To make up for the debt owed to Lin Qingping and Gu Juncheng

Zhiyuan's words warmed Xiaomai's heart.

She knew that she came from the countryside and was different from children in the city in many ways. As a girl from the countryside, the hardships, injustices, and heartbreaks she had experienced were unimaginable to many people.

So she desperately wanted to prove her worth in this world, perhaps to others, or perhaps to herself.

She did it!

Gu Xiaomai is no less capable than anyone else!

Although it's summer vacation, life back in the capital is still very busy, mainly because every day is spent shopping.

The furniture and decorations in this home in the capital were purchased nearly ten years ago. Lin Qingping had already chosen styles and designs that would not easily go out of fashion, taking into account the conditions at the time. But now it seems that many of them need to be replaced.

So, the house was completely renovated, inside and out. Gu Juncheng said she wished she could tear the house down and rebuild it.

Lin Qingping thought to herself, "This house really knows how to demolish and rebuild!"

But never mind, I'll keep you in suspense for now! It'll be another ten years or so!

Faced with Gu Juncheng's lack of understanding, Lin Qingping quietly explained to him, "What if Zhiyuan gets a girlfriend in college and brings her home to visit? Everything looks old and worn out. Doesn't Zhiyuan have any pride?"

Gu Juncheng was stunned. "He's still just a young boy, and he already has a girlfriend?"

He couldn't quite accept it, but after processing it himself, he said, "So what if we're dating? If she looks down on Zhiyuan just because her family is old, then she's not worth dating!"

"It's not about looking down on someone or looking up to them." Lin Qingping rolled her eyes at him. "She's a girl, a precious child raised by her parents. Does she expect to come and live a poor life with them?"

Gu Juncheng stopped arguing with her. Was he the kind of person who was harsh on his daughter-in-law?

With everything inside and outside the house replaced, it's only natural that all the clothes need to be replaced as well.

Lin Qingping then invited Xiaomai along, and the whole family went shopping every day.

Mei Li actually sent over a lot of clothes, but she has now transitioned to selling high-end clothing and jewelry, which is not very practical for students. Therefore, Lin Qingping went on a shopping spree at the mall.

She also made a point of looking at Xiaoqin's counter. Xiaoqin, who has formal training, really has a unique personal style, and she thinks highly of this girl.

After a week of continuous shopping, I've finally bought almost everything.

Zhiyuan finally breathed a sigh of relief.

It's not that he doesn't want to go shopping with his mom, it's just that going shopping every day is actually really boring...

"Alright, go play with your friends, I know your heart is already elsewhere!" Lin Qingping gave Zhiyuan a day off.

Zhiyuan chuckled, "Mom, I didn't, I'd be happy to..."

"Come on, I know you too well. Go on, if there's anything else you need to buy, your dad will be there for me." Lin Qingping waved her hand.

Gu Juncheng: ? ? ?

Do you still want to buy it?

The little girl was the happiest. "Mom, I'll stay with you! I really mean it, unlike my brother and dad who only say one thing and mean another!"

Zhiyuan: ? ?

Gu Juncheng: ? ?

I bought you ice cream for free this week!

After Zhiyuan returned to the capital, he actually met up with Xiaoyuanlian and the others once, but only once. They hurriedly went to eat KFC, and two or three people were missing this time. After they finished the college entrance examination, they all went on a trip. Lin Qingping gave him the time off, and now almost everyone has returned, except for Yun Xiaoshan, because Yun Xiaoshan went to Europe, which is the farthest he went.

Zhiyuan started going out to play with Xiaomai every day. After several days of this, Zhiyuan suddenly stopped and stopped going anywhere. Xiaomai also stopped going out.

Lin Qingping found it strange and quietly asked Gu Juncheng what had happened.

How could Gu Juncheng know?

"He came back that day with injuries all over his face! I asked him, and he said he accidentally got hurt while playing basketball, but it looked like he was in a fight!" Lin Qingping was extremely worried. What she feared most was Zhiyuan getting into a fight. She had finally managed to send him to university and thought everything was settled!

Gu Juncheng stood up. "I'll go ask him."

Lin Qingping grabbed him, "Why are you so blunt? If you could just ask him directly, he would have told me. It's obvious he doesn't want us to know."

The door was pushed open a crack, and Zhangzhu's little face appeared. "Mom."

"What's wrong, my darling? Why are you here again instead of going to sleep?"

Zhangzhu is now a first-grader and sleeps by herself in what used to be her second sister's room. This time when she came back, she completely redecorated the room, making it sparkly and bright, exactly to Zhangzhu's tastes as a primary school student. After the renovation, Zhiyuan's eyes hurt from looking at it so much that he told her, "You'll regret this when you're a few years older!"

Zhangzhu came out of her room and squeezed into her parents' room. She leaned against Lin Qingping and whispered, "I know why. My brother and Sister Xiaomai had a fight."

"Arguing? Why?" Lin Qingping asked in surprise. Impossible! How could Zhiyuan argue with Xiaomai? He's always been protective of Xiaomai since they were little!

Zhangzhu shook her head. "Then I don't know. I only heard them talking loudly at the door when they came back that day. My brother was so fierce, telling Xiaomai to stay at home and not to go anywhere. Mom, did Xiaomai go to some bad place?"

Lin Qingping suddenly realized something, and her heart skipped a beat.

“No, Sister Xiaomai wouldn’t go to bad places. Maybe there’s some misunderstanding between them…” Lin Qingping answered her daughter, but her mind was already far away.

After sending Zhangzhu back to her room once again, Lin Qingping voiced her doubts, "Gu Juncheng, Zhiyuan wouldn't be with Xiaomai..."

Gu Juncheng frowned, and his expression turned serious.

The two remained silent for a while before Gu Juncheng's brows gradually relaxed. "If so, do you agree? They are not real cousins, and I haven't changed their surname yet."

Upon hearing this, Lin Qingping breathed a sigh of relief, "I was worried that you old fogey wouldn't agree! Xiaomai is so good! How could I disagree!"

"Then don't ask for now." Lin Qingping thought for a moment and then said, "Find some time to talk to Zhiyuan about the matter of discretion. They are still young, so don't do anything to harm Xiaomai."

"Me?" Gu Juncheng was stunned.

"Otherwise what?" Lin Qingping glared at him fiercely. "If Dad doesn't speak up about boys' affairs, do you expect me to?"

“That’s not what I meant…” Gu Juncheng just found it hard to speak. He was not a talkative person to begin with, and now he had to talk about this kind of thing… “Okay, I’ll prepare and find some time to talk about it.”

Lin Qingping rolled her eyes at him. She wanted to see how long he could possibly find the time!

Before Gu Juncheng could even find the time, Lin Qingping's family received an invitation from the Yun family, specifically from Liu Yan, who knew they were in the capital and wanted them to come to her home.