Regarding soft and hard

While everyone was waiting for Xia Xinwen's trial, a shocking piece of news broke online: Xia Xinwen has high-ranking officials backing him, so he will not be severely punished, and may even be reinstated after public attention subsides.

The news caused an uproar. Various opinions clashed, with most harsh criticism directed at the unnamed high-ranking official who had condoned and protected the criminal, and the mastermind, Xia Xinwen. Public sentiment was high; some even called for severe punishment for Xia Xinwen and for the unnamed official to be doxxed and severely punished as well, believing this was the only way to appease the public. This fervor quickly garnered tens of thousands of supporters, making Xia Xinwen's case the most talked-about event of the moment.

As Xia Tong watched the curses and cries online grow louder, her anxiety intensified. She wanted to know who the high-ranking official was, how much her father would be sentenced to, and so much more, but she had no one to confide in.

With the court hearing date fast approaching, Xia Tong was extremely anxious. She took leave from work and went home. Xia's mother was already overwhelmed, running between the restaurant and the law firm. When she saw Xia Tong come home without saying goodbye, she didn't have time to scold her. She just told her to stay home and not to run around.

The day before the court hearing, Xia's mother took her to dinner, saying it was to invite someone. Later, she found out that the guests were actually Fu Jia's parents. She stared dumbfounded at Fu Shaohua and Li Funing as they strode in, her mind reeling. When did her mother reconcile with the Fu family? Weren't they like sworn enemies, never to speak to each other again?

"Hello, Uncle and Auntie," Xia Tong said, standing up but hesitating slightly.

Fu Shaohua took off his coat and handed it to the waiter, then walked over and said with a smile, "When did you get back, girl? Don't you have classes?"

"I just got back from taking leave the day before yesterday." Xia Tong smiled sheepishly. Taking leave without a reason and skipping class is typical behavior of a bad student, isn't it?

“Little girls always worry unnecessarily,” Fu Shaohua patted her head. “Don’t come back alone without saying a word next time, it’s not safe. Call your uncle before you come back next time, and I’ll arrange for someone to pick you up.”

"No need to trouble yourself—" Xia Tong was about to decline when Fu Shaohua interrupted her.

"It's no trouble at all. How could it be troublesome for a family?"

Following behind Fu Shaohua, Li Funing merely nodded slightly to Xia Tong before silently taking her seat. During the meal, Xia Tong overheard her mother's conversation with Fu Jia's parents and vaguely understood something: those so-called high-ranking officials online were actually Fu Jia's father? She was somewhat shocked and worried: with this matter escalating so much, would Uncle Fu be dragged into it as well? However, she couldn't get a word in edgewise as the adults were talking, so she could only bury her head in her food, keeping all her thoughts to herself.

Feeling a bit stuffy in the private room, she went out for some fresh air. Li Funing wasn't far from her seat and noticed that shortly after she left, her phone, which had been lying on the table, started flashing. She glanced at it and saw the screen displaying "Fu Jia" as the caller ID. The phone was on silent, not even vibrating, so his name could only silently and lonely wait for attention on the screen.

Li Funing pretended not to see it, continuing her conversation and eating as usual, ignoring her son's phone call. But as time passed, she, as a mother, could no longer remain calm: "This girl has been out for over ten minutes, why isn't she back yet? My silly son has been calling for over ten minutes straight! This brainless boy, can't he just slow down? Not answering the phone means something's wrong, he's not going to run away, why is he in such a hurry!"

Just as she was about to pick up her phone to answer the call, Xia Tong finally returned. Thank goodness, Li Funing secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

As soon as Xia Tong returned to her seat, she saw her phone flashing on the table. She quickly answered the call, then ran out while covering her mouth and whispering the conversation.

Outside, Xia Tong and Fu Jia were having a long, enjoyable phone conversation, while Li Funing sighed inwardly: What's the use of loving her son so much? What's the use of blaming this girl for not being good to her son? It's him who can't let go! He keeps calling stupidly when he can't get through. What if this girl doesn't want to answer him? Is this blockhead just going to wait there forever? How did I raise such a stubborn person who insists on going down this path to the bitter end?

Xia Tong sat on the sofa in the lobby, almost laughing herself to death at Fu Jia's off-key singing: "Fu Jia, did you see a news report a couple of days ago?"

"It's that news story about the guy who got stabbed to death because he sang so badly."

"Well, actually, I just wanted to remind you not to sing in places where there are people. I'm worried about your personal safety."

"Haha, don't be angry, I mean it."

Li Funing stood not far from her, able to faintly hear what she was saying. She thought it would be nice if the two of them could always joke around like this and live their peaceful lives. Xia Tong was startled when she saw Li Funing and immediately whispered into the phone, "Your mother is right behind me. I'll call you later!" Then she quickly hung up.

Seeing her hang up the phone in such a flustered manner, Li Funing found it both funny and exasperating. She walked over and asked, "Why did you stop talking?"

"..." Isn't this obvious? Xia Tong smiled awkwardly at her, "We're done talking."

Li Funing walked over and sat down next to her. Gone was her previous indifference. She was as kind to her as a caring older sister: "Is Jiajia clinging to you a lot?"

Xia Tong quickly shook her head, then touched her forehead, looking somewhat embarrassed.

Li Funing smiled noncommittally, picked up the tea brought by the waiter, took a sip, her posture elegant and dignified, exuding grace. After a while, she spoke again: "Do you like Jiajia?"

Xia Tong was truly at a loss, unsure whether to nod or shake her head. How did she end up discussing such relationship issues with her elders? Xia Tong felt incredibly embarrassed.

Without waiting for her reply, Li Funing added, "Fu Jia really likes you!"

"..." Xia Tong was speechless: How should I answer? Thank him for his affection? I'm very honored? Or should I say that I like him very much too?

“Jiajia’s room is always a mess if we don’t tidy it up, but there’s one place he always keeps very tidy and won’t let us touch. There are some certificates he’s particularly proud of, a photo of you and him, the graduation message you gave him when you graduated from elementary school, and little trinkets he’s taken from you since he was little. We spoiled him too much, so he’s stubborn and difficult. He must have bullied you a lot, right?”

Xia Tong smiled outwardly, but thought to herself: I've bullied them countless times!

“But seeing how much he’s grown up, he only ever softens towards you. At home, he can be quite fierce with his dad, and he won’t back down even if he gets beaten.” Li Funing pulled Xia Tong’s hand and gazed at her. “I’ve always seen you as a well-behaved child, and I’ve always liked you. When you two played together as kids, I told your Uncle Fu that I would be at ease if Jiajia found someone like you. Although he has a bad temper, is stubborn and arrogant, he’s a trustworthy person, and he’s devoted to you. He’s a bit eccentric, but he’s more compliant to gentle persuasion than force. As long as you don’t cross his bottom line, he’ll go along with you.”

Xia Tong's palms were sweating profusely, and she dared not move. The pressure of Fu's mother talking to her like this was immense! Her tone was just like instructing her daughter-in-law on how to manage her husband! She could only nod and nod again with difficulty.

When she got back, she called Fu Jia, who asked her, "My mom didn't say anything to you, did she?"

"I told you! I told you everything!" Xia Tong held her phone in one hand and drew circles on the table with the other.

"What did you say?" Fu Jia asked, slightly nervous.

"My aunt said you've taken a lot of my things since I was little, and you've hidden them all in one place."

"..." Why did my mom say that?

"And let me ask you, when I graduated from elementary school, I wrote you a graduation message? What did I write?"

"It's so boring, all those 'May you make progress in your studies, stay healthy, and may our friendship last forever' stuff. It's really pointless."

"Tch, why did you collect it if it's meaningless?" Xia Tong scoffed at his hypocritical behavior.

"Didn't my mom say anything else?" Fu Jia asked, still unconvinced.

Why are you so nervous? Are you hiding something from me?

"What nonsense are you thinking? I just want to know if my mom said anything bad about me."

“Oh, right, Auntie also said—” Xia Tong deliberately dragged out her words.

"What?" Fu Jia asked alertly.

"Auntie also said you're more responsive to gentle persuasion than force, and told me to go along with you a bit," Xia Tong teased. "You really are more responsive to gentle persuasion than force?"

"No, no, I'm swayed by both soft and hard tactics," Fu Jia said firmly on the other end.

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Why is everyone suddenly silent...? Tears, I feel lonely again.