Mei Fang arrived with Xia Yuan to visit Lin Youxi. Liang Meijuan greeted them at the door and led the young couple into the yard. As soon as they stepped inside, they saw Lin Youxi sitting on the sofa, sipping water, while Lin Guochuan sat at the dining table.

It looked like the first round of their debate had already concluded.

“Uncle Lin!”

Xia Yuan and Mei Fang greeted him one after the other. Lin Guochuan smiled faintly at them. “YuanYuan, A-Fang, here to play? Youxi, why don’t you go out with your friends instead of staying cooped up at home?”

Lin Youxi shook her head. “If we don’t settle this today, I’m not going anywhere.”

“You stubborn child…”

Xia Yuan sat beside Lin Youxi, linking arms with her in a comforting gesture, while Mei Fang pulled up a chair next to Lin Guochuan and spoke gently.

“We’ve heard about the situation from Youxi. Uncle Lin, I’m sure you understand her concerns. She might have come on a bit strong, but the issues she’s worried about are real.”

“I know you all care about me, but… I prefer having work to do. Cough, cough.“

As a construction engineer with over a decade of experience, Lin Guochuan spent most of his time on-site, rushing to troubleshoot problems whenever they arose.

Though grueling, the job had once been highly lucrative. The financial struggles his family faced were largely due to his brother-in-law’s debts.

On top of that, Lin Guochuan’s reserved nature meant he excelled at his work but struggled with workplace politics, often missing out on promotions. This was another reason Lin Youxi wanted him to quit—she hated seeing her father constantly taken advantage of.

“If you want something to do, you could travel with Mom, garden, raise cats, or even play cards with friends. There are plenty of things to do besides inhaling dust at construction sites. It’s terrible for your health.”

Lin Youxi, usually composed and diplomatic, became blunt and unyielding when arguing with her father. Her words came off harsh, and Lin Guochuan visibly stiffened.

“Cough… Plenty of people have worked construction for years without issues. Someone has to do the job. I’m proud you can support the family now, but… I have my own aspirations too. Cough—“

His persistent coughing only fueled Lin Youxi’s frustration. “See? You can’t even talk without coughing now.”

“It’s an old problem. Just the winter chill—nothing serious.”

“Nothing serious? You make it sound so simple.”

Xia Yuan, who had rarely argued with her own parents, watched uneasily. She patted Lin Youxi’s shoulder while glancing at Mei Fang for help. Mei Fang, firmly on Youxi’s side, cleared his throat.

“Uncle Lin, you know how stubborn Youxi is… If she isn’t reassured, she might refuse to leave for university with us. Plus, given your line of work, the risk of occupational illness…”

“So here’s my suggestion: Let’s take you for a full medical check-up. If the doctor says you’re healthy, I’ll help convince Youxi to drop this. But if there are issues, we hope you’ll take time to rest. How does that sound?”

Liang Meijuan nodded in agreement. “He’s been coughing like this for over a year. I’ve begged him to see a doctor, but he always puts it off. I’ve been worried sick.”

Xia Yuan, listening intently, suddenly blurted out, “If the coughing’s lasted that long… Could it be pneumoconiosis or… lung cancer?”

The moment the words left her mouth, Mei Fang shot her a sharp look. Realizing her mistake, she clapped a hand over her lips. “I—I don’t actually know anything about this stuff! Sorry, ignore me…”

Lin Guochuan managed a weak smile. “Don’t worry, YuanYuan. I’ve never smoked. Probably not lung cancer.”

But inwardly, doubt had begun to creep in.

Even if the probability is low… what if I really do have lung cancer?

It doesn’t matter if I suffer myself, but Meijuan and Youxi would have to endure hardship because of me…

Originally, Lin Guochuan had thought that if Mei Fang and Youxi could be together, entrusting his daughter to this childhood friend would allow him to let go with peace of mind no matter what.

But now…

Lin Guochuan coughed lightly a few times. “I think A-Fang makes a good point. Since Youxi is so concerned about my condition, I’ll go to the hospital for a check-up.”

“I’ll go with you.”

Lin Youxi thought for a moment. “Actually, Mom should come along for a check-up too.”

“No need… What illness could I possibly have? I’m perfectly healthy. Youxi, don’t waste your money—”

“Mom, listen to me. Money is meant to be spent. Saving without purpose is completely meaningless.”

“Well… Youxi, you’re right about that.”

Lin Youxi’s current demeanor clearly positioned her as the head of the Lin household, though she was strict with her father while being much gentler with her stepmother.

She insisted on taking Liang Meijuan and Lin Guochuan for check-ups together. However, since blood tests and ultrasounds had to be done in the morning, they could only schedule the examinations for the next day, bringing the family meeting to a close.

After a long day of discussions, Lin Youxi was dragged out by Xia Yuan and Mei Fang in the afternoon for a relaxing scooter ride to clear her mind, ending up happily drinking milk tea at a shop.

Surrounded by her childhood friends, Lin Youxi’s mood improved significantly, and she began asking Mei Fang about the details of his meeting with Xia Yuan’s parents earlier that day.

“Perfume and a fountain pen…”

Lin Youxi pondered. “As I recall, Lamy isn’t considered a particularly high-end pen brand. Giving that to Uncle Xia seems a bit lacking in sophistication.”

“It’s hard to find truly premium pens in our small county. My dad rarely receives gifts anyway—that pen was probably meant for me from the start,” Mei Fang explained. “But Uncle Xia isn’t the type to care about such things. The sentiment is what matters.”

“I don’t quite agree… I think Uncle Xia pays great attention to details. Even the slightest carelessness wouldn’t escape his notice.”

“I don’t see it that way,” interjected Xia Yuan, the man’s actual daughter. “I think my dad is just strict with others while being quite casual himself. Other than being meticulous when it comes to taking care of my mom, he’s pretty laid-back about most things.”

“Regardless, his efforts have earned him his current status. Uncle Xia is an impressive man, and we could learn a lot from him about investment and management.”

Lin Youxi rested her chin on her hand as she looked at Xia Yuan. “Speaking of which, if A-Fang hadn’t worked so hard or made this much money, do you think your dad would have rejected him?”

“Hmm… I think… he might have objected, but he does value my opinions quite a bit.”

Xia Yuan gestured animatedly as she spoke. “Actually, I don’t think he would have… If my dad dared to stop me, I’d just grab a broom and beat him up!”

“Now that’s what I call filial piety…”

As Mei Fang rolled his eyes at this remark, Lin Youxi picked up the thread: “In that scenario, if you couldn’t persuade your dad, A-Fang might have ended up being mine alone… Do you think that could have happened, YuanYuan?”

“Stop dreaming about such things! In your dreams!”

Xia Yuan stuck out her tongue at Lin Youxi, and the two shared a knowing laugh.