Xia Zheng heard this and his expression turned ugly. Earlier, when he said he would pick up the old man, the old man’s face had been like frozen ice, saying it wasn’t necessary. But when Xia Xianning, who didn’t want to come, was called over – what a difference in treatment!
Xia Zheng, never one with a good temper, couldn’t bear it anymore even though he had come to apologize: “Grandpa, Elder Brother, if there’s nothing else, I’ll head back.”
Xia Xianning glanced at him.
Xia Xianning said casually: “You can go.”
After Xia Zheng left with Cheng Guangchen, Old Master Xia couldn’t help but bring up the previous topic again: “Your younger brother is just a few months younger than you and he’s already married. Grandpa isn’t rushing you to get married immediately, but you should at least start looking, right? Our family isn’t the type to strictly adhere to social status. We don’t want to make a big deal out of your marriage. If you don’t want to go on blind dates, you can bring whoever you like home.”
Xia Xianning seemed lost in thought.
Old Master Xia sighed worriedly: “You’re not young anymore. Other people’s children drink, fight, and play with women, but you’re like a wooden block. You don’t even have someone you like.”
Xia Xianning: “…”
“
Seeing his grandfather’s face that clearly said “Are you sick?”, he decided to prepare the old man in advance. Fortunately, Old Master Xia was in good health, and based on Xia Xianning’s assessment of his physical and mental condition, he could handle it.
Xia Xianning signaled to Lin Boxing, took out a bottle of calming pills from the emergency kit, poured out the medication, and handed it to Old Master Xia with water, saying, “Grandpa, take your medicine.”
Old Master Xia: “???”
Xia Xianning said seriously, “Take it. I’ll tell you something after you do.”
Given that this grandson had been mature since childhood and never caused any worry, Old Master Xia, though puzzled, followed his instructions and took the calming pill.
When no one was around, Xia Xianning said, “Grandpa, I have someone I like.”
Old Master Xia hadn’t expected that just moments after worrying, Xia Xianning would admit to having someone. This was originally what he hoped for, but remembering the calming pill, he suddenly had a bad feeling.
Then he heard his grandson say, “It’s a guy.”
Old Master Xia: “…”
His ability to retire smoothly was proof of his intelligence and wisdom.
“
It was precisely because of this that Xia Xianning chose such a direct approach.
As expected, his grandfather didn’t engage in unreasonable or useless roaring. He was silent for a long time, looking directly at Xia Xianning with sharp eyes that matched Xia Xianning’s earlier expression.
Old Master Xia asked, “What does he do? Age, identity? Who started it first?”
His three questions hit the key points, without asking if Xia Xianning had thought it through – given this child’s way of doing things, if he hadn’t thought it through, he wouldn’t have said anything.
Xia Xianning considered the best answer for Luo Mingbai and replied, “He’s an internet celebrity, around my age. I liked him first.”
Old Master Xia immediately imagined a young man wearing leather pants, with an earring, heavy makeup, looking neither male nor female. He didn’t even have time to reflect on his misconceptions about internet celebrities before falling into deep despair.
Xia Xianning seemed calm but was actually nervously clenching his hands. After a long time, he heard his grandfather’s tired and dejected voice: “Are you together?”
Hearing this question, Xia Xianning slightly relaxed. He knew he had achieved his desired effect.
Although he hadn’t planned on this being the moment to reveal everything, Xia Xianning’s words weren’t a sudden impulse.
Since being with Luo Mingbai, he had carefully considered their future and his family’s temperament. In the Xia family, if he could convince his grandfather, everyone else would be no problem.
But he absolutely couldn’t directly tell Old Master Xia that the person he liked was Luo Mingbai. No matter how good other people’s children are, deep down, everyone is biased towards their own family. Now that he was with Luo Mingbai, if he said this, Old Master Xia would definitely ask Luo Mingbai, who would certainly firmly defend their relationship. This would be equivalent to pushing Luo Mingbai out to confront Old Master Xia. His grandfather might not say it openly, but he would inevitably be dissatisfied with Luo Mingbai. His senior brother was so smart that he would definitely sense this and would be sad.
But now it was different. Xia Xianning had prepared the ground, shifting the focus of their conversation from “Luo Mingbai” to the fact that Xia Xianning liked a man, and that man was an internet celebrity!
In Old Master Xia’s mind, internet celebrity = unprofessional. He never expected that after joking about Luo Mingbai becoming his daughter-in-law, Xia Xianning would drop an even more explosive revelation. Given his grandson’s unyielding personality, harsh family interference would never work. The key was always his own thoughts – something Old Master Xia understood very clearly.
Seeing Xia Xianning nod, he said coldly, “Have you seriously considered whether you like him because you have a sexual orientation issue, or if you just like this kind of…”
Old Master Xia’s tone inevitably revealed contempt: “This kind of internet celebrity.”
Xia Xianning replied, “Grandpa, I don’t know. I just like him, so I’m telling you so you won’t waste time arranging blind dates for me.”
Great, it was more like a notification than seeking advice!
Old Master Xia finally couldn’t contain his inner anger and scolded, “Are you blind? Even if you like men, you should at least find someone like your senior brother! I haven’t managed you these years, and now you’ve learned to follow others in supporting performers!”
Xia Xianning said, “It’s different. Supporting performers is just playing around. I’m serious.”
Old Master Xia would rather he was just playing around. He took a deep breath: “Bring him home, I want to meet him.”
Xia Xianning said, “Not now.”
Old Master Xia frowned, “What are you waiting for?”
Xia Xianning said calmly: “Your attitude is not good right now. I’m afraid you’ll give him a hard time. Let’s talk about it when your mood improves.”
Old Master Xia: “…”
One grandson was more unruly than the next. He took a deep breath, telling himself that he couldn’t kill his own flesh and blood.
Old Master Xia stood up and slowly walked outside.
The guard hesitated to follow, but Xia Xianning waved his hand and followed his grandfather, eventually supporting him by the hand.
Old Master Xia did not refuse his grandson’s support. He strolled slowly, and their moods gradually calmed.
Stopping by the artificial lake on the T University’s small path, Old Master Xia said: “Xianning, your marriage is your choice. Grandpa doesn’t have those old-fashioned ideas about continuing the family line. You work in the special investigation unit with loose discipline, and I won’t force you to break up or marry someone else.”
Although he had anticipated this outcome, Xia Xianning still felt relieved, saying: “Thank you, Grandpa.”
Old Master Xia glanced at him and snorted: “It’s just going with the flow. You’re so grown up, and I’m so old. Even if I tried to force you, would you listen?”
Xia Xianning remained silent.
Old Master Xia sighed, well-versed in gentle strategies. Though he couldn’t fully accept the situation, he wouldn’t say so directly: “This is your first time in a relationship, right?”
Xia Xianning showed a slight smile: “Yes, Grandpa.”
