"What do you mean? Do we still need to send people to keep an eye on Lin Yue?" Jiang Yanxin stepped forward and wrapped her arms around the man's waist, rubbing against his back through his suit, her lingering affection tinged with an inescapable melancholy.

"I'm so tired. When can we leave?" she murmured softly.

The man turned around and wrapped his long arms around her, embracing her tightly: "It will be soon. This girl's identity is unknown, so let Xiaoxing continue to keep an eye on her at school."

He stroked her head reassuringly: "This is the last time. I promise you, I'll take you abroad after this is all over."

Upon hearing Ah Xing's nickname, Jiang Yan frowned, intending to refuse, but the subsequent promises moved her. After a long silence, a soft "hmm" finally escaped her lips.

...

He Xiao, radiating a low-pressure aura, pulled Shen Linyue's arm as they walked down the mall corridor. The warm air made her head feel heavy.

Jiang Yanxin's words, "She must be dead," were still echoing in his mind.

Looking at He Xiao's thick, dark back of his head, Shen Linyue said softly, "Ah Xiao, have you ever seen your mother?"

He Xiao paused slightly, then continued walking forward as if nothing had happened, without turning around, but his voice still came through.

"Nonsense, I wasn't born from a rock, of course I've seen her before."

He tried to recall that gentle figure in his mind, but too much time had passed, and his childhood memories had long been blurred, so he couldn't remember what the person looked like at all.

Thinking of this, He Xiao suddenly stopped. They happened to be outside the arcade, where the DJ music from the dance machine was playing non-stop.

"Did that guy surnamed Jiang say something nonsensical?" He Xiao frowned, his eyes filled with ruthlessness.

Shen Linyue carefully observed his expression but saw no trace of nostalgia or grief in the young man, which puzzled her.

How many years has she been dead? Even her son has no feelings for her anymore.

Realizing this, Shen Linyue was even more devastated, unsure whether she felt sorry for He Xiao or for herself.

"I asked her. I didn't even know my sister had been gone for so long, yet I foolishly ran back to look for her." Shen Linyue gave a self-deprecating laugh.

I dare not say "death," it just feels so unlucky...

He Xiao curled his lips, took in her listless expression, and then raised his hand to shove her head away.

"Fool, you believe everything she says?" He scoffed. "I could also say she's after my stepmother's position, would you believe that too?"

Shen Linyue raised her head, her thick, curled eyelashes trembling slightly. After a long while, she nodded: "I believe you."

He Xiao laughed: "Then don't believe what she says."

He thought for a moment and decided to use the same excuse Lao He had given him back then to coax Lin Yue: "My mother just went to work in a very far place, she will come back."

Shen Linyue: ...

This is clearly something you'd say to a child, and He Xiao actually said it.

Seeing his unwavering belief, she didn't expose the lie; instead, she felt even more affection for him.

What a poor big guy, he's been without a mother since he was a baby.

I feel like crying, sob...

If she could go back in time, she would definitely change this inevitable fate!

Shen Linyue rallied and returned to normal after a while.

She needs to investigate what exactly happened before she can be prepared.

"I'll do whatever you say. Let's go find Su Xiao first and take her back to school."

He Xiao had no objections. He carefully observed her expression and breathed a sigh of relief when he saw that she had indeed recovered. However, he still reminded her, "Don't believe what strangers say in the future. People with the surname Jiang are not good people. Remember that."

Shen Linyue nodded: "So you still don't plan to tell me what kind of grudge you have with the Jiang family?"

"I'll tell you when the time is right," He Xiao said, turning his face away from her accusing eyes.

Shen Linyue curled her lips, too lazy to argue.

She'll find out eventually. He Xiao's stubbornness won't change anything; she'll just wait for He Liyu to come back and ask him.

The two quickly returned to their original spot and reunited with Su Xiao. The little girl was so frightened that her face turned pale, and she was still very worried.

The person she secretly loved was right in front of her, and she only had eyes for Shen Linyue. She pulled her close, asking her how she was doing and checking her over. Shen Linyue was amused.

"I'm fine. Let's stop here for today. We'll take you home."

Su Xiao then remembered He Xiao's presence. After feeling uneasy for a moment, she said worriedly, "Why don't I go back by myself? My house is in the opposite direction from yours, it's too much trouble. You were just frightened, you should go back and rest first."

He Xiao stood behind Shen Linyue. Although he had never looked at Su Xiao properly before, he still glanced at her indifferently when he heard her seemingly genuine concern.

"Since Lin Yue said she would give it to you, then so be it." The implication was that he didn't want to watch their pointless back-and-forth anymore.

Upon hearing He Xiao's words, Su Xiao immediately shut her mouth, glanced at him quickly, and then looked away. "Then... then I'll trouble you. Thank you."

He Xiao is so fierce, I don't dare to refuse at all!

Seeing Su Xiao's timid appearance, Shen Linyue didn't blame He Xiao for his cold tone. She wished that Su Xiao would completely change her opinion of He Xiao and stop liking him.

"Let's go, let He Xiao go buy us milk tea first," Shen Linyue said with a grin.

He Xiao: ...

...

Only after escorting Su Xiao downstairs and leaving did Shen Linyue realize the problem she had overlooked.

At that time, only the two of them, besides the driver, were left in the car, so she could ask whatever she wanted without any reservations.

"Ah Xiao, didn't you go home at noon? Why are you suddenly in the mall?" She stared intently at the profile of the boy in front of her.

He Xiao: ...

He glanced back at Shen Linyue, coughed, and explained stiffly, "I came to buy some things. Anyway, you're in the mall, so if we bump into each other, we can go back together."

My dear reader, there's more to this chapter! Please click the next page to continue reading—even more exciting content awaits!