Happy Youngsters: Lin Miaomiao and Yingzi are vying to have babies!

In addition, Xia Xue was well-behaved and sensible, so Song Qian liked her very much.

"Xiaoxue, please make yourself at home here," Song Qian said as she cut fruit.

"Thank you, Aunt Song," Xia Xue said politely.

"Don't be shy, Auntie will be going out now." Song Qian put the fruit plate on the table and turned to leave Qiao Yingzi's room.

Watching Song Qian leave and Qiao Yingzi close the door, she turned around and excitedly rushed to the bed, shouting, "Finally, I can relax for a day!"

"Xiaoxue, you don't know, I usually have to finish at least two papers before I can go to bed. It's good that you came today."

Hearing this, Xia Xue also showed a surprised expression. At least two test papers a day, plus homework…

This workload will surely exhaust people!

"Is Aunt Song really that strict with you?"

"Absolutely! We're only in the first year of high school and we already have to do two practice tests every day. We barely get three hours of rest in total. I really can't imagine what it will be like in the second and third years of high school."

Thinking of this, Qiao Yingzi looked at the ceiling in despair.

She used to have time to play with building blocks during her breaks, but now she has no time at all, and her mother doesn't want her to play with them either.

She estimated that Song Qian would no longer allow her to play with building blocks in her second year of high school, or even the following semester.

"Isn't this depressing?" Xiaoxue felt sorry for her best friend.

"It's so depressing! So I can only relieve my mood by playing with building blocks and observing the universe, but I've noticed that my mom is getting more and more annoyed by me playing with building blocks."

Qiao Yingzi was clearly very aggrieved when she said this.

Xia Xue patted Qiao Yingzi on the back sympathetically, knowing there was nothing she could do about Qiao Yingzi's own family affairs.

"If your mom really doesn't allow you to play with building blocks anymore, how will you cope with that?" Xia Xue was a little worried about Qiao Yingzi's future life.

"Um…"

"I'll tell you my most important secret." After thinking for a moment, Qiao Yingzi turned on her phone, and Xia Xue curiously leaned closer.

Qiao Yingzi logged onto an international communication software and opened the backend, where she found a special friend named [Ze].

Looking at this friend with the online name "Ze," Qiao Yingzi couldn't help but smile.

"This person is a friend I've known since junior high school. He has a very nice voice and a great personality."

“I used to call him whenever I felt wronged. He would always listen to me attentively and never interrupt me until I finished complaining before comforting me.”

"Is this person a foreigner?" Xiaoxue asked curiously.

Qiao Yingzi shook her head: "He is a foreign national who grew up abroad with his mother, but he recently returned to China."

"Do you know what he looks like?"

Hearing Xiaoxue's question, Qiao Yingzi's happy face dimmed: "I've never video-called him, nor have I dared to ask him for photos..."

Seeing her best friend like this, Qiao Yingzi sighed: "Aren't you afraid he'll lie to you?"

Upon hearing this, Qiao Yingzi immediately became anxious.

"impossible!"

“He would never lie to me. He is a very good person. He gives me a gift every year on my birthday, and he sings to me to cheer me up when I am sad.”

Qiao Yingzi's gaze was very firm when she said this.

Seeing her best friend's expression, Xia Xue was absolutely certain of one thing: "Yingzi, are you having an online romance?"

"Huh?" Qiao Yingzi was stunned, as if her brain had crashed, because she didn't expect Xia Xue to say that.

After a long pause, he hurriedly explained, "How could that be? I'm not one of those clueless elementary school students who are addicted to the internet all day!"

"Besides, he's just my best friend online. We've never even met in person, and I don't even know where he is in China. How could I possibly have an online relationship?"

Sometimes, the more you explain, the more confused you get. Looking at the flustered Qiao Yingzi, Xia Xue was certain that she was 80% in an online relationship.

However, this guy had no idea that he had fallen for a netizen named Ze.

Chapter Sixteen: Meeting Qiao Yingzi Late at Night (Seeking Flowers, Monthly Tickets, and Reviews)

On the other side, at Xia Donghai's house...

Song Qian replied to the message sent in class within minutes, and Xia Donghai also learned Xia Xue's whereabouts.

He glanced at Liu Mei, who was unwell on the sofa, and angrily prepared to leave home to find Xiao Xue.

Liu Mei noticed Xia Donghai's expression and tugged at Xia Ze's clothes.

"Xiaoze, you go with your dad to pick up Xiaoxue and take her home. If your dad tries to do anything, you should stop him."

Liu Mei was genuinely worried that Xia Donghai might get angry and hit Xiaoxue. She suggested that they resolve any issues at home, but if they came to blows, things could escalate.

Xia Ze nodded and called out to Xia Donghai, who was about to leave, "Dad, wait for me for a few minutes, I'll go with you."

"Okay, hurry up." Xia Donghai still had a sliver of rationality left. In fact, he was worried that he might hit the child if he got too angry.

If things really come to blows, Xia Ze can help stop him.

"Mom, this is a great opportunity for you and Xiaoxue to get closer. When I bring Xiaoxue back later, you must seize the opportunity."

After saying that, Xia Ze casually threw on a coat and went out to chase after Xia Donghai.

Liu Mei pondered Xia Ze's words on the sofa. After a long while, she sighed. How could the rift between her and Xiao Xue be resolved so easily?

The only way to win her over is through time and sincerity. In time, Xiaoxue will be able to see whether her stepmother is genuinely good or just pretending.

.........

On the taxi heading to Qiao Yingzi's house.

Xia Ze looked at Xia Donghai, who was sighing with one hand on his forehead. His father was a typical loving father.

Now that Xiaoxue is so angry, she should realize how much Xia Donghai cares about her, right?

The two quickly arrived at Shuxiang Yayuan and found her home by following the location given by Song Qian on the mobile phone map.

Xia Ze stepped forward and pressed the doorbell. Not long after, Song Qian opened the door.

Xia Ze looked at Song Qian's familiar face. Wasn't this the Little Dragon Girl from the TV series "Spring Bright Pigsy"?

I never imagined that Qiao Yingzi's mother was her.

"You must be Xia Donghai, Xiaoxue's father, and Xia Ze, her brother? I am Song Qian, Qiao Yingzi's mother."

"Yes, yes, I am Xia Xue's father, Xia Donghai. I'm so sorry to disturb your rest so late." Xia Donghai apologized sincerely, looking slightly embarrassed.

Song Qian smiled indifferently.

However, she did not immediately invite Xia Donghai and Xia Ze into the room. Instead, she thoughtfully pulled Xia Donghai aside.

“Yingzi and Xiaoxue are best friends, so I know a little about your family’s affairs.”

“I can tell that Xiaoxue is a sensible and obedient child. There is a reason why she did this. As a parent myself, I hope you can have a good talk with her and please don’t hit her when you get home.”

Xia Donghai sighed.

Given his personality, he wouldn't actually resort to violence, nor would he be willing to do so.

But this time he felt that Xia Xue had gone too far. Liu Mei treated her sincerely, but she made Liu Mei so worried that she almost fainted.

"Alright, Xiaoxue is in Yingzi's room. I'll take you to see them." Song Qian knew that it was best to say a few words about other people's affairs; saying too much would only make her less welcome.

Song Qian led Xia Donghai and Xia Ze to Qiao Yingzi's room. Since there were two girls inside, she didn't open the door directly.

"Yingzi, Xiaoxue, are you asleep yet?"

"Mom, we're getting ready to sleep before we go to bed," came Qiao Yingzi's voice from the room.

"Xiaoxue, your father and brother are here. Would you like to meet them?" Song Qian's voice came into the room.

Xia Xue's expression changed upon hearing this, but she didn't intend to dodge; this was part of her plan all along.

"Wait a minute, Mom, Xiaoxue and I are changing our clothes."

Inside the room, Qiao Yingzi and Xia Xue hadn't changed out of their pajamas; they were still wearing their school clothes from the daytime. The reason they said they were changing clothes was just to stall for time.

Qiao Yingzi looked at Xia Xue and said softly, "Your dad and your brother are here. Now it's up to you."

Xia Xue nodded heavily.

…………

Outside the room, Song Qian invited Xia Donghai and Xia Ze into the living room.

The two parents chatted for a while, and then Song Qian looked at Xia Ze and asked, "Xia Ze is really good-looking. He must be quite popular at school."

Xia Ze smiled and said, "It's alright, Aunt Song."

"I heard from Yingzi that you're the class monitor, so your grades must be very good, right?"

"It's alright, of course, but I'm definitely not as good at studying as Yingzi," Xia Ze replied politely to Song Qian.

Song Qian smiled, clearly not believing it: "How is that possible? As far as I know, Yingzi is probably only in the top five in your class. You being the class monitor means you must be number one in the class."

Song Qian and Xia Ze were chatting when Qiao Yingzi's door opened, and then Qiao Yingzi came out holding Xia Xue's hand.

Seeing Xia Xue, Xia Donghai's anxious heart finally calmed down.