Chapter 376

At night, Xia Xi and Xia Xuan slept on the same bed, just like when they were children.

Neither of them felt sleepy, and they chatted idly, on and off.

Xia Xi: "Xuanxuan, have you really made up your mind?"

Xia Xuan lay on her side, her small face half-buried in the pillow, her voice soft: "Mm."

Seeing her close her eyes after speaking, Xia Xi sighed silently, her hand resting on her shoulder, and after a long silence she could only go along with her wish: "I'll find time tomorrow to talk to Chen Songbai."

"Thank you, sister." Xia Xuan moved her lips, "It's my fault. Mom was also frightened today."

"Don't say such polite words; I, Mom, and your older sister will only feel sorry for you, not blame you. Besides, there's nothing wrong with you. Don't force others' mistakes onto yourself."

Xia Xi said nothing more; the room gradually grew quiet, and she gently patted Xia Xuan's shoulder from time to time, like coaxing a child to sleep.

After a while, hearing her breathing even, Xia Xi turned off the light.

Chen Songbai's parents came over today to cause a stir, which was beyond Xia Xi's expectation and threw her original plans into disarray. She had thought Miao Yijia would lose patience first and reveal herself, but who would have known……

Wait, Miao Yijia?

She seemed to have overlooked the reason for Chen Songbai's parents' sudden visit.

Chen Songbai was wholeheartedly seeking reconciliation with Xia Xuan, so he would certainly not drag his parents into it. He knew his parents' temperament well; if they found out, they would only cause him trouble, with no benefit at all.

Miao Yijia, seeing her hopes dashed, had recruited two heavyweight helpers for herself.

She had underestimated Miao Yijia's methods.

She was a bit worried; now Xia Xuan was determined to divorce, and if they really did, it would play right into Miao Yijia's hands.

The next morning, Xia Xuan was still asleep; Xia Xi didn't wake her, slipped out quietly, and went to the outside washroom to freshen up.

Xia Yue had already prepared breakfast: porridge, buns, fried wheat, and corn.

Xia Xi ladled herself a bowl of porridge, didn't go to the dining room, pulled up a chair, and ate at the island counter.

Xia Yue: "How is Xuanxuan?"

"She's fine; she fell asleep early last night and hasn't woken up yet." Xia Xi picked up a bun, tore off a piece of the skin, and stuffed it into her mouth.

Su Jinru hadn't slept well the previous night, and only after Xia Xi finished breakfast did she come out of her room.

With a bag slung over her shoulder, Xia Xi stood in the entryway changing shoes: "Mom, sister, I'm off to work. Don't call Xia Xuan for now; let her eat whenever she wakes up."

Seeing that Xia Xi ate little, Xia Yue packed a piece of corn into her bag to stave off hunger: "Drive carefully on the road."

Su Jinru saw her to the elevator, Xia Xi waved, took the elevator down to the underground parking lot, and drove to the company.

After a busy day, with more than an hour left before quitting time, Xia Xi called Chen Songbai to arrange a meeting.

Chen Songbai did not refuse.

After work, Xia Xi checked in with Xu Yanfeng, then walked to a coffee shop near the company.

A few customers were scattered about the shop; Chen Songbai hadn't arrived yet, so Xia Xi took a seat by the window, casually ordered a drink, and waited patiently.

Less than ten minutes later, Chen Songbai arrived, wearing a white T-shirt under a casual light-colored suit; he glanced around, spotted Xia Xi's seat, walked over, and sat down opposite her.

Xia Xi: "What would you like to drink?"

Chen Songbai ordered a coconut Americano; before Xia Xi could state her purpose for inviting him, he declared: "Second sister, if you're here to persuade me to divorce Xuanxuan, I don't want to hear it."

Xia Xi's expression froze.

Chen Songbai lowered his head, staring at his cup: "I won't divorce her."

"But since you can't resolve the Miao Yijia issue nor change your parents' views, what's the point of your insistence?" Xia Xi said. "It will only bring Xuanxuan deeper harm. She's been frail since childhood and has already suffered too much; I don't want to see her hurt because of you."

Chen Songbai didn't put on a brave front in front of her; his face showed agonized struggle: "It's all my fault. I know what kind of parents I have; I've lived under their control since childhood, they gave birth to me and raised me, I can't just cast them aside—I can only try to go along with them. Before marriage, I thought I wouldn't live with them, that Xiao Xuan and I would have our own little home, so there'd be no chance of conflict. After marriage, I realized my idea was a bit naive; my parents occasionally drop by, and their dislike for Xiao Xuan is obvious. At first I even urged her to bear it and move on, because I myself had endured that way. Their notions are stubborn, unchangeable, so we can only endure. It wasn't until Xiao Xuan's incident that I fully realized that enduring again and again only piles up contradictions, never resolves them."

Because he lived in such a stifling family atmosphere, with a mother who was formidable in every way, he instinctively feared women like her. The first time he saw the gentle, modest, and lovable Xia Xuan, he couldn't help but want to get close.

Xia Xi is not Xia Xuan; she won't be moved to forgive just because he laid bare his heart. She wore an indifferent look: "You've told me all this, yet you still haven't said how to deal with the Miao Yijia matter."

Chen Songbai crossed his hands and pressed them against his forehead.

"I went to see her yesterday to talk." Chen Songbai's voice gradually lowered as he recalled their conversation, feeling utterly helpless: "As soon as I brought up that matter, she cried. I asked her what compensation she wanted, but she never said, only expressing her grievance and hurt. I didn't dare press her, fearing she might give up and do something rash, I… I…"

He was at a loss.

Xia Xi leaned back in her chair, arms crossed over her chest, curling her lips: "I ask you, how did your parents find out about this?"

Chen Songbai lifted his head to look at her, fell silent for a moment, then said: "Miao Yijia let it slip by accident."

Just as she had guessed, Xia Xi let out a soft scoff: "Do you really believe she said it by accident?"

She emphasized the three words "by accident."

Chen Songbai's face twitched slightly.

"You've kept putting off the divorce, so her wish can't be fulfilled; since she can't act herself, she's turned her sights on your parents." Xia Xi spread her hands. "Look, your parents heard the news and rushed over to pressure you into divorcing—she doesn't even need to show her face."

Chen Songbai still didn't understand: "What's her purpose in doing this? I said I'd give her compensation, as long as she's willing to speak up."

Xia Xi shook her head. "How can you still not see Miao Yijia's true colors—are you stupid, or just unwilling to think that way?" She continued: "What she truly wants is for you to take responsibility for her, divorce Xuanxuan, and marry me. Have I made that clear enough?"

As if startled, Chen Songbai rose from his chair; his movement was too abrupt, pushing the chair back a bit and emitting a slightly harsh noise.

His sudden standing was a bit jarring, and the few customers in the coffee shop all turned to look.

"I said I treat her like a sister." Chen Songbai found it hard to believe the possibility Xia Xi had just raised.

Xia Xi's gaze was calm as she said: "You treat her as a sister, but have you ever asked her whether she sees you as a brother? Chen Songbai, why are you so surprised? I reminded you after the incident that Miao Yijia might have deliberately set you up, and it seems you haven't listened at all."

Chen Songbai sat back down and a long while passed without him speaking.

That day, after Xia Xi had warned him, he went to confront Miao Yijia; then Miao Yijia slit her wrists, and since he already didn't believe much, he dismissed that suspicion altogether.

Seeing his look of disbelief, Xia Xi wanted to tell him "you deserve it," but thinking that the one hurt was her own younger sister, she couldn't bring herself to utter scornful words.

"Think carefully—has Miao Yijia truly never overstepped with you? Has she shown any respect to Xuanxuan, your sister-in-law? Chen Songbai, can you really say you bear no responsibility for how things stand today?"

Although it was a questioning tone, Xia Xi's voice carried no inflection.

She left Chen Songbai to think on his own, settled the bill, and exited the coffee shop first.

Having been entrusted by Xia Xuan to persuade Chen Songbai to agree to divorce, after their conversation she only saw clearly his determination not to divorce.

Xia Xi was still more worried than last night; after getting in the car, she thought for a while before starting it.

By the time they got home, Xu Yanfeng had already returned, accompanying Zi Heng in building LEGO, with the Hogwarts castle half-finished.

Seeing Xia Xi walk over, Xu Yanfeng placed the piece he was holding, got up, went over to rub her shoulders and said, "You've worked hard."

As Xia Xi walked, he followed behind, continuing to rub her shoulders; she curled the corners of her mouth into a smile, raised a hand to rest on his, and happened to see the delivery box beside the cabinet—the one she had moved there yesterday, still untouched today.

She pointed at the box and asked Xu Yanfeng, "What did you buy?"

Xu Yanfeng: "Why haven't you opened it?"

Xia Xi stared for a moment: "I saw your name written on the slip."

Xu Yanfeng: "Mine is yours."

Xu Yanfeng moved the box over, took a utility knife from the cabinet and handed it to her, slightly lifting his chin to indicate she should open it.