Chapter 418 Farewell Party

Chapter 418 Going-Away Party

Ye Changning was shocked upon hearing this news.

"What do you mean I won’t be able to see you in a couple of days?"

Ye Xiaoxiao played coy over the phone. "Let’s talk in person."

After hanging up, Ye Changning immediately drove to Ye Xiaoxiao’s courtyard.

He arrived almost as soon as Ye Xiaoxiao and Lu Hanchuan left Song Guangjing’s place.

Lu Hanchuan stood at the door, his tone casual. "Third Elder Brother, in such a hurry?"

Though Lu Hanchuan was older than Ye Changning, he didn't seem the least bit apologetic.

Ye Changning glared at him. He wanted to see his sweet little sister, not this brother-in-law who just looked arrogant.

"What did Xiao Xiao mean on the phone?"

Ye Changning had already figured it out on the way—Xiao Xiao’s words couldn’t possibly mean she was in poor health.

It was just that the recent events involving Hao Yanyan had left him agitated and jumping to conclusions.

Hao Yanyan was still in critical condition in the hospital. Though she hadn’t died, she was barely hanging on.

The incident had shaken Ye Changning deeply, making him jumpy.

"Come in and talk."

Lu Hanchuan had been ordered by his wife to greet the guest—otherwise, why would he be standing around in this sweltering heat?

Once they were seated in the living room, Ye Xiaoxiao finally broke the news to Ye Changning.

Ye Changning frowned. "Does that mean I won’t be able to see Xiao Xiao often from now on?"

Ye Xiaoxiao blinked. "You can always visit me."

Originally inclined to object, Ye Changning suddenly changed his mind when he recalled recent events in the capital. "Leaving the capital isn’t a bad idea. It’s not like you’re never coming back. When are you leaving?"

Ye Xiaoxiao rested her chin on her hand, studying Ye Changning. "Third Brother, you change your mind fast."

Ye Changning was thinking about the mess with the Haos. If Xiao Xiao stayed in the capital, what if she got caught up in it?

Rather than waiting for trouble to come knocking, it was better for her to leave with Lu Hanchuan.

Ye Changning turned to Lu Hanchuan, his tone laced with warning. "You better treat my sister right, or I won’t let you off easy."

Lu Hanchuan responded smoothly. "Naturally. No matter where we are, I’ll always take care of Xiao Xiao."

Ye Changning had to admit, Xiao Xiao… was clearly doing well.

…

Lu Hanchuan’s new posting began on June 10th. Before his departure, his brothers insisted on throwing him a send-off party.

It wasn’t just a simple banquet—after all, everyone knew Lu Hanchuan was starting his government post. Beyond friendship, there were plenty of politics involved.

"Babe, you coming?" he asked.

"I’ll pass. I need to handle some company and Rende Pharmacy business."

Ye Xiaoxiao declined Lu Hanchuan's invitation, not just because she was genuinely busy, but also because she had no interest in their little party.

"If I wrap up early, I’ll swing by for you."

Lu Hanchuan also had no choice but to attend—he owed his brothers this much.

The venue was the Chenfeng Grand Hotel under Liang Chengxu's name.

That day, the hotel was cleared out for the event, and a row of luxury cars lined the entrance—any one of them could set a working-class family for life.

When Lu Hanchuan arrived, the hotel manager at the entrance scrambled to bow and usher him inside, his attitude exceptionally deferential.

Face unreadable, Lu Hanchuan stepped into the hotel, his broad-shouldered, narrow-waisted figure impeccable in a tailored suit, his born-to-command presence turning heads.

The moment he appeared, everyone present knew the main guest had arrived.

"Why so many people?" Lu Hanchuan said, voice dripping with boredom.

Since Liang Chengxu had organized the event, it was only natural that a few industry types would crash alongside close friends.

"Can't be helped. Too many people wanted to see you—just brush them off if you don’t feel like it."

Liang Chengxu knew his childhood friend’s temperament well—him showing up at all was a major concession.

Jiang Yi had been eagerly waiting from the start, only to realize now that Lu Hanchuan had come alone. He immediately whined, "You didn’t bring Xiao Xiao?"

Lu Hanchuan shot him a sidelong glance. "Like my wife’s got time for this?"

Jiang Yi grudgingly let it slide—Ye Xiaoxiao really was quite busy. He then asked, "Bro Lu, since you're getting reassigned, is Xiao Xiao going with you?"

This was something everyone else was curious about as well.

Even Xu Linfeng chimed in, "Yeah, not long ago, General Zhou mentioned his old war wounds were flaring up again and wanted to ask your wife for help. Her pull with the brass is even better than yours with the Military Commission—it can’t be easy for her to leave the capital, right?"

The older generation was getting on in years, and who didn’t suffer from the occasional headache or fever?

With a TCM prodigy like Ye Xiaoxiao around, they could rest easier.

There were plenty of young doctors in the capital, and no shortage of highly skilled physicians, but none quite like her—a genius specializing in difficult and complicated cases, capable of stealing patients back from Death’s doorstep.

"What kind of logic is that? No matter how good the connections, they can’t just take my wife."

Lu Hanchuan had finally gotten Xiao Xiao’s agreement, and now not even God himself could talk him out of it—he was definitely taking her with him.

Xu Linfeng patted Lu Hanchuan’s shoulder. "At least you're not going far—just over an hour by plane. If anyone really needs her, they can just have her choppered in."

Liang Chengxu cut in, "Enough, she’s not a damn package to be airlifted. Let’s go drink over there."

Originally meant as a farewell for Lu Hanchuan, the gathering had now drawn a crowd, and inevitably, people came to join in the excitement.

But Lu Hanchuan wasn’t one to humor just anyone—most were there just to get face time with him.

Di Yu approached with a glass in hand to greet Lu Hanchuan.

Seeing that the other man had no intention of drinking, he didn’t dare insist, making small talk before leaving.

As soon as he was out of earshot, Han Xing immediately remarked, "See him? He was this close to being family."

Lu Hanchuan hadn't noticed the person earlier, but Han Xing's remark made him look over.

"Who are you talking about?"

Han Xing wore a gossipy expression. "Di Yu. His wife is He Jingxuan."

Lu Hanchuan happened to know He Jingxuan's name—he had looked into her when dealing with the He family last time.

He had no love for the He family, and his eyes darkened slightly.

Han Xing threw an arm around Lu Hanchuan’s shoulders. "But I bet they’ll divorce soon. Word is her family might send He Jingxuan to a psychiatric hospital."

"Oh?"

Lu Hanchuan had been accompanying Xiao Xiao back to Baishi Village and was out of the loop on the capital’s latest drama.

Han Xing spilled all the tea.

By the end, Lu Hanchuan smirked and delivered a sharp verdict. "Serves them right."

"But honestly, the Di family went too far this time. If the He family still had someone backing them, they’d have paid for treating a daughter like that long ago."

Though Han Xing pitied He Jingxuan, he had no intention of interfering.

In the capital, the golden rule was to mind one’s own business.

The Di family might be unscrupulous, but they’ve got powerful connections.

Lu Hanchuan, however, suspected the Di family won’t be around much longer.

The higher-ups were cracking down hard on misconduct—things aren’t as loose as they used to be.

Jiang Yi chimed in angrily. "Di Yu is a piece of work too. When’s that family gonna crash and burn?"

Liang Chengxu gave the agitated Jiang Yi a look. "What’d Di Yu ever do to you?"

Jiang Yi tilted his head up defiantly. "I just can’t stand him, that’s all."