Just as the sun began to set, Sister Fang returned with Li Xianglin and Li Xiangrui. She looked at Li Xiu and Zhou Lian and sensed a subtle change in the atmosphere between them. With great tact, she headed straight to the kitchen to prepare dinner. Sister Fang wouldn't know it, but there's a modern term for the vibe they were giving off: "pink bubbles." It was purely an aftereffect of their afternoon stroll in the garden.
Zhou Lian and Li Xiu each checked their children's homework. Professor Xiao had always been very dedicated to Zhou Lian—after all, Zhou Lian was her only Closed-door Disciple. But the moment she saw the siblings, Li Xianglin and Li Xiangrui, she was overcome with affection. She was even more attentive in teaching them than she had been with Zhou Lian. Li Xiu had observed this and mentioned to Zhou Lian that it was likely because Professor Xiao didn't have any children. At her age, she probably doted on their two as if they were her own grandchildren.
