"If people’s hearts can change, then why even start?"

Xue Yue looked at He Ziqing. She suddenly realized that perhaps He Nan and Guo Jinfeng’s divorce had indeed affected He Ziqing.

"Ziqing, we can’t be so pessimistic. Love is a wonderful thing. You could say marriage is a guarantee of love, but that’s not entirely true either. Not everyone will end up like your parents. Besides, you know very well that their divorce was caused by many different factors."

"Like you and Third Uncle? Auntie, I’ve always felt that you and Third Uncle are a perfect match, so happy together. Are you two going to change in the future, too?"

"Ziqing, to be honest, I don’t know either. Who can guarantee what will happen in the future? I can only say that I’m enjoying the happiness we have now. At least for this moment, we still love each other."

He Ziqing fell silent, looking down at her hands.

Xue Yue said to her, "Other people aren’t you. You have to walk your own path. But don’t refuse to start just because you’re afraid of failure. That doesn’t seem like your style."

He Ziqing was lost in thought. Xue Yue didn’t disturb her further, closing the door behind her as she returned to her own room.

He Lang saw her come in.

"What were you talking to that little girl about for so long?"

Xue Yue sighed. "I think Ziqing’s views are a bit extreme. She might be resistant to the idea of love."

He Lang pursed his lips. "Resistant to what? She already brought a boyfriend home."

Xue Yue shook her head. "I can’t quite put my finger on it. I just feel like something’s not right."

He Lang flopped onto the bed, sprawling on his back, and said nonchalantly, "If something’s not right, it’s that kid she brought home. With how enthusiastic he is, I just feel like Ziqing is no match for him. She’ll probably be completely wrapped around his finger in the future."

Xue Yue looked at him. "Where is this coming from? I think he’s great. They’re a perfect match. A handsome man and a beautiful woman, both highly educated, so they’ll have things to talk about. Besides, if they really do end up together, they’ll be family. Why talk about who’s wrapping whom around their finger?"

He Lang stared at the ceiling and said slowly, "You women are all fooled by that kid’s facade. You can tell at a glance that he’s the calculating type."

Xue Yue walked over and sat on the edge of the bed.

"He’s the calculating type, and you can tell just like that?"

He Lang shot Xue Yue a look. "You wouldn’t understand. It takes a man to know a man."

Xue Yue pouted. ’Why does that sound so familiar?’

The next day, Qi Mingyang really did come to take He Ziqing to the train station.

"Be careful on your trip. Remember what Grandma told you—tell your dad when you get back that we won’t be coming home for the New Year."

"I know, Grandma."

"Xiao Qi, we’ll have to trouble you then."

Qi Mingyang nodded. "It’s no trouble at all. I’m happy to."

The two were silent the entire way to the train station. When they arrived and it was time to part ways,

Qi Mingyang grabbed He Ziqing’s hand.

He Ziqing looked at him. "What is it?"

Qi Mingyang gazed at her intensely. "Remember to say hello to your father for me when you get back. Also... I wanted to ask what you thought about last night."

He Ziqing paused for a moment before saying, "Qi Mingyang, do you think two people can be happy together without love?"

Qi Mingyang narrowed his eyes, his grip on He Ziqing’s hand tightening.

"It seems letting you think it over by yourself was the wrong decision. Since you don’t have any feelings for me, we’ll just have to take our time getting to know each other. They’ll come eventually. Go on, be safe."

He Ziqing glanced at Qi Mingyang, bit her lip, pulled her hand free, and entered the station.

Only after He Ziqing’s figure disappeared from view did Qi Mingyang turn to leave.

Just as he reached his front door, he ran into his grandfather, who was just returning from a walk.

"You kid, where have you been off to again? Your school should be on break by now, right?"

Qi Mingyang’s mouth quirked. "I was taking my girlfriend to the train station."

Grandpa Qi stared at him in disbelief. "For real? You’re not just making up an excuse to trick us because we’ve been pushing you to get married, are you?"

Qi Mingyang smiled. "Why would I lie to you? It’s true."

A smile instantly spread across Grandpa Qi’s face. He grabbed Qi Mingyang’s arm, his own face alight with curiosity, and pulled him inside.

"Tell me, which family’s daughter is so blind as to fall for you?"

Qi Mingyang’s expression froze, and he began to doubt himself. "Grandpa, am I really that bad?"

Grandpa Qi looked him up and down. "You don’t know? You’re not ugly, I’ll give you that, but with that deadpan face of yours, a good girl probably wouldn’t be interested. Why else would you be 28 and still single? When I was your age, your aunt was already old enough to run errands. And you... tsk tsk. You didn’t get that from me, or from your dad. Your father managed to woo your mother back in high school!"

Qi Mingyang was helpless. He’d heard this speech so many times at home his ears were practically numb.

Grandpa Qi sat down on the sofa. "Come on, tell me. Are you really seeing someone?"

Qi Mingyang leaned back on the sofa, tilted his head back, and seemed drained of energy.

"Yeah."

Grandpa Qi asked, "What’s with that expression? Don’t tell me you haven’t sealed the deal yet?"

After a moment, Qi Mingyang finally said, "I like her, but she doesn’t like me."

"Huh?"

After his cry of surprise, Grandpa Qi stood up and stared at his grandson.

"She doesn’t like you, but you’re still saying you’re seeing someone? That means nothing’s set in stone yet, right?"

Qi Mingyang said listlessly, "It’s not that nothing is set in stone. We’ve already confirmed our relationship, and she’s even introduced me to some of her relatives."

Hearing this, Grandpa Qi sat back down.

He stared wide-eyed. "What’s that supposed to mean?"

Then he said, "Don’t tell me you have some kind of dirt on her? Did you force her?"

As expected of his own grandfather; he knew his grandson all too well.

Qi Mingyang guiltily touched the tip of his nose.

Seeing that, Grandpa Qi understood everything.

He angrily pointed at Qi Mingyang.

"You’re supposed to be a top student, smart since you were a kid, a fast learner, but how can you be so dense when it comes to this? If you like a girl, you chase her! But you? You threaten her with leverage to make her be with you. Won’t that just scare her further and further away?"

Qi Mingyang was a bit dazed after hearing his grandfather’s words.

"Then what do you think I should do?" 𝑓𝘳𝑒𝑒𝓌𝘦𝘣𝘯ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝑚

Grandpa Qi looked at him helplessly. "Do you know how to woo a girl or not? Do you know how to ask her out to dinner or a movie? Do you know how to shower her with attention? Let me tell you, girls have a soft spot for a guy who’s persistent. Back in the day, when I was chasing your grandma, she loved roasted sweet potatoes. I went to knock on her window every single night. Your grandma lived on the third floor back then, but there was an apricot tree outside her window. I climbed that tree every night to give her a roasted sweet potato."

Qi Mingyang muttered under his breath, "No wonder Grandma feels sick now whenever someone mentions roasted sweet potatoes."

Grandpa Qi shot him a glare. "What are you muttering about? Did you hear what I said or not?"

Qi Mingyang nodded. "I heard you."