Only then did he realize that Xia Linan had hidden in the capital city B.

Xia Yansi suddenly smiled bitterly. He had searched this place countless times, but had never seen Xia Linan.

If it weren’t for the Fu family’s great influence this time, he might not have seen Xia Linan in the newspaper.

After Xia Linan published the advertisement in the newspaper, Xia's family also called Xia Linan.

However, Xia Lin'an rejected all the calls, except for a call from Xia Shixun.

Xia Yansi learned about Xia Linan's situation from the newspaper. Out of concern and some emotion, he dialed the number.

That was what Xia Shixun told him.

He hasn't dialed it in six years.

Because he knew that if Xia Lin'an decided to do something, she didn't want to have any connection with people and things from the past.

Perhaps out of fear of rejection, or perhaps out of fear of loss, Xia Yansi never dared to take that step.

However, after he mustered up the courage to dial the number, he did not receive a response from Xia Lin'an, but heard a man's voice.

"No. She's asleep now."

This sentence sounds easy to make people imagine and misunderstand.

At that moment, Xia Yansi seemed to feel his breath hitched. Although he acted as if he didn't care on the surface, the touch deep in his heart told him that he still cared.

Xia Yansi fell into memories, as if he was back in his childhood when he was eighteen years old.

At that time, Xia Yansi was already mature beyond his years, and he vaguely showed the calm and steady style of Xia Shixun.

Xia Shixun called him into the study and asked, "Yan Si, Dad is going to ask you a question, and you have to answer me honestly."

Seeing that Xia Shixun had a serious face, Xia Yansi did not dare to be perfunctory and listened carefully.

"Yan Si, do you like An An?" Xia Shixun suddenly asked.

The air was filled with the smell of sandalwood furniture. When Xia Yansi heard Xia Shixun's question, his eyes flickered a few times.

Xia Shixun added: "I mean, the love between men and women."

"Dad!" Xia Yansi was shocked. He looked up at Xia Shixun in disbelief, but couldn't read Xia Shixun's expression.

Could it be that Xia Shixun saw through it?

Xia Shixun asked again in a tone that did not allow for resistance, "Yan Si, do you like An An?"

The majesty on his face made Xia Yansi feel extremely pressured.

"I……"

Xia Yansi was speechless.

"Answer me!"

Xia Shixun asked in a strong voice.

"like!"

Xia Yansi closed his eyes and spoke out loudly.

With determination and a little shame on his face, he told his adoptive father, the father of the girl he liked, the secret that he had kept in his heart for more than ten years.

He thought he would keep this secret until he died, but he still told it.

Since you dare to take responsibility, why don’t you admit it?

Although Xia Yansi was steady and experienced in his work back then, he still carried the mark of youthful recklessness in his blood.

Xia Shixun was silent for a while. Just when Xia Yansi thought he had angered Xia Shixun, Xia Shixun slowly said, "Yansi...are you willing to marry her?"

Xia Yansi was shocked again, and he blurted out: "Why..."

He seemed to hear Xia Shixun sigh, and then said: "You answer me first."

Xia Yansi blushed and stammered, "I want to... marry her."

His ears were red, and his hands were clenched into fists at his sides. He felt nervous and panicked.

"Do you really want to marry her?"

"yes."

Xia Yansi said this with a red face.

The study returned to silence. Xia Shixun smiled and said, "Okay."

He seemed to understand Xia Yansi's doubts and slowly explained, "Yansi, Dad is getting old, especially recently, he has begun to feel that he is unable to do anything. At most... he can only hold on for a dozen years, maybe not, but..."

Xia Shixun paused and sighed, "An An is still young, and your mother is also my lifelong concern. I don't feel comfortable leaving them to outsiders to take care of them. As for you, although we are not biological father and son, I have never treated you badly, and I believe in your abilities very much in my heart."

"So, now that I know you are willing and sincere, Dad is very relieved and grateful. In the future, I will leave them and their mother in your care."

After hearing what Xia Shixun said, Xia Yansi was so shocked that he couldn't say a word. It was the first time he faced such a situation, and he opened his mouth, not knowing what to say.

Xia Shixun comforted him, "Don't be afraid, don't feel too much pressure, even if you do something wrong for a while, Dad won't blame you."

"Don't tell An An about this for now, just go out."

Xia Yansi walked out of the study. His mood was up and down for a short period of time and he couldn't calm down for a long time.

He returned to his room and suddenly heard Xia Linan shouting downstairs: "Brother! Brother!"

Xia Yansi walked out of the balcony and saw Xia Linan wearing an adult fishing suit and waving at him. He raised the carp in his hand and said proudly, "Look, I caught this!"

The medium-sized carp was moving around in her hands, and she was smiling happily.

Xia Yansi laughed. This summer was the happiest summer he had ever had.

Over the past few years, ever since he began to make clear his feelings for Xia Lin'an, he has been getting along with Xia Lin'an in a lukewarm manner.

But after admitting it in front of Xia Shixun and getting Xia Shixun's tacit consent, Xia Yansi began to become very enthusiastic towards Xia Linan.

One day, Xia Shixun asked Xia Linan: "Do you like your brother?"

At that time, Xia Linan was chewing a chicken leg and nodded, "I like it."

Xia Shixun laughed loudly, and Xia Yansi's ears turned red.

When Xia Yansi thought everything was going in a good direction, God suddenly changed his mind.

After Xia Lin'an finished the college entrance examination, she accidentally learned from her parents' conversation that she would marry her half-brother Xia Yansi when she turned 20!

When he learned the news, Xia Lin'an confronted his parents and had a fight.

Xia Shixun did not expect that Xia Lin'an had such a stubborn personality that he would not accept his family's arrangements at all.

She has more courage and ideas than anyone else, and no one can change what she has decided.

then--

Xia Linan ran away from home.

No news.

She changed her college entrance examination application, took her savings, fled to another city, and started living independently.

No matter how big the setbacks and difficulties she encountered, she gritted her teeth and persevered, and never complained to her family.

Half a year later, Xia Linan called Wan Ling and told her that she was fine and her family should not disturb her.

But she did not mention other people or things, including Xia Yansi.

At that time, Xia Yansi began to feel that Xia Linan was moving away from him, but he still couldn't find her.