episode_0044

(No more delays—I’ll just post tonight’s chapter at noon instead. 😭😭😭😭 Don’t withhold your monthly votes! Wahhh!)

Mrs. Xu held Su Qingya’s hand and patted the back of it gently, signaling for her to relax.

Her mindset was still quite open-minded.

With Mrs. Xu agreeing, even if Xu Qingshan objected, there was nothing he could do.

After all, she was right—in this household, she had the final say.

“I’ve agreed too. Bring your girlfriend over someday so we can meet her. Even if your significant other is a woman, she still ought to meet the parents, no?”

“Mhm, I will. Thank you for understanding.”

Su Qingya bowed deeply.

This bow was sincere—she was truly grateful for their acceptance. With this, the obstacles between her and Xu Nian were practically halved.

“Hah, no need to thank us. As for continuing the family line, that’s what your sister’s for. She had a boyfriend before…”

Listening quietly, Su Qingya lowered her head.

Mrs. Xu caught the subtle shift in expression and immediately snatched up her chopsticks, swatting at Xu Qingshan.

“Continuing the family line, continuing the family line—is that all you ever think about? If you don’t know how to talk, then shut up.”

“Ow! Ow! Stop hitting me! Ah—pain pain pain! Our daughter’s right here—save me some face, spare me some dignity!”

Mrs. Xu only struck him a few times half-heartedly before returning to reassuringly pat Su Qingya’s hand.

“Don’t worry, don’t stress over it. In this life, being happy is what matters most. Who cares about kids? If it really comes down to it, your dad and I can just have another one ourselves.”

As she spoke, she also piled more food onto Su Qingya’s plate.

“Eat up, you must be hungry. There’s plenty of time ahead—no need to rush through everything now. When you’re ready, slowly tell me about your life these past years. I missed watching you grow up, but at the very least, I want to hear about your past.”

“…Okay. Thank you, Mom.”

Seeing how well his wife had eased the atmosphere, Xu Qingshan also relaxed.

Everything was going smoothly.

Su Qingya was accepting this family—at least showing signs of it. Now, they just needed her to accept her siste—

“Hold on. Where’s Nian?”

Xu Qingshan had noticed someone was missing earlier, but hadn’t gotten the chance to ask.

“Oh, she went to the restroom. But I saw her on the phone earlier, murmuring something. Probably chatting with her boyfriend—normal for the honeymoon phase.”

“That damn brat! How dare he lay a finger on the cabbage I raised! When I meet him, I swear I’ll teach him a lesson he won’t forget.”

Xu Qingshan fumed.

This was perhaps the universal pain of all fathers—

Their precious vegetables getting stolen right from under them…

Ah—no! It was a nightmare!

“…Nian-nian?”

Hearing their way of referring to her sister, Su Qingya suddenly grew uneasy.

“What’s wrong?”

“Oh… no, nothing. Just remembered my girlfriend. I also love calling her ‘Nian-nian.’”

“Really? What a coincidence!” Mrs. Xu laughed.

Meanwhile, Su Qingya muttered inwardly—

Nian-nian… Nian-nian…

Her biological father’s surname was Xu.

Xu… Nian?

No—

Wait. Could it just be a coincidence?

Surely there were other characters in the full name, right?

Realizing something, Su Qingya abruptly looked up.

The answers were right in front of her—all she had to do was ask.

“Um… my sister—what’s her full name? Please tell me. It’s important.”

“Xu Nian. Why? Something the matter?”

Xu Qingshan answered bluntly.

Su Qingya’s heart lurched.

No—

That couldn’t be!

Xu Nian?

Maybe just a coincidence?

Think rationally—China has over a billion people. Name overlaps are bound to happen, right?

Even a name like Su Qingya could easily have dozens of duplicates.

So… haha, her stepsister’s name being Xu Nian…

And her girlfriend of three years also being Xu Nian…

What kind of absurd dream was this?

“Oh, Nian’s back. Look at that radiant smile—must’ve just finished her call with him.”

Mrs. Xu teased.

Xu Qingshan snorted, refusing to grace the topic with a pleasant expression.

In his mind, he was already scheming how to beat the unnamed brat to a pulp.

How dare he make his precious daughter so lovestruck? Unforgivable.

Su Qingya sat frozen, not daring to turn around.

Mrs. Xu noticed her stiff demeanor.

“Are you feeling unwell? You look pale.”

“N-No, Mom, I’m fine. Nothing’s wrong.”

Su Qingya hurriedly reassured her.

“Won’t you say hi? Nian’s right behind you—you two should meet.”

Xu Nian was behind her?

Ah—

That was impossible!

Her Xu Nian was at home, preparing to welcome her sister!

…Wait.

Something didn’t add up.

No. It had to be a coincidence—

Why did she have to have that name?!

Could it really be that Xu Nian?

Her girlfriend Xu Nian?

Should she turn and check?

Curiosity clawed at her, but she couldn’t face reality yet.

The contradicting thoughts tore at her sanity.

Slowly, stiffly, she began to turn—

Before she could fully look back, warmth brushed against the nape of her neck.

A familiar scent enveloped her.

The sweet fragrance of a girl pressed close behind her, wrapped in that unmistakable embrace.

Even without seeing, the presence was achingly clear.

A voice, playful and melodious like a nightingale’s song, whispered—

“Sis~ter~ De~ar~”

It pierced straight into Su Qingya’s mind, obliterating coherent thought.

She went limp, her chopsticks slipping from her fingers as she instinctively leaned back—right into those familiar arms.

“N-Nian… Nian… X-Xu Nian is… my sister.”

Her face burned scarlet, the blush uncontrollable as she sat mortified before her parents.

Was she supposed to feel elated? Panicked?

But her brain short-circuited from that saccharine “Sister Dear,” leaving only static.

Now she just sat there, rigid as a startled quail.

“What’s… going on?”

Mrs. Xu tilted her head, baffled by Su Qingya’s reaction.

Xu Nian’s teasing voice drifted lazily from behind before she sidled up to Su Qingya’s right, seating herself on the rounded stone bench. She hooked an arm around Su Qingya’s, tugging her slightly away from Mrs. Xu to create space.

Then—right in front of their parents—Xu Nian leaned in, nuzzling against Su Qingya’s neck with shameless intimacy. One hand settled at her waist, the other draped over her thigh, chin propped on her shoulder.

Su Qingya didn’t resist. Didn’t even twitch.

That “Sister Dear” nonsense? Just part of their usual playful dynamic—roleplay, nothing more.

They were lovers, not sisters.

She would never acknowledge this absurd blood relation.

Only one of them could belong to this family. The other would leave—only to return as an outsider marrying in.

Xu Nian’s fox-like eyes curved slyly, her snow-white tail flicking.

“Ah, Sister Dear~ You smell so good. What perfume do you use?”