Ruan Xingyao and Chen Yu walked out of the office, with Zhou Heqing and Zhou Yuan following behind.
“Expert Ruan,” Zhou Heqing called out to her.
Even though Ruan Xingyao was upset, she was still a polite young woman.
She stopped in her tracks, turned, and looked at Zhou Heqing. “Elder Zhou, is there something else?”
Her tone was still courteous, but her gaze had already turned icy cold.
Zhou Heqing opened his mouth several times, but in the end, he couldn’t bring himself to say what he wanted.
He only looked at Ruan Xingyao apologetically and said, “Expert Ruan, the exit is quite far from here. Let Xiao Yuan call for a shuttle to take you out.”
Ruan Xingyao nodded. “Alright, thank you, Elder Zhou.”
With that, she once again turned and walked away without looking back.
Chen Yu gave Zhou Heqing a slight nod before following after Ruan Xingyao.
Zhou Yuan also hurried after them, calling the shuttle driver as he walked.
By the time they reached the main road, the shuttle had just arrived.
“Expert Ruan…” Zhou Yuan started.
But before he could continue, Ruan Xingyao cut him off.
She flashed him a smile—fake, blatantly fake.
She said, “Goodbye, Mr. Zhou.”
The shuttle carried Ruan Xingyao and Chen Yu to the gate, and without a moment’s pause, Ruan Xingyao strode out of Changcheng Zoo.
Her steps were so fast and forceful that even Chen Yu was a little surprised.
Clearly, Ruan Xingyao was truly furious.
Just then, she suddenly halted, her gaze fixed straight ahead.
Following her line of sight, Chen Yu saw a tall figure standing upright in the distance.
Sensing their eyes on him, the man turned around and strode toward Ruan Xingyao.
In just a few seconds, he was standing right in front of her.
Xie Lin met Ruan Xingyao’s indignant glare.
He lifted his hand, wanting to pinch her cheek, but hesitated halfway and finally let his hand drop.
“Going back?” Xie Lin asked.
Ruan Xingyao glared at him, her beautiful eyes wide and round—already angry, now both aggrieved and angry.
She asked, “Captain Xie, aren’t you busy? What are you doing here in Changcheng?”
Hearing her tone, Xie Lin’s heart, already restless after a sleepless night, grew even more uneasy.
It looked like she hadn’t read his messages at all—or even if she had, she clearly had no intention of forgiving him.
Xie Lin said, “I was afraid you’d be upset, so I wanted to explain to you in person.”
Ruan Xingyao gave a light snort and said, “Captain Xie, you’re overthinking. Orders from above—I can understand that.”
With that, she kept walking forward.
There was a long line of taxis by the roadside, and Ruan Xingyao planned to take one back to the hotel.
But after only a couple of steps, her wrist was caught by Xie Lin.
“Yaoyao,” Xie Lin called her name in a low voice, his fingers gripping her wrist bone with slight pressure.
Ruan Xingyao, cheeks puffed in anger, glared up at him. “Captain Xie, what exactly are you trying to do?”
Xie Lin stayed silent, his Adam’s apple bobbing, yet he couldn’t get a single word out.
Seeing him like this only made Ruan Xingyao angrier.
She tried hard to yank her hand free, but his grip was firm.
It was only then that she realized how much strength Xie Lin actually had when he was serious.
Ruan Xingyao instantly felt even more wronged.
Her lips curled downward, and the grievance swelled to its peak.
She raised her hand and punched his chest, shouting, “Let go!”
But Xie Lin still held her tightly.
At that moment, Chen Yu stepped forward and said, “Why don’t you both get in the car first? Let’s sit down and talk it through, alright?”
Ruan Xingyao looked at Xie Lin, then at Chen Yu.
“You’re right. Like this, it looks as if I’m the one making a scene,” she said.
She forcefully pulled her hand out of Xie Lin’s grasp and strode toward the taxis.
On the way, Ruan Xingyao received a call from You Huan.
“Huanhuan.” Her tone instantly grew much lighter.
Both Chen Yu in the front seat and Xie Lin sitting beside her couldn’t help but turn to look at her.
Ruan Xingyao shifted her body, turning her face toward the window, completely ignoring the two men.
On the other end, You Huan was still yawning, like a kitten that hadn’t fully woken up. “Xingxing, where did you go? I opened my eyes and you were gone.”
Just hearing You Huan’s soft, cuddly voice was enough to soothe much of Ruan Xingyao’s bad mood.
Poking at the window, she said pitifully, “I’m on my way back to the hotel, Huanhuan. I’m hungry. I want something tasty.”
At that, You Huan immediately perked up.
“You’re hungry? That’s easy! Xingxing, tell me what you want to eat—I’ll take care of it,” You Huan said.
Ruan Xingyao said weakly, “Anything’s fine to eat, but I want to eat in the hotel room, I don’t want to go out.”
Even less did she want to eat with those annoying people.
You Huan said, “That’s easy! I’ll order takeout and have it delivered, I promise, you’ll have food as soon as you arrive.”
Ruan Xingyao laughed and said to You Huan, “Huanhuan, you really are the best.”
After hanging up, Ruan Xingyao stuffed the phone into her bag, then closed her eyes and pretended to sleep.
Xie Lin tilted his head, looking at Ruan Xingyao, and sighed silently.
Chen Yu, watching the scene through the rearview mirror, pressed his lips together, then quickly looked away.
Two hours later, the taxi stopped in front of the hotel.
Ruan Xingzhuo and You Huan were waiting at the entrance.
As soon as Ruan Xingyao got out of the car, the two of them came running over.
You Huan grabbed Ruan Xingyao’s hand, checking her up and down thoroughly, and finally pulled her into a hug.
“Xingxing, I thought something had happened to you, you scared me,” You Huan said.
When they spoke on the phone earlier, You Huan had noticed something off in Ruan Xingyao’s voice—it completely lacked her usual liveliness and cheer.
She had already imagined a whole dramatic scenario, worried sick that Ruan Xingyao might have been wronged somehow.
Now, seeing her looking so wilted, You Huan’s heart ached even more.
Leaning on You Huan’s shoulder, Ruan Xingyao said feebly, “Huanhuan, I want to eat.”
You Huan replied, “Okay, I already had food sent to the room. Let’s go back and eat there.”
Ruan Xingyao nodded, but still clung to You Huan, showing no sign of letting go.
The two of them, like koalas, clung to each other as they walked into the hotel.
You Huan winked at Ruan Xingzhuo, “We’ll head up first.”
Ruan Xingzhuo nodded.
After watching Ruan Xingyao and You Huan shuffle toward the elevator, he turned to Xie Lin and Chen Yu.
“Let’s talk,” Ruan Xingzhuo said.
Xie Lin and Chen Yu exchanged a glance, then followed Ruan Xingzhuo.
Instead of heading for the elevator, the three of them walked toward the stairwell.
Ruan Xingyao noticed, but didn’t care.
Just then, the elevator arrived.
Ruan Xingyao released You Huan, and the two of them walked in hand-in-hand.
Now that it was just the two of them in the elevator, You Huan finally had the chance to ask, “Xingxing, did something happened?”
— The end of the Chapter–
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