“You…” Li Xiaozhong noticed this and couldn’t help but hold her forehead. After quietly pulling Lei Xirui aside, she looked at Shi Xingwu with a helpless expression and said, “Shi Xingwu, do you think everyone is built like you? If you injure her again, aren’t you afraid her brothers will come to settle the score with you?”
“Huh?” Shi Xingwu then chuckled awkwardly, “Sorry, Siri sister.”
“N-no, it’s alright.” Lei Xirui knew Shi Xingwu meant no harm, and the pain only lasted for a moment. She shook her head with a dry laugh and said, “Please don’t take it to heart.”
“That’s more like it!” Shi Xingwu raised his hand to pat Lei Xirui’s shoulder again, to praise her.
Unexpectedly, Lei Xirui now flinched like a frightened little rabbit, pulling her hands to her head and shrinking back.
Shi Xingwu’s hand froze in mid-air, and he awkwardly withdrew it, “Uh… I’m sorry… I didn’t mean to startle you.”
“N-no, it’s alright… Please don’t take it to heart…” Lei Xirui’s face turned red. She awkwardly retracted her hands, feeling that her courage was indeed too small.
“Shi Xingwu, if you continue like this, you’ll be single your whole life,” Xia Qingtian said helplessly.
“Eh? Goddess sister, you’re really joking, hahahaha~” Shi Xingwu laughed heartily. Seeing him like this, everyone sighed in unison.
This kid is quite good, but there’s no saving him; it’s time to give up on treatment.
“Ah? Eh, eh, eh?” Seeing everyone sighing, Shi Xingwu became a little flustered. He looked at them one by one, what did it mean? It wasn’t a joke.
“It’s fine, there are many ways to live a life alone. Earning more money and enriching your inner world is also possible,” Xia Honglang gave Shi Xingwu a confirming answer and a practical suggestion.
“Yes, indeed.” Xia Qingtian nodded and said, “As a single person, live on bravely!”
“No way!” Shi Xingwu’s eyes widened, and he looked at Li Xiaozhong again, “You’re lying, right!”
“Looking at me is useless, you should develop more personal hobbies,” Li Xiaozhong said seriously.
“Following the current development trend, researching retirement apartments for the elderly singles to meet the retirement needs of single and lonely elderly people should be a very good economic development trend. We can consider having someone conduct a survey and set up a project upon returning,” Gu Yaoyang said solemnly.
“Good, I also think it’s very feasible, has prospects, and can meet social needs.” Xia Qingtian nodded in agreement, then changed the subject, “At that time, we’ll prepare a single room for Shi Xingwu. He’ll need it.”
“What? Why a single room? Who needs it? I, I will definitely have a girlfriend in the future, and I will definitely get married!” Shi Xingwu said unconvincingly, “Don’t be like this, have some faith in me, okay!”
“Not at all,” Li Xiaozhong shook her head.
“This is asking too much of you,” Xia Qingtian said, looking at Gu Yaoyang, who nodded in agreement.
“When people reach a certain age, they know how to accept their fate,” Xia Honglang said as if he were an experienced person. Aunt Liu nodded beside him.
“What are you guys talking about?” Miao Tong and Bai Yuqi came over, asking with smiles.
“We’re discussing Shi Xingwu’s future retirement,” Xia Qingtian replied.
“If you’re alone, it will be a bit harder. Save more money while you’re young,” Bai Yuqi said seriously with her arms crossed. Miao Tong nodded beside her, “Take good care of yourself. After all, if you’re alone when you’re old, getting sick less and suffering less is also a kind of happiness.”
“I… not… but…” Shi Xingwu stammered, wanting to defend himself, but again looking like he didn’t know how to. His conflicted face turned red.
“Pfft.” At this moment, Xia Qingyu was finally amused by Shi Xingwu’s expression.
Seeing Xia Qingyu smile, everyone’s expression also eased a lot. Lei Xirui couldn’t help but cover her mouth and chuckle. She loved everyone so much!
If only they could always be together!
Lei Xirui’s eyes sparkled, and the smile on her lips was as sweet as honey.
Seeing Xia Qingyu surrounded by her family and friends from afar, Xi Fu’s eyes darkened.
She would not let Xia Qingyu appear in her world like this and take everything from her.
Never!
After the banquet ended, Xiang Xueyuan prepared parting gifts for every guest who attended.
As the guests left one by one, Xia Honglang also said, “Let’s go back. Today’s banquet… was quite lively.” Excluding the part where he made a joke and made Xia Qingyu call Xiang Xueyuan Grandpa, it was all good.
“Yes.” Aunt Liu also smiled lightly, as if today wasn’t as terrible as she had imagined. If they could leave Finland smoothly afterwards, that would be great.
“Let’s go.” Xia Qingtian held Gu Yaoyang’s right hand and extended her left hand towards Xia Qingyu.
Xia Qingyu looked at Xia Qingtian’s hand and shook her head.
“Qingyu?” Xia Qingtian was somewhat confused and looked at Xia Qingyu, asking, “What’s wrong?”
“Sister, I won’t be going back with you for now,” Xia Qingyu raised her eyes, revealing a gentle and bright smile, “I want to stay.”
“What?” Everyone was shocked by Xia Qingyu’s words, especially Xia Qingyu and Aunt Liu.
“Stay? You want to stay?” Aunt Liu looked at Xia Qingyu incredulously.
They, mother and daughter, were trying to hide, so why would Xia Qingyu want to stay?
“Yes.” The smile on Xia Qingyu’s face remained unchanged, “He is my biological father after all. I haven’t spent time with him for so many years… Although there were some unpleasantness before, seeing him today…
He’s witty, humorous, refined… and very capable. I want to… I want to live with my dad and get to know him better.”
“Are you serious?” Xia Qingtian looked at Xia Qingyu, her gaze shifting slightly.
“Yes,” Xia Qingyu met Xia Qingtian’s gaze and felt as if a ball of cotton was stuck in her throat, making her feel stifled and uncomfortable.
She hated lying to Xia Qingtian the most.
However, at this moment, she had no other choice.
She could only try her best to reassure her family and make them believe this was her own choice.
“After all, I signed a contract voluntarily relinquishing all inheritance rights from the Xia family. Now it’s time for me to consider my own future,” Xia Qingyu looked directly at Xia Qingtian, speaking words that were not from her heart, “How can years of hard study compare to the satisfaction of reaching the top in one step.”
“What contract?” Xia Qingtian frowned. How did she not know Xia Qingyu had signed something like that?
“Qingyu, that contract is nothing. As long as you don’t want it, I…” Xia Honglang had never intended for Xia Qingyu to sign such a thing. It was Aunt Liu who brought it up at first, and Xia Qingyu agreed to sign it for her mother.
He always thought it was absurd. Since the children’s relationship was so good now, they might as well find a lawyer as soon as they returned to China to nullify the contract.
“I didn’t want it before, but now…” Xia Qingyu smiled, “I actually look down on the Xia family’s possessions now. Signing it was clean, it’s quite good.”