Liu Yi continued to crack his joints. "Have you decided to take the surname Liu now?"
Wen Yibo: "..."
Just then, the hotel lobby manager rushed over upon hearing the commotion and immediately saw Liu Yi, who was rolling up his sleeves ready to throw a punch, and Wen Yibo, who was lying on the floor playing dead.
The lobby manager recognized Wen Yibo and nearly had a heart attack at the sight of him.
Equally terrified were the innocent foreign couple. When they saw Wen Yibo hit the ground, say a few words, and then stop moving, they thought someone had died. They started babbling in their native tongue, frantically explaining to the lobby manager what had just happened.
But... the lobby manager didn't understand French, did he?
So after the couple and the manager talked past each other for a while, Wen Yibo finally got up from the floor and said to Liu Yi, who was standing off to the side, "One day, I'll make you take my surname!"
Liu Yi raised an eyebrow dismissively. "I don't change my name, whether sitting or standing. You've got no hope except taking my surname!"
Just then, the French couple finally snapped out of it, stopped rambling in their native language, and stammered in Chinese, "Ah, I get it! Chinese people only change surnames when they're married! So you two are husband and wife!"
"Pfft, who would be married to him/her?" Wen Yibo and Liu Yi said in unison.
"Oh, such harmony." The couple looked at each other, then turned and left.
Wen Yibo and Liu Yi glared at each other, then simultaneously turned away: "Hmph!"
"A good man doesn't fight a woman!" Wen Yibo gritted his teeth.
"A woman is no less than a man!" Liu Yi ground hers.
"Hmph!" They both turned their heads again, ignoring each other!
They held that pose for a long time, neither willing to admit defeat and change position.
So once again, they became a spectacle in the hotel.
A five-year-old little girl saw them and timidly asked her mother, "Mommy, are those two handsome brothers doing a sculpture?"
The little girl's mother looked embarrassed. "No, that's one brother and one sister!"
"Wow, they're not brothers? But they're so handsome!" the little girl exclaimed dramatically.
Her childish voice drew everyone's attention to Wen Yibo and Liu Yi.
Wen Yibo's inner thoughts were: Oh god, someone help me! I turned my head too hard and strained my neck!
Meanwhile, Liu Yi's inner monologue was: Ah, this is so painful. My neck is about to go numb. I want to turn back, but I can't!
So when Shen Qi and He Yining came down, they saw this bizarre scene.
Shen Qi ran over to Liu Yi and turned her head back with her hands. "Xiao Yi, what's wrong? Did you get a stiff neck?"
Liu Yi was almost crying inside. Xiao Qi, you're the best to me! If you hadn't turned my head back, I wouldn't have been able to!
He Yining stood nearby, hands casually in his pants pockets, making small talk. "Oh, Yibo, were you staring at some internet celebrity so intently that even after they're gone, you're still looking?"
Wen Yibo winked at He Yining. "Help me turn my head back!"
He Yining pretended not to understand. "Hey, the internet celebrity is long gone, why are you still winking at me?"
Wen Yibo finally cracked. "Yining, I was wrong! I really was wrong! I shouldn't have teased you and Xiao Qi!"
Only then did He Yining contentedly reach out and slowly turn Wen Yibo's head back. "Tsk tsk, what were you two doing?"
Wen Yibo shook his head, slowly regaining feeling. Man, it was totally numb!
"Ask her! A woman with no sense of being a woman." Wen Yibo didn't have the face to admit he'd been thrown over the shoulder again.
Liu Yi stretched her neck for a while and finally recovered. Hearing Wen Yibo's words, her brows shot up, and she nearly charged over to give him another throw.
Shen Qi quickly grabbed Liu Yi. "Xiao Yi, didn't you say you wanted to hit the snack street tonight? Let's go! It'll be too late if we delay!"
With Shen Qi changing the subject, Liu Yi didn't go after Wen Yibo again.
"Fine, for your sake, let's go!" Liu Yi took Shen Qi's hand and headed out.
Shen Qi only had time to glance back at He Yining and Wen Yibo before being dragged away by Liu Yi.
Once Shen Qi and Liu Yi were gone, Wen Yibo turned to He Yining. "So? Did you clear things up?"
He Yining gave a lazy smile, looking thoroughly satisfied. "Naturally."
"Hmph, you're happy, but I almost got killed by that tomboy!" Wen Yibo complained. "No, you owe me compensation!"
"How did she 'kill' you? Anyway, you're a man, how did you get thrown twice?" He Yining was totally undermining him.
"Hey, did you know? Her strength is ten times that of a normal woman!" Wen Yibo exclaimed dramatically, rubbing his sore waist, all traces of his playboy charm gone. "I'm telling you, I've seen her boxing videos. She knocked out a six-foot-tall guy with one punch!"
He Yining couldn't help but laugh, patting Wen Yibo's shoulder. "Alright, stop messing around. Let's go check it out."
"Wait. Did you two really make up?" Wen Yibo grabbed He Yining. "Did she forgive you that easily?"
He Yining's phoenix eyes darkened, his tone tinged with helplessness. "Just temporarily. But the issues between us are still there. If they're not resolved, I doubt she'll truly forgive me."
"So what are you planning to do?" Wen Yibo turned serious. "Team up with the old lady?"
"Yeah. Teaming up with Grandma is the most direct and effective way, but it's clearly a short-term fix. If my parents find out I'm siding with Grandma to oppose them, they'll treat Xiao Qi even worse." He Yining smiled bitterly. "But right now, besides Grandma, no one can rein in my parents."
"I feel like that's not a solution." Wen Yibo sighed softly. "Yining, this feels like the calm before the storm."
He Yining nodded. "We'll take it one step at a time. Grandma's okay with me building up Xiao Qi's standing. As long as Xiao Qi can establish herself in the He family, my parents won't have a choice."
Wen Yibo patted He Yining's shoulder. "Here's a bonus tip. Just now, Xiao Qi and Liu Yi booked their tickets—China Eastern Airlines. Want to go?"
A hint of a smile flickered in He Yining's eyes. "Actually, you want to go, don't you?"
"Hey..." Wen Yibo raised an eyebrow. "Fine, don't appreciate it!"
"Come on, they're already far ahead!" He Yining laughed, pushing Wen Yibo to follow.
Shen Qi and Liu Yi hit the snack street, eating as they walked.
Just as they were enjoying themselves, Shen Qi's phone rang. It was an email.
The moment Shen Qi opened it, she was completely absorbed.
The email was from her aunt, Ella. Ella told her she'd recently stumbled upon news of Shen Ziyao. Shen Ziyao had been living in a small town in Austria for years but had returned to the country a few days ago!
Ella also attached a blurry photo of Shen Ziyao, cropped from a newspaper. In it, Shen Ziyao still looked young and beautiful, holding a trophy—probably for some award.
She didn't know exactly where her mother was, but at least she knew she was back in the country! Her mother was in China!
After reading the email, Shen Qi covered her mouth to keep from crying.
"Xiao Qi, you..." Liu Yi saw Shen Qi go from cheerful to sobbing over an email and got a bit flustered. "Are you okay?"
Shen Qi bit her lip hard, choking up as she looked at Liu Yi. "Xiao Yi, there's news about Mom! Auntie said she's back in the country! She's in China now!"
Liu Yi was happy for her too. "China's big, but it narrows things down! Xiao Qi, fate won't keep you apart forever. You'll find her!"
Shen Qi nodded vigorously, tears streaming. "Yeah, I believe I'll find Mom!"
She wiped her tears as she replied to Ella's email.
Soon after, Ella replied again: "I'll be coming to China soon too. I've quit my overseas job. Roots call—I'm Chinese, so I'm coming back. I've accepted a position at H University as a graduate archaeology advisor. Xiao Qi, we'll see each other soon."
Seeing this, Shen Qi was overjoyed!
Great! Auntie was coming back too! All her family was returning! So happy!
Losing the competition didn't matter anymore!
Liu Yi hugged Shen Qi. "Those eighteen years were too hard for you. But it's okay—things are turning around now!"
Shen Qi nodded firmly.
Liu Yi said, "I'll call my mom and have her prepare."
Before Shen Qi could respond, she pulled out her phone and dialed Xu Yunxi. "Mom, Xiao Qi and I are flying back tomorrow. Don't embarrass me!"
Xu Yunxi laughed and scolded, "Got it, you little troublemaker! Xiao Qi's so delicate—you'd better take good care of her and not let her get hurt!"
Liu Yi grinned. "Don't worry, I'll bring her back in one piece!"
Xu Yunxi sighed emotionally. "I gave birth to a daughter, but it feels like my son is bringing his girlfriend home!"
Liu Yi burst out laughing.
Just then, the airport's gentle announcement came through the phone: "The flight from Milan is about to land..."
Liu Yi immediately asked, "Mom, are you at the airport now?"
"Yeah, your godmother's coming back, and I'm waiting to pick her up." Xu Yunxi chuckled. "When you called last time, I ordered furniture for her from JD.com. She said she's coming back to stay long-term this time."