Xu Qingfan smiled without speaking, quietly waiting for Xia Guofu's next words.
Sure enough, after a dry laugh, Xia Guofu put away his smile and asked, "How are Xiaoxiao and... her, doing recently?"
Although divorced, Xia Guofu still had feelings for Lin Jing, and Lin Jing became more charming as she matured. Any man would find her intriguing.
"Xiaoxiao is still the same, excellent at studying, loves eating, and is healthy," Xu Qingfan said with a smile, "Auntie is also doing well. She earns several thousand yuan just from rent every month, and her franchised stores earn over ten thousand a month. She doesn't pay much attention to her school job now, she dropped a class, quit being a homeroom teacher, and now shops and goes to the spa with my mom every day, very relaxed."
After hearing this, Xia Guofu didn't know whether to be happy or sad, as he thought if Lin Jing was struggling financially, he could offer some help.
It wasn't all about rekindling their old love; he also felt like compensating because Lin Jing refused any child support for Xia Xiaoxiao all these years.
"That's good," he patted Xu Qingfan on the shoulder and silently lit the cigarette tucked behind his ear, holding it in his mouth.
"Alright, uncle, I'll head inside first," Xu Qingfan pointed to the door.
"Mm, Xiaofan, you go in first, I'll smoke here for a bit," Xia Guofu nodded.
All men understand men; Xu Qingfan could tell what Xia Guofu was thinking. Maybe he saw a recent photo of Lin Jing on someone's social media and was intrigued.
Even though Xu Qingfan himself was the kind of person often deemed a "jerk," he didn't like Xia Guofu's behavior, probably for the same reasons people among scholars often despise one another?
Inside the house, Xia Xiaoxiao sat upright in a chair, surrounded by a group of aunts engaging in small talk.
Seeing Xu Qingfan enter, she shot him a pleading look.
Come on, jungler! Save me!
Xu Qingfan tried to hold back his laughter. The usually aloof top student had moments of such awkwardness; it was quite refreshing.
"Have some water, warm yourself up." It seemed to be Xia Xiaoxiao's second uncle, he gestured to Xu Qingfan with his briefcase in hand.
"No, thank you, Uncle. I've caught a cold, took some medicine this morning before going out," Xu Qingfan smiled, politely declining.
Calling all the uncles as "Bei" ensures never making a mistake.
Xia Xiaoxiao rolled her eyes at him, frustrated he wouldn't help her, and almost wanted to expose his lie, thinking it'd be good for him if someone forced him to drink a pound of liquor!
"Call you Qingfan, huh? You've grown tall and handsome. When are you going to start a love with our Xiaoxiao?" Aunt joked.
"Yes, they've grown up together since childhood. What's that saying from TV?"
"Exactly, first love. Fu and Xiaoxiao's mom were also first loves."
The relative who hadn't been named quieted the room instantly with this comment.
Xu Qingfan could almost hear the sound of crows cawing as they flew over his head.
"What nonsense are you talking about? They only met in elementary school. Xiaoxiao and Qingfan, growing up together, that's what you call childhood sweethearts!" Aunt slapped the person who spoke wrongly.
"Haha, yes, yes, I said the wrong thing, I'll slap my own mouth," the woman slapped her mouth a few times.
"Uncles and aunties, please don't joke around. Our high school doesn't allow early relationship, focus on studying, and aim for a good university," Xu Qingfan spoke to ease the awkwardness.
"Hahaha, right, no love interest, focus on studying!"
"Listen to what your Qingfan brother said! Scored only thirty something in English, even worse in math, getting single digits is ridiculous, your comic books will be confiscated when we get home!"
"My kid is even more exaggerated, the homeroom teacher complained he threw an eraser during exams, whatever number it landed on was the answer he'd choose, made me so angry I broke several hangers!"
"Stand up properly, stand up!"
When the topic turned to studying, the atmosphere in the room quickly changed, entering classic scenes of parents lecturing children.
Xu Qingfan didn't expect his simple statement to have such an effect, resulting in four kids being scolded to tears one after the other.
Xia Xiaoxiao's younger brother, currently in second grade, was among those being scolded. However, the kid was thick-skinned, totally unfazed like a boiled frog.
"Still able to laugh, your sister gets perfect scores in every subject, yet your combined scores in language and math can't even reach a hundred!" her grandmother opened his palms and lightly tapped them.
"Boys are a bit mischievous at a young age, Grandma, you should enroll him in a few extra classes. The year in second grade is critical. If his second-grade grades aren't good, he won't master the multiplication table, and math will be hard to do well in later."
"Think about it, if math isn't well learned, how can he possibly do well in physics and chemistry later in junior high, wouldn't get into a good high school at the entrance exam, will have to go to vocational school, and we all know what vocational schools are like."
Xu Qingfan made insightful analyses, with a schoolmaster's persona, convincing everyone in the room.
"So, what to do? Nuannuan has never been good at math since she was little. Nuannuan, call your brother!"
"Yes, yes, my silly boy is also struggling not just in math, but English too. Without English, how could he possibly have any international perspective?"
The grown-ups in the room clamorously viewed Xu Qingfan as their educational hero.
Only the children shed tears of guilt, looking at him with "gratitude" in their eyes.
Xu Qingfan motioned with his hands, signaling calmness, "Everybody speak one by one. Auntie, you go first, tell me about Nuannuan's situation, I'll help analyze how she can improve."
"My family Nuannuan she..."
After hearing her situation, Xu Qingfan thought for a moment and gave a detailed study plan: "Auntie, you should...."
It wasn't just about torturing primary school kids, his suggested advice was really good, more reliable than those costly tutoring schools.
Xia Xiaoxiao felt like she had seen this scene before, but at least she wasn't being bombarded with questions anymore, feeling a lot more relaxed.
She leaned back in her chair, watching Xu Qingfan teach everyone, the parents gaining plenty, kids reluctantly thanking, hilarious, he should be thanking him.
Xia Guofu finished his cigarette, walked in to see this scene of lining up for lessons, and was stunned.
Soon he was also dragged by Liang Siyu to line up for classes, as Xia Tian's academic performance had always been a couple's worry.
Busy until lunch started, Xu Qingfan talked until his mouth was dry, finally able to rest a bit.
"The child Xiaofan is really good, obedient, sensible, polite, and good-looking."
"Great talker, capable, surely will accomplish something great in the future!"
"Looks very compatible sitting with Xiaoxiao."
At the dining table, everyone offered sincere compliments to Xu Qingfan.
Xia Guofu kind of considered Xu Qingfan as his son-in-law, feeling proud.
He laughed heartily, "Of course, with Xiaofan as my son-in-law, I'm a hundred percent satisfied!"
Xia Xiaoxiao's heart fluttered, looking at the expression on the shabby old man's face softened quite a bit.
Xu Qingfan filled a glass with white wine, stood up, and said, "I don't need to say much, thank you, uncles, and aunts, for your kindness, I'll drink this!"
Without blinking, he downed nearly two ounces of white wine in two gulps.
The crowd erupted in applause and cheers, liking Xu Qingfan even more as a son-in-law.
When he sat back down, Xia Xiaoxiao thoughtfully offered him tea to rinse his mouth, the harmony made the dinner's atmosphere even more energetic.
After sipping some tea, Xu Qingfan patted her hand to reassure her he was okay.
Such a simple gesture, yet Xia Xiaoxiao's defenses immediately crumbled; she didn't know why.
Even though she knew this scoundrel didn't have only her in his heart, she still enjoyed this moment, maybe because it was more like infatuation.
The dinner continued smoothly, relatives shifted their questions from her to Xu Qingfan, and even when questions about her arose, Xu Qingfan was the one responding.
All she needed was to sit quietly beside him, and that was everything.