"I said, I'll marry Xu Yinchen and fulfill the arrangement."
As soon as the words left her mouth, a heavy silence settled over the room. Qin Lian smiled as she took in their shocked expressions, like they had just seen a ghost.
"As you said, my real family is the Mu family. Since they've accepted the betrothal gifts, it's only natural for me to marry Xu Yinchen in Mu Ruoyu's place."
"Isn't this what you've always wanted? I'm simply doing what you asked."
She tilted her head slightly, her eyes gleaming with something unreadable.
"I'd be a shameless leech if I stayed in this house after you gave my engagement with the Lin family to your real daughter."
She let out a soft chuckle, shaking her head. "Well, since she's the biological daughter of the Qin family, it doesn't matter. I have no interest in that engagement anyway."
Zhao Shuying felt her breath hitch. "You… What are you saying? Are you playing tricks on us?" Her voice was laced with suspicion.
This was too easy. Too calm.
The Qin Lian she knew would have cried, thrown a fit, begged. But now she was… agreeing? Just like that? It didn't make sense.
Qin Lian smiled at their stunned faces, then turned to Mu Ruoyu, her gaze filled with cold amusement. "Didn't you want me to marry Xu Yinchen? Well, your wish has been granted."
She shifted her gaze to Qin Zhong, who was still too stunned to react.
"There's no need to prepare anything for tomorrow. I'll leave for Qinghe Village today. That way, you don't have to waste your precious money on wedding preparations."
Her tone was casual, but each word was a dagger, sharp and deliberate.
Qin Zhong's expression flickered. Her words echoed, similar to what he had said earlier: 'There's no need for a wedding dress, a banquet, or gifts.'
She had heard everything. But why did it feel like he was the one being mocked?
He took a deep breath, straightened his back, and spoke coldly."If that's what you want, then good. I'm glad you've finally come to your senses. At least you still have some shame."
"Since you've decided, live your life properly with your husband. And don't cause trouble. Don't ruin our family's name. From now on, your husband's house is your home."
Qin Lian's lips curled in amusement. How generous of him!
She could see clearly just how desperate he was to wash his hands of her. He wanted to ensure that even if she suffered in the Xu family, she would never come crawling back to the Qin household.
Her eyes gleamed with cold mockery."Don't worry. I'll live my life well. Even if I suffer, even if I have nowhere to go, I promise you this…"
"I will never return to this family."
A heavy silence filled the room. Qin Zhong's face stiffened. Zhao Shuying's breath caught in her throat.
Qin Lian smiled. "I have some self-respect, you see. I would never come back to a place that's already kicked me out. So rest easy."
As soon as Qin Lian said these words, everyone's expressions darkened.
"Qin Lian! What are you saying?" Zhao Shuying's voice rose sharply, her hands clenching at her sides. She never expected that the daughter she had raised for years could speak back to them like this.
She was talking about breaking ties. How could she break ties with them?
They were her parents.
They had raised her, shaped her into an elegant, beautiful young lady of the Qin family. How could she be so rude?
"We never kicked you out! We raised you for years! We're your par—" Her words caught in her throat. She hesitated.
For a moment, she wanted to say 'we're your parents'. But her eyes flickered to Mu Ruoyu, who was biting her lip, looking fragile and pitiful.
Her words died.
Zhao Shuying couldn't bring herself to say it. Because she wasn't Qin Lian's mother. Not anymore.
Qin Lian watched her hesitation and smirked. "See? You can't even say it anymore."
Zhao Shuying's face paled.
Qin Lian let out a low chuckle, shaking her head. "Don't worry, Madam Qin. Since you raised me for years, I won't be ungrateful."
Her voice was light, almost gentle. But her next words cut like a blade.
"I'll remember it well. Just like I'll remember how, the moment you found out I wasn't your daughter, you pushed me aside."
Her smile widened, but her eyes were cold."You treated me well for years because you thought I was your daughter."
She tilted her head slightly, voice laced with sarcasm. "But the moment you realized I wasn't, you let me go without hesitation. And that's fine."
Her gaze flickered toward Qin Zhong. "I also treated you like my parents all these years. But now that you've cast me aside, it's only right that I do the same."
She took a step back."I won't hold on to something that was never truly mine."
The room fell into a suffocating silence.
Qin Lian didn't wait to see their reactions. She turned to Qin Zhong, her expression calm. "Before I go, could you do me a favor?"
Qin Zhong's brows furrowed.
"Let Xu Yinchen know that I'll be arriving today at his place. Oh, and since I'm still injured, could you also arrange a ride for me?"
"I'm sure you wouldn't want people saying you threw out the daughter you raised for years while she was still injured."
Qin Zhong's eyes widened in shock. His jaw clenched."You… You… When did we drive you out?! What nonsense are you talking about? It was you who insisted on leaving today!"
Qin Lian's eyes twinkled with amusement."Is that so?"
She tilted her head, considering something."Since you don't want me to leave… should I just stay?"
"I don't even need to marry Xu Yinchen or Lin Chengyan. I can just stay here forever as your dear daughter. What do you think?"
Qin Zhong's face twisted. The sheer horror in his eyes was priceless. For a moment, he looked like he had swallowed a lemon.
"I…I'll inform the groom's village immediately!"His words came in a rush.
"You should hurry up and pack your things. If you leave in half an hour, you'll still make it to the village before dark!"
Qin Lian smirked. Ah. So predictable.
She gave a small nod, her voice as casual as ever. "Well…as you wish." With that, she turned away.