As Song Zhilan finished speaking, everyone else's expression shifted slightly, and they began exchanging glances.
But before anyone could respond, the sound of the front door unlocking came from the entryway.
Startled, everyone turned to look and saw Lu Xiaoxiao coming in, humming a song. Her bag dangled from her fingertips, swinging back and forth, and she seemed to be in a very good mood.
A moment later, she finished changing her shoes and casually looked up, meeting the eyes of everyone in the living room.
"Uh... is everyone home today?" Lu Xiaoxiao blinked blankly, looking left and then right, her face full of confusion. "What were you talking about? Did I miss something?"
Had she not asked, things might have been fine. But the moment she spoke, everyone in the Lu family visibly tensed, and the suspicious atmosphere that had just gathered vanished without a trace.
Lu Shiyan reacted the fastest. He schooled his expression in an instant, then waved at Lu Xiaoxiao with a bright smile, his tone perfectly natural. "You're back, Xiaoxiao? Perfect timing. We were just holding a criticism session for Lu Yubai. This kid came dead last in his class on the weekend quiz again, and no matter what we say, he refuses to get a tutor. Mom and Dad are at their wits' end with him."
Lu Yubai: "???"
Suddenly dragged into the conversation, Lu Yubai's eyes went as wide as saucers.
The boy looked even more bewildered than Lu Xiaoxiao. He stiffly raised a hand to point at himself, mouthing, "Me? Me again?!" But before he could finish, Lu Xunli suddenly stuck out a leg and kicked him from below, so he immediately changed tack. "Oh, right! Why... why should I get a tutor? Classes at school are exhausting enough. I... I don't