"It's going to get cold very soon. Both of you remember to keep warm."

"Mm. We will."

"That's all for now, then."

Jiang Meilin handed the phone back to Chen Hansong. He took it, looked at Xu Ye and his daughter sitting on the sofa, and only then asked, "Where are you two right now?"

It was out of Xu Ye's mouth before he could stop it. "The hotel."

Oh no.

Terrified that Xu Ye was about to let something slip, Chen Qingqing snatched the phone back and answered in a rush, "I'm going back to the dorm any minute now. That's all for now, bye."

The video call ended on the spot.

Chen Hansong's head was buzzing.

If Chen Qingqing hadn't sounded that panicked it would have been fine. It was the panic that told Chen Hansong something was badly wrong.

He was still praying quietly when Jiang Meilin's eyebrows drew together. "What are you staring into space about?"

Chen Hansong sounded worried. "It's this late and the two of them are still at a hotel. Your daughter isn't going to spend the night out with that kid, is she?"

He had expected Jiang Meilin to say absolutely not, which would at least have settled him a little. But all she said was, "They're both adults. What are you doing managing them?"

"You trust Xu Ye that much?"

"Let me ask you something. Since Qingqing started college, has she been changing for the better or not?"

"It has."

"So is that down to the two of us, or to Xiao Xu?"

"That isn't the same thing."

"It's exactly the same thing." Jiang Meilin was immovable about it. "As long as my daughter is happy, I'll let everything else take its course."

Chen Hansong still came back at her. "What if — and I'm only saying what if — your daughter gets pregnant by accident? What would you do then?"

And to underline how serious it was, he added, "This happens a lot these days. Don't just brush it off."

Jiang Meilin was entirely unbothered. "Then I'll quit my job…