Xia Yan certainly couldn't let him make the call. "How do you know I have something to discuss with your dad?"
Seeing his phone taken away and being questioned by Xia Yan, Xiao Han couldn't answer and sat aside sulkily. "Don't you like my dad?"
"That depends on what kind of 'like' you mean?" Xia Yan raised an eyebrow at him.
This little brat was acting strange today. She hadn't forgotten his sly personality. Pulling herself together, Xia Yan decided to deal with the little guy in front of her first.
Xiao Han sat with his head down, fiddling with his fingers. "The kind where... would you be my dad's girlfriend?"
"Who said I'm going to be your dad's girlfriend?"
"The women around my dad all want to marry him." Xiao Han rolled his eyes.
Hearing this, Xia Yan glared at him angrily. "Hey, you little rascal, you were the one who invited me to make the cake. I didn't come here on my own."
"If you promise to make me sweet cakes every day, I'll let you marry my dad." Xiao Han said in a negotiating tone.
Xia Yan's head ached. How did this little brat get it into his head that she wanted a relationship with Lu Zhengting?
"Listen up, I don't want to be your dad's girlfriend. Not at all. If you keep saying that, I'll never come to your house to make cakes again."
"Oh." The plan failed. Xiao Han sighed. He could only help this much. He still wanted to eat Sister Yan's cakes.
By evening, Xia Yan wanted to leave, but Xiao Han pulled her to stay for dinner.
Xia Yan remembered that tonight was the Xia Corporation's banquet. Her intuition told her it was safer to stay at the Lu residence than to go back to school.
After having dinner with Xiao Han, it was already past seven. Sure enough, Lu Zhengting hadn't returned yet.
Seeing Xiao Han all alone in the villa, Xia Yan felt sorry for him and played with him for a while.
Until Xia Yan's phone suddenly rang.
Seeing the number on the screen, Xia Yan tensed up instantly. "Hello?"
"Is this Miss Xia? I'm Mrs. Xia's private nurse. Mrs. Xia suddenly lost consciousness and is currently being resuscitated. Please come to the hospital immediately."
Xia Yan's face turned pale. "Okay, okay, I'll be right there."
"Xiao Han, I have something to take care of. I need to go." Xia Yan said as she headed for the door.
Xiao Han's eyes sparkled. "Should I call my dad?"
"No need. Go to your room and sleep early."
"What's going on?" A familiar voice came from the entrance.
Xia Yan looked up and froze for a moment. "Nothing, Mr. Lu. I'll be going now."
Xiao Han didn't hesitate to expose her. "Sister Yan got a call and looks really anxious."
Lu Zhengting's dark eyes swept over her lightly. "I'll drive you."
With that, he turned and walked toward the car still parked at the entrance. The night lights were dim, and Xia Yan couldn't make out his expression at all. She only saw his tall, straight figure and his steady, unyielding stride. She had no choice but to brace herself and follow.
"I want to go too." Xiao Han scampered out.
Xia Yan didn't really want Xiao Han to come along, since she was rushing to the hospital. She reached out to stop him. "Xiao Han, be good. It's late. Go back to sleep."
Xiao Han squirmed in displeasure.
"Otherwise, no cake tomorrow."
Xiao Han had no choice but to follow the butler back into the villa, looking dejected.
Xia Yan watched his lonely little back, feeling a pang of guilt. As she turned around, she bumped into Lu Zhengting's deep, complicated gaze.
Xia Yan's heart trembled. Worried about her mother's condition, she didn't overthink it. "Mr. Lu, my mother suddenly fell ill. I need to go to the hospital."
"Get in." Lu Zhengting opened the car door.
The car sped along the road.
Lu Zhengting seemed to know she was anxious and kept accelerating. A journey that would normally take over half an hour took only twenty minutes. As soon as the car stopped, Xia Yan dashed into the hospital.
When she reached the ward, she happened to see doctors and nurses wheeling her mother back.
"Miss Xia, Mrs. Xia has just been out of danger. She should wake up in about an hour," the doctor said, stopping Xia Yan outside the ward. "But please be mentally prepared. Mrs. Xia's condition is not optimistic."
Xia Yan's face went pale. Her legs felt weak, and her whole body went cold. Suddenly, a warmth appeared behind her—an arm wrapped around her waist.
"Don't panic. Go into the ward first." The low, magnetic voice seemed to have a calming effect.
Xia Yan let Lu Zhengting support her as she walked into the ward.
After helping her sit down, Lu Zhengting said nothing more, just stayed by her side.
Watching her mother's unconscious, tightly shut eyes and sunken, gaunt cheeks, Xia Yan stared blankly. Tears welled up in her eyes but she held them back, refusing to let them fall, though it seemed they might spill at any moment.
It wasn't until over an hour later that Xiao Lanzhi slowly regained consciousness.
A glimmer of life returned to Xia Yan's eyes. "Mom, how do you feel?"
"I'm fine," Xiao Lanzhi replied weakly. Lifting her gaze, she noticed someone else in the room. "Is this... Mr. Lu?"
Xia Yan remembered that Lu Zhengting was still there. "Yes, I happened to run into Mr. Lu. He drove me here."
Xiao Lanzhi's gaze lingered on Lu Zhengting. "Xia Yan, I'm a bit hungry. Could you buy me some congee?"
"Okay, I'll go now." Xia Yan stood up, hesitated, and asked, "Mr. Lu, maybe you should head back first?"
Lu Zhengting glanced at Xiao Lanzhi and said, "No need. Go buy the congee first."
Xia Yan had no choice but to go.
The ward fell silent.
After a long pause, Xiao Lanzhi spoke softly, "Xia Yan doesn't know anything. Please, Mr. Lu, stop getting close to her."