Showbiz Scandal: The Official Announcement of My Ex and Myself

Chapter 597: Big Sister

Having received a "Dear," when Xie Qingci went downstairs, his expression could be seen to be delighted and satisfied from three kilometers away, with the corners of his eyes and eyebrows flying with joy.Yu Xia walked behind him, greeted Xu Yan and Xie Yin in the living room, and together they picked up bowls and chopsticks to prepare for breakfast.

Because guests were expected today, the living room was early outfitted with snacks and fruits for entertaining. Two rows of pretty woven baskets were laid out on the coffee table.

However, they did not expect the guests to arrive so early. Yu Xia and Xie Qingci had not even finished their breakfast when the doorbell rang.

The visitors were Xie Qingci’s mother’s cousin’s family, a middle-aged couple with two children about the same age as Xie Qingci.

Seeing that guests had arrived, Yu Xia immediately put down her bowl and chopsticks, intending not to continue eating, but as soon as she stood up, Xie Qingci pulled her back to sit down.

He picked up a shumai and fed it to her lips.

"Finish eating first, or you’ll be hungry later."

She leaned back, unwilling to continue eating, and looked towards the family of four who had already entered by the door, but the shumai followed her, even touching her lips.

"Just take a bite, hurry up, or else when Aunt and the others see, you’ll scold me again."

"..." She speechlessly glanced at him and complied by taking a bite.

Another bite.

He then stopped feeding her the remaining half and stuffed it directly into his own mouth.

He really has a tendency to enjoy sharing the same food with her at times.

Quickly, he drank up all the porridge in his bowl and finished the last shumai just as Aunt’s family was talking with Xu Yan and making their way over.

There was some distance from the door to where they were eating. By the time people got closer, Xie Qingci stood up to clear the bowls and called out politely: "Aunt, Uncle."

Then he introduced his two cousins to her.

Yu Xia followed suit and greeted them.

The guests were very courteous, even asking their children to help with the cleanup.

Without ceasing his actions, Xie Qingci flatly declined their offer of help. Generally, in this kind of situation where you want to help and I refuse, there would be at least two or three exchanges, both parties coming and going politely.

But his flat words carried a sort of unyielding decisiveness. When he said no help was needed, he really meant it, unwilling to repeat himself. After speaking, he turned around with the plates and bowls and headed to the kitchen.

It seemed Aunt’s family was aware of his temperament, so they didn’t find it strange.

Yet after a few steps, Xie Qingci turned back.

"Come with me, sis."

The girl behind Aunt exclaimed in surprise, "Ah."

"I..."

"Ah, sorry, he was calling me," Yu Xia explained with a smile to them, taking a few steps to catch up.

Once she reached his side, he continued walking forward, seemingly unfazed by the misunderstanding caused by his "sis."

The group watched their backs as they walked in parallel, and Aunt remarked, "Qingci is different when he’s in a relationship, washing dishes requires someone to accompany him. Before, he would just greet us and head upstairs."

Xu Yan commented, "He’s a bit clingy, whatever he does, he wants her around."

Aunt’s daughter, Wan Qian, joked, "I thought so, how could he call me sis? I was dumbfounded just now."

Wan Qian was only ten days older than Xie Qingci, and had never heard him call her sis; they weren’t even that familiar, meeting only occasionally and calling each other by their names.

If Xie Qingci were to actually call her sis, she’d only find it chilling.

After saying this, she murmured softly, "But Yu Xia really is beautiful."

Her brother, Wan Lin, nodded vigorously in agreement.

In the kitchen, amidst the sound of running water, Yu Xia leaned close to Xie Qingci, bringing up the earlier mix-up with "sis."

"That’s your cousin, isn’t it? When you called out, she thought you were calling her."

It was quite awkward, as if their embarrassing pet-name had stumbled in front of his actual cousin.

It was only a notch less dramatic than calling "Dad" and both her father and boyfriend answering.

While washing dishes, Xie Qingci said, "I’ve only ever called you sis. Wan Qian is older than me, but we’ve never called each other sis or bro. There’s foam on my chin, sis, help wipe it off?"

She tilted her head to help wipe his chin and asked, "Need me to do anything?"

"No need."

"Then why did you call me in?"

He answered matter-of-factly, "To keep me company."

Yu Xia: "... You might as well say you called me in to check the water quality. You need my company for washing dishes—do you think I’m Ultraman and can give you strength?"

He couldn’t help but laugh, swiftly turned his head, and kissed her cheek before she could avoid it.

"You’re much stronger than Ultraman," he said intriguingly.

Yu Xia rubbed her cheek with the back of her hand and glared at him.

"Get on with your dishwashing already."

Xie Yin and Xu Yan kept the Wan family company in the living room. Before long, another family of guests arrived.

Xie Qingci led Yu Xia out, greeted the three people who’ve come into the living room, and then seriously introduced them again on both sides.

"This is Uncle Yang, Mrs. Yang, and this is Yang Luan."

"Uncle Yang, Mrs. Yang, this is my girlfriend, Yu Xia."

The bright girl named Yang Luan controlled her excitement and bubbled out, "Xiaxia, hello! I’m a fan of yours!"

Yu Xia raised an eyebrow and extended her hand, "Hello."

Yang Luan was positively thrilled, clinging onto her hand while staring at her, "You’re so pretty, even prettier than on camera. Xiaxia, could I have your autograph? I brought photos from your show."

Her mom was about to chide her for being impolite, but Yu Xia quickly nodded.

"Sure."

As they continued chatting, everyone settled in the living room. Directed by Xie Yin to fetch something, Xie Qingci found himself one step behind as the seat next to Yu Xia was snagged by Yang Luan.

The fan so thrilled to meet her idol didn’t even notice his annoyed expression, and was cozily nestled next to Yu Xia, animatedly chatting away.

Yu Xia noticed, of course, but she couldn’t very well shoo Yang Luan away in front of everyone for Xie Qingci to sit, so she signaled him with a look, then focused on listening to the little fan’s chatter beside her.

Yang Luan was a bundle of energy, and without anyone asking, she voluntarily shared her life story within three minutes.

Seventeen years old, a high school junior, she had, due to her parents’ jobs, grown up quite closely acquainted with Xie Qingci for two years, although he always treated her coldly. Not being one to warm up to a cold response, her greatest interaction with Xie Qingci had stemmed from taking a few appreciative glances at him as an admirer of good looks.

The rest of the time was spent extolling Yu Xia’s beauty, charm, and kindness.

Yu Xia thoughtfully observed her for two seconds, harboring slight skepticism about Xie Qingci’s reported indifference towards her.

Because Xie Qingci often showed a fondness for the cute and adorable types, especially those who were pure, with little ability for self-care, just like a Barbie doll, and Yang Luan fit that type exactly.

Cute, lively, big-eyed, with long eyelashes and a small cherry mouth, she even blushed when excited, appearing quite pink and tenderly, and with her neat short hair, even more akin to a cute doll.

If she were a boy, she’d totally be into girls of this type.