Chapter 332: What Are You Looking For?

With Lu Xiwán mediating, Lilian finally seemed to recall her purpose.

"I definitely don't want to argue with him."

When they get petty and throw a tantrum, both are equally fierce, and neither will yield to the other.

In the end, Lu Xiwán had no solution and could only let the two follow their whims.

Fu Sijue waited for Xi Xi and Yao Yao to return; the two sulking individuals had already gone back to their rooms and slammed their doors heavily, venting their discontent.

Lu Xixi pretended to sigh, "I knew it, Uncle Xie's temper is too volatile."

The childlike tone made Lu Xiwán laugh, reaching out to pinch the chubby face.

Lu Xixi looked at Lu Xiwán very seriously, "Mommy, please stop pinching Xi Xi's face from now on; I'm already a big kid."

She truly regarded herself as an adult, and Lu Xiwán nodded in agreement.

"Since I'm a big kid now, Xi Xi won't eat candy anymore; big kids don't eat candy."

Everyone knows candy is Xi Xi's favorite, so Lu Xiwán's action was essentially grabbing her lifeline.

The smile on Xi Xi's face faded a bit, and after a while she managed to nod through the pain.

To be a big kid, Xi Xi is willing to give up all candy!

"Then big kids must also not eat desserts casually; they must handle their own affairs and can't rely on dad and mommy anymore…"

Lu Xiwán rattled on a bunch of words, but Lu Xixi didn't absorb any of it; she was already fully immersed in the sorrow of never being able to eat candy or desserts again.

Being a big kid is really hard…

Weighing the pros and cons, Lu Xixi grabbed Lu Xiwán's arm again, "Then I won't be a big kid anymore; I still want candy and the snacks from Tianxiangge!"

What's good about being a big kid? You can't eat whatever you want, and under Lu Xiwán's 'help,' Lu Xixi lost the desire to become a big kid.

"Being a big kid isn't entirely without benefits; Xi Xi will be able to go out and play on her own."

Fu Sijue couldn't bear to see Xiao Tuanzi so upset, and gently comforted,

Lu Xixi shook her head like a tambourine, "No, going out to play is only good when it's with dad, mommy, and brother Yao Yao!"

Going alone is so lonely; Xi Xi definitely doesn't want that!

Fu Sijue shook his head helplessly; after all, she's still a child, and whatever she does is impulsive.

"One day, Xi Xi will grow up and have to be apart from dad, mommy, and brother Yao Yao; she'll have her own family later."

Lu Xixi's wide eyes were filled with doubt.

"Xi Xi knows that when she grows up she'll have to live in her own house, but dad and mommy can live with Xi Xi, so she won't be lonely!"

Lu Xixi said as if it were obvious, "I definitely don't want to be separated from my family."

It's natural for a child to cling to you, but Lu Xiwán doesn't want Lu Xixi to rely on them forever.

"That's different."

"Dad and mommy don't love Xi Xi anymore, right?" Lu Xixi, as if recalling something terrifying, clutched the doll in her arms and tightly grasped Yao Yao in fear.

Lu Xiwán quickly comforted the frightened Xi Xi, "Mommy doesn't mean that; you are all dad and mommy's children. We will always love you, but we can't stay by your side forever to take care of you."

If it were only that sentence that made Lu Xixi fear growing up, Lu Xiwán would think she had done wrong.

"So Xi Xi wants to stay with dad and mommy forever! Xi Xi definitely doesn't want to leave you!"

Xi Xi grabbed Lu Xiwán's hand and forced herself into her embrace.

Yao Yao whispered, "I also want to stay with dad and mommy forever," echoing Lu Xixi.

Lu Xiwán, though helpless, knew some matters couldn't be understood overnight, and thus could only reluctantly hold them close.

Xie Zian was irritated by Lilian; even when Lu Xixi asked him to go out, he didn't want to, and he sat irritably alone in his room.

Suddenly, he heard a sound from next door—Lilian had gone out.

Yet there were no footsteps in the hallway; Xie Zian leaned to the door, listening closely to the outside sounds.

Lu Xiwán and the others had all gone out, so Lilian couldn't possibly be unaware, yet she still didn't follow them out?

With his mind full of questions, Xie Zian carefully opened the door a crack; Lilian remained tightly closed, and there was no one in the hallway.

Xie Zian tiptoed downstairs; there was no one in the courtyard, and Zhong He and Zhongyi Shu were sitting at Huxinting to cool off.

"Uncle Zhongyi, Uncle Zhong He, did you just see someone come out?"

Xie Zian strode over, confident that he hadn't misheard.

Zhong He took off his eye mask, "Wanwan and the others went to the market to shop; it's just you and that girl inside... didn't you see her?"

Xie Zian shook his head, "I heard a sound and thought there was a bad person."

"It must have been that girl coming out; don't worry, the two of us are watching here, nothing will happen."

Even though they said that, Xie Zian still wasn't reassured and returned, his mind full of doubts.

Suddenly, he heard a sound from upstairs and hurried up.

The Study's door was ajar; because Fu Sijue needed it for work, he was the only one using the Study, and the door was always kept closed…

Xie Zian held his breath, pushed the door a crack, and cautiously peered inside from the doorway.

Lilian was in the Study, back to the doorway, rummaging through the bookshelf; she had probably been searching for a while, which made her irritated.

What was she looking for? Xie Zian didn't remember any connection between Lilian's family and the Fu Clan, yet she was now genuinely searching in Fu Sijue's office area…

"Where did I put it…" Lilian muttered softly, not even noticing the voice behind her.

She was so focused on the bookshelf in front of her that Xie Zian went unnoticed.

Lilian didn't seem to fear being seen at all, her attention fixed on the bookshelf. She just turned to glance at the desk, and when she spun back, she saw Xie Zian.

She jumped in fright, retreating several steps backward.

Xie Zian walked around the desk to stand before her, his gaze sharp as he scrutinized her like a suspect.

"These are all A Jue's belongings."

Lilian forced a calm composure, suppressing her surprise, and smiled at Xie Zian, "I know."

Xie Zian did not let her go just because Lilian was calm; his words also turned sharp.

"If there's nothing important, even I'm not allowed to be here; why are you here? What are you looking for?"

He had always felt that Lilian's appearance was too coincidental; this scene confirmed his suspicion.