Chapter 39

“Mom, she’s not my girlfriend! I was going to tell you about it yesterday, but you hung up too quickly, and I didn’t get the chance. She’s just a younger friend of mine. I only brought her home for the New Year holiday.”

Bai Qian spoke in a rush, desperate to clear up the misunderstanding before her mother could say another word.

Mo Qingqing took it all in, noting the earnest expression on her daughter’s face. She realized she’d gotten the wrong idea.

The joy that had lit up her features vanished as quickly as a wildfire sweeping through the mountains, leaving her utterly dejected. Still reluctant to fully accept it, she asked once more, “You two really have nothing going on?”

Bai Qian nodded vigorously. “Really, we’re just friends.”

Mo Qingqing forced a smile and turned to Fu Siwan with an apologetic look. “I’m so sorry, dear. Auntie jumped to conclusions.”

A quintessential southerner, every gesture she made was as soft and fluid as water. In the presence of such a gentle woman, Fu Siwan instinctively dropped the prickly attitude she usually showed toward Bai Qian. Her response came out sweet and endearing: “It’s fine, A-Auntie. You can call me Fu Siwan.”

Bai Qian caught the stiffness in her voice when she addressed Mo Qingqing and couldn’t suppress a smirk.

Look at this little one—think she’ll ever bring herself to call her “big sis” from now on!

The house did have a guest room, but with yesterday’s misunderstanding, Mo Qingqing hadn’t bothered having the housekeeper prepare the long-unused space.

Bai Qian gently pushed her mother back toward her room. “It’s so late, Mom. You should get some sleep. We can handle things here ourselves.”

The door to the master bedroom stood ajar, revealing an empty bed. Curious, Bai Qian asked, “Where’s Dad? He’s not home?”

No sooner had the words left her mouth than a man’s voice sounded from behind her.

“Your dad’s right here. I called you earlier, but you didn’t pick up. I figured you two were still on the road.”

Bai Qian turned to see Bai Anjun carrying a bucket of fish, her eyes widening in surprise. “Dad, it’s this late—don’t tell me you just got back from fishing?”

“Your mom gave me the green light, or do you think I’d dare come home at this hour otherwise?” He sidled up to Mo Qingqing, his tone a mix of wheedling and habitual playfulness. “Wifey, I caught a ton today. I guarantee Little Qian and her girlfriend will feast on a full fish banquet tomorrow. Aren’t I amazing, huh?”

Mo Qingqing wasn’t in the best mood, and for once, she brushed him off with distaste. “Go take a shower. You reek.”

Bai Anjun refused to budge, his gaze shifting back to Bai Qian. Excitement lit up his handsome, mature features. “Where’s the girlfriend you brought home? Is she tall? Pretty? Your mom told me all about it yesterday, and I haven’t slept a wink. If you don’t let me meet her, your dad’s not getting any shut-eye tonight either!”

Mo Qingqing let out a soft chuckle. “It’s a girl.”

Unaware of his wife’s unusually cool demeanor, Bai Anjun blinked in surprise before breaking into a grin. “A girl’s great! A girl’s perfect. Little Qian’s so busy with work—having someone at home to look after her is ideal.”

Bai Qian couldn’t get a word in edgewise as Mo Qingqing picked up where he left off. “The girl looks pretty young. Feels like she’s still in school.”

Bai Anjun paused again, then shrugged it off. “A bit of an age gap’s no big deal. Our Little Qian managed to win over a college girl? She’s got some charm! So, Little Qian, did you chase her, or did she chase you?”

Even Mo Qingqing’s frown was gentle and endearing, impossible to dislike. “Your Little Qian just said they’re only friends. Nothing more.”

Bai Anjun’s smile faded this time. He stared at his daughter in disbelief, her innocent expression doing nothing to help. “You brought her all the way home, and you haven’t even made it official? Your dad had your mom locked down in a week! Can’t you take a page from my book? You handled running that huge company for me just fine—how come you can’t land one little girl?”

He grew more agitated with every word. “What good is making all that money if you can’t even snag a girlfriend!”

Bai Qian: “…”

Bai Anjun switched tactics. “How far have you two gotten? Holding hands? Hugs? You’ve already brought her home—your mom and I are here. We can help you score some points.”

Bai Qian: ?

Realizing her father’s imagination outstripped even her mother’s, Bai Qian hurriedly clarified their utterly innocent relationship in quick, concise terms.

She naturally glossed over any details involving the girl’s dealings with carnal transactions.

The last flicker of Mo Qingqing’s reluctance vanished amid her daughter’s account, replaced by heartache and sympathy for Fu Siwan.

She voiced her approval and admiration for Bai Qian’s actions. “If you’ve decided to look after her, then you should spend more time with her day-to-day. She’s just a young girl—what a terrible mother she’s got. Sigh.”

Bai Anjun wasn’t as soft-hearted as the two women. He was the picture of a stubborn straight man, fixated on the issue and refusing to let it drop, leaving everyone wondering if he was just picking a fight. “Little Qian, Dad still thinks there’s something off about you. Sure, Siwan’s pitiful, but the world’s full of pitiful people. Why reach out only to her? So come on, be honest with Dad—you’ve got a thing for her, don’t you?”

“…” Bai Qian sighed helplessly. “I really don’t. She’s just barely legal, still in high school. If I had any ideas about her, that’d be the real problem.”

The retired man, now hooked on those over-the-top soap operas at eight sharp every night, wagged his finger with a piercing gaze that seemed to cut right to the heart. “Your mom and I could accept you two being the same gender. Age? That’s nothing. I handed you the company back then because I trusted my own judgment, and it paid off. Same deal here—there’s no way things between you two are that straightforward.”

Bai Qian couldn’t win the argument, so she passed the buck to Mo Qingqing. “Mom, I’m heading to take a shower. Why don’t you drag Dad off to bed?”

Bai Anjun opened his mouth to protest, but she pinched his arm and hauled him toward their room. “Enough already. Shipping couples on TV isn’t enough—you’ve got to meddle in real life too? Save it. Little Qian can handle her own love life.”

“Wifey, trust me! Some fires are meant to burn, but if we don’t give them a nudge, they might never catch. Little Qian and the girl? They’re definitely missing that spark from us!”

“…” Bai Qian rolled her eyes and retreated to the guest room.

She’d chatted with Mo Qingqing for about half an hour before stepping out, only to find Fu Siwan standing rigidly by her suitcase in the exact same pose as before. The only change was a slight hunch in her otherwise ramrod-straight back.

Spotting the awkward stiffness in the girl’s movements, Bai Qian spoke gently. “Treat this place like a second home. My parents really like you.”

Fu Siwan looked up at the sound of her voice.

“Why did your mom misunderstand our relationship?” She brushed right past Bai Qian’s words.

Bai Qian didn’t dodge the question. “Probably because this is the first time I’ve ever brought a friend home.”

Fu Siwan’s almond-shaped eyes widened in surprise, giving her an unexpectedly cute look. “You don’t have any friends?”

Far from annoyed, Bai Qian leaned in with genuine curiosity. “Little Fu Siwan, do you have friends?”

“…” Fu Siwan was uncharacteristically speechless. She shot Bai Qian a glare, equal parts shy and irritated.

Her watery eyes shimmered with unspoken feeling, that petulant expression enough to make anyone’s heart itch.

Bai Qian’s itch was more literal—in her hand. She lifted it halfway toward the girl’s head, then paused and asked earnestly, “Little Fu Siwan, can I pat your head?”

Fu Siwan dodged back a step without mercy. “No way. Don’t touch me. I don’t like people touching me.”

Expecting as much, Bai Qian withdrew her hand without a hint of disappointment. “This room’s not made up yet. Go use the secondary bedroom to shower. It’s late—wash up and hit the hay.”

Accustomed to Bai Qian looking after her, Fu Siwan nodded.

She dragged her suitcase to the door, then paused and glanced back. “What about you?”

Bai Qian smiled, touched by the question. “I’ll sleep here, obviously. Unless you’d rather I bunk with you?”

Fu Siwan’s eyes flickered, and she huffed self-consciously. “Dream on!”

“Go shower. Good night.”

Bai Qian quickly made up the bed, grabbed her clothes, and headed into the bathroom.

Mid-shower, she heard a noise in the room. She shut off the water and called out, “Fu Siwan?”

No answer from outside. Dismissing it as her imagination, she carried on.

Minutes later, she emerged in her pajamas.

Her forehead throbbed at the sight of the drenched bed.

Only one person in the house was childish enough for this: Bai Anjun, forever scheming to pair her off with Fu Siwan.

A hunch hit her, and she dashed to the living room. Sure enough, the roomy sofa—big enough for a person to crash on—was soaked too.

The perpetrator hadn’t fled. Instead, he stood brazenly at the bedroom door, basin in hand, blinking innocently at her. “Little Qian, it’s freezing out. You’ll sleep better in your own room.”

“…” Bai Qian gritted her teeth. “Dad, we’re really not a thing!”

He nodded agreeably. “If you’re not, then it’s even simpler. Two girls sharing a bed? Totally normal. Or are you dodging sleeping with Siwan because you’ve got something to hide?”

Bai Qian: “…”

It wasn’t that she didn’t want to share a bed with the girl—it was the girl who wouldn’t share with her!

Bai Anjun made as if to come over and knock on the door for her. “Your dad has thick skin. If you’re too embarrassed to bring it up, I can say it for you.”

Bai Qian hurriedly stopped him. “No need, no need. I’ll do it myself.”

If this man kept saying even more inappropriate things in front of Fu Siwan, her face would absolutely be thrown all the way into the Pacific Ocean.

Knock knock.

Soon, Fu Siwan came over and opened the door.

“What is it?”

Behind her, Bai Anjun’s fervent gaze kept following Fu Siwan. With no other choice, Bai Qian had to speak up.

“The guest room is unusable because of a little mishap. How about you let me crash with you for the night?”

It was downright hilarious for the room’s owner to make such a request of the guest who temporarily had the right to use it.

Yet neither of them realized this. After the woman finished speaking in a pleading tone, the girl shot her down without a shred of politeness. “What about the sofa?”

“That won’t work either.”

Fu Siwan eyed her like she was a con artist. Bai Qian wisely didn’t bother explaining further. “If you don’t believe me, go check it out yourself.”

Soon, Fu Siwan returned from her inspection.

The little girl wore a look of disdain. “Auntie, I’m not great at school, but I’m no idiot. This is such obvious sabotage—did you think I wouldn’t notice? Your scheming to sleep with me runs way too deep, doesn’t it?”

Bai Anjun: Girls, you think my assist was on point, right?!