Chapter 6: The Painful Realization

"Boyfriend?" Even Xia Hongjun was drawn into the conversation by his daughter's remark. Could it be true? Did his daughter really have a boyfriend? If so, the atmosphere tonight just got awkward. Xia Hongjun hadn't bothered to look until that moment, and when he did, he was genuinely startled. He had lived a long life and seen many handsome men. Back in the military, there was a comrade famously called 'a male version of Yan Ruyu' for his good looks, adored by many brothers. But now he realized his eyesight in the past had been poorer than he thought. The tall figure at the doorway, the upright chest muscles, a face chiseled as though by a blade, brows strong and untrimmed emitting a powerful presence, eyes that shone with integrity, fair skin, and a high nose bridge all combined into an impeccably handsome face that seemed impossible on a man. "Dad..." Next to him, Xia Xiaoxiao looked disapprovingly at the entrance. "What's wrong?" Regaining his composure, Xia Hongjun turned to his younger daughter. "I don't think he's right for my sister. Zhiwen is a better match." Xia Xiaoxiao retorted with indignation. For some reason, the atmosphere felt odd to Xia Hongjun. Before seeing the young man, everything seemed normal, but now it felt weird, and he sensed a palpable tension in the air. "Auntie! Nice to meet you, I'm Lin Yi, Qianqian's boyfriend. Qianqian often says that you two are mistaken for sisters when you go out together. I can see now it's true." Lin Yi broke the ice as he entered the room, easing the strange mood with his cheerful greeting. "Haha! Such flattery, young man. Come in, come in..." Zhang Xiu was beaming with joy at the compliment. Xia Qianqian gave Lin Yi an appreciative look, relieved that he knew how to sweet-talk her mother. "What do you mean sisters when they go out? Is my aunt that old?" Xia Xiaoxiao stood up, clearly displeased with the conversation. "Girl, what are you babbling about?" Zhang Xiu immediately scolded her daughter upon hearing the comment. "I'm not babbling! What I'm saying makes sense. If you're ashamed of my sister, then stop clinging to her." Xia Xiaoxiao replied defiantly, lifting her chin proudly. "You…" Xia Qianqian knew too well that her sister was just causing trouble. "I usually prefer mature, stable women." Lin Yi interjected, cutting off Xia Qianqian, aiming to smooth things over. This remark left Xia Xiaoxiao speechless; was he implying she was immature and that her sister was his type? "You… you… Humph…" Feeling belittled by her idol, Xia Xiaoxiao, now furious and frustrated, abruptly turned and left the room. "Ha ha…" Once Xia Xiaoxiao was gone, laughter filled the room. Xia Qianqian, in particular, felt a surge of satisfaction seeing her sister put in place. "What's all the happiness about?" While the laughter lingered, the kitchen door opened, and a spirited-looking man in his thirties came out, holding a dish. His appearance seemed to bring a pause to the merriment. Xia Qianqian and Lin Yi glanced over at the same time, with Lin Yi immediately recognizing him as Xia Qianqian's blind date for the evening, and hence, his rival. "Wang Zhiwen! Let me introduce you. This is my daughter, Qianqian, and her friend, Lin Yi," Xia Hongjun introduced, maintaining a composed demeanor. Diplomatically, he neither acknowledged Lin Yi as his daughter's boyfriend nor Wang Zhiwen as her suitor. Wang Zhiwen shifted his gaze to Xia Qianqian and Lin Yi. He was initially only impressed by Xia Qianqian's beauty, but upon noticing the man next to her, he felt a sudden loss of confidence, given the man's exceptional good looks and physique. Nevertheless, he quickly collected himself and approached them with a smile, introducing himself confidently, "Nice to meet you, Qianqian, and her friend. I'm Wang Zhiwen, graduated from a military academy in the U.S., currently a deputy staff officer in the national third army corps." Wang Zhiwen was no fool; he could see the scenario unraveling but was unfazed. He had confidence in his background and credentials. He anticipated that Lin Yi, with his stunning appearance, could be nothing more than a pretty face, incapable of competing with him. "Hello..." Xia Qianqian managed to say, caught amid the awkward tension in the room.

Xia Qianqian responded awkwardly. With his entrance, the man had forthrightly stated his identity, clearly intended to overshadow Lin Yi. Any slip-up now could spell disaster. "Hello, my name is Lin Yi. I am Qianqian's boyfriend." Lin Yi took a step forward and introduced himself smoothly. "Hey! Wait a second, boyfriend? Who recognized you as my sister's boyfriend? We all acknowledge that Zhiwen here is the suitor for my sister. Don't get ahead of yourself." The door burst open as Xia Xiaoxiao made her entrance, eager to correct the assumption and worried everyone would think her sister was already taken. "Xia Xiaoxiao, shut your mouth," Xia Qianqian rebuked angrily. "Xiaoxiao, don't talk nonsense," Zhang Xiu chided, reaching to quiet her daughter, realizing that her rash speech might cause offense. "I'm not talking nonsense. Look at Zhiwen, tall and imposing, handsome too, and more importantly, he has good prospects. If I were my sister, I'd marry him in a heartbeat," Xia Xiaoxiao opined solemnly. This praise inflated Wang Zhiwen's already burgeoning ego. Meanwhile, Xia Hongjun and Zhang Xiu could only stand there with creased foreheads, caught in a conundrum. While her sentiment about good looks being fleeting was logical, Wang Zhiwen did offer a more secure future, with beneficial family circumstances and personal qualifications. "Damn girl…" Xia Qianqian was about to explode. She'd barely managed to recruit a shared boyfriend to help navigate through her troubles, and now her sister was sabotaging her efforts. If she didn't establish her authority now, what kind of sister would she be? However, just as Xia Qianqian moved to confront her sister, Lin Yi grasped her hand, stopping her. She paused, only to see Lin Yi stepping forward with a wry smile. "Mr. Wang, you have feelings for Qianqian?" Lin Yi's question caught everyone by surprise, including Xia Qianqian herself. Wasn't he supposed to be helping her? Why would he say something like that? Did he want a bad review? "Yes, indeed. I felt a connection with Qianqian from the moment we met," Wang Zhiwen replied provocatively. "It seems Mr. Wang's feelings for Qianqian are sincere. How about this? When Qianqian and I have our first child, we'll consider you as the godfather."