After arriving home, everyone chatted lively for a long time. It was really late before they finally washed up and prepared to rest.

Having not seen each other for a long time, Xu Ruyan insisted on sharing a bed with Xu Qingqiu, which was perfect for the sisters to chat.

"Ruyan, why were you crying earlier?" Xu Qingqiu asked Xu Ruyan, who was removing her makeup, while she herself was applying a face mask.

When Xu Ruyan got off the car earlier, she had cried so much that it startled Xu Qingqiu, making her think something had happened; however, there were too many people around to ask at the time, so she only brought it up now.

"Ah? You mean when we got off the car?" Xu Ruyan herself was startled before she remembered; if Xu Qingqiu hadn't mentioned it, she would have nearly forgotten.

"Yes, you seemed really upset. What exactly happened?"

Being suddenly reminded of that fleeting embarrassing moment made Xu Ruyan's face turn red.

She didn't want to talk about it, but seeing Xu Qingqiu's concerned eyes, she softened and spilled it out.

"I… I'm not really sure myself."

"It's just… today, when I saw the two of you officially announce your relationship at the concert, my heart felt a bit heavy."

Earlier this year, Xu Ruyan had attended the wedding of a classmate's older sister. During the concert, she had suddenly thought of that scene.

Watching the bride being taken away, watching her family's home go from bustling with activity to quiet, until she heard her classmate crying that her sister would now belong to someone else's family.

Her heart suddenly ached, filled with an inexplicable worry.

This worry peaked when the relationship was officially announced at the concert.

The thought that she and her sister would be part of different families in the future made her feel an overwhelming sadness she couldn't suppress.

Upon getting off the car and seeing Xu Qingqiu up close, she could no longer hold back her tears.

Xu Qingqiu, who had been worried something had happened to her sister, breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing this, but seeing Xu Ruyan's sad expression made her feel miserable too.

Will I also belong to someone else's family? Get married and start a small family of my own...

Lost in her thoughts, she suddenly realized something.

Wait, Chu Tian no longer has any family members. He can treat my family as his new family!

Thinking this, her previously gloomy mood instantly brightened.

"You don't need to worry about that. Your sister… Chu Tian's parents have passed away. From now on, our home is also his home; there's absolutely no difference."

As she said this, she paused. Then, a smile blossomed on her face as she added, "Plus, maybe Chu Tian and I will come back home for the New Year."

"Ah? Really? Are you guys coming back this year?"

"This year..." Xu Qingqiu hesitated slightly, but the idea rapidly took root and grew stronger in her mind.

Right, why not ask Chu Tian to come home with me for New Year's this year?

The idea grew stronger, but seeing Xu Ruyan's curious gaze, she quickly composed herself.

"As for this year, let's see how it goes; it's still undecided."

After all, it was a matter concerning both of them. Xu Qingqiu didn't want to make a decision alone and planned to discuss it with Chu Tian later to hear his thoughts.

"Well, if that really happens, it would be great. Our brother hasn't met Chu Tian yet."

"Who says he hasn't? They've met before..." Xu Qingqiu felt a bit embarrassed when this topic came up.

The last meeting hadn't been pleasant. Mainly because Chu Tian hadn't been quite himself at the time, Xu Xiaohan had formed a very bad first impression of him.

However, Xu Qingqiu didn't elaborate further. She interrupted Xu Ruyan's probing questions and urged her to go to bed.

...

The next day, everyone enjoyed a rare opportunity to sleep in. Xu Qingqiu was eventually awakened by the delicious aroma wafting from the kitchen.

"You're up? Hurry and freshen up. Let's eat after you're done."

"Chu Tian? When did you get here?" Xu Qingqiu looked at Chu Tian with surprise, her eyes fixed on the table laden with dishes.

"I came over around ten this morning. Stop staring and go freshen up quickly!"

"Oh~ it smells so good..." Xu Qingqiu reluctantly gazed at the dishes on the table, unable to bring herself to move.

"You little glutton. Come have a bite first, then go wash up obediently."

"Mm-hmm!" Xu Qingqiu nodded eagerly like a chick pecking at grain and watched as Chu Tian picked up a piece of meat and brought it to her mouth. Each bite filled her mouth with flavor.

"Mmm, this is delicious!"

"Go on now, everyone will be up soon. It would be embarrassing if anyone saw us."

"Mm-hmm, I'm going."

Having tasted something delicious, Xu Qingqiu's mood instantly improved, and she obediently went to wash up.

Chu Tian continued cooking the remaining dishes.

As for why he was cooking, there was no other choice; Sister Hua had sent Yiyi away for training.

Everyone was exhausted from the previous night, and for his girlfriend's appetite, he had to take responsibility for breakfast.

"Where's Sister Hua? Isn't she up yet?" After freshening up, Xu Qingqiu returned to the dining area, wiping her hands and asking in confusion.

"Sister Hua left early. She rushed to the studio after receiving a call this morning."

"A call? Was it something important?"

"I don't know, she didn't say."

While they were still talking, Xu Qingqiu's phone rang.

"Oh? It's Sister Hua." Xu Qingqiu murmured before answering the call.

"Sister Hua, you went to the studio? What's the matter?"

At the studio, Li Chunhua looked at a table piled high with files, her expression incredibly complex, unsure whether to cry or laugh.

"Qingqiu, it looks like your upcoming trip is going to be canceled."

"Ah? Why?"

Why? What other reason could there be?

"I was woken by phone calls before I even got out of bed this morning. I received several offers as soon as I arrived at the studio; you're going to be incredibly busy."

"Ah? Can't we turn them down?" Xu Qingqiu looked up at Chu Tian, who was still busy, truly wishing they could go on a trip together to travel and explore.

"I'm afraid not..." Looking at the proposals in her hand, Li Chunhua shook her head helplessly.

"These are all top-tier opportunities, and one is even premier. If we miss this chance, it might be hard to get another like it."

"Several? What are they?"

"One is an invitation to Lemon TV's New Year's Eve gala. It's not confirmed yet, but they asked about our schedule and seem very keen."

"Another is a photoshoot for an inside spread in a magazine. You might consider this one; it's for the top-tier magazine 'Floral Road'."

"Besides these two, there are several commercial appearances—one for CCTV and another for a charity event, which we can't refuse."

"Lastly, there's a charity dinner. It's best not to decline that one either, as there are some rules we have to follow, and you'll likely have to make a sizable donation."

"There are also a few variety shows offering guest appearances; those we can pick and choose from."

After hearing everything, Xu Qingqiu remained silent for a while, feeling a bit down, but still nodded in agreement.

"Alright, then let's take them."

There was no helping it. A career is like that; it's not always determined by one's own will.

As her fame grew, so did the number of people offering olive branches, seeking connections, wanting to be on good terms, or trying to cash in on her success.

People of all kinds were involved. Some offers could be refused, but others could not.

Every circle has its rules; it's an unavoidable reality.

Next chapter will be updated first on this website. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.