“This… this isn’t right…” Xia’s Mother scratched her head sheepishly, her face still wearing that fawning expression.
“It’s so cold today. Look, Miss Su, if you go out, you’ll just be freezing in the snow. It’s better to stay home… Ah, I see, it’s Xiao Xia’s fault, isn’t it?”
She naturally directed the blame toward Xia Yao, her eyes narrowing into a harsh glare as she stared fixedly at her daughter.
Xia Yao gave a sharp start, instinctively shrinking her head into her collar, not daring to meet Xia’s Mother’s gaze.
She didn’t dare offer even a hint of resistance; even the idea of running away was something she only dared to imagine in her head.
Lin Xiaojue frowned slightly. Holding her teacup, she moved a bit closer to Xia Yao, blocking Xia’s Mother’s line of sight.
“Predecessor…”
“Don’t speak.”
Lin Xiaojue didn’t make any overly intimate gestures. She took a small sip of the black tea before setting it down, the cup making a crisp clicking sound against the coffee table.
This gave Xia’s Mother a fright.
She thought the Great lady was dissatisfied. Just as she was about to offer some words of concern, she was interrupted by the Great lady’s waving hand.
“It’s not that, Ma’am. I have some matters to discuss with Xiao Xia. It involves quite a bit of money.”
She spoke airily. Xia’s Mother immediately stood rooted to the spot, trembling, not daring to even breathe loudly.
Quite a bit of money? Just how much would that be?
Xia’s Mother was desperately poor. Even if the Great lady’s words were vague, even if she didn’t know what the business was or the exact amount, she could certainly fill in the blanks herself.
Xia Yao was discussing big business with this Great lady, Miss Su.
“Oh my, this… this, look at me talking. I’m the one getting in your way.”
She folded her arms, a hypocritical smile plastered on her face. Once Xia Yao returned, she would surely interrogate her about everything.
Lin Xiaojue naturally didn’t intend to give her that chance.
“Mhm… and not only that, I might need your daughter to stay with me for a few days. Is that a problem?”
“Uh… well.” Xia’s Mother hesitated. Let Xia Yao stay somewhere else? Who would cook the meals at home? Was she supposed to eat takeout? The food from those shops wasn’t clean.
“What, is there a problem?”
Lin Xiaojue applied further pressure, her tone brook no argument.
“No, no problem at all. Oh, listen to you. It’s just for a few days, isn’t it? How could there be a problem?”
“Good.”
Taking another small sip of the tea, Lin Xiaojue’s vivid eyes blinked. Her long eyelashes cast shadows over her eyelids, looking mysterious and spirited.
Xia’s Mother couldn’t tell what she was thinking at all.
‘In that case, don’t blame me. Although they say all parents are devoted, everyone gets what they deserve.’
Lin Xiaojue finished the tea in one gulp. The rich aroma spread through her mouth, sharpening her mind.
*Clack.*
Setting down the teacup, Lin Xiaojue continued to speak unhurriedly to the flustered mother.
“Then it’s settled. Once we’ve reached an agreement, I’ll have Xiao Xia let you know.”
“Let… let me know what?”
Xia’s Mother opened her mouth to ask, but she received no response. The Great lady had already stood up and was leading the blushing Xia Yao toward the door.
“No need to see us out.”
Waving a hand behind her, Lin Xiaojue pulled Xia Yao all the way down the stairs, completely ignoring the mother’s anxious expression.
***
A moment later, the two arrived at the roadside. Lin Xiaojue used Xia Yao’s phone to call an e-hailing car, and they waited together in the wind and snow.
The snow today was a bit lighter than yesterday, but a thin layer of ice had already formed on the road.
Pedestrians on the sidewalk breathed out white mist, rubbing their hands as they trudged through the hazy atmosphere.
“Predecessor, is it really okay?”
Xia Yao stared at the phone. The small model of the e-hailing car on the screen was already moving along the green route; it would arrive in 5 minutes.
“Does Xiao Xia plan on going back now? That would be quite embarrassing for me — “
The black-haired girl nearby, her hair tied in a high ponytail, blinked her bright eyes. She exhaled a puff of mist and smiled at Xia Yao.
Xia Yao fell silent immediately.
She still harbored illusions about such a mother. She still had an instinct to return — an instinct born of a forced sense of obedience.
Lin Xiaojue absolutely loathed this kind of submissiveness. Giving up one’s own freedom was often more terrifying than losing it.
So, she decided to give Xia Yao a chance. A chance to choose. If Xia Yao was willing to make a choice, Lin Xiaojue would do everything in her power to help the teammate who had saved her life.
If she wasn’t willing…
Lin Xiaojue also knew that forceful measures were often more effective. Even if she didn’t want to use them.
*Whoosh — *
A gust of cold wind blew past. She wrapped the scarf tighter around her neck, burying her pretty face into it and letting her elegant bangs flutter in the wind.
“How much longer…”
Lin Xiaojue felt a bit cold. Because she had recently suffered from a cold and fever, every gust of wind felt like a frigid blade against her skin, making her body tremble uncontrollably.
Quite a few private cars on the asphalt road carried luggage, their exhaust trailing behind them as they drove slowly over the ice with a muffled rumble.
On the distant sidewalk, some people still had small stalls set up.
Starch sausages, fruit, and chestnuts — a dazzling array of snacks were hidden within the rising steam, drawing the gazes of shivering pedestrians.
Occasionally, someone would step out of the steam holding a few skewers. Even though the food was too hot to bite, they still took one mouthful after another.
*Grumble — *
Lin Xiaojue had to admit, she was a bit hungry.
At that moment, a short honk sounded. A taxi with a “No Passengers” sign on its roof rushed straight toward them.
“Predecessor, watch out!”
Xia Yao instinctively grabbed Lin Xiaojue and pulled her into her arms. The two of them were pressed close together, nearly able to smell each other’s fragrance.
“What kind of person is that? Honestly!”
After the taxi sped away, Xia Yao pouted in annoyance.
Suddenly, a slightly cold, small hand reached up to her cheek.
“Ah… Predecessor, we’re in public…”
“Is someone here?”
Lin Xiaojue looked up. Above her was the vast, white sky, and dominating that sky was a face with bright, ruby-red eyes that looked like a little rabbit’s.
Xia Yao’s face was a bit round and soft, making one instinctively want to pinch it.
Lin Xiaojue gave it a pinch.
“Muu — Predecessor!”
Xia Yao grumbled in dissatisfaction. Lin Xiaojue laughed softly; the sound was tiny, swallowed by the noise of the traffic like snowflakes falling on the road.
“Xiao Xia, can’t you just be like this?”
There was no need to bottle things up inside. It was better to just say them naturally.
“Be like what?”
“Mhm… Xiao Xia is very cute.”
“I’m serious, Predecessor!”
“Haha…”
Amidst the warm laughter, the e-hailing car they had called arrived.
The car was entirely white, with a logo Lin Xiaojue didn’t recognize.
The driver rolled down the window, revealing a face familiar to Lin Xiaojue. “Yo, we meet again.”