Only After I Was Reborn Did I Realize That I Had Childhood Sweethearts Chapter 269: Kneel On This

After so intimate ti with Xia Yuan, i Fang was in an exceptionally good mood.

Damn, our Yuan Yuan is just too sweet!

As he washed his hands in the kitchen afterward, he ran into Lin Youxi, who was storing leftover dumplings in the fridge. He helped her put them away, and she took the opportunity to bring up their company plans.

“Ah Fang, I’ve been thinking—shouldn’t we tell our families about starting the company soon?”

Lin Youxi explained, “My dad’s health hasn’t been as strong these past couple years. I want to ease his workload, but I can’t just hand him money directly. Even buying him things feels awkward—it might raise questions.”

“Finally! How many tis have I told you—”

Not interested in rehashing old debates, Lin Youxi cut him off by pressing her lips to his.

After a brief but intense mont, she patted his shoulder.

“Alright… no point dwelling on the past.”

“I’m not dwelling. I’m just glad you’re finally using your share—you’ve earned it. Hell, you’ve been working for for free since elentary school…”

As i Fang grumbled, Lin Youxi licked her lips pensively before leaning in to whisper, “You taste like Yuan Yuan today… Did you two sneak off without ?”

“Uh… well—”

Lin Youxi wasn’t usually the jealous type—her moods were hard to predict. Or maybe she just enjoyed teasing him. That was probably it.

But i Fang couldn’t act indifferent—that would betray the sacred doctrine of Equal Attention. So he feigned flustered hesitation, which Lin Youxi loved because it ant she could bully him further.

“I’m not mad. Just impressed you’re getting bold.”

“Though Auntie Xiang’s way sharper than my mom. You’d better not let her catch you with Yuan Yuan before we ‘officially’ announce things. That’d be ssy.”

“Yeah… I know. Mom’s scary. Dad’s hidden cash stash? She sniffed it out in seconds.”

“No matter what, the throuple plan has to be last. Revealing anything now is too risky.”

Lin Youxi’s expression turned deadly serious. “Ah Fang, listen—if we want our families’ blessing soday, this has to happen gradually.”

“Got it.”

i Fang gave her an OK sign before they returned to chores.

Lin Youxi cooked dinner that night, but Xiang Xiaoxia never ca down. Puzzled, i Fang asked his sister, “Where’s Mom? Did you call her?”

“I did,” i Ya nodded. “She said she’s not feeling well and told us to eat first.”

i Lijun, shoveling food into his mouth, snorted. “Bet it’s that braised pork knuckle at lunch. I told her stomach can’t handle greasy stuff anymore, but does she listen? Nooo. Serves her right.”

i Fang shot his dad a withering look.

“You’d never say that to her face…”

Hearing this, Xia Yuan grew worried. She set down her chopsticks.

“I’ll go check on Auntie Xiang! See if she wants anything.”

“ too.” Lin Youxi stood as well.

“You’re guests,” i Lijun waved them off before jerking his chin at his son. “You go. See what’s up with your mom.”

“Fine.”

i Fang headed upstairs and knocked softly on his parents’ bedroom door. “Mom? You okay? Want to bring you sothing? Is it your stomach or a cold?”

……

No response.

A twinge of unease hit him. He cracked the door open to find Xiang Xiaoxia lying on the bed, facing away, still in her day clothes.

“Asleep?”

He approached and gently shook her shoulder—only to freeze when she rolled over.

Her eyes were wide open.

And red-rimd.

She stared at him silently for a long mont before finally speaking in a hollow voice:

“My heart hurts.”

Xiang Xiaoxia was direct.

Yeah, figured…

Knowing his mom all too well, i Fang imdiately recognized this as one of those tis when either his dad or little sister had done sothing to upset her.

If it wasn’t about his dad drinking, then it had to be i Ya’s model airplanes or schoolwork.

Surely it couldn’t be , her perfect son, who made her mad, right? Hah! Even if she saw getting cozy with Yuan Yuan, she’d probably be thrilled—no way she’d react like this.

“What’s bothering you, Mom? Who upset you? Dad or i Ya?” i Fang thumped his chest. “Give ten minutes, and I’ll drag them up here to apologize.”

“Hmm…”

Xiang Xiaoxia thought for a mont, then slowly pushed herself up in bed. i Fang hurried to support her, helping her lean against the headboard.

“You… go find the washboard. Or a keyboard. Or a wire brush. Anything’ll do.”

i Fang blinked. “Mom, it’s the New Year—should we really be resorting to corporal punishnt? I an, i Ya’s disobedient, but she’s still young. She’ll grow out of it.”

Xiang Xiaoxia had been stewing over sothing else entirely, but this tangent hooked her. “When Youxi and Yuan Yuan were i Ya’s age, they could already cook for themselves. Top of their class, too. Now look at your sister.”

“Uh… yeah, she’s not exactly in their league—”

Downstairs, i Ya, mid-bite, suddenly sneezed three tis in a row. Her appetite vanished.

But as Xiang Xiaoxia ntioned Xia Yuan and Lin Youxi, her expression darkened further. She fixed her gaze on the real troublemaker she’d carried for nine months and delivered into this world.

“Just go get the washboard. There’s one in the second-floor storage room. Or bring your own keyboard.”

“I’ll get the washboard.”

My laptop cost a fortune—no way I’m wrecking the keyboard. Washboard it was.

Rummaging through the storage room, i Fang found the washboard—and next to it, a few wire brushes.

Tch. Can’t believe Dad and i Ya ruined Mom’s New Year like this. They deserve what’s coming.

He returned with both items.

Xiang Xiaoxia’s frown eased slightly at the sight of the wire brush. At least this kid knows his place.

“Set them up.”

“Okay…”

i Fang arranged the “tools of justice,” then stood. “Should I call Dad or i Ya up first?”

Xiang Xiaoxia pondered. “Your dad.”

Yes! Called it!

Grinning, i Fang bounded downstairs to summon i Lijun, hinting that Mom was about to enforce household discipline.

Deputy Director i Lijun of the Baizhou Land Bureau turned ashen. “I—I haven’t pissed your mom off in years! Why now?”

“Must be serious.” i Fang shook his head. Pathetic. Still scared of Mom at your age. Not like —I’m the emperor of this household—

He escorted his trembling father upstairs.

i Lijung took one look at the implents and stamred, “Wife, what’s all this? I haven’t done anything wrong lately…”

Xiang Xiaoxia waved him off. “Just listen.” She jerked her chin toward a spot near i Fang. “Sit over there.”

i Fang plopped onto the sofa, already ntally drafting his roast of Dad’s impending suffering—

“WHO TOLD YOU TO SIT?!”

Xiang Xiaoxia’s roar launched him upright.

“Huh? I—I can’t sit here?”

“You don’t get to sit.”

She pointed at the washboard and wire brush.

“Kneel. On these.”

“Now.”

i Fang’s face blanked. “…? I’m kneeling?”

Perfect.