The Gu family's attitude was something Gu Yaoyang had never been able to understand.
The great fire at the time had been sudden, and it had also shown him the cold-bloodedness of the Gu family.
He had been angry, unwilling, pained, and numb.
Although he was no longer swayed by that incident, it was impossible to say he didn't care at all.
However, after hearing this news from Xia Qingtian, Gu Yaoyang truly became calm.
It wasn't the indifference that came after numbness, but a genuine release of his grievances.
"That's good, that's good," Xia Qingtian said, relieved to hear Gu Yaoyang's words. Then, she asked curiously, "Are you going to look for your family then?"
"Since it was a deathbed entrustment, I don't think I have any family left." Gu Yaoyang picked up the porridge bowl. The once scalding hot porridge was now at the perfect temperature. The soft grains of rice seemed to warm his heart as they went down. "It's fine, I'm used to it."
"Tsk tsk tsk, you poor thing," Xia Qingtian said, putting a piece of pickled radish into Gu Yaoyang's porridge bowl. "Here, it's sweet and sour, to sweeten your mouth."
"Heh heh." Gu Yaoyang was amused by Xia Qingtian's action.
"Since you don't care, I won't bother with Yu Linwan anymore," Xia Qingtian continued. "I can't be bothered with her."
"No need to mind her," Gu Yaoyang said meaningfully. "She won't be arrogant for long."
"I think so too," Xia Qingtian agreed, nodding. Anyone who would plot with a scoundrel like Song Junhan, what good end could Yu Linwan have?
After having a late-night snack with Gu Yaoyang, Xia Qingtian took a car back to the Xia family. The moment she entered the house, she sensed a tense atmosphere.
"What's going on?" Xia Qingtian asked Xia Qingyu, who was sitting on the sofa.
"I don't know," Xia Qingyu shook her head. "It was fine before. Er Ya came back to get some clean clothes, and then it suddenly became like this..."
Xia Qingtian slapped her forehead and looked at Miao Tong, who was sitting on the other end of the sofa. She then asked in a low voice, "Where is Er Ya?"
"She was about to hit Miao Tong just now, and Third Uncle carried her away," Xia Qingyu replied. "Er Ya has been yelling upstairs, saying she wants to kill Miao Tong. Miao Tong also looks like he's ready to fight her. We were all scared."
"Sigh..." Xia Qingtian sighed. There were so many complicated things, and she really didn't expect Er Ya to suddenly come back for clean clothes.
After glancing at Miao Tong, Xia Qingtian went straight upstairs.
Er Ya was still furious, her cheeks puffed out. When she saw Xia Qingtian, she sprang up like a little cannonball and rushed to Xia Qingtian, demanding, "Why is someone with the surname Miao living here! The air is polluted by him! Make him leave!"
Xia Qingtian didn't answer Er Ya's question but looked at a helpless Xia Shang. "Third Uncle, have you talked to her?"
"I tried, but I couldn't get a word in," Xia Shang said, lowering his head slightly.
Er Ya was furious and simply wouldn't listen. He tried to tell her, but Er Ya had always been like this since she was a child.
Once she got angry, her head would get hot, and she would speak without thinking or considering the consequences.
Because of her recklessness, she had been punished by her master many times, but she still hadn't changed.
Just now, as soon as Er Ya saw Miao Tong, she exploded and rushed to hit him. It was only because he reacted quickly and carried Er Ya upstairs that the situation was averted.
Miao Tong's expression was also extremely unpleasant. He didn't know what to do.
His head ached.
"Er Ya, will you be happy if everyone with the surname Miao leaves?" Xia Qingtian asked.
"Yes!" Er Ya answered immediately, then suddenly widened her eyes. "Everyone? There are others too!"
"Mmm," Xia Qingtian nodded and said, "Third Uncle, pack your things and move out. Er Ya doesn't want you living here."
"No! What does Xia Shang have to do with it! I'm talking about people with the surname Miao!" Er Ya said immediately.
"Don't you think the person you saw downstairs looked familiar?" Xia Qingtian asked.
"I didn't see his face clearly. Just the smell of insects on him disgusted me!" Er Ya said indignantly. "Qingtian, can you make him move out? I hate him! Why did you let him move in? Miao people are very bad, cunning and treacherous, they must... they must have some dark purpose!"
"He's Third Uncle's biological brother. He's here to see his brother, how can I kick him out?" Xia Qingtian spread her hands.
"What?" Er Ya blinked her eyes, seemingly trying to process Xia Qingtian's words.
Xia Qingtian didn't rush her, just waited for Er Ya to react.
Er Ya looked at Xia Shang, then at Xia Qingtian, and asked, "Do you have other Third Uncles?"
"He's the only one living here," Xia Qingtian said, pointing at Xia Shang. "Miao Tong is his brother. His real name is Miao Sang."
"!" Er Ya looked shocked, and took two steps back, almost falling to the ground, but Xia Shang caught her in time.
"Miao Sang? Miao... Miao?" Er Ya couldn't understand how the childhood sweetheart she had always considered her only potential husband had suddenly become someone with the surname Miao?
"Meow meow? 'Woof woof' won't work!" Xia Qingtian said helplessly. "You weren't there when the Miao family recognized relatives in Kyoto. We went. Didn't you complain about having a strange smell on us when we got back?"
"Then... but... but..." Er Ya felt her mouth couldn't keep up with her brain. She paced restlessly in Xia Shang's room, sighing continuously, "How could this happen!"
"That's the fact," Xia Qingtian said. "In any case, if you really want to be with Third Uncle, you can only accept the fact that his original surname is Miao."
"Be together... Why are you talking about being together now! Saying such embarrassing words intentionally at this time... you're affecting my thinking!" Er Ya protested with a red face and stomping her feet. "You're so annoying!"
"Alright then, I'm annoying, and you can think slowly. I'll take Third Uncle downstairs first. You came back and just wanted to hit Miao Tong without any reason, we have to give him an explanation," Xia Qingtian said helplessly.
"No, no! Miao people are very bad!" Er Ya hugged Xia Shang tightly and said, "It's dangerous to get close to Miao people, Xia Shang can't go!"
"I am essentially surnamed Miao..." Xia Shang said helplessly to Er Ya.
"You don't have to be surnamed Miao. Anyway, you don't understand any Gu arts. You just need to marry into my family and take my surname!" Er Ya's eyes lit up. "Do you want to be surnamed Tang or Er?"
"Neither... I don't really want to." Xia Shang felt it was fine to keep his current surname, Xia.
"What kind of ghost is surnamed Er!" Xia Qingtian's mouth twitched. This Er Ya was truly an idiot!