Sometimes, her body would randomly go cold and her temperature wouldn't rise. It would take great effort for the doctor to resuscicate her. 

At other times, she would literally lose her sanity and do crazy things. One time, she would have stabbed herself if he didn't find out on time. 

He was so scared that he couldn't leave her side for a minute. 

It was no easy process. 

No one would have expected that the poison which took one day to plant would take many years, delicate care and a young genius doctor to cure. 

In fact, it was such a huge turn of expectations that she came out of it alive. 

What was worse, the poison affected her brain before she told him who did it.

...

Small Xixi's little face was filled with sadness. "Back then, I was still too young. My parents were not home when I woke up and grandma came to pick us up. 

They said that mom and dad had gone on a long business trip and would be back soon. 

All I know is that daddy would give us a video call every evening. However, as time passed by, the video calls became far between. Until one day he stopped calling. 

My brother and I would stare at the phone and wait all evening. 

Until grandma suddenly started hating us. She would especially pick on me. At the time, I didn't know what was going on.

The company slowly went bankrupt. My brother was too young and grandma didn't care about it. The worst part is that outsiders couldn't interfere with it.

Our life changed in a flash. When I asked grandma about it, she said that our parents had died in an accident. She kept blaming mother for father's death. Those were my saddest days.

I didn't know until recently when brother told me what he had been hiding. 

Actually a short while after our parents went missing, he accidentally overheard grandma tell someone that she would kill me just like she killed mother; and this time, she would be careful to not accidentally kill brother as well. That's why brother brought me to stay with our maternal grandpa." 

Lu Meili widened her eyes. "Wait. Young lady, can you not pour shocking news all over me at once? Such a twist. What's up with the accident?" 

"It was fake. Grandma had poisoned mother. Turns out mother and father left to find her an antidote. But because mother's condition worsened, they couldn't come back soon." 

Lu Meili didn't look convinced at all. "They searched for it for eighteen years and didn't ever contact anyone? What antidote was it exactly? Did they not care about you? Did they not know how much the two of you suffered in their absence?" 

"They did contact my brother when mother was doing better. But he kept me in the dark because all these years I thought they were dead. He thought it would be too much for me to handle.

"Sorry. I still think It's irresponsible." Lu Meili was still upset. Xu Laiowen only cared about taking care of his wife when she was sick. What about his children? Did they not deserve his care at all? Why was it that some men were good husbands but ended up as terrible fathers?

The poor siblings had lacked parental love all their lives. If it were up to her, she would have let them know that their mother was unwell. Who knows? Perhaps if she had her children caring for her alongside her husband, she might have recovered sooner. 

"Where is your dad right now?" 

"He must have gone to Uncle Shaoting. I brought mother here because she wanted to speak to Aunty Wan Jia." 

Lu Meili was so sad on Small Xixi's behalf. "He ought to have a good explanation. Unless there was some sort of enemy seeking you and your brother and he kept away to protect you, I will never respect him." 

Small Xixi threw herself into her best friend's arms, sobbing. "Sis Meili, I'm conflicted. I'm mad at them for leaving us for so long but I missed them so much that I want to hug them and make up for the years we missed." 

Lu Meili really wanted to knock her head. Shouldn't you seek explanations from your father? Kara could be excused because she was sick for all these years. What about him? 

'Hmph! He is the most hateful character in this novel. I hope he never appears again.' 

"Sis Meili, you should look at it from his point of view. His wife had been poisoned and was in such a condition. He was afraid that if anyone knew she was alive, they would come and finsih her off. 

At the same time, he couldn't leave her side because her condition might spiral out of control in his absence, or people might hurt her." 

"Mhmm. Xixi, you are too kind. You always try to see the best of everyone. I will not blame you." 

...

Meanwhile, Wan Jia was also listening to the same story. 

"Jia, do you blame us for abandoning our kids?" 

Wan Jia hugged her. "I don't blame you at all. You must not let your mother-in-law get away with what she did." What an evil woman. How could she poison her son's wife simply because she gave birth to a girl? If she was so much against women then what was she? 

Luckily her Little Li was marrying into the Mu family. They wouldn't bully her baby. 

Kara responded after a few seconds. "When we came back to the country and stayed in City H, Liaowen used the chance to take care of her." 

"I'm sorry. Aotian and I couldn't save your company." 

Kara couldn't possibly blame her for this. It was already good enough that the Lu family ensured Xu Tang's and Small Xixi's safety. Besides, Xu Real Estate had rules. Outsiders couldn't interfere with the company's matters no matter what. 

___

While the two pairs of friends caught up on the past, one woman was uneasy. 

"Zhichen, come here." 

Mu Zhichen went over with a questioning look. "Mother, why are you anxious?" 

Mrs. Mu knocked her son's head. "You have the guts to ask? That woman who just came is Mrs. Xu. I haven't seen her for a long while and rumor had it that she died but I'm sure It's her." 

"What about it?" 

"Are you stupid? I heard her son likes Meili and they have been close for years. Not only is she speaking to your future mother-in-law so intimately, her daughter is emotionally speaking to Meili. Who is to say that they are not trying to steal Meili away?" 

Mu Zhichen found it comical. His mother managed to make it sound like she was the one who was going to marry Lu Meili. "Mother, don't think too much about it. No one's stealing your daughter-in-law away." 

"That better be so." Mrs. Mu said, though she was still unsettled and cautious when Wan Jia led Kara to their direction. 

"This is Mrs. Mu. Do you remember her? She is Meili's future mother-in-law." Wan Jia introduced cheerfully. "This young man is Meili's fiancé. Zhichen, this is Mrs. Xu. " 

"Hello aunt." Mu Zhichen was modest. 

"So you are the one who became the lucky guy in the end." Kara's tone was regretful. She had chosen a good wife for that punk but he messed it up. He would never find a wife half as good as Lu Meil. 

...

Seeing that the Mus were wary of her, Kara took Small Xixi to leave. 

"Mother, shouldn't you have convinced Sis Meili to give brother a last chance? He wasn't in his right mind before. She would listen to you." 

"Xixi, life only gives you one chance. If you don't grab it, It's over. Even if you were given a secind chance, it wouldn't change the fact that you messed up. 

The most important thing is Meili's happiness. That young man seems to love her a lot." Kara said.

At least there was a happy ending for Small Xixi. Although she had lost the potential sister-in-law she loved very much, her parents were back. 

And who said her friendship with Lu Meili was over? They were bound to be best friends forever. 

___

"Sigh. That was one long banquet. It's time to go home." Lu Meili was exhausted. 

"Are you taking your dad's limo back?" Mu Zhichen asked. If she wasn't, he would drop her off. 

"Yes. They must be waiting for me. Bye." 

She waved and hurried out. 

Wan Jia was still outside the car but as soon as she saw Lu Meili, she blocked the path. "Where do you think you're going?" 

Lu Meili was taken aback. "Huh? We are going home. Weren't you waiting for me?" 

Wan Jia grinned evilly. "What do I have to do with an engaged woman? Stay with my son-in-law." She entered the car and they really drove off. 

Lu Meili's eyes went wide. "Hey! How can you leave me? Am I still your daughter?" 

Most importantly, she was just engaged! What was the meaning of this??