Xu Changâan gently rubbed Little Li Huaâs head with his finger, thinking that since it couldnât understand, he didnât need to talk.
"Meow." He called out.
"..."
"Meow." Xu Changâan called out again.
The cat then came to its senses, mewing in response and continued playing with his fingers.
At that moment, Xu Changâan heard a delicate voice.
"Changâan, you... seem to be having a lot of fun."
"..."
Xu Changâanâs face stiffened as he turned to find Qinling, dressed and half-smiling.
When Qinling sat down across from him, the little Li Hua, upon seeing its owner return, immediately abandoned Xu Changâan and nestled into Qinlingâs arms.
"Uncle." Xu Changâan came to his senses and said openly, "The little one is very cute."
"Of course, I had someone get it out of the Flower Moon Building for me." Qinling, feeling the warmth in her arms, pinched the little catâs ears and chuckled before looking up at Xu Changâan, saying, "It really likes you."
"All little ones are clingy, especially those from the Flower Moon Building, they take after their parents." Xu Changâan replied.
"I wish Miss Zhu... would like it as much as you do." Qinling shared his thoughts.
Xu Changâan was used to this and nodded, "Itâs very cute, Senior Zhu should like it."
The little Li Hua lay diagonally, docile and quiet in Qinlingâs arms, completely unlike its playful demeanor with him.
Xu Changâan could feel that Qinling just wanted to chat with him, so he didnât think too much and casually said, "By the way, this little Li Hua is..."
"A girl." Qinling interrupted Xu Changâan, seemingly having already guessed what he was going to ask.
Xu Changâan: "..."
"There are demons under the sky." Qinling looked at Xu Changâan, "Why would I raise a male one?"
This trivial matter didnât need Xu Changâan to remind her.
"I... I was just asking." Xu Changâan said.
"I know." Qinling glanced at him, Liu Mei slightly furrowing, casually asking, "Kid, if you were to raise a Li Hua, would you want a boy or a girl?"
"..." Xu Changâan thought, isnât it just male or female, why say boy or girl.
But he had no choice, he had to go along with Qinlingâs words, "A girl."
"Because of Miss Yun?" Qinling asked.
"Sort of." Xu Changâan initially didnât care, but upon hearing Qinling say there are demons under the sky, he couldnât help but think that way.
"Even getting jealous of a Li Hua, you donât really seem like a man." Qinling stared at Xu Changâan, "You were just meowing at a little guy, whereâs the masculinity in that."
Qinling frowned, "Have you stayed on Muyu Peak too long? After all, there are all women there..."
Xu Changâan: "..."
Only then did Qinling look up and sigh, "Miss Zhu shouldnât have let you go to Muyu Peak in the first place, but itâs too late to say all this now. If you start looking more like a girl, how am I going to explain to Ms. Yun... Well? She might not care about such trifles."
Xu Changâan: "..."
Numb.
All he did was a little meowing because he was caught up in the moment, how did things turn out like this?
"Was it a joke?" He asked.
"A little bit?" Qinlingâs Liu Mei smoothed out, a smile curling at her lips.
"Uncle, you are quite similar to Senior Zhu when it comes to teasing people." Xu Changâan sighed.
"After all, she raised me." Qinling nodded, then said satisfactorily, "I like it when you say that."
"..."
"?"
"What, just because I was raised by a lady I canât like her?" Seeing Xu Changâan remain silent, Qinling looked at him with a half-smile, "How come I heard that you kid are quite rebellious in Beisang City, yet you care about such trifles."
"Not care, just the first time knowing." Xu Changâan said truthfully, "Uncle, you look about the same age as Senior Zhu..."
In fact, there was a considerable age difference, Qinling appeared to be older.
To Xu Changâanâs surprise, Qinling didnât get angry, instead, her smile grew brighter, "Kid, you know how to talk, picking just the things I like to hear."
Sheâs actually much younger than Zhu Pingniang, and is always treated as a child, now being elevated by Xu Changâan, she couldnât be happier, let alone get angry.
"Besides." Qinling, watching Xu Changâan with interest, slowly said, "You were raised by Miss Yun, yet you ended up as a couple."
She really liked the story of Xu Changâan and Yun Qian.
Xu Changâan: "..."
His lips moved, but he didnât say anything.
He didnât know what to say.
This is what they call a perfect move.
"I wish I had your talent." Qinling let out a long breath, not hiding the faint envy in her gaze.
She looked at the empty table and placed Li Hua in front of Xu Changâan, ignoring the little catâs affection for her, she stood up saying, "Changâan, sorry for the cold reception, let me go make some tea for you."
"Youâd better call me kid." Xu Changâan just felt a chill down his spine.
He returned the kind gesture Qinling had offered, saying, "If you have something to say, just go ahead."
"Then Iâll be frank."
Qinling sat back down with a smile and asked, "How did you win over Ms. Yun? And raise her to have such a good temperament, not only does she not get jealous, but sheâs also raised to be so attractive."
"Ms. Yunâs age in the mundane world isnât small, yet she maintains herself so well, she must really like you."
"Come on, tell me and share your experience with your sister."
"..."
Xu Changâanâs eyelid twitched as he snatched the crawling Li Hua into his arms, watching the cat reveal its claws to him for the first time, he looked up and said, "Uncle, youâd better go make tea."
"Tell me." Qinling tilted her head, then took out a pouch of Spirit Stones from her pocket, "For you."
Xu Changâan: "..."
"Then letâs change the question." Seeing that she wasnât getting anywhere, Qinling put the Spirit Stones away seriously asking, "How did you get Miss Yun to not see you as a child?"
This question was very important to her, it was the one she most wanted to solve.
"Maybe she never thought of it that way in the first place." Xu Changâan calmly said, "Uncle, I donât really look like a kid either."
"I see." Qinling sighed.
Indeed.
Xu Changâan had always been mature beyond his years, lacking the youthful innocence of someone his age.
Not mentioning others, even she, clearly capable of being his mother, never treated Xu Changâan like a child.
She propped herself on the table, murmuring, "Back then, I was crying and running around everywhere following her... It was too hard."
Xu Changâanâs journey wasnât one she could replicate.
"Uncle." Xu Changâan looked at her seriously.
"..."
Qinling was stunned for a moment, then followed Xu Changâanâs gaze to her waist, squinting her eyes, jokingly, "What are you looking at? Is the outfit I got from Flower Moon Building not nice?"
"Nice." Xu Changâan nodded, then kept staring.
Spirit Stones.
"..."
"Bah." Qinling threw the Spirit Stones to Xu Changâan, "You do look like a kid now."
"Supporting a family isnât shameful." Xu Changâan smiled, putting away the Spirit Stones.
"And?" Qinling asked.
"And... youâre not an outsider." Xu Changâan said casually.
"..." Qinling stared at him blankly, then said after a while, "You indeed have some feminine traits."
She meant his mindset.
From the beginning of their meeting till now, her little thoughts had been completely mastered by Xu Changâan.
Not playing dumb, not rambling, every word he said was exactly what she wanted to hear.
"Is that a compliment?" Xu Changâan sighed.
"Consider it so." Qinling looked at Xu Changâan warmly, clearly developing more fondness for him.
She had wondered what having a close female friend would be like for her.
Now she knew.
If Xu Changâan was this satisfying, then Ms. Yun must be even better.
Qinling rested her chin on her hands, smilingly saying, "Changâan, can you say some good words for me in front of Ms. Yun?"