Transmigrated as the fake young master, I'll beat up the scumbags and b*tches-Chapter 301Vol. 1 - - A strange feeling

"Why are you so late? Weren’t you supposed to be home this afternoon? We even had to come out here just to pick you up!" Xia Chen took the suitcase from his younger sister, but all he got in return was a glare.

"It was raining. The flight got delayed. Besides, what’s so bad about picking up your sister?" Xia XiaoXi raised a fist at her brother, the playful gesture highlighting how close the two of them were.

At that moment, HuMing took a small gift bag from his backpack and handed it to Xia XiaoXi.

"A little something for you. Though, technically, it’s from your brother—I forgot to get you a gift myself. I’ll make it up to you next time." HuMing didn’t try to win favor through Xia Chen’s good intentions. In his eyes, forgetting was forgetting.

He could make up for it, sure, but he wouldn’t ride on someone else’s goodwill.

Xia XiaoXi took the lipstick bag from HuMing, glanced at him, then shot a look at her brother.

Xia Chen scratched his face, a little sheepish. He hadn’t expected HuMing to just come clean like that. He’d actually been planning to create some “chances” for HuMing—boost his sister’s impression of him a little.

"Tch, I knew it. No way you'd remember to buy something like this. YunXi told me you always forget to get her gifts too. If you’d remembered mine, that would’ve been the real shocker." Xia XiaoXi waved it off and tossed the lipstick into her bag.

Then, she reached out and gave both guys a shove forward.

"Let’s go, let’s go—I’m starving! I wanna go home and eat!"

"I won’t forget next time." HuMing said, softly but sincerely.

Xia XiaoXi paused, blinking in surprise, then smiled and lightened her tone.

"Really? But I heard from QiuXue that you’re the kind of guy who never goes back on his word. In that case—pinky promise?"

"Okay."

HuMing reached out his pinky, and the girl hooked hers around his, like they were sealing a quiet, private vow.

… freёnovelkiss.com

"Dad! I’m home!" Xia XiaoXi pushed open the front door. Xia GaoWu turned around just in time to catch his daughter barreling into his arms.

She wrapped her arms tightly around his waist, burying her head in his chest. A gentle smile spread across Xia GaoWu’s face as he reached up to stroke her hair.

"It’s good you’re home. Want to take a shower before dinner?"

"Yup!"

Xia GaoWu then looked over at HuMing. HuMing gave him a silent nod, which Xia GaoWu returned with calm approval.

Before long, it was time to eat.

Compared to usual, tonight’s family dinner was especially lively. HuMing watched the three members of the Xia family laughing and chatting together and found himself at a loss for words. If Xia XiaoXi ever learned the truth about Xia GaoWu... she probably wouldn’t be able to sleep at night.

She was the type who panicked easily when big things happened. If that day ever really came... she might be completely overwhelmed.

"HuMing, have some shrimp!"

Xia XiaoXi peeled a shrimp for her dad, then peeled one each for Xia Chen and HuMing too.

"How’ve you been lately over there? Your classmates treating you okay? No one bullying you, right?" HuMing asked casually.

"Nope, everyone’s been really nice. I just didn’t expect you to show up in JingDu. You know I’m moving back after this term, right? That means YunXi will be stuck over there alone."

"Don’t worry about YunXi. She mentioned it to me beforehand. She said even if she’s alone, she still has friends over there." Whenever HuMing talked about Han YunXi, he couldn’t help but picture her trying to act tough in front of him.

It had been a while since he last saw her. He wasn’t even sure how she was doing lately.

But once summer break started, they’d be heading out to the countryside together. He wanted to find out exactly what the old man had left behind for him.

"Oh right—HuMing, your birthday’s coming up soon! What kind of gift do you want?"

"That’s not how you ask someone, you know," Xia Chen sighed, giving his sister a look.

After all, Xia XiaoXi had never asked him what he wanted for his birthday.

Now suddenly all her attention was on HuMing?

As her brother, Xia Chen couldn’t help feeling a little jealous. But what could he do? She was his sister, after all.

"I just don’t want to get him something he won’t like."

"Nah, just having you guys there will be the best gift. I don’t know many people here in JingDu. You’re one of the few friends I have."

"And Ye QiuXue too, right? Let’s call her out to eat together tomorrow!" Just the mention of Ye QiuXue lit Xia XiaoXi up. She hadn’t seen her in a long while either.

Actually, she hadn’t told QiuXue she was coming back—she was hoping to surprise her!

But from what she’d heard, QiuXue had been getting pestered by that heir from the Shi family lately... Xia XiaoXi figured it was time to give her friend a little backup.

HuMing didn’t object. It was girls’ business—he didn’t need to butt in.

Dinner that night was warm and pleasant. Xia GaoWu didn’t interrupt as the three young people caught up.

But after the meal, he pulled HuMing aside.

"HuMing, how’s everything at the Gu household? No problems, I hope?"

"Uncle, I’ve been doing well. I can tell the Gu family’s been working hard to prepare for the banquet too," HuMing replied, his voice unconsciously a little louder than usual.

Xia GaoWu nodded in satisfaction. Then he brought up something else.

"HuMing, what do you think of XiaoXi?"

"She’s… great. Pretty, smart, well-liked…"

HuMing looked at Xia GaoWu, sensing something odd in his gaze. Xia GaoWu clapped a hand on his shoulder, beaming.

"I think she really likes you. I’ve never seen her care so much about a guy before."

HuMing’s heart skipped a beat—not out of performance, but genuine surprise.

Thinking back, it was true that XiaoXi had always been warm toward him. Even when Han ShuYi was around, she’d gotten close to him fast.

At first, he thought she was just nosy about his business. But now, hearing Xia GaoWu say that... something really did feel off.

"U-Uncle, I think you might be misunderstanding. XiaoXi and I are just friends..."

"Friends, huh? I’ve got eyes, you know. Sometimes, a guy just needs to take that one extra step," Xia GaoWu said with a fatherly smile, like he was already seeing a future son-in-law.

Meanwhile, in the shadowy corner of the hallway... a figure slowly faded into the darkness.

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