Tang Mingchuan rented a small apartment near Lin Xi's house so that he could be closer to her and it would be convenient to meet. Tang Mingchuan was a neat freak, cleaning every corner of the apartment meticulously. Lin Xi also helped, one in the kitchen and the other in the living room, the two of them quietly harmonizing, creating a very harmonious scene.
Tang Mingchuan could lift his head and see his little girl bustling in the kitchen, wearing a small apron, tiptoeing to wipe the cabinets, looking serious and cute.
Such a soft and adorable girl broke into his dull and dark life, giving him hope again without any expectation.
These thoughts could only be kept in Tang Mingchuan's heart. He wouldn't say them to the little girl. He couldn't forget the way the little girl's eyes turned red when she said she felt sorry for him.
The two of them cleaned up all afternoon, and by the time they finished, it was already dark outside. Lin Xi sat on the sofa, reaching out to embrace Tang Mingchuan's neck. "It's getting late. Let's go eat and I'll take you home later." Tang Mingchuan affectionately stroked Lin Xi's head.
Looking outside, Lin Xi realized it was indeed dark already. Since being with Tang Mingchuan, her sense of time had become increasingly weak.
"My parents will be off work soon too," Lin Xi said with her head down, remembering what Xu Xin said to her yesterday about not letting her date. She wondered if Tang Mingchuan would be angry if he knew.
Tang Mingchuan noticed Lin Xi's hesitation. His little girl had always had a naturally obedient appearance. Now that she was at her home, her parents probably didn't even know that their daughter had been taken away by him.
"Little girl, is it that your parents object to you dating?" Tang Mingchuan asked gently.
Lin Xi nodded and shook her head. Tang Mingchuan couldn't help but chuckle at her silly appearance.
"It's okay. You're still young. If they object to you dating, I won't mind," Tang Mingchuan explained. He didn't care what others thought; he only cared about his little girl's feelings. Lin Xi hugged Tang Mingchuan with both hands and kissed him on the cheek. "Although my mom doesn't agree with me dating now, you're so good that they will definitely like you."
Tang Mingchuan thought for a moment. He was six years older than Lin Xi, but he didn't look that old. They looked quite compatible standing together.
The two hugged for a while before going downstairs to have dinner. After dinner, Tang Mingchuan took the little girl back home.
"I'll just walk you here and watch you leave," Tang Mingchuan said to Lin Xi. If he got any closer, and someone recognized him, it would be difficult for the little girl's parents.
Lin Xi took a few steps, turned back to look at Tang Mingchuan, and said, "I'll come to see you tomorrow!" Then she ran off like the wind.
...
When Lin Xi returned home, Lin Zhenghong and Xu Xin had already finished work and come back. They noticed Lin Xi had just returned home.
"Xixi, where did you go? You're back so late?" Xu Xin was a little unhappy. The breakfast she prepared for Lin Xi in the morning was hardly touched.
Lin Xi glanced around. "I went out to meet with some high school friends, so I came back late."
Although Xu Xin was puzzled, she didn't say anything further. This time, her daughter seemed to have changed after returning, becoming livelier and somewhat mysterious.
"Go wash your hands and eat," Xu Xin said to Lin Xi.
Lin Xi hesitated for a moment. She had just had dinner with Tang Mingchuan and was already full. She couldn't eat anymore.
"I've already had dinner with my classmates. Mom, you and dad go ahead. I'm not hungry. I'll go to my room first," Lin Xi made up an excuse and went back to her room.
Xu Xin sat at the dining table, lost in thought. "Zhenghong, do you think our Xixi has something on her mind? She seems different after going to university."
Lin Zhenghong put some food in Xu Xin's bowl. "Xixi is already a grown-up. Even if she has something on her mind, it's normal. We've protected her too well since she was young, always afraid she would get hurt. Now that she's in university, we should interfere less in her life."
Lin Zhenghong knew Xu Xin was worried about Lin Xi. Xu Xin intervened too much in Lin Xi's life. Even when Lin Xi wanted to study oil painting, Xu Xin rejected it, saying it would affect her studies.
Although it was for her own good, Lin Zhenghong didn't quite agree with Xu Xin still controlling Lin Xi like a child.
You can't hide anything from a mother's eyes. Lin Xi's thoughts were written all over her face, and Xu Xin understood her daughter very well.
"Xixi, tell mommy the truth. Do you have a boyfriend?" Xu Xin's tone was calm, as if she had already made up her mind.
This time, Lin Xi didn't lie anymore, just nodded, confessing was also good, and she didn't have to sneak around to see Tang Mingchuan.
"I'm sorry, Mom, I lied to you before. I do have a boyfriend now, and he's very nice to me," Lin Xi said softly with her head down.
Xu Xin didn't feel too surprised by Lin Xi's words. She knew her daughter very well.
"Then tell mommy about him," Xu Xin continued.
Lin Xi didn't know much about Tang Mingchuan, so she told Xu Xin everything she knew about him.
After listening to Lin Xi, Xu Xin's expression didn't change much. "Xixi, he's a university professor, six years older than you. Are you sure you want to be with him?"
Lin Xi nodded. She was very sure.
Xu Xin touched Lin Xi's head. "Mommy has been protecting you too much, or perhaps my desire to control you is too strong. Xixi, you've grown up, and you can do what you want. Mommy will give you advice, but I won't interfere with you anymore. If you like him, you can be with him. If you get hurt, just tell mommy, mommy will always be by your side."
Lin Xi raised her head, her eyes moist. It was the first time Xu Xin had said such words to her.