Feng Qingci said, "We don't need you making a fuss. Go wherever you feel comfortable and stay there."
Qin Yuchuan also chimed in, "Qingyi, go rest. We'll take care of this."
Feng Qingyi had no choice but to abandon her plan to help with cooking. She opened the refrigerator, took out a bottle of yogurt, and took a couple of sips.
"Feng Qingyi, where did this sword come from?" Feng Qingci suddenly pointed at the sword on the counter.
Feng Qingyi replied, "I bought it."
"Have you lost your mind? Buying a sword—are you trying to be some female warrior?" Feng Qingci mocked.
Feng Qingyi picked up the short sword, "Can't I buy a sword to cut fruit? Why are you so nosy?"
Feng Qingci retorted, "Cut fruit? Let's see you cut one then!"
Feng Qingyi took out the durian she had bought last night from the fridge. With one swift motion, she split it in half, instantly filling the kitchen with its pungent aroma.
Feng Qingci complained, "Can you take that thing away? It stinks!"
"It's not stinky at all. It's delicious. Yuchuan, would you like some?" Feng Qingyi picked up a small piece of durian and walked over to Qin Yuchuan, intending to feed him.
Qin Yuchuan shook his head, "You enjoy it, Qingyi."
"Alright, just take it far away. You're the only one who likes that stinky stuff," Feng Qingci said, shooing her away.
Feng Qingyi leisurely peeled the durian, put it on a plate, and carried it away.
Only Qin Yuchuan and Feng Qingci were left in the kitchen.
Feng Qingci looked at the sword and durian skin on the counter, reluctantly cleaning up the mess.
"I don't know what you see in her," he muttered.
Qin Yuchuan, while cutting potatoes, replied, "Matters of the heart are hard to explain."
"I think she's not good enough for you. Why don't you break up with her?"
Qin Yuchuan had known about his hostility before. Qingyi had told him that her parents were busy with work, so she was raised by her brother. He could understand his perspective.
However, to him, these tactics and approaches seemed a bit naive.
"Not at all. Qingyi is wonderful. There's no question of being good enough between us."
Feng Qingci argued, "You two haven't spent much time together. Most of your communication has been online."
"You should know that the internet is illusory. The person you get to know online might be different from who she really is."
"Once you spend more time with her, you'll see that her true self is different from what you imagined."
Qin Yuchuan responded, "Thank you for the advice. I'll make sure to spend more time with her to get to know her better."
"...You know that's not what I meant," Feng Qingci felt like his words were being deliberately misinterpreted.
Qin Yuchuan asked, "Why don't you tell me what exactly displeases you about me?"
"It's not you I'm displeased with. I'm unhappy about you two being together."
Although he didn't particularly like Qin Yuchuan, he wasn't trying to find faults with him either.
Qin Yuchuan said, "I understand your perspective. You've taken on a fatherly role and feel like I'm taking her away from you."
"I can understand your unease about the little girl you raised with such care running off with someone else. But you should realize, if it wasn't me, it would be someone else."
"She's bound to have her own life, her own family. The same goes for you. You'll both eventually walk different paths in life."
"But the blood tie between you two is unbreakable. You'll always be her older brother, and no one can change that."
"So there's no need to harbor such deep hostility towards me. My presence won't affect your place in her heart."
Feng Qingci remained silent for a long time. This man was indeed extraordinary; he had seen right through his thoughts.
He was exactly as Qin Yuchuan had described. Even if it wasn't him by Feng Qingyi's side, he would still be dissatisfied.
His previous complaints about the age difference and the unreliability of online relationships were just excuses.
He simply couldn't accept that she had someone she liked, and that she would eventually have her own family.
After finishing cutting the potatoes, Qin Yuchuan left the kitchen.
Feng Qingci finished cooking the remaining two dishes and called everyone to eat.
At the dining table, Feng Qingyi looked at the two men, sensing that the atmosphere had become tense again.
"Qingyi, eat more," Qin Yuchuan said, putting a piece of meat on her plate.
Feng Qingyi smiled and ate the meat he had served her.
"Brother, what's wrong? You seem to be in a bad mood. Did you have a fight with Xixi? Didn't you usually stay at her place on weekends? Why are you back today?"
Feng Qingci put some vegetables on her plate, "You talk too much. Even food can't shut you up. Things are fine between us."
Feng Qingyi lowered her head and took a bite of rice, then quietly tugged at Qin Yuchuan's sleeve, who was sitting to her left.
"What's wrong with him?"
Qin Yuchuan shook his head, indicating he didn't know.
The dining table suddenly fell silent, and the three of them shared a quiet dinner.
After dinner, the three sat together in the living room.
Feng Qingci said, "Mr. Qin, I'm sorry for occupying your room."
Qin Yuchuan replied, "It's no problem. I'll stay with Qingyi."
"You two sleeping together? Absolutely not. Tonight, you're sleeping with me!" Feng Qingci pointed at Qin Yuchuan.
Feng Qingyi asked, "There's a guest room, why do you need to share?"
"...Because I want to. The bed is big enough for two people anyway," Feng Qingci said.
Feng Qingyi shrugged, "Whatever makes you happy."
The three watched a movie together in the living room. It was a cliché fantasy romance film. Halfway through, Feng Qingyi lost interest.
"I'm going to bed. You two enjoy yourselves!"
Feng Qingyi wasn't worried about Qin Yuchuan, knowing he far surpassed Feng Qingci in both physical strength and intelligence.
After Feng Qingyi left, Qin Yuchuan also stood up.
Feng Qingci asked, "Where are you going?"
"It's getting late. Time for bed."
With that, Qin Yuchuan went upstairs, and Feng Qingci, after turning off the TV and lights, followed him.
Back in the bedroom, Qin Yuchuan opened the wardrobe to find all his clothes gone. He decided to go ask Feng Qingyi.
Feng Qingci followed behind him, "What are you up to now?"
Qin Yuchuan didn't answer and instead went out to knock on the door next door.
Feng Qingyi, dressed in pink pajamas, opened the door. "What are you two doing here?"
Qin Yuchuan said, "Qingyi, my clothes."
"Oh, wait a moment. I'll find them for you."
Feng Qingyi found Qin Yuchuan's sleepwear. "Here you go. Rest well. Good night!"
"Good night!"
Although Feng Qingci felt a bit out of place for a moment, he resolutely decided to keep a close eye on Qin Yuchuan, not wanting to leave the two alone together.
Qin Yuchuan didn't mind being followed. If Feng Qingci wanted to follow, so be it.
Although he would have preferred to hold his soft, warm girlfriend, that would have been too much of a test of his self-control.
