"How have you all been lately?" Quentin Lian asked.
"Father, we've been working so hard," Ryan Lu said. "Lian-Yu always ranks in the top five in every assessment. Lian-Lian never falls out of the top ten."
"And what about you?"
"Me..." Ryan scratched his head. "I'm also in the... top fifty."
Quentin chuckled and asked, "I heard you all had a disagreement with the princess?"
"Yes," Yvette said.
"Father, it was all my fault," Lian-Lian said. "Sis only clashed with the princess because of me."
"Even if it wasn't for you, I would've clashed with her sooner or later," Yvette said. "I just can't stand the way she throws her weight around!"
"Oh, you're getting bold now!" Ethan Lu said. "Is it because the High God is backing you up?"
"Big Bro, you don't even know! The stuff Quinn Xiao said was downright nasty. She even insulted Yvette! Tried to make her kneel! No one could put up with that!" Ryan's face was red with anger, totally worked up.
Ethan Lu: "Did anyone ask you to speak?"
Ryan: "...Why can't I speak? I'm just telling the truth!"
Ethan: "Zip it."
Ryan: "..."
"Big Bro, what Ryan said is true. The princess is always bullying people, and she's super petty. She's jealous of Sis all the time!" Lian-Lian said gently.
Ethan's tone instantly softened. "Really?"
"Mhm."
"No matter what, you all need to show restraint. She's a princess, after all! And what are you?" He frowned at Ryan.
Ryan: "Why do you keep staring at me? You—"
"Alright, alright!" Quentin Lian stepped in to stop Ryan. "Honestly, that Princess Quinn Xiao isn't easy to get along with. Yvette standing firm isn't a bad thing! Otherwise, people will think the Lu kids are pushovers."
"Exactly!" Yvette's eyes lit up and she immediately hugged Quentin Lian's arm. "Father, you're the best!"
"If you really run into trouble, go tell the Celestial Emperor!" Quentin said. "If that doesn't work, come to me! Worst case, we just go home!"
"Dad!" Ethan said, voice tightly controlled.
Weren't we supposed to be knocking some sense into them?
How did this turn into encouragement all of a sudden?
Catching his eldest son's hint, Quentin quickly switched gears. "Listen, you can't please everyone. Just keep a clear conscience! If someone doesn't like you, just keep your distance and try to be patient."
"Got it, Father. We'll behave!" Yvette said.
"And about that Fifth Highness..." Quentin Lian gave her a searching look. "You seem pretty close with him?"
Yvette suddenly got flustered, stumbling over her words: "Uh... it's not a big deal! He's Adrian Drake's good friend, remember? He's even been to our house! So the rest of us hang out with him a lot, and he tutors us all the time. Right, Ryan, Lian-Lian?"
Both of them nodded.
Quentin Lian watched Yvette's flustered face, then suddenly gave a mysterious little smile and didn't press further.
"Father, why are you smiling?" Yvette asked, puzzled.
"Alright," Quentin said. "You've got good taste."
"Huh? What do you mean, good taste?" Yvette's eyes went wide.
"Nothing," Quentin replied. "You all head back to the barracks now!"
Suddenly, Yvette was overwhelmed by a wave of reluctance. She turned and hugged her mother tightly. "Divine Mother..."
Vivian Lu stroked the back of her head and teased, "Oh my, do you need a good cry before you go?"
Yvette was too embarrassed to cry, but her eyes still stung with tears.