Chapter 401 Jealousy

Chapter 401 Jealousy

Lu Hanchuan carried both his and Xiao Xiao's luggage upstairs, since they planned to spend the night there.

The grandparents had also gone to their room to rest, leaving only Xiao Xiao sitting on the sofa in the living room.

After putting away the luggage, Lu Hanchuan called down from upstairs, "Wanna come up and rest awhile?"

Ye Xiaoxiao: "No, I want to watch TV."

As soon as she turned on the TV, she saw an interview segment featuring Ye Changning.

It was like a talk show segment, just shorter.

But the "Successful Entrepreneur" headline alone was eye-catching.

As Lu Hanchuan came downstairs, he happened to hear Ye Changning holding forth on his success secrets.

"Is that... your third brother?"

Ye Changning rarely looked this polished, with hair gel and a serious expression.

Ye Xiaoxiao nodded, "You didn’t catch that Xu Jianwen’s the interviewer?"

Lu Hanchuan sat beside Xiao Xiao, slipping an arm around his wife’s shoulders. "Honestly, I didn’t notice. Our Xiao Xiao’s sure glued to the screen."

Though Lu Hanchuan didn’t say it outright, he was clearly ribbing her.

"You’re just messing with me."

Ye Xiaoxiao kept her eyes on the TV, ignoring him.

Lu Hanchuan pinched Xiao Xiao’s chin and turned her face toward him. "Stop looking at him."

He sounded downright jealous.

Ye Xiaoxiao was still pondering whether Xu Jianwen’s interview with Ye Changning was purely work-related.

Though Lu Hanchuan’s grip wasn’t tight, she put on a pout and fake-winced, "It hurts."

Lu Hanchuan let go and checked her chin—there wasn’t even a mark. He hadn’t used any force.

"So dramatic."

Ye Xiaoxiao leaned into Lu Hanchuan’s arms. "What’s there to be jealous about? I never said I was watching Xu Jianwen."

Right then, the segment wrapped up. Ye Xiaoxiao turned off the TV and followed Lu Hanchuan upstairs.

"Let’s head to our room. Now you’ve got my undivided attention."

Lu Hanchuan pinched the soft flesh of Xiao Xiao’s cheek. "Alright, let’s go back and take our sweet *time*."

Back in their room, they simply lay on the bed. It was still the middle of the day, and dinner was almost ready—it wasn’t the time for anything else.

Ye Xiaoxiao said to Lu Hanchuan, "I need to find out more about the interview."

Lu Hanchuan: "You want to know why Xu Jianwen set this up?"

Ye Xiaoxiao nodded.

"Perhaps the last meeting piqued his curiosity about the Ye family, and no one had really noticed before that Ye Changning is a newly wealthy businessman."

"The Xu family isn't hurting for money either, why would they be so curious about this?"

Lu Hanchuan chuckled lightly, "Who said that? Just because we all live in the compound, our benefits come from the state, and the salaries aren't high. Some people want a better life, so naturally..."

"Ah," Ye Xiaoxiao let out a small gasp, "You mean..."

"I mean they might start their own businesses. As for whether there are other sources of income, that's anyone's guess."

But most people wouldn’t jeopardize their careers; even if they did, they’d keep it within legal bounds.

Ye Xiaoxiao: "..."

...

Before dinner, Yun Chengxiu and Lu Xingzhou had both come home.

Lu Jie also came down to greet the elders.

Yun Chengxiu: "Mom, Dad, did you enjoy your trip back home?"

Grandma Lu: "Very good. Everyone was so hospitable. Lu Jie, remember to call home and let them know you're safe."

Lu Jie nodded earnestly, "Okay."

Grandma Lu: "I’ll look into your job situation tomorrow. You used to teach elementary school, so let’s try to start with that again."

Lu Jie replied softly, "Okay, I’ll follow Grandpa and Grandma’s arrangements."

Yun Chengxiu had no objections to the elders bringing someone from their hometown—there were plenty of rooms, and an extra person wouldn’t be a bother.

It’s just that the girl seemed too quiet, not very talkative.

After dinner, Ye Xiaoxiao and Lu Hanchuan spent the night at the house.

The next day, Ye Xiaoxiao returned to the small courtyard to be with her family.

Lu Hanchuan, meanwhile, had plans with friends. He had planned to bring Xiao Xiao with him, but since Miao Cuifang and the others were preparing to leave, Xiao Xiao told him to go alone while she went back to the small courtyard instead.

"We’ve already imposed on you for so long, so we’ll head home now. Your father still needs to celebrate Mid-Autumn Festival with his grandparents."

"Mom, are you going back to Shen City?"

Miao Cuifang: "Yes, I’ll continue looking after Jia Jia there. When she’s a bit older, I can bring her back to Baishi Village."

Ye Xiaoxiao thought raising the child in the village wouldn't be bad—they could return to the city when she's ready for preschool.

Her second brother and sister-in-law were both in the military, so their child could be sent to nursery school at three.

But Miao Cuifang was still taking painting lessons, so staying in Shen City worked too.

Seeing how happy her family was, Ye Xiaoxiao felt life was good the way it was and decided not to interfere. As long as everyone was doing well, that was enough.

"Okay, is Third Brother giving you a ride?"

Miao Cuifang: "Your third brother arranged the car."

"That’s good."

Ye Xiaoxiao looked around but didn't see Ye Changning.

"Is Fourth Brother not here either?"

Miao Cuifang held Xiao Xiao's hand and said, "Your fourth brother went out. A girl called him out."

Ye Xiaoxiao blinked her big eyes—was it Su Tong?

"Then let Fourth Brother stay in the capital a few more days. He isn’t returning to Bai Shi Village, is he?"

Miao Cuifang also felt there was something special between her son and that girl.

"How’d Fourth Brother meet her?"

Ye Xiaoxiao chuckled. "I’m not even sure it’s my friend."

Miao Cuifang: "Big eyes, long hair, very pretty."

Ye Xiaoxiao: "Then it must be Su Tong, the girl I set up with Fourth Brother."

Miao Cuifang giggled behind her hand.

"Wow, she’s perfect for your brother! If we could get such a great daughter-in-law, that would be amazing."

Miao Cuifang had been worrying about her children’s marriages.

From what Xiao Xiao said, the girl was likely her friend. If she married Changsheng, how happy our family would be!

Miao Cuifang immediately said, "Just let your fourth brother stay in the capital. School hasn’t started for him yet and he has a few days left—no point rushing back to Bai Shi Village."

Zhang Xue, listening to Xiao Xiao and her mother-in-law’s conversation, also smiled.

"Just now, you said Grandpa and Grandma missed Sheng Ge'er, but now that you hear he might find a wife, you won’t even let him come back."

Miao Cuifang: "Well, finding a wife is definitely more important."

Ye Changqing: "If you ask me, Third Brother’s the one who needs a push."

Miao Cuifang: "He’s beyond my control now."

As soon as they mentioned Ye Changning, he arrived.

Not only did he come himself, but he also brought a bunch of stuff and gifts to take home.

"These are all for you to take back. I’ve already loaded them in the car so we can skip packing tomorrow."

Ye Jianguo: "You didn’t have to get so much."

Ye Changning was still a bit afraid of his father. "They’re for Uncle’s side and Grandpa and Grandma. I didn’t splurge."

Ye Changqing: "Dad, go easy on Third Brother. He just wants us to be happy."

Ye Jianguo wasn’t actually blaming his son. Truthfully, seeing all this, he was proud of how responsible his son had become—he just wasn’t one to show it.