Zhan Meng stood outside the car, curiously eavesdropping for a moment before mimicking Xia Yan's tone and saying to Ning Xi, "You jerk, are you trying to make me cry on purpose?"
Ning Xi, who had been leisurely following behind, hadn't even reached Zhan Meng's side when he heard those words from her mouth. He was instantly stunned, his mouth twitching as he stared at her with an unreadable expression.
Lu Zhengting, hearing the commotion outside from inside the car, darkened his face. Seeing Xia Yan's cheeks flush bright red, he pulled her into his arms and rolled down the window to see Zhan Meng's grinning face and Ning Xi's bewildered look. He frowned, glanced at Ning Xi, and said angrily, "Keep your woman in check."
Hearing this, Ning Xi felt a headache coming on. Before he could speak, Zhan Meng planted her hands on her hips and snorted, "Lu Zhengting, what are you yelling about? Who told you to yell at Ning Xi? I can't stand your arrogant, holier-than-thou attitude."
"Ning Xi." Lu Zhengting barked out Ning Xi's name.
"Tch, you think I actually wanted to listen to you two? I was just worried you might bully Xia Yan. How boring. Ning Xi, let's go." Zhan Meng hooked her arm through Ning Xi's and, before leaving, shot a cold snort and raised an eyebrow at Xia Yan, who was pressed against his chest, wearing a mischievous grin.
Ning Xi glanced at Lu Zhengting, then looked at Zhan Meng with a mix of amusement and exasperation, letting her drag him along by the arm. This feeling wasn't so bad, he thought. Just as he was basking in the rare warmth of Zhan Meng's affection, she suddenly shoved his hand away in disgust and shot him a look.
"You're so pathetic. How is it that every time I see you, Lu Zhengting has you completely under his thumb with no way to fight back? I'm worried sick about you."
Ning Xi chuckled. That guy Lu Zhengting was cautious and cunning; he and the fourth brother had never gotten the better of him, always losing rather miserably.
Zhan Meng pouted. "Forget it, forget it. I'm hungry. After that little scene, the waiter never brought my order."
When it came to meals, as long as Ning Xi was around, Zhan Meng never seemed to worry about going hungry. Ning Xi watched the graceful figure walking ahead, a hint of tenderness flashing in his eyes. This little girl Zhan Meng might drive him crazy sometimes, but she didn't seem to want to see him bullied by others either.
After a moment's thought, he slowly followed behind.
Zhan Meng stood by the roadside at a red light, turning back to look at Ning Xi taking his time. She waved at him and called out, "Ning Xi, hurry up!"
Seeing this, Ning Xi's gaze toward Zhan Meng suddenly wavered. Even in winter, the sun was still visible, and its warm light fell on Zhan Meng, enveloping her as if she were bathed in a radiant glow that was hard to look away from. The smile on her face was like a touch of spring in the cold winter wind, Ning Xi thought.
As he got closer, Zhan Meng grabbed his hand. "Come on, the light's about to turn green."
Ning Xi glanced at their joined hands, then at the traffic light, and looked straight ahead as if nothing was wrong, but his fingers tightened, and he took hold of Zhan Meng's hand instead.
******
Lu Zhengting took Xia Yan back to the Dongshan Villa, but the house was empty—not even Chen Ma was in sight. Xia Yan held Lu Zhengting's hand and asked curiously, "Is no one home?"
"They're at the hospital."
"The hospital?" Xia Yan exclaimed. "Who's in the hospital?"
"Ke Yaru."
Hearing this, Xia Yan paused, involuntarily connecting it to why Lu Zhengting had been late. Was it because Ke Yaru was in the hospital? She lowered her head, her eyes dimming. Jiang Mingxiu had had Chen Ma pack her luggage and leave it in the living room. She certainly wasn't going to shamelessly stay here any longer.
"Lu Zhengting, just take me to the apartment."
"No need. I'm the one who decides here."
"But I still want to go back to the apartment."
Lu Zhengting stared at Xia Yan for a long time, pondering for a moment. Seeing the stubbornness in her eyes, he sighed helplessly and nodded. "I'll take you there."
This time, Xia Yan didn't refuse. Lu Zhengting loaded her luggage into the car and drove toward the apartment. On the way, Xia Yan occasionally stole glances at the man driving seriously and asked casually, "How did she end up in the hospital?"
"She fell at home. Hit her head again."
Xia Yan didn't believe Ke Yaru at all. She remembered the doctor's diagnosis last time—a mild concussion—and now she'd hit her head again in the same spot. Was she trying to make the injury worse? Xia Yan hesitated, biting her lip, but decided not to say anything.
"What's wrong?" Lu Zhengting gripped the steering wheel, glancing at Xia Yan's thoughtful expression.
"Nothing. Is she feeling better now?"
"She's fine."
Xia Yan nodded. She really wanted to tell Lu Zhengting that Ke Yaru's timing was too convenient. Even she couldn't convince herself it was just a coincidence, but maybe it was just her intuition. After all, life was full of dramatic twists.
"By the way, did you find out who leaked the company's secrets?"
"Yeah, it was someone from the finance department."
"Someone from finance?" Xia Yan searched her memory for everyone she knew in finance but couldn't pinpoint anyone.
"Coco."
"Coco? How could it be her? Why would she do that?"
Lu Zhengting glanced at the shocked Xia Yan and let out a faint sigh. "Coco likes Ye Yunchen. That one reason is enough."
Hearing this, Xia Yan was even more stunned.
"The company will announce Coco's punishment tomorrow. But Coco doesn't have the ability to access the company's confidential information on her own."
"So... she's taking the fall for someone?"
Lu Zhengting didn't deny it. He turned the steering wheel and drove into the underground parking lot. "Get out."
Xia Yan unbuckled her seatbelt, grabbed her bag, and walked over to Lu Zhengting. Seeing him holding her suitcase, she asked, "Will this end with Coco, or are you going to keep investigating?"
"I'll handle it. Don't overthink it." As soon as Lu Zhengting finished speaking, his phone rang. He answered, his expression shifting slightly, and tightened his grip on Xia Yan's hand. "I'll be right there."
Xia Yan looked at him questioningly, but seeing his grim face, she stayed quiet. He put the luggage back in the car, took her hand, and drove straight to the city hospital.
Jiang Mingxiu had fainted.
Ke Yaru had called.
Xia Yan only found out when they arrived at the hospital. She accompanied Lu Zhengting outside the emergency room, watching the hurried doctors and nurses, frowning. Ke Yaru, her head still wrapped in bandages, smiled at Xia Yan when she saw her with Lu Zhengting, sending chills down Xia Yan's spine.
"Zhengting, you're finally here. Auntie fainted right after you left."
"How is she now?" Lu Zhengting asked.
"We don't know yet."
Lu Zhengting nodded. Xia Yan sat on a nearby bench, watching Ke Yaru and Lu Zhengting stand side by side, a sour feeling rising in her chest. Suddenly, she heard Xiao Han's voice behind her, snapping her out of her thoughts. Xiao Han ran over to Xia Yan, hugged her arm, and sat down on the bench, asking in a soft voice, "Sister Yan, are you unhappy?"
Xia Yan quickly covered Xiao Han's mouth. "Shh..."
Seeing this, Xiao Han nodded vigorously until Xia Yan let go, then gasped for air. He leaned close to her ear and whispered, "Sister Yan, are you jealous seeing Auntie and Dad standing together?"
"No, Xiao Han, don't talk nonsense."
"I'm a kid, so kids don't lie. I saw it clearly." Xiao Han pouted and said quietly.
Lu Zhengting noticed that Xiao Han had been clinging to Xia Yan since he arrived and let him be. Ke Yaru, seeing Xiao Han sticking to Xia Yan, turned green with envy. She subtly moved closer to Lu Zhengting.
Jiang Mingxiu had fainted from a surge of anger—she couldn't handle too much emotional turmoil. After hearing the doctor's words, Ke Yaru looked at Lu Zhengting with a guilty expression. "Zhengting, I'm sorry. It's all my fault. If I'd been more careful and hadn't ended up in the hospital, you wouldn't have... you wouldn't have argued with Auntie."
Xia Yan didn't understand Ke Yaru's hesitant words. Jiang Mingxiu was taken to a hospital room. Lu Zhengting glanced at Ke Yaru and said coldly, "It's not your fault."
"Zhengting..."
Lu Zhengting expressionlessly turned away, took Xia Yan's hand, and walked toward the room. Inside, Jiang Mingxiu slowly opened her eyes. Seeing Xia Yan standing by the bed, her face darkened, and she glared at her son angrily. "Are you really trying to drive me to my grave?"
"Get out of here right now!" Jiang Mingxiu shouted at Xia Yan.
Jiang Mingxiu's fierce reaction startled Xia Yan. She lowered her eyes and silently turned to leave, but Lu Zhengting suddenly stood up from the sofa, walked to her side, took her hand, and faced Jiang Mingxiu. "Xia Yan and I will leave together."
"I want to leave with Sister Yan too." Xiao Han blinked, ran over to Xia Yan, and hugged her waist.
Seeing this, Jiang Mingxiu nearly choked and fainted again. Her face flushed red with rage, and she pointed a trembling finger at Xia Yan and the pair—one big, one small. "You're all trying to kill me! What's so good about this woman?" She paused and said to Xiao Han, "Xiao Han, come here."
"Grandma." Xiao Han held onto Xia Yan's waist, shaking his head stubbornly.
"All of you, get out! I don't want to see you—it only annoys me."
Hearing this, Lu Zhengting turned and left with Xia Yan and Xiao Han. Ke Yaru stared in disbelief at their clasped hands, a flash of malice in her eyes, quickly masked. The room fell silent, and she looked at Jiang Mingxiu, suddenly pitiful.
"Auntie, I think Zhengting truly loves Xia Yan. Maybe we shouldn't interfere anymore, or else..."
Jiang Mingxiu rubbed her temples. "Go tell the doctor to make my condition sound more serious."