone in your family looks down on me!”
Xiao Changkun sighed and tried to defend himself, “No one looks down on you; you’re just overthinking things…”
Ma Lan cried out, “Xiao Changkun, you need to be honest with yourself. Think about how much…
“How much irritation has your family caused me over the years? Don’t talk about me; just focus on yourself, your mother, and your older brother’s family. How angry did you feel?”
When Xiao Changkun heard this, he felt a wave of sadness wash over him. Even though he often acted calm and unbothered, he remembered all the times he had been discriminated against and excluded. He realized that Ma Lan wasn’t the only one with grievances; he had his own as well.
Seeing Ma Lan cry made his heart ache for her. Unsure if it was his genuine feelings or the influence of alcohol, he stepped closer to her, gently patted her shoulder, and sighed, “Hey… you’ve held in so much for so long. Don’t be too hard on yourself.”
Ma Lan felt Xiao Changkun’s words deeply. She wrapped her arms around his waist and cried loudly. Xiao Changkun hugged her back, his own eyes glistening with tears.
Just then, Xiao Churan came downstairs and was taken aback by the scene. She opened her mouth to speak but noticed how tightly her parents were holding each other. Concerned, she hurried over to her husband, Charlie Wade, and whispered, “What happened to my parents?”