Lu Zhengting listened in silence as Xia Yan chattered on. When he noticed her involuntarily swallow, he slowed the car, picked up the bottled water beside him, and handed it to her. "Moisten your throat before you keep talking?"
Xia Yan rolled her eyes, opened the water, and downed a huge gulp. She suddenly remembered the apartment Lu Zhengting had taken her to earlier—it was now fully decorated and ready for move-in. Of course, the credit for that still went to Ning Xi.
Speaking of Ning Xi, all Xia Yan knew was that he was on vacation in Jiangcheng, but she rarely saw him. Maybe she saw Ning Nan more often than Ning Xi. Tilting her head to glance at the man focused on driving, she asked in a soft voice, "What's Ning Xi been up to lately?"
"Why the sudden thought to look for him?" Lu Zhengting asked, his tone casual and nonchalant, as if he didn't care, but Xia Yan sensed something off.
"Oh, it's just been a while since I saw Ning Xi. I was just asking." Xia Yan turned her head to stare straight ahead at the road.
Lu Zhengting nodded. Ning Xi had been secretly helping him investigate Yang Jinkuan. Ever since that time he had someone take Xia Yan away without actually harming her, it felt like a childish game, pointless. He certainly didn't believe Yang Jinkuan had been watching Xia Yan for so long just to take her away and test how deep his own waters ran.
That would be too reckless, tipping off the enemy.
Suddenly, the scene from yesterday when Ning Xi came to see him flashed through his mind. After handing over the dossier on Yang Jinkuan, Ning Xi seemed hesitant to speak, and the look in his eyes as he left carried some hidden meaning—though Lu Zhengting couldn't yet decipher it.
Xia Yan was either talking nonstop or completely silent. When she was quiet, she resembled the legendary ice beauty, exuding a cool, aloof aura that created an inexplicable sense of distance. To put it nicely, she was high and mighty; to put it bluntly, she was putting on airs.
Xia Yan had experienced this firsthand in college and had long since gotten used to it.
The Lu residence had been unusually lively lately. Not only was she living there, but Ke Yaru came running over almost every day after work. While Jiang Mingxiu eagerly welcomed her, Lu Zhengting's attitude was lukewarm, leaving Xia Yan unsure of his true feelings toward Ke Yaru.
When Lu Zhengting wasn't around, Jiang Mingxiu's treatment of Xia Yan was harsh—no exaggeration, she treated her like a servant. But Xia Yan never said a word, Jiang Mingxiu naturally kept quiet, and Lu Zhengting remained oblivious.
Xiao Han had been clinging to Xia Yan tightly lately. Every time Ke Yaru tried to get him close to her, he refused. As a result, Ke Yaru's resentment toward Xia Yan only grew. Xia Yan understood but felt helpless. If someone was naturally likable, what could she do about it?
After dinner, Lu Zhengting went to the study to handle work. With two months until the end of the year, it was the busiest time for every department, especially finance. But Xia Yan glanced at Ke Yaru, who was sitting on the sofa laughing and chatting with Jiang Mingxiu—she didn't look busy at all.
Xiao Han tugged at Xia Yan, insisting she watch TV with him. Xia Yan rarely refused his requests, so she agreed. Seeing Xiao Han laugh joyfully at the show, she couldn't help but smile, pursing her lips. Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed Ke Yaru was smiling too.
But that smile made Xia Yan freeze. Because in that moment, she really did see a resemblance between Ke Yaru and Xiao Han.
Xia Yan couldn't help but recall what Ke Yaru had said to her at the company—those ambiguous words about her and Xiao Han's relationship. Now, they made her feel distracted. She had never asked Lu Zhengting about Xiao Han's mother. Every time she wanted to, something else interrupted.
Xiao Han turned his bright, smiling face to look at Xia Yan, whose mind was clearly elsewhere, and whispered, "Sister Yan, what are you thinking? Are you thinking about Dad?"
"You little troublemaker, what nonsense are you talking about?" Xia Yan glared at the precocious Xiao Han and muttered.
"Tsk, you adults never admit it, especially when you're caught red-handed. You're obviously thinking about Dad, and you think I don't know?" Xiao Han smugly wiped his nose.
"Fine, fine, Xiao Han is the smartest. No, not just smart—you're observant too. You even know exactly what I'm thinking."
"Of course." As soon as he said that, Xiao Han went limp, leaning against Xia Yan and wrapping his arms around hers. His tone shifted to a soft, pleading whine. "Sister Yan, I want to eat the cake you make. Ever since Grandma came back, you haven't made me any cake."
Hearing Xiao Han's voice grow more pitiful, Xia Yan's heart nearly melted. She couldn't resist pinching his cheek. "It depends on your behavior. If you're good, I'll make you cake tomorrow."
"Sigh, I just want some cake, and you're making me prove myself. I'm so pitiful."
"Then I'm the big bad wolf, and you're Little Red Riding Hood?" Xia Yan laughed at Xiao Han, but her laughter abruptly stopped when she heard Jiang Mingxiu cough.
"Xiao Han, come over to Grandma." Jiang Mingxiu beckoned to him, but Xiao Han thought for a few seconds and shook his head.
"Grandma has Auntie with her. If I sit with Grandma too, then Sister Yan will be alone. She'll be lonely, so I'll stay with her." Xiao Han's chubby little hand tightly gripped Xia Yan's, his words slow, as if each one was carefully chosen, piercing straight into her heart.
Xiao Han was more reliable than his dad! He'd definitely grow up to be a warm-hearted man.
It wasn't until Xiao Han really grew up that Xia Yan realized she had misjudged him—he was just as sarcastic as his father.
Xiao Han's words caused subtle changes in Jiang Mingxiu and Ke Yaru's expressions. Noticing Jiang Mingxiu's complicated look, Ke Yaru let out a light laugh to break the awkwardness. "Xiao Han knows how to care for others at such a young age. When he grows up, he'll definitely be popular with girls."
"Auntie, if you praise me like that, I'll get shy. Even though it's true."
Xiao Han blinked at Jiang Mingxiu, looking pitiful. "Grandma, are you mad at me? Then how about I share my favorite cake with you?"
Jiang Mingxiu looked at this grandson who resembled her son so much, listening to his soft, sweet voice and his big, blinking eyes. His childish words softened her heart too. Even if she were angry, she wouldn't take it out on Xiao Han.
They lingered in the living room for a long time until Xiao Han yawned. Jiang Mingxiu shot Xia Yan a look. Startled, Xia Yan glanced at her, then smiled at Xiao Han. "Want to take a bath and go to sleep?"
"Mm, okay. Sister Yan, you still have to tell me a bedtime story."
Xia Yan smiled and nodded. She didn't know why Xiao Han always wanted her to tell him stories. Whenever she told them seriously, he would chime in with a comment, shattering the fairy tales she'd known since childhood in an instant. As for why he liked her to tell them, maybe it was because he was still a child. Even if Lu Zhengting could play both father and mother, his cold demeanor wasn't maternal. She felt that deep down, Xiao Han craved a mother's love.
Xia Yan stayed in Xiao Han's room, waiting for him to finish his bath. During that free time, she wandered around his room. It didn't have much of a childlike feel—the decor was similar to Lu Zhengting's, which she thought was a bit too mature for Xiao Han.
The room was tidy, with everything neatly arranged. It showed that despite his young age, Xiao Han was very disciplined. After looking around, she confirmed there was no trace of his biological mother anywhere.
"Sister Yan, what are you looking at?" Xiao Han came out of the bath wearing pajamas similar to Lu Zhengting's—clearly a matching set.
Xia Yan jumped at his sudden voice, startled because she had been lost in thought. She took a deep breath, curved her eyes into a smile, and looked at him. "You can't sleep with wet hair, you know that?"
"Oh, I know." Xiao Han fiddled with his hands, then suddenly rushed into Xia Yan's arms. His round, pitch-black eyes sparkled like stars in the night sky. With a sly grin, he shook his head, flicking water droplets onto Xia Yan before she could react.
"You little rascal, come here." Xia Yan quickly grabbed Xiao Han, who was trying to escape, and laughed.
"Sister Yan... I'm sorry..."
"Not sincere enough. Doesn't count." Xia Yan put on a stern face, but Xiao Han deployed his ultimate weapon against her—the ever-reliable puppy-dog eyes.
Defeated, Xia Yan affectionately patted his little head. "Considering how you behaved in the living room, I'll let it slide this time. But don't do it again."
Xiao Han pouted, completely ignoring her warning. After drying his hair with the hairdryer, she told him a story as promised, and he was soon asleep. Sometimes Xia Yan wondered if her stories had a built-in hypnotic effect.
She stared at Xiao Han's sleeping face. Such an adorable child—why had his mother left? Pondering this, she couldn't resist leaning down to kiss his forehead. Turning off the lamp, she quietly left.
Outside the room, Ke Yaru was waiting for her. When she saw Xia Yan emerge with a smile, her own face darkened with displeasure.