"We can’t impose on them anymore, Xiaxia," Xin remarked solemnly.
Xiaxia’s hopeful expression faded, and she responded, "I understand, but . . ."
"You’re not imposing at all," Seraphina quickly reassured.
A spark of gratitude lit up Xiaxia’s face. "Big Sister."
"I’ll discuss it with Mom tonight," Xin declared, causing Xiaxia’s expression to sour once again.
Turning to Seraphina, Xin addressed her, "By the way, the current residents there need so ti to move out, and I promised them a month. Would it be alright to rely on your kindness until then?"
Seraphina chuckled softly. "I already told you, you can stay here as long as you want."
Xiaxia’s hope flickered back to life, but it dimd once more when Xin spoke again.
"Thank you. Then we’ll stay here for another month and we’ll move out."
"We could stay here forever, you know," Xiaxia comnted, playing with her steak, her appetite lost.
"Xiaxia," Xin reprimanded.
"Fine, fine. I can’t do anything about it since Mom and you are so adamant about wanting to leave here."
"Because this isn’t our house," Xin said, his pride as a man was showing. Providing for his family was his duty, and he wasn’t thick-skinned enough to take advantage of the Fey’s kindness.
"By the way . . . where did you get the money from?" Xiaxia asked.
"We cleared a dungeon, so the rewards were great," Xin said simply.
Xiaxia was skeptical. "What dungeon is that? You bought back our house in less than a month. I want to know, too. Why haven’t I encountered a dungeon like that? We’ve been clearing dungeons for a long ti, but the rewards were nowhere near a million dollars!"
"It’s not important. What matters is we’ve got the money."
"Xin . . ." Xiaxia narrowed her eyes at her brother. "Did you do sothing illegal?"
It was now Xin’s turn to whack his sister’s head. "Stop letting your imagination run wild. I acquired the money through legal ans."
"You didn’t take out a loan, did you? Xin, we already have a lot of debt, and a house is not an asset; it’s a liability. You could get us into more debt!"
Xiaxia argued passionately, her concern evident. Then, her expression shifted. "That’s why we should stay here first until we save up the money."
Xin resisted the urge to whack her head again. "It’s not a loan, so don’t worry. And I agree that a house is not an asset from a purely financial perspective.
"However, a house is an asset for our emotional and physical well-being. Having a roof over your head, a nice bedroom and bathroom without insects and rodents constantly disrupting your sleep is an asset in itself."
"So, you agree to stay here," Xiaxia said with a hopeful grin.
Xin shook his head once again. "That’s not what I ant."
"But our old house is so old."
"We’ll renovate it," Xin stated simply.
Xiaxia gritted her teeth, unable to find a counter-argunt against Xin’s determination.
After dinner, Evelyn returned ho, and Xin took a deep breath before informing her about buying back their old house.
"Xin . . ." Evelyn stared seriously at her son and said, "Are you doing illegal things?"
Xin inwardly sighed. "You’re asking that too?"
"Because I don’t see how you can afford to buy back our house in just less than a month."
"I told you so," Xiaxia chid in.
"Mom, it’s completely legal, so you don’t have to worry."
"Then did you take out a loan?"
"I asked him that as well."
"No, I didn’t. It’s all because of Guildbane."
Evelyn paused and then thought aloud, "Maybe I should quit my job and play that ga."
Xin and Xiaxia exchanged a look, and both of them responded almost simultaneously.
"No, Mom. You would be terrible at it!" Xiaxia said.
"You should just focus on your job," Xin finished.
They definitely didn’t want to take care of their mother in the ga. They could almost envision her going sightseeing rather than doing anything else.
After all, she was too old to be playing the ga, not that it was apparent on her face.
Evelyn suddenly felt a pang of hurt, as if she could read her children’s thoughts. "When you were children, you always clung to to play with you. Now that you’re older, you two just want out of your lives. Maybe I should just leave."
"Stop being so dramatic and eat already," Xiaxia said.
Seraphina’s giggle from the side made the family pause.
"Ah, I’m sorry," Seraphina said. "I only have my father, so seeing you bicker with each other felt nice."
Xin and the others exchanged glances.
"Lady Seraphina." Evelyn quickly went to Seraphina like she had just seen her there. "I’m sorry if we made you uncomfortable. These kids are such trouble," she said with a smile.
"No," Seraphina bead. "I like seeing you all around. It makes the house livelier and makes feel like I have siblings too."
Evelyn’s eyes shimred with tears. She had always been soft towards children who lacked a parent or a family. It reminded her of how Xin and Xiaxia grew up without a father.
"Lady Seraphina . . ."
"Oh my, look at making things awkward." Seraphina stood to her feet and proceeded to her bedroom. "If you’ll excuse , I’ll get ready for our art session."
Xin and his family exchanged glances before Evelyn comnted, "If only you two were like Lady Seraphina, then I’d have nothing to worry about. She’s so mature and very responsible."
Xiaxia frowned. "I am mature and responsible." She then proceeded to hurriedly consu all the steaks as if she feared soone might steal her food.
Xin was about to finish his al when his mother stopped him, her eyes narrowing at him.
"You should get ready too. Don’t keep Lady Seraphina waiting."
Xin could do nothing but obediently retreat to his room and gather the necessary materials for their upcoming art session.
Xin’s days followed the sa routine, a predictable tempo that had beco the norm.
Nothing particularly noteworthy had occurred since the news broke about him and Seraphina dating.
Of course, there were occasional stares and glares, particularly directed at the explosive-looking watch on his wrist, but he could manage that.
Inside the house, life continued with Xin and Seraphina maintaining their usual, seemingly unaffected deanor.
However, on one ordinary day, a shift occurred, and sothing unexpected took place.
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