"Auntie, Auntie?"

Yu Xiaolong called out twice when he saw Aunt spacing out.

"Uh... I forgot, my daughter also needs to rank in the top three, I can't let her studies be delayed."

Aunt snapped back to reality and added.

There was no way around it, this was too big of a turnaround, it felt like they hadn't set up any difficulty for them at all!

"Cough cough..."

Wang Xiaolu, feeling embarrassed, interjected, "Mom, I've told you before, you didn't take it seriously, I ranked second..."

"Don't lie to me, I remember your last exam was at the bottom!" Aunt said.

"It's true, you can ask the teacher if you don't believe me."

Wang Xiaolu spoke anxiously, "This term, Little Dragon has been tutoring me..."

"..."

Aunt was utterly dumbfounded, unable to utter another word.

Seeing this, Yu Xiaolong was about to speak again, but was stopped by Qin Feng, who said to Wang Xiaolu and her mother, "Auntie, it's getting late, we will head back now, we don't want to disturb you further."

Yu Xiaolong wanted to say more, but Qin Feng held him back, bid farewell to them, and pulled him and Xiao Lian away.

Leaving behind the dazed Aunt and Wang Xiaolu, whose eyes were filled with joy.

On their way home.

Yu Xiaolong anxiously said, "Brother-in-law, why didn't you explain clearly? She couldn't refute me this time, right?"

Qin Feng smiled and said, "Remember, 'everything in moderation'. Just now, it was clear that you had won, right? At times like this, you need to know 'when to stop'. I bet that next time you go to see that girl, her mother won't interfere much anymore, because she knows she has lost. But too much will have the opposite effect; if you keep pressing her to admit defeat in public, it'll only backfire. So, in the future, no matter what the situation, you need to learn the meaning of 'everything in moderation'."

Yu Xiaolong seemed to half understand, but hearing that next time he went to see Wang Xiaolu, her mother wouldn't interfere, he was also delighted. He thanked Qin Feng, "Thanks, brother-in-law, you're amazing!—Sis, I'm so envious of you."

"Envious of me for what?" Xiao Lian was puzzled.

"Envious that you found such a good brother-in-law!" Yu Xiaolong said.

"..."

Xiao Lian's face turned red with a smack, "You little mischief, how dare you have an early romance? I'll tell our mom about this!"

"Psh, it's not like I'm neglecting my studies." To support our work, please read on *.

Yu Xiaolong said disdainfully, "By the way, sis, brother-in-law, I saw you took the keys of the house?"

"Yes, we will move into the new house in the city in a few days." Qin Feng said with a smile.

Yu Xiaolong's eyes widened in disbelief, "Really, really? We're going to have a house in the city??"

"Of course." Qin Feng replied with a smile.

"Yay!! That's awesome!!" Yu Xiaolong exclaimed excitedly, "Brother-in-law, you're the best!!"

...

Before they even got home, Yu Xiaolong excitedly shared the news of Qin Feng buying a house with Yu's mother, Lin Meizhen.

He thought Lin Meizhen would be happy.

But she still appeared to be deeply troubled.

Seeing this, Xiao Lian asked in confusion, "Mom, what's wrong?"

Lin Meizhen sighed deeply and said, "Sigh, it's still because of those idle rumors. Never mind them, I just hope you two have a good relationship."

It turned out that there were still rumors the past few days claiming Xiao Lian was working as a hostess.

That she was paying for a boyfriend to shut everyone up.

Hearing this, Xiao Lian felt a deep sadness.

She could bear being misunderstood herself, but she didn't want her mother to keep enduring these things.

"It's okay, they'll understand."

Qin Feng said with a smile at this moment.

"Yes, time will prove everything."

Xiao Lian also followed.

Lin Meizhen breathed a sigh of relief seeing they didn't pay much attention to these matters, and said, "I was worried you two might overthink it. Since you can both see it that way, then I'm fine too. Oh right, Little Dragon mentioned earlier that you bought a house? Is it in the city?"

"Yeah, we bought a house."

Xiao Lian said with a smile, "It's all ready to move in, so we can move there after the New Year."

"Xiao Feng, you... you..."

Lin Meizhen didn't know what to say, "You're buying Xiao Lian a house in the city before marriage? Isn't that against the rules? Shouldn't you first talk to your parents about this?"

"Oh, no need, I... I don't have parents."

Qin Feng said.

"..."

Upon hearing this, Lin Meizhen hurriedly said, "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to bring up something that would hurt you."

"It's okay, it's been so long, I'm already used to it."

Qin Feng replied with a smile.

Xiao Lian, standing by, recalled how Qin Feng had curled up in her embrace last night, murmuring "Mom" in his sleep. He was only appearing strong on the surface, but deep down in his heart, he longed for a mother's love...

"Right."

Lin Meizhen then said, "The day after tomorrow is New Year's Eve. I'm feeling better now, so let's go to your uncle's place for the New Year's Eve dinner."

"Mom, I don't want to go!"

Yu Xiaolong said, pouting.

Their family was always looked down upon by the elder and second uncles, especially since their father passed away a few years ago and their mother became seriously ill. They had been aloof towards them, as if they were afraid that they would ask to borrow money, and they couldn't stand being looked at as if they were plague-bearers.

"No matter what, we have to go. Even if it's just for your father, to pay a visit to your grandfather, you should go. After all, both of you, carry the blood of the Yu Family."

Lin Meizhen sighed.

No other choice.

Yu Xiaolong reluctantly nodded in agreement.

Xiao Lian naturally understood that some occasions required your presence, regardless of whether the other party welcomed you or not. It was important to ensure your own manners were beyond reproach.

Seeing her so composed, Lin Meizhen smiled and praised, "Lian'er, I've noticed you've matured a lot in the past six months, become much more sensible."

"Mom, not really..."

As Xiao Lian spoke, she peeled a banana for her.

At the same time, she stole a glance at Qin Feng.

Over this period, it was because of him that she had undergone such dramatic changes…

The next day.

Qin Feng, Yu Xiaolong, and Xiao Lian were outside the house, putting up couplets on the ladder.

Passing by was Aunt Ma and others. Xiao Lian greeted them with a smile, but they merely responded perfunctorily before looking at her with peculiar eyes, obviously still treating her as a prostitute.

Seeing this, Xiao Lian sighed and suggested to Qin Feng, "How about we take a walk in the village? The environment in our village is really nice too."

"That's a good idea."

Qin Feng nodded.

He knew what Xiao Lian meant. She wanted everyone to see that he was her boyfriend and not someone she had paid for.

Iron-wristed couplets.

The two strolled down the village's main street.

To make it convincing.

Xiao Lian deliberately wrapped her arm tightly around Qin Feng's, making them look very intimate, truly like a couple in the throes of romance.

"Hey, you can't be frowning all the time; you need to look happier, and relax your body a bit,"

Xiao Lian said.

Qin Feng then replied with a wry smile, "I'm worried..."

"Worried about what?" Xiao Lian asked, puzzled.

He glanced at the fullness nestled snugly against her neck and said, "I'm worried that if I 'move' my arm, you'll call me a hooligan, saying I'm taking advantage of you on purpose."