Chapter 305: Suddenly Buying a House

"This stir-fried beef is also so delicious, Brother... Brother Tian, it feels like the food you make is even better than before!"

Xia Nuannuan praised him with a face full of joy.

"Then eat more!"

Qin Tian smiled and added more food to her bowl.

"Mm-hmm!"

"Nuannuan, just call him whatever you want. In front of your father and me, what is there to pretend about?"

Su Xia said with a hint of amusement.

Xia Nuannuan's pretty face flushed slightly, and she gave a shy "mm."

Xia Zhengping pursed his lips. Considering the table full of delicious dishes Qin Tian had made, and how much Qin Tian doted on his precious daughter, he reluctantly accepted this little quirk of his.

"But the dishes Xiao Qin makes are indeed too delicious. Xiao Qin, besides your studies, this culinary talent of yours is a bit frightening. You're much better than Nuannuan."

Su Xia said with a beaming smile.

"Mom... what are you saying? I'm not bad at cooking either, okay!"

Xia Nuannuan hurriedly raised her head, looking at her mother with a resentful gaze.

During the summer vacation after the college entrance examination, she often followed her mother at home to learn how to cook, but it seemed God hadn't bestowed her with talent in this area; her learning was mediocre at best.

Of course, in front of Qin Tian, she still had to put on a brave front; she couldn't let him think her "womanly skills" were much worse than her mother's.

As for cooking, when she went home for the holidays, she would just have her mother pass on more experience so she could continue to improve.

"Auntie, for our generation of young people, being able to cook at all is already quite good. Before, when our class went for an outdoor barbecue after military training, no one could even step up to the plate."

Qin Tian chuckled, speaking up for Xia Nuannuan.

"Is that so? So in the end, you were the one who took action?"

Su Xia asked curiously.

"That's right, Mom, let me tell you, the skewers he made were also super delicious, even better than the seafood feast at Dad's restaurant."

Xia Nuannuan took over the conversation, a proud smile on her face.

"That's because you're tired of eating it. Look at your female classmates—who would say skewers are better than my seafood feast!"

Xia Zhengping retorted, feeling somewhat unconvinced.

"That's because they haven't tasted the skewers Brother Tian makes. Besides, those seafood dishes aren't made by you anyway; except for the raw ones, everything else is made by the chefs."

Xia Nuannuan said seriously.

Lao Xia's face darkened, his eyes staring resentfully at this daughter who was siding with an outsider.

"Hahaha..."

Su Xia couldn't help but laugh.

Qin Tian also almost couldn't hold it together; he hurriedly lowered his head to silently eat his food.

"Dad, I'm just joking. I know your seafood is also very delicious. Come, come, eat more meat."

Xia Nuannuan gave a sheepish smile and picked up a roasted duck leg for Lao Xia as an apology.

Lao Xia huffed indignantly, looked at his wife beside him, and said, "To think we were discussing so seriously what kind of eighteenth birthday gift to give her. Look at this girl; I've truly wasted all these years doting on her."

"Alright, alright, didn't Nuannuan just apologize?"

Su Xia comforted him with amusement.

"Just this duck leg?"

Although Lao Xia complained, he still picked up the duck leg and took a big bite.

"Dad, I'm sorry. I know you're the best and dote on me the most."

Xia Nuannuan blinked her large eyes and began to deploy her "acting cute" tactic.

"Forget it. Now that you have Xiao Qin, the word 'best' doesn't fall on me anymore."

"Oh my, Lao Xia, why are you so sour! Who says there can only be one 'best'?"

"Nuannuan is right."

Qin Tian nodded in agreement.

Xia Zhengping glanced at him with a flat expression and said nothing.

"Alright, you two stop bickering."

Su Xia couldn't help but mediate, changing the subject: "Nuannuan, regarding your birthday gift, is there anything you particularly want?"

Hearing this, Qin Tian also hurriedly pricked up his ears to listen.

Recently, he had also been secretly preparing a birthday gift for Xia Nuannuan, and a portion of it was already finished.

"Something I particularly want..."

Xia Nuannuan pondered for a moment, shook her head, and said, "I really can't think of anything. I feel like I don't lack anything. Anyway, you guys decide; I'll like whatever it is."

"This year is different from previous years; an eighteenth birthday gift is more important. It's like this: your father and I discussed it and prepared to buy you an apartment near Jiang University. Then, you can decide the renovation and design yourself—everything will be up to you. What do you think?"

Su Xia said, dropping a bombshell.

"Buy a house?"

Xia Nuannuan looked at her mother in astonishment.

Qin Tian, sitting to the side, was also quite surprised.

"Yes!"

Su Xia nodded with a gentle smile and explained, "An eighteenth birthday signifies adulthood, meaning you've started to become independent. We feel this birthday gift is very appropriate."

"Also, buying you an apartment near the school gives you a place to stay, which is more convenient. When I come to Jiangcheng in the future, I can go straight there."

"Barring any accidents, you should be staying in Jiangcheng after graduation, right? Then it's better to buy the house sooner rather than later; housing prices have been skyrocketing these years."

After hearing this, Xia Nuannuan said blankly, "But I think living in the dormitory is quite good; there's no need to buy a house!"

"That doesn't conflict. If you want to live in the dormitory, you can certainly still do so. It just gives you a place to stay. For example, if you and Xiao Qin get tired of the school cafeteria one day and want to cook a meal yourselves, and then sit together and eat like today, you'll have a place, right?"

Su Xia said with a smile.

Hearing this, Xia Nuannuan's eyes lit up. After exchanging a glance with Qin Tian beside her, she nodded and agreed with a bright smile: "Then I think that's quite good. You guys decide."

"Then it's settled. Your father and I will go look around the area these next few days and strive to finalize it before National Day."

"Mm-hmm, thank you Mom, thank you Dad, you guys are the best!"

"This was all your mother's idea."

Lao Xia said in a somewhat depressed tone.

When he first heard his wife's proposal, he naturally held an opposing view.

After all, buying a house near the school wasn't that just creating convenient conditions for that brat Qin Tian?

But under his wife's reasonable and well-founded persuasion, he compromised.

The main premise was that he had already accepted Qin Tian as his future son-in-law in his heart.

He also saw the feelings his daughter had for Qin Tian.

In his view, it was already very difficult to separate them.

Moreover, he absolutely would not allow such a situation to happen; he couldn't imagine how severely hurt his daughter would be if she were to break up with Qin Tian.

Therefore, he agreed to his wife's proposal, feeling it would be beneficial for the relationship between his daughter and Qin Tian.

Of course, as a condition, his wife also promised him that she would have a serious talk with their precious daughter, telling her that while she could date, she shouldn't give everything of herself away so easily.

"Um... Uncle Xia, Auntie, I have something I'd like to ask of you."

Qin Tian suddenly spoke up.

Xia Zhengping and his wife turned their puzzled gazes toward him.

"Xiao Qin, what is it? Just say it!"

Su Xia asked.

"It's like this: I currently have some funds on hand. Hearing what you just said, I was thinking, if you are going to look at houses, could you please help me look for one as well?"

Qin Tian said his request with a serious expression.

The couple was stunned for a moment.

"Just like the one you have with Nuannuan's grandparents, it would be best if we could buy ones across from each other."

Qin Tian added. ===== CHAPTER 306 =====