Chapter 372: Double Standards

Translator: Atlas Studios  Editor: Atlas Studios

“It’s fine. After you give birth, let’s get Xia Zhe to teach you how to swim,” Xia He said.

Xia Zhe had just been lost in his thoughts about Qiao Mei’s graceful figure. When he heard that Qiao Mei wanted to learn how to swim, he immediately became stern and said, “No, I won’t teach her. It’s too dangerous. She must stay away from the water!”

Liu Fen walked out of the kitchen with a bowl of hot ginger soup and agreed, “That’s right, Xiao Zhe is right! Why should a girl learn how to swim! It’s so embarrassing to be seen by men dressed like that!”

Given that there was finally someone in the family who agreed with her on something, she must definitely say her piece.

Qiao Mei blinked her big bright eyes and looked at Xia Zhe with a smile. She tugged at Xia Zhe’s sleeve and swayed it gently.

“It’s useless to do that. I won’t teach you. There’s no room for discussion on this matter!” Xia Zhe shook off Qiao Mei’s hand and said sternly.

Qiao Mei pouted and said, “If you don’t want to teach me, so be it. Why are you so fierce…”

Xia Zhe also regretted his harsh words and actions just now. He looked at the aggrieved Qiao Mei and did not know what to say. He was surrounded by his elders and could not really say anything.

Xia He reached out to rub the goosebumps on her arms and said, “The two of you are really mushy! Hurry up and go back to your room! Don’t let me see you!”

“I don’t want to talk to Xia Zhe. Elder sister, let’s go to the room and talk,” Qiao Mei said.

Xia He took the ginger soup from Liu Fen and gulped it down. She wiped the corners of her mouth and said, “Thank you, Second Aunt-in-law.”

After that, she went into the room with Qiao Mei. The living room was filled with her elders. If she stayed any longer, Second Aunt-in-law would definitely nag at her about what women should and should not do.

She had long wanted to leave the living room and go back to her room. Before Qiao Mei and Xia Zhe returned, Xia He had already been reprimanded once. However, she was brought up to respect her elders. Furthermore, Liu Fen was being kind and did not have any ill intentions, so Xia He was too embarrassed to just walk out.

Now that Qiao Mei was back, she finally had a chance to avoid her elders. Their timing was really perfect!

Liu Fen held on to the bowl and chased after Qiao Mei and Xia He as she said, “I’m not done yet! Xia He!”

Qiao Mei smiled at Liu Fen and said, “Second Aunt-in-law, it’s almost noon. Isn’t it your turn to cook today?”

Liu Fen stood rooted to the spot and did not dare to take another step forward. She said softly, “I’ll go now, I’ll go now.” Then, she turned around, went into the kitchen and did not come out again.

Xia He looked at Liu Fen strangely and then at Qiao Mei with admiration.

She was also there when Qiao Mei and Liu Fen confronted each other, but she did not expect such a surprisingly good outcome. Even Xu Lan, who had married into the Xia family for so many years, could not do anything to Liu Fen. She did not expect Qiao Mei to be able to subdue Liu Fen so easily.

Xia Zhe also finally found out how Qiao Mei managed to scare Liu Fen so much.

The scene was a little different from what Qiao Mei had described to him. The Qiao Mei in front of him was someone he had never seen before. Her eyes were filled with coldness and determination, and the look she gave was spine-chilling.

It was no wonder that Liu Fen was so deferential to Qiao Mei. Anyone who saw that look would be afraid of her.

When Qiao Mei saw Xia Zhe looking over, her expression softened a lot. She smiled sweetly at Xia Zhe and brought Xia He upstairs.

Xia Zhe shook his head resignedly. This young girl…

After going upstairs and entering her room, Qiao Mei felt much more relaxed. Xia He also loosened up as she finally did not have to face Liu Fen’s questions anymore.

“Elder sister, you aren’t able to reach an agreement with him? What did you say?” Qiao Mei sat on the bed and asked.

“I told him about the divorce.” Xia He roughly told Qiao Mei about what happened on the lake.

Qiao Mei understood what it meant and asked, “So if he really sends Old Madam Kong and Kong Li back to the countryside, you won’t get a divorce?”

This same question had also crossed Xia He’s mind. She had originally thought that if it was a possibility, then she would take a step back. However, the truth was that it was impossible for such a thing to happen.

“I’m lying to him. Even if he wanted to send his mother and sister away, these two people would do anything to kick up a fuss and then he would agree to anything they want, so it’s impossible,” Xia He said with a cold smile.