Damn it, I'm surrounded by childhood sweethearts

Xu Qingfan hung up the phone, put it away, and looked at Zhang Chunxue with a face full of frustration, "Okay, they'll be back soon."

When he initially heard Xia Xiaoxiao's voice, he wanted to scold her to avenge the morning's upset.

But meeting Aunt's disapproving gaze, Xu Qingfan's fire died down instantly, and he had to change his tone to a neutral one.

"That's a good boy, go and tidy up the table. I can't wait to eat the feast Xiao Fan has prepared!" Zhang Chunxue rubbed her hands together, smiling as she looked at him.

Upon hearing that Xiaoxiao and everyone else were coming back, the happiest was surely Lin Wanning, who always believed the quarrel was caused by her. If everyone could make up, her birthday wish could be fulfilled early.

"Hee hee~ Let's go get the bowls!" Lin Wanning grabbed Zhang Yiyi and hopped towards the kitchen.

For a brief moment, only Xu Qingfan and Zhang Chunxue were left in the living room. He intended to fetch slippers for Aunt from the shoe cabinet, but she stopped him.

"What exactly happened? Tell me everything after we've eaten." Zhang Chunxue adopted a stern adult demeanor as she spoke.

Xu Qingfan had this intention too; he felt that as he grew up, his interactions with the five girls became increasingly unnatural. If he did not address this issue, even if he reconciled with Xia Xiaoxiao this time, it wouldn't be long before other issues caused another commotion.

As a woman and being close in age, Zhang Chunxue would obviously be a good listener.

Xu Qingfan turned back and playfully winked, "Sure, I love having secret talks with Aunt."

"Pfft~" Zhang Chunxue glared at him playfully, her phoenix eyes shimmering.

Xu Qingfan trotted to the shoe cabinet, picked up a pair of slippers, and then ran back. Before Aunt had a chance to take off her shoes, he squatted down and helped her take off her black leather high heels and put on the comfortable, cool jelly slippers.

"Hmm~" Zhang Chunxue settled comfortably on the sofa, leaning her head back and squinting her eyes, enjoying the warmth of home at that moment.

The main reason she always comes back here right after a business trip, aside from Yiyi, is because of the boy in front of her.

Compared to the home in Hong Kong, where everything was about profit, she always felt that the atmosphere Xiao Fan created had more of the warmth of home.

Zhang Chunxue opened her eyes again, by which time Xu Qingfan had already changed her shoes and put her high heels back in the cabinet.

"Go wash your hands!" noticing him about to touch his nose, Zhang Chunxue frowned and scolded.

"Oh, oh." Xu Qingfan gave an awkward expression, hoping not to be misunderstood by Aunt.

He really had no strange thoughts; it was simply that Aunt's feet didn't smell, and coincidentally his nose itched then.

Xu Qingfan scraped his nostril with his sleeve, preparing to go outside to wash his hands when he faintly heard a familiar voice.

"Brother Fan, we're back!"

About ten meters away, Xiao Ruawen was energetically pulling Xia Xiaoxiao and Wu Lingyu toward him.

When Xia Xiaoxiao saw that the person standing at the door was Xu Qingfan, she sheepishly lowered her head, not daring to look at him anymore.

After all, just a few hours ago, she had declared decisively that she would 'never see him again in this lifetime,' and yet, she had scurried back home come mealtime. Xia Xiaoxiao felt as if she had lost face!

It was like a child sulking with her parents, resolute about running away from home, only to wander aimlessly outside for an afternoon and, come mealtime, sulkily return home.

A few moments later, the three of them were back in the yard, greeted warmly by Little White wagging his tail.

"Is Brother Fan done cooking? I'm so hungry I could collapse!" Xiao Ruawen, moving like a hungry monkey from Emei Mountain, jumped and danced on the spot.

"Brother Fan." Wu Lingyu felt embarrassed, feeling she hadn't done a good job as a little spy, her face turning red.

As for Xia Xiaoxiao, the girl was currently staring at the bluestone pavement, silently telling herself, "As long as I'm not embarrassed, the embarrassed one is not me!"

Xu Qingfan first glanced at Xia Xiaoxiao, noticed the scabbed bloodstain on her right arm but said nothing.

"We've been waiting for you, Yiyi's mom is here too, come on in and eat," he shook the water droplets off his hands onto Little White, then lead the way inside.

"Wow~ Aunt Zhang is here too!"

"Yes, don't you welcome Auntie?" Zhang Chunxue got up and spread her arms to welcome the three of them.

"Hello Auntie!" Xiao Ruawen stopped heading for the dining table, changing her course to hug Aunt Zhang.

"Hello Auntie." Xia Xiaoxiao and Wu Lingyu followed suit, also speaking up.

"Ruan Wen is still so beautiful." Zhang Chunxue gently patted her back, then let go and said.

"Auntie is the real beauty!" Xiao Ruawen glanced at the dining table, seeing all her favorite foods, and couldn't help but raise her voice a bit.

Zhang Yiyi and Lin Wanning, hearing the voices, came out of the kitchen and eagerly ran toward them.

Lin Wanning had many happy things she wanted to say, but upon seeing Xia Xiaoxiao's indifferent face, she instantly forgot all she had intended to say.

"The soup is ready, everyone have some, it's lotus root with ribs," she nervously scratched her own face, pointing in the direction of the dining table.

Zhang Chunxue hugged Xia Xiaoxiao and Wu Lingyu one by one, pretending not to know about the conflict among them, and took the lead to speak, "Let's eat first, I'm starving."

"Okay!"

Previously at this moment, Xia Xiaoxiao would pretend to casually sit next to Xu Qingfan, but this time she didn't move first.

Xia Xiaoxiao initially intended to wait until everyone was seated before taking the last available spot, as far away from the detestable guy as possible.