Zhou Lanping listened to these words, and instead of getting angry, she laughed. She looked around and said to the woman, "It seems like it's just the two of us here. When others are present, Comrade Xia probably wouldn't be so... 'articulate'," she said, her voice tinged with a hint of sarcasm. "I always thought Gao Shu fancied someone gentle and virtuous. No wonder." Her eyes remained amused as the words spilled out, causing Xia Lin to feel unsettled, reflected in her changing complexion.
"What do you mean by that, Aunt?"
Zhou Lanping waved her hand dismissively, "I mean exactly what I said, I'm complimenting you. My Qiuqiu is just the opposite of you—seemingly articulate on the surface. No, I'm flattering her by saying that; she's actually quite clumsy with words, at best just a pest. But having said that, although she may not be quick-witted, she's actually a very gentle and quietly kind person."
