"People's hearts are alive, but that doesn't mean they won't get hurt. Once their hearts are cold and they've lost all hope, it's not something that can be warmed up with just a few words."

Xia Lan said softly, raising her eyes to look at the four people.

“You were not affected in the capital, so you can’t understand Master’s situation. What has kept him going? Whatever it is, it certainly isn’t because of his daughter.”

Du Wenqing gave Xia Lan a deep look and smiled.

Otherwise, why would he like this girl so much? She's practically a mind reader.

How could she know that he didn't have his daughter and son-in-law on his mind at the time?

He didn't know what had sustained him for so long, but he was certain it wasn't because of his daughter.

"Old Du, do whatever you want. Even if they come begging to me again, I won't plead for her anymore," Old Wang said earnestly to Du Wenqing after a moment of silence.

"Old Du, this girl is much more useful than your daughter!" Old Yang glanced at Xia Lan, who was adding water for Du Wenqing, and a smile appeared on his lips.

"Then I won't help him. He really deserves to be taught a lesson."

Old Chen spoke directly, and the man who had been standing in the background behind him immediately took out a piece of paper and wrote it down.

"Help me? No need to help. If he uses my name, you can pretend you didn't hear me unless I personally give the order! Don't give him face." Du Wenqing said frankly, he just didn't want him to rely on him anymore.

He pushed him away in the same way he pushed him away back then, and now he's pushing him away in the same way.

If someone does something wrong, how can a simple apology erase the hardships they endured over the past ten years?

Xia Lan sat down next to Du Wenqing and nodded.

"We must treat him the way he treated us. We should treat him the same way he treated our master back then. Otherwise, he'll think he can do whatever he wants without paying the price."

"But no matter what, she's still his daughter..."

One person said quietly.

In his view, no matter what, she was Du Wenqing's daughter, and there was no grudge between father and daughter that lasted overnight.

Xia Lan turned to look at the person who had spoken. He was standing behind Old Wang. Old Wang glanced back at his grandson and gave a soft snort.

“This is my foolish grandson, Wang Jianjun,” Old Wang introduced to Xia Lan.

"If your father were in trouble, would you choose to sever ties with him?"

Xia Lan looked at Wang Jianjun, who was taken aback.

"Of course not."

How can you guarantee you won't?

Xia Lan didn't believe it.

"If I did that, would I still be human?"

Wang Jianjun said urgently.

"Then let me ask you, since you've already done this, what are you going to do about it?"

Xia Lan placed the matter on him, to see how he would make a decision.

"I definitely won't. Besides, even if it really comes to that, I would never abandon my father."

Wang Jianjun was trying his best to prove himself, but Old Wang, who was standing to the side, shook his head after hearing his grandson's words.

He had completely fallen into Xia Lan's trap.

"So now I'm asking, what if you betrayed him? What if you abandoned your father and enjoyed yourself for ten years?"

Xia Lan wouldn't let go of Wang Jianjun, and Wang Jianjun opened his mouth, seemingly genuinely thinking along the lines of Xia Lan's words, trying to consider the matter from his own perspective.

Wang Jianjun fell into a long silence.

The four of them just stared at him.

"Will!"

Old Du took out a white piece and slowly placed it down.

The four elders looked at Elder Du.

Xia Lan pursed her lips slightly.

This game is already decided by Old Du.

"So don't speak so confidently unless it happens to you. Try to think about it from a different perspective. Even if you can't fully understand, you can still keep your mouth shut and not say such stupid things."

Xia Lan did not force Wang Jianjun to tell the truth.

After Xia Lan finished speaking, she slowly got up and walked out of the pavilion.

Wang Jianjun pursed his lips, his eyes revealing his unwillingness.

"What are you resentful about? I don't know what you're thinking all day long. You're supposed to have been sent to the countryside for training, but you're not as clear-headed as a girl!"

Old Wang saw the dissatisfaction in his grandson's eyes and shook his head in disappointment.

"Old Du, where did you find this girl?"

Old Yang looked at the checkmated chessboard, but his interest was in Xia Lan.

"Didn't I already say? In the village."

Du Wenqing looked at the chessboard and picked up his white pieces one by one, putting them back into the chess box.

"This girl has a lot of ideas, but she knows very well what she wants."

Du Wenqing curled the corners of his lips and glanced at Xia Lan, who was skipping and hopping towards Qin Yu.

"This girl is really good," Old Chen said, noting that she was quite at ease and not at all awkward in front of the four of them.

That alone is already quite remarkable.

Wang Jianjun and Yang Ziye stayed by their side every day, which is why they weren't affected; the others didn't dare to come over at all.

Unlike this girl, who's so bold, she almost pointed her finger at them and started cursing.

"Haha, the girl is young and has a strong temper, don't take it to heart." Du Wenqing said this, but the pride in his eyes was not hidden at all.

By the time Xia Lan walked up to Qin Yu, Yang Ziye had already become Qin Yu's biggest fan.

"Sister-in-law, you're here." Yang Ziye said directly when he saw Xia Lan walking over.

Xia Lan paused, glanced at Qin Yu in surprise, and raised an eyebrow.

What did you do to make them acknowledge you as their elder brother?

Qin Yu smiled slightly and shrugged.

He simply recounted some of the missions he had experienced, and who knew that the kid would call him "Big Brother" after hearing it.

"Um, hello." Xia Lan nodded and smiled at Yang Ziye.

"Brother, you and sister-in-law probably haven't had a proper chance to explore the capital, have you? How about I show you around? I know the capital like the back of my hand!"

Yang Ziye took the initiative to invite him.

"Uh, no need! I'd be so sorry to trouble you. We'll just go for a walk on our own."

Xia Lan looked at Qin Yu, who gestured for her to make the decision. He said he was fine with going anywhere as long as he was with her.

"No, don't worry about the trouble. Please give me face and let me do my part as a host."

Yang Ziye pleaded urgently, as if he would get angry if they didn't agree.

"Then... then I'll have to trouble you?" Seeing Yang Ziye like this, Xia Lan wondered if Qin Yu had cast a spell on him.

Otherwise, how could Yang Ziye, who was just aloof, suddenly become so...enthusiastic?

"I'll make the arrangements now, and I'll come find you in a bit."

Having obtained Xia Lan's consent, and seeing that Qin Yu was also listening to Xia Lan, Yang Ziye turned around and ran off to prepare.

Xia Lan reached out her hand, about to say there was no need to rush...

Yang Ziye has already disappeared.

"...Did you do something to him?" Xia Lan looked at Qin Yu suspiciously.

Qin Yu stubbed out his cigarette and pinched Xia Lan's cheek with one hand.

Am I that kind of person?

"I just gave him some advice."

Xia Lan leaned closer to Qin Yu and, as if making a small gesture, sniffed the cigarette smoke on him.