-017- Can I Have a Hug?
Around eleven at night, Zhou Dang drove Xuan Yang back to the Xuan Family Villa to pack some luggage.
"Wait for me here. I'll need you to take me to Lanlan's place later," Xuan Yang said as she got out of the car, discussing with Zhou Dang.
Zhou Dang was a bit uneasy. "Let me go in with you. If you run into your adoptive parents, I'm afraid it'll be hard for you to get away."
Xuan Yang: "No need. They should be asleep by now."
Not to mention anything else, her adoptive parents' sleep schedule was always pretty good.
But Xuan Yang underestimated the impact tonight's events had on the elder couple.
In the living room downstairs, the lights were still blazing at this hour.
"The young mistress is back!"
The moment Xuan Yang stepped into the entrance, Aunt Wang went to the living room to announce her.
Her voice was loud, and soon Mr. and Mrs. Xuan, along with Xuan Yao, came over.
Xuan Yang was changing her shoes in the entryway, a little stunned.
Seeing her adoptive parents and their daughter come over in a group, she sighed inwardly.
Her tone was still relatively calm. "I'm just here to pick up some things."
Chen Yinrou and Xuan Yinnian looked at her with increasingly complicated expressions, both seeming to have something to say but holding back.
Xuan Yao, on the other hand, was more straightforward, her resentment visible on her face. "Xuan Yang, you really have some tricks up your sleeve!"
Xuan Yang finished changing her shoes, her gaze calm and cold as it fell on her. "I'll take that as a compliment."
Xuan Yao: "..."
"What exactly did you do? How could Zhou Dang possibly marry you!"
Xuan Yang walked inside, heading upstairs to pack.
As she passed Xuan Yao, she gave her a faint glance and said lightly, "Then you should ask him, not me."
With that, Xuan Yang greeted her adoptive parents. "I'm going to my room to get some things. Zhou Dang is still waiting in the car."
Xuan Yang went upstairs.
Xuan Yinnian's expression was grim; he had many questions.
But upon hearing that Zhou Dang was waiting in the car, he didn't dare delay Xuan Yang too long.
Chen Yinrou, however, pursued the question: "You're not coming back to sleep tonight?"
Xuan Yang paused at the stairs, stood still for a moment, then turned to meet Chen Yinrou's incredulous gaze. "That's the plan."
She knew Chen Yinrou had misunderstood something, but she didn't intend to explain. "After all, I'm married."
Chen Yinrou: "..."
She still couldn't accept the fact that Xuan Yang had married Zhou Dang. No matter what, it shouldn't be her sitting in the position of Mrs. Zhou.
Seeing that the three of them had nothing more to say, Xuan Yang turned and continued upstairs.
Tonight, she only packed a few things, and in the meantime, she sent a message to Xie Xinglan.
Fifteen minutes later, Xuan Yang came downstairs.
Mr. and Mrs. Xuan had already gone to rest, leaving only Xuan Yao waiting by the entrance.
As soon as she saw Xuan Yang, she began venting her dissatisfaction. "I don't believe the Zhou family will accept you. Second Aunt said Zhou Dang is the next heir of the Zhou family."
"Even if you can seduce Zhou Dang with your wiles, the Zhou elders won't allow someone like you to enter the family."
"Xuan Yang, I'm waiting to see you make a fool of yourself."
Xuan Yang was unimpressed. "Is that so? Then I'm afraid you'll be disappointed."
"Fine, just don't come crying back home." With that final remark, Xuan Yao turned and went upstairs first.
Xuan Yang watched her retreating figure, finding it amusing.
How could she ever come back to the Xuan family to cry? There was no one here to stand up for her.
An hour later, Xuan Yang arrived safely at Xie Xinglan's place in Zhou Dang's car.
Before parting, Zhou Dang glanced at her empty ring finger on her left hand. The jealous words he'd held back all night finally came out: "Does the ring not fit well, or don't you like the design?"
Only then did Xuan Yang remember that she had taken off the ring while showering and forgotten to put it back on.
"Neither..." Xuan Yang was a bit embarrassed. "I'm not used to it, so I forgot."
After saying that, afraid Zhou Dang might overthink, she quickly added, "I'll definitely put it back on tomorrow."
Zhou Dang frowned, staring at her fair, slender fingers for a moment, but said nothing more.
Xuan Yang breathed a sigh of relief. "Be careful on the way back. Remember to let me know when you get home."
Zhou Dang's expression softened. He stood by the car door, one hand in his pocket, and silently gazed at Xuan Yang from half a meter away for a few seconds. "Can I have a hug?"
Xuan Yang: "Huh?"