"Xia Chuan, since when does the sun rise in the west? You’re actually cooking?"

Qian Yu had just returned from school with groceries when she spotted Xia Chuan bustling in the kitchen. Her voice dripped with surprise.

It was no wonder she was shocked. Ever since Xia Chuan became a programmer, even leaving work on time felt like a luxury. He sometimes slept at the office, so he hadn’t stepped foot in the kitchen for ages.

"Hey now, what’s that tone for? Is that how you talk to your elder?"

Xia Chuan, busy filleting a fish, rolled his eyes at her words.

"Hmph~ You’re no elder to me. At best, you’re just an idiot."

Qian Yu didn’t reply directly. She just slightly turned her head and mumbled under her breath. After stashing the groceries in the fridge, she strolled into the kitchen, hands clasped behind her back.

Watching Xia Chuan struggle with the fish, she whispered,

"Can you even handle this?"

"Hah! Me? Incompetent? Kid, don’t forget who taught you to cook. You’re all grace in the hall and skill in the kitchen thanks to me."

Xia Chuan flashed a proud grin, implying Qian Yu knew nothing about real cooking.

Truthfully, his skills had rusted from disuse. But as her guardian—and cheap stand-in dad—he couldn’t afford to lose face. He had to bluff.

"Ugh, ‘grace in the hall, skill in the kitchen’? What nonsense. I’m not anyone’s wife..."

Qian Yu hadn’t noticed his bluff. She just muttered this, her cheeks warming faintly.

Xia Chuan, focused on the fish, missed her grumbling.

Her blush faded quickly. She rolled up her sleeves and stayed put, watching his back.

"Xia Chuan, I’ve got nothing else to do. Let me help..."

She grabbed a bag of veggies and headed for the sink to wash them.

Xia Chuan froze mid-chop, knife hovering. He turned, stunned, to see Qian Yu at the sink.

*Who are you?! This sweet, non-sarcastic girl can’t be my Qian Yu!!*

Sure enough, Qian Yu seemed to realize her slip. Before pulling out the veggies, she whirled around, face flushed and flustered.

"D-don’t get the wrong idea! I’m just helping so you don’t ruin the ingredients. It’s not like I think you can’t handle it alone, got it?"

Xia Chuan blinked, caught off guard by her reaction.

Seeing his blank stare, Qian Yu thought he still misunderstood. She planted her hands on her hips, cheeks burning.

"Did you hear me?! Idiot Xia Chuan!"

Her flustered, adorable pout finally snapped him out of it. A warmth spread in his chest. He smiled softly.

"Got it. I’m not deaf, silly girl..."

At his smile, Qian Yu’s blush deepened. She glanced away, murmuring,

"Hmph~ Good..."

With Qian Yu’s help, Xia Chuan finally got dinner ready.

But when she carried the dishes to the table, something felt off.

Sweet and sour fish, beef with tomatoes, pork ribs with potatoes...

Qian Yu silently named each dish. Wait—these were all her favorites.

Was this deliberate? Or just a coincidence?

She stared at the food, lost in thought.

Before she could figure it out, Xia Chuan emerged from the kitchen, wiping his hands. He set down the bowls and chopsticks.

"What’s on your mind? Time to eat."

He opened the rice cooker to serve.

Qian Yu snapped back. Today wasn’t special. Suspicion flickered in her eyes.

"Xia Chuan, why’d you make all my favorite dishes? Spit it out—are you scheming something?"

Xia Chuan’s scooping hand stilled.

Honestly, he wanted to slam the table and declare—*What do you take me for?! I’d never stoop to such filth!*

But reality...

Yeah, he had an agenda.

Not drugging her food or anything creepy.

Instead...

He sighed, placing a bowl on the table. His mind flashed back to Mr. Bai’s words that morning—

*Xia, did I ever say your daughter’s crush was... a boy?*

*Heh...*

Just thinking about it made him want to collapse.

As an open-minded parent, he didn’t oppose early romance. But... yuri stuff? He couldn’t accept that!

It wasn’t about hating same-sex love—he’d been neutral since high school, even daydreamed about yuri once.

But adulthood brought clarity. Hetero love was practical; same-sex love was idealistic. He couldn’t let the Xia family line end!

Wait... did the Xia bloodline even matter to her? Whatever! As her guardian, he had to steer her straight.

Ignoring her question, he sat calmly.

"Qian Yu, are you in a relationship?"

"Huh? What are you thinking, idiot Xia Chuan? Of course not!"

She flushed, flustered.

"Don’t lie. Mr. Bai told me everything."

Xia Chuan shook his head, eyes downcast.

"Everything? What exactly?"

Qian Yu froze.

"You’re still playing dumb? Mr. Bai said you’re popular at school—even have a fan club."

Inside, Xia Chuan swelled with pride. But he forced a pained expression.

"...S-so what? What’s that got to do with dating?"

She wanted to argue, but the truth stung. She admitted it awkwardly.

"How’s it unrelated? It means lots of people like you! So dating isn’t baseless. Worst of all, Mr. Bai said you have a partner... What’s left to deny?"

Xia Chuan leaned back, arms crossed, stern.

"Lies! I rejected every boy’s confession! Xia Chuan... I’m not dating anyone..."

Her voice cracked. She bit her lip, tears welling.

Seeing her like this hurt. But he couldn’t soften—not if he wanted to "fix" her.

"Ahem. Did you finish? You only mentioned boys..."

He hinted at the girls.

"Only boys..."

Qian Yu paused. Her eyes darted to Xia Chuan—youthful, barely looking thirty.

Right. She’d only said boys. But what about men?

Her face burned crimson. She ducked her head, fingers trembling on her skirt hem.

Clearly, she’d misinterpreted him completely.

After a long silence, she whispered, barely audible,

"H-how did you find out? I told no one..."

Xia Chuan missed her misunderstanding. He thought she was just shy about being caught.

"Mr. Bai told me."

"Mr. Bai? How could he know?!"

Her panic deepened. She was certain he knew *everything*.

"Never mind how he knew. But how could you?! I don’t oppose dating, but... holding such twisted feelings?!"

Xia Chuan rubbed his forehead, exasperated.

*Huh?*

Qian Yu froze. Her blush vanished, leaving her face pale under the light.

*Twisted feelings... So that’s how he sees it?*

Of course. Beyond the age gap, they were "father and daughter" in name...

Her body trembled slightly.

Xia Chuan ached to comfort her. But he believed this wrong path needed cutting off.

After a pause, he pressed on.

"So, Qian Yu, let go of this. You’ll find someone better..."

He still hadn’t realized her misunderstanding—and miraculously, their thoughts aligned.

His words hollowed her out. Her fists clenched. Tears pooled but held back.

She stood frozen. Then slowly lifted her head. Tears burst forth like a broken dam.

Seeing his daughter cry, Xia Chuan panicked. *I should’ve been gentler.* He opened his mouth to soothe her—but Qian Yu’s choked, raw voice cut through first.

"Stupid Xia Chuan! What do you know?! I’ll never find anyone better! You tell me to give up? Impossible. Even if this feeling is wrong... forbidden... I... I’ll never let go..."

Her voice wavered but held fierce resolve. The last four words were gritted out. Xia Chuan stared, stunned.

Before he could react, Qian Yu spun and dashed to her room. The door slammed shut.

The *bang* jolted Xia Chuan back to reality.

Silence filled the living room. The untouched feast sat cold. He sighed, a bitter smile on his lips.

"Guess I really suck at being a father..."

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