Chapter 177: Chapter 174: With You Here, She’ll Be Afraid
After a while, Hanhan finally calmed down. He immediately turned around and hugged his still trembling sister, comforting her, "It’s okay, Xixi, Brother is here."
"Brother..." Xixi called him softly, her bright large eyes sneaking a peek around Hanhan, as if afraid to see something frightening. She glanced quickly and then hurriedly withdrew, snuggling closer into Hanhan’s embrace.
Hanhan gently patted Xixi’s back, his little face scrunched up, turning to glare at the newcomer, "You scared Xixi!"
"..." The newcomer scratched his head innocently. Seeing Xixi so frightened made him feel guilty too. He dared not look at a certain area behind him, fearing he’d be killed with glances.
Hanhan comforted Xixi for a while.
Xixi slowly calmed down, extending her little chubby arms to hug her brother back, softly saying, "Brother, I’m not scared anymore."
Hanhan sighed in relief, then let go of Xixi and turned to face the newcomer.
"Hanhan, do you remember uncle?" The newcomer approached flatteringly.
Hanhan frowned, "You are the uncle from the restroom at Wanhui Building last time."
Gu Yan exhaled in relief, "Hanhan really has a good memory. Here, uncle bought you some candy."
Hanhan didn’t even glance at the candy in his hand, pursed his lips, and looked towards the door, lowering his long eyelashes, "I don’t eat sweets."
"..." Gu Yan’s baby face brightened up, smiling, "I know someone who, like Hanhan, also doesn’t eat sweets."
Hanhan immediately lifted his eyelashes to stare at him, "Who?"
"Uh... well, you’ll find out in the future," Gu Yan said ambiguously.
Ye Yihan’s lips turned cold, "Do you have anything else?"
Gu Yan was stumped by the question again!
After a moment of silence, Gu Yan licked his lips awkwardly, offering the candy in his hand, "Would the little cutie hiding behind brother like some candy?"
Ye Xixi peeked out from behind her brother, eagerly eyeing the rainbow lollipop in Gu Yan’s hand, softly asking, "Can I have some?"
Having not clearly seen Ye Xixi’s face earlier, Gu Yan, who had only seen her in surveillance footage, knew she was adorable. But seeing her up close, he realized that Ye Xixi was more than just adorable; she was like an exquisite doll.
Gu Yan’s eyes sparkled, unable to resist the urge to rush over, and in the complete lack of defense from the two little ones, he scooped Ye Xixi up.
Xixi was so frightened that her face went numb, her mouth agape, staring at Gu Yan in horror.
Three seconds later, big tears rolled out of Xixi’s pretty eyes.
The little girl didn’t cry out loud, holding back little sobs, staring at Gu Yan with big, haunted eyes, her small shoulders gently shaking. Seeing her pitiful state made Gu Yan’s heart wrench. He quickly sat down in a chair by the desk, soothing her brokenheartedly, "Uncle was wrong, darling, don’t cry, you’re melting uncle’s heart."
Xixi whimpered, turning her head, her tearful eyes fixed on her brother, stretching out her little chubby hands towards him.
Ye Yihan’s face didn’t look pleasant either. With a tense little face, he stepped forward, trying to pull his sister out of Gu Yan’s arms.
However, he tried several times and failed to succeed.
Ye Yihan frowned, his little face seriously staring at Gu Yan.
Gu Yan’s face looked awkward, but he resolutely didn’t let go, clearing his throat, "Uncle’s afraid you might drop her accidentally, precious."
Ye Yihan felt a bit nauseous at the term "precious," "She’s not called ’precious,’ her name is Ye Xixi."
"Ye Xixi..." Gu Yan delightfully looked at Xixi, mischievously pinching Xixi’s cheek, "Xixi, Little Xixi..."
Xixi was so scared that she clung tightly to Ye Yihan’s neck, burying her face in her brother’s small shoulder.
Gu Yan seemed oblivious to Xixi treating him like a monster, thick-skinned, continually pinching Xixi’s cheek.
Xixi was both annoyed and troubled by him, but with her small strength, she couldn’t resist him, only able to cry out pitifully, shedding golden tears.
Ye Yihan saw Xixi’s reddened eyes from crying, anger rising in him, eyebrows raised, glaring fiercely at Gu Yan, "Can’t you see she’s crying?"
His tender and soft voice was surprisingly commanding.
Gu Yan was immediately stunned, the hand pinching Xixi’s cheek paused.
In an instant, an image of a cold and aloof face flashed in Gu Yan’s mind, sending a shiver down his spine.
Gu Yan looked at the weeping, shaking shoulders of Ye Xixi with despair, quickly releasing his hold.
He suddenly let go, and Ye Yihan almost didn’t catch Xixi, fortunately, Xixi was clinging tightly to his neck, otherwise...
Ye Yihan coldly glanced at Gu Yan, leading Xixi towards the door.
Gu Yan, "..."
He had thought Ye Yihan would leave without looking back, but unexpectedly, he stopped at the door.
Gu Yan’s eyes brightened, hopefully watching Hanhan’s small back.
Hanhan turned to glance at Gu Yan, saying, "The person who, like me, doesn’t like sweets..."
Gu Yan was taken aback, looking at Hanhan, suddenly having a feeling that he knew the certain someone!
Hanhan pursed his little lips, about to speak but hesitated.
"Han..."
Gu Yan barely uttered a "Han" when Hanhan led Xixi away.
Gu Yan’s throat rolled, his eyes deeply gazing at a certain spot not far outside the door.
"Boss Rong, you haven’t seen Xixi, she’s so adorable. Even mixed-blood babies aren’t as cute as Xixi. Chubby, with a little face so rosy, big eyes staring at you as if you could agree to anything she says."
Gu Yan leaned comfortably against the back of the chair, looking at Rong Mochen as he spoke.
Rong Mochen softened slightly, even those typically cold eyes seemed to melt into a pool of clarity.
Gu Yan pursed his lips, "Boss Rong, I don’t understand why you don’t go see Xixi and Hanhan yourself?"
Rong Mochen’s dark eyes were slightly silent, and he did not speak.
Gu Yan sighed inwardly, once again thinking of the soft and tender Xixi, excitedly looking at Rong Mochen, "Boss Rong, are we coming again tomorrow?"
Rong Mochen’s thumb rubbed the surface of the metal lighter, his long black lashes lifted, "Going back to Z City tomorrow morning."
"Ah?" Gu Yan was stunned, sitting up abruptly, urgently staring at Rong Mochen, "Boss Rong, you weren’t so disturbed by what happened this morning that you aren’t planning to get the kids back, were you? At least bring Xixi back!"
"..." Rong Mochen expressionlessly stared at the pensive face, his thin lips pulling coldly, spitting out a few words, "I meant, you’re going back."
He’s going back...
Gu Yan was dumbfounded for two seconds then immediately became unwilling, saying softly, "I’m not going back."
"I’ve already booked you on the earliest flight tomorrow," Rong Mochen said.
"I’m not going back, I’m going to stake out at the kindergarten tomorrow!" Gu Yan said with a serious face.
Rong Mochen pursed his lips, paused for a few seconds, then his thin lips lightly parted, "No discussion!"
"Boss Rong, I’m your special assistant, wherever you are, I’m there too. Wasn’t it always that way before? Why is it different this time..." Gu Yan trailed off suddenly.
The round face slowly climbed with gloom, gazing at Rong Mochen’s resolute face, he cautiously said, "Boss Rong, I didn’t mean to frighten Xixi today, it’s just that Xixi was so cute that my actions were a bit rough..."
"I know." Rong Mochen nodded slightly.
"Then can I stay?" Gu Yan asked hopefully.
Rong Mochen squinted, gazing deeply at Gu Yan, "With you here, she’ll be afraid."
This "she" naturally referred to Xixi!
Gu Yan’s fervent heart turned cold.
He understood now, someone was afraid he would stay and hold him back, so he was hurrying to send him back!
After Ying Jingyao sent Ye Xiao to the theater, she was restless, although she was professional enough during rehearsals not to make mistakes, the director still noticed Ye Xiao’s distractedness.
During a break in rehearsals, Lin Dong called Ye Xiao aside, speaking in a deep tone, "Ye, is there something going on at home?"
Ye Xiao was slightly stunned, and shook her head, "No."
Lin Dong was silent for a few seconds, looking at Ye Xiao, he said, "The tour schedule has been released, and we’re heading to C City in a week. This tour is also your first time stepping out. Ye, I have a lot of faith in you, so I need you to give your full focus, I mean during rehearsals and performances."
Ye Xiao knew she wasn’t in the best state today, and replied seriously, "Director, don’t worry, a situation like today won’t happen again."
Lin Dong trusted Ye Xiao’s professionalism, hearing her say this, he didn’t say anything more, just patted her shoulder and walked away.
Ye Xiao rubbed her face, just about to turn around, when she saw Zhong Qin hesitantly standing under the rehearsal stage, her eyes looking at her with hesitation and guilt.
Ye Xiao fluttered her lashes and walked towards her.
As Ye Xiao approached, Zhong Qin became even more nervous, wringing her hands together, with a cautious expression, "Ye..."
Ye Xiao smiled, "The director just told me that next week’s tour is about to start, I’d like to ask you for some performance tips."
"..." Zhong Qin’s face turned red with embarrassment, she rubbed her hands hard, then reached out to hold Ye Xiao’s hand, "Ye, I was wrong last night. I won’t make excuses for myself, this is my fault, I owe you one."
Ye Xiao was nonchalant, "In my heart, I’ve always regarded you as my teacher, with respect and admiration. Since you are my teacher, you have helped me. I understand Teacher Zhong didn’t willfully want this to happen, so I haven’t dwelt on it."
The more Ye Xiao said, the more ashamed Zhong Qin felt, but she didn’t continue to speak, only keeping it in her mind, ensuring she wouldn’t make the same mistake again.
"Ye, after Mr. Rong took you away last night, did he do anything?" Zhong Qin asked with concern.
"Once Mr. Rong realized he had mistaken me for someone else, he let me go," Ye Xiao lowered her long lashes, her tone indifferent, not wanting to elaborate.
Mistaken identity?
Zhong Qin was startled, about to press further, but seeing Ye Xiao’s expression somewhat aloof, she slightly closed her mouth, not asking more.
The air around them instantly became awkwardly silent.
"Xiao, come here." Lin Weiwei waved at Ye Xiao from a distance.
Ye Xiao nodded at the opportunity, saying to Zhong Qin, "Teacher Zhong, I’ll go over first."
"... Okay." Zhong Qin nodded.
Ye Xiao quickly walked to Lin Weiwei’s side.
"Xiao, do you think the old man has gone crazy?"
As Ye Xiao approached, Lin Weiwei pointed to a chart in her hand, frowning in distress as she said to Ye Xiao.