chapter 13

On the day my parents returned to the country, Uncle Chen pushed me to pick them up.

My dad scrutinized me, pinching my arm. He probably wanted to say, “You’ve lost weight,” but couldn’t get the words out, so he simply said with relief, “At least you look a bit healthier now.”

My mom took off her sunglasses. “Let’s talk properly about that Xu Sixian kid from the Cheng Family.”

They already knew about Cheng Song and Su Wantang, but neither of them had rushed to intervene.

That’s the rule of the He Family: they won’t take the initiative to fight my battles, but they’ll always be my support.

I can do whatever I want. If I want to vent my anger, I have to do it myself.

I gave them a rough account of what had happened, then said calmly, “I want to break off the engagement with Cheng Song, at my Birthday Banquet.”

“The Cheng Family handled things pretty well,” my mom nodded. “You can decide about the engagement yourself.”

“Looks like Cheng Song really pissed you off,” my dad sighed, then immediately tossed this irrelevant person out of his mind. “As for Xu Sixian, you can invite him as your escort, but you have to bring him for me and President He to meet.”

After saying this, he looked at my mom ingratiatingly. “Right, President He?” Me: “…”

I couldn’t bear to look.

But my mom was quite pleased. “Yes, we absolutely have to meet him.”

I found it odd. “When I said I was getting engaged to Cheng Song, you never vetted him. Why do you need to vet Xu Sixian?”

“How could it be the same?” my dad said. “Don’t I know you? Cheng Song, in your mind, is just something to amuse yourself with. You’ve always treated him as your possession, indulged him and given him benefits just to toy with him. He could never hurt you, and if you got annoyed, you could just kick him away. Besides, you only gave him a verbal agreement-it doesn’t matter at all.”

“But Xu Sixian, he’s someone you hold dear in your heart… Oh wait, he’s a tree.” He sighed. “Daughter, I really didn’t expect that when you mentioned ‘little tree’ last time, it was actually some kind of playful nickname you young people use.”

I glared at my dad. “It’s not.”

What nonsense was this old man spouting!

My mom stroked my head. “I know you like him. Giving him your heart means he might hurt you, so I have to see what kind of person he is.”

“Alright.” I didn’t mind. “You set the time, I’ll bring him over.”

President He has always been decisive and efficient.

That very evening, she called Xu Sixian over.

I hadn’t even had time to tell Xu Sixian-exactly as my mom intended.

She needed to see someone who wasn’t prepared, to observe the most genuine reaction and behavior when facing feelings for her daughter.

And clearly, she got the answer she wanted.

Because she had someone take Xu Sixian’s measurements and ordered a matching set of formal attire for the banquet for both of us.

My dad, after eavesdropping on their conversation, came to share with me, “You have good taste, just like your mom.”

Me, who couldn’t eavesdrop: “…”

I wanted to ask what they talked about, but my dad just brushed it off. “Nothing much, just that you two are quite fated.”

Since he wouldn’t say, I went to ask Xu Sixian.

Unexpectedly, Xu Sixian wouldn’t tell me either.

Fine, if they won’t say, they won’t say.

We were at Old Mountain Spring Residence, checking on the sprouting strawberries. Xu Sixian looked at me. “Miss.”

“Hm?”

“Do you like me?”

“What do you think?”

“I like you very much,” he said, “so even if you don’t like me, it’s okay.”

Forget it, forget it.

After all, he’s my Xiaoshu.

“If not, never mind.” Our fingers hooked together, and I kissed his cheek. “I like you too.”