In the evening, the dinner party's guest list was very straightforward. Only four families were invited. The Wu family, Lin Family, Li Family and Xu Family.
Yes! Xu Cheng was told the truth about Ye Jie's real family and he was quite surprised at first but after meeting Zhu Chen, he didn't have a speck of doubt left in him.
"Mr. Xu, I must say you have one hell of a daughter," Zhu Chen complimented Xu Mey without any restraint and as a father, Xu Cheng was obviously feeling proud.
He stroked Xu Mey's hair who was standing beside him and said, "That even I can't argue with." His words and eyes held the pride that he felt as a father for her.
"Chen!" Hearing He Susu calling him, Zhu Chen excused himself leaving Xu Cheng with Xu Mey while Ye Jie was stuck between his mother and his aunt.
"Now, that's a new face," hearing this familiar feminine voice, Xu Cheng turned his face and rolled his eyes at the speaker.
Seeing the newcomer, Xu Mey skipped over to her side as she exclaimed, "Auntie Bingbing, I've missed you so much!" Fan Bingbing, Wu Wang's mother smiled at Xu Mey.
"I've missed my Little Mey as well." Fan Bingbing kissed Xu Mey's head affectionately. If Xu Mey had to choose one mother for herself from all of her friends, she'd always choose this woman. Calling Fan Bingbing a middle-aged woman would be an insult to her. She had maintained herself so well with yoga and nutritious diet that people often mistake her for being a lady in early thirties.
But Xu Mey's reason for choosing her would be the fact that Fan Bingbing provided her with a sense of security that she always wanted. And the motherly affection and warmth were never-ending. Also, there was a sense of belonging that Xu Mey couldn't find anywhere else.
"Oh, Auntie! This is my dad, Xu Cheng." Xu Mey introduced Fan Bingbing to Xu Cheng but she failed to notice the smirk on Fan Bingbing's lips.
"Little Mey, do you really think that I don't know your dad?" Xu Mey was frowning when Fan Bingbing's next words left her dumbfounded. "Hey, bro! I see you still love rolling your eyes at me. Well, right back at ya'." She even added an eye roll at the end of her statement. Quite childish!
"And I see, our Xiao Bing still doesn't know how to greet her elder brother." Xu Cheng's statement stunned Xu Mey even more.
"You both?" Xu Mey wanted to know the reason for this familiarity and soon she got her answer.
"Xiao Mey, that's my sister," Xu Mey was gaping at Xu Cheng and he went on, "Well, not by blood. But from the deepest part of my heart." Fan Bingbing grinned at his statement. "Actually, when we were younger, my mother didn't have time to spend with me and that's why she always left me with Xiao Bing's mother. So, technically her mother became my second mother and she became my sister."
"Woah!" That's all Xu Mey managed to say since she had no idea what else she could say. "Hold on a second!" Xu Mey suddenly thought of something. "So, all these years, you knew who I was?" The question was asked to Fan Bingbing.
"Well, about that..." She turned to look at Xu Cheng and seeing him nod, she continued, "Yes, I knew from the very beginning. To be honest, the reason why Wu Wang was sent to boarding school was you." Xu Mey stood stuck to her place. "When Cheng bro asked me to find a way to help you. We could only think of surrounding you with people who could cherish you. Wang was very resistant at first but after meeting you, he instantly agreed."
Xu Mey fell into deep thought. This was quite a shock for her. Her father sent the people who made her feel loved all these years? And she kept hating him? If he hid his own love than, he sent a hundred other people her way who loved her dearly.
"Did Wang Ge knew?" Xu Mey asked hesitantly.
"Nope! I only told him to befriend you. I never told him the reason why. And oddly, that son of mine never even questioned." Fan Bingbing replied honestly and seeing Xu Mey expression, she decided to give some space to father and daughter.
Xu Mey turned to look at Xu Cheng with tears swimming in her eyes. "Dad!" Her voice was choked up. "You're the worst for hiding all of this." Xu Cheng hugged his daughter with a smile on his face.
"Yes, yes... Dad is the worst... But dad has the best daughter in the world. So, that balance out everything." Xu Mey hugged him tightly.
"I really am the best. You better not forget it." He heard his daughter's muffled voice making him feel a sense of peace. It had been years for him, feeling this closeness with his own flesh and blood. He knew that he couldn't justify all of his wrong choices but at least, he could justify his love for Xu Mey.
Xu Mey knew that it was high time that she stop dwelling in the past. If she kept keeping a distance from her father because of the past that was gone then she would be unfair not just with her father but also, with herself. The past was gone and she had survived it. For that scorching past, she didn't want to punish her dad anymore. It wasn't worth it all.
As her Sensei said to her last time, 'It was time to be better, not bitter! Being better will bring the joys of life while being bitter will only burn her alive.'
From afar, Ye Jie saw Xu Mey hugging her father and he couldn't help but smile. He was glad that Xu Mey finally managed to open her heart again for her father. He had seen Xu Cheng's love for Xu Mey and he knew that there was no doubt in the fact that for Xu Cheng, Xu Mey was literally his everything.
But Ye Jie couldn't keep his eyes on his baby for long since He Susu and Zhu Qinyang kept talking to him. He didn't mind it. Not even a bit! It was his first experience being held by two ladies who were gushing over him as if he was an extraordinary person. What he didn't know was that for He Susu, her son was extraordinary without a doubt and for Zhu Qinyang, her nephew was more amazing than her own brother.