"Dear, I must insist that you live with us. At least until you have somewhere better to go," Lin grinned, her eyes twinkling with mischief. "But of course, there's nowhere better to live than with us."
Lia smiled, warmed by the offer but unable to resist teasing. "Don't professors get housing on campus?" she shot back, raising an eyebrow.
Lin sighed in mock exasperation, folding her arms across her chest. "A daughter can never be kept at home, it seems," she lamented dramatically. "At least let us move you into the university apartments. I won't have you living somewhere unworthy of you."
Lia glanced around, taking in the beauty of the Qins' home once again. It was large but tastefully furnished—elegant without being overwhelming, expensive without veering into ostentatious. The kind of home where every piece of furniture seemed carefully selected, adding warmth rather than just luxury. The rich tones of the hardwood floors, the delicate Chinese paintings hanging on the walls, and the plush but understated furniture made it clear that the Qins had impeccable taste.
"Of course, I'm not going to say no to that," Lia replied, nodding in agreement. She loved the house, its warmth, and how it felt so different from the cold, stiff environment of the Zhang mansion.
But her playful side couldn't help but poke at the situation. With an exaggerated sigh, Lia raised her hand to her forehead and struck a theatrical pose. "So, you're saying that the dean of the university is going to personally move me in? Won't that kind of blatant nepotism ruin my pure reputation?"
Professor Qin, who had been listening to the exchange with a grin, feigned outrage. "What pure reputation? All my colleagues already know that we have an ungrateful daughter who ran away from home at 16!" His voice rose dramatically, his arms flying up in mock fury.
Lia gasped in exaggerated shock, pressing her hand to her heart. "I was hardly ungrateful! I simply—expanded my horizons!" she shot back, a smile tugging at her lips.
Lin, never one to miss out on the theatrics, let out a deep sigh of her own and shook her head mournfully. "But of course, if you don't want us to help you move, we can always stay here and cry," she said, clutching at an imaginary handkerchief as if preparing for a tragic scene.
"How could I dare refuse such kind parents?" Lia countered, sinking into a low bow. "Please, don't push this heavy sin upon me. I would never wish to cause you such grief."
The playful banter bounced easily between the three of them, the air filled with warmth and laughter. It had always been like this with the Qins—comfortable, light, and full of affection. Lia had never experienced this kind of easy family dynamic at home with the Zhangs. Her parents, especially her step-mother, had always been concerned with image and propriety, while her father saw her more as an asset to the family name than as a person with her own dreams.
But here, with Professor Qin and Lin, Lia felt safe. She could breathe. She could joke and be her full, sometimes dramatic, self without fear of judgment.
Before Lia could add to the dramatics, she felt a tickle in her nose, followed by a loud sneeze. She barely had time to cover her face before the sound echoed through the room.
"Nancy! Get Lia some tea! No—get her some hot chocolate!" Professor Qin yelled toward the kitchen, his concerned tone breaking through the humor as he rushed to Lia's side. His voice boomed with authority, but the warmth behind his words was evident.
From the kitchen, the soft sound of clattering pots and pans was followed by the hurried footsteps of Nancy, the Qins' longtime housekeeper. She appeared moments later, wiping her hands on her apron and nodding at Professor Qin's request with a smile.
"Right away, sir," Nancy said before disappearing back into the kitchen.
Lia chuckled at the fuss, wiping her nose with the back of her hand. "I'm fine, Professor. It's just a little sneeze."
"Nonsense!" Professor Qin waved her off. "You've been out in the rain, soaking wet, and now you're sneezing. I will not have you getting sick under my roof." His tone was light, but the concern in his eyes was unmistakable. He had always been like this—overprotective in the best way. It reminded Lia of why she had come here in the first place, to the people who had always treated her like one of their own.
Lin stepped in, her smile softening as she looked at Lia. "Let us take care of you for a while, hmm? You've been strong for long enough. It's time to let someone else shoulder some of the weight."
Lia looked down at her feet, the lighthearted banter of a moment ago giving way to a deeper feeling. Lin's words hit home in a way she hadn't expected. She had been carrying a lot—too much, really—between the pressure from her family and the constant feeling that she needed to prove herself. The thought of letting go, even for a little while, was both terrifying and comforting.
"You know, you could stay here as long as you need," Lin added gently. "This house has always been your home, too."
Lia nodded, a lump forming in her throat. She wasn't used to people offering her help without expecting something in return. The Zhangs were all about transactions—favors given and taken, debts owed. But here, with the Qins, it was different. They genuinely cared about her well-being, not for what she could do for them but because they loved her.
Professor Qin clapped a hand on her shoulder, his usual cheerful demeanor returning. "Enough with the seriousness. You're going to stay with us for now, no arguments. We'll get you settled into the apartments later, but for now, let's focus on getting you dry and warm."
Lia smiled, feeling the warmth of their love and support wrap around her like a comforting blanket. "Thank you," she said softly, her voice barely above a whisper.
Nancy reappeared with a steaming mug of hot chocolate, placing it gently in Lia's hands. "Here you go, miss," she said with a kind smile. "Drink up before it gets cold."
Lia wrapped her fingers around the mug, letting the warmth seep into her palms. The rich, chocolatey aroma filled the room, and for the first time that day, she allowed herself to relax fully.
As she took a sip, she felt the tension in her body melt away. Here, in the Qins' home, she could finally breathe.