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Chapter 204: Turn It Around
Chapter 204: Turn It Around
Chapter 204
Ke Muning reluctantly bid farewell to Xiao Ya, feeling disgruntled.
Wei Wenqing was rather unlucky, as he had barely settled in before having to leave again.
Xing Siyun, however, stayed behind.
"I can't go back now anyway, or my grandmother will poke my head and scold me for being useless," Xing Siyun sighed, not expecting to have gained nothing from this trip while enduring quite a scare.
"You've put in the effort, and Second Uncle will reward you."
"Really...?" Xing Siyun couldn't quite believe it.
"Mm-hmm."
"I thought... after that pregnancy incident, I had offended you all badly," Xing Siyun said with an awkward smile.
"You did offend us," Xiao Ya replied honestly.
A flicker of unease crossed Xing Siyun's face. "Then, then..."
"Rewards and punishments are separate. We must view them differently."
Xing Siyun looked at her, her slightly trembling body instantly calming. She murmured, "You seem to have grasped the essence of the mafia."
Xiao Ya didn't hear clearly and asked puzzled, "What did you say?"
Xing Siyun waved her hands dismissively, "Nothing, you should go. Have a safe trip."
She watched Xiao Ya and her group leave, her greedy nature unable to suppress a hint of longing and envy.
Why, at her age, could she never live like Xiao Ya? Was it due to genetic differences? Or... perhaps because she never had a caring relative to guide her properly while growing up?
Unaware of the melancholy and sadness she had stirred in Xing Siyun, Xiao Ya made a series of phone calls on her way to the airport.
She first called Wei Xuanming but couldn't get through, so she called Old Mr. Zhang, followed by Sheng Yuxiao, Qin Sui, Zhou Xiaoshu, An Ying... essentially informing them all of her return.
By the time the plane landed, people were already waiting to pick her up.
She loved this feeling of having someone waiting for her.
"Grandpa!" She ran forward and hugged Old Mr. Zhang.
"Oh, Xiao Ya, these past few days without you, even my meals lost their flavor," Old Mr. Zhang complained plaintively.
Xiao Ya quickly rummaged in her small backpack, pulling out gifts. "For Grandpa."
Old Mr. Zhang's complaints instantly vanished. "How thoughtful of you to bring souvenirs! Isn't your backpack heavy? Let Uncle Xunyuan carry it for you."
Xiao Ya shook her head and pulled out another gift, handing it to Secretary Wu standing beside Old Mr. Zhang.
Wu Xunyuan was pleasantly surprised and beamed with joy. "You even got something for me?"
Xiao Ya nodded, "Yes, yes, there's one for Uncle Xunyuan too."
She then turned to Old Mr. Zhang, "But I told you on the phone not to come pick me up, Grandpa. Sheng Yuxiao was going to pick me up. Why did you still come?"
Old Mr. Zhang coughed guiltily and said softly, "How could I not come to pick you up?"
"But the journey might tire you out."
Old Mr. Zhang opened his eyes wider, "Look, I'm full of energy now, vibrant! Not tired at all!"
Wei Wenqing walked silently behind them, maintaining a distance as he watched the scene unfold.
His older brother had long advised him that they shouldn't get too close to Old Mr. Zhang, to avoid their background holding Xiao Ya back.
At this moment, Old Mr. Zhang finally noticed him, "Xiao Ya, is that...?"
Old Mr. Zhang's eyesight was a bit farsighted, but he could clearly see Wei Wenqing's distinctive aura.
"Little Uncle," Xiao Ya said straightforwardly.
Old Mr. Zhang felt his face flush, feeling somewhat guilty. After all, Xiao Ya's mother had fought with all her might to protect her and Xinian's child, only to die in misery...
"Well then, why don't we all go together?"
"Okay!" Xiao Ya responded, turning to wave, "Little Uncle! Hurry up, don't get lost."
Wei Wenqing hesitated repeatedly but ultimately couldn't resist the temptation and followed.
Even so, he tried his best to minimize his presence, keeping his head down and not even greeting Old Mr. Zhang.
Old Mr. Zhang sighed. Although they had never formally met, now that they had encountered each other... He tugged at Xiao Ya's sleeve and whispered, "Why doesn't your Little Uncle say anything? Is he unhappy?"
Old Mr. Zhang thought he should prepare some gifts.
What would be appropriate?
Just then, Xiao Ya's voice rang out: "It's not that. Little Uncle can't speak."
"Can't speak?"
"Mm-hmm, Little Uncle is mute."
Old Mr. Zhang paused, feeling even more embarrassed. "Your maternal grandfather... must have had it tough all these years."
Before Xiao Ya could offer any words of comfort, her phone rang.
It was Sheng Yuxiao calling.
"Where are you?" Sheng Yuxiao asked.
"I've reached the exit."
"Perfect..." Sheng Yuxiao paused, then said, "Look up, towards Exit Chapter 3."
Xiao Ya looked up and saw Sheng Yuxiao standing there in a trench coat. It was already spring, and the spring breeze swept across his face, softening his sharp, fierce features.
Old Mr. Zhang was still immersed in his guilty reflections, not noticing that his granddaughter had already flown into Sheng Yuxiao's arms.
Sheng Yuxiao raised his hand to stroke Xiao Ya's hair, saying, "Good, you've returned just as you left."
Xiao Ya smiled, pressing her lips together. "I'll tell Grandpa in a bit that I'm going to your place."
This was quite a pleasant surprise.
Sheng Yuxiao raised an eyebrow, the corner of his mouth curling up. "Will Old Mr. Zhang agree?"
"Mm-hmm! Grandpa will agree." Xiao Ya said as she pulled out her phone.
"You're not calling Qin Sui, are you?" Sheng Yuxiao asked.
"No, I'm calling Secretary Wang."
"Him? He's gone to Europe," Sheng Yuxiao's lips twitched. "He even asked me to go with him before he left. Good thing I didn't agree."
Xiao Ya froze for a moment. "He left? Then... do I still need to fulfill my promise?"
"What promise?" Sheng Yuxiao's ears perked up alertly.
"I made a deal with Secretary Wang."
Sheng Yuxiao's bad feeling intensified. "What kind of deal?"
"He helps me, and in return, I stay at his place for three days."
"No! Absolutely not!" Sheng Yuxiao's reaction was vehement.
"Why not?" Xiao Ya's eyes widened.
"He can't even take care of himself properly, how could he look after you for three days?"
"It's okay, I don't need anyone to look after me. I can take care of myself."
"That's not the point... Do you know everything he tries to nurture dies?"
Xiao Ya pondered for a moment. "Then can we do it the other way around?"
Aliali: 67358287d72ede934945062f"The other way around?"
"Yes, I'll take care of him!"
Sheng Yuxiao: ?
An unprecedented path!
*
When Secretary Wang received the call, he was already in Australia breeding pythons.
"What? That little duckling is back?" Secretary Wang felt a twinge of regret.
It was as if a long-awaited package had finally arrived at the office, but he had gone home for the New Year.
"I'm coming back right away," Secretary Wang said, getting up.
After he left, the half-dead amethyst python poked out its large head, having narrowly escaped death.