Chapter 261 - 258: Professor Xiao’s Heart Softens
Looking at her student, who kept her head bowed and refused to look up, Professor Xiao let out a soft sigh. She understood Zhou Lian’s good intentions, but who didn’t spend the Spring Festival with their family? For her to bring along the professor and her husband... what was that all about? She knew her student well. Zhou Lian truly saw her and her husband as her own elders. But Zhou Lian was married now, no longer on her own. How could she not consider other people’s feelings!
Hearing her teacher’s nearly imperceptible sigh, Zhou Lian’s heart clenched. She looked up at Professor Xiao and said slowly, "Teacher, it was Jin Chen who brought it up first. He said he wanted to spend the New Year with you and your husband, Teacher!"
"Oh, you," Professor Xiao said, her tone a mix of affection and exasperation. "If you hadn’t made it so obvious, do you think Jin Chen would have brought it up? I know my own student. In front of Li Jincheng, you’re practically an open book, aren’t you?"
With a helpless glance at her teacher, Zhou Lian said, "So what if he did? And it’s not just about me. Think of all the effort you and your husband have poured into Nuonuo and Yanyan. Jin Chen isn’t heartless. He has a distant relationship with his own parents, and my parents have other children besides me. You two are right here with us, so how could we possibly not spend the Spring Festival together!"
𝓯𝙧𝙚𝒆𝙬𝙚𝒃𝙣𝙤𝒗𝓮𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢
Seeing her pouting and trying to look cute, Professor Xiao couldn’t help but be amused. She looked warmly at Zhou Lian and asked, "So, you two have it all planned out?"
"Yes. Jin Chen said he wants to bring you and your husband to our place. You can stay for a few days after the Spring Festival. There’s a Plum Garden on the estate. You and your husband could invite a couple of friends over to admire the blossoms in the snow. You two have never even been!" The moment she sensed her teacher might be giving in, Zhou Lian launched into her persuasive speech. Her animated and gleeful expression made Professor Xiao break into a smile.
Seeing her teacher smile, Zhou Lian suppressed her excitement and said with a wide grin, "You and your husband can stay right on the estate grounds. There’s a two-story scenic pavilion that’s normally empty; Jin Chen and I only use it for a night or two sometimes. He’s made the grounds absolutely beautiful. You and your husband will definitely love it!"
"That’s right, Teacher Xiao. You and your husband don’t have anything planned for the Spring Festival. Why not stay at the estate for a few days? Nuonuo and Yanyan will be there to keep you company, and you can invite a few friends over to enjoy the grounds and share some drinks and good conversation. It would be a delightful diversion!" Standing at the door to the study, Li Xiu gently added his voice to the persuasion, his eyes on the overjoyed Zhou Lian. He had already managed to win over her husband at the dinner table. Now, all he needed was Professor Xiao’s approval to grant his precious wife’s wish.
Hearing his voice, she looked up at the doorway to find Li Xiu and her teacher’s husband standing there; she had no idea how long they’d been listening. Zhou Lian happily rose and walked over to Li Xiu. "Jin Chen," she said with a smile, "quickly, help me convince Teacher. She’s being so stubborn! It’s not like we’re asking her to do anything illegal or forbidden!"
Gently patting Zhou Lian’s head, Li Xiu smiled at Professor Xiao. "Teacher Xiao, you see, we’re only inviting you and your husband to stay for a few days. Even if not for Bao’er’s sake, you have to think of Nuonuo and Yanyan, don’t you? You haven’t seen those two little ones in days. Surely you and your husband must miss them! And it’s no trouble at all. You two only need to pack a few changes of clothes. The scenic pavilion is fully equipped. Bao’er and I stay there ourselves sometimes, so there’s no need to prepare anything."
Looking at her beaming husband, and then at her hopeful student and Li Jincheng, Professor Xiao let out a deep sigh. Finally accepting their kindness, she smiled and said, "Alright, then. Your teacher’s husband and I will go and stay at your estate for a few days!"
"Really? You agreed, Teacher? Then let’s pack up and leave right away!" Zhou Lian exclaimed, her face lit with excitement the moment Professor Xiao consented.
Seeing her student in this rare, unguarded display of emotion, Professor Xiao couldn’t help but press a hand to her forehead and sigh. "In a few days," she said with a helpless look at Zhou Lian. "Your teacher’s husband and I will pack our things in a few days and come over then!"
Zhou Lian’s spirits plummeted instantly. ’If I can’t take my teacher and her husband with me today, I’ll feel so unsettled.’ She knew from experience how stubborn her teacher could be. She had agreed a little too easily just now. ’Who knows if she’ll come up with some excuse not to go in a couple of days!’
Seeing Zhou Lian’s crestfallen expression, Li Xiu’s heart went out to her. He gently patted her on the back and turned to Professor Xiao. "Teacher Xiao, how about this? Why don’t you and your husband pack a few things now, and we can all head back together? You two don’t have much going on at home, and Bao’er has a considerable collection of old books and paintings. When you have a moment, Teacher Xiao, you could help us look through them. Bao’er and I are hardly experts, so you could give them a once-over for us and see if there are any forgeries."
"A considerable collection of old books and paintings? Where did you two get all that?" Professor Xiao asked, her curiosity piqued by Li Xiu’s words.
Li Xiu smiled. "It’s because Bao’er is so fond of them. A few years back, whenever I had time, I’d go around to scrap yards and the back alleys, visiting families who had fallen on hard times. I managed to acquire quite a few things. So, how about it? You and your husband could come and give them an expert look!"
Upon hearing this, Professor Xiao shot right up from her seat. She grabbed her husband’s arm and said, "Let’s go, let’s go! We’ll go pack right now. We’re going to the estate with them in a bit!"
"Honestly. The moment you hear about things like that, you can’t sit still. Hey, slow down!"
Zhou Lian watched as her teacher bustled off, pulling her husband toward the bedroom, and heard his teasing remarks trail behind them. She looked up at Li Xiu, incredulous. "That’s all it took?"
"Yep, that’s all it took," Li Xiu said, unable to resist teasing her when he saw her incredulous expression. "It seems Teacher Xiao cares more about those artifacts than she does about you, Nuonuo, and Yanyan!"
Zhou Lian said, slightly deflated, "If I’d known that would be so effective, why did I waste all that breath? I should have just used them to tempt her from the very beginning!"
Li Xiu just smiled at her words and didn’t respond. ’That’s not necessarily true,’ he thought. ’Teacher Xiao only agreed today because she couldn’t bear to see Bao’er looking so sad. My words only worked because of all the emotional groundwork laid beforehand. When it comes down to it, it was because she adores Bao’er. Otherwise, knowing Professor Xiao’s stubbornness and principles, even if she had agreed to spend the holiday together, she would have waited until the very last minute on New Year’s Eve to show up.’
"Jin Chen, why don’t you take Sister Fang, Nuonuo, and Yanyan home first? I’ll wait here while our teacher packs her things. You can come back and pick us up afterward. It’ll be a bit of a squeeze if we all go at once!"
Li Xiu considered it for a moment and agreed. The two of them went into the room and gently woke Nuonuo and Yanyan. Li Xiu held Yanyan in his arms, while Zhou Lian took Nuonuo’s hand and whispered, "Daddy is going to take you and your little brother home first. Today, we’re bringing your grandteachers home with us!"
Hearing this, Nuonuo looked up at Zhou Lian excitedly. "Really, Mommy? Are the grandteachers really coming to our house? Does that mean I’ll get to see them every day?"
"Yes, really. This year, your grandteachers are going to celebrate the New Year with us. So you and your brother be good and wait at home, alright? Daddy will take you back in a little while, and then he’ll come back to pick up your grandteachers and me!" Zhou Lian confirmed, gazing at her daughter’s overjoyed face.