Chapter 4, The Heart of the Goddess

Thinking of Nanxi brings a sense of relief. Who would have thought that the arrogant Fu Qingquan would also encounter setbacks! It turns out Fu Qingquan has invested so much effort. When someone couldn't afford to attend university, he went to great lengths to secure a part-time job at the company to send money; when someone faced a scoundrel in love, he didn't hesitate to beat that man up...! Unfortunately, even with all that, he couldn't win her over. She got married two years ago, and her husband is quite distinguished, not at all inferior to Fu Qingquan!

Father Fu and Mother Nan exchanged words, with one saying that Nanxi should have helped Ji Chenyang with the dishes during meals, while the other remarked that Nanxi should not just stay at home every weekend but should go out shopping and watching movies with Ji Chenyang to cultivate their relationship. After this round of education, Mother Nan suddenly realized the potential for overcorrection and hurriedly reminded Nanxi to maintain some restraint in a broader sense. To maintain some restraint means to love oneself, and further implies not to engage in any intimate relationships too early. Mother Nan felt that although Ji Chenyang was very attentive to Nanxi now, considering their backgrounds and statuses, he would inevitably encounter women who might throw themselves at him. If he easily took advantage of the situation, he might look down on her, making it difficult for them to move towards marriage. Father Fu also joined the discussion, believing that merely citing examples from the female perspective was insufficient. Mother Nan felt that although Ji Chenyang was very attentive to Nanxi now, considering their backgrounds and statuses, he would inevitably encounter women who might throw themselves at him. If he easily took advantage of the situation, he might look down on her, making it difficult for them to move towards marriage. Father Fu also joined the discussion, thinking that it was not enough to only provide examples from the female perspective, and directly pulled out the cold-faced Bodhisattva sitting nearby, who was busy writing emails on her laptop, as a counterexample: "Look at your brother, he has seen quite a bit during social gatherings, in such situations with women, when have you ever seen your brother bring one home?"

Mother Nan appeared somewhat suspicious, observing her seriously for a while, and then smiled, saying: "Did you argue with him again just now?" The "him" referred to by Mother Nan naturally meant Fu Qingquan. This seemed to be an unspoken understanding; in front of Father Fu, Mother Nan would refer to Fu Qingquan as "your brother" when speaking to Nanxi, and would call him "Qingquan". However, in private, when Mother Nan mentioned Fu Qingquan, she neither used his name nor referred to him as "your brother", but rather vaguely referred to him as "he", and the two of them understood each other without needing to elaborate. This seemed to be an unspoken understanding; in front of Father Fu, Mother Nan would refer to Fu Qingquan as "your brother" when speaking to Nanxi, and would call him "Qingquan". However, in private, when Mother Nan mentioned Fu Qingquan, she neither used his name nor referred to him as "your brother", but rather vaguely referred to him as "he", and the two of them understood each other without needing to elaborate

Nanxi hesitated and nodded: "Is there any problem with this?"

The muscles on Fu Qingquan's face twitched slightly, and the originally chiseled lines became even more pronounced. Fortunately, his skin was dark, and with the light behind him, it was not easy for Fu's father and mother to discern his expression. Nanxi felt an immense sense of satisfaction in her heart; she knew how much Fu Qingquan must be wanting to strangle her right now. But with their parents present, he had to play the role of a dutiful son and a good brother well. Thinking of this, Nanxi couldn't help but want to sing a little tune to celebrate.

"I have no such intention!" Mother Nan said sternly, "You have been spoiled at home, but once you are outside, not everyone will pamper you. Especially considering the status of the Ji family, you must take the initiative when you first meet. Don't let my words go in one ear and out the other. Look at how proactive the girls outside are! With such good conditions as Chen Yang's, they are rare. If you don't cherish it, who knows when someone else might take the opportunity to snatch him away!"

Seeing that Mama Nan has an endless tendency, Nan Xi immediately pouted and acted coyly: "Mom... am I really that bad? The way you say it makes it seem like I'm a cabbage in the market, available for anyone to pick and choose!"

"Your mother is right," said Fu Dad as he walked in, followed by Fu Qingquan, who had one hand in his pocket and still wore an indifferent expression. Fu Dad continued with a smile, "Girls should occasionally give them a little hint, a little sweetness, so that they will have the motivation to chase after them! It's just like herding donkeys; you have to let them see that there is a carrot ahead!"

He... South Stream pouted, unclear and unwilling to say, "He asked me what I think of Ji Chenyang as a person."

Mother Nan watched Fu Qingquan leave, a hint of joy appearing on her face, yet there was also a touch of mystery as she quietly asked: "How has your relationship with Chen Yang been developing recently?" Nan Xi was still pondering Fu Qingquan's question, remaining silent until her mother repeated the question, at which point she came to her senses and awkwardly replied: "It’s still not quite as you see it."

Nanxi secretly laughed, but was misunderstood by her mother, who thought she had not received a proper education. Her mother then listed numerous broad and profound examples, even referencing a story from over a decade ago about an aunt sitting next to her on a train, who recounted how a newlywed bride from their village was looked down upon by her in-laws for not showing signs of bleeding on her wedding night. Nanxi initially intended to endure her mother's lecture until it was over before going to bed, but suddenly had a thought and said earnestly: "Mom, experts now say that the presence or absence of blood cannot be considered valid evidence." She turned to Fu Qingquan and added, "Brother, they just said you are experienced; what do you think?"

After taking a bath and changing into a bathrobe, Nanxi casually picked a hairpin to secure her damp long hair and pushed open the window to step onto the balcony. The moonlight was exquisite, enveloping the forested valleys in a thin mist. Her room offered the best view, as she had a good relationship with Fu Qingquan when she moved in, and he was willing to accommodate her in every way. From a distant place, the fragrance of lotus flowers wafted in, surrounding her like a gentle embrace, hazy and indistinct, blurring the line between illusion and reality. The mountain spring creek across from the row house sparkled with shimmering light, all a result of the moon's magical influence. Nanxi leaned her head out, gazing at the clear spring water, as if the moon had conjured up a vision of Fu Qingquan, the seventeen or eighteen-year-old version of him, appearing vaguely amidst the mist of the forested ravine.

Mother is currently so anxious about her marriage that she likely understands the situation, hence she wants to find a good family for her as soon as possible, but unfortunately, she has taken a wrong turn.

Mother Nan was slightly surprised, but soon her expression turned to a smile: "His temperament has been quite strange these past few years; when he speaks, there are always hidden barbs in his words. I mentioned this to his father, but he always defends him! I don't want to say too much, as this child is very sensitive; I'm afraid that if I say too much, he might treat you poorly... You know, this family is now under his control..." After rambling on for quite a while, Mother Nan finally got to the point, "However, this time, I might have been too suspicious. I think the child Chen Yang he introduced is quite good. I just heard that he wants to invite you to perform for a business delegation at the provincial government?"

Nanxi could not help but chuckle to herself, what a pity, it is not that Fu Qingquan does not want to bring a girl back, but rather that the person he wishes to bring back is already married, haha

In front of her parents, she could not sing, so she could only sing secretly while taking a bath. The bathroom was filled with steam, which made her face flush. The conditions at home were naturally much better than those in the study society's dormitory, which did not even have a private bathroom. The hot water enveloped her body layer by layer, allowing her to slowly relax. She closed her eyes, but the slightly indifferent face of Fu Qingquan unconsciously flashed through her mind—he had asked her what she thought of Ji Chenyang's character.

"No problem, no problem," said Mother Nan with a beaming smile. "However, this indicates that he intends to introduce you to his parents, suggesting a commitment to you. You should be more vigilant and not act foolishly when you are out. If he truly wants to take this opportunity for his parents to meet you, you need to make a good impression..."

Now she and her mother are both eating the food from the Fu family

As for the intention behind Fu Qingquan's words today... Forget it, whatever he wants to do, he has always been someone who cannot be stopped by anyone, so let him be

Nanxi was momentarily taken aback, unable to comprehend where Fu Qingquan's words were coming from. Ji Chenyang was the one he had brought in; did he not understand what kind of person he was? Why was he asking her instead? Moreover, what did Ji Chenyang's character have to do with her? After all, Ji Chenyang was merely invited by Fu Qingquan to support the occasion. Once he had enough of playing around and grew tired of it, he would naturally withdraw. At that time, Ji Chenyang would simply return from whence he came, and she had no interest in concerning herself with what kind of person Ji Chenyang was!

I noticed that both of you were silent and had tense expressions just now; what were you doing

In short, it is permissible for one's own son to tease another's daughter, but it is not allowed for one's own daughter to be toyed with by another's son

One thing is undoubtedly clear: Fu Qingquan cannot stand to see her do well

"Xiaoxi?" Mother Nan suddenly barged in, breaking the awkwardness between the two. "Qingquan, Chenyang is leaving, you should go say goodbye to him."

No

Now Nanxi somewhat understands that Fu Qingquan introduced Ji Chenyang to her, likely to force her to return home. He has always opposed her staying in the dormitory, and after several discussions, she rebutted him with reasons such as her poor foundation, the need to practice more in the study group, and the inconvenient transportation in Hangzhou. Now he has finally found an opportunity, achieving two goals at once: keeping her confined at home and using Young Master Ji to monitor her, ensuring she can never find peace... It's just like raising a cat; when in a good mood, you feed it, and when in a bad mood, you break one of its legs, just as he said, "You must recognize whose food you are eating." Now he has finally found an opportunity, achieving two goals at once: keeping her confined at home and using Young Master Ji to monitor her, ensuring she can never find peace... It's just like raising a cat; when in a good mood, you feed it, and when in a bad mood, you break one of its legs, just as he said, "You must recognize whose food you are eating."