CHAPTER 307: CHAPTER 299: WHAT IS LOVE?

Of course, she didn’t oppose Qiqi being with Zhuge Yun. In fact, Zhuge Yun was a very good candidate for a husband, unlike Chang Yunhuan. Zhuge Yun might be having a tough time now, but given his character and the current favorable era, his future success was inevitable.

The only concern in love was that when one side gives more than the other, it often leads to future inequality. Over time, the other party becomes accustomed to the one-sided, selfless giving, even making it a habit in life. And that’s not good: generally speaking, if a husband acquires this bad habit, his wife will end up exhausted and age faster.

Although Sisi couldn’t be sure that Zhuge Yun would definitely become a husband with bad habits, she didn’t want her friend Liu Qiqi to potentially endure a lifetime of hardship.

Alas, girls in love are often blind, deaf, and their minds paralyzed. Could Qiqi even take any advice to heart?

"Sister Qiqi, don’t you think you’re being too good to that Zhuge Yun? Have you fallen for him?" Sisi tiptoed around the topic, afraid of hurting Liu Qiqi’s feelings.

Liu Qiqi’s face turned crimson as she denied vehemently, "No way, how could that be? Don’t talk nonsense, Sisi."

"Oh, actually I think Zhuge Yun is not bad. He’s quite handsome and performs well academically. His future is certainly promising, though his family is a bit poor."

"Being poor is just a difficulty, as long as you’re diligent and hard-working, life will definitely get better and better." Qiqi felt uncomfortable, she couldn’t stand hearing anything negative about Zhuge Yun.

Sisi couldn’t help but smile secretly, then continued, "Yes, being poor is a minor issue. Overall, Zhuge Yun is pretty good."

"Sisi, you think he’s good too!" Qiqi was thrilled.

"Yeah, he’s okay, but I think the woman who marries Zhuge Yun will definitely have a hard time. She would need to be frugal, precise in her spending, and also take care of his two elderly family members. Most importantly, we don’t really know what kind of person Zhuge Yun is. What if he turns out to be a Chen Shimei?"

"That’s impossible, Zhuge Yun is definitely not that kind of person!"

"Who can really say for sure? But I also feel the chances of Zhuge Yun being a Chen Shimei are slim."

Qiqi breathed a secret sigh of relief, but Sisi’s next words made her heart rise again.

"But even if Zhuge Yun isn’t a Chen Shimei, I think girls who like him shouldn’t be too good to him. Like, saving their own living expenses to buy things for him, or doing their laundry and such."

"Why not? Shouldn’t you give your all when you love someone?" Qiqi was puzzled.

Sisi sighed, flicked Qiqi’s forehead, truly a silly girl. When you give someone your all, do they reciprocate in kind?

"Of course not, love is about you love me, and I love you. It’s like shopping; I give you money, and you give me the equivalent goods. If the exchange isn’t equal, then the one who gives more will definitely lose out. It’s the same between men and women. If one side is too giving without equal reciprocation, as time goes on, they will give more and more until they are drained."

Sisi aggressively squeezed an orange slice until it burst, juice splattering everywhere, leaving only a dry peel in her hand.

Qiqi shivered, grimaced, and handed over a handkerchief for Sisi to wipe her hands, looking thoughtful as if she had taken Sisi’s words to heart.

"Sisi, is it like this between you and Tian Xinhua? Does Tian Xinhua give more and you benefit more?" Qiqi suddenly asked.

Sisi was anxious, "How could that be? Brother Xin Hua and I are involved in an equal exchange, we both give equally! Equally!" Sisi emphasized repeatedly.

Although she had to admit that Tian Xinhua took care of her more, she also treated Tian Xinhua well, pampered him with good food and drinks, and even provided him with comprehensive companionship services every now and then!

Qiqi laughed when she saw Sisi stomping her feet, "I know, I know, exactly the same, Tian Xinhua didn’t let you take advantage of him, he took advantage of you!"

Qiqi muttered to herself: Who doesn’t know that Tian Xinhua worships you like a Bodhisattva!

Sisi didn’t know how much of her words Qiqi took to heart, she just hoped it would enlighten her in some way, but according to Hu Weiwen, Qiqi was still keeping close with Zhuge Yun at school, and it was Liu Qiqi who was actively pursuing him. Zhuge Yun would sometimes avoid her, but not every time, out of ten times he might avoid her five or six times.

Alas, love blinds people; love makes people foolish. She just hoped that Zhuge Yun wouldn’t bring Qiqi any heartache!

Sisi didn’t think Qiqi was foolish; when love strikes, which girl can remain rational? And those who do remain rational surely would not be experiencing true love!

Hu Weiwen and Hu Weichao were worried about their cousin acting foolishly, but no matter what they said, Liu Qiqi wouldn’t listen. They also couldn’t speak to Zhuge Yun about it, since after all, he wasn’t actively pursuing Qiqi—it was their cousin who was shamelessly throwing herself at him.

Alas, having such a cousin is truly worrisome!

However, their worry did not last long because Zhuge Yun began to distance himself from Liu Qiqi on his own, no longer partnering with her during class for oral practice, not dining with her, and even when he saw Liu Qiqi approaching, he would immediately take his meal box and return to the dormitory.

And sometimes, when he came over to Old Man’s house for dinner, seeing Liu Qiqi, he would only greet her indifferently, as politely as to a stranger, not at all as intimately and casually as before.

Hu Weiwen and Hu Weichao breathed a sigh of relief. Now they didn’t have to worry about how to explain to their aunt. Before starting college, their aunt and Uncle had specifically instructed them to keep a close eye on Liu Qiqi, not to let her find a boyfriend in college, especially from out-of-town, and if she had to find someone, it had to be a local from Shanghai!

Compared to the brothers Hu Weiwen’s relaxation, Liu Qiqi was like a flower plucked from the soil. Although she still smiled each time she came for dinner at home, the increasingly sharp chin clearly indicated that the young girl’s mood was anything but good.

When it comes to matters of the heart, outsiders can’t help; one must clear their own mind to find peace. Still, Sisi took the time to have a heart-to-heart talk with Qiqi, hoping to enlighten her.

"Sisi, I lied to you last time, I think I have fallen for Zhuge Yun!" Before Sisi could ask, Qiqi confessed with a pained expression.

"Does Zhuge Yun like you?"

"I don’t know, no, he probably doesn’t, otherwise why would he avoid me?" Qiqi said with a bitter smile.

"Sister Qiqi, you’re only 18 years old right now. I think you should focus on your studies. Maybe after a year or two, you’ll mature a little more. By then, you’ll be able to understand your own heart more clearly."

No matter how suitable Zhuge Yun was as a husband, Sisi still didn’t want Qiqi to get involved in a relationship too early. Besides, Qiqi’s own conditions weren’t bad, with a beautiful appearance, a cheerful and generous personality, above-average family background, and being the most sought-after Shanghai girl of this era, she definitely didn’t have to worry about not finding a good man.

"Big Cousin and Second Cousin also told me this, and I have thought a lot these days. Maybe all of this is just my wishful thinking. I won’t pester Zhuge Yun anymore!"

Liu Qiqi gave a wry smile, as if making a resolution to Sisi, and also as though she was forcing herself. Listening to her decisive tone, it seemed that she meant to keep her word!

Later on, Liu Qiqi indeed returned to her lively and cheerful self, which made Sisi breathe easier. Perhaps it’s because Liu Qiqi was young and not deeply in love after all, or she might not have distinguished between sympathy and love, mistaking her sympathy for Zhuge Yun as romantic love.