Chapter 30: So He Really Is Getting Old

Hearing this, Xia Senting instinctively glanced at Huo Beiqing before silently tucking the money back into his pocket.

At noon, since Director Huo wasn’t home, only the household members ate together.

As the only male host, Huo Beiqing politely asked his brother-in-law, “Do you drink?”

Xia Senting waved his hand. “I don’t.”

Xia Ruanruan sat quietly beside him, not saying a word.

Xia Senting actually could drink—so could all the Xia men.

Their father was a heavy drinker, and both Xia Senting and Xia Senyang had inherited his ability.

But since Xia Senting was still young and had a refined appearance, when he claimed he didn’t drink, Huo Beiqing didn’t doubt him at all.

After all, he was just a student—not drinking was normal.

And more importantly, Huo Beiqing himself wasn’t much of a drinker.

Hearing Xia Senting decline, Lin Wei scolded Huo Beiqing, “Why are you trying to get him to drink? He’s still a child.”

She then placed food onto Xia Senting’s plate. “Don’t listen to him. Kids don’t need to drink. Eat more, eat more.”

“I don’t know if the food is to your liking. If there’s anything you don’t like, just say so!”

Xia Senting nodded. “Thank you, Auntie. I’m not picky.”

“That’s good! Eating well helps you grow strong and gives you more energy to study.”

“Eat up!” Lin Wei kept piling food onto his plate, stacking it into a little mountain.

Sitting nearby, Huo Yuanyuan couldn’t help but comment, “Mom, how is he supposed to finish all that?”

She had just come downstairs for the meal and hadn’t interacted much with Xia Senting before. Now that she spoke up, Xia Senting glanced at her.

Meeting his gaze, Huo Yuanyuan quickly lowered her head and focused on her food, not wanting to say more.

Lin Wei didn’t even look at her and continued smiling at Xia Senting. “Ignore her. She’s been clueless since she was little, always making me worry.”

With a hint of envy, she added, “Honestly, I really envy your mother for having such well-behaved kids like you and Ruanruan.”

Huo Beiqing: Sitting at home, yet getting attacked out of nowhere.

Huo Yuanyuan: “…”

No matter who she was compared to, she was always the least sensible one!

Xia Senting smiled. “Not really. At home, my mom nags at us a lot too.”

“All parents worry about their kids.”

These words made Lin Wei like him even more.

“You’re such a considerate child.”

Sitting quietly at the side, Xia Ruanruan felt like her mother-in-law liked her brother even more than she liked her.

After the meal, Xia Senting stayed for a short while before getting up to leave, saying he had things to do and needed to return before the school gates closed.

Hearing this, Lin Wei and the others didn’t insist on keeping him.

She just reminded him, “If you have a holiday, come visit again!”

Xia Ruanruan walked him to the bus stop. Before he got on the bus, she said, “Second Brother, I’ll visit you at school when I have time.”

Xia Senting nodded and reminded her, “Take care of yourself. If anything happens, come find me.”

Xia Ruanruan nodded as well. “Travel safely.”

After he boarded, the doors closed. Xia Ruanruan stood at the stop for a while before turning back toward the Huo residence.

She hadn’t walked far when she saw Huo Beiqing standing under a tree nearby.

She quickly ran over. “Why are you here?”

Huo Beiqing raised his eyes slightly. “Mom told me to check on you, in case you forgot the way home.”

Hearing that, Xia Ruanruan laughed and waved her hand. “How could I? Even though I haven’t been back in half a month, I’ve walked this road countless times before. I wouldn’t get lost.”

Her face was all smiles as she bounced along beside Huo Beiqing.

Watching her cheerful movements, Huo Beiqing thought that autumn felt like spring.

In the evening, when Director Huo returned home, Lin Wei naturally told him about Xia Ruanruan’s second brother visiting the house.

She also mentioned that Xia Senting was studying law.

Huo Shuyuan was a bit surprised but had an approving look in his eyes. “He’s a capable young man.”

Lin Wei nodded. “Not only capable but also very sensible!”

As she spoke, she suddenly thought to ask Xia Ruanruan, “Ruanruan, how old is your second brother this year?”

Xia Ruanruan looked up. “Twenty-one. My eldest brother is twenty-six this year.”

Hearing that he was only twenty-one, Huo Shuyuan and Lin Wei both commented, “His future is full of potential.”

Huo Beiqing, sitting on the side: Sure enough, both of his brothers-in-law were younger than him. No wonder… his parents always brought up his age.

So it really was because he was getting old.

Looking at Xia Ruanruan beside him, happily focused on eating, he finally understood why he thought she seemed like the warm sun when he saw her jumping around that afternoon.

Perhaps it was because he was getting older and needed the warmth of a little sun.

After dinner, Lin Wei looked at the two of them and said, “Stay home for two days. You haven’t been back for half a month.”

Hearing this, Xia Ruanruan instinctively looked at Huo Beiqing. She definitely wanted to stay, after all, she had a bed to sleep in at home, whereas here, she didn’t.

But as Lin Wei said, they hadn’t been back for half a month.

This was Huo Beiqing’s home. Even if she didn’t want to stay, that didn’t mean he didn’t.

To her surprise, Huo Beiqing said, “We’ll stay next time. We didn’t bring a change of clothes today, and I have to get up early for the hospital tomorrow.”

“It’s getting cold, and the hospital has been busy lately.”

Xia Ruanruan could confirm that. “He’s been coming home really late these past few days.”

Lin Wei, feeling sorry for her son, said, “Then I won’t keep you two. Go home early, wash up, and get some rest.”

“And next time you come back, bring your clothes and stay for a couple of days when it’s not too busy.”

Huo Beiqing nodded.

Just as they were about to leave, Lin Wei suddenly remembered something and quickly called them back.

Not long after, she came out of the kitchen with a cloth bag, walked up to Xia Ruanruan, handed it to her, and whispered in her ear, “It’s the same medicine as last time. Remember to brew it for him when you get home.”

Xia Ruanruan was a responsible and honest person. Looking at the medicine her mother-in-law handed her, she couldn’t help but want to tell the truth.

She felt that this secret might not be airtight. If the truth came out one day, Huo Beiqing, as the son, might not suffer, but she, as the daughter-in-law, would definitely be in trouble.

According to TV drama logic, the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law’s recently improved relationship might drop to freezing point.

And another thing—this medicine cost money! It wasn’t free!

Wasting money like this just wasn’t right!

But before she could speak, Huo Beiqing had already taken the bag from her hands and told her to get in the car.

Xia Ruanruan swallowed back the words she was about to say and could only bid farewell to Lin Wei and Huo Shuyuan. “Dad, Mom, we’re heading back now!”