Xie Jingyue didn't think there was anything wrong with what she did. Even if Xie Wan'er was just a child, that didn't negate the malice in her heart. Perhaps one should give a child a chance, after all, everyone is experiencing life for the first time.

But if she gives that chance, it would be tantamount to betraying Xie Qingqing!

Her figure disappeared into the stairwell, leaving Xie Wan'er to reluctantly clutch her doll and look resentfully at her former room. Many of the decorations inside were her suggestions, and all were things she liked.

But now, a stranger has moved in, someone who could be called an enemy.

The TV downstairs was already showing commercials. The old lady, wearing glasses, was looking at messages on her phone. The enlarged font almost filled the entire screen.

Xie Jingyue walked over, sat down on the sofa, and took out her phone to check if there were any work-related matters. An employee had requested leave through proper procedures, which she readily approved.

"I bought so many books for that child, are you sure she'll read them?" The old lady couldn't help but wonder as she finished her work and thought about the large bag of things she had just bought.

She didn't think the child lacked the aptitude for learning, but rather questioned whether he had the patience. For children, playing is their nature.

"Let her watch as much as she can, and see if she wants to be a smart person or a stupid child." Xie Jingyue shrugged, not having high expectations.

Exams are her own business; how much she learns is her responsibility to her future self, and it has nothing to do with her as an adult. At most, she can pave the way for her to make her future life more comfortable.

As for the humiliation he might suffer in the future because of his low education level, that's his own business.

"Why are you so concerned about your second brother's child?" the old lady asked, puzzled.

Her youngest daughter hadn't been kidnapped or anything like that when she was little, so why does it feel like she's deliberately standing up for Xie Qingqing?

"It's just a matter of first impressions! Mom, Wan'er has too many ulterior motives. The fact that she's still at home means she won't be kicked out, but what she's doing makes me think she wants to kick Qingqing out. What kind of logic is that?"

When outsiders drive the host family out of their home, who wouldn't say "Good heavens!"?

"Her mother was quite cunning when she was young, otherwise your brother wouldn't have become like a fool because of her." The old lady sneered.

Speaking of which, there's another story from back then. When Xie Lao Er and Xie Madam got married, the old lady didn't approve because she didn't like her second daughter-in-law.

Madam Xie's family was also a prominent family, but it was the kind of family that favored sons over daughters. The men were the ones who built the family business, while the women were there to contribute to the household. This was what was known as a marriage alliance, forming closer ties with other prominent families through marriage.

It's rare to see a family that can run such a large business, and one that didn't rise to prominence later in life, so deeply ingrained with a preference for sons over daughters.

Madam Xie's original marriage partner was not Xie Lao Er, but she didn't like him, so she used some tricks to win Xie Lao Er's favor.

Then, somehow, the second son became completely devoted to her. He even knelt down before the old lady to marry her.

However, I would never do something like getting pregnant out of wedlock; coming from a prominent family, I have a lot of pride.

But what they're doing now is truly shameless.

"It's not surprising that a person raises a child like their parents." The old lady shook her head helplessly. This was also why she didn't like Xie Wan'er in the first place, and even though she kept her by her side, she still felt a bit disgusted with her.

The second daughter-in-law, probably feeling neglected at her parents' home, desperately wanted to make amends through her child. However, the child she was trying to compensate wasn't her own, and unwilling to admit her mistake, she simply perpetuated it.

What a fool.

"Qingqing looks too thin and weak, and seems easy to bully. She should work on her courage so that she won't be afraid to speak up when bullied."

Xie Qingqing is too timid. Even if the old lady wants to love her, she can't conjure up such thoughts. She still prefers someone who is outgoing and can bravely express their emotions, rather than someone who stands by like a servile maid.

"It's normal for the child to be unsettled after just returning. I just casually encouraged her, and she started talking. It's good that she's willing to talk; the worst thing would be if she didn't want to say anything at all," Xie Jingyue sighed.

The TV program was showing the female lead being wrongly accused by the male lead. Faced with his questioning, she stubbornly refused to open her mouth. She figured she wouldn't say anything anyway; he wouldn't believe her if she did.

So the female supporting character stood smugly to the side and added fuel to the fire, deepening the misunderstanding between them once again.

Why bother? We have mouths on our bodies, aren't they for speaking?

"Mom, please take good care of Qingqing while I'm away. She's such a sensible child. She's just too sensible, which is why she doesn't want to trouble others."

"Do you even need to tell me? It's my own granddaughter, wouldn't I take care of her myself?" The old lady rolled her eyes at her.

"hey-hey."

"I used to worry about you siblings so much, and now that I'm old, I still have to worry about these kids. When will I ever get to enjoy my retirement?"

"It's simple, I'll move back, and I'll take care of you two, one old and one young," Xie Jingyue offered a very considerate solution.

She's not married yet, so there's no problem with her continuing to live in the old house. Even if she were married, there would be no problem with her coming back to live there.

If she already has a son and a daughter, and even grandchildren, and lives a happy and fulfilling life, then there's a problem if she still wants to go back home.

"Come on, you moved out in the first place to try your luck. Now that you've moved back to take care of us, what about your career?" The old lady knew very well how career-minded her youngest daughter was; she was so dedicated to her work that she neglected to eat or sleep.

Sometimes when I'm busy, I don't even eat.

She was afraid something might go wrong.

"You're not getting any younger now, do you have someone you like? This old man will help you find someone while my eyesight is still good."

Once you reach a certain age, your elders will start pressuring you to get married.

Xie Jingyue felt a chill run down her spine, but she kept her composure. "Mom, let's talk about this later. I'm busy right now and don't want to get married yet."

She hasn't told anyone about Ye Jun yet, not because she doesn't want to, but because the timing isn't right.

Let's stabilize Xie Qingqing's situation first, and besides, she is indeed quite busy with work and doesn't have time to get married.

"By the time you finish your work, who knows when it will be. But I'm not a bad old lady. Don't you young people like to marry late? When you find someone suitable, bring them back for me to see, understand?"

"Okay, Mom."

"We don't advocate for remaining single."

"Okay, Mom!"

The old lady was too old to take care of her daughter for the rest of her life, so before she left this world, she wanted to find a suitable person to take care of her daughter for the rest of her life.