Xi Qian's gaze swept through the room she had occupied these past months. This would be her last day here at the Li Estate. Strangely enough, she didn't find herself as lonely in this place as she thought she would be. Although her time with the Li family was short, she had to admit that she loved their company.
Madam Li was a kind host. She was very patient with her and usually dropped by to give her snacks while she was studying. It was odd, but Xi Qian briefly thought that it was like a mother looking after her child who was about to leave for college.
She chuckled and shook her head. How very different from her own mother whom she hadn't seen or talked to ever since their last encounter over five years ago. Not that her mother didn't try to reach her. In fact her mother had constantly pestered her with phone calls and text messages that forced Xi Qian to change her number to avoid her.
Meanwhile, Chairman Li was a pleasant person to chat with. He also didn't mind when she spent most of her free time in their vast library to study and would occasionally ask her about the progress of her studies. He would sometimes ask their cook to make something for her to eat after work.
Li Xingtian wasn't as bad as she thought the more she interacted with him. Although it was obvious that he'd been sheltered for too long and became conceited, Chairman Li's ailment had surely pulled Li Xingtian off his high horse. Now, he was willing to work with his elder brother without making too much fuss.
The more Xi Qian stayed with them, the more she thought that this was the kind of kinship she had been missing her entire life.
She should be happy, but it only made her feel lonely. Xi Qian thought that after her grandmother died, she would get used to being on her own. Although Su Xiaofei and Yun Qingrong were the closest ones she had as her family, she didn't want to be presumptuous towards them.
"Pathetic." Xi Qian mocked herself. She couldn't believe that she was still yearning for such familial affections from others.
With her luggage settled, Xi Qian left her room and joined the rest of the Li family for dinner. Everyone except for Li Xiran were already there and somehow, Xi Qian felt disappointed that he wasn't here on her last day as his father's private nurse.
"Miss. Xi, when you are free, don't forget to pay us a visit once in a while, okay? If you need any help, you only need to say the word." Chairman Lu told her, making Xi Qian feel flustered and moved at the same time.
"Thank you for your hospitality, Chairman Li. I surely did enjoy my time here with all of you." She said bashfully.
Madam Li sighed. "It would be lonely without you here."
"Mom, you are overreacting. Miss Xi is her own person. We can't force her to stay with us for longer. She also has a life she's aiming to pursue." Li Xingtian commented as he devoured the roasted meat on his plate.
As much as Xi Qian had grown on him, Li Xingtian knew that Xi Qian needed to leave. How would his foolish brother chase after her if she was stuck here with their family?
He scoffed inwardly. Li Xiran wasn't even trying to hide his interest in Xi Qian. Thankfully, he wasn't foolish enough to make a move on her while she was living under the same roof as him.
"Xiran still hasn't arrived?" Chairman Li glanced at the vacant seat on his right and frowned. "Doesn't he know that it's Miss Xi's last day with us? He could have freed up his time and join us tonight."
His eldest son was rarely seen at home and he was wondering if Li Xiran still held some grievances towards him. The old man was worried that Li Xiran would continue to keep him at arm's length.
"He said he had a dinner meeting with one of the investors." Li Xingtian shrugged. "His meeting with Lu Qingfeng has already been canceled twice, so he won't be able to back out this time."
He paused and then gave Xi Qian a glance, remembering that she was friends with Lu Qingfeng.
"Aren't you friends with Young Master Lu, Miss Xi?" He asked, piquing both of his parents' attention.
"You know Lu Qingfeng?" Chairman Li asked in surprise. Even for a person like him, it was hard to secure a connection with the young man, given how private the Lu family was.
"Yes. I'm good friends with his girlfriend, Su Xiaofei, the one who visited me a few weeks ago." Xi Qian replied, remembering that Lu Qingfeng and Su Xiaofei would only announce their marriage in a month. She was in no position to spill the news regardless of who the person was in front of her.
"I see. That's surprising to hear. So the rumors about her and Mr. Lu holds some truth to it." Chairman Li hummed in understanding. He knew about Su Xiaofei and her involvement with Lu Qingfeng, but he had no idea how deep their connection was.
He looked at Xi Qian and smiled. This woman had such a strong backing and yet, Xi Qian chose the harder path and didn't take the easier road.
Chairman Li had no doubt that Xi Qian was a smart and independent woman, but wouldn't her life be better if she asked for and relied on Su Xiaofei's favor?
Seeing how Xi Qian got along well with his sons was also the icing on the cake.
Ah, looking at her made him regret not having a daughter. It was a pity that after Li Xingtian was born, the doctors deemed that it was unsafe for his wife to have any more children. He pushed the thoughts away and changed the conversation to Xi Qian's future plans.
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