Chi Yong: "My son got involved with your daughter, which was his fault. He sent bodyguards to protect your daughter out of good intentions and had no malice. Though they kept their relationship a secret from everyone, they're just kids who like the thrill of a clandestine romance..."
Song Moqian: "...Wait a minute. You're saying my daughter Luokui is dating your son Chi Yu?"
Chi Yong: "Alas! I just found out about this too. Please don't scold the kids. It's my son's fault."
Song Moqian: "I understand. I will get to the bottom of this. For now, I hope you don't spread word about the two children."
Chi Yong: "Of course. Remember, don't scold Luokui. It's all my son's fault."
Song Moqian: "Indeed, it's your son's fault. I'm hanging up now."
Chi Yong looked at the hung-up phone, hmmm... everything should be fine now.
Song Luokui was still in her room, looking around and occasionally checking the balcony to see if her parents were back. A car pulled up downstairs - it was her father's car! Song Luokui grew more anxious but took a deep breath and went downstairs to face the situation.
As soon as Song Moqian entered, he saw his younger daughter coming down the stairs. "Dad, you're back? Where's mom?" Song Luokui looked behind him but didn't see Sheng Rong, meaning her father was alone.
Song Moqian sat on the couch and gestured for her to come over. "Luokui, come here."
Song Luokui went over and sat beside him, tentatively asking, "Dad, do you know?"
Song Moqian patted her head. "Tell me, when did you two start dating?"
Song Luokui: "Last semester, near the end of the term."
Song Moqian: "And before that?"
Song Luokui lowered her head. "Before that, we just knew each other and occasionally had meals together. He had helped me before, so..."
Song Moqian: "Who else knows about your relationship?"
Song Luokui shook her head. "No one else. Just a few of his friends know."
Song Moqian was surprised they kept it so secret. "Whose idea was it to not go public? Yours or his?"
Song Luokui: "It was my idea. I didn't want it to be public."
Song Moqian: "Why not?"
Song Luokui: "Well... if my brother found out, he definitely wouldn't approve. And if we didn't work out during this period, it'd be easier to break up without anyone knowing." Song Luokui fidgeted with her fingers.
Song Moqian raised an eyebrow, not expecting his daughter to be the one who didn't want to go public, and even mentioning... breaking up?
Song Moqian: "Luokui, before this, we loved you and let you do whatever you wanted. But your mother and I never taught you to treat relationships casually."
He initially thought Chi Yu might have pressured his daughter, since she seemed so obedient. He figured it must have been Chi Yu who did something.
Song Luokui wanted to bury her head. "But... if we don't like each other anymore, don't we have to break up? And I have been serious. I even bought him gifts."
Song Moqian: "How does he treat you?"
Song Luokui: "Quite well. He often buys me gifts. He respects me when I don't want to do something. He also tells me about rumors involving my brother and anything in the business world that could harm my brother."
Song Moqian: "...So you became a little spy for your brother's sake?"
Song Luokui pouted and looked up. "What little spy? We're just being friendly."
Song Moqian: "...Do you know you did something wrong?"
Song Luokui: "I know."
Song Moqian: "Do you know what you did wrong?"
Song Luokui: "I shouldn't have dated him without telling you."
Song Moqian: "Anything else?"
Song Luokui looked puzzled. "Anything else?"
Song Moqian sighed. "I hope you can take relationships seriously."
Song Luokui: "But I have been serious."
Song Moqian: ...But to him, she seemed rather casual about it - not going public, breaking up if things didn't work out. Wasn't that casual?
Song Moqian: "Don't get hurt. And... even though you're an adult now, you must stay safe."
Song Luokui: ??? What did he mean by staying safe? Never mind, she'd just agree for now.
Song Luokui: "I understand, Dad."
Song Moqian: "If you're sure about him in the future, introduce him to your mother and me."
Song Luokui: "What about my brother..."
Song Moqian scoffed coldly. "Hmph! He doesn't even know about his sister's relationship. Let him find out himself!"
Song Luokui breathed a sigh of relief. "Thank you, Dad."
Song Moqian: "Let me know whenever you go out with him. And no staying over at his place."
Song Luokui: "I understand."
Song Moqian: "I'll tell your mother. Remember to apologize to her, alright?"
"I know. I'll talk to Mom."
"Alright. Go rest now."
"Okay~"
Song Luokui hurried upstairs to her room, closed the door, and clutched her chest, taking deep breaths. Once she calmed down, she called Chi Yu. "Dad didn't scold me. I'm fine."
Chi Yu also breathed a sigh of relief. "That's good."
Song Luokui: "But I have to let Dad know whenever we go out to play."
Chi Yu: "Okay, no problem."
Song Luokui: "I also need to tell Mom. She hasn't come home yet, and my brother hasn't returned either, so he still doesn't know. Oh, Dad seems a bit upset with my brother for not finding out about our relationship. I still feel a little sorry for my brother."
"I should come clean to my brother when I get the chance." Song Luokui sighed.
Chi Yu: "Sure! I'll follow your lead. By the way, I told my father about our relationship too."
Song Luokui: "Ah?" Song Luokui buried her face in her pillow. "What did your father say?"
Chi Yu: "Nothing. He was very happy about it and said to bring you home sometime."
Song Luokui: "That's too fast. I'm not ready yet."
Chi Yu: "No problem. We'll go when you're ready."
"Okay~"
After hanging up, Chi Yu felt relieved, knowing that soon he could announce to everyone that she was his.
Meanwhile, Song Luokui sent a message to Sheng Rong as well.
That evening, when Song Luokui was preparing to rest, someone knocked on her room door. It was Sheng Rong.
"Mother," Song Luokui said, feeling a bit embarrassed.
Sheng Rong stroked her head. "Luokui, would you like Mom to sleep with you tonight?"
"Yes," Song Luokui nodded.
The two lay on the bed, with Sheng Rong embracing Song Luokui. "Tell Mom, how did you and that Chi boy start your relationship?"
Song Luokui said, "Well, one day he helped me... after that, I kept owing him favors, so I could only invite him for meals. Things went on like that..."
Sheng Rong helped tidy her hair. "Luokui, have you ever thought that he might have done it on purpose?" Her naive daughter had walked right into his trap.
