7. I no longer want this Si family.

Compared to the prohibition against calling her "Mother," the declaration that she was no longer a daughter of the Si family made Si Yun feel that abandoning everything she once possessed was the right choice. Whether it concerned people or relationships, she should have let go of them ten years ago.

They were things that never truly belonged to her in the first place.

Si Yun paused and turned back to look at Du Meifen, then at the faces behind her—those who were still certain she would beg for mercy—and finally at the complacent expression of the current head of the Si family, Si Guancheng.

It was not just Si Mianmian who wanted to see all of this happen. If she truly left the Si family, the Si Group would remain firmly in Si Guancheng's grasp.

"Are you certain?" Si Yun asked expressionlessly. Du Meifen’s eyes widened with even greater malice.

"What else? While you are in the Si family, you only hurt my Mianmian. Now that Mianmian has returned, everything should return to how it was meant to be," Du Meifen continued, doubling down on her cruelty.

Si Yun nodded.

"What is that supposed to mean?" Seeing her reaction, Du Meifen felt an instinctive surge of panic. How could she agree? How could this child possibly agree?

"Si Yun, what do you mean? What is this nodding supposed to imply? Are you truly going to sever our mother-daughter relationship? There must be a limit to your willfulness! If you leave our Si family, who do you think you are? Everything you have right now was given to you by the Si family!" Du Meifen emphasized, attempting to intimidate her.

Seeing Si Yun’s reaction, Liang Bai’an and Ning Muhe also sensed that something was going wrong. Liang Bai’an could no longer be bothered with his irritation.

"Si Yun, you must think this through carefully. The Si family adopted you for so many years and cultivated you with such care; you wouldn't dare defy Aunt Du like this."

"That’s right, Si Yun, don't be so headstrong. Today is Mianmian’s engagement party. Have you considered how Mianmian and the rest of us feel? Everyone here treats you with sincerity. If you must be like this—I’ve already said it—Mianmian’s return won't change anything you have. Can’t you just accept Mianmian as your younger sister?" Ning Muhe continued to persuade her, playing the role of a confidante.

Si Yun lifted her gaze to look at these two people—people she had once trusted implicitly.

"Don't you think you’ve gone too far?" Qin Yin said to Liang Bai’an and Ning Muhe. "Si Yun hasn't even done anything to this 'Si Mianmian' yet. She’s already handed you both over to her—isn't that generous enough?" As soon as Qin Yin finished speaking, the elderly patriarch of the Qin family was surrounded by others.

"Old Master, you should really pull your granddaughter back," someone advised.

Surprisingly, the old man remained calm and collected. "Young people's affairs—why should an old man like me get involved? My little granddaughter isn't one to act recklessly." After saying this, he continued to sip his wine, though his peripheral vision remained on Si Yun, a meaningful smile playing on his lips.

"Qin Yin, stop stirring up trouble. Do you want to watch Si Yun get kicked out of the Si family?" Ning Muhe lectured.

Qin Yin was furious. Ning Muhe was two years her senior and always used her age to hold power over her. Usually, Qin Yin would yield, but today she didn't want to. However, she thought to herself: if her best friend were to leave the Si family on a sudden impulse, wouldn't that just be a windfall for these heartless vultures? Perhaps this was exactly what Si Mianmian had planned.

Qin Yin pulled on Si Yun’s arm. "Yunyun, what are you thinking?" Even so, she didn't try to dissuade her; she trusted Si Yun’s choice.

This was the only warmth Si Yun could feel.

"I..." Before she could finish, Du Meifen spoke.

"As long as you kneel down and apologize to me and to Mianmian, I will let today’s events slide. It’s all my fault for spoiling you; you’ve treated Mianmian so cruelly—it’s simply outrageous." Du Meifen spoke with a relaxed air of relief, convinced that Si Yun could never abandon her as a mother, nor could she ever walk away from her status in the Si family.

"Auntie, isn't this being too difficult? Yunyun is your daughter too. How can you make her kneel to Si Mianmian? Even if you want to establish Si Mianmian’s authority and give her face, there’s no need to humiliate Si Yun like this," Qin Yin protested.

"Qin girl, you are a junior. Mind yourself, and don't tarnish the reputation of the Qin family," Du Meifen scolded.

Qin Yin wanted to retort, but was pulled back by Si Yun. Seeing Si Yun walk forward, Qin Yin had a bad premonition and tried to stop her, but was held back by Ning Muhe.

"Let go," Qin Yin snapped. Ning Muhe replied coldly, "Be quiet."

Just as Si Yun was about to kneel amidst the mockery of the crowd, her arm was grabbed with a sudden force, preventing her from hitting the floor.

Si Yun looked back at her "contract" husband.

"Do you care about your status in the Si family that much? If it really comes to that, I’ll take care of you," Ji Hanxiao said with a flat expression. But Si Yun noticed his brow was slightly furrowed, different from before.

Si Yun let out a soft laugh. The man who married her yesterday for ten million was now saying he would take care of her—was this a scene from a movie?

Seeing them exchange glances, Liang Bai’an was incensed. He immediately ordered security to move toward Ji Hanxiao. Si Yun gave a cold glare. "You had better not touch him, or I won't mind making this banquet even more embarrassing."

Si Yun’s words displeased Liang Bai’an. Just as he was about to speak, Si Yun spoke again.

"Thank you for your kindness, but I, Si Yun, have never needed anyone to take care of me."

Hearing this, Ji Hanxiao said nothing more. His gaze remained indifferent as he took two steps back. Seeing this, the corners of Liang Bai’an’s mouth curled upward. Did he really think some stray dog could afford to take care of his woman?

Si Yun looked at Du Meifen once more. Du Meifen was leaning against Si Mianmian, displaying the intimacy of a mother and daughter, looking at Si Yun with a pleased and arrogant expression.

"Si Yun, be a good girl and apologize. As a mother, why would I want to make things difficult for you? Making you apologize to Mianmian is only because you were in the wrong. If you would just..."

"I will only kneel to you," Si Yun interrupted. She walked forward and, in front of everyone, as if fulfilling their expectations, she knelt down.

Before Du Meifen could react to the three kowtows Si Yun performed, Si Yun had already stood up.

"Is that enough?"

Du Meifen froze, then knitted her brows, eyeing her with suspicion, thinking it over and over.

"You really are a stubborn child." She then turned away, putting on a face to comfort Mianmian. "Mianmian, Mother will look out for you from now on."

"Thank you, Mother. Actually, I don't mind. Older sister didn't mean it, and besides, since she knelt and apologized to you, that’s enough," Si Mianmian said with feigned maturity.

Du Meifen looked at Si Mianmian. "You truly are my own flesh and blood." After saying this, she felt her favoritism was perhaps too obvious for the occasion, so she turned to Si Yun. "Fine, today’s matter is over. If you cause trouble again, the Si family can strike you from the registry at any moment..."

"Mrs. Si, you misunderstand. I knelt and kowtowed to you to repay the debt of my upbringing. Your decision to cast me out of the family is your choice, but since you raised me to adulthood, I was obligated to bow to you. From this point on, our paths diverge. As I can no longer fulfill my filial duties, I wish you well." Si Yun finished, word by word.

A heavy silence fell over the room.