Camille knew Aunt Liu’s meaning. She first gave Xia Qingtian a kiss on the cheek as a farewell, then said goodbye to Aunt Liu in French. Lightly touching her lips with the decorative fan and then her chest, she turned to leave.
Her smile was enchanting and captivating.
Seeing Camille's gesture, Aunt Liu breathed a sigh of relief.
That movement was a secret code used in French aristocratic balls, meaning: "Your secret is sealed with my lips and hidden in my heart."
However, Aunt Liu’s heart sank again.
She shouldn’t have been careless today.
“Aunt Liu, what are you thinking about?” After seeing Madame Camille off, Xia Qingtian turned around and noticed Aunt Liu’s solemn expression. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing, I just feel…” Aunt Liu lightly caressed her cheek with one hand and smiled charmingly at Xia Qingtian. “Madame Camille is truly beautiful.”
“Aunt Liu is beautiful too.” Xia Qingtian smiled and linked her arm with Aunt Liu’s. “When will Qingyu be back?”
“Probably soon. This child, really.” Mentioning Xia Qingyu, Aunt Liu couldn’t help but say, “It’s good that she has a hobby, but she’s too invested, isn’t she? Yesterday, I saw bruises on her shoulders. I felt so bad and wanted to say a few words, but she’ll just complain that I’m nagging. Sigh…”
“That’s how she is at her age,” Xia Qingtian said. “Qingyu studies well, has a good personality, cooks well, and is independent. Now she has her own little hobby, she’s self-disciplined, strong, and confident. Such a perfect child, if she were someone else’s, they would pamper her. You’re still not satisfied?”
Xia Qingyu, just arriving at the doorstep, heard Xia Qingtian’s praise and her heart immediately felt warm. The fatigue on her face vanished, and her eyes sparkled.
She… wasn’t as good as her sister said.
“I’m just worried about her. Next month she’ll be going to Finland for a world competition, and there are also some international martial arts friendly matches. I’m afraid she’ll overwork herself,” Aunt Liu said helplessly.
“Oh? Is that so?” Xia Qingtian blinked. “Next month? Which day next month? Early next month?”
“It seems to be…” Aunt Liu’s words were interrupted by Xia Qingyu from behind.
“It’s mid-next month,” Xia Qingyu replied. “July 17th.”
“Qingyu, you’re back?” Xia Qingtian was also surprised to hear Xia Qingyu’s voice and turned to look at her, smiling charmingly. “Are you hungry? The kitchen saved some delicious food for you.”
“Wash your hands quickly when you get back. Put your things down and eat first,” Aunt Liu said with a light smile.
“Ask someone to bring it to my room,” Xia Qingyu said after thinking for a moment. “I’m a bit busy.”
She wasn’t as good as Xia Qingtian had said; she had to work even harder!
She absolutely couldn’t let her sister down!
“But…” Aunt Liu was about to say something when Xia Qingtian interrupted her.
“Of course, someone will bring it up to you later. But you still need to eat before you do anything else~” Xia Qingtian smiled gently.
“Okay,” Xia Qingyu replied, then quickly walked past them, trotting up the stairs to her room.
“Qingyu listens to you the most now. Find some time to persuade her properly,” Aunt Liu said softly to Xia Qingtian after Xia Qingyu went upstairs.
“Alright, I’ll find some time this week to have a good chat with her,” Xia Qingtian agreed, then looked at Erya, who was patting her round belly and burping on the sofa, and sighed leisurely. “I’ll go deal with this troublesome one first.”
Aunt Liu followed Xia Qingtian’s gaze, then also pursed her lips and smiled faintly, before saying, “I’ll go upstairs now.”
She then left the living room to Xia Qingtian and Erya.
Xia Qingtian walked to the sofa, ruffled Erya’s hair, and then sat beside her, asking, “How are things at the laboratory recently?”
“Old Tang said that laboratory matters are secret and cannot be told to others,” Erya, who had drunk two glasses of brandy at the table, put her finger to her lips and made a shushing gesture. She then squinted and looked at Xia Qingtian seriously for a moment before saying, “But Qingtian is not just anyone. I can tell you, hiccup.”
“If there’s something you shouldn’t say, it’s better to keep it a secret,” Xia Qingtian said with a helpless smile. She wasn’t sure if Erya’s personality was good or bad.
“Qingtian, why haven’t you come to see me? Do you think that surnamed Miao person is cuter than me?” Erya cupped her round face with her palms, her cheeks slightly flushed. Her eyes were hazy and wronged, like a puppy whimpering under a bridge on a rainy day, looking at Xia Qingtian pitifully, as if asking with her eyes: Aren’t you taking me home? Really? I’m very well-behaved…
“There’s been a lot going on recently,” Xia Qingtian didn’t know why all these things were happening at once. “I’m sorry, Erya.”
“Mmm…” Hearing Xia Qingtian’s apology, Erya lowered her hands and lay down on Xia Qingtian’s lap. She smacked her lips twice. “Then I forgive you. Don’t do it again next time.”
“Yes, thank you for forgiving me. I won’t do it again,” Xia Qingtian said gently, stroking Erya’s soft hair.
“Qingtian… Besides Xia Shang and Master, I like you the most…” Erya paused and said, “No, and big brother, second brother, third brother… seventh brother… Hmm, and then there’s you!”
“Pfft.” Xia Qingtian couldn’t help but chuckle. “Well, you’re in the top ten. That’s pretty good.”
“There’s also Da Ya… Da Ya…” murmuring, Erya suddenly sat up. “Da Ya is still waiting for me to go home!”
Standing up abruptly, Erya was about to run out.
“You’re so drunk, how can you go back?” Xia Qingtian immediately grabbed Erya’s arm and said, “Sleep here tonight, and I’ll take you back tomorrow morning.”
“No, Da Ya must be waiting for me!” Erya puffed out her cheeks and started to fuss. “Da Ya…”
“And you haven’t seen Xia Shang yet, and you’re leaving like this?” Xia Qingtian said, blocking Erya, while coaxing her. “At least say hello to Xia Shang.”
“Xia Shang…” Hearing Xia Shang’s name, Erya finally quieted down and started looking for Xia Shang again.
Just then, Miao Tong returned, his hands in his pockets, sauntering in. He frowned as soon as he entered. “I was wondering why I smelled something like rotten herbs. So, there’s some Tang family trash here?”
“Xia Shang~” Erya was still fussing about finding Xia Shang.
Xia Qingtian was annoyed by Erya’s antics and had to go to Miao Tong, clasping her hands together. “Little Uncle, please help me. Pretend to be your brother and coax her a bit to keep her quiet for a while.”
“Me? Coax her!” Miao Tong’s eyes widened in disbelief. “Am I morally depraved, or are you mentally twisted? For you to ask me to… coax her!”