When Shi Xinxin finished her bath and came downstairs after changing, she happened to overhear her parents' conversation in the living room.
"Where's Xinxin?" Shen Manrong asked.
"Xinxin is still sleeping," Shi Jinsong said. "I told her to rest a bit longer."
"When did you get up?" Shen Manrong walked over and sat on the sofa, spotting the newspaper on the coffee table. She picked it up. "Huh? Why is Xinxin on the front page of the entertainment section?"
"Take a closer look at the newspaper, and you'll understand."
Shen Manrong stared at the newspaper with a puzzled expression for a long time, her face gradually turning grim.
"Honey, this can't go on like this!" Shen Manrong angrily threw down the newspaper. "How can our Xinxin become an entertainment reporter? She's the only granddaughter of the Shi family, how can she be an entertainment reporter?"
Shi Jinsong sighed and remained silent.
"We doted on Xinxin growing up, how can she be an entertainment reporter? If this gets out, won't our Xinxin be utterly disgraced?" Shen Manrong became more and more upset the more she thought about it. "No, I have to call Shi Zhengxuan and tell him to retract the news immediately."
"Why are you calling him?" Shi Jinsong frowned. "Shi Zhengxuan is a businessman; he'll definitely use Xinxin for hype."
"Then what should we do? Xinxin is our everything!" Shen Manrong cried with a crestfallen face. "We raised Xinxin with such difficulty, how can she put herself out there? I absolutely will not allow such a thing to happen!"
"Manrong, calm down," Shi Jinsong said, holding his forehead. "Doing this will only harm Xinxin."
"What do you mean?" Shen Manrong was confused. "Are you afraid Xinxin will be at a disadvantage if she marries Lu Mingyu?"
"It's more than just being at a disadvantage," Shi Jinsong shook his head. "Lu Mingyu is the future heir of Sheng Corporation. Xinxin marrying him won't make her happy."
"How do you know he won't be Xinxin's happiness in the future?" Shen Manrong excitedly grabbed Shi Jinsong's arm. "Xinxin likes Lu Mingyu, and Lu Mingyu likes Xinxin too."
"But does Xinxin like Lu Mingyu for his power? Does Xinxin like Lu Mingyu for his money?"
"No." Shi Jinsong said, "Xinxin likes Lu Mingyu himself."
"What's so good about Lu Mingyu?" Shen Manrong was exasperated. "Besides spending money and chasing actresses, what's so great about him that our Xinxin should like him?"
Shi Jinsong pursed his lips. "Xinxin isn't someone who judges people by their wealth or poverty."
"You're just covering for Xinxin!" Shen Manrong shouted indignantly. "Xinxin is still young and doesn't understand anything. She doesn't grasp the gap between her and Lu Mingyu."
"Lu Mingyu's father is the president of the Sheng conglomerate, Lu Mingyu himself is a leading young entrepreneur in City A, and he has three younger brothers and two younger sisters. Do you think about the pressure Xinxin will face dating someone like that?"
Shen Manrong was stunned.
"Xinxin has been well-behaved and sensible since childhood. I believe she will understand her parents' good intentions," Shi Jinsong said. "Don't pressure her anymore, let her think it through."
Shen Manrong gritted her teeth. "If Xinxin really ends up with Lu Mingyu, will the Sheng family tolerate her? Will the Sheng family have any opinions about Xinxin because of this, and will Xinxin be caught in the middle and suffer? Xinxin is still a child, she shouldn't bear such immense pressure."
"I know," Shi Jinsong held his wife's hand. "But we can't give up on Xinxin and let her miss out on this marriage just because she might suffer in the future. We should support who Xinxin likes."
"Who Xinxin likes, she should decide for herself. We shouldn't force her," Shen Manrong choked back tears. "If she truly wants to marry Lu Mingyu, we should respect her choice."
"You... alas..." Shi Jinsong shook his head helplessly, stood up, and prepared to leave.
"Dad." Shi Xinxin suddenly rushed out and blocked Shi Jinsong's path, looking up at him. "Xinxin has already decided."
Shi Jinsong paused for a moment, then smiled with relief.
He knew his daughter was smart and kind, and she would eventually come to her senses.
"Xinxin, are you sure?" Shi Jinsong asked.
"Mm," Shi Xinxin nodded seriously. "I'm sure I want to marry Brother Mingyu."
Shi Jinsong patted his daughter's shoulder with relief. "In that case, I will have lawyers handle Xinxin's reputation. You go back to your room now. I'll contact the media later."
"Thank you, Dad." Shi Xinxin pounced into Shi Jinsong's arms, touched, tears streaming down her face.
Shen Manrong sat beside them, watching Shi Xinxin cry, and wiped away her own tears with a pained expression.
Shi Jinsong stroked the back of Shi Xinxin's head. "Don't cry anymore."
"Mm," Shi Xinxin looked up, a smile on her lips. "I want Mommy and Daddy to tell me a story before I sleep."
"Okay."
"Also, from now on, Xinxin can spend four to five hours with you two elders every week."
"Really?"
"Mm."
Shi Jinsong and Shen Manrong were both very happy, but beneath their joy, there was a greater sadness.
They knew that Shi Xinxin wasn't clinging to her parents for warmth, but rather she desperately craved their pampering.
"Xinxin, you're such a good child," Shen Manrong hugged Shi Xinxin and gently coaxed her. "Don't be sad. Mom will make it up to you doubly from now on."
"Thank you, Mom." Shi Xinxin lifted her small face. "The person Xinxin loves most will always be Mom!"
Looking at her daughter's innocent smile, Shen Manrong couldn't help but her eyes well up.
***
Saturday morning, the sun was shining.
Lu Mingyu woke up, looked at the sleeping woman beside him, curved his lips, and kissed Shi Anqi's cheek.
He had plans to meet friends for dinner tonight, so he got up early to get ready.
As soon as he went downstairs, Aunt Li brought a sumptuous breakfast to the table.
"Young Master, good morning," Aunt Li greeted him with a smile.
Lu Mingyu nodded, walked to the dining table, and sat down, taking a sip of milk.
"Young Master, last night..." Aunt Li hesitated for a moment, then mustered her courage. "Last night, after I closed the door for you and returned to my room, I saw Miss Shi lying on the sofa."
Lu Mingyu's milk-drinking action froze.
Seeing Lu Mingyu's stiff expression, Aunt Li hastily corrected herself: "I mean, Miss Shi's shoes were placed beside the sofa. She went to sleep wearing slippers. I called her to wake up, but she wouldn't, and she mumbled for me not to disturb her. I saw that she was really exhausted, so I didn't bother her, let her sleep, and covered her with a jacket to prevent her from catching a cold."
Lu Mingyu frowned. "Why didn't you wake her up?"
"Young Master, I was worried Miss Shi would catch a cold," Aunt Li explained. "Miss Shi cried all night last night. She probably dreamt of her mother. I could tell she was in a lot of pain."
Lu Mingyu lowered his head, his mood heavy.
Was she crying because she dreamt of her mother?
Lu Mingyu sighed and put down his cup.
"Young Master, aren't you eating breakfast?" Aunt Li asked in confusion.
Lu Mingyu said indifferently, "Not hungry."
Aunt Li nodded. "Then I'll leave some for Miss Shi."