Chapter 783: Chapter 677: Killing Two Birds with One Stone

Before summer vacation started, Xiao Man received a call from Xia Qingting. That girl was diligent about calling, dialing her up to pester her every few days whenever she had a moment to spare. If Xiao Man was busy and couldn’t chat for hours, she would simply break up what she wanted to say over several calls. Yet, she was too lazy to write letters, using the excuse that her brain wasn’t sharp, her Chinese was terrible, and she found it hard to string sentences together. Xiao Man had no idea how she managed to get such impressive scores in math, physics, chemistry, and foreign languages.

Xia Qingting asked Xiao Man when she planned to return to G Province now that summer vacation was starting. She needed a definite date so she could make her own arrangements. She planned to first visit her uncle’s family and stay with her maternal grandparents for a few days, and then she would rush back to G Province to go on vacation in the countryside with Xiao Man.

Xiao Man said with a smile, "I’m not going back to G Province this summer because my relatives from the countryside are coming to Beijing. It’s their first time in the city, so I need to show them around. It’ll be fine once they get more familiar with the place."

Xia Qingting quickly replied, "Then I’ll come to Beijing too! I’ve only been once. I just posed for a few pictures and then got sick. I went all the way to Beijing just to spend half a month in the hospital for no reason. I didn’t even get to visit the Forbidden City. I still can’t tell my north from south or east from west in the Four-direction City!"

Xiao Man chuckled. "Then come. Did I say you couldn’t? How many times have you told me this story? Don’t keep bringing it up, you’re starting to sound like a broken record."

Xia Qingting laughed too. "I don’t repeat it to anyone else, only you. It’s a real hang-up for me. I was so excited and longed to see Beijing, and what does it do? The moment I arrived, it hit me with a nasty case of being unable to acclimate. With all the vomiting and diarrhea, I almost died there... Honestly, the only reason I’m willing to go back is because you’re in Beijing now."

"You were young and not as strong back then. Maybe the wind here was a bit too harsh for you. You’re so healthy now, it’ll be fine. Don’t worry."

"I’m not scared even if something does happen. You’re a doctor! What do I have to be afraid of if I’m staying with you?"

While Xia Qingting happily went off to plan her summer vacation, Gu Shaojun’s brow furrowed the moment he heard she was coming. He grew even more displeased when he heard Xiao Man say Xia Qingting wanted to stay with her. ’That big dragonfly sticks to Xiao Man like super glue and refuses to let go. And she’s a teacher, so she has a full two-month vacation! If she’s living with Xiao Man for two months, what about me? We might not be married, so we can’t do certain things, but there are still a couple’s perks. Xia Qingting’s arrival will definitely ruin everything. Gu Shaojun had experienced firsthand how dense, clueless, and unobservant Xia Qingting was. Brazenly trying to steal his fiancée right out from under his nose... She was really one of a kind.’

He had to think of a way to keep Xia Qingting occupied and prevent her from sticking so close to Xiao Man.

On Sunday, while on their way with Xiao Man to inspect the newly renovated Mo Family Courtyard, Gu Shaojun brought up the issue. "Xinghua and Jiang Junlin are coming to Beijing, but they refuse to stay at the Tang Mansion and insist on living elsewhere. Grandpa and Grandma probably advised them to do so. After all, more people will be visiting in the future, and they’re likely worried about disturbing Grandpa and Grandma Tang. So, what about Xia Qingting? What are the arrangements for her?"

Just as he had predicted, Xiao Man replied, "Qingting isn’t demanding. She’ll just stay wherever I am. Xinghua and Jiang Junlin are married, so it’s understandable they might feel restricted at the Tang Mansion and want their own little space. But since they’re new to Beijing, I’ll stay with them in the new courtyard for a few days. Qingting can just stick with me."

Gu Shaojun kept his eyes fixed on the road, driving attentively. His voice was slow and tinged with a hint of grievance. "So, Xia Qingting stays wherever you stay. And what about me?"

Xiao Man glanced at him and said in a deadpan voice, "With us, of course. Both the Tang Mansion and the Mo Mansion have plenty of rooms. After we pick a place, we’ll save the room next door for you."

Gu Shaojun: "..."

’So a fiancé really does lose out to that dragonfly,’ he thought glumly. ’My standing has hit rock bottom.’

With one hand on the steering wheel, he reached over with the other. Xiao Man laughed, unable to dodge his advance, so she simply grabbed his big "paw" and brought it to her lips for a couple of playful nibbles. "What else can be done? I can’t have Xia Qingting accusing me of prioritizing romance over friendship!"

"What do you mean, prioritizing romance over friendship? I’m your partner, your husband!"

Gu Shaojun said, "The other day, when we went to the Wei Family’s home, you bought Wei Zhenting six months’ time with Grandma Wei. But he still has to keep looking for a marriage partner, or else he won’t escape a forced marriage. He’s asked you for help before. What do you think about setting up Xia Qingting and Wei Zhenting?"

Xiao Man was taken aback for a moment. ’Xia Qingting and Wei Zhenting?’ The thought had honestly never crossed her mind.

"Wei Zhenting did mention it to me, but I didn’t agree. Being a matchmaker is a huge responsibility! A single misjudgment could affect someone’s entire life. I don’t have any confidence in that role; I’d be terrible at it. And while Xia Qingting seems easygoing, she actually has very high standards. Her expectations for a boyfriend are probably quite high, and she’s told me before that she doesn’t need anyone to set her up."

"We’re not forcing them, we can just ask her opinion. Wei Zhenting is a great guy; he meets all sorts of high standards. His character is solid, his family background is impeccable, he’s a university graduate from a military academy, and he’s already at the regimental commander level. He’s a perfect match for a university teacher like Xia Qingting. I once heard Mrs. Xia mention that her youngest daughter was spoiled by her maternal grandparents and uncle. She said her personality is so blunt that she easily offends people, so she’s best suited to marry into a family with a simple structure. The Wei Family is a perfect fit. Why not let them spend some time together and see how it goes?"

"Oh? I’m discovering you have some hidden potential as a matchmaker. You’re being so proactive for your friend. Wei Zhenting ought to be touched."

Gu Shaojun smiled and gently twirled the ends of his little fiancée’s hair. ’This kills two birds with one stone,’ he thought. ’How could I not be proactive?’

"We’re good friends; we’ve been through life and death together. Now that I’ve found my own happiness, of course I hope he can stop being single soon, too. Wei Zhenting has some leave to visit family coming up. I’ll tell him to come back as soon as he can. When he does, you can let him take your Qingting out to have some fun. Actually, Wei Zhenting has seen Xia Qingting at the military base before, but at the time, neither of us knew she was Mr. Xia’s youngest daughter. Let’s just introduce them properly this time. As for whether they’re a good fit, we can just let them figure it out for themselves. How about it?"

Xiao Man nodded. "Okay, but I have to ask Qingting first. It’ll only work if she’s willing. If she’s not, then there’s nothing to be done. Oh, you know, their names even sound similar. Zhen Ting... Qingting. That’s kind of neat, isn’t it?"

Gu Shaojun thought to himself, ’You’re one to talk. You practically ran off with me after our first meeting just because of a name. Of course you’d find it neat.’

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