Chapter 212: Third Brother Comes to the Capital

Chapter 212

No one knew where Wang Jiao had gone. In the end, Fang Kaixuan volunteered.

"Teacher, I'll go look for Wang Jiao."

The lead teacher said, "Just look around nearby. Whether you find her or not, you must be back in half an hour."

Others wanted to help search, but the teacher didn’t agree and only let a few people go.

The teacher was worried more students would go missing.

Fortunately, in less than half an hour, Fang Kaixuan brought Wang Jiao back.

After asking a few questions, the teacher told everyone to get on the bus.

On the bus, Wang Jiao sat with Fang Kaixuan.

Ye Xiaoxiao and the rest of the class thought Wang Jiao and Fang Kaixuan had made up.

But after arriving at school, Fang Kaixuan got off and walked away without a word.

He Jing walked up to her. "Are you okay?"

Wang Jiao hugged He Jing and started sobbing. "Sob... He really left me... What am I gonna do?"

He Jing comforted her, "You can't make someone love you. Try to calm down."

Wang Jiao wasn’t listening and kept crying.

Qu Miao was about to take the camera to get the photos developed when he heard her sobs and frowned.

"Why cry over some guy?"

Ye Xiaoxiao tugged at his sleeve. "Shh, you’ve never dated anyone. How could you understand why she’s upset?"

Qu Miao: "It's annoying to listen to. Where I’m from, there was a woman who was heartbroken after being abandoned by a man. Later... well..."

Ye Xiaoxiao: "Later what?"

Qu Miao: "Later, the man was hit with a love gu and could never leave her again."

Ye Xiaoxiao blinked. "Wait, you’re serious?"

Love gu—it sounded like some shady magic.

Qu Miao: "Of course it’s real. But we’re not allowed to use it now. The village chief would throw a fit."

Ye Xiaoxiao: "... Want me to hook your roommate up?"

"She doesn’t need it. Let’s go develop the photos."

Ye Xiaoxiao cut him off before he could suggest anything crazy and quickly pulled him away.

Wang Jiao was still crying, but she’d calm down eventually.

He Jing and the others were comforting her, but with everyone crowding her, it only made things worse.

Ye Xiaoxiao went with Qu Miao to get the photos developed.

She put her solo shots in frames and arranged them neatly, while a few group photos with her roommates were stored in an album.

The day after the study abroad trip was a day of rest, and Ye Xiaoxiao decided to visit Miao Cuifang and Ye Jianguo.

Before leaving in the morning, she received a call from Ye Changning.

"Third Brother, you're in the capital? Where are you? I'll come pick you up."

Ye Changning had come to the capital for work, bringing clothes manufactured at his factory to try selling.

He had just left the train station when he called Xiao Xiao.

"Just checking if you're home. I can come find you."

"Second Brother, I have a car now. Stay put—I'll come get you."

Ye Xiaoxiao snatched her keys and bolted downstairs, heading toward the train station.

It had been a while since they last met, and Ye Changning looked even more put-together.

This time, he was traveling light—just one suitcase.

"Third Brother!"

Ye Changning teased, "Our Xiao Xiao is driving a nice car now. Guess big brother's slacking."

Ye Xiaoxiao: "I think you’ve been working plenty hard. What have you been busy with lately?"

Ye Changning: "I started a factory down south. This time, I brought some stuff from the factory to try selling."

Ye Xiaoxiao: "Really? That's awesome."

On the way, Ye Changning and Ye Xiaoxiao caught up.

Only when Ye Xiaoxiao was nearing the Ping'anli neighborhood did she say, "Third Brother, there’s something you should know."

Ye Changning: "What is it?"

Ye Xiaoxiao: "Dad and Mom are in the capital. A while ago, Mom had a small procedure at the hospital."

Ye Xiaoxiao and their eldest brother had discussed this—they wouldn’t tell the others for now.

Even Ye Changan didn’t know until he returned on his own.

Ye Changning was immediately worked up. "What?!"

Such a big matter, and no one had informed him.

If it had been their eldest brother in front of him, Ye Changning would have already started arguing. But since it was Xiao Xiao, he bit his tongue.

Ye Changning calmed his voice. "Is Mom okay now? Did Eldest Brother contact you?"

Ye Xiaoxiao: "Yes. The surgery was successful, and she bounced back fine, so we didn’t notify you all. If everyone came back, Mom would just stress out more, and that wouldn’t do any good."

Ye Changning, who hadn’t been in a particular hurry before, was now itching to get home.

Ye Xiaoxiao parked the car in the garage and showed Ye Changning the way, saying, she added:

"This is my own house, just a few minutes away from the hospital."

She said this to put her third brother at ease—it definitely wasn't a gift from Lu Hanchuan.

Ye Jianguo was playing chess with an old-timer in the small garden on the first floor.

Ye Xiaoxiao walked over. "Dad, it’s chilly out. Why don’t you sit inside?"

"Just soaking up some sun while it’s out," Ye Jianguo replied. "It’s not cold at all."

He looked up and finally noticed Ye Changning.

"Third son! What’re you doing here?"

Ye Changning sneered. "If I hadn’t shown up, I’d have no clue you and Mom were in the capital. Such a big thing as surgery, and no one told me—might as well act like I don’t exist."

In the family, Ye Changning was always the one who talked back to Ye Jianguo, always been a rebel since childhood.

Back in their hometown, Ye Jianguo would’ve gone after him with a slipper.

But since there were outsiders present, he held back.

The man playing chess with Ye Jianguo was Old Jia, a sixty-year-old chess enthusiast.

Seeing Ye Xiaoxiao and Ye Changning, he exclaimed excitedly, "Old Ye, are these your son and daughter? Such good-looking kids! Are they seeing anyone? If not, I can introduce them to someone."

Before Ye Jianguo could speak, Ye Changning cut in, "Appreciate the thought, Uncle. Yes, yes, my relationship is going great, and my sister has a partner too."

Old Jia sighed, disappointed. "Old Ye, you should go home and spend time with your kids. We’ll play chess again tomorrow."

Ye Jianguo saw him off. "Alright, Brother Jia, take it easy."

Only then did Ye Xiaoxiao and Ye Changning enter the house.

As soon as they stepped inside, the smell of tea eggs hit them.

"Mom, are you making tea eggs?"

Miao Cuifang jumped.

Standing at the kitchen door, she saw Ye Changning and Ye Xiaoxiao enter.

"Xiao Xiao, sit down. Just simmering some spices."

"You and Dad are two peas in a pod," Ye Changning remarked. "You feeling better now?"

"I’m doing great," Miao Cuifang replied, waving her spoon.

Ye Changning eyed the large pot in the kitchen. "Mom, how many tea eggs is this? You and Dad can’t possibly eat all these. This doesn’t add up..."

Miao Cuifang put down the spoon, turned down the heat, and shooed him out of the kitchen.

"You can’t even cook—what would you know? Shoo!"

"You and Dad are hiding something," Ye Changning muttered.

Ye Xiaoxiao also peeked into the kitchen.

She spotted some new stuff in there, and the pantry was way better stocked than when they’d first arrived.

"Mom, are you two...?"