Proud senior schoolgirl was tender and sweet, we fell in love

Xie Xiao went back after his grandmother had fallen asleep that night.

"Grandma has to stay in the hospital," Yang Lan said, "just in time for a full-body check-up."

In fact, the elderly lady used to have a full-body check-up every year.

But like all old folks, she found it troublesome and later switched to once every two years.

Now, it was even less frequent, only every three years, with the last check-up being three years ago, just when Xie Xiao had started his freshman year of college.

Back then, his grandmother was indeed very healthy, with minor issues but no major problems.

In the last three years, nothing much had happened, so Grandma didn't bother to go for another check-up.

Because of this, Teacher Xie almost got into a quarrel with his older brother.

"My dad thought his older brother's family took the money and didn't care, while the elder brother said our family simply hands off responsibilities, just giving money..." Xie Xiao's tone was somewhat helpless, and Luo Yanran on the other end also sighed.

"Grandma should be fine, right?" Luo Yanran's voice was full of worry.

Xie Xiao chuckled, "She should be fine. My parents are watching over her, and my elder uncle's family is actually worried too. Not to mention anything else, they are quite filial to my grandmother."

Luo Yanran hummed in response, her voice tinged with apology, "If I hadn't been busy today, I could have gone to see her."

"This was a last-minute arrangement, it's quite normal. I'll bring you to meet them next time you're back," Xie Xiao said with a laugh.

Lying in bed, Luo Yanran hugged a pillow, thinking about Xie Xiao's cousin's girlfriend being Zhang Qiaoqiao. She still felt the world was incredibly small.

Such coincidences could indeed happen.

But she also remembered how Zhang Qiaoqiao was back then, and according to Hai Ou, a child who could hurt others so young, and with a so-called gentleman for a father, wasn't exactly a great marriage prospect.

She hesitated before asking, "What about your cousin and Zhang Qiaoqiao?" Read exclusive adventures at empire

"Don't know. The way he looked tonight, he seemed to really like her," Xie Xiao thought about their interaction; Xie Liu seemed to really like Zhang Qiaoqiao, but her attitude towards him was lukewarm.

As they were talking, there came the sound of a door opening on Xie Xiao's end; probably Yang Lan and Xie Qingxiao had returned.

Xie Xiao stood up from his chair and said to Luo Yan, "My parents are back, I will go out..."

Before he could finish, there was the sound of something being thrown onto a table from outside.

It was quite loud.

Xie Xiao's heart skipped a beat; he whispered to Luo Yanran, "I'll call you back later."

Luo Yanran also responded, "Okay."

Just as Xie Xiao opened his door, he heard Yang Lan's voice, unable to contain her anger, "Xie Qingxiao, what are you thinking? Don't you know your son has to go back to work tomorrow?"

Xie Qingxiao's face wasn't looking good either; he had anticipated his wife's anger.

They were, after all, currently in an argument.

Just now, when the old lady suddenly woke up, worried, and insisted on asking if Xie Xiao could come over tomorrow, he indeed acted impulsively and agreed.

He exhaled slowly, "Calm down first..."

"Calm down what? I know you're concerned about your mom and that's okay. Although I was angry before, I didn't really mind you giving your brother the money. It's your mom's retirement fund; however much is appropriate is up to you. But at least tell me about it, right? Same for tonight. Is Xie Xiao my son or not? Can't you at least ask me? Hasn't your son grown up? Did you ask him, huh?" Yang Lan's eyes were red.

She could overlook other things, but not when it came to her son.

Yang Lan had always been protective of Xie Xiao.

Just like a mother hen instinctively shields her chicks.

"What nonsense did your elder brother and sister-in-law say? Asking Xie Xiao for help and insisting it be local—are they not thinking about getting Xie Liu a job in Luoluo's company? Is that appropriate?"

"Don't lump everything together. Can we talk about one thing at a time? It was wrong of me to keep it from you at first, and it was also wrong for me to agree to Mom so quickly at the hospital—I was just...scared when I saw Mom lying in bed like that," Xie Qingxiao's voice trembled slightly, "I was afraid something bad would happen. After all, my dad just lay there and then he was gone..."

At this point, Xie Xiao came over. "Why are you arguing again?"

His voice was soothing as he reached out and pulled Yang Lan towards the sofa, while Yang Lan's tears were on the verge of spilling.

She and her husband had been very close over the years, but there had been arguments and friction.

That's normal in any family.

Every time they argued, they were always able to sit down and talk calmly afterward.

But now, the conflict from before had not yet been resolved, and they were plotting against Xie Xiao tonight.

This made Yang Lan unable to contain her anger.

Because she was speaking impulsively and losing her rationality.

But seeing her husband trembling as he spoke, she calmed down again.

After all, putting everything else aside, her mother-in-law had been quite nice to her.

She was also good to Xie Xiao, biased yes, but not completely unreasonable.

Moreover, she was aware of the hardships the elderly woman had been through in her lifetime.

Now, being led by Xie Xiao to sit down, she took a few deep breaths.

After Xie Xiao got his mom to sit down, he went to pull his dad to sit as well.

Xie Qingxiao rubbed his face and whispered to Xie Xiao, "Son, I'm sorry. Just now, I impulsively agreed for you to visit grandma tomorrow... It's okay, I'll explain it to grandma tomorrow."

Xie Xiao sighed, "Actually, you could have just told me about this. I was planning to go back early the day after tomorrow. I don't start work until the day after, so it's no big deal for me to ask for the morning off."

Xie Qingxiao glanced at his son, his eyes slightly red.

He reached out to pat his shoulder.

Xie Xiao looked back and forth at his parents, "You've always told me since I was little that arguing blindly doesn't solve problems, so how come today you've forgotten your own words?"

His voice was tinged with a chuckle, "Should I act as a referee for you? Have a turn at debating each other?"

Yang Lan playfully slapped him, "What nonsense are you talking about?"

Her voice sounded off, as if she was on the brink of crying.

Xie Xiao let out an exclamation, looking at Xie Qingxiao, "Your wife is about to cry. Aren't you going to comfort her?"

Xie Qingxiao hurriedly sat down next to her, and Yang Lan moved away as if in disdain.

Xie Qingxiao leaned in closer, "Wife, I truly made a mistake. I can explain. I was just a bit anxious tonight, you saw how pale Mom looked... And about the money thing, I did want to tell you. But you were always working overtime during that time, weren't you? So I didn't mention it, and then I actually forgot. I apologize, I'm so sorry, please don't be mad..."

Xie Xiao watched his dad softly coaxing his mom and stood up with a smile.

He prepared some warm water for them and then went into his room.

It wasn't appropriate for him, the son, to listen in on how his parents were resolving their issues.

But considering that delaying his return by a day meant he couldn't go back with Luo Yanran, Xie Xiao sighed.

What is all this mess!