While all this was going on, no one noticed the faint glint that flickered across the eyes of the man seated in the back of the car. It was subtle, almost imperceptible, gone as quickly as it appeared, yet it carried a depth that was far from ordinary.
After Little Xin climbed into the car, the man finally rolled the window back up, sealing himself once again behind the dark tint.
Almost instantly, An Mei Lin felt the pressure around her ease. It was as if an invisible weight had been lifted off her chest, allowing her to breathe properly again.
She didn't understand why his mere presence affected her that way… and that alone unsettled her.
"Since you could accept my little niece's gift, then I'm sure you can accept ours as well," the young man insisted once more, his tone light yet firm, leaving little room for refusal.
An Mei Lin hesitated for only a brief moment before giving in. At this point, rejecting further would only make things awkward.
She gave a small nod, her expression composed as she offered her gratitude.
"Thank you for this," she said softly, gesturing toward the invitation card resting in her hand. Then, after a brief pause, she added, "But there really isn't any need to send me a dress. I can take care of that myself," she concluded calmly, her tone steady and composed.
The young man nodded in acknowledgment, his expression still polite. However, beneath that refined exterior, a subtle hint of amusement flickered across his features, something fleeting and easily missed by the untrained eye.
An Mei Lin, of course, noticed nothing.
With nothing else left to say, she offered a final polite goodbye before excusing herself.
Time was no longer on her side. She had less than thirty minutes left before her scheduled visit, and she still had to complete her shopping.
Without lingering any further, she turned and walked briskly toward the supermarket, her figure gradually disappearing through the glass doors.
The moment she was out of sight, the atmosphere around the car shifted.
The polite and composed young man who had been standing outside earlier suddenly broke into a wide, mischievous grin.
Gone was the courteous gentleman. In his place stood someone far more playful… and far more dangerous.
He slipped into the car with ease, his grin widening as he leaned back comfortably in his seat. His gaze immediately drifted toward the man seated at the back.
The man hadn't moved.
His eyes remained fixed on the direction An Mei Lin had just disappeared into, as though the world around him had ceased to exist.
"Big brother," the young man began, his tone dripping with playful intrigue, "I always thought I was the most cunning one in this family… but it seems I've been completely outmatched today."
He let out a soft chuckle before continuing, clearly entertained.
"Why didn't you just approach sister-in-law directly? Going through so many lengths… even involving Little Xin in your plans. That's a bit excessive, don't you think?"
At the mention of her name, Little Xin, who had been unusually quiet, perked up immediately.
She nodded enthusiastically, clearly agreeing with her uncle's statement.
"Big uncle," she chimed in with her soft, childish voice, "if you really, really like pretty sister, you should just go talk to her yourself. Daddy always says if you want something, you should go get it quickly before someone else takes it away."
She puffed her cheeks slightly before continuing, her tone turning even softer.
"And I think pretty sister would like it if you did that… she even liked the hairpin you told me to give her."
Her small hands fidgeted with the edge of her dress as she spoke, clearly proud of her contribution.
But despite their combined efforts…
Silence.
The man did not respond.
He didn't turn his head. He didn't acknowledge their words.
He simply sat there, still and composed, his gaze unwavering, as though everything around him was irrelevant.
If not for the faint rise and fall of his chest, one might have mistaken him for something sculpted rather than alive.
Yet there was nothing lifeless about him. The air around him remained heavy, charged with something unspoken.
Neither the young man nor Little Xin seemed bothered by his lack of response. If anything, they appeared completely accustomed to it.
It was as though silence was his default language… and they had long since learned how to interpret it.
The young man leaned back slightly, a knowing smile still playing on his lips, while Little Xin simply swung her legs gently, humming to herself as if nothing unusual had happened.
The car remained still for a few more seconds before the young man finally spoke again, his tone lighter now.
"Well… I guess that means you're serious this time."
Still, no response.
But the faintest shift in the man's gaze was more than enough of an answer.
⸻
In the supermarket…
An Mei Lin moved quickly through the aisles, her earlier encounter still lingering faintly at the back of her mind.
She picked out the essentials with practiced efficiency, her movements precise and controlled, as though she had done this countless times before.
Despite her calm exterior, a subtle fatigue had begun to settle into her body.
The events of the day had taken more out of her than she was willing to admit.
From her father's demands… to the unexpected encounter in the parking lot… to the looming visit with her mother…
It was all beginning to weigh on her.
Still, she didn't allow herself to slow down.
Within minutes, she completed her shopping and headed straight back to her car.
The moment she got in, she let out a quiet breath, gripping the steering wheel for a second longer than necessary before starting the engine.
As she drove toward the private clinic where her mother was being kept, the familiar roads blurred past her, but her mind was far from focused on the drive.
Thoughts flooded her head one after another, refusing to settle.
Was she really going to marry someone… simply because her father ordered it?
Was her entire life destined to be controlled like this… without her ever having a say?
Her grip on the steering wheel tightened slightly.
A dull ache began to form at her temples, the weight of everything pressing down on her all at once.
For a brief moment, she felt suffocated.
But just as quickly, she forced herself to calm down.
There was no point overthinking things she couldn't change… at least not yet.
Slowly, she exhaled and steadied her thoughts. Right now, there was only one thing that mattered - Her mother.
And with that, An Mei Lin pushed everything else to the back of her mind and focused on the road ahead.