Both of them looked over at the same time. They saw Huo Jiayuan, the family’s biggest handful, returning home. Before they could speak, they heard Huo Jiayuan’s coquettish voice, "What are you two standing there for? Can’t you see how red my hands are from carrying all these bags?" Huo Jingrui, her full brother, didn’t fall for her act. However, it was their much older brother, Huo Weidong, whose heart ached for her. "Why did you buy so much stuff?" He hurriedly quickened his pace and took the bags from Huo Jiayuan’s hands. "These are seafood delicacies I had someone bring back from the south. Since I figured the whole family would be home today, I brought them all." After finishing her explanation, Huo Jiayuan turned to Huo Jingrui, who hadn’t moved an inch. "Fourth Brother, what’s with that look?" This text is hosted at novęlfire.net Huo Jingrui glanced at the items in his eldest brother’s hands. "You had someone bring them? Who did you ask?" When Huo Jiayuan heard the question, she felt a momentary twinge of guilt. "Just an acquaintance. You wouldn’t know them." Huo Jingrui, rarely seeing his sister with such an expression, said, "Alright, Mom has hawk eyes. You’d better watch yourself." Huo Jiayuan wrapped her arms around Huo Jingrui’s arm. "Fourth Brother, how did you know?" Worry filled Huo Jingrui’s eyes as he replied, "You know what Mom’s like. I don’t want to force you to choose, nor do I want to hurt her." A wave of sadness washed over Huo Jiayuan, and her eyes began to moisten. "Brother, I’ve been dragging this out precisely because I don’t want to make Mom sad, but I also can’t break up with Shujian." When Huo Weidong saw the two of them whispering, he asked, "What are you two whispering about?" Huo Jingrui remained silent with a cold expression, while Huo Jiayuan said in a coquettish tone, "Big Brother, it’s nothing. I just asked Fourth Brother for a small favor. Come on, let’s hurry and take these things to the kitchen, or it’ll be too late." Huo Weidong sensed his sister was hiding something, seeing her whispering with Old Four. He felt a little disappointed; after all, she was closer to Jingrui. Huo Jiayuan noticed her eldest brother seemed troubled. "Big Brother, what’s wrong?" Huo Weidong glanced at his younger sister and shook his head. "It’s nothing." Huo Jiayuan slowed her pace. "Big Brother, you can’t hide it from me. Just tell me, what’s really wrong?" Seeing his younger sister’s earnest expression, identical to when she was a child, Huo Weidong suddenly felt a sense of relief and repeated, "Really, it’s nothing." But no sooner had he spoken than his son’s voice piped up, "Auntie, you’re really dense! Dad’s just jealous because he saw you whispering with Fourth Uncle." Embarrassed and annoyed, Huo Weidong scolded his son, "You little rascal! You have no tact at all. Get over here and take these things to the kitchen." Huo Jiayuan burst into laughter. "Serves you right!" Huo Xiaodong put on a pained expression and complained, "Sigh, it’s the classic case of big fish eat little fish, and little fish eat shrimp. I can’t win against you all." Shrugging, he took the items from his father’s hands and headed to the kitchen. Huo Weidong glared at his younger sister. "You’re not acting like a proper aunt." Knowing her eldest brother doted on her the most, Huo Jiayuan cooed, "It’s all because you all spoiled me." An exasperated Huo Weidong responded, "So it’s our fault now?" Huo Jiayuan giggled, let go of her brother’s arm, and trotted into the house. "You finally admit it!" But soon after entering, she came back out, tilting her head to ask, "Big Brother, has everyone else not come back yet?" Huo Weidong nodded. "That’s right. You’re finally not cutting it close this time." Huo Jiayuan was pleased. "Finally! No more lectures." Seeing his younger sister acting mischievous again, Huo Weidong recalled something. Combined with the earlier interaction between her and Jingrui, it prompted him to say, "Little Sister, some matters shouldn’t be dragged out. As a girl, you’re often the one at a disadvantage. People’s hearts are fickle; you need to think more about yourself." Huo Jiayuan froze. "Big Brother, do you... do you all know?" Huo Weidong’s heart ached for his younger sister. But her relationship with that young man from the Du Family is something we truly can’t help with. Unless Auntie Jiang can let go of her reservations... but even then, after marrying into the Du Family, how would she face her in-laws? These are all real issues. I don’t want my younger sister to be hurt, but I also can’t force her to choose. I didn’t speak up before because I thought that, given time, one of them would grow tired of it and initiate a breakup. But now my sister is twenty-one. If this drags on any longer, she’ll become an old maid. We, her siblings, are watching anxiously and can’t bear it.