Chapter 6 — Mermaid's Bride

9 On the day of discussing the marriage, the Chu family held a party and invited Lam Ky to discuss. Once again entering that house, the air was still stuffy, tense like a guitar string. Chu's parents never liked me, from childhood to adulthood I knew everything like the back of my hand. If it weren't for my biological parents' care before they passed away, I'm afraid they would never have agreed to raise me in their home. Even if I raise him, it's only because my voice can help Chu Dat cure his insomnia. Otherwise... I'm just a redundant person. That year, to help me gain a foothold in the Chu family, my parents donated all of their assets, shares, and patents to the Chu Thi Group. But even so, they still don't like me, their eyes always look cold and uncomfortable. Two years ago, since Chung Diem Diem appeared, Chu Dat's insomnia suddenly disappeared completely. She has a lively, gentle personality and knows how to please, and it only took very little time to completely conquer Chu's parents. Unlike me, an adopted daughter with "no reputation", Chung Diem Diem easily won all the favor and firmly held the position of ideal daughter-in-law in their eyes. Already longing for love, I fell into a vicious circle of self-pity, constantly torturing myself, trying my best to please everyone in the Chu family. In return... it's just coldness, hate, and humiliation. I used to cut my hands to get their attention, hurt myself, just to get a little fake attention. But it doesn't change anything - not only does no one care, but it also creates opportunities for Chung Diem Diem to gradually climb to a higher position. I meticulously cook for the whole family, carefully preparing each dish according to each person's taste. She just smiled faintly and said one sentence: "A lot of oil, a lot of salt, eating is not good for your health." Chu's parents immediately ordered the servants to throw it all away, not even bothering to glance at me. One time, I left home on a rainy night, the cold air seeping into my skin, I just wanted someone to call my name just once. But Chung Diem Diem pursed her lips and gently said one sentence to Chu's parents: "Even though Mieu Mieu doesn't like me, you shouldn't make me worry." With just one sentence, they immediately gave up the idea of finding me back. She is so good at pleasing people, her smile is just right, her attitude is right, making everyone feel that she is the one who deserves it. "Diem Diem is lively, understanding, and filial... compared to him, she is much more suitable to be a daughter-in-law of the Chu family." They didn't criticize her for being from an ordinary background. On the contrary, they even said leniently: "If A Dat gets married, there's no need to worry about family registration. As long as you like it, that's fine." As for me - a "redundant" adopted daughter - they were ready to send me away and use me in exchange for an unfamiliar benefit. It's ridiculous. Since the last suicide, I have completely seen through the true face of the Chu family, and have also learned not to beg for love that does not belong to me anymore. As soon as she entered the living room, Mother Chu smiled brightly and came out to greet her: "Why don't you see Mr. Lam with you?" I calmly replied: "He has something to take care of, he'll be here later." Hearing me say Lam Ky hadn't arrived yet, the smile on her face disappeared immediately: "Ah... is that so. Then... please sit down, I don't have time to receive you." To me, even the mask of pretense was lazy to wear. Not knowing what to think, Mother Chu suddenly glanced at me, her voice containing a warning: "I have decided to marry Mr. Lam." Then, get rid of thoughts you shouldn't have, don't hang around in front of Tieu Dat all day." She paused, the corners of her lips curled up, her voice as calm as the wind: "As for Chung Diem Diem... although his status is not high, but he is obedient, your uncle and I have agreed to let him marry into the Chu family. The wedding will be held at the end of this year, taking advantage of next year to give birth to a grandchild." Obviously... she was afraid I wouldn't be willing. I just smiled faintly, my voice soft but distant: "The two of them... are a match made in heaven, they are truly a perfect match." Mother Zhou paused slightly, a trace of surprise flashed through her eyes, clearly not expecting me to be so calm. She was silent for a moment, then let out another indifferent sentence: "Recently, we have a dog in the house, and your room has been changed to a pet room. From now on... if I come back, I'll just stay in the living room." I laughed coldly in my heart. This dog was brought by Chung Diem Diem. In the past, I once begged to raise a small cat, but Chu Dat used the excuse that he was obsessed with cleanliness and coldly refused: "We don't have pets at home." Yet now, because of Chung Diem Diem, raising dogs has suddenly become a "high-class, sophisticated" thing. Chung Diem Diem robbed my room the first time, her dog robbed my room the second time. The house is so big, there are dozens of empty rooms, but they always aim at my room. If you say it wasn't intentional... who can believe it? I pursed my lips and said softly, in a light voice: “It's okay. The living room... doesn't need to be left to me either. Because after this... I will probably never come back here again.” “Tri Diem!” Hearing that, Mother Chu's face suddenly changed color, she took the cup in her hand and threw it hard on the table, the deafening sound of broken porcelain echoed throughout the room. “What do you mean?! Are you blaming me?” Bullets continuously rolled before my eyes: 【The whole Chu family is so strange! Raising a dog for ten years makes you feel pity, but raising a daughter for ten years is considered an enemy.】 【The Chu family is truly shameless, if it weren't for Tri Diem's parents that year, the Chu family would have gone bankrupt a long time ago! Receiving both investment and property, yet treating his benefactor's daughter like this... If Tri Diem's parents were still alive, I don't know how heartbroken they would be...】 【They clearly want to control the woman! Chu Thi's ability to survive is all thanks to Tri Diem's parents, and only she can treat Chu Dat's illness. The favor is as big as a mountain, but in their hearts they consider it a huge debt, their psychology has been distorted for a long time!】 【Fortunately this time the female companion did not do anything foolish... otherwise, these people would definitely not feel any regret.】 Suddenly a soft female voice, sweet as sugar, rang out from behind: "What's wrong, auntie? Who made you angry again?” Turning his head to look back - Chung Diem Diem was walking the dog with one hand and gently holding Chu Dat's arm with the other. The corner of his eyes glanced at me with a smug look. “Ah, Mieu Mieu is back too? Why don't you see your fiance?" I replied calmly: "He's busy, he'll be here later." Hearing that, Chu Dat tilted his head and glanced at me, an unpredictable light flashed in his eyes. Chung Diem Diem immediately covered his lips and smiled, turning to whisper to Chu Dat: "I heard that Mr. Lam... is very mature and calm, Mieu Mieu will probably have someone to love in the future." Chu Dat smiled faintly, his voice laced with sarcasm: “That's... very mature. I'm not afraid of... choking on my bones." Last time, when Lam Ky came to find me, he did not appear publicly, that's why These people still think he is the "fifty old man" in those nonsense rumors. I originally intended to ignore it, didn't want to waste words with them. But at that moment — a strong arm wrapped around my waist, carrying a low breath and a teasing voice in my ear: "Oh... how come you don't know that you're so old that... it makes me choke on my bones?" In that moment, the whole room was silent. When they saw Lam Ky, everyone... froze on the spot. Today, Lam Ky wears a sophisticated black suit, a dark gray vest with a dark blue tie, broad shoulders, straight back, and is nearly one meter nine tall. He took long steps into the room, his cold, arrogant, and oppressive aura made the entire atmosphere stagnate. In an instant, Chu Dat - known as a cold male god in the upper class - suddenly... sank into a passerby. Chung Diem Diem almost couldn't believe his eyes, his voice trembled, he had difficulty opening his mouth: "You... you are... Mr. Lam?!" Lam Ky glanced over indifferently, the corner of his lips curled up in a cold smile: "Are you... Chung Diem Diem? Yes, I'm mature and calm like you said... And I will be so good to my wife that I don't need you to worry about me."