Siheyuan, integrating everything, cultivating the city

"Li Xiangqian, excuse me for interrupting you." Qin Huairu's voice was gentle and hesitant. "I have something to talk to you about."

Li Xiangqian was slightly stunned. He did not speak immediately, but stared at her too calm face, and felt alert. She came to him, obviously not for the purpose of greeting.

"Come in and talk." He said calmly, but he already knew in his heart that today would be another extraordinary conversation.

Qin Huairu did not refuse, walked into the yard and sat down. Her eyes did not leave Li Xiangqian, as if she could see through his thoughts at a glance. The two sat opposite each other in silence for a moment. The tension in the air gradually rose, as if some kind of conflict would occur at any time.

"You should know that the things happening in the courtyard are not just a small fight." Qin Huairu suddenly spoke. Her voice was still calm, but it carried a force that was hard to ignore. "Everyone knows the value of your parents' inheritance and this courtyard. Moreover, no one wants to see the courtyard affect everyone's life because of your stubbornness."

Li Xiangqian's eyes suddenly turned cold, but he remained calm. He had long guessed that Qin Huairu would not simply come over to chat. The purpose of her coming was definitely related to the plans of those neighbors.

"What do you mean by 'everyone'?" Li Xiangqian said in a low voice, with a barely perceptible sharpness flashing in his eyes. "You came to me to represent them?"

Qin Huairu narrowed her eyes slightly, as if she had caught a hint of emotion from his words. She smiled gently, and that smile was somewhat intriguing.

"Not everyone likes to solve problems with force." Her tone was gentle, but every word was full of hints. "Your parents' room is obviously the most valuable place in this courtyard. I believe you also understand that if it is not redistributed, it may affect other people. Do you think this situation can really continue?"

Li Xiangqian's fingers unconsciously began to rub the table, and the anger of being provoked gradually surged in his heart. Although Qin Huairu's words did not contain direct threats, he could still feel a strong sense of oppression, as if he was already in an invisible cage.

"What you said has nothing to do with me." Li Xiangqian said in a deep voice, "If you have any problems, go to the court to resolve them."

Qin Huairu looked at him quietly, without immediately refuting, but looked at Li Xiangqian with an almost compassionate look. Her eyes had an inexplicable attraction, like a sharp sword that could see through people's hearts, which made Li Xiangqian feel inexplicably uneasy.

"Are you really going to do this?" Qin Huairu asked softly, her eyes still calm, but revealing a deep meaning, "Do you think that this tough attitude can really make everyone give up? You know, you are not the only one in the courtyard who is willing to protect your parents' inheritance, but can you imagine what kind of situation you will face if everyone else decides not to 'compromise'?"

Li Xiangqian took a deep breath, his eyes gradually turned cold. He knew that Qin Huairu was not simply here to negotiate with him. Every word she said was to test and force him. He suddenly wanted to cut off this situation and completely cut off all possible compromises. However, this method could not completely eliminate the problem, but might put himself in a deeper predicament.

"Do you think I will compromise?" Li Xiangqian said in a low voice, with a flash of determination in his eyes, "I will not let anyone take away what belongs to me, especially people like you who don't understand the meaning of the Siheyuan at all."

Qin Huairu sighed softly, as if she had already anticipated his answer. Her eyes remained calm, neither anxious nor impatient.

"That depends on how long you can hold on." She stood up, bent slightly, and prepared to leave. "But I want to remind you, Li Xiangqian, that some things, once lost, can never be found again."

As her figure gradually disappeared at the gate, Li Xiangqian felt more and more depressed. He knew that this game was far from over, and he would have to face more challenges. The courtyard was no longer the peaceful haven of his parents' generation. It had become a battlefield full of undercurrents, and he seemed destined to become a pawn in it.

Li Xiangqian stood in front of the mirror and looked at himself carefully. Today, he wore a blue suit, a light purple shirt, and a dark red tie. The color combination was bold but sophisticated. He had originally ordered this suit a year ago, intending to use it for an important occasion, but now, it looks particularly abrupt.

He frowned unconsciously, and his fingertips gently stroked the red tie, feeling a hint of coldness. He was not used to dressing so ostentatiously, and today's choice made him feel a little uncomfortable. This suit gave him a strange feeling, as if every inch of the fabric was reminding him that today was destined to be extraordinary.

Not long ago, Qin Huairu's words were still echoing in his ears, like a thorn, making him uneasy. He remembered her words word for word: "How long can you hold on?" This tepid threat made Li Xiangqian feel unprecedentedly nervous. Although he wanted to react calmly, the uneasiness in his heart could not be shaken off, as if an invisible force was quietly pulling him.

"Are you going to see someone?" He talked to himself in a low voice, but his eyes gradually became firm.

A crisp knock on the door broke the silence. Li Xiangqian paused subconsciously, his heart skipping a beat. Obviously, today's matter was not just about Qin Huairu coming to see him. The people outside the door were already impatient.

"Come in." He finally spoke, with a hint of command in his tone.

The door was opened, and standing at the door was one of the old neighbors of the courtyard, Zhou Shuhan. This person is a typical sweet-mouthed, cunning character, usually always smiling, as if he is a calm good person. But Li Xiangqian knows that Zhou Shuhan is deep-minded, and is best at calculating interests behind the seemingly friendly appearance.

"Brother Li, why are you so handsome today? You look so radiant early in the morning. It must be something important." Zhou Shuhan walked in with a smile, a hint of amusement in his eyes.

Li Xiangqian glanced at him and said nothing, but he couldn't help feeling unhappy. Zhou Shuhan's words sounded harmless, but they added to Li Xiangqian's pressure. Zhou Shuhan was not as straightforward as Qin Huairu, but used a more ironic and provocative way to ignite the flame deep in Li Xiangqian's heart.