Xia Yan's cold gaze fixed directly on Xia Siyue as she said in an icy tone, "What are you doing here?"
"Why are you here? Don't you know? Xia Yan, don't think that just because you've found Lu Zhengting to back you up, you can look down on the Xia family."
Hearing this, Xia Yan paused for a few seconds. Feeling the scrutinizing stares from those around her, she reached out, grabbed Xia Siyue's arm, and pulled her toward a nearby corner. The more Xia Siyue struggled, the tighter Xia Yan's grip became.
Xia Yan forcefully shoved Xia Siyue against the wall, pinning her with one hand and staring straight into her eyes. "Let me tell you, the Xia family means nothing to me."
"Xia Yan, you! Don't forget you grew up in the Xia family—we raised you!"
"I've heard that line so many times. Can't you come up with something original?" Xia Yan glanced at Xia Siyue's flushed face and said slowly.
"Xia Yan, so what if you have Lu Zhengting backing you now? I don't believe he'll protect you forever." Xia Siyue's words made Xia Yan deeply uncomfortable. She slapped away Xia Yan's hand against the wall, standing tall like a proud swan, her gaze fixed on Xia Yan as if looking at an ugly duckling.
Seeing this, Xia Yan frowned. She knew why Xia Siyue had come—it was because she hadn't gotten her hands on Xiao Lanzhi's will. After causing a scene in front of Xia Minghui, she'd been scolded and was now taking her anger out on Xia Yan. Xia Yan pursed her lips and coldly swept her eyes over Xia Siyue. "That's none of your business."
Xia Yan knew that if she didn't get into the company soon, she'd be late. So, deciding she had nothing more to say to Xia Siyue, she turned and walked straight back into the building. Xia Siyue stood there, watching Xia Yan completely disregard her, and felt a surge of fury. She raised her voice and shouted, "Stop!"
Hearing this, Xia Yan continued walking expressionlessly, paying no attention to Xia Siyue's words.
The incident of Xia Siyue coming to the company to find her eventually became idle gossip among some bored people. Unaware of this, Xia Yan went about her work as usual. Since being transferred to the project department, Ke Yaru rarely caused her trouble, and Ye Yunchen had returned to his old ways, showing up in front of her like clockwork every morning, noon, and evening.
Xia Yan secretly speculated about the relationship between Lin Xujia and Ye Yunchen, and she increasingly rejected his advances. Ever since Lu Zhengting had sent her that text, she inexplicably found herself pulling out her phone to reread their messages. Over the past month, Xia Yan had spent almost all her time working, occasionally receiving calls from Xiao Han, but they always seemed to come when she was busy.
Seeing that the new project was about to launch and the workload would soon decrease, Xia Yan couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief. She stared at the fluctuating numbers on her computer screen, slumped back in her chair, and thought that she could finally get a good night's sleep in the coming days.
Half-closing her eyes, Xia Yan glanced at the equally listless people around her when she suddenly spotted a small figure emerging from the elevator. She froze, dumbfounded, as she watched Xiao Han searching around, followed by a large entourage. Instinctively, she tried to make herself less noticeable.
Xiao Han hadn't seen Xia Yan in a month. He missed her terribly, along with the cakes she made, so he ordered the driver to bring him to the company. With the young master of the Lu Group arriving, the welcoming party dared not show any negligence and quickly fell in step behind him.
Not seeing Xia Yan, Xiao Han was about to lose it. He turned around, his little face stern, and stared at the manager trailing behind him. "Didn't you say Xia Yan was in the project department?"
"Young master, I checked with HR. Xia Yan is indeed in the project department now."
"Then why can't I see her?" Xiao Han frowned and shot the manager a look. "Go find Xia Yan for me."
The person trying to stay unnoticed wiped a bead of sweat when she heard Xiao Han order the manager. Not long ago, Xia Siyue had come to the company to vent her anger, nearly exposing Xia Yan's relationship with Lu Zhengting. And now, Xiao Han was showing up at the company to find her, and so brazenly at that!
Just as the manager was about to send someone to find Xia Yan, someone suddenly said, "Xia Yan is in that corner."
"..."
The one who revealed Xia Yan's location was CoCo. She had been keeping an eye on Xia Yan's movements, and seeing her trying to hide, assumed she had offended the Lu family's young master. Hoping to see Xia Yan humiliated, she kept watching.
Hearing this, Xiao Han dashed straight to the spot CoCo had pointed out. Spotting Xia Yan with her head down, pretending to be buried in work, his serious face instantly broke into a grin. He pounced on her, calling out sweetly, "Sister Yan, Xiao Han missed you so much," then switched to a plaintive tone, his big watery eyes looking pitiful. "Sister Yan doesn't miss Xiao Han."
Startled, Xia Yan felt the little human weight clinging to her waist and smiled awkwardly at the unexpected Xiao Han. "Xiao Han, why are you here?"
Holding onto Xia Yan's arm, Xiao Han looked at her with grievance. "Of course I had to come. If I didn't, would you ever come find me?"
"How could that be?"
"Hmph, I know you'll say you're busy with work. Dad always used to say that too, leaving me alone at home all the time. I thought Sister Yan wouldn't be like that to Xiao Han, but you're the same. You adults always say one thing and do another."
Xia Yan was at a loss for words at Xiao Han's remarks. Seeing his angry yet pitiful expression, her heart softened. Ignoring the stares from those around her, she bent down, lifted Xiao Han onto a chair, and looked at him tenderly. She reached out and ruffled his hair, speaking gently, "Xiao Han, once I finish my work, I'll spend time with you, okay?"
"No." Xiao Han pouted and said loudly, unwillingly.
Hearing this, Xia Yan felt a headache coming on. She still had some work to wrap up, but Xiao Han's attitude put her in a tough spot. Before Lu Zhengting had gone on his business trip, she had promised to spend time with Xiao Han when she could, but she hadn't expected to be this busy.
Noticing Xia Yan's expression, Xiao Han blinked and leaned in to whisper in her ear, "Sister Yan, I can sit over there and wait for you to finish work, but you have to promise me one thing."
Xia Yan quickly asked, "What is it?"
"Take me to the amusement park! I want to go to the amusement park."
The amusement park? Xia Yan thought about the rides there, and her heart started racing before she even arrived. She had never dared to go on thrill rides since she was little; the most she'd ever done was the carousel. Seeing the longing in Xiao Han's eyes, Xia Yan gritted her teeth and nodded. Seeing this, Xiao Han immediately slid down from her side.
Putting away his playful demeanor, Xiao Han walked up to the manager and waved his hand with authority, pointing to the break room nearby. "I want to play there."
"Young master, that's the employee break area. Let me take you to Chairman Lu's office to rest instead."
"I want to play there."
The manager wiped the sweat from his forehead. Everyone in the company knew that Lu Zhengting's son was a fearless little terror. Seeing Xiao Han insist, he had no choice but to personally accompany him to the break room to wait for Xia Yan to finish work.
The project department was in an uproar over Xiao Han's sudden visit to find Xia Yan. Having seen Xiao Han's cold face toward the manager and his warm smile toward Xia Yan, people couldn't help but start speculating wildly. Xia Yan endured the pressure, burying herself in her work and trying to ignore the whispers around her, but their wild theories made her both annoyed and amused.
Xiao Han sat in the break room with a straight face, his clear eyes fixed on Xia Yan's direction. He held a cup of hot milk, occasionally taking a sip. Lu Zhengting's son rarely appeared at the company, and now that word had spread he was there, women from every department found countless excuses to come to the break room, hoping to catch his attention.
At that moment, Xiao Han sat obediently on the sofa, flanked by two imposing bodyguards. The women who had come upon hearing the news all stared at Xiao Han but were too afraid of his guards. A few bolder ones mustered the courage to try talking to him, but before the guards could even speak, Xiao Han shot them a cold glare.
Seeing this, everyone's hearts sank. Though young, Xiao Han exuded a chilling aura that made people uneasy. With a face resembling Lu Zhengting's and a similar demeanor, it was like seeing a miniature version of Lu Zhengting.
Xiao Han coldly glanced at the women trying to approach him, then silently took another sip of his milk. In his mind, the only one worthy of his father was Xia Yan. The manager sitting beside him cast a sidelong glance at the nonchalant Lu Yihan and let out a faint sigh.
That pure smile was probably something only Xia Yan got to see, and only she was lucky enough to earn Xiao Han's affection.
Fortunately, Xia Yan sped through her remaining tasks. Starting tomorrow, she would have two days off. It seemed she already had plans for this time.
She walked into the break room, and as soon as Xiao Han saw her, he jumped off the sofa and ran straight to her, grabbing her hand. "Sister Yan, I'm hungry. Let's go eat first, okay?"
It was almost six o'clock now, and Xiao Han probably hadn't eaten much when he arrived. Glancing at the half-empty milk cup on the table, Xia Yan squeezed his little hand and said with a smile, "Alright, let's go."
This was the first time Xia Yan felt she could cause such a stir at the company. The manager followed behind, along with two bodyguards for protection. As they passed through the lobby, the looks from the front desk staff made Xia Yan roll her eyes.
They were the kind of looks that said "sour grapes."
Xiao Han had been driven over from the Lu residence in the same black Mercedes. As soon as they stepped out of the lobby, Xia Yan saw Ye Yunchen standing by the car, staring straight at her.