Ling Shuangjiang politely replied, "We're filming. I'm off today, so I had time to come over."
Xie Suixin nodded, her gaze sweeping over him: "Even though you're with Xiao Wang now, you should still keep a low profile. Don't take advantage of the Xie family's reputation to do things that would make things difficult for Xiao Wang."
Ling Shuangjiang smiled faintly: "Okay."
After Ling Shuangjiang left, Xie Suixin's face immediately fell.
The afternoon sun was lovely. Ling Shuangjiang and Xie Wang were having afternoon tea on the carpet in his bedroom when Ling Shuangjiang finally got to see the photos Xie Wang had collected from his childhood.
Leaning against Xie Wang's chest, Ling Shuangjiang flipped through the photos one by one. He discovered that some of the photos were cut from milk carton paper, and others were cut from street magazines; although simple, they were well preserved.
"You liked me so much when we were little?"
Xie Wang nodded: "Yes, I think you're especially well-behaved. You once held a place in my heart even higher than the Little Dragon Girl from Nezha's Havoc in the Dragon King."
Ling Shuangjiang suppressed a smile: "Oh? Then I am truly honored."
Xie Wangdao asked, "Then wouldn't we be considered childhood sweethearts for over ten years?"
"Yes." Ling Shuangjiang's eyes were indulgent.
The two were suddenly ten years closer, and Xie Wang was overjoyed, his raised eyebrows revealing a hint of pride and smugness.
"Would you like to stay here tonight? Do you feel uncomfortable?"
Ling Shuangjiang shook her head: "It's not awkward. Auntie and Grandpa are both very cute and kind to me."
"No one dislikes you." Xie Wang kissed his ear. "Of course, I love you the most."
Ling Shuangjiang chuckled at his words and gently patted Xie Wang's head with her fingers. "I'm a little sleepy. I'll take a nap first."
Xie Wang picked him up and put him on the bed: "You rest, I'll go downstairs and chat with everyone."
Hearing Xie Wang say this, Ling Shuangjiang sat up again: "Otherwise, I'll go with you. It's not really appropriate for you to go by yourself."
Xie Wang helped him cover himself with the blanket: "Your cold hasn't fully recovered yet, and you're already weak. You still have to watch a play tonight, so it's only right that you get some rest. Everyone will understand."
"good."
The door was slammed shut, and the afternoon sun shone on the warm cotton quilt. Ling Shuangjiang lay on Xie Wang's bed, her body exuding Xie Wang's scent.
Facing the sunlight, he relaxed and closed his eyes.
In the second-floor reception room, Xie Suixin and a group of relatives were chatting. In families like theirs, it's normal for relatives not to see each other for a year or two if they don't have business dealings.
During the conversation, she intentionally or unintentionally revealed that her company had recently been making a lot of money, and kept talking about how amazing her son, Duoduo, was.
Ye Wangshu sat in the center and didn't talk much.
Having grown accustomed to Xie Suixin's boasting, he stopped paying attention to him.
"Sister-in-law, Xiao Wang is so outstanding, it would be such a pity if he didn't have children in the future."
Xie Suixin said regretfully, "Although Shuangjiang is an excellent child, he is still a boy. Why did Xiaowang suddenly change his sexual orientation?"
Xie Suixin's aunt chimed in, "Yes, I guess Shuangjiang is more charming, which is why Xiao Wang fell for him."
“In this era, many people are used to using any means necessary. Sister-in-law, Shuangjiang said that he met you a few years ago. Do you think it might all be premeditated? Your hundreds of billions of assets and stocks are indeed quite tempting.”
Ye Wangshu lazily picked up his teacup and slammed it down on the table.
Just as she was about to lash out, Xie Wang's voice rang out.
"Instead of wasting time on our family's affairs, why don't you spend more time on yourself?"
In front of so many relatives, Xie Wang showed no mercy to Xie Suixin, sitting down in the chair opposite him and crossing his legs: "I heard that the venture capital firm my cousin worked for recently went bankrupt. Have you found a job yet?"
Xie Suixin's smile suddenly faded, and she tried her best to speak kindly while suppressing her displeasure: "Where did you hear these things? Your cousin is a good person."
"That's fine. Then focus your attention on your son, not on me and Shuangjiang. Even my parents and grandfather won't interfere in my affairs, so why are you meddling in them?"
Being scolded by the younger generation in front of a group of relatives, Xie Suixin could no longer bear it: "Xiao Wang, it is undeniable that you are very successful, but I am, after all, an elder, and your words are too harsh."
"Since you're an elder, you should do what an elder should do. I've never seen an elder go to someone I like and warn them not to flaunt the Xie family name. Are you deliberately trying to hurt me?"
Xie Lin hadn't expected Xie Wang to reveal what he'd told him in public. To avoid any unintended consequences, he quietly left.
Ye Wangshu looked at Xie Suixin: "Suixin, did you tell Shuangjiang that?"
Xie Suixin was about to cry: "I didn't! Look at this child, he hasn't even married Xiao Wang yet, and he's already learned to tattle."
“He didn’t tell me; I overheard it myself in the hallway.”
Xie Wang stared at her: "I consider you my elder, and I will always respect you. But if you don't do what an elder should do, don't blame me for turning my back on you."
Ye Wangshu was also quite angry and didn't intend to pay any attention to Xie Suixin, letting Xie Wang continue talking.
“Ever since the Frost’s Descent gift was brought out, you’ve been grumbling. It’s not that I didn’t see it, but I was just trying to save face for you. Now it’s your own fault for not wanting it, not that I’m not giving it to you.”
"Enough!" Xie Suixin stood up. "They say that once a daughter is married, she's like water spilled from a cup. In my own home, I'm being bullied like this by the younger generation. I won't come back to this house again."
"Sure," Xie Wang said indifferently. "Since we've severed ties, I'll pretend I don't have an aunt like you anymore. Your relationship with Grandpa can remain the same, I won't interfere. As for you and me, forget it."
After saying that, he strode up and left.
In the living room, Xie Suixin stood there stunned for a long time. Only when she noticed her husband's eyes reminding her did she realize that she had been rash.
Falling out with Xie Wang will do their family no good.
She felt a little regretful.
Ye Wangshu clearly didn't want to talk to her, so he made an excuse about having a headache and left in a hurry.
—
When Ling Shuangjiang arrived at the theater in the evening, she noticed that Xie Suixin's family was not there.
Sitting next to Xie Wang, he peeled nuts and ate them in small bites.
"Aren't you cold?" Ye Wangshu, who was sitting in front, turned to look at him. "Auntie always feels that you're not wearing enough clothes."
Ling Shuangjiang smiled and shook her head: "It's not cold, the clothes are very warm."
Xie Wang grabbed his hand and held it in his palm: "It's quite warm."
Ling Shuangjiang raised her hand and placed it on the crook of his neck: "Is it still hot? Is it too cold?"
"Yes, it is a little. Let me warm it up for you."
Seeing the interaction between the two, Ye Wangshu wisely turned back.
Xie's father sat down next to her and asked softly, "Did Xiao Wang have a conflict with Sui Xin this afternoon?"
Ye Wangshu: "Hmm."
Mr. Xie asked in a deep voice, "What did Suixin do?"
Ye Wangshu: "You angered your son, didn't you? You talked nonsense about your son's precious darling and even warned him to behave himself."
Father Xie said knowingly, "Then I understand. She just complained to me that you and Xiao Wang ganged up on her and that she wants to break off all ties with her."
Ye Wangshu sat upright in the chair: "It was her own request, it has nothing to do with my son."
"Look, you're still angry." Xie's father took her hand. "I didn't mean to blame you."
Ling Shuangjiang had been watching the interaction between Xie's parents. He smiled gently and said, "Your parents have a really good relationship."
Xie Wang hugged him: "We are too."
Inside the theater, the lively sounds of traditional Chinese musical instruments filled the air.
It was late at night when everyone took a car home.
Ling Shuangjiang's bedroom was arranged on the fourth floor, next to the bedroom of Xie Lao and Ye Wangshu.
Xie Wang and Xie Lin's bedrooms were on the third floor.
After taking a shower, Xie Wang looked at the empty bed and felt inexplicably empty inside. Perhaps it was because he had been so used to being all lovey-dovey with Ling Shuangjiang today, and suddenly being alone made him feel very uncomfortable.
After thinking it over, he went up to the fourth floor.
In Mr. Xie's and Mrs. Xie's room, Mr. Xie was reading a book.
"Tell me, why does Xiao Wang like this boy so much?"
While wearing a face mask, Xie's mother said, "There's no reason why. It's just that the magnetic field attracts people, and it looks pleasing to the eye."
"His aunt's personality has been like this for a long time. She's gossipy, vain, and loves to stir up trouble. He usually ignores her."
“You crossed his line. You know Xiao Wang has a bad temper.”
"Speaking of which," Xie's father pushed up his glasses, "I think this child has become much more composed and mature recently. I ran into Xiao Jin the other day and chatted with him. Xiao Jin said that Xiao Wang has rarely lost his temper lately and is not as impulsive and reckless as before."
"You're getting married soon, you've matured a bit," Ye Wangshu said.
"It's pretty good. I feel at ease with the company under his management." Mr. Xie smiled with satisfaction.
After a while, Xie's father said, "I'm hungry, Xiaoshu."
Ye Wangshu: "Get lost, I'm not going to cook noodles for you."
—
Just as Ling Shuangjiang was about to go to sleep, she suddenly heard a soft knock on the door.
At this time, no one but Xie Wang could be knocking on the door.
He opened the door: "What's wrong?"
Ling Shuangjiang, who had just taken a shower, had hair that was half dry and half wet. Due to the needs of the plot, his bangs had grown a bit long and were gathered behind him, revealing his full, smooth forehead and beautiful eyebrows and eyes.
The collar of the large bathrobe was slightly open.
Her fair and slender collarbone was faintly visible, with a small black mole beside it.
This one glance made Xie Wang's mouth go dry.
"Hmm... let me check if your window is closed."
Ling Shuangjiang turned around and smiled at him: "It's closed."
"It's closed."
"Are all the electrical outlets turned off? Please be careful with electricity."
Ling Shuangjiang: "Don't worry, it's all broken."
"Is the blanket too thin? Do you need me to find you a thicker one?"