Fu Jie's expression soured. He had specifically instructed his parents to feign affection for Xu Ruowei, no matter how much they disliked her. However, things were unfolding quite differently.
If she was already causing trouble just by showing up, what would happen later?
Fu Jie looked at Xu Ruowei, his voice gentle. "Ruowei, please don't take offense with my mother. She's just been waiting for a while."
Before Fu Jie could finish, Xu Ruowei, with a smile, replied, "It's alright, Fu Jie. I won't be upset. I understand."
Hearing this, Fu Jie finally relaxed, genuinely pleased with Xu Ruowei's understanding and self-awareness.
Seeing that Xu Ruowei was fine, his gaze shifted to his mother. "Mom, didn't you promise me you wouldn't make things difficult for Ruowei? What was that just now? You were making things difficult for her, but you promised you wouldn't. Now you are. Mom, are you contradicting yourself?"
Fu Jie's mother glared at her son. Her usually obedient son's eyes and heart were now entirely focused on Xu Ruowei. This was not what she wanted.
Her son was hers, and no one could take him away.
She would absolutely not allow anyone to try.
Seeing his mother stunned, Fu Jie immediately stepped forward and took her hand. "Mom, please, just promise me you'll speak kindly to Ruowei. Once Ruowei marries me, whatever you say will go."
Fu Jie's mother's expression changed drastically.
Her son wanted to marry Xu Ruowei.
No, she would never allow that.
However, if she refused outright now, her son would surely fall out with her.
At this moment, she had to find another way.
Fu Jie's mother looked at Fu Jie, a smile plastered on her face. "Alright, alright. Mom definitely won't make things difficult for her."
Fu Jie beamed.
Meanwhile, Xu Ruowei watched from the side, her expression darkening.
Although she couldn't hear their conversation, she felt an unspoken tension between them.
As Xu Ruowei was lost in thought, Fu Jie walked over and casually placed his hand on her waist. Xu Ruowei felt a pang of aversion and instinctively pulled away.
Fu Jie's gaze fixed on Xu Ruowei. He felt her look at him differently.
"Ruowei, did something happen? Your mood seems a bit off."
Xu Ruowei snapped back to reality. "No... nothing."
Fu Jie didn't think much of it and said excitedly, "Don't worry, I told Mom. She won't make things difficult for you anymore."
Xu Ruowei remained silent.
Whether they made things difficult for her or not made little difference to her.
As long as there were no arguments, she wouldn't dwell on anything.
Xu Ruowei thought for a moment, then smiled. "It's okay, I don't mind."
Fu Jie's mother's brow furrowed slightly, but she quickly smiled and walked over to Xu Ruowei, linking arms with her affectionately. "Ruowei, I'm truly sorry. Some things just happened to affect my attitude towards you earlier."
"You're not holding a grudge against Auntie because of this, are you?" Fu Jie's mother asked with a warm smile.
Fu Jie, standing nearby, was very pleased.
He naturally stepped back.
He thought it would be good for Ruowei and his mother to have some time to bond.
Although he didn't know what had caused his mother's sudden change, he was happy to see it.
Fu Jie confidently went to find other people.
However, this left Xu Ruowei in a difficult position.
As soon as Fu Jie left, the smile vanished from Fu Jie's mother's face. Her hand remained on Xu Ruowei's arm, and with a chilling smile, she said, "Xu Ruowei, you don't honestly think I've accepted you, do you?"
"You can fool Fu Jie, but you can't fool me."
"I know exactly what you've done."
"A woman as vile as you, how could she possibly be worthy of my son? My son is a man of standing. The woman he marries should be from a noble family."
"But because of you, the excellent marriage I arranged for Fu Jie has been ruined."
"Xu Ruowei, do you really think I'll let you get what you want? I won't."
Xu Ruowei's brows furrowed deeply. She looked at Fu Jie's mother, wanting to pull her hand away, but ultimately decided against it. She looked at Fu Jie's mother in surprise, puzzled. "Since you despise me so much, why are you acting so intimately with me?"
"Don't you find it disgusting?"
Xu Ruowei was truly bewildered by Fu Jie's mother's actions.
Fu Jie's mother turned to look at Fu Jie, who wore a smile, seemingly satisfied with everything he was witnessing.
Xu Ruowei narrowed her eyes, a realization dawning on her.
She gritted her teeth and said, "So, you're doing this just to make Fu Jie believe you, to believe you genuinely accept me."
"Naturally," Fu Jie's mother replied coldly. "Would I be so foolish as to let someone like you create a rift between my son and me?"
Xu Ruowei let out a loud laugh.
"So, that's your plan. I finally understand now."
She forcefully shook off Fu Jie's mother's hand and said coldly, "Do you think I genuinely like Fu Jie? In fact, I've long been tired of him. I even want to escape from him."
"It's you, your son, who has been clinging to me, refusing to let me go."
"Your son threatened me. He said if I left his side, he would kill me."
"That's why I've stayed by his side willingly."
"Auntie, I think it's wonderful that you've given me the opportunity to break free from Fu Jie today."
With that, before Fu Jie's mother could react, Xu Ruowei threw herself to the ground.
Fu Jie's mother stared at Xu Ruowei in shock, frozen. She looked at Xu Ruowei, her face etched with panic.
"Xu Ruowei, what do you want? Didn't you say you wanted to leave Fu Jie? Then leave."
"But why are you doing this? Isn't your conscience clear?" Fu Jie's mother was now anxious, as Fu Jie rushed over, his eyes filled with disbelief and disappointment.