A trace of helplessness also appeared on Chen Xiyuan’s face.
“My older sister heard about our situation. She’s passing through Yunjing this time and insisted on coming to meet you!”
“Can we not? After all, we’re only pretending…”
Qin Yunxuan hesitated a little. Since this trip was probably only for five days, she didn’t want to spend too much energy and time on trivial matters.
Chen Xiyuan shrugged: “I don’t want you to meet either, but my older sister… she’s always been the one who calls the shots in our family. So… if she’s not satisfied, my life won’t be easy!”
“Qin Lang, please do me this favor!”
Seeing the pleading look in Chen Xiyuan’s eyes, Qin Yunxuan sighed: “Alright then… okay.”
……
Chen Xiyuan was the third child and the youngest daughter of the Chen family.
Her eldest sister, Chen Xiyan, was a working woman in her mid-twenties.
They arranged to meet at a restaurant for morning tea.
When Chen Xiyuan walked into the restaurant with Qin Yunxuan, Qin Yunxuan was immediately drawn to a woman with a unique presence.
“Eldest Sister!”
Seeing the woman, Chen Xiyuan rushed over with a beaming smile.
“I’ve missed you so much! Didn’t you bring me a gift?”
Chen Xiyan tapped Chen Xiyuan’s nose playfully: “How old are you now, still asking for gifts!”
“I’m still a student, of course I need gifts!”
Chen Xiyuan declared matter-of-factly.
Chen Xiyan patted her bag: “Of course I brought a gift, but where is the person I came to meet?”
Chen Xiyuan turned to look at Qin Yunxuan: “Qin Lang, come over quickly. This is my eldest sister, Chen Xiyan.”
“Hello, Eldest Sister!”
Qin Yunxuan had no choice but to force a smile and greet her.
But unexpectedly, Chen Xiyan waved her hand: “Hold on, don’t rush to call me ‘Eldest Sister’ just yet. Whether I will be your eldest sister or not isn’t certain now.”
Both Chen Xiyuan and Qin Yunxuan were taken aback.
“Eldest Sister, what are you doing!”
Chen Xiyuan pouted, gently shaking Chen Xiyan’s arm.
Chen Xiyan chuckled softly: “What’s wrong, already feeling protective? I haven’t even said anything yet!”
“I’m not being protective! But… didn’t you say you don’t mind me dating someone at school? Why are you giving Qin Lang a hard time for no reason?”
“Is this what you call ‘a hard time’?” Chen Xiyan seemed both amused and exasperated. “Wait until you bring him to meet Father, then you’ll know what a real ‘hard time’ looks like!”
A hint of bashfulness appeared on Chen Xiyuan’s face: “Eldest Sister, what are you talking about? I have no intention of taking him to meet Father! If it weren’t for you insisting on meeting him, I wouldn’t have even brought him to see you!”
Chen Xiyan’s brows furrowed: “Little sister, what do you mean by that? Don’t tell me you’re just playing around with him and aren’t serious about a future together? That won’t do!”
Chen Xiyan’s expression turned serious.
“Our Chen family has always taken matters of the heart very seriously. Although Qin Lang… isn’t particularly handsome, his bearing isn’t outstanding, and his usual academic performance is rather poor… but since he’s the boyfriend you chose, you must be responsible for your choice!”
“Romance without the intent of marriage is just fooling around, do you understand that?”
Chen Xiyuan’s face flushed slightly, while Qin Yunxuan, standing beside her, was utterly stunned.
What was going on?
Weren’t they just pretending to be boyfriend and girlfriend? How did it get dragged into marriage talk?
Was this some new kind of scheme?
A vigilant look instantly flashed in Qin Yunxuan’s eyes.
“Um… I have something to say, though I’m not sure if I should say it.”
Qin Yunxuan cleared her throat and spoke: “I think dating is just dating. As for marriage and all that… I feel we’re both still too young. Isn’t it a bit too early to be considering that?”
“Too early?”
Chen Xiyan’s gaze instantly sharpened.
“You’re called Qin Lang, right? Are you saying… you only want to date my little sister and haven’t considered your future together?”
“If that’s the case, I absolutely will not agree to you dating my little sister!”
Chen Xiyan said earnestly.
Qin Yunxuan and Chen Xiyuan exchanged a glance, each seeing a hint of a bitter smile in the other’s eyes.
“Eldest Sister, I think you’ve misunderstood. Of course we’re serious about being together, and we have plans for the future too! It’s just that we’re so young now, and there are still many uncertainties ahead, so we haven’t made any extremely long-term plans yet!”
“Besides… I’m starving now. Let’s go eat first!”
Chen Xiyuan held Chen Xiyan’s hand, speaking in a coaxing tone.
Chen Xiyan glanced at Qin Lang, then affectionately stroked Chen Xiyuan’s hair.
“Alright, alright, alright. Let’s go eat. I’ve already ordered your favorite breakfast items!”
Qin Yunxuan watched the two women’s retreating backs, sighed softly, and followed.
Although this older sister of Chen Xiyuan seemed to have somewhat old-fashioned ideas, overall, she seemed like a decent person.
At least she didn’t seem to have double standards.
Chen Xiyan had reserved a private room. After the three sat down, an array of exquisite breakfast dishes was served.
“Wow, my favorite pan-fried buns! I knew Eldest Sister dotes on me the most!”
Chen Xiyuan gave a loud mwah on Chen Xiyan’s cheek, then happily scooped the buns onto her plate.
Chen Xiyan raised an eyebrow: “You, at your age, still so mischievous!”
Then she looked at Qin Lang: “Qin Lang, I wasn’t sure what you liked, so I just ordered some common dishes. If they don’t suit your taste, we can order something else.”
Qin Yunxuan smiled: “No need, these are perfectly fine!”
Chen Xiyan nodded slightly, then started speaking softly with Chen Xiyuan.
“Eldest Sister, why did you suddenly come to Yunjing University? And… how did you even find out about Qin Lang and me?”
Chen Xiyan gave a light laugh: “You’d better swallow what’s in your mouth first, then I’ll tell you. Otherwise, I’m afraid you might lose your appetite.”
“No way!”
Chen Xiyuan swallowed the bun in her mouth and blinked: “You can tell me now!”
“Well… I actually didn’t know about you and Qin Lang. Dad called me! That’s how I found out! And Dad specifically asked me to come. The main purpose is to check out Qin Lang, see what kind of person he is, to have actually won over the little princess of our Chen family!”
Chen Xiyuan was dumbfounded. Her lips trembled: “What? Dad knows? How does he know? How could he possibly know!”
Chen Xiyan rolled her eyes: “You are, after all, one of Yunjing University’s campus belles. Just enter your school’s forum, news about you and Qin Lang is everywhere. There’s no way to keep it hidden!”
“And… if Dad didn’t have important matters on his hands, the person standing before you now probably wouldn’t be me, but him!”
