Ming Kai nodded. “Of course, I don’t lie—especially not to you.”

“Good.”

Xiao Hu immediately agreed, then extended his hand and asked Ming Kai, “Where am I supposed to go to find you? You’re so mysterious…”

“Are you stupid?” Ming Kai said with a smile.

Xiao Hu was puzzled.

Ming Kai continued, “You’re already part of Xixi’s world—how could you still not know how to find me? You silly boy, with such a big head, why haven’t you figured it out yet?”

Only then did Xiao Hu snap out of it and quickly retract his hand.

Ming Kai didn’t seem inclined to linger either; he wandered around for a bit more before asking Gang Zi to push him out. But just before leaving, he reminded Xiao Hu once again, “You silly boy, take good care of yourself and Xixi. And if you’re going out to study, make sure you focus—don’t ever forget that. If you have any thoughts at all, feel free to come find me anytime.”

“I got it,” Xiao Hu replied, escorting Ming Kai to the door.

Just as he was about to open the door, he couldn’t help but ask, “Do you have some unspeakable secret?”

“What do you mean?”

Ming Kai waved his hand, signaling Gang Zi to stop, then tilted his head up to look at Xiao Hu.

Xiao Hu paused for a moment, then voiced his thought: “If you’re willing to meet someone like me, who’s completely unrelated to you, why on earth won’t you go see Sister-in-law?”

“Didn’t I already tell you? It’s just not the right time yet,” Ming Kai said, a hint of pain crossing his brow.

Xiao Hu naturally picked up on it. “Then when exactly will it be the right time? You clearly know how hard Sister-in-law has been living these past years, yet you still won’t go see her. I just can’t understand!”

“If you can’t understand it, then let it go. This isn’t something you should even be worrying about. Focus on improving yourself, and keep taking good care of Xixi for me—that’s enough.” With that, Ming Kai turned and walked on.

Xiao Hu didn’t press further. After all, when it came to someone like Ming Kai, if he didn’t want to talk about something, no amount of prodding would get a word out of him.

Soon, Xiao Hu saw Ming Kai off and closed the door behind him before returning to the bedroom.

There, Lin Xi was still sleeping peacefully, soundly, a smile playing on her lips, her brows gently curved—enough to captivate anyone at first sight.

Xiao Hu couldn’t help but lean down and kiss her cheek, though he had no intention of lying down beside her to sleep. Instead, he tucked in her blankets neatly, then headed to the kitchen to start preparing their dinner.

Suddenly, the words Ming Kai had just spoken to him echoed unconsciously in his ears.

It had to be said: he truly was someone whose presence left an indelible mark on anyone who met him.

No wonder Xixi had fallen for him back then.

But from now on…

Xiao Hu rallied himself, muttering under his breath, “Xiao Hu, listen up! From now on, you’ve got to work even harder—to become better than him, more unforgettable than him. You’ve got to gradually squeeze him out of Xixi’s heart, making sure she falls in love with you not only physically but also wholeheartedly. You’ve got to make Xixi love only you, inside and out, from top to bottom! No one will ever be able to compete with you for her, no one will ever be able to snatch her away from you! She’s yours—yours alone!”

Downstairs, in the car.

Gang Zi had already instructed the driver to start the engine.

As the cityscape outside slowly receded, as he gazed at this familiar urban landscape and then at the man beside him, whose smile had already faded, Gang Zi quietly asked, “Kai Ge, are you really not going to see Miss after all?”

End of Chapter 153: Counterattack 79