Chapter 592: Chapter 592: Good Kids Need More Praise

Xie Qingci didn’t say anything, and Yu Xia considered for a moment, then said with a smile:

"But at that time he was very popular because of this matter, especially with that curly-haired Wei Yaoyao, who is still his best friend."

Xie Yin suddenly chuckled, his elegant demeanor like a scholar with the spirit of literature.

"I’m not criticizing him, just saying it casually. You don’t have to rush to speak for him."

Xie Qingci still didn’t utter a word, but his actions spoke volumes.

He moved his chair a little closer, leaning against Yu Xia, his hand on the back of her chair seemingly wrapping her in his arms.

Yu Xia smiled sheepishly, feeling like she might be the one playing parent here. When Xie Yin didn’t respond, she had already thought through how to explain, "Kids actually need more praise."

Everyone continued watching.

Yu Xia watched every familiar scene carefully, like a tour guide ready to direct foreign tourists, reminding Xu Yan and Xie Yin to focus and wait right before the scenes where Xie Qingci would appear.

The person publicly embarrassed, however, didn’t care, maintaining a close posture, feeding Yu Xia from time to time.

Whenever he encountered her favorite dish, he would feed her an extra bite, and half of that plate of fish ended up in Yu Xia’s stomach.

She forgotten earlier agreements like "Don’t let your parents think you feed me every day." When the food was brought to her mouth, she opened her mouth to eat, her attention on the television.

Xu Yan turned to look at them several times, noticing that her son had a sense of superiority in such intimate actions, showing he was in a good mood.

Truly clingy.

Just as the show reached its end, with a twenty-minute practice room behind-the-scenes, Yu Xia alerted them in advance, bringing Xu Yan’s attention back to the TV.

"I remember when I went to the practice room to watch them, everyone said he was especially hardworking. He wasn’t good at singing or dancing, and he only received last-minute training for two or three months before the program. To catch up with others, he was always in the practice room."

As if to prove her statement true, the behind-the-scenes showed a clip of Xie Qingci.

The expressionless, cool boy, who didn’t chat with anyone, didn’t wander around, kept practicing the same moves in the practice room, over and over. His companions sat on the ground resting, while half of his clothes were soaked with sweat, yet he continued with the same expression.

The scene felt like watching parents peering through a shop window at their child practicing ballet, perhaps about to shed tears of pride and tenderness.

Yu Xia perfectly fit into this complex emotion of parental pride, almost wanting to pat Xie Qingci’s head and praise him for being so good. However, Xu Yan and Xie Yin’s reactions were completely different.

Xu Yan even smiled as she told Xie Qingci, "I didn’t expect you to actually be able to dance. You didn’t like performing on stage in elementary school and feigned clumsiness. Who knew after enduring through middle and high school, you’d still end up dancing at twenty. Why aren’t you against it this time?"

Xie Qingci indifferently replied, "I don’t like doing homework either, but to fulfill tasks, I had no choice."

Simply forced, though he’d mentally prepared in advance.

Xie Yin also asked, "Didn’t it occur to you that, as someone who doesn’t like singing and dancing, you might have to continue with it if you debut? Like studying a major you dislike, it’s rare for someone to develop a passion."

That’s what he found strange. Knowing his son well, Xie Qingci never liked being treated as a mascot, praised, or put on a pedestal, finding it annoying, nor did he enjoy performing publicly for attention.

That’s why they found it unbelievable when they heard he went on a talent show to perform singing and dancing.

It felt like he wouldn’t make such a choice without another motive.

Xie Qingci said, "I never planned on staying an idol forever. Just as you can change majors in university, there are many paths in the entertainment industry, like switching to acting or working behind the scenes. I didn’t even think I would debut initially."

"So what were you thinking back then? Why suddenly enter the entertainment industry?"

To this, he just calmly gave two words: "Curiosity."

Yu Xia, with ears monitoring her nose and nose observing her heart, earnestly ate her food, maintaining an attitude that this matter was none of her business.

Xie Yin glanced at the two of them and didn’t ask more.

Watching the show while eating, laughter filled the house, and this reunion meal was spent in a harmonious atmosphere.

The task of washing the dishes afterward was still Xie Qingci’s, while Yu Xia went upstairs to call her brother for a chat.

In over twenty years, unless she was filming too far away to return, she had never spent Chinese New Year apart from her family for any other reason.

She called, exchanged New Year’s Eve greetings, and Yu Yue warmly asked what she had for dinner and described how delicious the chicken wings her mom made tonight were.

Yue Ling mainly inquired how she felt staying with the Xie Family.

"How are his parents’ attitudes?"

She carefully replied, "They’re very nice. His mom is very gentle, his dad doesn’t talk much, but he’s also nice."

"I told you, parents who raised someone like Xie Qingci can’t have a bad family atmosphere. Your brother can’t even rest during dinner, worrying you might be mistreated or need to watch your manners, acting like you’re heading into a dragon’s den."

Yu Yue chuckled and added, "Dad’s like when I haven’t finished my homework!"

"That’s not the same," she smiled, asking Yue Ling, "Where’s my brother?"

"Taking care of the kid. He deliberately doesn’t want to come over, keeping a dignified posture. Yu Heng, get over here quickly."

After a while, Yu Heng got on the line, seemingly unconcerned about her, greeting with a casual "Hello."

"How’s it going?"

Yu Xia couldn’t help but squint with a smile, trying to keep her voice steady as she answered seriously, "Not bad. His parents like me a lot. We just finished eating, and Xie Qingci is washing the dishes."

"Just because you’re liked, don’t get too smug. You’re not there to please anyone. When are you coming back? Your big nephew hid two chicken wings for you to eat when you return."

She pretended to sob with gratitude.

"Thank my big nephew, I adore you so much, auntie loves you dearly. As for when I’ll be back, it might be tomorrow or the day after. Remember to keep my chicken wings in the fridge, don’t let them spoil before I return. By the way, where’s my little nephew?"

Yu Heng annoyedly replied, "He’s sleeping soundly after his milk. No need to worry about him."

Yu Xia understood, "Brother, are you still not over the fact you don’t have a daughter? Just accept it. Besides, this stage of childhood isn’t much different for boys and girls. Just consider him your daughter."

Yue Ling added, "No, it’s because he changed the little one’s clothes that were wet with milk before dinner, then got kicked in the face by the kid, who laughed gleefully, making your brother quite upset. He said the child came to settle a debt."

Yu Xia stifled a laugh.

Just then, there was a knock on the door. Xie Qingci, having finished washing the dishes, stood at the door, gesturing for her to come over, mouthing the words—

"Let’s go out and play."