It was already dark outside, and there were footsteps. Xia Xi turned his head and saw Zhou Du and Liang Yuan rushing in, exhausted.

They both heard about this from their elders. After failing to get through to Xia Xi, they agreed to rush back from South City and North City. Liang Yuan arrived first, waiting for Zhou Du at the high-speed rail station for nearly two hours before joining him.

Zhou Du lit incense for his grandmother, knelt down and kowtowed, then walked over to Xia Xi and poked her forehead: "Why didn't you tell me that grandma passed away? I still heard it from my mother."

Liang Yuan: "Me too. I only found out when my mom called me."

Xia Xi's back ached, her legs numb, and when Zhou Du poked her, she fell to one side like a tumbler. Zhou Du quickly pulled her back. She pursed her lips, her voice a little hoarse: "I was so busy I forgot."

Zhou Du didn't really blame her; he felt sorry for her. There were so many things to do at the funeral, and the Xia family didn't have a man to help with everything, so she had to rely on herself. If she had told him and Liang Yuan earlier, they might have been able to help.

Xia Xi's eyes were red from the smoke from burning paper money: "Aren't you going home?"

"Keep vigil for grandma," Liang Yuan said, kneeling beside her. "I've eaten at your restaurant frequently since I was little, so it's only right that I stay with grandma for a while longer."

Zhou Du naturally stayed without saying anything and sat down on the spot: "Where are Auntie and Xiaoxuan?"

"My two children came back with me. They couldn't stay up all night, so I asked my mother to take them to a hotel," Xia Xi said. "Xiaoxuan had surgery at the end of September last year, so she needs to take extra care of herself. Let her rest too."

After staying up late at night and everyone was asleep, Xia Xi moved her stiff legs, took out her cell phone from her pocket, and sent a message to Lu Mingji asking for leave.

Tomorrow is Monday and she can't go to the company.

I may not be able to go in the next few days, so I have to explain this to Lu Mingji.

Lu Mingji called before he even rested. He had seen Xia Xi staying up all night drawing in the studio with a high fever of 39 degrees Celsius while abroad. If it wasn't something particularly important, she wouldn't have taken consecutive days off.

"Is it that the family matters have not been dealt with yet?"

Xia Xi walked out of the mourning hall, the cold air filling her nostrils. She gathered her clothes tightly and said, "My grandmother passed away, and I'm going back to my hometown to handle the funeral."

Lu Mingji was shocked: "Why didn't you tell me earlier? I'll come tomorrow..."

"No need." Xia Xi knew what he was going to say and interrupted him, "During this critical period, the company needs someone to take charge."

Lu Mingji was silent for a long time, then he sighed and said in a low voice, "I'm so sorry."

"Um."

Xia Xi took a breath outside and turned back.

In another city, some people were still smoking by the window.

When Xu Yanfeng received Guan He's call, he put out his cigarette, squinted his eyes and exhaled the smoke: "What's going on?"

"Mr. Xu, I'm sorry to bother you so late." Guan He said in a heavy tone, "My dad is staying with me in the hospital tonight. I just called him and he mentioned that the old lady in room 412 across the street passed away."

Xia Xi's grandmother lives in Ward 412.

Guan He once asked his father to pay a little attention.