Ji Qiutang looked at Bi Xia, who was almost laughing to the point of tears, and couldn’t help laughing himself. However, he still tried to comfort her, "Stop laughing. I heard that Grandpa Xia and my grandpa had originally wanted to arrange a marriage for their children, which is why they gave them those names."
"And then?" Bi Xia asked, clutching her stomach.
"Then, the arranged marriage plan was blocked by my grandma and Grandma Xia because they advocated for free love. However, both families decided to focus on developing and cultivating their relationship." Ji Qiutang shook his head helplessly.
"Hahaha! How is that any different from an arranged marriage!" Bi Xia laughed, unable to decide whether to cry or laugh.
Ji Qiutang shrugged, "It seems they beautifully justified it by saying that an arranged marriage might force them together, and if they end up hating each other because of it, it could create resentment."
"But if they play together often, their relationship will develop naturally, just like ’The boy riding a bamboo horse, playing around the plum trees,’" Ji Qiutang explained, quoting his father’s explanation to Bi Xia. "When they eventually like each other, my father, who realized his little childhood friend was coveted by others, would then pursue her. That was their real objective all along."
Bi Xia laughed so hard that she coughed a few times. She sat cross-legged on the sofa, "What kind of mentality do these elders have? Playing psychological games from the moment the children are born, it’s just too funny!"
"The funniest part isn’t even that," Ji Qiutang looked at Bi Xia, whose starry eyes were curious, and couldn’t help but clear his throat when he remembered his father’s words, "My father said the elders agreed that if my dad and your mom didn’t end up together, they would match their children. This cycle would continue until there was eventually a couple from the Ji and Qiu families."
"Oh my god!" Bi Xia jumped up suddenly, pointing at Ji Qiutang, "Let me tell you, I have only one brother! Don’t even think about targeting my brother!"
Ji Qiutang raised an eyebrow and looked at Bi Xia, "Why would I target your brother?"
"Didn’t you say to match the next generation? You are from your father’s generation, my brother is from my mom’s generation, so there’s no way I’m letting you target my brother!" Bi Xia said seriously.
Ji Qiutang blinked, looking at Bi Xia with amusement, "Have you forgotten yourself? If you ask me, your brother is too young. But our ages seem to match up just fine."
"Oh my god!" Bi Xia’s eyes widened as she looked at Ji Qiutang, "Brother Qiutang, I can’t believe you... So that’s why you act so familiar with me; you had ulterior motives all along!"
Hearing the teenager’s description, Ji Qiutang slightly frowned and tilted his head, "Hmm... well, let’s say I’ve considered it."
Bi Xia: "...Brother, I was just talking nonsense. Don’t take it seriously."
Seeing the teenager’s expressionless face for a second, Ji Qiutang burst out laughing, shedding his previous gentlemanly demeanor, "Actually, I was hesitating about whether to tell you, because honestly, if Aunt Xia had really had a younger sister, given my father’s personality, he would have definitely made me marry her. Even if I didn’t, I would have to treat her well."
"But..." Ji Qiutang looked at Bi Xia, "Although I can’t get a wife out of this, having two brothers isn’t bad either."
Bi Xia blinked, suddenly extending her fingers and mumbling, "One, two, three, Fourth Brother, Fifth Brother..."
"Hmm? What are you counting?" Ji Qiutang asked curiously.
Bi Xia looked up with an innocent smile, "Counting how many brothers I have now. Wait a second, I’ll rank you."
Ji Qiutang: ...