Xie Lin didn’t answer Zhou Zelu’s question.
He lifted his foot and headed toward his own office, leaving behind only one sentence:
“Get back to work first.”
The sooner he finished the cases on his desk, the sooner he could go protect Ruan Xingyao.
Zhou Zelu watched Xie Lin’s departing back and smiled silently.
It was the first time he had seen Xie Lin so uneasy—honestly, it was kind of amusing.
Ruan Xingyao left the police bureau with Chen Yu.
After thinking for a moment, she asked:
“I’m planning to head to Changcheng today. Do you need to go back and pack a few things? Let’s just meet at the airport later.”
Chen Yu had no objections.
After exchanging contact information with Ruan Xingyao, he watched her get into a taxi before calling another one for himself.
On the way, he sent someone a message, then slipped his phone back into his pocket.
When Ruan Xingyao got home, she found that Ruan Xingzhuo was already awake.
Seeing her come in, he asked:
“Sis, why are you suddenly going to Changcheng? Weren’t we planning to leave in a few days?”
So Ruan Xingyao told him about suddenly having a new assistant.
Hearing this, Ruan Xingzhuo’s internal alarm instantly went off.
He immediately said:
“I’m going with you.”
Letting his sister go on a work trip with a man who so clearly had ulterior motives? Impossible.
Ruan Xingyao wanted to refuse, but Ruan Xingzhuo had already turned around and started packing his suitcase.
After thinking it over, Ruan Xingyao figured—fine, they could just treat it as a little family trip.
It was summer vacation anyway, and Xingzhuo had plenty of free time.
She called out into the room:
“Should we ask Huanhuan to come too?”
Ruan Xingzhuo was clearly speechless.
After a while, he finally replied:
“If you want to, then ask her.”
Hearing this, Ruan Xingyao grinned and skipped over to the doorway of his room, leaning on the doorframe as she teased:
“Looks like you and Huanhuan are getting along pretty well now.”
Ruan Xingzhuo froze mid-motion, then turned to look at her.
“Drop those unrealistic ideas of yours.”
At best, he and You Huan were just friends.
Until he fulfilled his promise, he had no intention of changing their relationship.
Ruan Xingyao puffed up her cheeks.
“Fine, I won’t meddle. But I only have one request: no matter how things go between you two, it can’t affect my relationship with her.”
She really liked You Huan as a little sister.
If this brat ruined their friendship, she would definitely beat him up.
Ruan Xingzhuo sighed.
“I’m your real brother!”
Ruan Xingyao tilted her head.
“Could just as easily be fake.”
After all, technically speaking, they really were only siblings halfway down the road.
It was just a casual remark.
She said it and turned to leave.
But Ruan Xingzhuo froze in place, his eyes stinging all of a sudden.
Right—his real sister was gone.
The one standing here now… how could she ever truly see him as her real younger brother?
A heavy, indescribable ache spread through his chest.
He spent a long moment forcing it down before continuing to pack.
When he came out with his suitcase, Ruan Xingyao had also finished preparing.
She was on the phone with You Huan, cheerfully making plans to meet up at the airport later.
Ruan Xingzhuo walked over to the fridge, grabbed a bottle of cold water, and gulped down more than half of it before he had the courage to look at Ruan Xingyao.
He had already thought things through.
In this world, he was all alone.
Although he didn’t know where this current Ruan Xingyao had come from, one thing was clear—she was even more alone and helpless than he was.
So, she was his real sister.
He walked over and sat down on the sofa next to her.
Once Ruan Xingyao finished her call, he asked:
“Since we’re going earlier than planned, should we let the Changcheng Zoo know?”
Ruan Xingyao thought about it and said:
“Forget it. Let’s just treat it like a trip. No need to disturb their work schedule.”
Ruan Xingzhuo replied:
“Alright then. I’ll check on the way for good food and fun places.”
Ruan Xingyao beamed and said:
“Reliable! I heard Changcheng’s beef meatballs are super delicious. Find out which place is the best—we’ll go there as soon as we land.”
Just the thought of it made her drool.
Ruan Xingzhuo already knew well about his sister’s love for food.
Patting his chest, he promised: “Don’t worry, I’ll make sure you’re satisfied.”
Three hours later, the four of them met up at the airport.
You Huan came up cheerfully, looping her arm around Ruan Xingyao’s, and said with a smile:
“Good thing I had someone pack my luggage in advance, otherwise I really wouldn’t have made it in time.”
She was dragging two oversized suitcases, leaving Ruan Xingyao dumbfounded.
“We’re only going for four or five days. Was it really necessary to go this overboard?” Ruan Xingyao truly couldn’t understand.
By comparison, she was only carrying one travel bag, hardly looking like she was going anywhere far.
You Huan said: “Of course it’s necessary! Even if it’s just one day, you have to be fully prepared!”
Ruan Xingyao couldn’t imagine what on earth she had packed, but since You Huan said it was needed, she supposed it really was.
After helping You Huan check in her luggage, the four of them went to sit in the lounge.
Since You Huan had booked first-class tickets, they were now enjoying food and drinks in the first-class lounge.
Ruan Xingzhuo and Chen Yu sat on the sofa opposite them, while You Huan leaned close to whisper in Ruan Xingyao’s ear.
“Xingxing, where did this Chen Yu suddenly come from?” You Huan asked.
Ruan Xingyao didn’t hide anything and bluntly answered: “Assigned by the higher-ups.”
You Huan: “Then you’d better keep yourself in check. Sticking a good-looking guy by your side like that—obviously his motives aren’t pure.”
Hearing that, Ruan Xingyao turned her head to look at her.
You Huan continued: “Even though Xie Lin keeps fighting me for the top supporter spot and it’s super annoying, I still support him.”
Ruan Xingyao opened her mouth speechlessly.
She thought You Huan was sharp and perceptive, but it turned out this girl’s head was full of trivial nonsense.
She said: “Don’t worry about useless things. I know what I’m doing.”
You Huan obediently kept quiet.
Just then, Ruan Xingyao’s phone rang.
It was a WeChat message from Xie Lin.
Xie Lin: “Have you set off already?”
Ruan Xingyao: “Mm, waiting at the airport.”
Xie Lin: “Then I’ll take Baiyi back. Let me know when you return, I’ll come pick you up.”
Ruan Xingyao: “Alright~”
Ruan Xingyao: “You need to tell Baiyi often that we’re just going out to take care of something, that we’ll be back soon, and that we’re not abandoning it.”
Just a few hours earlier, she had told Baiyi that she was going out with Ruan Xingzhuo for a while, and she was nearly scolded to death by Baiyi.
After much coaxing, she finally managed to entrust Baiyi to Xie Lin, and only then did Baiyi settle down.
She didn’t even dare imagine how furious Baiyi would be when she came back four or five days later.
Xie Lin: “Alright, I’ll tell it.”
A few seconds later, Xie Lin sent another message: “Come back soon.”
— The end of the Chapter–
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