novelraw Chapter 49
Chapter 49
Chapter 49
The next day.
It was Saturday, and Dad didn't have to work. After breakfast, Liu Yingjun went downstairs, as usual, to wash the car. As he wiped the windshield, he noticed a flyer tucked under the wiper.
He couldn't help grumbling. "Flyers all the way into the estate now? What's the management even doing?"
He gave the page a quick skim.
It was advertising a cram school. Because he was a civil servant with access to inside information, Liu Yingjun smiled knowingly. "One more year. After the big meeting at year's end, these cram schools will probably all fold."
He finished washing the car, went back upstairs, and—instead of tossing the flyer—showed it to Lin Xiaoli.
"Sweetheart, when I was downstairs just now I saw this flyer, and it reminded me of something. Hm? What are you thinking about?"
His wife was sprawled on the sofa in her pajamas, legs folded, half-heartedly chewing a dried fig. She tilted her head and drawled, "What's up, my dear husband?"
Liu Yingjun sat beside her and pulled Lin Xiaoli into his arms.
"What's the matter all of a sudden? Everything's been going smoothly for our family lately, right? Especially our son—he's so impressive. Why the frown this morning?"
Lin Xiaoli leaned against Liu Yingjun's shoulder, forcing a smile that didn't reach her eyes. "I'm fretting about our son. Did you catch the details Madam Xu mentioned yesterday? Her Feifei was wrongly accused by her classmates, and Xiaojie took the initiative to clear her name."
"Yes, I heard. So what? It just proves our son is helpful."
Lin Xiaoli's eyes narrowed. She sat bolt upright. "Seriously, darling? Being helpful is great, but don't you sense a deeper problem here? That Feifei girl clearly cares a lot about our Xiaojie. And though Xiaojie acts indifferent, he isn't—otherwise why would he step in so thoroughly, down to every last detail?"
Liu Yingjun made a small sound of surprise, thinking she was overdoing it. "What in the world are you talking about? I get the gist, but they're just kids, honey. Aren't you overthinking this?"
Lin Xiaoli clicked her tongue. "What do you mean 'just kids'?" She pointed at him. "Don't forget what you thought about when you were little just because you're grown now. After this summer vacation they'll be in third grade. I remember third grade perfectly."
She held up both hands like scales. "I could play in the yard with mud in one hand and sneak peeks at my cousin making out with her boyfriend in the corner of the wall with the other. Every time I spied them kissing, my face went red—especially when my cousin's boyfriend got handsy. That's when I started fantasizing about what my future prince would look like."
Liu Yingjun's jaw dropped. "I've never heard that story... Wife, you never cease to amaze."
Lin Xiaoli coughed in embarrassment and warned him not to mention it to her cousin. Her gaze sharpened, as if she could already see the future. "Anyway, my worry isn't about Feifei specifically. Last night I suddenly had a premonition: someday, Xiaojie's love life is going to be a nightmare."
"I don't buy it. You're exaggerating."
"Care to bet?"
Liu Yingjun grinned. "What are we betting?"
Lin Xiaoli's eyes sparkled. "If I win, when Xiaojie has a hard time dating, you'll take me to Hawaii for a month. If I lose, I'll take you to Hawaii for a month—spending your money." She spread her hands. "After all, your beloved wife is broke."
Liu Yingjun couldn't hold back a laugh and finally nodded firmly. "Deal! We're betting on whether our son's love life will be smooth!"
The couple snuggled together, and Lin Xiaoli gave her husband a loud smack on the lips; Liu Yingjun responded in kind.
Just then Liu Wenjie walked out of the bedroom to fetch some fruit. He froze, then said deliberately, "Mom, Dad, should I go downstairs and play for a while? I won't come back until noon."
His words made the two lovebirds choke and cough uncontrollably.
Lin Xiaoli blushed and thumped her husband's chest, pretending to be clueless. "That's right, dear, what was it you wanted to tell me?"
Liu Yingjun, equally flustered, said, "Oh, I saw this cram-school flyer and wondered if we should let Xiaojie enter some competitions. There aren't many contests available at elementary level, but winning something would really help his future—especially since he's so gifted."
Lin Xiaoli picked up the flyer. "Competitions? Let's see if Xiaojie wants to. I was never good at school, so I don't know much about these. Xiaojie, what do you think? Want to test yourself against some strong classmates?"
Liu Wenjie walked to the coffee table and bit into a slice of apple. "A competition? Sure. Easy enough."
If he took first place in a knowledge contest, he could trigger the system and pave a smoother academic road ahead—killing two birds with one stone.
"Huh?" Lin Xiaoli, still studying the flyer, suddenly spotted something. On the promotional photo of last year's top students was a familiar face.
"Xiaoxue? Darling, look—it's Xiaoxue! She actually attended this cram school and came in first."
Liu Wenjie found the name faintly familiar.
"Who's Xiaoxue again?" father and son asked in unison.
Lin Xiaoli sighed at the hopeless males in her life and told her son, "She's the little fiancée your grandpa picked for you. Don't you remember? You met her at Grandpa's place after kindergarten graduation."
The boy's hand, holding a grape, paused. With cold sweat, he recalled the aloof little girl who'd been afraid of puppies. Right—over two years had passed since then; he probably wouldn't see her again. After all, the whole engagement had only been a joke between Grandpa and his war buddy.
A knock sounded at the door. Lin Xiaoli, still looking at the photo, called toward the entrance, "That must be little Xia Ying. Xiaojie, go let her in."
Liu Wenjie, used to the routine, walked over and opened the door.
But instead of the quiet little girl he expected, there stood a proud, freckled brat with twin ponytails and tiny canine teeth, hands clasped behind her back and an awkward frown on her face.
Liu Wenjie blinked. "Xu Feifei? What are you doing here?"
Seeing Liu Wenjie at the door, Xu Feifei's conflicted look instantly morphed into jealousy. She glared at him.
"Good morning. Who were you expecting? Someone with a single ponytail?" Her tone dripped acid.
She smiled sweetly at the adults who'd appeared behind Liu Wenjie. "Good morning, Uncle, Auntie."
Lin Xiaoli beamed. "Feifei's here to play?"
Xu Feifei shook her head. "No, I was just passing by. Dad's heading to the office, so I asked driver Uncle to drop me here."
Liu Wenjie frowned. "What do you mean?"
Xu Feifei looked at him. "Come downstairs and talk with me for a bit. I have something to ask. Don't worry—it won't take long."
Liu Wenjie's face was all question marks.
"May I refuse?"
[Congratulations, host. Stamina +1]
Xu Feifei puffed out her cheeks in an expression that clearly said, Try it.
Before the conversation even started, Liu Wenjie already felt a headache coming on.
In the end, he went downstairs with Xu Feifei. Lin Xiaoli waved from the corridor. "Stay safe, you two."
Watching her son and Xu Feifei disappear down the stairwell, she exhaled meaningfully. "Say what you will, but being too popular with girls is definitely trouble—especially since Xiaojie isn't the wishy-washy type. Let's just hope he doesn't break too many hearts in the future."