Page 36

"I know," Xie Zhiyu said.

"Don't worry, Aunt."

"That's good," Xie Liuzheng said.

They looked at each other in silence.

Xie Zhiyu spoke first. "Aunt, I haven't congratulated you on completing your world tour."

He looked at Xie Liuzheng solemnly. "Congratulations, Ms. Xie Liuzheng, an outstanding pianist from China."

Remembering what Shen Baili and the others had said about how his family struggled to express themselves, Xie Zhiyu pressed his lips together and braced himself.

"I'm proud of you, Ms. Xie Liuzheng."

Xie Liuzheng's eyes widened slightly. She couldn't hide her surprise. "Zhiyu, you..."

She hugged her nephew. "It's okay if you want to cry."

Did her nephew like Sang Ya that much?

He was so hurt that he had started acting strangely.

Xie Liuzheng felt both angry and sorry for him. "How about... I introduce you to someone? The women in our orchestra are all wonderful... What kind of girl do you like?"

Xie Zhiyu's strange behavior had even turned the usually frosty Xie Liuzheng talkative.

Xie Liuzheng didn't believe the best way to heal a broken heart was to jump straight into another relationship.

But getting out more and meeting new people would do him good. He could take the chance to clear his head and get some rest.

"...No, thanks," Xie Zhiyu said.

He sounded helpless. "My heart isn't broken, Aunt."

Xie Liuzheng let go of him and studied him carefully. He really didn't seem to be forcing a smile.

"Then why are you acting so strangely?" she asked. "Do you have a cold?"

"I'm not sick." Xie Zhiyu told her the truth. "I just wanted to compliment you. That's all."

Xie Liuzheng clearly didn't believe him.

"Something's off with you."

"Did you get into trouble? Do you want me to put in a good word for you?"

Xie Tingsi had done that plenty of times, but it would be highly unusual for Xie Zhiyu.

"Sure." Xie Liuzheng agreed without even asking what he had done.

Xie Zhiyu fell silent.

"I didn't get into trouble."

Xie Liuzheng folded her arms. "Really? I don't believe you."

"..."

Xie Zhiyu rubbed his forehead. "Actually, there is something I'd like to ask you."

"I heard one of your students has a father who teaches chemistry at a university. I want to find Sui... Baili a chemistry tutor. Could you give me his contact information?"

In fact, Xie Zhiyu had already found several chemistry tutors, but none had quite satisfied him.

"A chemistry teacher?" Xie Liuzheng said.

Her feelings were complicated. "You're personally looking for a chemistry tutor for a stepsister you've only recently met?"

"Couldn't you just have your assistant handle something this small?" Xie Liuzheng didn't understand.

She had only been abroad on tour for a few months, yet it felt as though she'd been gone ten years. The atmosphere at home had changed completely.

Xie Liuzheng couldn't tell whether that was good or bad. Was there something major they were keeping from her?

"Apart from the broken engagement, has anything else happened in the Xie Family?" Xie Liuzheng asked, her expression grave.

"No," Xie Zhiyu said.

"Why do you ask?"

Xie Liuzheng smiled and shook her head. She knew she wouldn't get anything out of him, so she decided to observe things herself. "No reason."

"I'll send you his contact information in a bit."

"Thank you, Aunt."

... On the way back, Xie Liuzheng couldn't help telling Duan Xing about it. After hearing her out, he said, "Zhiyu has a strong sense of responsibility. Eldest Brother is busy with work, so Zhiyu takes care of everything in the Xie Family."

"Still, he treats Baili pretty well."

Xie Liuzheng agreed with him. "Honey, you seem to have a good impression of my stepniece too."

Duan Xing kept his eyes on the road. "She's rather quiet," he said casually.

Being quiet meant she knew her place. She wouldn't covet things she shouldn't have or stick her nose into other people's business.

"She really is quiet," Xie Liuzheng said.

"I quite like her. She's pretty and adorable."

Duan Xing was surprised. "I thought you preferred cheerful, lively girls."

Xie Liuzheng smiled, making no attempt to hide how much looks mattered to her. "She's pretty."

"I like everything beautiful. Just seeing it puts me in a good mood."

"Then do you like me, my dear wife?" Duan Xing asked with a smile.

"I do," Xie Liuzheng replied without hesitation.

If Duan Xing hadn't been handsome and so good at making her feel loved, Xie Liuzheng wouldn't have chosen him from among her many outstanding suitors.

"Then I'd better take good care of my face. I can't risk giving my dear wife a reason to stop liking me," Duan Xing teased.

Xie Liuzheng burst out laughing. "Then I'm counting on you to secure our future, honey."

They smiled at each other, his narrow eyes full of nothing but her. "Leave it to me."

After a moment's thought, Xie Liuzheng suddenly said, "Honey, let's adopt a child."

Duan Xing had just parked in the underground garage. He whipped his head around. "Honey, what did you say?"

Xie Liuzheng turned toward him, cupped his face in both hands, and gave it a squeeze. "I said I agree."

"Let's adopt a child from the Welfare Institute."

"I'm sorry I've made you bear so much." Xie Liuzheng looked downcast. She had wanted a child who shared her and the man she loved's blood.

But she had difficulty conceiving. She had undergone IVF many times without becoming pregnant.

When Xie Liuzheng learned she had a condition that made conception difficult, she had spoken seriously with Duan Xing about it. He cared more about her than about having a child.

Once Xie Liuzheng's career had stabilized, she had wanted a child too. They had tried for years without success. Duan Xing had comforted her while bearing the pressure from his parents.

Duan Xing was his parents' only child. Both were civil servants with fairly traditional views, so the pressure on him was easy to imagine.