Chapter 178: Chapter 175: Uncle, My Arms Aren’t Long Enough 1
"What?" Ye Xiao was bewildered.
Lin Weiwei unfurled the schedule in her hand, "Look at his tour itinerary, it’s almost like a national tour! Didn’t he say before that he was only going to tour in a few provinces and cities near S City? Now the plan is this big, is he trying to exhaust someone to death?"
Lin Weiwei had only one scene, and that scene only had one line of dialogue. The thought of having to travel halfway across China for that one line made her feel overwhelmed and annoyed!
Ye Xiao glanced at Lin Weiwei but said nothing. Her mesmerized eyes fell on the itinerary, a two-month-long tour, with the last stop set in... Z City!
Her eyes narrowed, Ye Xiao felt as if the blood in her veins was flowing backward, rushing to her head.
Lin Weiwei, still chattering away in frustration, inadvertently caught a glimpse of Ye Xiao at the corner of her eye. She saw her face as white as a sheet, her pupils seemingly pierced, crimson as blood.
Startled, Lin Weiwei stared at Ye Xiao, a bit frightened, "...Xiao, are you okay?"
Ye Xiao slightly shifted her gaze, her bloodshot eyes settling on Lin Weiwei’s face for a second before she slowly shook her head, tugging at her colorless lips, "I’m going to rehearse."
"..."
Lin Weiwei paused, puzzled and watching as Ye Xiao stiffly walked toward the rehearsal stage, her back straight, her mouth twitching slightly in confusion.
After 4 PM, Ye Xiao received a phone call from Ying Jingyao.
Ye Xiao walked to the window and answered the call, "Jingyao."
"Am I disturbing your rehearsal?" Ying Jingyao’s voice was soft and warm, gently conveying through the phone.
Ye Xiao slid her hand across the glass window, "The director is talking to other actors, there’s no rehearsal."
There was a pause on the other end, "Your voice sounds different, did something happen?"
Ye Xiao’s fingers stilled on the glass window, her eyes shifted slightly, and she smiled, "I’ve been rehearsing all day, what could possibly happen, you must have heard wrong."
Seemingly sensing Ye Xiao’s voice returning to normal, Ying Jingyao chuckled on the other end, "As long as it’s nothing."
"Hmm." Ye Xiao gazed up, asking, "Why are you calling me at this time? Is your work done?"
"I actually wanted to tell you, I won’t be able to pick you and Xixi Hanhan up this afternoon." Ying Jingyao said softly, sounding somewhat vexed.
Ye Xiao heard this and pulled a corner of her lips, "I should be able to pick up Xixi and Hanhan today."
"I’ll have Ruan Chen pick you up. You didn’t drive your car back; you’ll need to pick up the car first and then pick up Xixi and Hanhan, back and forth, it won’t be convenient." Ying Jingyao’s voice was steady, seriously arranging everything for Ye Xiao.
Ye Xiao’s eyes carried a hint of depth, she lowered her head, gazing at her toes, her voice soft, "Just let Ruan Chen stay with you, I trust him."
There was silence for a good while from Ying Jingyao.
Ye Xiao was puzzled, she took a look at her phone to make sure she hadn’t accidentally hung up before suspiciously bringing it back to her ear, "Jingyao..."
"Seems like I’m not doing well enough." Ying Jingyao’s warm, elegant voice came through with a smile, pleasing as falling jade beads.
Ye Xiao smirked, "You know I didn’t mean it that way."
"Why don’t you tell me what you mean, let’s see if it’s the same as what I understand." Ying Jingyao said earnestly.
"..." Ye Xiao’s ears turned a shade of red. Although she knew he was deliberately teasing her, she still replied, "You don’t handle alcohol well. You have social engagements today; those people are definitely going to make you drink. Ruan Chen is reliable; he can help you fend off a few drinks, and if you get drunk, he can take you home. I can also be at ease."
"Heh..." Ying Jingyao laughed aloud.
Ye Xiao felt a bit embarrassed, rubbing her blushing face against the glass window.
She thought he would stop after laughing for a while, but unexpectedly, he kept laughing.
Ye Xiao’s face flushed red with annoyance, she gave a low hum, "Ying Jingyao, have you laughed enough?"
"Heh, hahaha..."
The man’s increasingly hearty and cheerful laughter came through from the other side of the phone.
Ye Xiao’s ears turned beet red, and she simply hung up the phone.
"Okay everyone, let’s have one last rehearsal today, then wrap up. Let’s keep our spirits up!"
Just after Ye Xiao ended the call, the director’s voice rang out.
Ye Xiao touched her face and turned to walk toward the rehearsal stage.
She had barely taken a few steps when her phone vibrated twice in her hand.
Ye Xiao picked up her phone to take a look; it was a message from Ying Jingyao.
Ye Xiao’s eyes flickered as she opened the message.
"Miss you."
Ye Xiao’s fingertips froze as she opened the message. She stared at it for a while before slipping the phone into the pocket of her coat and heading toward the rehearsal stage.
...
After the rehearsal, Zhong Qin offered to give Ye Xiao a ride to the villa to fetch her car, and Ye Xiao didn’t refuse.
After fetching her car from the villa, Ye Xiao hurriedly headed to the kindergarten.
She rushed to the kindergarten in a hurry.
Other children were either picked up by their parents or personally taken home by Master Wang. At the school gate, only the two lonely figures of Xixi and Hanhan stood, alongside the principal.
Xixi was wearing a pink plush cat-ear hat today, two fluffy balls hanging on her shoulders, her bangs slightly peeking out from under the brim, her big eyes wide open, waiting as she was held by her brother.
Hanhan was dressed in a white base with black striped shirt, a blue pullover sweater over it, and a rather gentlemanly coat. His black hair was stylishly swept to the side, showing his fair forehead and adorably handsome little face.
Compared to his sister, Hanhan seemed more composed and calm, his pursed lips giving him a somewhat cool demeanor.
Ye Xiao stopped the car and eagerly pushed open the door to get out, briskly walking towards the two little ones.
"Mommy..." Seeing Ye Xiao, Ye Xixi was overjoyed, her big eyes sparkling brightly, especially beautiful.
Hanhan also tugged at the corners of his mouth, leading Xixi toward Ye Xiao.
As Ye Xiao walked in, she slightly crouched down and opened her arms.
Xixi rushed into Ye Xiao’s embrace first, grabbing her neck with chubby arms, her big eyes happily curving into crescent moons, giggling nonstop.
Hanhan walked primly into Ye Xiao’s arms, pursing his lips while staring at Ye Xiao.
Ye Xiao hugged Hanhan, kissed each little one’s cheek, picked up chubby Xixi in one arm, and held Hanhan’s hand with the other. Looking at the principal standing at the school gate, she said, "Thank you for all your hard work!"
The principal waved with a smile and went back into the kindergarten.
"Mommy." Ye Xixi was a little excited, cupping Ye Xiao’s face and touching it, smiling, "I’m so happy I could die."
This is how children express their feelings, straightforwardly.
Ye Xiao curled her lips into a smile, looking gently at Xixi, "Is it because Mommy came to pick you up, Xixi?"
"Yes." Ye Xixi said loudly.
Ye Xiao couldn’t help but smile, but there was a trace of bittersweetness flowing through her heart.
...
The trio chatted and laughed all the way, and soon arrived at their residential complex.
Ye Xiao parked the car in the parking space and opened the car door to get out.
She first took Xixi from the back seat, who was sitting in the safety seat, and then went around to the other side to reach for Hanhan.
But Xixi’s two little chubby legs were like motors, dashing off outside the complex.
Ye Xiao was startled and just about to shout at her.
When she saw a car suddenly speeding toward the complex!
Ye Xiao ran toward Xixi with her heart entirely stopped.
But two legs can’t match four wheels, seeing that the car was about to hit Xixi, seeing the small figure standing in the center dazed, Ye Xiao nearly fainted.
The moment was critical.
A black figure flashed past like lightning, and the car crashed into the wall on the side of the complex, creating a hole in the wall, while the car’s front crumpled in.
Ye Xiao held her chest, her face white as a ghost, tears stuck in her eyes.
"Mommy..." A tiny voice as soft as a mosquito drifted over.
The fear in her heart at this moment reached an unprecedented intensity.
Ye Xiao’s brow furrowed tightly, her eyes turned red, as she walked unsteadily toward Xixi.
Just a few steps from Xixi, Ye Xiao’s steps suddenly stopped, her reddened eyes continuously spreading out.
Xixi’s little face was wooden, her chubby hand tightly holding a snow-white kitten, looking at Ye Xiao, then turning her head to look at the man holding her.
Subsequently, Xixi’s bright black eyes locked onto the man’s face, staring without blinking.
The man also stared at her, his exceptionally handsome face a bit stiff, his eyes slightly contracting, emotions within raging yet controlled with contradictions.
Perhaps the shock from earlier was too deep, Ye Xiao quickly calmed down amidst her amazement and panic.
She took a couple of steps forward and tried to get Xixi out of the man’s arms.
However, as soon as she reached out, the man subtly turned his body, preventing her from touching Xixi.
Ye Xiao lightly bit her lip, her reddened eyes fixed on him.
He carefully held Xixi, his deep black eyes locked on her face, his thin lips tightly pursed, seemingly a bit nervous.
Xixi also looked at him, her round, glistening eyes not blinking.
The kitten in her arms meowed twice, but Xixi didn’t look down.
Ye Xiao’s gaze shifted to Xixi, emotions fleeting through her peach blossom eyes.
"Xiao Xiao..."
A hand reached out accompanied by Hanhan’s innocent voice.
Ye Xiao’s tense expression relaxed a bit, looked at Hanhan approaching, "Mommy’s here."
Hanhan walked to Ye Xiao’s feet, grasping Ye Xiao’s thumb, his tender lips pursed straight, raising his little head to look at Xixi, "Xixi."
Hanhan didn’t look at the man holding Xixi, unsure if it was intentional or not.
Hearing her brother’s voice, Xixi’s long eyelashes fluttered, her tiny mouth moved a few times, slowly turning to look at Hanhan, "Brother, the kitten."
Hanhan glanced at the kitten in her arms and stretched out his hand.
Xixi quickly bent down, trying hard to pass the kitten to her brother.
But no matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t manage to pass the kitten to Hanhan.
Because the man holding her was really too tall!
Xixi tried several times unsuccessfully, sighed a bit defeated, looked at the man, and said softly, "Uncle, my hands aren’t long enough. Can you help me give the kitten to my brother?"
Xixi only asked for help in handing the kitten to Hanhan, not for him to put her down.
Ye Xiao lowered her eyelashes and stepped forward to take the kitten from Xixi’s hands, handing it to Hanhan, saying to Xixi, "Xixi, say thank you to Uncle, then let’s go home with Mommy."