Chapter 46 Pink Toilet Paper

Xue Qingdai had no strength and couldn’t speak, so she simply clawed at the exposed skin on Xie Yan’s neck. Three bloody scratch marks appeared on his wheat-toned skin. He didn’t feel pain—he knew he must’ve angered her with what he just did.

Finally, he let her go.

“Xie Yan! What’s wrong with you?!” Her body was warm, and her brain was a bit fuzzy too. She was so mad, but she couldn’t even come up with a better insult.

Xue Qingdai covered her slightly flushed lips, teary eyes full of accusation staring at the silent Xie Yan.
“I told you to eat the White Rabbit candy!”

She opened her right hand, revealing a slightly crumpled piece of candy in the palm. Xie Yan’s phoenix eyes locked onto her lips.

“Mmm…” he hummed lowly.

Xue Qingdai bit down hard on his shoulder, leaving a visible bite mark.
Xie Yan had kissed her without permission—and forcefully too. Yet he didn’t even look the least bit apologetic!
Men really do think with the lower half of their bodies. Even Xie Yan was no exception.

Xie Yan unwrapped the now-soft candy and popped it into his mouth.
“My mistake. It’s… all quite tasty.”

“Say that again?” Xue Qingdai glared. He was being a pervert!

“Ahem… I meant the White Rabbit is tasty. I’ll buy you more next time,” Xie Yan corrected himself quickly.

Xue Qingdai didn’t want to deal with him anymore. She propped up her hand to keep him from getting closer.

Xie Yan offered gently,
“I’ll get you some warm water to wipe your hands… and rinse your mouth in case there’s a cut.”

She picked up a pillow and threw it straight at him.
“Hmph!”

Xie Yan still hadn’t returned to the main house. Meanwhile, Xie Wei was incredibly uncomfortable under Zhang Shuying’s scrutinizing gaze. No matter what he said, she would shut him down. He couldn’t offend his grandparents—but surely, he could pick on the “soft target” of his country-bumpkin little aunt.

“Is Uncle still not back? Auntie’s so picky—this radish and cabbage, I ate it every day in the village and never got tired of it.”
“Isn’t Auntie from the countryside? She can’t even handle a little hardship?”

He remembered Zhang Shuying used to work in a cultural troupe. It had now merged into the Central Song and Dance Ensemble. Her name still carried weight. Surely, she must have opinions about a future daughter-in-law who wasn’t in the arts.

Maybe if he pointed that out, she’d stop picking on him for once.

If Grandpa didn’t care about Grandma’s opinion, Xie Wei certainly wouldn’t either.

Zhang Shuying slammed her palm on the table.
“So what if she doesn’t want to eat pig food? You think she’s made of iron like you? You were practically begging everyone to notice you when you went to the countryside—don’t act like you don’t know that ‘labor is glorious!’”

Zhao Meiqin was stunned by Zhang Shuying’s bluntness and power. She tried to defend Xie Wei:
“He didn’t mean anything by it. Please don’t be upset.”

Zhang Shuying ignored her completely and pointed at Xie Wei:
“When you see your little auntie, you treat her with respect— *understood?**”

She didn’t even acknowledge Zhao Meiqin. That girl clearly had bad intentions and had been eyeing her son.

Back in the bedroom, Xie Yan finished wiping Xue Qingdai’s face with a towel and pulled out a roomy coat from the wardrobe.

“It’s cold out. Come with me to the main room to meet my nephew.”

Xue Qingdai was still enjoying her red sweater and had no intention of changing.
“This one’s too ugly. Pick something else.”

The red sweater contrasted beautifully with her fair skin and highlighted her figure—something Xie Yan was not keen on letting Xie Wei see.
With a sigh, he picked a brightly colored coat and finally coaxed her out.

He wrapped her tightly in the coat, and the two of them walked closely together, visible breath puffing in the cold air. The moment they stepped into the main room, Xie Yan said urgently,
“Mom, where’s the hot water bottle in your room? I want to warm Daidai’s hands.”

The main room had been the first to be renovated, and though the decor was old, it was well-maintained.
A few stacks of newspapers sat atop a wooden cabinet, and a red floral cloth covered a rotary phone at the top.

Xue Qingdai smiled openly at Zhang Shuying without a trace of caution. Her milky white coat immediately brightened the old room. Her little face was hidden inside a scarf, leaving only her eyes visible—shimmering with spring-like warmth.
Just as she started to loosen the scarf from the heat, Xie Yan gave her a look. She reluctantly stopped.

Xie Yan has to control everything—so annoying!

The usually stern Xie Songshan smiled warmly at the sight of her.
“Qingdai’s here.”

Zhang Shuying let go of Xie Songshan’s thigh (she had been pinching him) and beamed.
“Daidai’s here!”
Then she called,
“Xie Wei! Come greet your little auntie!”

Zhao Meiqin felt a jolt in her chest. Was this really the same Xue Qingdai she knew?
An anonymous letter had said that Xue Qingdai’s fiancé was infertile.
And so was Xie Wei’s uncle… Could it be the same person?

But someone like Xie Yan—so refined and otherworldly—there was no way he’d be with someone as overbearing as the village troublemaker she knew.

Xie Wei had given up. His grandparents were clearly too kind to this “little aunt.” Without even looking, he called reluctantly:
“Little Auntie…”

Meanwhile, Xie Yan wrapped the hot water bottle in several layers of pink tissue and handed it to Xue Qingdai.
“Here, warm your hands.”

Then he looked back at Xie Wei, voice cold:
“Be respectful. Your little aunt isn’t feeling well, and I had to coax her to come here.”
“What kind of attitude is that?”

Xue Qingdai quietly brushed away crumbs from her lips, hiding a smile.
It was oddly satisfying seeing this jerk’s relatives treat her like royalty.
But thinking of the original book’s ending, she decided not to get too carried away.

“Don’t make him call me,” she said.

Xie Yan instantly frowned. Daidai still doesn’t want to acknowledge their connection?

He responded sternly:
“Xie Wei, call her properly. This is your future little aunt. If you can’t respect her, then don’t bother coming here anymore.”

“Little… Auntie…” Xie Wei finally looked up to see who exactly had caused even his cool-tempered uncle to get angry.

Xue Qingdai blinked innocently.
Xie Yan’s stern scolding was… kinda hot.

Comparison really did show the difference.
Next to him, Xie Wei just seemed pathetic.

“Mm.” She responded softly.

“It’s you—Xue Qingdai!” Xie Wei stared, then looked at his uncle, who was still glaring at him.
His whole body tensed. If I’d known, I never would’ve come.

Xue Qingdai didn’t hold back.
“What? You got a problem?”

Zhao Meiqin clenched her fists, holding back a storm of resentment.
“Qingdai, why didn’t you tell your cousin you were coming to the capital? If I’d known, I’d have taken time off to pick you up from the train station.”
“How long have you been here? Your fiancé is Uncle Xie Wei’s uncle—why didn’t you tell me such an important thing?”
“When did we become so distant?”

Now that she knew it was that Xue Qingdai, Zhao Meiqin actually felt a bit relieved.
Sure, she was a little jealous of her seemingly perfect fiancé.
But that cousin of hers had always been hot-headed and reckless in the village. No need to scheme against her—she’d get herself into trouble.

That angry aunt from earlier was already proof.