"I'm not unhappy, it's just..." Xia Honglang clutched his chest, "I feel a bit stifled."
"It's just that today Qing Tian brought her boyfriend back. At your future wedding, you'll have to personally hand her over to..." Aunt Liu's words were cut short by Xia Honglang.
"Don't say it..." Xia Honglang turned to look at Aunt Liu. "Just thinking about it makes my heart ache."
"Heh heh." Aunt Liu chuckled and walked towards Xia Honglang. "I've always seen you so confident and commanding in business, I've never seen you so flustered before."
"Ai..." Xia Honglang sighed and pulled Aunt Liu into his arms, lamenting, "I always feel... just a short while ago she was a tiny tot who could barely walk, how in the blink of an eye... she's already in love?"
"That is too fast." Aunt Liu echoed his sentiment. "Before, Qing Yu relied on me for everything, even taking half of her kindergarten snacks back to share with me. Now she has her own little secrets. In a few more years, she might bring back a boyfriend and insist on marrying him or something similar."
"Hiss..." Xia Honglang clutched his chest. "I'm already feeling down, why do you have to twist the knife?"
Aunt Liu pursed her lips and stifled a giggle, then coaxed Xia Honglang, "Alright, I won't say it anymore. It's best if both your daughters remain spinsters in the Xia family forever."
"It's not like I can't afford to support them," Xia Honglang mumbled. "I'm just afraid that in the end, they'll be left behind and it will turn into resentment... Ai..."
"Alright, take your time to recover." Aunt Liu reached out and gently patted Xia Honglang's chest, helping him calm down. "You are Qing Tian and Qing Yu's father. Being their pillar of strength is the most important thing."
"Mm." Xia Honglang nodded solemnly. "You're right, I should be their strength."
Seeing that Xia Honglang had come to a realization, Aunt Liu revealed her gentle smile again.
"Your mindset is so much better," Xia Honglang remarked with emotion.
Aunt Liu's smile faltered slightly, and her tone carried a hint of weariness. "When people go through more experiences, they naturally become more open-minded."
Xia Honglang looked at Aunt Liu, finding her behavior a little odd.
What was going on today?
First Gu Yaoyang, then Aunt Liu, both speaking in such cryptic ways?
Gu Yaoyang, in his twenties, had spoken multiple times as if he had lived for a very long time.
Aunt Liu, the most innocent, gentle, and guileless person, also seemed to have weathered significant storms.
Could it be... this was the current trend?
Should he try to learn it too?
He couldn't be forgotten by the tide just because he was getting old.
After that vague statement, Aunt Liu quickly reverted to her usual gentle demeanor, claiming she was tired after a long period of worry, and then went straight back to her bedroom.
Xia Honglang put away the chessboard and also went to rest.
Meanwhile, Xia Qing Tian was thoroughly annoyed by Miao Tong's pestering. "I'm sleepy, I want to go back to bed!"
"Don't be like that. At your age, how can you sleep? Are you even ashamed to sleep?" Miao Tong's gossipy soul was burning brightly; he had so many questions.
"You're so annoying!" Xia Qing Tian tilted her head back, looking utterly fed up.
"Don't be so stingy. I'm just concerned about your lifelong happiness!" Miao Tong winked playfully. "What stage are you at? Have you kissed yet?"
"Little Uncle," Xia Qing Yu suddenly appeared and said, "If you keep this up, I'll go tell Uncle Xiao."
Mentioning Xia Shang, Miao Tong immediately behaved himself, only pursing his lips and muttering, "Stingy..."
Then he scratched the back of his head and went upstairs along the staircase.
"Qing Yu..." Xia Qing Tian genuinely felt that her own sister was the most reliable. Just as she was about to pounce on her sister for some affection, Xia Qing Yu directly dodged her.
"Come with me, I have something to ask you." Xia Qing Yu's expression was stern as she walked directly towards her room.
"Oh..." Xia Qing Tian touched her nose, vaguely feeling that a stubborn Xia Qing Yu might be even more troublesome than Miao Tong...
After entering the room, Xia Qing Yu directly closed the door. She gestured for Xia Qing Tian to sit on the beanbag chair by the window before asking, "Did he force you, or did you do it willingly?"
"Ah?" Xia Qing Tian blinked, not understanding for a moment. When she finally grasped the meaning, she chuckled dryly, "How is that possible!"
The outside world was spreading rumors that she, Xia Qing Tian, was arrogant and bullying, seizing what she wanted through force and committing all sorts of evil deeds.
Only Xia Qing Yu would worry that she was the one being bullied.
Thinking of this, Xia Qing Tian's chest felt warm.
"What do you like about him?" Xia Qing Yu pressed further. "Is it just because you've been through a lot together?"
"Going through a lot together is just one factor. Because of this factor, we deepen our understanding of each other, leading to admiration and then liking." Xia Qing Tian knew Xia Qing Yu was concerned about her, so she didn't treat her like a child. Instead, she said earnestly, "Our values align, and then there's a bit of destiny involved, it happens naturally..."
Hearing Xia Qing Tian's words, Xia Qing Yu lowered her eyes, her expression unreadable.
"What is it?" Xia Qing Tian reached out and hooked Xia Qing Yu's finger, asking, "Worried about me?"
"Who's worried about you!" Xia Qing Yu turned her head away, denying it. "I'm worried you'll meet the wrong person and drag the Xia family down."
"Ah, this..." Xia Qing Tian really wanted to deny it, but in her past life, it was precisely because she met the wrong person that she had dragged the Xia family down. Now, even if she denied it, she lacked confidence.
Seeing that Xia Qing Tian didn't respond, Xia Qing Yu considered if her words were too harsh. Her beautiful eyes flickered slightly, and she continued, "Mr. Gu is indeed a capable businessman, and he's also... passable in appearance."
Xia Qing Yu simply couldn't bring herself to say Gu Yaoyang was ugly against her conscience, but she just found Gu Yaoyang displeasing.
"Oh my... your standards for looks are even higher than mine," Xia Qing Tian said, blinking. "Then I'm really curious, what kind of boyfriend will you find in the future?"
Even Gu Yaoyang's appearance was only considered "passable" in Xia Qing Yu's eyes?
Oh my...
"Stop changing the subject!" Xia Qing Yu said irritably. "Anyway... anyway, take good care of yourself. If he's still okay, date him for now. If you find anything wrong, break up quickly. Don't be foolish and get trapped, and then worry about sunk costs or business dealings... In short, if it's not right, break up quickly. You don't need to worry about him retaliating! At worst, I'll suffer a bit and support you!"
Hearing Xia Qing Yu's words, Xia Qing Tian couldn't help but burst into laughter. She pulled Xia Qing Yu towards her, enclosing her sister's hand in hers, and looked up, smiling, "Okay."
Her Qing Yu was such an adorable little angel.
This life, she would definitely protect Xia Qing Yu well.
She wouldn't let anyone hurt her again.
No one.
Xia Qing Yu looked into Xia Qing Tian's bright, gentle eyes, the bitterness in her heart replaced by a sweet, warm feeling. She silently made a vow.
This life, no one would steal her sister away!
Not even that person surnamed Gu.