Qin Dad felt like his head was spinning like the walnuts he was cracking.
Qin Mom and Qin Yue talked for a long time, discussing everything from daily life to future plans. There were many parts that Qin Dad could understand, but because there was one crucial factor he couldn't grasp, the entire discussion left him feeling completely lost.
For example, he never understood why Qin Mom kept emphasizing that Qin Yue couldn't beat Bai Ningning.
Qin Mom first worried about life, then about health, and later talked about future livelihood matters.
"Currently, there are no issues with technology. By the time you want children, technology will be even more advanced, and it won't be a problem," Qin Mom said with concern, "The only issue is, who will give birth?"
Qin Yue frowned: "Why would you worry about this? You don't think it's me, do you?"
Qin Mom didn't respond, just quietly looked at her.
Qin Yue straightened her posture: "Why would you think it's me?"
Qin Mom sighed: "At first, I didn't think so, but look at yourself; you can't even get up. Yueyue, I remember you read military strategy when you were young; you should know a saying—only those who stand until the end can be considered winners."
Qin Yue had nothing to say and could only lower her head to sip her tea.
Unknowingly, the sound of cracking walnuts started again, and Qin Dad felt a bit dazed. Why did the atmosphere suddenly become quiet? He still hadn't understood anything.
...
"Come in."
Qin Xin brought Bai Ningning to visit her former boudoir.
Although it was called her room, Qin Xin hadn't used it for a long time; she hadn't stayed here since she started middle school.
According to Aunt Zou, this room still retained her childhood furnishings and decorations. Upon entering, it was indeed true: a small desk and soft chair, light pinkish-white wallpaper, classic vintage Barbie dolls on the wall cabinet, and a few plush toys by the bedside.
Of course, due to concerns about shedding, the plush toys were all sealed in plastic bags.
Bai Ningning stood in the center of the room: "Qin Xin, your room is very beautiful."
Although the room wasn't small, the furnishings and various pieces of furniture were quite exquisite, after all, it was used by Qin Xin before she entered middle school. The small desk, small stool, small lamp, and small pillow all looked very cute.
Is this what a girl's boudoir looks like? It's really nice; I love it.
Qin Xin noticed the decorations and her cheeks flushed slightly: "These are all things I liked when I was little; now... no, I haven't liked them for a long time."
Aunt Zou only said the decorations were the same as before, but Qin Xin didn't expect that her childhood items were still here.
She looked around and emphasized: "Especially the wallpaper; I definitely wouldn't like this color now; it's too childish."
Bai Ningning glanced at the pinkish-white wallpaper, and the corner of her mouth twitched slightly.
If she remembered correctly, the underwear she was wearing today was that color.
"At least it's a childhood memory," she walked towards the bed, "Can I take a look?"
"Go ahead," Qin Xin casually said, "They're all old things; don't take it to heart."
She walked to the desk, opened the drawer, and found all the things she had used before inside.
Little Smart, Nokia, calculators, and the BBK reading machine and MP4.
A few memories surged in her heart as Qin Xin picked up some old items to fiddle with.
Bai Ningning walked over to the wall cabinet and, upon entering, discovered that the large cabinet contained not only Barbie dolls but also... well, a lot of strange things.
Fruit Guardian mecha models, Iron Courage Train Hero assembly toys, Whirlwind Racing cars, Armor Warrior belts, and Ultraman light sticks.
Bai Ningning was surprised and a bit envious; she had wanted these things when she was a child.
The toys in the wall cabinet were dazzling, while the toys in the bedside table were more concentrated, all Ultraman keychains. Everything from Gao Si, Gaia, to Diga was there.
Qin Xin was still fiddling with the MP4 when she suddenly felt a chill behind her and quickly turned around, just in time to see the Ultraman keychain in Bai Ningning's hand.
She wondered what to do if the senior she liked saw her childish toys from her childhood.
Qin Xin didn't know what to do; she just felt like she was about to die.
"Qin Xin, you have so many toys," Bai Ningning said, "The keychains are quite complete... You don't look so good."
Her face was flushed; was she sick?
Qin Xin took a few deep breaths to calm her face: "I'm fine, just thought of some things, and I'm okay now."
"Well, that's good," Bai Ningning said happily, pinching the keychain, "Qin Xin, which one is your favorite?"
She was really happy because she loved these things in her childhood too. Unfortunately, the two had very different childhoods; Bai Ningning didn't even have CDs when she was young.
Every time after school, she would lean against her classmate's window to watch, mooching a couple of episodes before going home.
She was eager to chat with Qin Xin and brag a bit.
"Which one do you think is the strongest? I heard that after the new generation, Tsuburaya has given a power classification, like legendary level, legendary peak, and so on. I don't recognize those; I think..."
"Senior," Qin Xin interrupted her, "I actually don't really like them."
"...Huh?"
Bai Ningning was a bit confused; how could you not like them when your bedside table is filled with keychains in various forms?
"I might have liked them when I was younger, but that was because I was naive and didn't understand anything, so I liked them for a while," Qin Xin's voice was cool.
"That's very normal, right? Because they are originally aimed at children, and it's normal not to like them when you grow up and mature," Bai Ningning tried to say something nice, "But at least you liked them when you were a child, and many adults reminisce about them. Recently, there was a trending phrase online, 'Do you believe in light?'..."
"No, I'm different," Qin Xin said, "I stopped liking them before I grew up a bit."
Bai Ningning blinked, puzzled: "Why?"
"I know that many people liked this series as children because they wanted to become those kinds of people. They wanted to be the giants themselves, possessing immense power to protect others. But I'm different; I've always seen myself as an ordinary person screaming and running away under a collapsing building."
As Qin Xin began to understand more, she started facing family pressure. At that time, Qin Yue had just entered middle school, excelling in her studies, and the family had already consciously started comparing the two sisters, plus Qin Dad's instigation, making every family gathering a competition.
For Qin Xin, those family gatherings felt as terrifying as every monster invasion on TV. As a child who understood nothing, she truly believed in the existence of giants or similar beings that could cross the galaxy, traverse the comet belt, and overcome everything blocking their way to come to her side.
But time and again, during New Year gatherings, Lantern Festival reunions, May Day holidays, and Dragon Boat feasts... there was still no change, and no one came out to help her "fight monsters."
"I was too young then, didn't understand anything, just felt deceived," Qin Xin said lightly, "So I stopped liking them."