"Don't change the subject. Tell me the truth, what exactly happened? If you were in the right, I promise I'll stand up for you!" Ning Xingchen coughed lightly, thinking it best not to let Qin Bao'er know about his ambiguous relationship with her aunt for now.
"There's this classmate in our class who bullies a boy every day just because his family is rich. I couldn't stand it anymore, so I punched him twice." Qin Bao'er waved her small fists, still angry when she brought it up.
"So, you're a heroine, huh? By the way, is the boy you saved handsome?" Ning Xingchen smiled knowingly.
"Hmm, he does look quite handsome when he smiles," Qin Bao'er murmured, blushing a little.
As someone who had been through it, Ning Xingchen understood Qin Bao'er's thoughts. Just starting junior high, she was at the age where first crushes often begin.
"No wonder you stepped in!" Ning Xingchen teased.
"You're missing the point. The main thing is that I can't stand that bully. Brother Xingchen, please don't tell my aunt about these details." Qin Bao'er's face turned slightly red, and she explained anxiously.
"What shouldn't I know?" At this moment, Liu Mingyan pushed the door open and walked in, looking sternly at Qin Bao'er.
"Nothing. It's a secret between Brother Xingchen and me, and I'm not telling you." Qin Bao'er, entering her rebellious phase, had been at odds with Liu Mingyan over this incident.
"You're getting more and more out of hand. You made that classmate's nose bleed! If the teacher hadn't called me today, I wouldn't have known you were so arrogant at school!" Liu Mingyan was clearly angry and reached out to grab Qin Bao'er's sleeve.
"Brother Xingchen, save me!" With her protector around, Qin Bao'er wasn't afraid of Liu Mingyan at all and quickly hid behind Ning Xingchen.
"Bao'er, come here. You don't focus on studying and keep getting into fights. Your grades are always at the bottom of the class. If you keep this up, I'll feel like I'm failing my sister!" Liu Mingyan was determined to spank Qin Bao'er and even had a rolling pin ready.
"This wasn't fighting. That jerk deserved it. I was just upholding justice!" Qin Bao'er pouted, still feeling she was in the right.
"Fighting is fighting. There's no justification for it. Come here!" Liu Mingyan judged Qin Bao'er's behavior based on her own experience. She had always been a model student, rarely involved in conflicts, let alone fights.
"I'm not coming. If I do, you'll hit me." Qin Bao'er made a face and stuck out her tongue, deliberately defying Liu Mingyan without any intention of admitting she was wrong.
"Mingyan, Mingyan, she's still young. Don't be so harsh!" Ning Xingchen stepped in, separating Liu Mingyan and Qin Bao'er.
"She's in junior high already. She's not that young. Xingchen, you're just indulging her. One day, if she blows up the school, you won't be saying that!" Liu Mingyan glared at Ning Xingchen. This was the first time they had a disagreement over child-rearing.
"Hahaha, if she dares, I'll even pay for the explosives!" Ning Xingchen laughed, thinking Liu Mingyan was exaggerating.
"You…" For a moment, Liu Mingyan didn't know what to say.
"Alright, alright, don't be mad. Let me handle this. I'm an adult. I know right from wrong and will make sure Bao'er behaves properly," Ning Xingchen whispered to Liu Mingyan.
...
"Bao'er, come on, let's go to your room. I'll sleep with you tonight!" Ning Xingchen winked, signaling her to leave quickly since Liu Mingyan was still angry.
"Brother Xingchen, don't leave me. Otherwise, Auntie will hit me." Qin Bao'er edged along the wall, keeping her distance from Liu Mingyan, and slowly moved out of the room.
After Ning Xingchen and Qin Bao'er left, Liu Mingyan sat alone on the bed, her eyes reddening with sadness.
She didn't really want to hit Qin Bao'er. She couldn't bear to. But Bao'er's poor behavior at school made Liu Mingyan feel she was failing her late sister and brother-in-law.
Ning Xingchen, not knowing the full story, couldn't judge who was right. He simply told Bao'er to calm down and think before acting next time, considering whether it was worth beating someone until even their mother wouldn't recognize them.
Then, they started playing online games together, teaming up for some fun.
Late at night, after Qin Bao'er had fallen asleep, Ning Xingchen, seeing her sleeping soundly, tiptoed out of the room and went to Liu Mingyan's bedroom. He knew she wouldn't be asleep yet.
"What are you doing here?" Liu Mingyan asked, surprised, her face turning red.
"I came to comfort you. Don't worry about Bao'er's situation. She'll start being a well-behaved lady from tomorrow." Ning Xingchen got into bed, pulled Liu Mingyan into his arms, and hugged her.
"Really? Will she be that obedient?" Liu Mingyan was skeptical.
"Darling, trust in my ability. I'm so persuasive I could make the dead come back to life and the standing sit down!" Ning Xingchen said confidently.
Liu Mingyan chuckled. "You must have used that sweet talk to deceive many innocent girls!"
"Darling, I'm not that impressive. But if I had to choose just one person, I'd only want to kiss you!" Ning Xingchen said softly.
"Stop it. It's too late," Liu Mingyan said, half-heartedly pushing Ning Xingchen away, still wanting to maintain some modesty despite her feelings.
"Don't worry, I know my limits," Ning Xingchen replied seriously.
After a night together, as dawn approached, Ning Xingchen, who was sleeping soundly, was awakened by Liu Mingyan's soft voice.
"Xingchen, you should go back to Bao'er's room. If she wakes up and sees you here, she'll definitely misunderstand." Liu Mingyan whispered.
Rubbing his sleepy eyes, Ning Xingchen nodded, hurriedly put on his clothes, and left Liu Mingyan's room.
Liu Mingyan sighed. She knew that secrets wouldn't stay hidden forever. Sooner or later, Bao'er would find out about her relationship with Ning Xingchen. Liu Mingyan decided to find a suitable opportunity to talk to Bao'er, hoping she wouldn't take it too hard.
Actually, Ning Xingchen could have waited until morning to leave, since Bao'er didn't wake up until the sun was high in the sky.
"Auntie, I'm probably going to be late for school again!" Qin Bao'er, sitting at the breakfast table, looked at the clock and said indifferently.
Qin Bao'er had long been indifferent about being late for school. She left it to fate.