Walking out of the villa, Xia Yu and An Siyao got into the car waiting at the gate together.
The previous driver had been transferred to Afang City. The current driver for the villa was a middle-aged woman.
“Go to the nearest mall,” Xia Yu instructed the driver.
An Siyao wasn’t wearing a coat; hers had also been left behind at the villa. Xia Yu needed to buy two new ones.
“Alright.” The driver didn’t ask any unnecessary questions and simply drove the car.
The car had air conditioning, so it wasn’t cold inside. An Siyao, who had been clutching her arms tightly, gradually relaxed her tense body.
Xia Yu looked at An Siyao. He had been completely stunned just now, unable to imagine that she had actually argued with An Tianfeng.
Noticing Xia Yu’s gaze, An Siyao felt somewhat nervous. She assured him, “My grandfather said he’d give me the company, so I can still support you.”
Not expecting the girl to be worried about this, Xia Yu found it amusing and reached out to stroke her cheek. “It’s okay. I can support you too.”
He wanted to talk about what had happened back at the villa, but whether it was the matter of Xu Youxiang or An Tianfeng’s infidelity, it wasn’t suitable to bring up now.
So instead, he wrapped his arm around An Siyao’s waist and watched the changing scenery outside the window.
Three minutes later, Xia Yu’s phone rang.
The caller ID showed “Yu Ningmeng.” Yu Ningmeng had probably learned about the situation from the maid.
Xia Yu pressed the answer button and placed the phone to his ear.
“Where’s Yao Yao?” Yu Ningmeng asked.
Yu Ningmeng wasn’t specifically looking for Xia Yu; it was just that An Siyao’s phone had been left at the villa, and no one had answered, so she had called Xia Yu instead.
Xia Yu handed the phone to An Siyao and listened in closely.
Yu Ningmeng anxiously confirmed the situation: “You ran out of the villa?”
An Siyao replied, “Mm-hmm.”
“You silly child, how could you just run out like that? Tell me, what should you have done instead!” Yu Ningmeng’s voice carried a strong sense of resentment.
“I don’t know,” An Siyao lowered her head.
“Of course you shouldn’t have. That was our Yu family’s villa. If anyone should leave, it should be An Tianfeng!” Yu Ningmeng spoke sharply. “I’ve already had all the maids and cooks leave. No one will serve An Tianfeng anymore!”
“Mm-hmm,” An Siyao smiled faintly.
“You don’t need to worry about An Tianfeng anymore. It’s better that you left. Come back home to stay; your grandfather really misses you,” Yu Ningmeng’s tone softened.
Yu Ningmeng wanted An Siyao to come to Nanming City and live with Yu Liang, but An Siyao had no intention of doing so.
She grabbed Xia Yu’s clothes and told Yu Ningmeng, “I want to be with Xia Yu.”
“Be more reserved, Yao Yao. Don’t run away from home and then ‘grow up’ like that,” Yu Ningmeng started to joke around.
“Grow up?” An Siyao repeated, puzzled, hoping Yu Ningmeng would explain.
Her daily life consisted only of music, painting, and various proper activities; she rarely even watched movies and couldn’t understand this internet slang.
“Ahem, it means don’t do anything dangerous. Hand the phone to Xia Yu,” Yu Ningmeng quickly shifted topics.
An Siyao handed the phone to Xia Yu.
“Hello?” Xia Yu placed the phone to his ear.
“Where are you two planning to go?” Yu Ningmeng asked.
“To Zilang City. We’re going back to the countryside for the New Year,” Xia Yu replied.
“Don’t do anything dangerous, or you’ll be dead meat!” Yu Ningmeng warned Xia Yu.
In the past, Xia Yu might have engaged in a discussion with Yu Ningmeng on this topic, but now, he wasn’t in the mood.
“What can I possibly do in the countryside?” Xia Yu indirectly replied.
“Did you bring any money with you?” Yu Ningmeng asked again.
Xia Yu patted his pockets. His wallet was in his coat, which had been left at the villa.
If Yu Ningmeng hadn’t asked, it would have been quite awkward when they arrived at the mall.
Seeing that Xia Yu didn’t answer immediately, Yu Ningmeng understood the situation. “You two wait there for a moment. I’ll have someone bring you money.”
Xia Yu reported the name of the mall.
After solving the urgent issue, Yu Ningmeng asked about the cause of the current situation.
“Was it because of Xu Youxiang that An Tianfeng disapproved of you two?” she asked.
“Yes,” Xia Yu answered.
“Hmph, he sets fires himself but won’t let others light lamps,” Yu Ningmeng first expressed her disdain for An Tianfeng, then continued, “Come to Nanming after the New Year. An Siyao’s grandfather wants to see you.”
Xia Yu agreed.
After hanging up, Xia Yu rubbed his forehead. Now, after the New Year, he would have to visit both Xu Youxiang and Yu Liang.
He looked at An Siyao beside him again. He also needed to formally tell An Siyao about Xu Youxiang. Perhaps after the New Year, he would take An Siyao to meet Xu Youxiang together.
He held An Siyao’s hand.
Twenty minutes later, the car arrived at the mall. The person Yu Ningmeng had arranged quickly arrived and handed over the money.
After handing the money to the driver, Xia Yu asked her to buy two coats.
An Siyao’s coat was a long coat that reached her knees. The driver had bought one that was a bit too big, making An Siyao look like a little girl wearing adult clothes.
Xia Yu’s coat was a black leather jacket with tight shoulders, making it a bit too small.
The driver said awkwardly, “Should I go buy two more?”
“No need,” An Siyao took off her coat, handed it to Xia Yu, and took Xia Yu’s coat.
After swapping, the sizes fit perfectly, but Xia Yu was wearing a pink women’s coat while An Siyao was wearing a black men’s coat, which looked rather comical.
An Siyao giggled.
Xia Yu also smiled. He had been worried that after leaving and breaking ties with An Tianfeng, An Siyao might feel down, but now it seemed she had become livelier than before.
Perhaps it was because she had rebelled against her father, the ultimate authority.
“Let’s go. Drive us to the train station,” Xia Yu said to the driver.
The train station wasn’t far from the mall. Although the driver drove slowly due to the snowy and slippery roads, the two still arrived quickly.
At the ticket counter, they encountered a new problem—they hadn’t brought their ID cards. Xia Yu could only call Yu Ningmeng for help and sat with An Siyao in the air-conditioned waiting hall to wait.
Half an hour later, Hu Lianglu arrived at the station with a maid. She not only brought the two ID cards but also brought Xia Yu and An Siyao’s suitcases and coats.
The maid left after delivering the items, while Hu Lianglu stayed at the station, also waiting for the train. She was going home for the New Year too.
The high-speed train bound for Zilang arrived first. Hu Lianglu reluctantly said goodbye to An Siyao, watching her and Xia Yu take the elevator downstairs.
After boarding the train, Xia Yu placed the suitcases and found their seats.
Once the train started moving, Xia Yu called Kong Hanyue again, letting her know that he and An Siyao were on their way.
“An Siyao came too?” Kong Hanyue was surprised.
“Something happened,” Xia Yu vaguely said.
“Did An Tianfeng look down on you, the poor young man?” Kong Hanyue guessed.
“No, it’s something else,” Xia Yu didn’t want to talk about it and changed the subject, “Have you left already? If not, wait for us.”
“We’ll wait for you at home,” Kong Hanyue agreed.
“Alright.” After hanging up the phone, Xia Yu exhaled.
He began thinking about how to deal with An Tianfeng.
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