Chapter 67 Bringing Him Home

Xiao Zhu hesitated on the other end of the line, stammering and failing to utter a complete sentence.

A sudden sinking feeling told me that Xu Zhixia’s drinking at the private club might not be as simple as it seemed. I let out a long sigh and voiced my suspicion, "Did Xu Zhixia hire male hostesses again?"

"I-I suppose so, Brother Jiang. It's really not convenient to discuss the details over the phone. Let's talk when we meet up..."

Knowing Xiao Zhu was in a difficult position, I had no interest in grilling him for every last detail. "Just make sure Xu Zhixia is careful not to get photographed by the media. Other than that, I don't care."

"Understood, Brother Jiang."

After hanging up, I went straight back to my room to sleep.

Waking up a little past four in the morning, I heard the pitter-patter of rain outside. Figuring that Old Master Xu wouldn't be coming out to practice Tai Chi in this kind of weather, I felt relieved enough to lie back down and catch up on some sleep.

When I woke up again, it was already past eight in the morning. The rain outside was only growing heavier, and the shoes in the entryway remained unchanged—Xu Zhixia still hadn't come back.

After finishing breakfast and heading out, I first went to the shopping mall. I spent a long time wondering what to buy for An'an, but then happened to wander into the pet section and picked up some snacks and toys for her little cat.

After taking the high-speed rail, I hailed a cab to Ye Wanyin's house. Her butler opened the door and bowed upon seeing me. "Mr. Jiang has arrived."

"Is President Ye at home?"

"President Ye is currently in the music room accompanying Miss with her piano practice. Please wait a moment in the reception room, Mr. Jiang."

Not long after, Ye Wanyin walked over, holding An'an by the hand, while An'an cradled the little cat in her arms.

"Uncle Jiang, look! My kitten is all better!"

An'an carried the kitten over to show me. Far from being scared, the little cat nuzzled affectionately against the palm of my hand.

Sending An'an off to play with the kitten, Ye Wanyin sat down beside me and asked, "Why didn't you let me know beforehand that you were coming, Mr. Jiang? I didn't have time to prepare anything."

"How could I presume to trouble President Ye? I just came to Danxi to pick up my car and stopped by to see An'an. I can only stay for a brief chat before I have to leave."

"In such a hurry?"

It was obvious Ye Wanyin had other intentions, yet she didn't press further, likely afraid of putting me on the spot.

"Is there something else President Ye wanted to tell me?"

Ye Wanyin nodded. "I had originally planned to message you in the past couple of days to discuss something. Strictly speaking, since you and President Xu only recently made your relationship public, I shouldn't put you at risk of damaging your reputation. But after all, I am a mother..."

"Please speak your mind, President Ye."

Ye Wanyin bit her lip. "An'an wants the two of us to take her to the amusement park together. I considered renting out the entire park, but if there are no other visitors, An'an will surely realize something is wrong..."

I understood what Ye Wanyin meant. To fulfill An'an's wish, I would have to face the risk of being photographed by paparazzi or passersby.

Ye Wanyin was a well-known divorced businesswoman in the catering industry, and I was the hidden husband of the Xu Group's heiress, having just clarified rumors of an extramarital affair. If the two of us were photographed at a time like this, it would probably become an inextricable mess.

Glancing over at An'an, who was playing happily with the kitten not far away, I found myself torn.

Seeing my prolonged silence, Ye Wanyin wore an expression of understanding mingled with a touch of desolation. "It's alright, Mr. Jiang. I—"

"President Ye, my trip this time is to pick up my car and return to Xiyuan to fetch my mother. Once I've settled her and this wave of public opinion has completely blown over, I will accompany An'an to the amusement park with you."

Hearing that I hadn't directly refused, Ye Wanyin raised her eyes in pleasant surprise. "Alright, Mr. Jiang. I'm truly putting you to so much trouble."

Leaving Ye Wanyin's place, I picked up my car at the 4S dealership and drove toward Xiyuan. Danxi and Tianhai bordered each other, meaning the weather was much the same—driving in the rain again...

Fortunately, after crossing provincial borders, the skies cleared up, and I spent the rest of the highway drive enjoying the breeze and singing along to music.

By the time I reached Xiyuan, it was already the middle of the night. Remembering that the mountain roads were treacherous and waking my mother up upon arrival would be troublesome, I found a hotel in the county town to stay at for the night.

The thought of seeing my mother soon seemed to wash away all the pressure and unhappiness of recent days in an instant.

At the break of dawn the next morning, I checked out and drove up the mountain. The landslide areas had all been cleared, leaving the road clear for normal traffic.

Driving all the way to the entrance of the village, I saw that a few houses had already been bulldozed, with construction team vehicles parked beside the ruins.

It looked like driving the car in any further would be impossible; I would have to walk the rest of the way. Fortunately, I made it back before the construction crew could tear down my house.

"Little Si is back."

Passing by the front of Lin Xingfan's house, I happened to see his father coming out.

"Uncle, I'm back to handle the demolition paperwork and take my mother to Tianhai."

"That's good. Isn't that brat of mine a doctor now? When you have time, take your mother to his workplace for a physical exam. After all, neither of you are getting any younger..."

"I know, Uncle. Once Fanzi's house is renovated, you two elders should move over there to enjoy yourselves!"

"Bah, the two of us won't leave Xiyuan until the day we actually need someone to wait on us."

Older people are nostalgic and attached to their homes; even if they left Changshui Village, they wouldn't want to leave Xiyuan.

After exchanging a few words with Lin Xingfan's father, I walked toward home. To my surprise, the courtyard gate was wide open, and stepping inside, I found the courtyard completely empty.

"Mom, I'm home!"

"Cough... Cough cough, my son is back. Why didn't you let me know beforehand?"

"I wanted to give you a surprise, Mom. Why does your complexion look a bit ashen? Are you feeling unwell somewhere?"

My mother smiled and shook her head. "I just got up and haven't washed my face yet. I'll perk up once I wash up."

"Mom, has the village chief talked to you about the demolition?"

"He did. I told him to wait until you came back to discuss it with him. I can't read many characters and don't know how to handle these things."

Walking a circle around the house, I noticed that the items usually left out in the open were gone. The empty rooms made my heart feel uneasy.

"Mom, where are the things from inside the house?"

"I asked someone for a few large cardboard boxes, packed everything up, and put them in the west room. We're going to move anyway, so I sorted it out myself first. Won't it be much more convenient when you get back?"

Hating to think how much effort it must have taken my mother to pack everything up inside and out by herself, I furrowed my brow in displeasure. "Mom, I wasn't in a rush to leave when I came back. Couldn't you have waited for me? What if you wore yourself out?"

My mother waved a hand dismissively. "Oh, you look down on your mother, do you? Back in the day, your father and I were people of great physical strength; a tiny chore like this isn't going to wear me out."

"Have you eaten yet? There are still a few eggs in the kitchen, I'll cook you some noodles."

Though I didn't want to trouble my mother, my stomach suddenly let out a rumbling growl of protest. I sheepishly scratched the back of my head and flashed her a silly grin.

"Go ahead and cook some then."

"You silly boy, still putting on false politeness with your mother. That's a bad habit you picked up outside. Just wait, I'll call you when it's ready!"

Sitting on the sofa in the main room and watching my mother walk into the kitchen, I thought to myself that having a mother around really is a blessing.