Pei Kexin, caught in a loophole, glanced at the old man and was about to explain when Zhan Jingchen, who had seen through everyone's thoughts, interjected.
"This is not Kexin's fault. If you want to blame someone, blame me, Dad."
"Since you fell ill, Kexin has been worried about your health every day, losing her appetite and crying to me every time we talk, saying she's afraid of losing you."
"She's very insecure. Although she appears strong on the outside, she's actually just a child at heart."
"I love her and want to give her a sense of security. But Dad, you said, what's the most important thing a man can give a woman when she's insecure?"
"I don't know about others, but I only know myself. Besides my heart and my person, the only thing I can give her is marriage. Dad..."
The old man pressed his hand down.
He closed his eyes wearily and slowly shook his head, meaning, no need to say more.
Zhan Jingchen immediately cast a look of seeking credit at Pei Kexin.
*How impressive am I? It's practically written on my face.*
Pei Kexin, prioritizing the bigger picture, didn't engage with him.
The surrounding crowd was so nauseated by his words that their teeth ached, yet they were powerless to refute him.
After a moment of silence, the eldest brother stepped in to take charge.
"Alright, Dad just had surgery and is weak. He can't handle so much stimulation. Everyone should leave now that he's spoken."
"I'll be staying with Zong Rui today. You can take turns visiting tomorrow. Everyone, please go."
The old man, naturally slender in his youth, had become even thinner due to his inability to eat properly, his cheeks sunken.
Pei Kexin had wanted to stay with him alone for a while, but seeing him with his eyes closed and looking listless, she could only swallow her words.
She reached out and gently smoothed his temples, saying softly.
"Then Dad, we'll be leaving. Rest well, don't overthink things, and I'll come to see you again tomorrow."
Zhan Jingchen, acting very considerately, tucked the blanket around the old man and echoed her words.
"We'll both come to see you again tomorrow. Rest well, Dad."
The old man opened his eyes and gave him a look of complex emotion.
The crowd was orderly escorted out by the eldest brother, dispersing in small groups towards the elevators.
Eldest sister Pei Shengnan, supported by her two daughters, walked at the front.
Second brother Pei Zhenbang, his wife, second sister-in-law, and their children walked in the middle.
Pei Kexin and her husband followed at the end.
According to Zhan Jingchen's observation, not only were Pei Kexin's eldest brother and sister old enough to be her parents, but even the grandchildren appeared to be around her age.
How could Old Master Pei have only one daughter so late in life?
One would expect a late-born daughter to hold a high status in the family, with her elder siblings deferring to her.
But she...
Her nephew dared to openly criticize her. Tsk.
Zhan Jingchen had already had people investigate last night. The Pei family's wealth came from their old air conditioning brand, Jiamei Air Conditioning, which was a household name over twenty years ago.
Although competition had intensified in recent years, the brand's influence remained, and the Pei family was considered quite prosperous.
For such a family, it was unexpected that their internal relationships were so strained.
Pei Kexin and Zhan Jingchen, each lost in their own thoughts, were walking side-by-side when suddenly the light ahead dimmed, and the people in front stopped.
They looked ahead to see everyone, led by the eldest sister, turn around, their gazes fixed on them with complex expressions.
"Kexin."
Pei Kexin, accustomed to being ostracized, paid no mind to their haughty looks and replied calmly.
"Does Eldest Sister have any instructions?"
"You haven't had lunch yet, have you?"
"Eldest Sister, if you have something to say, just say it directly."
The eldest sister then spoke directly.
"On your first day of marriage, I shouldn't say things that upset you."
"But you didn't have the new son-in-law perform the traditional betrothal gifts before the wedding to get to know the elders and show filial piety. Are you not planning to make amends after the wedding?"
"I'm a woman who has been married out of the Pei family for many years. If you treat me as an outsider and disregard me, that's one thing. But Dad, your eldest brother and sister-in-law, your second brother and sister-in-law, do you disregard them too?"
"To just throw caution to the wind and bring anyone back, expecting us to accept them, is too much. Your calculations are too shrewd, aren't they?"
Pei Kexin knew that no matter what she did, she would be criticized, so she was prepared.
With a slight smile, she deflected their words with a light touch.
"Eldest Sister, what are you saying? How could I possibly disregard you, Eldest Brother, or Second Brother? You all know how respectful I am towards everyone and how filial I am to Dad. You can't just condemn me for not consulting you beforehand about the marriage, can you?"
"The marriage was indeed sudden. It's mainly because I didn't expect him to propose so abruptly... Regardless, we were in the wrong."
"However, I've already booked a restaurant. I was planning to apologize to everyone together after Dad is discharged from the hospital, and let Achen show his best side. Since you're so concerned, why don't we go now?"
The eldest sister was once again rendered speechless by her.
*This little fox must be living inside my stomach, knowing exactly what I'm going to say!*
Casting a look of disdain at her, the eldest sister scoffed.
"Am I concerned? Kexin, why would I be so idle and bored?"
"It's just that as an elder in the Pei family, you're not acting according to proper etiquette. I'm afraid of setting a bad example for the younger ones, so I'm just reminding you on behalf of Dad."
"You, even as an aunt, are so casual. If they all learn from you in the future, what will happen to the Pei family's reputation?"
What era is this?
She's calling free love and marriage scandalous?
Pei Kexin was speechless at this peculiar criticism.
But she couldn't refute it directly.
The elder sister's reasoning was sufficiently plausible. If she didn't back down, it would truly be a case of refusing to admit fault.
"Eldest Sister is right. I was inconsiderate about this. As an elder, I've set a bad example. Everyone, please don't learn from me. I will be more mindful in the future."
All the eldest sister wanted was for her to admit her fault and act submissively.
After being lectured a few times and accepting it with a good attitude, the eldest sister felt a little better.
But still not satisfied, she changed the subject, continuing to play the role of the matriarch.
"The doctor said Dad is not completely out of the danger zone yet, and his post-operative recovery will be a long process. As the eldest daughter, I will not shy away from my responsibility to take care of him during this critical time. Therefore, starting today, I will temporarily move back home to live with everyone."
"Firstly, everyone is busy and doesn't meet often when living separately, so it will be convenient for communication. Secondly, I can take care of Dad anytime after he's discharged. We can't just burden my two younger sisters-in-law. Does anyone have any objections?"
The Pei family was not very populous, with only two sons and one daughter.
Therefore, to prevent the family's assets from being scattered and ridiculed by outsiders, the old man had forbidden them from splitting the family for many years.
Originally, with the eldest brother, second brother, the old man, and Pei Kexin, there were already four factions dividing the household, making it quite lively.
Now, with the eldest sister inserting herself into the mix, it was truly something.
While no one spoke their minds, everyone understood why she insisted on returning at this time.
Wasn't it because she was afraid that if the old man were to pass away unexpectedly, they would forget her, the eldest sister, when dividing the spoils?