C5 Alright I'll Marry You!

"You!"

Zhou Yun raised her hand to slap again, but the study door suddenly swung open. Qiao Minghui emerged with an icy expression. "What's all this noise? Can't I come home to peace and quiet? You're all grown up, yet not one of you acts sensibly!"

Zhou Yun's expression softened, and she went over to cling to Qiao Minghui's arm, cooing, "Honey, look at her. She's been provoking me since she got home, always opposing me."

Qiao Minghui settled onto the sofa and massaged his temples. "What happened?"

Zhou Yun shot Qiao An a disdainful look and explained, "It's about the marriage arrangement with the Huo family. I thought since Qiao An's vision is poor, marrying her off would give her a comfortable life, but she's ungrateful. She even called me and Xue'er shameless..."

Qiao Minghui took a sip of tea and turned to Qiao An. "What's your take on this?"

"Dad," Qiao An said firmly, "I refuse to marry. I truly appreciate all the years of care and support you've given me. If it's possible, just tell me how much I owe you, and I'll repay it."

Qiao Minghui's gaze sharpened. "Repay? Do you see our father-daughter bond as nothing more than a transaction?"

"Dad..." Qiao An faltered, "That's not what I meant... I simply don't want to marry."

"The Huo family is among the elite in Calm Sea. Do you think marrying Huo Chengzhou would be beneath you?" Zhou Yun interjected. "Without the backing of the Qiao family, do you think you could even dream of joining the Huo family?"

Biting back her frustration, Qiao An retorted, "If it's such an advantageous match, then let Qiao Xue marry into their family."

"Why should Xue'er, with her beauty and intelligence, marry someone with a disability?" Zhou Yun scoffed. "You and Huo Chengzhou are the ones well-suited for each other!"

At that moment, Qiao Xue sidled up to her and murmured, "Qiao An, you spent last night with a man. Imagine the consequences if Dad were to find out."

"You!" Qiao An's fists tightened. "You're the one who poisoned him!"

"So what if I did?" Qiao Xue sneered. "Do you really think Haoyan will come back to you? He's a man with a strong aversion to germs!"

As Qiao An raised her hand to slap her, Qiao Xue deftly dodged, her eyes brimming with tears. "Father, look at her..."

Qiao Minghui cleared his throat, shot Qiao Xue a knowing glance, and spoke firmly, "Qiao An, your father won't force you to marry if you don't want to. But I know you've spent years longing to find your birth parents."

He paused for a moment. "When we adopted you from the orphanage, we did bring some items your family left for you, which might be of use."

Qiao An looked up sharply.

Qiao Minghui took a leisurely sip of tea and continued in a casual tone, "However, if you choose not to marry, you'll remain part of the Qiao family, and I'll have no choice but to destroy everything your biological parents left behind."

"Dad!" Qiao An was taken aback by his words, momentarily at a loss.

Qiao Minghui seemed uninterested in further discussion. "But if you marry Huo Chengzhou, you'll be leaving the Qiao family as an adult, and I'll have no reason to keep your parents' belongings."

Qiao An understood the bargain Qiao Minghui was proposing.

She would take Qiao Xue's place and marry Huo Chengzhou, and in return, Qiao Minghui would give her the items her parents had left.

Her heart ached as if it had been sliced open.

Qiao An felt like a snake grasped at its vital spot or a fish laid out on a cutting board, utterly at the mercy of others.

The searing pain on her cheek was nothing compared to the agony deep within her. In that moment, Qiao An's heart felt utterly desolate.

Her voice barely steady, she said, "Fine, I'll marry."