Translator: Henyee Editor: Henyee

As soon as Tang Xi got home, Xiao Yan and Xiao Hongyi rushed over to her. Xiao Yan looked at the marks on Tang Xi’s wrist, and frowned. “What happened? Xiao Jing told me on the phone that you were kidnapped by Lu Guangxiong. Is what he said true?”

Tang Xi smiled, hid her hands behind her back and then said in a low voice, “Don’t speak so loudly. If Grandpa hears you, he will be worried.”

Xiao Hongyi frowned and asked, “Why did Lu Guangxiong kidnap you? You and…”

“I quarreled with his daughter Lu Xiaojing today.” Tang Xi looked over at the dining hall, “I’m hungry. Is there any food left?”

Xiao Yan nodded, asked Lily to prepare dinner for Tang Xi and asked her, “He kidnapped you just for this?!”

“Rourou, is it because you and…” Xiao Hongyi looked excitedly at Tang Xie. Did she have any special relationship with Qiao Liang? He knew Qiao Liang and Xiao Jing were good friends. If his daughter was together with Qiao Liang through Xiao Jing… Then it was way better for Rourou to marry Qiao Liang than marry Chengyu.

Tang Xi smiled. “Who and I?” Tang Xi took a look at Lin Ru’s room and smiled. “When a teacher picked on me in the school as instigated by Xiao Jinning last time, Jing happened to stay with Qiao Liang. I asked Jing to come to my school and he brought Qiao Liang to my school with him. Maybe Lu Xiaojing told this to her father, so Lu Guangxiong thought I had some special relationship with Qiao Liang and kidnapped me.”

Tang Xi gave a self-deprecating smile. “That’s really an undeserved catastrophe for me. I think I should go to a temple and pray to Buddha to drive the bad luck away from me. With one accident after another, I wouldn’t doubt it if I am currently being possessed by a ghost.”

Xiao Hongyi’s face froze when he heard Tang Xi mention Xiao Jinning. He didn’t know what to say and could only laugh awkwardly. “Oh, I see. Have a shower, dress your wounds and go downstairs to have dinner.”

Tang Xi nodded and walked to Lin Ru’s room. “I want to see mother first.”

Xiao Yan looked at Tang Xi’s back and called Xiao Hongyi, “Dad, let’s talk.”

Xiao Hongyi took a look at Xiao Yan to see the latter had walked outside. Xiao Hongyi frowned but still followed him out. Xiao Yan stood in the courtyard, lit a cigarette and looked back at Xiao Hongyi who shook his head. “I have to take care of your mom. I can’t smoke.”

Xiao Yan put away the cigarette case, and took a puff of the cigarette. Xiao Hongyi frowned. “Are you stressed at work?”

Xiao Yan shook his head. “No, I want to talk with you about something else.”

Xiao Hongyi couldn’t help frowning again and asked, “What is it?”

Xiao Yan puffed out smoke and stared at his shoes. “I hope you don’t meddle in Rourou’s marriage. She is still a freshman in high school, and still too young. Our company doesn’t need any business partners. Besides, I can handle the company myself, so Dad, I hope we can give Rourou a warm and comfortable home, not a depressing cage. You’re forcing her to leave by doing this.”

“What are you talking about?!” Xiao Hongyi’s face sank. “When did I make her depressed? I don’t want to meddle in her marriage, okay?! Rourou doesn’t like Chengyu, so I won’t force her to marry Chengyu.”

“That’s good.” Xiao Yan said and looked up at Xiao Yao who suddenly appeared in the yard. The latter came over and greeted the two of them. Xiao Hongyi said hello awkwardly and asked, “Xiao Yao, when did you come over?”

Xiao Yao looked at the cigarette in Xiao Yan’s hand. “I’ve been here for a while. I was answering a call and smoking outside for a while. Were you busy?”

“No.” Xiao Hongyi patted Xiao Yao’s shoulder. “I’ve heard that you’re already a lieutenant colonel? That’s great. You are more excellent than your dad and me.”

Xiao Yao smiled silently and Xiao Yan put out the cigarette before asking Xiao Yao, “Have you had dinner yet?”

Xiao Yao shook his head. “Not yet.”

Xiao Yan walked into the house as he said, “Rourou and I haven’t had dinner yet either. Let’s have dinner together.”

Xiao Hongyi said, “Rourou is taking a shower. It may take a while. You can chat first as I’m going to see your aunt.”

Xiao Yao looked at Xiao Yan and frowned. “Have you got a cigarette?”

Xiao Yan raised his eyebrows, and passed a cigarette to Xiao Yao. “I remember you didn’t smoke before.”

“I smoke when I’m thinking about something.” Xiao Yao took the cigarette and looked up at Xiao Yan. “Do you have a lighter?”

Xiao Yan took out a lighter and passed it to Xiao Yao. Xiao Yao took a puff and looked at the sky far away. “I remember you rarely smoked before too.”

Xiao Yan said, “I smoke a lot recently. So much so that I’m almost addicted to cigarettes.” With that said, he lit up a cigarette for himself. “There is too much on my mind recently, so I almost smoke every day.” He looked at Xiao Yao who seemed to have something in mind. “Is there anything bothering you?”

Xiao Yao looked at Xiao Yan and suddenly smiled. He then casually leaned against the marble pillar, and flicked the red cigarette ash with his finger. “I didn’t expect I could chat peacefully with you like this.”

Xiao Yan also smiled and took a puff of smoke. He put his left thumb into his pocket and tapped on his trousers with the four other fingers, saying, “Yes, we were not that friendly to each other when we met during the past several years, and it became worse after Rourou arrived back home. I didn’t expect that we could smoke together and chat peacefully like we are doing tonight.” He looked up at Xiao Yao. “Tell me what is bothering you?” He puffed out smoke and looked at Xiao Yao again. “In others’ eyes, your career is quite successful. As for the affairs of love… there is a girl who has already fallen head over heels in love with you. So is there anything that can bother you?”

Xiao Yao paused and shook his head. “Wanyi is a good girl. I don’t want to waste her time. I take her as my sister and have no other feelings toward her. Please don’t say this again, my cousin.”

Xiao Yan raised his eyebrows and looked at Xiao Yao. “You don’t like He Wanyi?” Then he shook his head and smiled. “I can’t imagine that a man wouldn’t like a girl like her.”

Xiao Yao sighed, stood up and put out his cigarette. “Let’s go inside. Rourou should have finished sorting herself out. She is frightened after the events of today. I came here to comfort her.”

“Xiao Yao.” When Xiao Yao walked to the door, Xiao Yan suddenly called him. Xiao Yao stopped and looked back at him. Xiao Yan put out his cigarette too, threw the butt into the trash can and walked to Xiao Yao, asking, “Why was Rourou kidnapped? Was she kidnapped because of Qiao Liang?”

Xiao Yao paused and gazed deeply at Xiao Yan. Suddenly he smiled. “You should be asking Rourou this question, right?”