323: Chapter 323 My Life, My Choice!

The next day.

Jishou Airport.

Ye Chen, dressed in casual wear, walked out of the exit, followed by Jin Meiting in a plain long dress.

Three steps behind them, Miao Renfeng followed closely with his back hunched, carrying two large suitcases like a fawning old servant.

Outside the airport.

The sky over Western Hunan was a dull gray, the clouds hung low, and the air carried the unique humidity of a mountain city.

Jin Meiting stopped in her tracks and looked up at the familiar sky, the expression on her face complex beyond words.

"I haven't been back for seven or eight years."

Her voice was very soft, as if she were talking to herself or to the person beside her.

Ye Chen turned his head and looked at her.

In the gray light, her exquisite profile seemed less alluring than usual and more tinged with an inexplicable melancholy.

"Are you nervous?" he asked directly.

Hearing this, Jin Meiting narrowed her beautiful eyes slightly.

"I am."

"But some things must be faced eventually."

Back then, her Younger Male Cousin, Li Huai, had borrowed all her money because of gambling debts and even made her take out a massive loan.

As soon as he got the money, he vanished, leaving her with a mountain of debt.

Her parents wouldn't help.

Her brother didn't care.

At that time, she had desperately carried the burden of millions in debt alone, fleeing from Western Hunan to Xiamen City and struggling step by step until today.

And those so-called relatives—not one of them had reached out a hand during her hardest times.

Now, Li Huai was dead, yet her family was relentlessly pressuring her to return... they certainly didn't come with good intentions.

Ye Chen smiled slightly. "Let's go."

Jin Meiting nodded and was about to take a step.

Miao Renfeng suddenly hurried forward, an eager smile plastered on his face.

"Master! Where are we headed?"

"I'm very familiar with this Jishou area; I know people in every township and every village!"

"Just name a place, and I'll lead the way. I guarantee we'll take the shortcuts!"

Ye Chen glanced at him, said nothing, and turned to look at Jin Meiting instead.

Jin Meiting pondered for a moment and gave an address.

"Baisha Town, Luxi County."

Miao Renfeng was taken aback for a moment, but quickly put on a smile again. "Oh, I know that place! I know it very well!"

Jin Meiting, however, waved her hand.

"Don't bother, someone is coming to pick us up."

Ye Chen raised an eyebrow. "Who?"

Jin Meiting spoke coldly, "My brother."

"Oh?"

Ye Chen chuckled. "So back then, your parents didn't help you and kept the money just to buy him a house and a wife?"

Jin Meiting gave a bitter smile and nodded.

"Yes."

"My parents kept all the money for him, saying it was for his house and marriage."

Hearing this, Ye Chen raised an eyebrow. "And is he married now?"

Jin Meiting shook her head.

"Not yet."

"He doesn't even have a girlfriend."

Ye Chen remained expressionless.

There is a thing called retribution.

Miao Renfeng immediately leaned in and spoke eagerly.

"Oh! That's perfect then!"

"I know many fine girls from the Miao Villages; I can introduce one to your brother!"

Ye Chen tilted his head and looked at him. "You can even act as a matchmaker?"

Miao Renfeng chuckled and rubbed his hands together.

"Although my main trade is Gu Arts, I've spent so many years traveling through the villages that I know exactly which families have good girls and which ones aren't married yet!"

"Leave introducing one to your brother to me!"

He spoke with great animation, "I can introduce him to a Poison Girl who will turn him into a wimp for the rest of his life, ensuring he never dares to bully the Mistress!"

Jin Meiting: "..."

The corner of her mouth twitched slightly, and for a moment, she didn't know what to say.

Ye Chen gave Miao Renfeng a sharp, annoyed glare.

"Don't meddle blindly."

The smile on Miao Renfeng's face froze; he sheepishly shrank back, took half a step away, and lowered his head dejectedly.

He had intended to offer a plan to raise his status in Ye Chen's eyes by helping the Mistress deal with her malicious family.

As it turned out... he got scolded before he could even start helping!

He felt so wronged, so bitter!

Watching this scene, Jin Meiting couldn't help but let out a light laugh.

But just as she was about to say something, her gaze suddenly fell toward the airport exit.

"He's here."

Ye Chen followed her line of sight.

A black Buick slowly pulled into the temporary parking area at the airport exit.

The car window rolled down.

A young man in his mid-twenties showed half his face and waved toward them.

The young man had dark skin and features somewhat similar to Jin Meiting's, but there was a certain worldly slickness in his expression.

Ye Chen noticed something.

When he looked at Jin Meiting, there was no joy of reunion after a long absence, no excitement at seeing his elder sister.

There was only... indifference.

And some kind of inscrutable calculation.

Jin Meiting obviously noticed it too.

The smile on her face faded little by little.

"Let's go."

With that, she walked toward the Buick.

Ye Chen walked by her side, while Miao Renfeng dutifully followed behind, dragging the suitcases.

The three of them reached the car.

The young man pushed the door open and got out, sizing Jin Meiting up before forcing a smile.

"Sister, you're finally back."

"Mom and Dad are waiting at home; they've been talking about you for days."

He paused and glanced at Ye Chen and Miao Renfeng, his brow furrowing involuntarily. "And these two are?"

Just as Jin Meiting was about to introduce them, Ye Chen stepped forward, naturally wrapped his arm around her waist, and spoke calmly, "Ye Chen, Meiting's boyfriend."

These words were spoken casually, but they caused Jin Shanting's brow to twist into a knot.

"Boyfriend?"

The young man was immediately displeased. "Sister, aren't you managing a nightclub? With such a large operation, shouldn't you be focusing on your career? Why are you in a relationship?"

He spoke with such confidence, as if his sister's life choices had to be approved by him first.

Hearing this, Ye Chen's eyebrow shot up.

Interesting.

The cousin refused to pay back his debt, forcing his own sister to flee with the burden.

Now that the sister was back, instead of asking how she had been or how much she had suffered, the brother asked... why are you in a relationship?

This family really opened his eyes.

Jin Meiting's heart had initially fluttered at Ye Chen's words and actions, but upon hearing her brother, her expression turned completely cold.

"Jin Shanting."

"My business is none of your concern."

Jin Shanting was choked by her words, and a flash of embarrassment crossed his face.

"Sister, look at what you're saying. Am I not just caring about you?"

"You've been out there struggling on your own for so many years and finally have some success; what if you meet some unreliable man..."

He pointedly glanced at Ye Chen. "Wouldn't all that hard work be for nothing?"

Jin Meiting laughed out of anger. "Then what exactly do you mean?"

Hearing this, the expression on Jin Shanting's face became even stranger.

"Sister, how can you say that..."

"Mom and Dad are also doing this for your own good."

"They know exactly how much you've suffered outside all these years."

"So for your return this time, Mom and Dad have specially arranged a marriage for you."

"The other party is a mine owner in the county town. His conditions are excellent, and he doesn't mind that you work in a place like a nightclub..."

"If you marry him, you'll be destined for a life of luxury!"

He spoke with great animation, as if this were some grand blessing.

At that moment, Jin Meiting's face turned completely cold.

"Jin Shanting."

"Don't even think about it."

"I will decide my own life."

"Just as my parents watched me suffer without helping back then, I, Jin Meiting, have survived until today by relying on myself, not on you!"

Jin Shanting's brow furrowed.

"Sister, that's not right."

"Back then, Mom and Dad had their own considerations. The family only had so much money; we couldn't just throw it all into that bottomless pit, could we?"

"Besides, you can't entirely blame the family for that matter with Li Huai; it was you who chose to lend it out!"

She chose to lend it out?

How ridiculous!

Back then, if the whole family hadn't pressured her to provide it, would she have?

And now they're turning things upside down?

Jin Meiting was disheartened and gave a cold sneer.

"Considerations?"

"Considerations like getting you a wife, a house, and a car?"

"Then let me ask you, are you married? Have you bought a house?"

Jin Shanting's face turned from blue to white at her questions, and he stiffened his neck, saying, "As long as you follow Mom and Dad's arrangements, the bride price that boss gives will be enough for me to get married and buy a house!"

Jin Meiting laughed in extreme anger.

"So you called me back just to sell me off in exchange for a bride price for yourself?"

"Jin Shanting, check your conscience—is it even still there?"

Jin Shanting could no longer save face, and his voice grew louder.

"Sister, what do you mean?"

"Do you not want me to get married?"

"I am your own brother!"

"Do you have the heart to watch me stay a bachelor for the rest of my life?"

Jin Meiting was completely enraged. "To hell with your marriage! Whether you get married or not is none of my damn business!"

This shout was so loud and clear that many people at the airport exit turned their heads to look.

Jin Shanting's face instantly turned the color of pig liver.

He opened his mouth to say something, but the strange looks from the crowd made him feel like he was sitting on a bed of needles.

"Fine!"

"Very well!"

"Go tell Mom and Dad yourself!"

He threw out those words and drove off immediately, leaving them behind!

Jin Meiting stood there, her chest heaving violently and her eyes turning slightly red.

Ye Chen walked to her side, wrapped his arm around her shoulder, and patted her gently. "It seems I did the right thing by coming this time."

Jin Meiting took a deep breath and turned to look at him, the anger in her eyes gradually turning into helplessness.

"I've caused you trouble."

Ye Chen looked down at her and said seriously, "Since you are my woman, what's there to talk about trouble?"

Jin Meiting was stunned for a moment, then lowered her eyelids and gave a soft sigh.

In that sigh were hidden too many inexplicable emotions.

Ye Chen said nothing more, but simply turned his head and signaled to Miao Renfeng behind him.

Miao Renfeng understood immediately, set down the suitcases, and trotted toward the taxi stand.

"Taxi! Get a taxi!"

He waved his hands, his voice loud enough for the whole street to hear.

Watching his overly fawning behavior, Jin Meiting couldn't help but let out a soft laugh.

As she laughed...

...her eyes grew even redder.