Xie Jianyuan went to the kitchen, and Xu's mother tugged at his sleeve, gesturing for him to be quiet, and whispered, "Shh, let the two young people talk first, let's not disturb them."
Xie Jianyuan lowered his eyelashes slightly, his thick lashes obscuring his dark eyes. He said in a deep voice, "Does Auntie think this is a good idea?"
Mrs. Xu was taken aback, then sighed helplessly, "I don't want it to be like this either, but we're getting older, and our biggest wish is for our children to find someone who understands their needs, so that even after we're gone, they can take care of each other."
She paused, then continued, "Xu Chun has always been very sensible, but she just can't find a boyfriend. She's almost thirty, how can we not be anxious? As for that little brat Xu Jin, he hasn't even grown up yet, so he shouldn't be ruining other girls' lives."
Xie Jianyuan shook his head. "That's not what I meant. I was asking if it's okay to call Xu Chun back to deal with this kind of thing without discussing it with him first?"
Upon hearing this, Xu's mother's expression became somewhat evasive. She pursed her lips, then glanced into the living room and saw that Xu Chun and Zhong Xiu were already chatting, which made her feel slightly relieved.
"I'm not forcing him to start a relationship with this girl right away. I won't force him if he doesn't want to. It's just a one-time meeting."
Xie Jianyuan remained silent.
They chatted for thirty minutes, and before they knew it, time had flown by. Xu Chun herself hadn't even noticed that it was getting dark.
He and Zhong Xiu had a very pleasant chat. They had similar personalities, both being gentle and slow to warm up, but they also had a lot in common. For example, she had read a certain obscure foreign novel that Xu Chun liked.
Moreover, Zhong Xiu is a very good-tempered girl with no spoiled nature. After finishing her meal, she took the initiative to help wash the dishes, which made Xu's mother laugh heartily.
Seeing this, Xu Chun nudged Xie Jianyuan's arm and teased him playfully, "Now that your job has been taken from you, what are you going to do?"
Unexpectedly, Xie Jianyuan did not answer his question, but instead gave him a cool glance and suddenly said something completely unrelated.
"I saw that Brother Chun and that girl were having a great time chatting."
Xu Chun was stunned for a moment, and just as he was about to answer, he heard his mother call him from the kitchen. Without thinking, he quickly went over to help.
Xie Jianyuan stood there watching the three busy figures in the kitchen. Xu Chun and Zhong Xiu stood side by side, one washing the dishes and then handing them to the other to rinse with water. Their division of labor was perfect, and they would occasionally look up and smile at each other. Xu's mother watched this scene from the side, her expression loving, but with a hint of sadness in her eyes.
The three figures, standing from behind, looked like a harmonious family.
Xie Jianyuan suddenly felt a bit of eye strain. His gaze paused slightly, then he abruptly looked away, lost in thought, his eyes unsure of where he was looking.
Xu Chun came out and saw this scene. Xie Jianyuan was leaning lazily against the sofa cushion, his head slightly lowered, seemingly deep in thought.
"What's wrong? What are you thinking about? You seem so focused." Xu Chun walked over and picked up a women's coat from the sofa and hung it up.
Xie Jianyuan's gaze fell on the women's coat in his hand, which Zhong Xiu had casually placed on the sofa after taking it off.
"Nothing."
Xu Chun paused, looked up at him, and wondered if it was just her imagination, but Xie Jianyuan suddenly seemed a little cold.
"I'm going back now." After saying that, Xie Jianyuan walked to the entrance and started changing his shoes.
Xu Chun quickly followed and asked, "Let me take you."
Xie Jianyuan paused slightly, then said in a hoarse voice, "Aren't you coming back with me?"
Xu Chun gave an awkward laugh, "My mom wants me to stay for a few days; she won't let me leave."
Xie Jianyuan hummed in response, then didn't speak to him again.
Seeing this, Xu Chun brought up the same thing again. "Let me take you. It's dark outside, and many of the streetlights in the neighborhood are broken."
This time, Xie Jianyuan didn't refuse him. He just gave a faint "hmm," put the slippers back in their place, straightened up, and walked out.
"Wait, it's raining outside."
Suddenly, Zhong Xiu ran out in small steps, holding an umbrella in her hand and handing it to Xu Chun, a slightly embarrassed smile appearing on her delicate face.
Be careful on the road.
Xu Chun smiled and was about to reply when she realized that Xie Jianyuan had already left. So she could only nod hurriedly and follow Xie Jianyuan.
Under the dim streetlights, two figures walked side by side, one on each side, each holding an umbrella.
Xu Chun saw that the rain was getting heavier and heavier, and the drizzling raindrops falling from the building formed a hazy rain curtain.
Neither of them spoke, both appearing somewhat distracted and lost in their own thoughts.
After what seemed like an eternity, just when Xu Chun thought the silence would continue, Xie Jianyuan suddenly spoke, breaking the deadlock.
"Do you know what your aunt meant by calling you back today?" he said in a deep voice, his cold words barely audible amidst the sound of rain.
Xu Chun paused for a moment after hearing this before realizing what he meant. She lowered her eyes slightly before whispering, "I know, it's because he wants me to get to know Zhong Xiu."
Hearing Xu Chun directly address the girl by her name, Xie Jianyuan's expression turned completely cold. He absentmindedly hummed in response, seemingly uninterested, which left Xu Chun feeling awkward and unsure of what to say. In the past, Xie Jianyuan would never have put him in such an embarrassing situation.
Xu Chun pursed her lips and continued walking forward, but no longer spoke.
Xie Jianyuan casually twirled the umbrella handle, watching the raindrops shatter on the umbrella surface and fall, finally asking as if it were just a casual remark, "Will she be staying at your house tonight?"
After Xu Chun for a moment, Xu Chun honestly shook her head. "I don't know."
He genuinely didn't know, because it depended on Zhong Xiu's wishes and Xu's mother's arrangements. After all, if she wanted to stay, he couldn't kick her out, and with it raining outside, his mother would most likely let her stay overnight. Of course, she would give Xu Jin's room to sleep in and then make Xu Jin sleep on the sofa.