Lips met, even their breaths grew ragged.
Just as Yue Chengfeng lifted Yu Zixuan into his arms, Yu Zixuan came to her senses. She wrapped one arm around Yue Chengfeng's neck and used her other hand to press against his lips as he leaned in for a kiss. Her beautiful eyes shifted slightly as she said, "Not tonight, I'm tired."
"You don't even need to move…" Yue Chengfeng protested softly. But seeing Yu Zixuan's watery eyes and her slightly aggrieved expression, he deflated. He playfully bit Yu Zixuan's fingertip and huffed, "We'll do it next time you're not tired… Hmph…"
Yu Zixuan gave Yue Chengfeng a light peck on the lips. Once he released her, she straightened her slightly disheveled clothes and casually asked, "Was that her sister, Qingtian, who came with her today? Why did you seem a bit cold towards her?"
"Xia Qingyu?" Yue Chengfeng looked at Yu Zixuan, his brow furrowing. "She's the child of Qingtian's stepmother, brought into the Xia family. They used to have a lot of conflict, but I don't know what's happened now; they're like real sisters."
"What?" Hearing Yue Chengfeng's words, Yu Zixuan's expression showed a hint of surprise. She then continued to probe, "Did they have a big conflict before?"
"Mmm," Yue Chengfeng nodded. According to their investigations, Xia Qingtian detested Xia Qingyu and had embarrassed her publicly multiple times. Nobody knew why, but they suddenly became close. Xia Qingtian had even stepped in to protect Xia Qingyu several times.
This was also one of the reasons the Yue family was so wary of Xia Qingyu.
"Could it be that Xia Qingyu… isn't Xia Qingyu?" Yu Zixuan murmured, her eyes lighting up.
Could the Tang family's mastermind, whom everyone had been unable to find, be this Xia Qingyu by Xia Qingtian's side?
Yu Zixuan was startled by her own bold thought.
But combining Yue Chengfeng's words with Xia Qingtian's nervous demeanor when she saw her today, it was very likely true!
After all, not many people had seen the Tang family mastermind's true face, and her figure was not much different from Xia Qingyu's.
If that were the case, it would be very easy for Xia Qingtian to divert the Tang family mastermind at this time.
She could simply say that "Xia Qingyu" wasn't used to staying at the Yue family's, giving "Xia Qingyu" a reason to leave, and the Yue family naturally wouldn't stop her.
Then, Xia Qingtian could rendezvous with the real Xia Qingyu before returning to Z City, all without anyone noticing.
Yu Zixuan's heart sank. She felt that Xia Qingtian had played this move beautifully.
After all, no one would suspect Xia Qingtian's stepsister.
Were the few boys she brought along deliberate diversions then?
Xia Qingtian truly lived up to being someone chosen by Mobius; she had both schemes and methods!
She had almost been fooled too.
"What?" Yue Chengfeng looked confused by Yu Zixuan's words. "Xia Qingyu isn't Xia Qingyu?"
"No, I was just talking to myself." Yu Zixuan gave Yue Chengfeng a light smile and said, "I'll go check on Qingtian and see if she's comfortable here."
"You, you just worry too much," Yue Chengfeng chuckled. "But you're really becoming more and more like a qualified aunt-in-law."
"You're the worst." Yu Zixuan's cheeks flushed, and she gently pushed Yue Chengfeng's chest, giving him a charming smile. "You go take a shower first; I'll join you later."
After kissing Yue Chengfeng's cheek again, Yu Zixuan left the room. The moment the door closed, the shy expression on her face vanished.
Meanwhile, on the other side, after Xia Qingtian left the study and returned to her bedroom, she found Xia Qingyu reading alone under the lamp.
"Competing in the contest and then immediately hitting the books again? Do you have to work that hard? Are you planning to run for president?" Xia Qingtian teased.
"No interest, and it's not possible," Xia Qingyu closed the book and said. "I'd rather make money quickly, earn more money."
"Leave the money-making to me. Why are you in such a hurry to make money? Are you doubting my ability to earn?" Xia Qingtian tapped Xia Qingyu's forehead with her finger and asked, "Or do you want to buy something? Tell me."
"I don't really want to buy anything." Xia Qingyu raised her hand and touched the spot on her forehead where Xia Qingtian had tapped, a faint smile playing on her lips. "Who would complain about having too much money?"
"That's true," Xia Qingtian nodded, picked up a pillow, and hugged it. "But it's better for you to focus on your studies now. I'm afraid you'll be too tired; health is the most important asset."
"I know," Xia Qingyu said, hearing Xia Qingtian's caring words. She smiled sweetly and leaned against Xia Qingtian. Then, as if remembering something, she asked, "Right, you seemed strange at the dinner table today. What's wrong? Is it because of your uncle's fiancée?"
"You're quite observant," Xia Qingtian curled her lips into a slight smile. "It's just a small conflict. I didn't think things through clearly before. Now I think as long as my uncle is happy, that's all that matters. I don't visit often anyway, and we won't have many chances to meet in the future. I should just relax and go with the flow."
"You don't like her?" Xia Qingyu asked.
"It's not that I don't like her…" Xia Qingtian lowered her eyes, carefully recalling her feelings when she saw Yu Zixuan. "It's more like… I'm a little scared…"
"Scared?" Xia Qingyu frowned. That sounded much more serious than simply not liking someone.
"I can't really explain it." Xia Qingtian felt it was difficult to talk about and didn't want to lie to Xia Qingyu. She flashed a bright smile, intending to gloss over it. "Hehe."
Seeing Xia Qingtian like this, Xia Qingyu sighed inwardly and then said, "Let's go for a walk. I ate a bit too much tonight; keep me company to help digest."
"Okay," Xia Qingtian readily agreed.
The two changed their clothes and prepared to go out.
As soon as the door opened, Xia Qingtian saw Yu Zixuan standing at the doorway, about to knock to enter. "Aunt-in-law? Is something wrong?"
"Nothing much, I just wanted to see if you needed anything prepared." Yu Zixuan noticed their outdoor attire and a hint of vigilance flashed in her eyes. She thought her timing was perfect.
If she had been a moment later, they might have slipped away!
"Everything's fine here, nothing needs preparing." Xia Qingtian felt a touch of warmth seeing Yu Zixuan's concern.
Indeed, let's just let that incident pass; she didn't mind anymore.
Xia Qingyu, standing beside Xia Qingtian, remembered her sister's assessment of her future aunt-in-law. Her eyes held a trace of wariness.
Anyone who could make Xia Qingtian scared was not simple.
She needed to be careful and not let her sister be bullied.
"That's good then." Yu Zixuan's gaze shifted from Xia Qingtian's face to Xia Qingyu's. She saw that Xia Qingyu's expression also seemed to mix with a defensiveness towards her.
Yu Zixuan knew then that her suspicions were indeed correct.
This Tang family mastermind was starting to guard against her.