Communication among elders

"Xiao Xiao, can't you be a little more sensible?" Xia Yutong glared at her.

"How could I possibly be this anxious as you?"

Xiao Xiao got up, moved to her side, and patted her shoulder like a little adult.

"Listen to me. Jiang Han isn't here right now, so don't think about those things."

Ask Jiang Han again when he returns.

If he says, "Don't say anything yet," then just pretend this never happened tonight. Even if the sky falls, he'll hold it up.

It's crude, but it works.

Xia Yutong paused for a moment, then her expression gradually softened.

Shen Qingning then added, "Perhaps we're overthinking things regarding your father."

"He can only guess at most; he can't grasp the essence of the matter."

"Just keep doing what you're supposed to do, and don't let your guilt show on your face. No one can force you to admit anything."

"That makes sense." Xia Yutong exhaled.

"However, there's one thing," Shen Qingning paused, "Don't use me as a shield anymore."

Xiao Xiao seized the opportunity: "Why don't you just say you're at my house? My dad's already made such a scene with me, how could he possibly come knocking on my door?"

"Your dad is even more terrifying!" Xia Yutong shook her head.

"So I'm safe! Sister Yutong, if I were you, I'd shift all the blame onto me. I don't need to worry about taking any more blame."

Xiao Xiao patted her chest confidently.

Xia Yutong sat up straighter and finally picked up her water glass and took a sip.

She placed her phone face down on the armrest, as if trying to bury the call as well.

"Shall we sleep here tonight?" Xiao Xiao asked.

"No, I'd better go back first."

"Then let Lao Zhou take you." Shen Qingning stood up.

"No need, I'll drive myself."

Shen Qingning didn't insist any further. She escorted the person to the door and then spoke softly.

"Next time you answer the phone, don't tell so many lies right away. The more lies you tell, the easier it is to be exposed."

Xia Yutong nodded and went to the entryway to change her shoes, slipping on her slippers.

Xiao Xiao, lying on the sofa, called out to her retreating figure, "Sister Yutong, keep it up!"

Xia Yutong turned around and gave her a fist bump.

The door was closed, and it was quite chilly outside.

……

The next morning, Xia Guodong called Lin Zhengxiujuan.

I answered the phone after it rang a few times.

Carrie Lam's voice came through the receiver, full of energy.

"Attorney Xia, what a rare guest! What made you think of calling me?"

Xia Guodong stood by the office window and loosened his tie.

"Mrs. Lin, are you free this afternoon? I'd like to come over for a visit; there are some things I'd like to ask you in person."

"I wouldn't dare to ask for your advice! I'll make some tea and wait for you, Attorney Xia."

Carrie Lam smiled and said, "If you don't mind, come over for a casual meal."

"Wouldn't that be too intrusive?"

"What do you mean by disturbing me? I'm just happy you're here."

"Junhe played a huge role in the Jiang family case last time, and I haven't had a chance to properly thank you."

"Mrs. Lin, you're too kind. It's just my duty."

"Alright, stop giving me that bureaucratic talk. I'll be waiting for you at three in the afternoon."

After hanging up the phone, Xia Guodong sat down in his office chair and stared at his phone for a few seconds.

He rarely visits people to discuss private matters.

But after that phone call last night, Xia Guodong didn't get a good night's sleep.

His mind kept replaying the events involving his daughter and Jiang Han.

There are some things he has to figure out for himself.

At 3 p.m., the car was parked in front of the Lin family villa.

Carrie Lam personally came out to greet them.

Today she wore a dark blue cheongsam, her hair was neatly styled, and she wore a jade bracelet of excellent quality on her wrist.

As soon as Xia Guodong got out of the car, she greeted him with a smile, "Were you cold on the way here? Come inside."

Xia Guodong handed over two boxes of tea: "Just a small token of my appreciation."

"You've come all this way, and you even brought things." Lin Zhengxiujuan took the gifts and had the maid take them away.

The two entered the main hall.

The room was warm, with a faint scent of incense burning.

Carrie Lam led him to a seat and personally poured him tea.

Xia Guodong accepted the letter and thanked him first.

Carrie Lam wasn't in a hurry and chatted with him for a while about the weather and the recent situation at her office.

She softened her voice after the tea had been served twice.

"Attorney Xia, are you here today on business or personal matters?"

Xia Guodong put down his teacup: "It's a private matter."

Carrie Lam nodded and didn't ask any more questions, waiting for him to speak.

Xia Guodong was silent for a moment: "Mrs. Lin, I have a question that I haven't been able to figure out."

"My daughter Yutong and Yaoyao have been friends for many years. I've noticed that she's acting differently these days."

"As a father, I always want to know more."

Carrie Lam raised an eyebrow slightly: "You want to ask if Yutong is with Jiang Han, right?"

Xia Guodong did not deny it.

Carrie Lam smiled and said frankly, "Actually, you shouldn't have asked me about this."

"You should ask Yutong, but since you're here, I'll share my opinion."

"you say."

I like Jiang Han.

Carrie Lam picked up her teacup: "It's not just because he can make money, but because this man is responsible."

"Don't be fooled by the size of his family; everyone there is willing, and everyone is well protected by him."

Xia Guodong didn't speak, he just listened quietly.

Carrie Lam added, "What parents fear most is entrusting their children to the wrong person."

"But I can see that Yaoyao is happy. She is genuinely happy. The joy shines through her eyes and can't be faked."

"Is that why you don't object?"

"It's not that I don't object, it's that I don't have the right to object," Carrie Lam said with a smile.

"We parents can't be with our children for their whole lives."

"Especially nowadays, kids are so stubborn; the more you push them, the more they run away."

"It would be better to be more open-minded and keep her somewhere I can see her."

Xia Guodong seemed lost in thought and did not respond.

Carrie Lam suddenly changed the subject: "Attorney Xia, you've probably heard about my family's situation."

"I wasn't the only one by Lao Lin's side; I knew that before I married into the family."

"Since their ancestors, the Lin family has always valued having many people and a prosperous business."

"If a man is capable and a woman is obedient to him, the family can maintain its wealth."

"I'm not annoyed that Yaoyao is with Jiang Han; on the contrary, I feel at ease."

Xia Guodong looked up: "Mrs. Lin, you really don't shy away from these things."

"What's there to hide?" Carrie Lam frankly admitted.

"This set of principles may sound old to outsiders, but only those who live through life truly know whether it's new or old."

"People like Jiang Han, if I don't try to match them up, they'll be completely infatuated with me."

"As her mother, I'd rather stand in the open and pave the way for Yaoyao."

"Look how good things are now. Yao Yao doesn't cause trouble, Jiang Han dotes on her, and the family finally feels like one big family again."

Xia Guodong rubbed the rim of the cup: "You are indeed different from that person in the Xiao family."

Carrie Lam scoffed, "Xiao Yuanshan is so concerned with saving face that he's suffering for it!"

"His own daughter is more stubborn than anyone else's, yet he insists on using his life to suppress her. Can he really control her?"

Xia Guodong, a lawyer with decades of experience, had seen all sorts of complicated relationships, and at that moment he couldn't help but smile.

"I came today because I was worried that Yutong would be wronged."

Carrie Lam waved her hand: "Attorney Xia, try to think about it from a different perspective."

"Several women living under one roof is something that ordinary people would find absurd."

"If there were really going to be a problem, it would have collapsed long ago."

"Think about it, can he control those women with money alone?"