Chapter 342: Love Yourself First, Always

Chapter 342: Always Put Yourself First

Previously, he had compromised and married Su He after they became intimate.

In contrast, Xia Chengan could casually dismiss his past girlfriends as "just flings."

"Ting Hua, I... I didn't even hold hands with those girls. We just hung out a few times, that's all," Xia Chengan defended himself.

But under Fu Tinghua's stern gaze, he immediately shut up.

"Xia Chengan, oh Xia Chengan, you're hopeless!" Even Qi Yunyang couldn't stand Xia Chengan's pitiful state.

After a moment of hesitation, Fu Tinghua spoke up, "If you don’t like Xia Miao, just turn her down flat. Don’t hesitate. Your heart isn’t settled yet, and marrying her would only hurt her."

Fu Tinghua saw Xia Miao as a younger sister too and couldn’t bear the thought of her getting strung along by Xia Chengan.

"I—I’m working on letting her down easy right now, aren’t I?"

"You really don’t like Xia Miao?" Qi Yunyang suddenly narrowed his eyes at Xia Chengan.

It only now occurred to him that he’d once teased about proposing to Xia Miao if he couldn’t find a suitable match.

Their families were from equally prominent families, and Xia Miao was smart, adorable, and lively—his family would surely approve.

Back then, Xia Chengan had been furious, calling him a beast for even considering his younger sister.

Hadn’t Xia Miao been barely seventeen at the time? In this era, girls were often betrothed early.

Those unmarried past eighteen were usually labeled as "left on the shelf."

Take Dean Qin’s daughter, Qin Meixuan, for example—already in her twenties without a boyfriend, turning down every suitor.

Poor Dean Qin was tearing his hair out over it every day.

And she was still waiting for Fu Tinghua to divorce? How many people snickered behind their hands, calling her an old maid?

Guys caught flak too, though not as extreme. Past twenty and unmarried, they’d still get nagged, but nothing like the scrutiny women endured.

Besides, families like the Xias and Qis could always snap up brides, no matter the age.

So, Qi Yunyang had thought his joke about pairing up with Xia Miao was perfectly reasonable. Why had it been such a big deal?

Xia Chengan had always known Xia Miao wasn’t his biological sister—had he had a thing for her all along?

"Like her? Sure, but as a sister, not a wife," Xia Chengan shot back.

Little did he know, his final words were overheard by Su He and Xia Miao, who had just returned after tiring themselves out.

Su He and Xia Miao had taken the kids outside, where the restaurant had a play area for children.

Niu Niu tugged excitedly at Su He, wanting to play on the slide, while Xia Miao and Zai Zai trailed after them.

Once the kids were busy playing, Xia Miao and Su He sat on a nearby bench to chat.

"Sister Su, who pursued whom between you and Brother Fu?" Xia Miao asked curiously.

Su He was momentarily stumped by the question.

Her situation with Fu Tinghua was, to be honest, a bit complicated.

Logically speaking, it was the original Su He who pursued Fu Tinghua—not just pursued, but also used shady tactics.

However, Fu Tinghua said he knew from the very beginning that she wasn’t the original Su He, so later, it was him who pursued her.

She wanted a divorce, but Fu Tinghua wouldn’t agree.

So Su He really didn’t know how to answer Xia Miao’s question.

"If you’re not comfortable talking about it, you don’t have to tell me. I was just, y’know, curious," Xia Miao quickly added when she noticed her hesitation.

She really had been too reckless—how could she ask about someone’s private matters like that?

"It’s not uncomfortable. At first, it was probably me pursuing him, but later, it was him pursuing me," Su He put it simply.

"Ah? Is it like what they say in novels—the *chasing wife into the crematorium* trope?" Xia Miao asked excitedly.

Su He: ...

Wait, this era has that trope already?

"Wow, the emotional back-and-forth between you two must be so romantic! I’m so envious."

Xia Miao looked up at the darkening sky and murmured.

Seeing her starstruck look, Su He couldn’t help but understand.

She’s totally crushing on someone.

Su He didn’t ask, waiting instead for Xia Miao to bring it up herself.

After all, they had just met and weren’t that close yet. She also wasn’t sure if Xia Miao’s earlier buildup was leading up to asking for romantic advice.

Sure enough, the next second, Xia Miao spoke up: "Sister Su, I..."

"Yeah?" Su He looked at her with encouraging eyes.

"Sister Su, the person I like just thinks of me as a kid sister. What should I do?" Under Su He’s gaze, Xia Miao suddenly found the courage to ask.

But as soon as the words left her mouth, she realized how it sounded.

"Wait, it’s not Brother Fu that I like, really! Even I’m not that desperate. I wouldn’t fall for someone who’s already married with kids. I just—I just like his face—ugh, no, I mean, I..."

The more she spoke, the more absurd and tangled her explanation became, making Su He crack up.

"You’re a riot," Su He said, smiling at her with eyes crinkling.

Xia Miao was momentarily stunned by the sight of Su He laughing at her and murmured, "You’re gorgeous, Sister Su."

"Thank you. You’re very cute too," Su He replied with a smile.

Xia Miao’s face turned pink, and she hurried to explain again.

"I swear I’m not into your husband." She didn’t even dare to call him "Brother Fu."

"I know. Relax," Su He said, calming Xia Miao’s panicked vibe.

"Xia Miao, no matter what, put yourself first, always," Su He suddenly dropped.

Xia Miao gazed in surprise at Su He and suddenly understood why Fu Tinghua looked at Su He differently than others.

Because Su He, who spoke such words, was really shining bright.

"Mm, I understand," Xia Miao said, as if she’d had an epiphany.

"But, have you told the guy you like how you feel?" Su He asked again.

"No, he probably wouldn’t even imagine I like him. It might shock him, maybe even think it’s weird." Xia Miao curled her lips slightly, smirking wryly.

"Who knows? I think no matter what, you should confess your feelings to the person you like. At least you won’t have regrets, right? Go for it. If the outcome isn’t what you hoped for, just focus on loving yourself."

Su He felt that Xia Miao really wanted to express her feelings but just lacked encouragement or the push she needed.

Sure enough, Su He’s words made Xia Miao’s eyes light up. She immediately grinned at Su He and said, "I know what to do now. Thank you, Sister Su."

Su He smiled back at her, then glanced at the now completely darkened sky and said, "We should go back—it’s dark now."

So the two called Zai Zai and Niu Niu back and returned to the private room on the second floor.

But just as they reached the door, they heard voices inside.

"I like her? Even if I do, it’s the kind of liking you’d have for a younger sister, not a wife."

Su He recognized the voice as Xia Chengan’s. She didn’t know who he was referring to and was about to push the door open when Xia Miao grabbed her hand.