"Uncle?"
Qiao Xi looked back.
She only saw the young master leaning against the door with one hand, showcasing his most handsome side profile, completely blocking the man behind him.
"Ah!" Little Lu Baibai panicked and tugged at Qiao Xi: "The hanging uncle is about to hang himself! He was tilted like that last time too!"
Yu Siyan immediately straightened up, "Lu Baibai!"
"Ahhh! He's rolling his eyes! Help him!" Lu Baibai covered her eyes.
Yu Siyan grabbed the back of the little brat's neck!
"Ahem!" A light cough suddenly came from the front.
Baibai immediately looked up, remembering her task, kicked Yu Siyan away, and pulled Qiao Xi inside.
As they walked, Qiao Xi looked around at the decor and furnishings. There were expensive wooden furniture and classical paintings everywhere, giving the place a cultured atmosphere.
Qiao Xi was puzzled: "Xiao 6, do you think this Lu family could be my biological parents? The taste doesn't seem right. If it were me, I'd hang a family portrait of Big Ear Tutu on the left and a solo shot of Peppa Pig on the right. Who hangs Qi Baishi's shrimp paintings?"
Xiao 6: "..."
Thanks for the image, but no need for such detail.
It said, "The book doesn't describe this family much, just that they're wealthy and simple. Your original character was a minor one, so this part is an extension the world made on its own. You'll have to explore the plot yourself..."
Qiao Xi saw four people sitting on the sofa.
There were men and women, old and young.
The key point was, the middle-aged man and woman sitting in the center had faces identical to Qiao Xi's! They might as well have had "I'm your dad" and "I'm your mom" written on their faces!
Qiao Xi: What the heck!
Xiao 6: What the heck!
Yu Siyan pulled Qiao Xi aside, "Are those your biological parents?"
Qiao Xi: "Isn't it obvious?"
"Maybe you should look in a mirror?" the young master asked soulfully.
They exchanged glances, and the young master's face immediately tensed as he looked around.
"Yu Siyan," Qiao Xi's voice was icy, "If you dare steal another suit, believe me, I'll knock the crap out of you!"
The young master, who had been preemptively warned, nonchalantly whistled.
"Are you Baibai's friend?" Lu Shibangs stood up, his suit neat and tidy, "Welcome to our cultured home."
"What culture?" The man from before approached, frowning, "What's on the walls? Where's the Peppa Pig solo photo that was here?"
Lu Shibangs frantically made faces, and the man paused.
"Oh, there were some shrimp paintings. I forgot."
Qiao Xi: "..."
Xiao 6: "..."
Xiao 6 whispered, "Master, it's confirmed. These people must be your family."
Are those paintings on the wall? No, they're DNA test results!
Everyone in formal attire came over to shake hands with Qiao Xi and introduce themselves.
Qiao Xi mentally noted: From left to right, they were: Grandma Song Yuru, Second Uncle Lu Dingqiang, Mom Liao Xinrou, Dad Lu Shibangs, and the man they met earlier was her brother Lu Shaoyan. As for Baibai... she was Qiao Xi's niece by seniority.
After the handshakes, the atmosphere grew awkward.
As Qiao Xi observed the Lu family, they were also observing her.
Facing such similar faces, everyone fell into an eerie silence.
"Uh..." Lu Shibangs hesitated, "Please take your seats. The birthday banquet is officially starting."
"Wow!" Baibai stretched out her little hand and shouted.
As soon as she spoke, a line of servers in uniform began bringing in dishes!
Qiao Xi recognized several familiar faces among them, all from the village's aunties!
The dishes were all her favorites! She'd tricked everyone into making them on the show!
Her eyes lit up instantly.
Liao Xinrou's eyes reddened, and she cautiously said, "I... I don't know if you'll like these dishes, but I hope you do."
"I do!" Qiao Xi slapped the table, "It's perfect! We're family; I won't be polite! Yinian, let's dig in!"
Yu Siyan was pulled to the table and plunged into the sea of delicious food!
Liao Xinrou trembled, looking at Lu Shibangs.
They both started shaking, their heads meeting under the table.
"Family? Did Xi say we're family..."
"Woo woo woo! Did I act okay just now? I had this suit custom-made!"
"Okay, okay. The Qiao family is a scholarly family in the capital; we come from a pig-raising background, and we're worried Xi might look down on us! Let's hold steady, see how the kid feels, and then slowly reunite!"
"We gave Da Zhuang the money last time, and he took all the credit! Didn't leave us any! Thank goodness for Baibai!"
"Yeah, yeah! Remember not to drink too much later. You're a lightweight; don't blow our cover!"
"Okay, okay, I'll be careful."
Five minutes later.
"Five aces! Six sixes! Lucky seven! Eight immortals crossing the sea!"
"Drink! Drink! Drink!"
Lu Shibangs and Lu Dingqiang were dancing on the table while playing drinking games.
Qiao Xi dropped the rib from her mouth onto the table.
Qiao Xi: "..."
A little while later, everyone was outside setting off leftover New Year's fireworks.
Lu Shibangs, holding a lighter, swayed drunkenly, unable to light the fireworks.
"Watch me light this! Hey, hey, hey, stop shaking! Wow, little firework, you know shadow clone jutsu? One turned into three!"
Qiao Xi: "..."
After a few more minutes.
"Sweetie~" Liao Xinrou picked up Baibai and wobbled, placing her on the table, "What are you singing for the kindergarten end-of-term performance? Sing it for Auntie!"
"Okay!"
Lu Baibai's little skirt swayed as she picked up the microphone.
Then a childish voice rang out: "From today on, I'll go to the bathroom by myself! Daddy and mommy, don't underestimate me!"
With perfect movements, Qiao Xi closed her eyes.
A few minutes later.
"Hey, buddy!" Lu Shibangs grabbed Yu Siyan, grinning, "You like Xi, don't you? Ha! You're a sly one! I watched every episode! Your big eyes were practically glued to our Xi... Ouch! Who! Who hit me! I'm gonna chop the heads off the enemies!"
Lu Shibangs spun around, reaching.
Lu Shaoyan dodged, looking exasperated.
He hadn't drunk a drop, yet he wished he could join the revelry to relieve some of the pressure!
"My... my parents aren't usually like this," Lu Shaoyan explained awkwardly, "Today is... an exception."
Qiao Xi laughed dryly, "Understandable, understandable. Ah, I'm feeling dizzy; I should go now!"
Seizing the opportunity, she pulled the young master away!
Yu Siyan, already flushed from drinking, made shushing motions on Qiao Xi's back.
"Shh, don't tell anyone, shh..."