The implication was hard to respond to, so Xia Yu pretended not to hear.
“Why is your sister here?” Xia Yu asked while poking the baby’s face.
“Because my mom is here,” Xu Youxiang replied.
Upon hearing this, Xia Yu’s expression stiffened.
He hadn’t officially met Xu Youxiang’s mother yet and couldn’t help feeling a bit nervous.
“Don’t worry, she’s visiting relatives,” Xu Youxiang added.
Walking closer, Xia Yu pinched Xu Youxiang’s face. “Is it fun to scare me like that?”
“You’re the one with a guilty conscience!” Xu Youxiang huffed.
Releasing her face, Xia Yu took the baby into his arms and examined her.
All babies looked similar; it was hard to spot any differences.
It would be nice if she grew up to resemble little Xu Youxiang, wearing cute little dresses and calling him “older brother.”
“So, what was this amazing thing you wanted to show me?” Xia Yu asked Xu Youxiang. “Was it really just your sister?”
“What do you plan to do?” Xu Youxiang looked at Xia Yu warily. “She’s my little sister!”
“What??” Xia Yu asked, confused.
“You think I see you as some kind of pervert?” Xia Yu couldn’t imagine how Xu Youxiang’s thoughts had jumped so far.
“Weren’t you just thinking about playing pretend with her when she grows up?” Xu Youxiang understood Xia Yu’s typical otaku mindset perfectly.
“…Let’s not talk about my sister. What did you want to show me then?” Xia Yu changed the topic.
“Let’s not talk about that first. What about that pharmaceutical research?” Xu Youxiang asked.
She was referring to the deal Xia Yu had made with Yu Ningmeng to develop a drug to treat ALS patients in exchange for Zhu Mei’s district access permit.
“Just a business deal,” Xia Yu replied.
“A business deal involving a foreign princess?” Xu Youxiang quickly grabbed her sister from Xia Yu’s arms to keep the baby away from him.
“It’s not a princess I’m dealing with. I don’t even know where that princess has gone,” Xia Yu said as he walked behind Xu Youxiang, pushing her toward the sofa to sit down.
“What are you planning to do with that princess then?” Xu Youxiang continued to ask.
“I’ll just leave her outside. I have no interest in princesses,” Xia Yu said while holding Xu Youxiang’s hand.
“How can you not be interested? Princess characters are extremely popular in 2D worlds,” Xu Youxiang tried to pull her hand away but gave up when she couldn’t and let Xia Yu hold it.
Xia Yu rubbed his forehead. Why did An Siyao and Xu Youxiang both care so much about the princess identity?
Although the princess identity was indeed tempting, the idea of a princess from a fallen kingdom felt rather unreal.
“If you wear a crown, hold a scepter, and wear a gorgeous little dress, you’d be much more of a princess than her,” Xia Yu said.
He picked up the baby sister and placed her in the crib, then pulled Xu Youxiang into his arms.
Although Xu Youxiang heard Xia Yu’s response, she didn’t reply. She had brought up this topic forcefully, but she actually didn’t care about it at all.
At the moment, she was deeply worried, thinking about what she had overheard in the maid group: An Tianfeng disapproved of An Siyao’s marriage, and An Siyao had angrily run away from home.
An Siyao and Xia Yu’s relationship had reached the point of discussing marriage, but what about her?
Xia Yu was also worried, not knowing how to bring up the topic.
Was it possible to just spread his arms and say, “You’re both my wings,” and then live happily ever after?
They fell silent.
It wasn’t until Xu Youxiang’s sister started crying that the silence was broken.
Following Xu Youxiang’s instructions, Xia Yu went to the kitchen, prepared some formula, and poured it into a bottle.
After cooling the bottle for a while and testing the temperature on his wrist, Xia Yu placed the nipple into the baby’s mouth.
Finally, the crying stopped.
Gaining a bit of courage while holding Xu Youxiang’s sister, Xia Yu said to her, “I want to talk about our future.”
Xu Youxiang lowered her head and replied, “I understand. I won’t bother you anymore.”
“I meant our future, not breaking up,” Xia Yu clarified.
“Then are you planning to break up with An Siyao, or are you asking me to be your mistress?” Xu Youxiang looked up and asked sharply.
Her sharp gaze made Xia Yu feel guilty again.
“I just want to know your thoughts,” Xia Yu said. Since he had started the body-swapping game, he hadn’t felt this awkward before.
“Of course, my thoughts are that you and…” Xu Youxiang stopped halfway.
Xia Yu didn’t know how to respond.
“Just go. Come find me again in a few days,” Xu Youxiang dismissed him.
Xia Yu placed the baby down and walked out of the house.
His mood slightly lightened, but he felt even more nervous, not knowing what choice Xu Youxiang would make.
In novels and animations, those plots where the male lead exudes dominance and all the women rush to be his wings are indeed unrealistic.
After taking the elevator and walking out of the apartment building, Xia Yu called Yu Ningmeng and asked her to keep an eye on Xu Youxiang.
“Did you break up with Xu Youxiang?” Yu Ningmeng asked carefully.
“No, I just mentioned something about our future,” Xia Yu replied.
“Do you have a solution?” Yu Ningmeng asked again.
“No,” Xia Yu admitted he hadn’t found a way.
“Then why bring it up? Both An Siyao and Xu Youxiang already know the situation. If you don’t mention it, they can pretend not to know. But once you bring it up, you leave them no room to pretend anymore,” Yu Ningmeng shared her perspective.
She continued, “If you don’t have a solution, don’t say a word. Everyone knows the situation. Just live for today and enjoy the wine you have. You can drag it out. When things really get bad, just threaten with a child.”
Xia Yu looked at his phone screen to confirm he was indeed talking to Yu Ningmeng.
“Young man, you’re still too inexperienced,” Yu Ningmeng commented. “Come back quickly. The director is waiting for you to have dinner.”
Taking a taxi, Xia Yu arrived at the Yu residence.
Yu Liang’s house in Yaoguang wasn’t a villa but a top-floor duplex apartment.
This apartment was even more expensive than an average villa.
After dinner, Xia Yu stood on the balcony, looking at the endless sea, with an outdoor swimming pool behind him.
Yu Liang didn’t join the dinner, as he had been feeling unwell recently and ate specially prepared meals.
After enjoying the sea breeze for another five minutes, Xia Yu saw the study door open.
Yu Liang was holding a bottle of wine, gesturing to Xia Yu.
Entering the living room, Xia Yu sat opposite Yu Liang.
“Want a drink?” Yu Liang asked.
“No, thank you,” Xia Yu replied.
“Good choice,” Yu Liang poured himself a glass of wine, rang the bell to ask a maid to bring Xia Yu a bottle of juice and a plate of peanuts.
Xia Yu imitated Yu Liang’s manner and poured the juice into a glass.
“Cheers,” Yu Liang raised his glass.
They clinked glasses.
After putting down the glasses, Yu Liang officially began the conversation.
“Still a virgin?” Yu Liang asked.
Xia Yu’s hand trembled slightly while holding the glass, not expecting Yu Liang’s first question to be so shocking.
“You still are, I see,” Yu Liang nodded and asked, “Playing the field?”
Xia Yu struggled to respond to this question. As he was thinking of a reply, Yu Liang moved on to the next question.
This time, he asked a seemingly unrelated question, “Do you know what relation Ningmeng is to Siyao?”
“I don’t know,” Xia Yu had heard An Siyao mention once that Yu Ningmeng was a distant relative, but he wasn’t clear about the exact relation.
“She’s her aunt,” Yu Liang answered.
Xia Yu nodded, indicating he understood and was puzzled about what was so important about an aunt. An Siyao always called Yu Ningmeng “Auntie Ning,” so how could he not know?
He took a sip of juice to hide his confusion.
At this moment, Yu Liang added, “She’s her closest aunt.”
“Cough,” Xia Yu choked, his eyes widening as he looked at Yu Liang.
An aunt was a term for the sister of one’s mother, and it applied to both cousins, with the closest relation being the mother’s younger sister.
Was Yu Ningmeng actually Yu Liang’s illegitimate daughter?
Xia Yu felt a bit shocked.
“This is something they don’t know, so keep your mouth shut,” Yu Liang glanced at Xia Yu.
“I understand,” Xia Yu felt that Yu Liang suddenly became closer to him.
“This kind of thing is common. Who doesn’t have a few illegitimate children? Some people deal with it at the embryonic stage, while others can’t bear to,” Yu Liang continued.
Xia Yu listened attentively.
“I’m not telling you this to encourage you to misbehave, but to let you know that things aren’t as serious as you might imagine,” Yu Liang said slowly. “Personally, I don’t mind if you have one or two close female friends. I’m not like An Tianfeng.”
Understanding the situation, Xia Yu categorized Yu Liang into his close allies and asked him, “So, what should I do now, Grandpa?”
“You have to figure this out yourself. Although I don’t mind, I can’t help you either,” Yu Liang’s stance was firm. He raised his wine glass and drank it all in one go.
Xia Yu poured him another glass.
After drinking, Yu Liang sighed and asked, “How are Yaoyao and Xu Youxiang getting along?”
Xia Yu thought for a moment and replied, “Not very clear.”
“I’ll just say this: you can only marry Yaoyao,” Yu Liang stood up and left the living room.
Xia Yu recalled Yu Liang’s words. Yu Liang’s meaning was clear: Xu Youxiang could only be his secret lover.
He rubbed his head and gave up thinking.
Xu Youxiang had already been told. Now, it was time to talk to An Siyao.
It was mainly about the relationship between the two women.
Going downstairs, Xia Yu asked a maid and learned that An Siyao was playing the piano in the music room.
He opened the door to the music room and saw An Siyao, her fingers moving between the black and white keys.
She was playing “Princess in Silence,” a piece Xia Yu had previously composed for her.
Approaching An Siyao, Xia Yu extended one hand, replacing one of hers, and together they finished playing this loving piece.
“I’m fine with whatever happens,” An Siyao looked up, reaching out to touch Xia Yu’s face.
She had already guessed what Xia Yu wanted to do.
Xia Yu’s words reached the tip of his tongue but were swallowed back. Yu Ningmeng was right; whether it was Xu Youxiang or An Siyao, they both clearly understood, but neither had spoken about it.
Xia Yu didn’t say anything. He sat down on the bench behind An Siyao, leaning against her back.
His left hand, which had been hovering over the keys, moved again, playing a gentle melody.
Before Xia Yu had even played two notes, An Siyao recognized the piece. She joined in with her right hand, adding to the melody.
It was “The Blind Girl by the Bonfire.” A year ago, during the middle school music competition, Xia Yu had replaced An Siyao, who had a fever, and performed this piece on stage.
After finishing the piece, An Siyao’s fingers didn’t stop; she started playing the next one.
It was “Czerny’s Etude,” the first piece Xia Yu had learned from An Siyao.
As she played, An Siyao’s expression gradually became brighter. After finishing the piece, her face was full of smiles.
Looking up, she actively sought Xia Yu’s lips.
Looking into Xia Yu’s eyes, An Siyao said, “Actually, I’ve always been a little scared.”
“Scared of what?” Xia Yu touched his forehead to An Siyao’s.
“Nothing,” An Siyao’s eyes flickered, but she didn’t answer.
Xia Yu didn’t press further; he gently touched An Siyao’s face.
They stayed together in the music room until late at night, only separating to go to their respective bedrooms after Yu Ningmeng came looking for them.
Lying in bed, Xia Yu was still thinking about what had just happened.
An Siyao was becoming more and more proactive.
Now she would even seek out kisses. It wouldn’t be long before she took the initiative to push him down, right?
He thought of Xu Youxiang again, and the ripples in his heart immediately disappeared.
Clicking on the icon, Xia Yu chose the golden eagle.
Standing up from the eagle’s nest, Xia Yu spread his wings and soared into the vast sky.
The roads, figures, cars, and buildings all seemed so small. He continued to ascend, rising higher and higher until even the mountains appeared small.
But at a certain altitude, he could no longer climb higher.
Although he had the body-swapping game, he was still an ordinary person, bound by rules and social norms, unable to do whatever he wanted.
Xia Yu quickly descended. The roads, traffic, buildings, and figures in his vision returned to their actual sizes.
Perched at the edge of a cliff in his nest, Xia Yu thought of one thing—
Star fragments.
What exactly were they? What abilities did they possess? Would they be useful?
At six in the morning, after returning to his own body, Xia Yu got out of bed.
He began to think about Wen Ziying’s mission. Initially, he had planned to let things take their natural course, but now he felt it would be better to intervene and accelerate the mission’s progress.
His only task for the day was to confirm the progress of the ALS treatment drug development with Yu Ningmeng. After spending an hour and roughly finalizing everything, Xia Yu returned to his room and clicked on Wen Ziying’s icon.
Wen Ziying was watching a comedy movie.
“I’m gathering material,” Wen Ziying told Xia Yu.
Xia Yu moved the mouse and checked the viewing history. Wen Ziying had been watching movies all morning.
Well, it wouldn’t hurt to spend a little more time on this movie.
Sitting with Wen Ziying, Xia Yu watched the movie.
Twenty minutes later, Wen Ziying began to feel uncomfortable.
“What are you doing?” Wen Ziying asked. “Isn’t this movie funny? Why aren’t you laughing at all?”
“…I have a high threshold for humor,” Xia Yu wasn’t really paying attention to the movie at all.
“Fine, let’s turn it off. It feels silly watching it when you’re not laughing,” Wen Ziying said, clearly losing interest.
Xia Yu was more than happy to oblige and closed the laptop.
“What do you want? Just say it,” Wen Ziying noticed Xia Yu’s distracted behavior.
“Have you ever thought about not writing novels anymore?” Xia Yu got straight to the point.
“If I stop writing novels, will you support me?” Wen Ziying countered.
“Sure,” Xia Yu replied.
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