The father and son walked one after the other into the open garden outside.
The two stood side by side. Bai Jingxing was approaching twenty this year, and his height was already about the same as his father's.
The rising sun cast their shadows together.
After a moment of silence, the only sound was the rustling of the wind through the leaves of the trees.
Xiao Che didn't look at his son, and casually mentioned, "Last night... your mother and your sister had a little argument."
Bai Jingxing was stunned for a moment, guessing that his mother and Wu Liu must have talked about something after he left last night.
He scratched his head: "Dad, you found out too? What did Mom say?"
His tone was somewhat heavy: "My sister is very thoughtful and tends to keep things to herself. She didn't mean for this to happen."
He believed Wu Liu hadn't done it on purpose, and she didn't want to either. Feelings are something that can't be explained.
Although he was involved, he didn't blame Wu Liu at all, nor did he think she was wrong. Many things are just hard to explain, especially matters of the heart.
Xiao Che hesitated for a moment, thinking of his son's maturity and composure, and also of Wu Liu's reputation, before choosing a more subtle way to speak: "The girl is growing up, she has more thoughts, it's normal for her to have some little quirks. Your mother is talking to her for her own good."
I know you're smart; after what happened last night, you should have figured it out by now.
He paused, turned his head to look at his son, and said in a more serious tone, "Jingxing, we are men, we should be more tolerant and open-minded."
If your sister does anything wrong or says something inappropriate, please don't hold it against her for Mom and Dad's sake, and be lenient with her.
Seeing that his parents still cared about Wu Liu, Bai Jingxing put his worries aside and said, "Dad, Mom, don't worry, I know what I'm doing."
I only see her as my sister, like a real sister. I know your concerns, and those are the same concerns I have. I know very well which path I want to take in the future.
He wouldn't have inappropriate feelings for Wu Liuqi; girls and boys are different. Girls are more emotional and prone to acting on impulse, while boys are more rational.
Seeing his son's open and honest expression, Xiao Che sighed inwardly, feeling both relieved and a little worried.
I'm relieved that my son is of good character, but I'm worried that my daughter's thoughts are probably more complicated than I thought.
This morning, my wife went to bring her food, and when she came back, her eyes were red. She said the child wasn't sleeping well and her eyes were swollen.
He organized his thoughts, lowered his voice, and spoke in a serious tone, like a man discussing business: "Dad knows you're sensible, but—you're all grown up now, and you're not my biological daughter after all. There are some things we should avoid."
Upon hearing the words "avoid suspicion," Bai Jingxing was both amused and exasperated.
He spends most of his time studying abroad or working in Shanghai, and rarely goes home except for holidays.
"Dad! Your son has been coming home very rarely lately. Is he avoiding me so I can't come back?"
Xiao Che frowned upon hearing this, feeling somewhat guilty.
"I'm sorry, son, for putting so much pressure and burden on you at such a young age!"
You still have to go home. If you don't come back, your mom, your grandparents, your great-grandparents, and I will be heartbroken.
The couple also felt sorry for their son, but as much as they felt sorry for him, they still had to solve the practical problems.
They decided to be a bit more direct, but still left room for maneuver: "What your mother and I mean is that in the future... um... for example, when the two of you are alone together, be mindful of your boundaries, like keeping some distance."
You're a man, and she's a grown woman; she's not like she was when she was little, someone you can just fool around with. Let's avoid any awkward situations, lest gossip spread and damage her reputation.
Also, your correspondence... it's quite a hassle, both domestically and internationally. I'll arrange for someone to come back and teach her her foreign language.
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