"Xiao Xi, why are you still here? Aren't you going to Dai Yao's house? Hurry up and get ready."
They hadn't disturbed Qiu Xi earlier because she was in a meeting.
However, after she finished, she sat there with her laptop, typing away, and hadn't moved an inch since.
Having no other choice, they had to go up and call her themselves.
"Ah, it's already that time!"
As the three greeted her, Qiu Xi's eyes immediately darted to the clock.
"I'll be ready right away! Immediately!"
With that, Qiu Xi saved her files, shut down her computer, and then, in her slippers, she scurried around the dorm.
She washed her face and searched for clothes, darting in and out so quickly that one could only catch a glimpse of her figure.
In her haste, she had completely forgotten that she had to go out today.
Once she had gathered her things, Qiu Xi sat down, preparing to tidy up her face a little.
In less than half an hour, all four of them were ready.
"I'm done. Let's grab what we bought and head out."
Liang Yunfei nodded, "It's all placed on the rack by the door. We can just take it and go."
Qiu Xi was the last to finish getting ready. After tidying up, she remembered to remind Liang Yunfei to bring the gifts they had prepared together.
Although Song Daiyao had said her family lacked nothing, and they knew this to be true, proper etiquette couldn't be neglected, especially since Uncle Song had recently helped them with a major favor.
"Alright, let's go."
With that, the four of them walked out of the dorm and locked the door.
...
"Mom, Dad, I'm home~"
"If you're back, then hurry inside and find something for Xiao Xi and the others to eat first."
Mo Lanxin glanced at her daughter, said this, and then walked towards Qiu Xi and the other two with a smile.
"You three young ladies must be tired from coming all this way. Come and sit down quickly."
"Auntie will pour you something to drink."
Taking one by the hand, her eyes on the one behind, she made the three of them sit down.
"Make yourselves at home here. Don't be shy. If you need anything, just tell Auntie."
"Dinner will be a while longer, so you can just play here for now."
Qiu Xi and the other two looked at Song's mother, who was beaming with enthusiasm even before they had entered, and felt a bit reserved.
They were stunned and didn't know what to say, so they followed her inside.
Then, as they watched her bustle around, Qiu Xi finally spoke, "Auntie, you're making too much trouble. We can do it ourselves."
"You just sit and chat with us."
"Exactly, Auntie. Xiao Xi is right. You should just sit here and chat with us."
Upon hearing this, Mo Lanxin's smile widened even more. "Okay, then I'll sit here."
"I'm only happy that you're willing to chat with me!"
Saying this, she immediately turned her head and urged Song Daiyao, who was still standing.
"Yao Yao, go up and tell your father that I won't be going up. I'll chat here for a while."
"......"
Song Daiyao, who was already looking confused, listened to her mother's words and looked utterly disbelieving.
Was she her biological daughter?
Had her mother been swapped today?
Why was her treatment today so exceptionally unusual?
"Why are you standing there blankly? Hurry up."
Mo Lanxin showed a hint of disdain, wondering why her daughter looked so foolish today.
"Alright..."
Seeing the expression on her mother's face, Song Daiyao, having accepted reality, nodded helplessly and went upstairs to find her father.
"Haha~"
"Don't mind her. Let's continue, girls."
"Okay, Auntie~"
The girl's close friends, who had felt a bit of sympathy for Song Daiyao a moment ago, were now smiling and chatting with Mo Lanxin, the atmosphere being very warm and harmonious.
Upstairs.
"Dad, I'm home~"
After knocking a few times, Song Daiyao entered her father's study with permission.
"Yao Yao, when did you get back?"
Song Mingcheng put down his pen and stood up, looking at his newly returned youngest daughter with concern.
Seeing the smile on her father's face and hearing his concerned words, Song Daiyao was truly delighted!
Indeed, her father was not like her mother. As soon as Xiao Xi and the others arrived, her mother practically clung to them.
Truly!
"Just got back. Xiao Xi and the others are downstairs already. Mommy asked me to come up and tell you."
"Ah? You're saying that Xiao Xi has already arrived?"
Song Daiyao nodded. "Yes."
"Is that so? Then I'll go down now and chat for a bit."
"Yao Yao, if you have something to do, stay here by yourself first."
As soon as he finished speaking, Song Daiyao realized her father was no longer in the study...
Was the smile she saw earlier just her imagination?
Song Daiyao, doubting herself once more, circled around and returned downstairs.
"Mom, Dad, what are you guys chatting about with Xiao Xi and the others?"
Song Daiyao looked at the two smiling happily and once again doubted if her eyesight was failing...
Her mother was one thing; she did smile happily occasionally. It was her father...
To be honest, she had rarely seen him laugh so heartily.
"Yao Yao, why did you come down too?"
"......"
Shouldn't she have come down?
Where else should she be? Under the sofa?
"I just went upstairs to call someone, but before I could turn around, they were gone."
"Besides, you're all here. Shouldn't I be here too?"
Song Daiyao was not one to be trifled with. She opened her mouth and blocked her mother's words.
Then she walked over, squeezed her way in, and sat between her mother and Xiao Xi.
"......"
Song Daiyao didn't consider the situation and asked on her own, "Where's my brother? Why don't I see him?"
"He was too busy a while ago. Now that he finally has some rest, he's been dragged out by his buddies."
"Okay then..."
She had been hoping her brother could attract some attention... but she hadn't accounted for this...
"Alright, let's not talk about your brother."
"Yan Yan, let's continue."
Saying this, Mo Lanxin moved her position and pulled Shen Yan and Liang Yunfei to continue chatting.
Song Mingcheng glanced at them, then returned to chatting normally with Qiu Xi.
Song Daiyao listened. She couldn't join Xiao Xi's conversation, so she consciously moved closer to her mother's side.
If she couldn't figure it out, she'd join in. Let's all chat together.
...
"Xiao Xi, you really have some great ideas. If I had known earlier, I would have invested too."
Song Mingcheng didn't have much to talk about with young girls, but Qiu Xi was not just any ordinary young girl.
So after a few casual remarks, Song Mingcheng began discussing the recent territorial expansion with Qiu Xi.
After understanding the situation, Song Mingcheng was truly left with only admiration.
"Uncle Song, you think too highly of me. I still have a lot to learn."
Qiu Xi was chatting with Song Mingcheng and was also surprised to hear this.
Compared to the Song Corporation's vast business empire, their current endeavors were truly insignificant.
Song Mingcheng looked at the young girl. "You are too modest."
"Dad, if you think so highly of it, why don't you lend me some money? I'll invest with Xiao Xi. If it really makes money, I'll pay you back. How about that?"
Song Daiyao, who was just drifting around, happened to overhear her father's words.
Without thinking, she blurted out the question.
As they were chatting, both of them were stunned by Song Daiyao's question.
Qiu Xi tilted her head and shot a glare at the silly girl.
Could such a thing be asked so casually?
It made things so awkward!
Song Daiyao, after asking without thinking, also realized something was amiss and gave a silly smile.
Then she looked back again. "Dad, I was just kidding. You guys continue..."
After saying that, she prepared to slip away.
Unexpectedly, Song Mingcheng burst into laughter and slapped his thigh.
"How did I not think of that!"
Song Mingcheng muttered to himself for a moment before looking at Qiu Xi.
"Xiao Xi, I don't interfere with the matters between you young ladies!"
"......"
Qiu Xi looked at him, seeing a man who seemed to be acting shamelessly, which was completely inconsistent with his image as a CEO...
"Yao Yao, after dinner, Dad will have a talk with you."
"Okay~"
Song Daiyao didn't care about all that, and she didn't believe her father would ask her to do anything meaningless.
"Sir, Madam, the food is ready."
Just then, someone came up.
"Then let's go. It's getting late. Let's eat dinner first."
"Okay."
With that, Mo Lanxin led the group to the living room.