Chen Hui came to pick up the two of them close to noon. Since Zhang Jie wasn't finished yet, the three decided to have lunch first.
After picking up Xu Huaisong and Ruan Yu, he turned around from the driver's seat and joked, "Since we're already in Su City, Brother Song, aren't you going home? Last time I dropped Auntie off, I got to have a meal at your place—Grandma Xu's cooking is absolutely amazing! She even packed me some Dongpo pork to take home!"
After Grandma Xu's old house was demolished, she had been living in the city with Tao Rong and Xu Huaishi. Chen Hui was clearly hinting at their lunch destination.
Xu Huaisong smiled and glanced at Ruan Yu. "Ask her if she wants to go."
Suddenly put on the spot, Ruan Yu froze.
The look in his eyes seemed to accuse her of refusing to go home with him, depriving Chen Hui of Dongpo pork.
Meeting her innocent gaze, Xu Huaisong blinked. "So, shall we go?"
Ruan Yu hesitated.
The first visit should be more formal, but this time she was completely unprepared—she hadn’t even brought a change of clothes and was still wearing the wrinkled T-shirt she’d slept in last night.
It wouldn’t do to rush to a mall now to buy new clothes and gifts. Besides, visiting with Chen Hui along didn’t seem appropriate.
Weighing these thoughts in her mind, she frowned slightly and was about to answer when Xu Huaisong spoke first. "Let’s go. Just find somewhere casual to eat."
Hearing his indifferent tone, she pinched his sleeve and whispered, "It’s not that I don’t want to go with you. Next time, I’ll prepare properly..."
Xu Huaisong nodded, ruffled her hair, and said, "I’ll take a nap." Straightening his posture, he leaned back against the leather seat and closed his eyes.
"Isn’t sitting up like that uncomfortable?" Ruan Yu lifted her hand and gently pressed his head onto her shoulder. "Here."
Xu Huaisong chuckled and rested against her, not telling her that, given their height difference, this position would be even more uncomfortable for her.
The three found a roadside restaurant for lunch. After eating and returning to the car, just as they were about to change course to pick up Zhang Jie, Xu Huaisong suddenly received a call.
It was from Xu Huaishi. "Bro, I just finished cram school and saw this woman at the neighborhood entrance who looked kind of familiar. She kept pestering the security guard, asking where the Xu family lived, muttering ‘that bastard, that bastard’—she seemed really worked up. Could she be...?"
Xu Huaisong immediately sat up straight, his tone serious. "Did she see you?"
"No, I passed by while she was arguing with the guard. She probably didn’t notice me."
"Where are Mom and Grandma?"
"They went to the supermarket and aren’t back yet."
Xu Huaisong paused, then said, "Go upstairs, lock the door, and don’t open it unless it’s Mom or Grandma."
Xu Huaishi’s footsteps quickened on the other end as she broke into a jog. "Bro, you’re scaring me. Is it really that family coming to cause trouble again? It’s been years—why now all of a sudden...?"
Xu Huaisong pinched the bridge of his nose. "I’m not sure yet. Just get home first. I’m on my way." Hanging up, he told Chen Hui to change direction and head to his house.
Ruan Yu hadn’t clearly heard Xu Huaishi’s words and frowned. "What’s wrong?"
"Someone might have exaggerated what happened with Jiang Yi yesterday and spread it to the victim’s family."
Realizing the urgency, Chen Hui floored the accelerator. But as they neared the neighborhood, they hit heavy traffic on the main road.
With only three or four hundred meters left to the front gate, Xu Huaisong pulled open the car door. "I’ll go ahead."
After a brief hesitation, Ruan Yu jumped out too and hurried after him.Before they even reached the entrance, sharp, angry voices pierced the air: "I came here today specifically to confront you! Don’t pretend to be all righteous, visiting my daughter’s grave every Qingming! Look at your son and that bastard’s faces—who knows what they’re scheming now!"
"Ms. Wang, Huaisong isn’t even in Su City. There must be some misunderstanding here."
"Misunderstanding? Old Qian from the market said your son returned in grand style, just like his father back in the day, making a living by helping murderers walk free! Who are you Xu family scoundrels planning to ruin this time?"
Ruan Yu couldn’t keep up with Xu Huaisong’s pace, panting as she ran behind him. From a distance, she saw a woman in her fifties shouting at Tao Rong and Grandma Xu at the residential gate. In her agitation, the woman shoved forward.
Tao Rong staggered from the push, the supermarket bag in her hand flying out as she stumbled back, bumping into Grandma Xu.
The elderly woman nearly fell, but thankfully, a security guard rushed over to steady her and separated the two parties.
Xu Huaisong arrived just then, shielding his mother and grandmother behind him. "Ms. Wang, please mind your behavior."
Wang Qin’s eyes burned red at the sight of him. She turned to Tao Rong and sneered, "Isn’t this your precious son? And you claimed he wasn’t in Su City?"
Tao Rong genuinely hadn’t known Xu Huaisong was in Su City. Startled, she stepped forward. "Huaisong, go back inside, don’t—" She then bowed repeatedly to Wang Qin. "Ms. Wang, I’m truly sorry, I—"
"Mom, what are you doing?" Frowning, Xu Huaisong pulled Tao Rong back behind him. Spotting Ruan Yu finally catching up, breathless, he gave her a meaningful glance.
Understanding immediately, Ruan Yu bent down to pick up the scattered shopping bag and gently guided Tao Rong and Grandma Xu toward the residential area. "Auntie, Grandma, let’s go home first."
Tao Rong allowed herself to be led a few steps before stopping to look back. "Huaisong might get blamed for this..."
Ruan Yu followed her gaze and saw Xu Huaisong calmly reasoning with Wang Qin. She patted Tao Rong’s back reassuringly. "He’ll handle it. Don’t worry."
After much coaxing, Ruan Yu finally managed to bring Tao Rong and Grandma Xu home.
Xu Huaishi, who had been peering through the peephole, flung the door open with a tearful expression. "Mom! Grandma! You’re finally back! I was so scared!" She then noticed Ruan Yu. "Sis, why are you and my brother in Su City?"
"I’ll explain later." Ruan Yu closed the door behind them and helped Grandma Xu inside. "Grandma, are you hurt anywhere?"
Grandma Xu shook her head. Only now, emerging from the chaos, did she finally register Ruan Yu’s presence. "Oh, and who is this young lady?"
Meeting the family under such circumstances—and without the boyfriend present—was awkward. Ruan Yu hesitated, cheeks warming. "Grandma, I’m—"
Tao Rong, who had been distracted, suddenly snapped back to attention and answered for her. "Mom, I’ve mentioned her before. This is Huaisong’s girlfriend."
Grandma Xu’s face lit up with realization. She patted Ruan Yu’s hand. "Oh dear, your first visit, and we’ve already troubled you."
Ruan Yu chuckled nervously, brushing the sweat-damp bangs sticking to her forehead. "It’s no trouble at all, Grandma."
Sensing her discomfort, Xu Huaishi quickly intervened. "Sis, come sit down! Where’s my brother?"
After settling Grandma Xu on the sofa, Ruan Yu explained, "He’s dealing with something at the gate."
Tao Rong returned from the kitchen with a glass of water for her and handed her a clean towel. "Here, wipe your sweat."Xu Huaisong didn't return for a long time, leaving the four of them each harboring their own worries, and the atmosphere in the living room grew slightly tense.
After a while, Tao Rong hesitantly asked Ruan Yu, "When did you and Huaisong arrive? Are you here for business?"
Ruan Yu nodded. "We came yesterday."
Grandma Xu turned her head and asked, "Then why did you stay outside last night instead of coming home?"
Tao Rong tugged at Grandma Xu's sleeve. "Mom, it's been so long since Huaisong last stayed here. He's used to living outside now."
Seeing that she was probably upset again about her son's distance, Ruan Yu quickly took the blame. "No, no, he said he wanted to come home to sleep. I was just worried about disturbing you all..."
As soon as she finished speaking, the doorbell rang—Xu Huaisong had returned.
Tao Rong hurried to greet him. "How did it go? Did the Wang family give you any trouble?"
Xu Huaisong shook his head. "Mom, I can handle something this small. But you really didn’t need to..." He trailed off there, sighed, and glanced at Ruan Yu on the sofa.
He walked over, picked up the half-drunk glass of water in front of her, and downed it in one gulp.
Tao Rong quickly went to the kitchen to pour more water and called Xu Huaishi to help cut some fruit.
"Mom, don’t bother," Xu Huaisong said, turning his head. "I have a colleague waiting downstairs. We’ll just sit for a bit before heading back to Hangzhou."
Tao Rong still brought out the fruit and apologized to Ruan Yu. "Everything’s so rushed—we didn’t prepare anything. Have some fruit."
Ruan Yu thought to herself, Who isn’t in a rush? Who isn’t empty-handed and unprepared? But she smiled gratefully and accepted the fruit plate.
Because of the incident at the neighborhood gate, the atmosphere at home remained heavy. Seeing that today really wasn’t the right time, Xu Huaisong didn’t bring up his relationship with Ruan Yu. After sitting for a while, he stood up to leave and told Tao Rong before going, "I’ve already explained things to the Wang family and talked to the neighborhood security. She won’t be able to cause trouble here again. If something like this happens again, just call the police."
Tao Rong remained silent for a moment before asking, "Are you here for a case this time? I heard her say you’re helping..."
Xu Huaisong paused briefly. "There’s a criminal case. I’m helping my client gather evidence."
Tao Rong gave a faint "Mm," her smile seeming a little forced. "Take care of yourself. Eat your meals on time."
He nodded and glanced at Ruan Yu. "Don’t worry, she keeps me in check."
Tao Rong then turned to Ruan Yu and said, "Sorry for the trouble," before handing her a few boxes of snacks to take home.
Unable to refuse, Ruan Yu accepted them and promised to visit again next time.
After leaving, she looked at Xu Huaisong with a pained expression. "Why does it always have to be so sudden..."
Xu Huaisong took her hand. "What does it matter? My mom likes you anyway."
Ruan Yu perked up immediately. "Did she tell you that?"
He shook his head.
"Then how do you know?"
"Think about it. If it weren’t for you, would I have come back to China?"
He said it so matter-of-factly, but Ruan Yu faltered, her gaze flickering slightly.
The two got into Chen Hui’s car downstairs and didn’t bring up the Wang family matter again, heading instead to pick up Zhang Jie, who had finished her errands.
Zhang Ling was also drenched in sweat from work. Once in the car, she reported to Xu Huaisong, "Still couldn’t get the victim’s two friends to talk. But judging by their attitudes, I think Miss Ruan’s guess is probably right. The victim’s family must be eager to pin the blame on our client, so they probably told them not to reveal anything."Chen Hui sighed, "While I can understand the victim's family's feelings, acting so recklessly and covering up the truth might lead to a wrongful conviction..." He stopped mid-sentence, remembering Xu Huaisong had just been harassed and was probably in a bad mood, quickly changing the subject with a chuckle. "But Sister Ruan is really clever. Have you ever considered switching careers to become a police officer or lawyer?"
"Huh?" Ruan Yu, who had been dragged into lighten the mood, was taken aback.
Xu Huaisong smiled and pulled her closer. "She's not cut out for it. Her imagination runs wild, but her courage is tiny."
Author's note: Oh look, what's that? It's affection overflowing from the screen.
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