"..."

Old Master Xi’s mouth twitched slightly, and after a moment, he said, "Your cousin Xiao Qing might have just been temporarily blinded by emotions. Grandpa believes she will realize her mistakes and change, but you all dislike her,

Grandpa won’t force you to befriend her, but the Zhou Family and ours are relatives, and your great-grandmother is still alive. You should at least consider Grandpa’s feelings and not embarrass your cousin Xiao Qing openly."

Xi Jingyu pursed his lips and remained silent.

The young Xi Chenyu also stayed silent.

"What’s this, you’re not listening to Grandpa anymore?" Old Master Xi felt helpless, but feigned displeasure on his face: "Forget it, I’m old and my words no longer hold weight. You go ahead and do what you need to do, leave this old man alone for a while."

Waving his hand, Old Master Xi withdrew his gaze from Xi Jingyu and Xi Chenyu.

"... I won’t talk to her."

After a long silence, the young Xi Chenyu finally spoke with a stern face.

Xi Jingyu: "Alright, for Grandpa’s sake, I won’t say anything unpleasant in front of Zhou Yaqing."

"Uncle!"

Before entering the living room, Zhou Yaqing’s tearful voice was already heard: "Uncle! Uncle..." Seeing Old Master Xi, Zhou Yaqing’s tears fell in large drops as she hurried forward, crying, "Uncle, please help me, I want to continue working at the institute. Xiao Qing is begging you, Uncle!"

She knelt beside Old Master Xi’s legs, grabbed his hand, and looked up at him: "Uncle, I really love my job as a researcher. I know I have not done well in some aspects at work,

but that was just at the beginning. Uncle... I promise I won’t be careless anymore and will work diligently. Please help me one last time and let me return to the institute, okay?"

"Speak while seated."

Old Master Xi withdrew his hand and pointed to the sofa opposite him, his face revealing no emotion.

"Uncle..."

Zhou Yaqing was stunned for a moment, then complied, rising to sit properly on the sofa, thinking Old Master Xi was softening and might likely help her return to the institute. Unfortunately, Zhou Yaqing soon realized she was mistaken, only to hear Old Master Xi say, "I can’t help you with what you are asking."

"Uncle!" Zhou Yaqing was shocked, even forgetting to let her tears flow for a moment, then coming to her senses, tears welled up again as she mouthed, sobbing, "No... Uncle you can help me. Just one word from you, and I can return to the institute, Uncle..."

Old Master Xi’s expression remained unchanged: "The decision to transfer your work responsibilities was made by your superiors. I don’t just know about the mistake you mentioned; I’ve heard other things too."

Without regard for Zhou Yaqing’s changing expression, Old Master Xi paused for a moment before continuing: "In my view, being transferred from your work responsibilities is beneficial for both you and your original unit. Otherwise, you wouldn’t be transferred but might directly receive a dismissal notice, understand what I mean?"

Old Master Xi’s words were sufficiently tactful, leaving Zhou Yaqing some dignity, as he didn’t want her embarrassed in front of her two cousins, Xi Jingyu and Xi Chenyu. However, Zhou Yaqing did not accept his kindness; she understood the hidden message in Old Master Xi’s words but didn’t think she was wrong in matters of love.

"Uncle, is it wrong to love someone?"

Tears dripped down her cheeks, and Zhou Yaqing spoke aggrievedly: "Upon first arriving at the institute, just one glance at that Luo by surname, and... and I fell in love. I think this is my love,

I just wanted to get closer to Luo, so I would talk to him more outside working hours. But during work hours, I never bothered him, Uncle, I know where to draw the line..."

Old Master Xi frowned deeply, his face darkened, remaining silent for a long while.

"You’ve found your love, but do you know that he has a wife and children?" Xi Jingyu spoke up then, looking at Zhou Yaqing with a mocking tone: "Or, do you enjoy being a mistress? But even if you do, don’t you think it depends on whether he’s willing? Don’t you agree?"

"Jingyu!"

Old Master Xi called Xi Jingyu, signaling for his grandson to show some face to Zhou Yaqing.

"Grandpa, did I say something wrong?"

Xi Jingyu looked innocent.

"..."

Old Master Xi was momentarily speechless.

"Cousin Jingyu, how can you say that about me? I’ve found my love, aren’t you happy for me? As for you saying he has a wife and children, that’s not really an issue... I’ve looked into it, his wife was introduced by the leadership,

it’s not a love marriage. They must find it hard to resonate spiritually, whereas I only wish to save the person I like from a loveless marriage, and once he’s with me, he’ll realize what love truly is and surely be delighted and grateful!"

"You..."

Xi Jingyu was about to be amused by Zhou Yaqing’s statements, thinking how one’s worldview can lead them to justify shamelessness so grandly.

Considering herself a savior of someone else’s love, who did she think she was?

Too absurd, too shameless!

"Uncle Luo really likes Aunt Kang."

Xi Chenyu stated with a stern face, casting a cold glance at Zhou Yaqing: "You’re ugly, Uncle Luo would never notice you."

"You... you are so rude! I’m your cousin, yet you don’t support my pursuit of love, instead you mock and ridicule me here. Don’t you think you’re being excessive?"

Disgusting! She would rather have no cousins than ones who sided against her.

Xi Jingyu chimed in: "Great-grandmother and my Grandpa aren’t actual siblings; she was born from my great-great-grandmother. Before, my Grandpa helped you once, already out of consideration for Great-grandmother and the Zhou Family. Now you’ve caused trouble at work and been transferred, yet you expect my Grandpa to help again? Just where in your mind does it say that my Grandpa and our family owe you?"

Xi Chenyu: "We don’t owe you."

Zhou Yaqing: "..." These two little brats, don’t they consider her family? What nonsense are they spouting!

"Xiao Qing."

Old Master Xi observed Zhou Yaqing’s shifting expression, shook his head inwardly, and spoke at a measured pace: "Loving someone isn’t wrong, but it should be someone who is single and doesn’t have a fiancée. You know the man you love has a family, yet you still pursue him. That’s wrong; it’s inappropriate."

"Uncle, but his wife was introduced by leadership, there’s no love between them!"

Zhou Yaqing hadn’t taken Old Master Xi’s words seriously but hearing her repeat this, he didn’t get angry, he asked instead: "How do you know there’s no love between that couple?

From what I know, Comrade Luo values and loves his wife greatly. Similarly, she respects and loves her husband. They have six children now, and their family life is warm and harmonious, making others envious.

Alright, that’s all I’ll say. If you take it to heart, it’ll be good; if not, so be it. In short, I can’t help you. The hour is getting late, you should return to avoid worrying your family."

As Old Master Xi spoke, he stood up: "I’m feeling a bit tired, I’ll go lie down in the room for a while. Jingyu, please escort your cousin Xiao Qing later." Leaving these words behind, Old Master Xi exited the living room.