Lament

“What are you all arguing about? Lunch is almost ready, come and help serve the dishes!” The kitchen door opened, and Xia Xin’s aunt, Ma Lin, shouted loudly.

The table was filled with delicious food, but there was no joy or laughter around the dining table. Xia Song, Xia Bai, and Xia Xin’s grandma had unpleasant expressions.

Ma Lin forced a smile and patted Xia Jin’s arm. She said, “Jin, later on, ask Xin for study tips. She is diligent and hardworking in high school. Although you are smart, you shouldn’t be arrogant. You need to be down-to-earth, understand?”

Ma Lin’s words seemed harmless, but she was actually mocking Xia Xin’s success in getting into a good university solely due to her diligence. She believed that her son was smarter than Xia Xin but had poor grades in the past because he did not study properly.

Xia Xin suppressed the urge to roll her eyes.

Xia Jin glanced at Xia Xin, and his gaze seemed to look down on her. He said, “No need.”

Gu Fan’s face darkened, and her grip on the chopsticks tightened.

Xia Xin placed her hand on Gu Fan’s leg, gently patting it with a calm smile, indicating that she did not care about her aunt’s mockery.

The meal was long and oppressive.

In the afternoon, Xia Bai and Ma Lin took Old Mrs. Xia to the hospital for a follow-up visit, while Gu Fan went to the market to buy groceries. She would have to prepare dinner alone that evening.

Xia Xin accompanied Gu Fan to the market, and Layle, released from the garage, followed them.

As Gu Fan picked vegetables, she sighed. “Xin, don’t pay attention to your aunt. She just wants to save face. I don’t think Jin will be able to get into a good university at all. I’m not cursing him, it’s just a feeling I have!”

Xia Xin could not help but cover her mouth and smile. She said, “Mom, I believe in your sixth sense!”

Gu Fan was not wrong. In her past life, Xia Jin’s final university entrance exam results were not impressive. He only scored 20 points above the undergraduate admission line. Let alone top-tier universities, even entering a better undergraduate school was difficult. In this life, there probably would not be any unexpected changes.

“Poor Xia Bing. Putting aside everything else, when she finds out that her parents spent ¥200,000 to send her brother to high school while leaving her alone in the hometown for years without care, how sad do you think she would be?” said Gu Fan. She did not like Xia Bai, Ma Lin, and Xia Jin, but she genuinely felt sorry for Xia Bing.

Since Xia Bai and Ma Lin did not pay much attention to Xia Bing, during Xia Bing’s summer breaks from elementary and middle school, she often stayed at Xia Xin’s house. She had a good relationship with Xia Xin, and Gu Fan often took the two girls out to buy new clothes. Most of Xia Bing’s childhood clothes were bought by Gu Fan.

Lost in her thoughts, Gu Fan finished shopping and returned to Xia Bai’s house, preparing a sumptuous dinner.

After dinner, some matters finally had to be discussed openly.

Probably because he had obtained the property ownership certificate from Old Mrs. Xia, Xia Bai spoke with confidence, “This is what I’m thinking. Both of my children had not gotten into university yet, and the house loan hasn’t been fully paid off…”

After stating his difficulties, Xia Bai directly requested 70% of the compensation money. As for the newly arranged house provided by the government, it would be left for Old Mrs. Xia, and the remaining 30% of the compensation money would go to Xia Song’s family.

Xia Xin raised an eyebrow and thought, ‘Uncle Bai’s plan was quite cunning. He intended to put Grandma in the newly arranged house, claiming that it had the potential to appreciate in value. By doing so, he and Ma Lin could use the excuse of being busy and leave Mom and Dad to take care of Grandma. Did he think he could deceive Grandma with the property ownership certificate and then neglect her? No way!’

Before Xia Song could express his opinion, Xia Xin immediately spoke up, “Grandma is old. It’s not suitable for her to live alone in the newly arranged house. In my opinion, we might as well sell the arranged house and let Grandma live with you, Uncle Bai. Grandma loves Jin, and she would definitely like to see her grandson more often, right?”

Xia Xin’s tone was gentle, and every word touched Old Mrs. Xia’s heart.

Old Mrs. Xia looked towards Xia Jin’s bedroom with a loving expression. She said, “I also suggested selling the arranged house, but your uncle said it could appreciate in value, so he insisted on keeping it.”

Hearing that, Gu Fan could not help but roll her eyes. She thought, ‘The house provided by the government was only meant for living. How could it appreciate in value? Xia Bai’s nonsense might fool Mother, but it wouldn’t work on me.’

Xia Song opened his mouth, seeming to want to say something, but Xia Xin quickly spoke before him, “How about giving us the newly arranged house? I just graduated and I happen to want to buy a small apartment. We won’t take any of the compensation money, and you can keep it all.”

Upon hearing that, Gu Fan was greatly surprised, and even Xia Song was taken aback.

Xia Bai was momentarily stunned, but soon a hint of surprise appeared in his eyes. He thought, ‘That was a steal!’

The compensation money that Xia Song would receive was quite substantial. It was worth more than that small rundown house.

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