For a moment, Chen Tongyun didn't know how to respond. Xi Xinxin turned her head and said, "But I brought cream puffs. We haven't finished eating them yet. How about I bring you some?"

"No, no, no, that's alright," Chen Tongyun waved her hands hurriedly. Xi Xinxin's kind attitude flattered her. She began to think about how to comfort Xi Xinxin.

Sasha saw through Chen Tongyun's thoughts. She nudged Chen Tongyun with her elbow: "Oh, it's okay. Xinxin is amazing. This matter was resolved smoothly. Those cream puffs are delicious. Do you want to come to our dorm to see them?"

Chen Tongyun glanced cautiously at Xi Dai. Xi Dai noticed the gaze and grabbed Chen Tongyun, who was spying on her: "What are you looking at me for? What does it have to do with me if Xinxin wants to share some with you?"

After the meeting, it was lunchtime. Xi Xinxin rarely ate in the restaurant and usually ordered takeout. Xi Dai and the others went to buy some food to eat in. Sasha pulled Chen Tongyun along.

The takeout arrived quickly. Xi Xinxin placed it on her table. There were six cream puffs left. She casually wrapped them up.

Chen Tongyun felt extremely embarrassed, especially when facing Xi Dai. After all, she had made such a comment about Xi Dai before, and Xi Dai always had a cold expression, making her seem unapproachable.

When Xi Dai and the others returned, Xi Xinxin had almost finished eating and was organizing her recent assignments. She handed the packaged box to Chen Tongyun: "Here you go. There are six in total. Share them with your roommate."

Chen Tongyun took it blankly. Finally, she said what she had been wanting to say all along: "It's so good that you're alright. Be careful in the future."

Xi Xinxin's lips curled up slightly: "What? I haven't even pitied you yet, and you're already pitying me?"

Chen Tongyun's face flushed instantly. She tried her best to avoid the gaze of others. She even coughed from excitement.

Xi Xinxin was really afraid that she would die at the dormitory entrance.

"Alright. Want to come in and play for a bit, or what?"

Chen Tongyun thanked them again and went back. She'd been getting along really well with her roommates lately. They always invited her to join in their fun activities. Chen Tongyun thought, "Next time I go to Xi Xinxin's shop, I'll bring them some desserts too."

The repairman worked quickly. Within two or three days, the shop was back to normal. She even received more compensation than she had initially calculated.

Xi Xinxin happily added some more decorations to the small stage where the band would perform.

Zhouzhou studied with Meiqing as usual today. However, she unusually ran up to the second floor today.

"Wife~"

The call was ruthlessly interrupted by Xi Xinxin.

Minors are not allowed to drink alcohol.

Zhou Zhou pouted: "That's not right of you, wife. I have something important to say."

Zhouzhou has a friend who's been having some difficulties, but she's never been able to talk about it. She always looks worried and downcast, so Zhouzhou recommended this shop to her.

But she had just wanted to ask how things were going that day. Her friend hadn't replied to her messages. And she hadn't been to school for the past two days either.

"So, honey, I wanted to ask about this."

Xi Xinxin checked the security camera footage. Sure enough, a girl had been lingering at the door for the past two days, saying, "The shop door has been broken for the past two days, so I haven't been working."

Zhouzhou asked anxiously, "What should we do? Will something happen to her?"

Xi Xinxin comforted Zhou Zhou and asked, "Do you have her home address?"

Zhou Zhou nodded: "I ordered a package for her before. It's this one." Zhou Zhou pulled out the address she had written down.

Coincidentally, this address is the same as the residential complex where Xi Xinxin's adoptive parents live.

"But she didn't tell me the address. Usually, packages are placed in parcel lockers."

Xi Xinxin's adoptive parents weren't home at the time. They didn't get much rest due to their work, and almost always returned home at night. Xi Xinxin led Zhouzhou to her door. While unlocking it, she asked, "What's your friend's name?"

"Mu Xiaoxue".

When she entered, Xi Xinxin saw her adoptive father, Xi Guo, lying on the sofa watching TV. Zhou Zhou became a little awkward: "Hello, Uncle."

"Dad? Why are you home today?" Xi Xinxin bent down and placed a pair of slippers in front of Zhouzhou. Seeing Zhouzhou put on her shoes, she gestured for her to sit on the sofa. She then cut some fruit and placed it on the table.

Zhou Zhou wasn't as nervous as before and even ate some fruit.

Xi Guo smiled and said, "Take a day off today. Is this your friend?"

Zhou Zhou sat up straight and began to introduce herself: "My name is Jiang Zhou Zhou. I admire Xi Xin Xin very much, and my goal is to marry her in the future."

Xi Guo was slightly taken aback, then burst into laughter: "Your friend is quite interesting. But what brings you home today?"

"It's like this, Dad. Do you know anyone in our neighborhood with a child named Mu Xiaoxue?"

Xi Guo thought for a moment. Then he slapped his thigh and exclaimed, "Hey! You know what? I actually know that. That family caused quite a stir before. They live right downstairs from us."

Xi Xinxin sat down next to Zhou Zhou. She picked up an apple and started eating, waiting for Xi Guo to explain the details.

It turns out that the family had a strong preference for sons over daughters. They already had two daughters; the eldest was named Mu Xue. They expected their second child to be a boy, but it turned out to be another girl. They were too lazy to name her, so they just named her Mu Xiaoxue.

They had another child later, finally a boy. The couple was overjoyed. But in order to have this son, they tried many folk remedies and even paid the fines imposed under the family planning policy at the time.

However, they outwardly claimed they simply wanted both a son and a daughter, and weren't sexist, but none of the neighbors believed them. Seeing her joy at having a son, the parents later had a huge argument with their eldest daughter.

Xi Guo overheard this when he was with his foster mother. There were many other people eavesdropping nearby.

The family's eldest daughter, Mu Xue, found a job as a top lawyer! She works for a well-known company.

At this moment, Xi Guo paused for a moment: "It's the company that your biological father wrote about, Xin Xin, right?"

“What family wouldn’t praise such a promising daughter as a good child?” Xi Guo exclaimed.

But that family thought it wouldn't work. Why should a girl do such a troublesome job? She should just find someone to marry. The family wasn't wealthy to begin with, and they had two daughters to raise. She should focus on her studies, find a regular job, and then get married. Going out like that would only make her heart wander away from home.

The family spoke loudly, saying they didn't want their children to become ungrateful, and that they were doing it all for their own good. They urged the eldest daughter to quit her job immediately so she could earn some money and stay home to take care of them.

"That eldest daughter, Mu Xue, is quite strong-willed. She ran away from home and hasn't come back yet." Xi Guo said with some regret, "Xin Xin, your father and I both hope that you can grow up healthy. No matter what job you do, your father and we will support you."

Xi Xinxin replied, "I won't let you down either, Dad."

Having learned the general information, Xi Xinxin could guess what Mu Xiaoxue was trying to ask for help with.

"Zhou Zhou. Come sit in my room for a while."

Zhou Zhou got up and walked somewhat stiffly to Xi Xinxin's room.

“I have Mu Xue’s contact information. I was worried you’d feel awkward, so you can stay in my room for a while.” Xi Xinxin said, then found the contact information Mu Xue had given her before and started dialing.

The room quieted down, and Zhouzhou began to observe Xixin's room. There was a faint floral scent. She noticed a vase filled with bouquets of flowers, which looked like they were regularly tended to.

A group photo sat on the bedside table. It showed Xi Xinxin, Xi Dai, Yu Shuwen, and Xu Chacha. They all graduated from the same high school. Zhou Zhou picked up the photo and looked at it. There was a line of text written on the back.

May we all have a safe and smooth journey.

Xi Xinxin's room wasn't big. Even though she hadn't been back for a long time, it was always spotless. Zhou Zhou understood. Xi Xinxin's parents truly loved her.

"Mu Xue? Are you busy?" The call was answered quickly.

Mu Xue initially thought it was a call from someone she had never heard of before, since it was an unfamiliar number. But upon hearing the voice, she immediately recognized Xi Xinxin, who had helped her earlier: "I'm not very busy. I'm in my rented apartment. It's the weekend today. I'm resting."

Xi Xinxin explained Mu Xiaoxue's general situation and asked if Mu Xiaoxue had been in contact with her younger sister.

Mu Xue sighed, "Actually, my sister is in my rented apartment right now. Do you want to come?"

Xi Xinxin then took Zhou Zhou to Mu Xue's rented apartment. As soon as Zhou Zhou saw Mu Xiaoxue, she rushed over to her, saying, "Why didn't you reply to my messages? I was so worried about you."

Mu Xiaoxue didn't say anything; she just cried. Her eyes were very swollen, and it was impossible to tell how long she had been crying.

Mu Xue gave the two some space, then poured Xi Xinxin a glass of water: "She came to my place yesterday. She was crying terribly."

"She texted me saying she couldn't stand being with her parents anymore, so I asked her to come to my place. She asked her school for a few days off. But I haven't heard from my parents." Mu Xue became agitated as she spoke, "Don't they care about Xiaoxue at all?!"

Xi Xinxin had also heard a lot from her father: "Your parents haven't contacted you since you left home?"

Mu Xue looked slightly tired: "I send them some money every month so they won't say I'm unfilial. They've been pressuring me to get married lately. I just ignore them."

Zhouzhou talked with Mu Xiaoxue for a long time in the room. When the two came out, Mu Xiaoxue had stopped crying and seemed to be in much better shape.

"Sister, Mom told me to finish high school and then stop my studies. She said I should work and stay home to take care of my younger brother. She said nine years of compulsory education is enough. It's good that she let me finish high school. I'm so upset. I told her I wanted to be a great lawyer like you." Mu Xiaoxue was still sobbing. "They scolded me. I'm really upset. I really don't know what to do."

Mu Xue clenched her fists angrily: "My younger brother is three years old this year. My parents are old and they are willing but unable to have a child. I really can't understand why they insist on having another child."

Zhouzhou was furious after hearing this: "What kind of parents are these? No way! I have to go and argue with them."

Mu Xiaoxue quickly pulled Zhou Zhou back: "It's no use, their thinking is already fixed."

The group fell silent.

Mu Xue went to the window to have a smoke, but stopped when she saw Mu Xiaoxue. She gritted her teeth and said, "Don't come home. I'll support you. I've recently started training a new person, and my salary has increased. Can't I afford to support a young girl like you?"

Mu Xiaoxue started to cry, feeling upset: "Sister, but you still have to send money home every month. How about... how about I get a part-time job too? I'll work part-time during my holidays. I'll even work part-time when I go to university. I'll definitely study hard."

To support the powerful female lead Xi Xinxin and the dowry, Mu Xue is currently just a junior lawyer, even though the company offers good benefits. Living in rented accommodation and sending money home every month makes supporting a younger sister quite difficult.

Mu Xue spat, "Don't look down on your older sister. I'm getting a promotion in the next few days. Taking care of you is a piece of cake, isn't it?"

Mu Xiaoxue was somewhat incredulous. She then looked at Xi Xinxin. Mu Xiaoxue also turned her gaze to Xi Xinxin. Xi Xinxin stepped forward and patted Mu Xiaoxue's head: "Don't you believe me, your sister? Just go to school properly next week."

The two went back into the room to whisper something. Xi Xinxin saw that Mu Xue was already lying on the sofa, completely unsuspecting, with her eyes tightly closed.

How much do you send home each month?

“Three thousand, the rent is two thousand.” Mu Xue opened her eyes: “I don’t plan to rent a cheaper one. A good environment is still very important for my sister’s studies.”

"You mean the promotion?"

“I didn’t mean for you to help me. My new protégé, Feng Yufeng, has some talent. He’ll have an assessment in a few days. If it goes well, I can get promoted and focus solely on training newcomers, which will give me a lot more time.” Mu Xue picked up a pack of cigarettes, then suddenly remembered something and threw it into the trash can: “My sister doesn’t like me smoking.”

Xi Xinxin stroked her chin: "Should I go and discuss this with your parents?"

Mu Xue sneered: "If we could discuss it, I wouldn't have run away from home."

"I'd like to go and see what's going on." Xi Xinxin asked for the house number. She planned to go alone tomorrow to see what was going on with these parents.

After seeing Zhou Zhou off, Xi Xinxin called her father: "Dad, didn't you interview someone named Feng Yufeng before? What did you think of it?"

Xi's father had a good memory. He immediately remembered who it was: "He's talented and highly educated. But he doesn't seem very motivated. Recently, when I passed by him at the company, he was working incredibly hard at everything he did."

"Dad, do you think the lawyer who mentored him is capable of mentoring other new lawyers?"

The father answered decisively, "No."

Xi's father believes that mentoring one newcomer is insufficient, especially if that person is already talented; it would be like climbing over someone else to get ahead. Therefore, Xi's father will assign two more newcomers to Mu Xue. Only those who perform well will be promoted.

Training even one newcomer takes a lot of time, let alone two. It's simply impossible for Mu Xue to get promoted in a short period of time.

Based on the house number, Xi Xinxin quickly found the family's address. Xi Xinxin rang the doorbell.

The door opened quickly. As soon as it opened, the sound of a child crying came from inside. Then came a woman shouting, "Can you please stop sitting there! Go check on the child!"

The man chimed in, "Okay, okay, Dad's here, son."

If one didn't know the background, it would probably seem like a truly perfect family.