Chapter 45: Worry

At City Z’s Yan Corporation, Secretary Wang reported to Yan Siming. “CEO Yan, Miss Xiao has returned to the countryside!”

Yan Siming frowned. “What? Where is her hometown?”

“It’s in Xing Yin Country, Xing An Town, Taoyuan Village!” Secretary Wang reported to Yan Siming. “The village is poor and backward. Miss Xiao Lingyu is the only university student to have come from this village.”

Yan Siming waved his hands. “I get it now. You can go!”

‘Since she’s gone, then so be it. It’s not like I’m lacking in woman anyway.’

Secretary Wang replied, “Yes!” After he left, he let out a deep breath and said in a low voice, “Fortunately, CEO Yan didn’t tell me to follow her to that remote village.”

Even though he told himself not to think about it, Young Master Yan couldn’t help but frown. He murmured. “Is the woman really not playing hard to get? Otherwise, why would she run back to the countryside when I have offered her such a good opportunity?” He shook his head. “Impossible. No woman can resist a man as rich, handsome, and as charming as me. No, this Xiao Lingyu has to be playing hard to get. I swear she will return to City Z soon. I doubt she is going to stay in that backward village. Her family wouldn’t allow a university student to waste her life doing fieldwork anyway.”

The more Yan Siming thought about it, the more he felt that Xiao Lingyu was being hard to get.

His furrowed brows loosened, and he smiled. He chuckled, “My little firecracker, it looks like you want to play a game of cat and mouse. Fine, we’ll see who is caught in the end.”

With that problem solved, Yan Siming turned his energy back to work.

…

Mother Xiao was incensed when she heard Xiao Lingyu. She pointed angrily at her daughter. “Girl, you are too bold! How can you pull a man off the street to be your boyfriend? What if he was a bad person? What if he was a human trafficker? What would you do then?”

The more she thought about the bad possibilities, the angrier she got. She picked up the feather duster on the table to hit Xiao Lingyu.

“I’m going to teach you a lesson. How can you be so dumb?! Even if you wanted to take revenge, there were many other ways. Why did you choose one that put yourself in danger? Ah, get out of my way!” The last sentence was meant for Xiao Zhengyang and his son.

Xiao Lingyu was protected by her father and brother. None of the hits fell on Xiao Lingyu.

Xiao Lingye pulled his sister behind him. He comforted. “Mom, you need to calm down. Sis… She has already suffered so much mentally. You shouldn’t hit her anymore. Please forgive her this time. I’m sure she will not make such a mistake again. Right, Sis?” He turned to look at Xiao Lingyu.

Mother Xiao was amused and angered when she heard Xiao Lingye. Mother Xiao roared, “Xiao Lingye, do you know the kind of danger your sister might have put herself in? And you’re still protecting her?”

Xiao Lingye pouted and argued, “No matter what, you shouldn’t hit her. The villagers will laugh at Sis when they find out she is beaten by her mother even though she’s already an adult.”

Mother Xiao’s hand that held the feather duster trembled as she pointed at Xiao Lingye, “You don’t want me to hit your sister? Fine, then I’ll hit you!”

With that, the feather duster swept towards Xiao Lingye.

Xiao Lingyu couldn’t let her little brother suffer because of her. She moved to stop Mother Xiao. “Mom, I know I was wrong. Please don’t hit Xiao Ye. Hit me instead.”

Xiao Zhengyang stepped forward to snatch the feather duster from Mother Xiao. He ordered. “That’s enough. The children are all grown up already. We can talk this out like sensible adults. Don’t always resort to beating. If this gets out, people will laugh at us.”

Usually, Mother Xiao ran the household, but Father Xiao still had the final say. Since Father Xiao said that, Mother Xiao couldn’t help but stop.

Mother Xiao stood there for a while, and then her shoulders shook. She said through suppressed tears, “Do you think I want to hit her? I was only too scared… scared that our girl might be hurt.”

Like a Tiger Mom, Mother Xiao’s worry manifested as anger.

Xiao Lingyu’s emotions unwound when she saw this. She rushed over to hug her mother. “Mom, I’m sorry for making you worry. I’m sorry…”

The father and son’s eyes reddened too.

Mother Xiao cried and patted Xiao Lingyu’s shoulder, “Silly girl, why didn’t you tell us when something like this happened? Even if you want to take revenge on that kid from the Chen Family, you have to tell us. We can stand up for you. It’s safer than you finding a random man on the street. Do you want to worry us to death?”

Xiao Lingyu leaned on Xiao Lingyu’s shoulder and nodded. She said, “I’m sorry, Mom. I was too angry at the time. I won’t do it again next time.”

“Wretched girl, do you think there’s a next time?!” Mother Xiao patted Xiao Lingyu.

“Of course, no more next time.” Xiao Lingyu promised.

Father Xia moved to tell the mother and daughter, “Alright, stop crying. Come sit down. We should talk about this.”

Mother Xiao and Xiao Lingyu nodded. They sat down around the table.

Xiao Zhengyang said seriously, “Even though that kid from the Chen Family was stabbed by his wife, the Chen Family will push the blame onto Yu ‘Er.” He turned to Xiao Lingyu and asked, “Yu ‘Er, you said you have to do with the collapse of your boss’ company?”

Xiao Lingyu nodded. “Yes, I told that man to buy out the company.”

Xiao Zhengyang continued, “All the more reason for the Chen Family to come after us. Lan Erying’s eldest brother’s eldest son is our town’s famous gangster. In the future, we have to be more careful when we go out.”

Xiao Lingye asked, “Dad, do you mean Lan Hongxing might find trouble with us?”

Xiao Zhengyang said seriously, “Not might, he will. So, if you are going to town, you have to bring friends. Ye ‘Er, you still have school, so when you see him, go and hide!”

Xiao Lingye nodded.

“Yu ‘Er, although I don’t know the situation with that kid, for your own safety, you should stay in the village for now.” Xiao Zhengyang instructed.

Xiao Lingyu nodded and said, “Okay, Father!”

But in her heart, Xiao Lingyu was thinking of ways to make sure the Chen Family would never come to cause trouble again. Or else, the Xiao Family would never have peace!