"You're studying here?" Qin Yuxing knew that without Xiaoxiao's guardian applying to the school, it would be very difficult for Xiaoxiao to attend school here.
Xiaoxiao nodded and said, "I was confined at home by my dad, forced to learn this and that. It's better to come to this school. Here, I have classmates and teachers, so I won't be as lonely as being locked up at home."
Qin Yuxing said with a worried frown, "You're right, but what if your dad doesn't agree? What if he finds out you're here and takes you back to lock you up again?"
Xiaoxiao had already thought it through and said, "We'll convince him together. And isn't Xiao Anjing always saying he still treats me like a daughter? You should call him over too, and let him figure out how to convince my dad."
"I'll contact Uncle Xiao," Qin Yuxing asked, "Have you told your dad you're here? When will he come?"
"I haven't contacted him yet. After I contact Xiao Anjing, I'll contact him," Xiaoxiao said.
Qin Yuxing still felt that even if they all teamed up, they might not be able to convince Alva, and asked, "What reason do you think can convince your dad?"
Xiaoxiao looked at him, unable to speak for a moment. Then she looked at Han Xiqian, who was standing beside them, and said to her, "Sister Xiqian, you go back to the dormitory first. I have something to say to Brother Xing alone."
Han Xiqian had been listening to Xiaoxiao say she also wanted to study at this school, and felt that Xiaoxiao was doing it just for Qin Yuxing.
Today, she had silently observed them for a day and noticed the way they looked at each other. It was nothing like siblings. That tacit understanding, that gaze, clearly showed the same affection she felt.
It seemed she had been fooled by this little girl, Xiaoxiao. Xiaoxiao's scheming far surpassed her age.
Han Xiqian didn't leave immediately. Instead, she looked at Qin Yuxing and said, "What exactly happened between you and Xiaoxiao? Maybe I can help you..."
"Han Xiqian, you can't help with this. Go back to the dormitory. After I finish talking with Xiaoxiao, I'll take her to the girls' dormitory building. No one will find out, and it won't implicate you," Qin Yuxing meant the same thing as Xiaoxiao.
Han Xiqian's face darkened, and she turned to leave.
Qin Yuxing saw that Han Xiqian was a little angry and wanted to chase after her to say a few nice words, but Xiaoxiao stopped him.
"Brother Xing, don't chase after her. I'll explain to Sister Xiqian when I get back to the dormitory. She's a good person and reasonable. She won't blame us."
"Okay," Qin Yuxing asked, "What did you want to say to me alone?"
Xiaoxiao gave a wry smile and said, "Actually, convincing my dad is very simple. You just have to promise my dad that you'll watch me study well here, and that I'll prepare to be given to that Duke after I come of age. Xiao Anjing will act as a guarantor, and I'll also promise my dad that I'll marry the Duke, become a Duchess, and not cause him any trouble..."
"No! I won't agree, and I won't promise your dad that!" Qin Yuxing didn't want to listen anymore.
He would never let Xiaoxiao marry some Duke or some old man. In the future, he wanted... he wanted to be with Xiaoxiao...
Seeing Brother Xing's reaction, Xiaoxiao couldn't express how happy she was. But she had to escape her dad's control, and being in the same school as Brother Xing was the only way.
Convincing her dad so she could study at this school, at least she could stay with Brother Xing for a few years. No one could predict the future.
After she came of age, she might marry that Duke, and her fate with Brother Xing would be severed. It was better to cherish the time she had now while studying.
"Brother Xing, listen to me. This is the only way to get my dad to agree to let me study here. It's okay to agree for now. No one can predict what will happen in a few years. If not, do you want me to be locked up there, alone and lifeless? Can you bear it? Can you bear to let me go?" Xiaoxiao was almost in tears as she spoke.
"I..." Qin Yuxing felt that no matter if it was now or in a few years, he couldn't bear to see Xiaoxiao in her situation, nor could he bear to let Xiaoxiao leave him.
If he had to choose one, he didn't want to choose either, but he had to.
Xiaoxiao tugged at his sleeve and said coquettishly, "Brother Xing, I know your feelings. I'll go back to the dormitory first. Think about it carefully. Is the method I mentioned the only way? I'm not forcing you, but I really don't want to be taken back by my father and confined in that cage-like castle for a few years, only to be used as a bargaining chip and locked into another cage. I won't have a single memorable moment in my life."
After saying that, she let go of his sleeve and ran away.
Qin Yuxing watched her running figure, his heart filled with indescribable emotions. In the end, if he didn't bow to Alva and make a promise, he wouldn't have the ability or strength to protect her. It was all his fault for being too incompetent now.
He clenched his fists tightly, thinking that one day he would become strong enough to protect Xiaoxiao properly!
...
Xiaoxiao ran all the way back to Han Xiqian's dormitory, her heart pounding.
Having confirmed that Brother Xing was still hers, and that Han Xiqian couldn't snatch Brother Xing away, she couldn't express how sweet and happy she felt.
She was still immersed in this feeling of mutual confirmation, sitting on the sofa and couldn't help but laugh.
"What did you say to your brother after you sent me away?" Han Xiqian came out of the bedroom and stared at her, asking, "You confessed to your brother. How shameless of you."
Xiaoxiao looked up and saw that the friendliness in Han Xiqian's eyes was gone. She knew she was angry.
"Sister Xiqian, you misunderstood. I was just talking about some troublesome family matters with my brother. My dad is even more terrifying than your parents. He always hired private tutors to teach me all sorts of knowledge at home and didn't let me go out. I escaped this time, and I'm afraid he'll find out and drag me back."
"Oh." Han Xiqian no longer believed her words, feeling that she was full of lies and not a good person. "Stop calling him 'Brother Xing' and me 'Sister' all the time. You don't treat Qin Yuxing as a brother, and I'm not your sister! You're treating me like an idiot and playing games with me!"
Xiaoxiao stopped pretending and said, "You don't have good intentions either. Aren't you just trying to use me to get close to and pursue Brother Xing? Because of me, haven't you had many more opportunities to talk to and make friends with Brother Xing?"
"You!" Han Xiqian was furious and said, "I don't need your charity. Even without you, I can still win him over!"
"Is that so?" Xiaoxiao said with a laugh. "I grew up with Brother Xing, and I know his personality best. He won't even glance at any other girl besides me. If it weren't for me, even if you were his classmate, he wouldn't even be interested in knowing your name."
Han Xiqian's face turned pale with anger, and she knew that Xiaoxiao was right.
Before Xiaoxiao appeared, Qin Yuxing was like a learning machine. Besides studying, it was just studying. He was a loner, had no friends, didn't talk to any girls, and hadn't even looked her in the eye.
She lost her confidence and said, "No matter what, you shouldn't have tricked and deceived me. I admit I had some selfish motives in bringing you back to the dormitory and helping Qin Yuxing take care of you, but I sincerely treated you as a sister. What about you?"