Chapter 213

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Protagonist:

Lin Xiyu

"Hehe."

Hearing him mention her father's name, Xiao Ruirui's eyes lit up, she grinned, and joined in with a hehehe laugh, acting stupidly happy.

"Alright, stop being cheap."

Lin Xiyu laughed and shooed him away: "Go study quickly, I need to make lunch, and this afternoon I'm taking Xiao Ruirui out to play."

"You play, just play, no need to tell me specially."

Chen Xiaoyi made a bitter face and looked at Xiao Ruirui with some resentment.

"Hehehe."

Xiao Ruirui understood the hidden meaning in the gaze, covered her mouth, and giggled.

"Your sister isn't just playing..."

Guben explained with a smile: "She's amazing now, a real children's king; among all the children in every alley in the Old City District, there isn't one who doesn't know her."

"Good grief..."

Chen Xiaoyi looked completely baffled: "Sister, what are you trying to do?"

"Secret."

Lin Xiyu gave him a provocative gaze: "This is an agreement between me and Xiao Ruirui; you don't tell us, we don't tell you."

"Mm-hmm."

Xiao Ruirui nodded very helpfully.

Chen Xiaoyi: "......."

Suddenly felt like my sister had been snatched away.

Such an unlovable little nephew, can he not exist?!

—

The afternoon was the happiest moment of the children's day; Liu Nainai's little Niuniu was waiting at the doorway before two o'clock, waiting for Lin Xiyu and Xiao Ruirui to come from home to take her to Daming Lake to play.

Lin Xiyu did not disappoint her, appearing in the alley right on time at two.

"Auntie, hello......."

Seeing the two, Xiao Niuniu's eyes lit up, and she ran over very happily.

One "Auntie, hello" was like opening a magical door; immediately after, seven or eight children, hearing the noise, ran out from various homes and courtyards.

"Run slowly, be careful not to fall."

The adults responsible for watching the children, both helpless and amused, followed behind, gradually gathering around Lin Xiyu.

Lin Xiyu greeted the adults very familiarly, and distributed the candies she brought to the children.

The children took the candies and ran forward gleefully.

Xiao Ruirui and Xiao Niuniu were mixed in among them, following the slightly older children, heads down as they rushed forward.

The adults watched, amused, laughing and following behind. The group arrived at Daming Lake in a grand procession, and after entering, went straight to Jibei Pavilion.

The children loved playing on the slides; playing all afternoon didn't tire them.

Xiao Ruirui slid the stone slide unique to Jibei Pavilion for the first time; seeing the high steps, she was a bit intimidated, and after climbing halfway, she didn't dare climb further.

Xiao Niuniu set an example for him, climbing to the top first, and following the queue order, slid down one after another with the other children.

Many children played at Jibei Pavilion, one after another; the feet of the children behind stepped on the buttocks of the children in front.

Some slightly older children, to slide smoothly themselves, deliberately controlled their speed; when they reached the middle position, after the people in front had all slid down, they rushed down in one breath.

Therefore, the sliding speed on the upper half of the stone slide was usually slow, stopping from time to time; with small children mixed in, the danger was not high.

On the lower half, adults usually accompanied the very young children, walking down along the steps, only feeling relieved once they landed safely.

Xiao Niuniu, accompanied by Lin Xiyu, slid down very smoothly once.

Not satisfied after sliding, she climbed up from below again, and actively took Xiao Ruirui's hand.

Seeing her playing so happily, Xiao Ruirui no longer resisted, and climbed to the top layer with her.

The two little ones lined up, and with the children in front, slid down in order.

After sliding once, Xiao Ruirui got addicted to playing, becoming more active than Xiao Niuniu; when climbing the steps, her speed rushing up was even faster.

At first, Lin Xiyu, like the other adults, accompanied the two little ones up, guarded from the side, and then walked down the steps with them.

After going back and forth several times, she was out of breath and couldn't climb anymore.

"Xiao Lin, you rest; we'll watch the children for you."

The wives and sisters-in-law who had received many small favors from her usually came in handy at the critical moment.

Lin Xiyu was not affected and agreed readily.

With their help, she didn't need to exert herself anymore; she just needed to wait at the bottom, and catch the two little ones before they landed when they slid down.

—

When the two little ones climbed the steps again, the mobile phone in her pocket rang.

"Female cousin, you're finally awake."

Seeing it was her female cousin's call, Lin Xiyu answered quickly: "I've called you no fewer than ten times this morning; I couldn't find you and was anxious to death; if your driver hadn't said you were asleep, I would have wanted to call the police."

"Sorry, I was too tired..."

Her female cousin's slightly apologetic voice came from the earpiece: "What do you want me for? Is there something urgent that can't wait until I return to Jinan?"

"You still ask me why I'm looking for you?"

Lin Xiyu helplessly rubbed her forehead: "Do you not know what you did yourself? Breaking up during the New Year, wouldn't Grandma be anxious if she found out?"

"Speaking of this..."

Female Cousin coughed twice somewhat embarrassedly: "It's just a breakup, what's the big deal? Once Sister has money, what kind of man can't she find?"

"Let's talk seriously..."

Lin Xiyu interrupted her self-delusion: "You and Li Xiao have been dating for two years, don't you have any feelings at all? Breaking up after one argument, isn't that too hasty?"

"Actually, the two of us these past two years, we've had our ups and downs, we've argued more than once."

Female Cousin helplessly smiled bitterly: "He's that kind of person, his temper is quite strong, I'm not a gentle beauty either, our personalities are too similar, we can't complement each other. To be honest, I think it's a miracle we lasted two years. If it weren't for my mother constantly nagging in front of me, saying how good he is, telling me to cherish him, I would have long since couldn't stand it and broken up with him."

"Lasting two years shows you're still suitable..."

Lin Xiyu earnestly advised: "If there really is no fate, even looking at him once would be annoying, it would be absolutely impossible to date him."

"I originally didn't want to date..."

Female Cousin gave up completely: "It was him insisting on using the pretext of repaying a favor to pester me. I just sent him to the hospital, it was just a matter of convenience. Even if it were a stranger with appendicitis needing surgery, I would have done the same. It's not because he's anything special that I care about him particularly."

"Sister, think more positively..."

Lin Xiyu continued to advise: "Think about the sweet times you and Xiao Ge have had over these two years. When you went out together, weren't you happy? When he gave you flowers and gifts on your birthday, weren't you glad? Among all the little things over these two years, there must be a moment that moves you..."

"Sigh."

The person on the other end of the phone was silent for a moment, and only after a long time did a faint sigh come through.

Through the receiver, Lin Xiyu could imagine Female Cousin's expression at this moment, and how lost and dejected she was.

"Sister, stop putting on a brave front."

Lin Xiyu genuinely thought of Female Cousin, and tentatively advised: "Give Xiao Ge another chance, have a good talk with the two of you. Perhaps Xiao Ge regrets it now and wants to be with you..."

"It won't happen."

Female Cousin smiled bitterly: "Xiyu, if others asked me, I wouldn't say it. You're my younger sister, the person who understands me best, so I'm not afraid you'll laugh at me. I won't hide it from you anymore."

"You don't know, actually the one who proposed the breakup this time was Li Xiao. His family has been urging him to get married. Two months ago, behind my back, they arranged a blind date for him. The woman is a doctor, gentler and prettier than me, with a higher education, and they're a good match."

"He came to see me this time to confess to me. He said he doesn't want to wait anymore. His parents are getting old and hope he starts a family and establishes a career soon. He doesn't want to disappoint his parents..."

—

"Did Xiao Ge deliberately say that to stimulate you?"

Lin Xiyu couldn't believe it: "He's such a mature and steady person, he doesn't seem like someone who is unfaithful in love and has two feet in two boats, right?"

"That's what he told me..."

Female Cousin self-mockingly said: "I think my comprehension isn't so poor that I can't understand what he says and would misunderstand it."

"If he really has another woman, then it's not your fault."

Lin Xiyu felt heartache for Female Cousin for one second, and then said very righteously: "I'll ask you one more time, do you really not want to get married? The key to this matter lies with you. As long as you want to, I'll go talk to Xiao Ge on your behalf. Even if he enters the wedding hall, I'll snatch him back for you."

"Forget it, good younger sister."

Female Cousin was moved to tears: "I'm not ungrateful and unappreciative of your kindness, but I really can't get married. Once married, I'd have to have children, and then I'd be tied down by family."

"His parents are the type with very strong traditional views. They don't like daughters-in-law showing their faces in public and socializing at banquets. The decoration company can't do without me. Uncle still works with me. If I let go, the company would collapse and couldn't continue operating."

—

"What about Xiao Ge?"

Lin Xiyu looked puzzled: "He's also in this line of work, isn't he? Why not let him quit his job and come help you at the company?"

"He..."

Female Cousin snorted, finding it hard to put into words: "I'm not badmouthing him just because we broke up. His ability is limited to being a store manager and working for others. Being a boss really doesn't work. If it weren't for the big projects Wang Fan has to support him, his main store would have been crushed by me long ago. When he first pursued me, I even suspected his motives weren't pure, that he wanted to use this method to get close to me and make me give up competing with him."

"Hey hey, your way of thinking is really quite strange..."

Lin Xiyu was made to laugh and cry by Female Cousin's bizarre train of thought.

"Don't you believe me, I'm telling the truth..."

Female Cousin continued: "Back then I was also thinking, this person isn't even that good-looking, and he wanted to use a beauty trap to seduce me. Did he think I was blind, able to beautify myself and see him as a peerless handsome man?"

"Since he's not a handsome man, how did you agree later?"

Lin Xiyu pretended to be curious, but her brain was working quickly, thinking about what method to use to sound out Li Xiao's intentions.

If he really was like Female Cousin said, had already changed his heart and had another woman, then so be it.

If it was just that he was pressured by his parents and had to marry someone he didn't love, she could by no means sit by and do nothing, watching the two of them miss each other and regret it for a lifetime.

"This person, how should I put it..."

Female Cousin sighed faintly: "He gives people a rather complex feeling. When he's good to you, he's truly good, speaks humorously and wittily, and it's very pleasant to talk to him. I was deceived by his appearance, thinking a man doesn't need to be good-looking, as long as his personality is good and we can get along."

"That means Xiao Ge still has many advantages..."

Lin Xiyu took up the conversation very smoothly, still meaning to matchmake them.

"Just getting along isn't enough..."

Female Cousin sighed resentfully again: "If he were just a partner, I admit he's very competent. But marriage requires considering many things: filial piety to parents-in-law, raising children. I'm not the kind of woman willing to stay at home and be a virtuous wife and mother. His parents can't tolerate me. Do I want to wrong myself and give up my career?"

"If two people love each other, many things can be overcome."

Lin Xiyu thought of the setbacks she and Guben had experienced, and sincerely hoped Female Cousin could also have a good destination like her.

"Good younger sister, I'm not you."

Female Cousin joked with a smile: "You were born for love. You have Guben doting on you. I'm different. In this life, I'm destined to rely on my own struggle to make money. Money is more important to me than love. It smells of copper, but I like it."

"I also like money..."

Lin Xiyu wanted to advise again: "Feeling that money and love are not in conflict."

"Let's not talk about this for now..."

Female Cousin wearily rubbed her brow, interrupting her words: "I just arrived in Weihai. There's a dinner party tonight. I need to go to the hotel first to stretch my legs. I sat in the car for seven hours, my legs are numb."

"Rest first."

Lin Xiyu worried about her health and carefully reminded her: "Remember to prop your feet up higher to help blood flow back; that way the swelling will go down faster."

"Okay, I got it....."

Her female cousin felt warm inside and teased jokingly: "Little housekeeper, more nagging than my mom."

"Nagging is for your own good."

Lin Xiyu pretended to be displeased: "You must do it, no perfunctory half-measures."

"I know, I know......"

Her female cousin laughed jokingly and hung up the phone call.

—

Lin Xiyu kept thinking about her female cousin and Li Xiao, and was absent-minded after returning home, putting the wrong seasoning in the stir-fried vegetables; a pot of braised pork belly with five-layer meat somehow had vinegar poured in instead of soy sauce, so sour the whole family almost had their teeth set on edge.

"What are you thinking about?"

Guben saw she had worries and, while washing dishes, followed her into the kitchen: "Your eyebrows are furrowed so tightly, who's making you anxious again?"

"Sigh."

Lin Xiyu sighed deeply: "I'm really speechless; I rarely come back once, and everything lands on me—Xiaoyi and my mom had a falling out, he didn't come home all night, I finally persuaded him to return, and then my female cousin broke up with Li Xiao."

"When did this happen?"

Guben was rarely surprised: "Weren't things fine when I treated you to a meal? It's only been a few days, and they've already broken up?"

"That's what I'm saying....."

Lin Xiyu helplessly rubbed her forehead: "When Grandma told me, I felt the same as you, thought it was absurd."

"What does your female cousin mean?"

Guben got straight to the point in one sentence.

"Lalei Jie said Li Xiao was the one who first proposed the breakup......."

Lin Xiyu hid nothing and faithfully relayed what her female cousin had told her.

"Leave this matter to Zhao Yuncheng to handle."

Guben understood the situation and immediately made a decision: "It just so happens he's been idle these past two days with nothing to do; let him check exactly what relationship Li Xiao and that woman have."

"Mm-hmm."

Lin Xiyu trusted him very much and agreed without any hesitation.