### Chapter 190: Extraneous Matters
With Lin Jie leading the way, the Four Young Masters of Peng City and Xia Le were wandering around for quite a while. They even visited some isolated areas, but they still didn’t bump into the people who had beaten them earlier.
When faced with this kind of situation, it’s not like they were surprised, but what good did it do them? Maybe those guys had become more cautious. Soon enough, as time was ticking away, the Four Young Masters of Peng City and Xia Le had to head home since they were children after all.
Xia Le coming back so late naturally stirred up concerns with his dad, Xia Hong, and his mom, Wang Wenjuan. And perhaps because of what happened yesterday, Xia Hong couldn’t stand seeing Jiang Kekai anymore.
So, Jiang Kekai, who usually has an exceptionally high tolerance for aggravation, finally snapped. Looking at Xia Yu, she asked bluntly, “Little Yu, sister is planning to move next door, want to come along?”
Xia Yu, who was mindlessly playing “Happy Elimination”, couldn’t help but look up when Jiang Kekai spoke to her. Then she saw her Little Ning sister and her parents looking at her with curious looks as if expecting her answer.
After glancing at Jiang Kekai and then her parents, Xia Yu was utterly clueless on how to respond. On one hand, she had her beloved Little Ning sister, but on the other, she had her own parents who raised her.
Thus, Xia Yu fell silent, uncertain how to respond. So, she opted to say nothing at all.
Seeing Xia Yu’s reaction, Jiang Kekai apparently understood her choice, ruffled her hair affectionately, and turned to Jiang Hanhang, who was playing games with Xia Ling, “Let’s go; we’re done here.”
Jiang Hanhang felt similar sentiments. She wasn’t exactly thrilled about being there either, especially since she only stayed because Xia Yu, Xia Ling, and her own sister were around. But now, she was ready to call it a day just like Jiang Kekai.
In the wake of their exit, Xia Ling and Xia Yu were left unaccompanied. They couldn’t help feeling annoyed internally over their parents chasing off their visitors. Yet, they didn’t dare speak up.
Pouting, Xia Ling decided to stick with Xia Yu again. Now that Bossy Jiang Kekai was gone, they could have some quality bonding time. After about five or six minutes, Xia Le finally came back from outside, looking relatively clean compared to the previous day.
Ah, everyone’s back! So now it was time for dinner, right?
Typically, Jiang Kekai would make meals and deliver them. With Jiang Kekai gone, nobody was likely to keep sending food over. Reluctantly, Wang Wenjuan began rummaging through the fridge to scrounge up something paltry to whip together.
Turns out there was only a bundle of noodles. Everything else had been cleared out due to fears of staleness…
So now, all she had was these dry noodles. In a pinch, they’d do fine once boiled.
Seeing the dismal state of affairs, Wang Wenjuan resigned herself to cooking up some plain noodles without any veggies or seasoning. “Alright, you two stop fiddling with your phones and come eat.”
Placing the cooked noodles on the table, Wang Wenjuan ushered everyone to gather around, subtly reminding Xia Le and Xia Hong.
With that, the Xia family finally settled down for dinner.
Being their mother’s creation, none of the three kids complained when they settled in to eat the noodles.
Seeing their humble meal, even the dimwit Xia Le realized why it was so meager—it was because their friends from the Jiang family weren’t around anymore. Reflecting on Lin Jie’s words this morning, Xia Le felt it prudent to share this news with his parents.
“Dad, Mom, my friend who’s loaded with connections says the gang from yesterday isn’t from the Jiang family; they’re probably from the Imperial Capital family. They seem pretty big.”
Seeing his dad didn’t particularly want to delve deeper into this topic, Xia Hong simply brushed it off: “Enough of that, let bygones be bygones. Since the Jiang girls have moved out, those powerful groups are beyond our reach. So, you should keep a lower profile with your friends.”
Indeed, Xia Hong was all about avoiding trouble. What could a small family like theirs compare against the grand families of the Imperial Capital? Why bother telling Xia Le about it?
At hearing his dad dismiss the whole thing so easily, Xia Le balked, “No chance! Me and Lin Jie are real bros going through tough times together.” Dad Xia said, “…”
Mom Xia remained silent…
—
Meanwhile, in the neighboring house, Jiang Kekai and Jiang Hanhang were also dining on a super luxurious spread, but they lacked the appetite. Jiang Kekai was preoccupied, pining for Xia Yu. Without Xia Yu’s playful feeding, she found life rather dull.
For Jiang Hanhang, the lack of competition made things unbearably boring. She missed their fun duels. Consequently, they finished dinner quickly and went back to their rooms—work for some, more gaming for others.
As for Xia Yu and Xia Ling, Xia Ling invited Xia Yu to sleep together, reasoning that since Xia Yu was already a girl, what harm was a night together?
But before Xia Yu could react, Xia Hong stepped in: “What did you mean sleeping together? You’re growing up and have your own room now. Tomorrow start acting like a proper boy again!”
Xia Hong immediately plotted a course for Xia Yu’s reassertion of masculinity. After all, he didn’t want his son turning out too girlish.
Facing a father so forceful, Xia Yu and Xia Ling knew arguing was futile.
Realizing the tension, neither of them lingered in the living room, slinking back to their rooms instead. With Xia Hong, Wang Wenjuan, and Xia Le left alone, this was a very tense scene.
Looking at his eldest son, Xia Hong added, “It’s Saturday tomorrow. Take Xia Yu out to exercise; a boy needs to have strength, you know.”
Mom Wang Wenjuan was clueless how to proceed, knowing full well Xia Yu was long past any notion of being a typical boy.
Thinking hard, Wang Wenjuan felt it was best to chime in: “Honey, remember our promise not to pressure Xia Yu? As long as she’s happy and not harming anyone…”
“Yeah, but it’s a special case. I didn’t expect Xia Yu to bounce back so fast. Maybe Xia Le taking her out will help her regain her old form faster.”
“…That makes sense,” Wang Wenjuan agreed, albeit reluctantly, feeling a tinge of unease about handing Xia Le this responsibility.
Before Xia Hong could continue, he yelled from Xia Yu’s room, “Xia Yu, come here; I’ve got something to tell you.”
Afraid to stay in her room, Xia Yu sheepishly emerged, standing before her father to hear what he’d say.
Noting her still wearing girl’s pajamas, Xia Hong hesitated, suppressing his urge to vent, “Sit down. I’ve some things to discuss with you.”
Xia Yu sat across another sofa, still very uneasy, fearing her dad might uncover her biggest secret.
“Tomorrow’s the weekend, but get some early rest. Have Xia Le take you out for exercise early, okay?”
Xia Yu wasn’t thrilled; she was counting on a relaxing weekend free of fitness. Seeing her dad’s stern demeanor, she dared only to mutter a reluctant, “Okay.”
“And no more of this cross-dressing business at home. A boy should act like a boy. I was also thinking maybe a haircut would help snap you out of it. But since you don’t want to, consider this decision carefully—do boys need such lengthy hair?”
Lowering her head, Xia Yu silently nodded, accepting her fate.
Xia Hong understood that trying to alter his child too much would backfire. He’d keep it light today and leave her be, “Alright, you can go back to your room. Don’t stay up too late and try waking up early tomorrow.”
Relieved by this reprieve, Xia Yu swiftly retreated, closing her door quickly.
Xia Hong, unaware, never noticed that Xia Le was far from happy.
