Bride Swap Backfire: My Cousin's Rebirth Made Us a Power Couple-Chapter 60 - 43: Engagement (Part 3)

The door to the west room was soon pushed open.

Xu Suying came in carrying a kerosene lamp and placed it on the table in the inner room.

Chen Wanqing turned to look at her mother. Xu Suying saw her daughter huddled under the thick quilt, with only her ruby-red lips, fair face, and ink-black hair visible from the neck up.

Her daughter looked at her with adoring eyes, and all of Xu Suying’s anxieties vanished without a trace.

She took off her outer shirt and shoes, climbed onto the bed in a few quick movements, and snuggled under the same quilt with her daughter.

"Is this quilt too thin? Should I get you another one to put on top tomorrow?"

"There’s no need, Mother. It hasn’t even started snowing yet. If I cover up this much now, how will I get through the winter?"

"We’ll find a way. At worst, I’ll have your father find time to go up the mountain and chop some more firewood. From now on, I can light a brazier for you every night, or I can come sleep with you. I can’t let you freeze, no matter what."

Chen Wanqing didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. "I’m already so old. How could I have my mother warm my bed? If word got out, people would surely laugh at me. Besides, Dad would never agree. He’d just end up complaining to me about it."

"Your father is just fussy. What’s the big deal if a grown man like him sleeps alone for a few nights? Don’t worry about him. Whenever you feel cold, just call for me."

The mother and daughter huddled under the quilt, sharing a few intimate words. Only after they heard the sound of snoring, rising and falling from the next room, did Xu Suying tentatively explain the reason for the four Zhao family elders’ visit.

Finally, Xu Suying carefully asked her daughter, "Qing’er, what do you think of this marriage proposal?"

Before Chen Wanqing could speak, Xu Suying added, "Don’t you try to fool me with platitudes about marriage being decided by parents and matchmakers. I’m your own mother. Is there anything you can’t tell me directly? My good girl, just tell me what you really think. If you feel this is a good match, your father and I will accept it for you. If you have other considerations, then we’ll look at other options."

After a long while, Chen Wanqing finally opened her heart to her mother. "I... I’ve never considered this possibility. I’ve only ever thought of Jing as a younger brother."

"I know that. But Qing’er, people grow up. You’ve both reached the age for marriage now. You and Jing aren’t related by blood, and you know each other inside and out. Won’t you consider him?"

Chen Wanqing could hear her mother’s inclination in her words.

She wasn’t surprised by this. Back when their grandmother first visited to propose swapping the sisters for marriage, her mother had already subtly tried to gauge her attitude.

At the time, she had played dumb, pretending not to notice her mother’s little scheme. ’Grandmother might be muddled,’ she had thought, ’but the Zhao Family and the Li family aren’t so easily fooled. This "bride swap" business will probably come to nothing in the end.’

But she never expected her grandmother to be so persistent, or that the Li family, for reasons unknown, would actually give up on her and choose Wanyue instead.

She didn’t feel resentful or wronged that the Li family hadn’t insisted on marrying her. After all, deep down, she never imagined she would marry into their family anyway.

She just never thought that a marriage between her and Zhao Jing would one day actually be put on the table.

In that moment, Chen Wanqing was lost, hesitant, helpless, and her heart was in turmoil.

She didn’t even know herself whether, deep down, she approved of this marriage or rejected it. How could she possibly give her mother an answer?

Chen Wanqing remained silent for a long time, which didn’t surprise Xu Suying.

How could she not know what her own daughter was thinking?

It wasn’t just Qing’er; any young woman who had been through two failed engagements would become disillusioned with marriage and men. Not to mention her Qing’er, who was naturally more sensitive and clear-headed than most.

’Men were so unreliable, love and hate were so agonizing, and the relationships with in-laws were such a headache. Her Qing’er would rather stay unmarried for life, living a quiet and free existence on her own, than get entangled in that messy, complicated web of family affairs.’

’But an unmarried daughter would worry her parents, make things difficult for her brothers, and even affect the marriage prospects of her female cousins in the clan.’

’So, just to avoid causing them all this trouble, she would force herself to go with the flow and find someone to marry.’

Xu Suying hugged her daughter even more tightly, her heart filled with affection. "I won’t pressure you. Take your time and think about it. If necessary, I can call Jing over so you two can talk. Marriage is for a lifetime, so I hope you’ll consider it carefully. Whether you refuse or accept, I’ll be happy either way. As long as I’m around, I’ll protect you. I’ll never let you be left without a home."