155 This Can'st Be Happening

Su Linyu was beaming as she sipped from her cup of tea as she eyed her son as he sat beside Madeline Song on a garden couch adjacent to her seat. Before them was a wooden coffee table with a pot of hot tea, some scones, bowls of strawberry and blueberry jams, and a bowl of clotted cream.

It looked like an afternoon tea on a fine weather.

Su Linyu looked at the 'engaged couple' meaningfully as she laid her cup on its saucer.

"Verdan." She had a serious tone, with a hint of delight. "You two had been together overseas, and had tried living together for several weeks. I think it is only proper for the wedding ceremony to commence as soon as possible...for Madeline." She flashed a warm smile to the young lady.

If an outsider could hear their conversation, he would think that the older woman's child is the young lady, rather than the young man.

"Ah...no! It's okay...I don't mind..." Madeline Song was startled by the 'as soon as possible' and blurted out these words without thinking.

"No. It's not alright. You are a respected young lady. Since you had been spending nights in my son's place, it is only proper for him to take responsibility. Plus, you are already engaged. It will only a matter of time before you have the wedding ceremony, so why not do it sooner?" She scolded them.

Dan finished sipping from his cup and looked at his mother. "We still want to know each other better." he calmly replied.

His face was full of indifference, but Su Linyu did not think too much into it as she was used to his stoic face. She remained optimistic and encouraging.

"You youngsters! What more would you need to know when you already..." she was hinting at them with her eyes and meaningful smile.

Madeline Song blushed. Even if she already did it with Long Yun, she is still not very open on talking about such topics.

"What do you think we already did, Mom?" Dan still had his indifferent face, as if this question is similar to asking the time.

"You know..." Su Linyu felt embarrassed herself. "Young man! Why are you making your mother talk about such things?!"

"Because you were trying to suggest that we already...-ouch!" Dan was indifferently speaking when a stilletto stomped on his black oxford.

Madeline Song glared at him with reddened ears. "Aunty, we just spent some quality time together...uhm, sight-seeing, and eating in restaurants...yeah, that's what we did!" The enthusiasm was so fake that she even heard her voice convincing herself more than the older lady.

Su Linyu chuckled. She thought that the ridiculous excuse was because this future daughter-in-law is too embarrassed to talk about such topic, especially in front of her fiancé.

"Whatever you want me to believe in...that's what I'll consider as the truth." She winked at her son with a meaningful smile. "However, we have chosen the perfect date. It would be a month from now." she declared.

"What?! No!" Madeline Song stood up, slightly hitting the side of her table with her knee due to the sudden movement.

The cups and saucers danced, with some of the tea spilling on the sides.

Su Linyu tapped on her chest, her hand looked like the fingers are fluttering as she tried to calm her heart from shock. "Wha-why? What's wrong with that date? Since you guys kept on postponing tge selection, we elders decided to set the date for you."

Dan looked at his face fiancée. It was clear that she had lost it. He used his hand to rub his temples as he waited for her to spill everything.

"Aunty...I..." Tears were starting to form in her eyes. Her lips were trembling. She clenched her fist. Then she took a deep breath before refocusing her eyes to the startled Madam Zhou. "Aunty, I cannot marry Dan!" she declared.

"What?! Why? Was it my son?! Did he fool around with that Xiu b**** again?!" She turned to her son who seemed to be nursing a headache. "You ingrate! This is the only thing I asked of you and you decided to mess it up! Don't tell me you really got back with Xiu Jin's b**** of a daughter! Verdan Zhou! You need to cut ties with her cleanly! You already have a fiancée and you hurt her just to be with that b****?! You're out of your mind!" Su Linyu hysterically waved her hands as she animatedly made her monologue.

"Mom!" Dan stood up, unable to take another foul word against his wife. "You would stop if you still want me to think of you as my mother." His voice was dominant. "Madeline and I decided to cancel our engagement. I believe it would be righteous of you to respect that."

With that, he strode away.

Madeline Song was frozen for a few seconds before her brain started working again as she decided to go with him.

"So-sorry, Aunty." She bowed to Su Linyu, then hurriedly tried to catch up with Dan.

"No! No! No, no, no! This can't be happening!" Su Linyu pulled onto her hair that was previously swept in a high bun. "Xiu Jin! You should've tied your daughter on a leash! I'll make sure that she will never have my son!"