Chapter 297: Grandparents

Chapter 297 Grandparents

The two returned to their long-unvisited cottage.

Xiao Xiao had cleaned it when she got back from abroad, but now that several more months had passed without anyone living there, it needed another round of cleaning.

"I'll do it."

Lu Hanchuan took a cloth and thoroughly wiped down every piece of furniture in the house. Fortunately, it wasn’t too dirty.

Xiao Xiao also changed the bedsheets and covers and checked the water and flipped the power back on.

"Once I graduate, I plan to renovate that courtyard house near Rende Pharmacy. It’s close to both Master’s home and the pharmacy."

That courtyard was one Xiao Xiao had acquired by chance, inside the Second Ring Road—it’s worth a fortune now.

But it was spacious and close to the Song residence, so she had bought it.

Because of her time abroad, none of her courtyards had been worked on.

Lu Hanchuan agreed, "Sure. Those run-down places you bought—this isn’t a renovation, it’s more like a total overhaul."

"What do you mean, run-down?" Xiao Xiao retorted unhappily. "The woodwork’s solid. I just want to make some minor adjustments."

These days, a lot of Beijing’s old hutongs are getting revamped.

Homes even have bathrooms now, way more convenient than the old days.

Lu Hanchuan: "What’s your vision for it? Ask Han Xing to handle the construction for you."

Xiao Xiao: "I’ve gotta think it through. I’m leaning toward a classic Chinese courtyard. For just me, I don’t need all those separate sections—I’ll just open them up."

It was originally a three-courtyard setup, with one gate leading to another. She decided to remove all of that.

Then I’ll add a sunroom to grow flowers, plants, and medicinal herbs.

Who doesn’t love a huge courtyard?

Lu Hanchuan listened to Xiao Xiao’s plans, chiming in with suggestions now and then.

They both loved brainstorming their future like this.

They kept chatting as they cleaned.

Once the house was clean, Xiao Xiao lay on the sofa. "I can’t move another muscle, and I don’t feel like eating either."

Lu Hanchuan told her to go lie down in the bedroom and get some proper rest. "We’ll grab food later."

Xiao Xiao: "But we didn’t bring the car."

She’d left her car at her master’s place.

Lu Hanchuan nearly pointed out it was a short walk, but he held back. Instead, he pointed at the phone. "I’ll make a call later."

Xiao Xiao sat up. "Is it still connected?"

"As long as there’s credit, it’ll work."

The balance she had left before leaving should last a long time—she always paid in bulk upfront rather than waiting for the service to be cut off before recharging.

Lu Hanchuan tried it and found the call could go through. He called someone to bring his personal car over and grab a few things.

By the time Lu Hanchuan finished the call and turned around, Ye Xiaoxiao was already asleep.

Lu Hanchuan fetched a blanket from the room and covered her with it.

When Ye Xiaoxiao woke up, night had fallen.

Lu Hanchuan had left the living room lights off, but the lamp on the coffee table was lit. After waking up, Ye Xiaoxiao sat for a while, still dazed, when Lu Hanchuan approached.

He mussed Xiao Xiao’s hair and lifted her up. "Snap out of it. I got dinner."

Ye Xiaoxiao: "When did you go out?"

"While you were asleep."

...

By the time they finished eating, Ye Xiaoxiao had shaken off the last of her drowsiness.

She also realized she could take a real shower now that she was home, so she treated herself to a long, steamy bath.

Ye Xiaoxiao let down her long hair, feeling like she’d hauled half the northwest’s desert home in her hair.

Her hair was raven-black, lush, and meticulously cared for.

After spending an hour in the bathroom, Lu Hanchuan was half-convinced she’d passed out in there—until he heard the click of the door opening.

A cloud of steam rolled out as Ye Xiaoxiao emerged in her pajamas, her face glowing pink from the steam.

Her hair was like dark clouds, her skin as fair as snow.

With damp eyelashes and hair, she looked heartbreakingly delicate.

Lu Hanchuan’s eyes darkened, but Ye Xiaoxiao didn’t notice. She beamed, "It feels like my last proper shower was in a past life."

In truth, she had bathed in the northwest too, but never with unlimited hot water like this.

Ye Xiaoxiao had already walked into the living room when she noticed Lu Hanchuan still standing there.

She turned back, puzzled. "Aren’t you going to shower?"

Lu Hanchuan wordlessly slipped into the bathroom.

Ye Xiaoxiao: "..."

...

Lu Hanchuan reached a decision—he needed to propose—soon.

So the next morning, his first stop was taking Ye Xiaoxiao to the Lu estate, with plans to see Mr. Song that afternoon.

"We can go to Mr. Song’s place first if you prefer."

Either way works for me."

She changed into a shirt and jeans, topped with a trench coat.

Ye Xiaoxiao felt she might have grown a little taller and wondered, *Did I hit five-seven?*

Before heading out, she insisted on measuring her height.

And sure enough, with shoes on, she was exactly 5'7".

Fortunately, Lu Hanchuan was also tall, making her feet appear quite petite beside him.

With her slender frame, being a bit taller wasn’t an issue.

Lu Hanchuan: "Barefoot, you’re probably around 5'6"."

Ye Xiaoxiao: "Just one centimeter? Your measuring tape is way off."

Now she was putting the blame on the measuring tape.

Lu Hanchuan slipped an arm around Xiao Xiao’s shoulders as they left, teasing her as they walked, "Being taller is great. It’d be even better if you gained a few pounds."

Ye Xiaoxiao: "Not happening!"

She cared deeply about her appearance—gaining weight was absolutely out of the question.

This time, the two didn’t bring much back home.

Having just come back from the northwest, seeing their elders mattered more than bringing gifts.

As soon as Lu Hanchuan and Ye Xiaoxiao arrived at the doorstep, Grandma Lu saw them.

She was always the most enthusiastic one.

"Xiao Xiao and Xiao Chuan are back!"

The old lady hadn’t seen her grandson in over two years and missed him terribly, hurrying over to hug Lu Hanchuan.

Then she turned to Xiao Xiao and embraced her as well.

"Oh dear, our Xiao Xiao has lost weight. Grandma’s heart breaks for you."

Lu Hanchuan joked to lighten the mood from the side.

"Grandma, you’re playing favorites. Can’t you see I’ve lost weight too?"

Grandma Lu looked her grandson up and down carefully before snorting, "Who told you to go so far away? And I don’t think you’ve lost weight—you’ve actually bulked up."

Despite her words, her eyes never left Lu Hanchuan.

Lu Hanchuan steadied her from the other side. "Stop staring, Grandma. Let’s go inside, and you can look at me all you want."

Lu Hanchuan and Ye Xiaoxiao helped Grandma Lu inside, one on each side.

Grandpa Lu stood at the doorway. "You’re both back."

"Grandpa."

Lu Hanchuan and Ye Xiaoxiao chimed in together.

"Good to have you back, good to have you back."

Grandpa Lu seemed calm, but his shiny eyes gave away his excitement.

Ye Xiaoxiao and Lu Hanchuan shared a look before he turned to steady the old man.

"Grandpa and Grandma, how are you both feeling?"

As she helped Grandma Lu, Ye Xiaoxiao casually checked her pulse—for an elderly person, it was quite healthy.

But Grandma Lu shook her head, "No, not good at all. Xiao Xiao, take a closer look at me."

Ye Xiaoxiao had her sit down and carefully examined her pulse again, "Grandma, your health is actually very good."

Grandma Lu was just afraid the children would leave again, which was why she claimed to be unwell.

She held Ye Xiaoxiao's hand, "Xiao Xiao, stay with me, then I’ll feel better."

Ye Xiaoxiao smiled, "Now that I’m staying in the capital, I’ll visit you every day. Don’t get sick of me."