Wei Xuanming's breathing quickened only for a moment before returning to normal. He said, "Alright, let's eat."
Wei Wenjuan couldn't help but frown, feeling quite dissatisfied.
He knew his father had always been strict with them and often displeased.
But how could he not praise Xiaoya?
Thinking of this, Wei Wenjuan turned to look at his younger brother again.
This one couldn't be counted on either.
If they won't praise her, I will!
"Xiaoya, you were really amazing today!" Wei Wenjuan put some food into Li Xiaoya's bowl with his chopsticks.
Li Xiaoya immediately looked up and smiled at him, "Thank you, Second Uncle."
Then she added seriously, "It wasn't really amazing, just right."
Wei Wenjuan felt a wave of sweetness in his heart from her smile, before realizing what she meant and asking, "What do you mean by 'just right'?"
"Well, it's just that the opportunity presented itself perfectly."
There was Qin Sui giving her the bag, then her classmates' discussions, and finally this money.
Wei Xuanming's gaze flickered slightly, and he couldn't help but raise his evaluation of her once again.
Some people rise with the wind, but mistakenly believe it's their own invincible ability.
At such a young age, she could already view things rationally, without a hint of boasting or complacency.
"When an opportunity presents itself, whether one can seize it still depends on one's own ability," Wei Xuanming said in a calm tone, which was already considered rare praise for Li Xiaoya.
Who would have thought that after he spoke, there would be a long silence.
The old man felt slightly annoyed. Hadn't his two sons heard that he was praising Li Xiaoya?
Never mind...
The meal continued in relative silence.
Fortunately, Li Xiaoya always ate very attentively and didn't particularly care whether the atmosphere was lively or not.
After the meal, Wei Xuanming reached for the gift Li Xiaoya had given him, then turned and walked towards his study, leaning on his cane. He said, "Xiaoya, come with me."
Seeing this, Wei Wenqing couldn't help but worriedly sign to his brother, "Father is going to have a heart-to-heart with Xiaoya again."
In their memory, having a heart-to-heart with their father was certainly not a pleasant experience.
Saying "heart-to-heart" was more like an examination, an interrogation.
If they answered incorrectly, their father would not hide his furrowed brow.
Was this terrifying atmosphere now going to spread to Xiaoya?
Wei Wenqing was worried.
After hearing this, Wei Wenjuan's expression turned peculiar. Then he looked at Wei Lin and deliberately raised his voice a little, saying, "I think Father's heart-to-heart with Xiaoya is a genuine one. There's nothing to worry about."
Wei Wenjuan's mind was clearer now, and he slowly realized that Xiaoya didn't seem to be afraid of her grandfather at all?
And the less afraid she was... the more satisfied the old man seemed to be?
"Let's go, Wenqing." Wei Wenjuan moved his wheelchair himself, not wanting the servants to come help.
Wei Wenqing still seemed reluctant to leave, frequently looking back.
Wei Wenjuan said loudly again, "What are you so reluctant to leave for? Aren't we coming back tomorrow?"
Wei Wenqing was stunned for a moment and signed, "Are we coming again?"
Wei Wenjuan smiled, "Of course we'll be called back. Who else can Xiaoya not bear to part with but us?"
Wei Wenqing suddenly understood and left with his brother, his eyes filled with a smile.
Wei Lin: "..."
His face darkened slightly, of course knowing that Wei Wenjuan's words were deliberately meant for him to hear.
He couldn't help but twitch the corner of his mouth, inwardly sneering.
Well! In the past, it was always him provoking Wei Wenjuan with words, but today Wei Wenjuan had turned the tables on him! He really had improved!
Meanwhile, Li Xiaoya followed Wei Xuanming into the study.
Wei Xuanming paused, turned around, and finally asked the question he couldn't ask at the dinner table: "Why did you choose this for me?"
Wei Xuanming paused, carefully examining the object in his hand: "Is it an elbow guard? Or a knee guard?"
Li Xiaoya was taken aback.
She had thought her grandfather's first question would be about her performance at school, or the specifics of how she sold things.
"It's a knee guard," Li Xiaoya pointed to the cane beside him and said, "Winter is too cold, and the chill seeps into your bones, making it uncomfortable to walk."
"You think my legs are not good?" Wei Xuanming asked.
Li Xiaoya hesitated for a moment: "Well, otherwise..." She pointed at the cane again and said, "Is that specifically for hitting people?"
Wei Xuanming actually couldn't help but laugh at her joke: "Hmm... it's for hitting people."
"Oh." Li Xiaoya responded dryly, thought for a moment, and said, "Then... then I'll choose a new gift for Grandfather tomorrow."
Wei Xuanming was about to say "no need," but as the words reached his lips, he suddenly swallowed them back.
He shifted his gaze slightly and only uttered a light "Mm."
"Now tell me how you earned the money," Wei Xuanming quickly brought the conversation back to the main point.
Li Xiaoya didn't hide anything from him and recounted the whole process of Qin Sui giving her the bag.
Wei Xuanming sighed and said, "If it were your uncles, they wouldn't have done this, because their first reaction would be — would this anger Young Master Qin? This is why those who dare to take risks can sit on thrones, while those who are overly cautious may never make mistakes in their lives, but that's all they achieve — not making mistakes. They will never see the wonders of another world."
"In the business world, the most taboo thing is to be overly restrained. Don't let our slight acquaintance hinder you in every way. Always put your own goals first, and separate business from emotions..."
As Wei Xuanming spoke, he couldn't help but praise her again: "I haven't even taught you yet, and you've already learned this."
After saying this, Wei Xuanming changed the subject: "Prepare a gift for Wei Lin as well."
"Hm?" Li Xiaoya very frankly expressed her confusion, "Why?"
Instead of jumping to conclusions like her uncles would upon hearing this.
High communication efficiency was also one of Li Xiaoya's strengths.
She would prioritize solving the issue itself over dealing with emotions.
"Have you heard the saying, 'A cornered dog will leap over a wall'?"
"Oh, so we can't let Wei Lin leap over the wall yet? Is that it?" Li Xiaoya immediately asked.
Wei Xuanming didn't answer, only saying in a flat tone, "If you want a donkey to work, you have to dangle a carrot in front of it."
Li Xiaoya nodded.
Wei Xuanming didn't know if she fully understood, or to what extent she grasped the concept.
But it didn't matter.
She would gain deeper experience through repeated practice.
"Go to bed now," Wei Xuanming waved his hand.
Li Xiaoya stood up and walked towards the door.
Wei Xuanming's gaze fell to the desktop, suddenly pausing, and he spoke again: "Wait."
He picked up the items on the table.
A cross in his left hand, a Taoist yellow talisman sewn into a small sachet in his right.
"Come here..." Wei Xuanming hesitated, which was rare for him.
Which one should he give her?
Although both were intangible things, what Wei Xuanming most hoped for right now was for Li Xiaoya to go out safely every day and return unharmed.
Li Xiaoya looked down, then reached out and took both, saying, "Thank you, Grandfather."
Wei Xuanming: "..."
Fine.
Not choosing, taking both.
Befitting the attitude of an heir.
It also saved him from having to decide.
After Li Xiaoya left, Wei Xuanming massaged his leg and picked up the knee guards.
His legs did indeed hurt.
As people age, even with top-notch medical care and attention, all sorts of ailments come knocking. Even if others noticed this, they wouldn't give him such things.
Because that would be like telling him, "You're old, you're full of aches and pains."
Those "shrewd ones," not one of them dared to give such a gift.
As for why he didn't admit to Li Xiaoya that his legs hurt... apart from the old man's consistently tough demeanor of never showing weakness to others.
Oh, of course, it was also because he could get one more gift than others... and what was wrong with that?