"Because seeking advantages and avoiding disadvantages is human nature. When problems arise, of course, people will protect themselves first," Xu Tingyu said. She was very open - minded about this.
After experiencing so much, she had watched the number of her friends around her gradually decrease. She had also witnessed the estrangement of those people after the Xu family's downfall. She had tasted all the warmth and coldness of human relationships, so she had long since lost hope in human nature.
Qi Shifeng looked up at her. In his pitch - black eyes, there was a hint of worry. He didn't know what she had been through in those four years that had caused such a huge change in her. In the past, when she woke up half - asleep, she would never have shown such an expression. It was obvious that she had experienced something.
After she came back, he had someone investigate her life during those four years. Apart from work, there was basically little else. He only knew that in the first year she went abroad, she had lived near an area known as a slum for several months. The public security management there was extremely poor. When he got the results, he couldn't even imagine how she had endured it.
He wanted to ask but didn't know how to put it into words, for fear of being seen as deliberately mocking. Their current state of peaceful co - existence was already the best situation.
Xu Tingyu also noticed his gaze but didn't dwell on it. Instead, she remembered Youyou's words and asked him, "Hey, can I take Youyou to meet my friends?"
Qi Shifeng thought she was referring to people like Chen Chunyao and didn't object much. He just reminded her, "She has known you for many years, and it's not right for me to speak ill of her. But people change."
He stopped there. After all, it wasn't gentlemanly for a man to talk about a woman behind her back.
Xu Tingyu looked at Qi Shifeng meaningfully. To be honest, after getting along with him a few times, her impression of Qi Shifeng had changed. This man was really different from before. He seemed more steady, more patient, and even more gentle.
She looked at his expression seriously and suddenly smiled. "Qi Shifeng, if we had just met now, maybe we could really be friends."
Qi Shifeng raised his eyebrows and looked at her. "It's not too late now."
But wasn't it too late? There were so many rifts between them, and so many old scores were yet to be settled. Maybe one day they would be completely at odds with each other. But Xu Tingyu didn't say it directly. Instead, she smiled and changed the topic. "By the way, we've been divorced for four years. Haven't you found anyone else?"
She was still very curious about what had happened between Qi Shifeng and Xie Yu.
Qi Shifeng put down his spoon, slowly wiped his mouth, then stood up and walked up to her.
Xu Tingyu was puzzled. She looked up at him. Just as she was about to ask what he was doing, the man leaned over and kissed her on the lips.
Xu Tingyu was stunned. She even forgot to struggle. After a long moment of silence, she stared at him with wide eyes and asked, "Why are you like this? Why do you always sneak up on me?"
After saying that, she felt she had said the wrong thing. She should have sternly accused him of why he had kissed her!
Qi Shifeng laughed. "I was just answering your question."
What question? That he hadn't had a girlfriend in four years? What did that have to do with kissing her?!
"Don't twist things, Qi Shifeng. We're just Youyou's parents now. You shouldn't have any more intimate actions towards me. Otherwise, you're harassing me, and I can call the police."
She decided to make her words more serious. She was a bit curious about his love life, but she didn't want to get involved with him again.
Qi Shifeng was taken aback. He seemed shocked by her intense reaction. "You dislike me? You think this is harassment?"
Xu Tingyu also thought his reaction was strange. "We're no longer in a marriage or a romantic relationship. You kiss me. Isn't that harassment?"
As soon as these words were out, the air pressure around them dropped significantly.
The two stared at each other for a long time. Just as Qi Shifeng was about to say something, Youyou, with sleepy eyes, suddenly appeared at the stairs.
"Dad, you're back. But how can you rob me of Mom? Mom is going to sleep with me today."
Youyou walked down step by step, his eyes full of grievance.
Qi Shifeng stopped what he was going to say. He just gave Xu Tingyu a deep look, then turned around and hugged Youyou. "Dad didn't rob you of Mom. How was your day?"
He sat back in his seat and put Youyou on his lap.
Youyou leaned against him and nodded. "I ate well, and it was great being with Mom. It would have been even better if Dad had come back earlier."
He actually relied on Qi Shifeng very much. Even now that he had Mom, his love for Dad hadn't changed at all. When he leaned against his chest to talk, the gentle touch almost melted Qi Shifeng.
After they talked for a while, Youyou stretched out his hand towards Xu Tingyu. "Mom, carry me. It's time to sleep."
Just as Xu Tingyu was about to reach out to pick him up, she heard Qi Shifeng say, "Mom can't carry you. Dad will carry you up. Let Mom accompany you, okay?"
Youyou looked at Mom's arms and nodded. "Okay. Mom, you have to eat more so you'll be strong. I'll eat more, and I'll carry Mom in the future."
Xu Tingyu really wanted to sigh that she had such an amazing son. She couldn't help but walk over and kiss Youyou on the cheek while he was in Qi Shifeng's arms.
"Then Mom is waiting for the day when Youyou can carry Mom."
She stood on tiptoe, and her hand unconsciously grabbed Qi Shifeng's arm. Through the thin shirt, her palm touched his strong arm muscles.
At this moment, the three of them were closely huddled together. Anyone who saw them would think they were the happiest family.
However, Xu Tingyu quickly let go of Qi Shifeng and even said sorry.
Qi Shifeng felt his breath catch for the first time. But he reminded himself to take it slow and not scare her away.
The three of them went back to the room. Xu Tingyu and Youyou nestled under the quilt.
Qi Shifeng just stood by and watched. Then he kissed Youyou on the forehead. "Good night, Youyou."
After saying that, he was about to get up and leave. But at this time, Youyou suddenly called out to him, "Dad, you forgot to kiss Mom."
As soon as these words were out, a hint of pride flashed in Qi Shifeng's eyes. Sure enough, he was his own son and knew what he was thinking. But on the surface, he still put on a very embarrassed look.
"Mom doesn't like me to kiss her."
Xu Tingyu just felt that this scene in front of her was familiar yet strange. Before she could figure it out, Youyou said again, "How could that be? Xinxin said her dad kisses her mom every day. That means they have a good relationship."
"Really? Then you ask Mom what she thinks," Qi Shifeng answered. His tone was still as gentle, with a hint of caution.
It was at this moment that Xu Tingyu suddenly realized why she felt it was familiar. Because Qi Shifeng's appearance was just like the so - called "green tea" in the legend. He was really a sneaky man and so good at acting!