-018-
The next morning, a light drizzle fell.
Xuan Yang woke up a bit later; Xie Xinglan had already left.
There was a message left on her phone: the car keys were on the shoe cabinet in the entryway, and she also asked Xuan Yang to have dinner together in the evening.
Xuan Yang replied with a thank you.
Xie Xinglan sent another message: [Really not considering living with me?]
[I won't charge you rent.]
Before Xuan Yang decided to move out of the Xuan family home, Xie Xinglan had already suggested she come live with her.
But Xuan Yang refused.
First, because Jinshui Bay was far from Junda Law Firm, and second, because she didn't want to cause Xie Xinglan any trouble.
During those years Xuan Yang was in New York, Xie Xinglan had already helped her a lot, openly and secretly.
[I've already rented a place.]
Xuan Yang brushed it off.
Xie Xinglan: [Alright, anyway, my place is a bit far from your office. When I buy a property near Junda, I'll invite you to live with me again.]
Xuan Yang: [Sure, by then I'll definitely cling tightly to Princess Lanlan's leg!]
Xie Xinglan: [Smooth talker.]
Actually, Xuan Yang knew very well that Xie Xinglan wouldn't be able to buy a property near Junda anytime soon.
After all, her training school was in Jinshui Bay, so she still had to consider her commute.
Xuan Yang tidied up a bit, grabbed Xie Xinglan's car keys, and headed out: [I'm moving. See you tonight.]
Xie Xinglan: [Transfer]
Xie Xinglan: [I guess you don't have much money left. Take this for now, for emergencies.]
Xuan Yang stood frozen at the entrance for a moment, torn between tears and laughter.
—How could there be such a good best friend as Xie Xinglan in the world?
On the way back to the Xuan family home, Xuan Yang had a light breakfast.
She took her time getting back, choosing a time when she was unlikely to run into her adoptive parents.
Sure enough, when Xuan Yang returned, only Aunt Wang and the butler were busy with their own tasks in the huge Xuan Family Villa.
Xuan Yang went to her room to pack, and headed straight for the bathroom to find the ring she had taken off yesterday.
After a moment's thought, she slipped it onto her left ring finger and sent a photo to Zhou Dang as proof.
[President Zhou, the ring is back in place.]
At that time, Zhou Dang was in a company meeting.
He had succeeded as CEO of the Zhou Group and was also the founder and head of Anchao Technology.
So his daily workload was quite heavy, especially since he was busy consolidating Anchao Technology under the Zhou Group.
Thus, Zhou Dang didn't see Xuan Yang's message right away.
By the time the meeting ended, it was already over half an hour later.
After seeing the message, the corners of Zhou Dang's mouth involuntarily curled up, and he called Xuan Yang.
Xuan Yang had already packed up and left; she was sitting in Xie Xinglan's car at that moment, staring blankly at the small amount of luggage in the back seat through the rearview mirror.
As if surprised that her luggage was so sparse.
It made borrowing the car seem almost unnecessary.
At the ring of the phone, Xuan Yang snapped out of her jumbled thoughts and glanced at the caller ID.
She answered the call.
"What are you doing?" Zhou Dang's voice came through.
From his tone, he seemed to be in a good mood.
Xuan Yang told the truth: "Moving."
Zhou Dang: "Just you by yourself?"
Xuan Yang: "There isn't much stuff. I borrowed Lanlan's car, so it's convenient."
Zhou Dang was silent for a moment, then responded with an "mm," changing the subject: "Want to have lunch together?"
"Probably not; after I move the stuff, I'll have to tidy up the new place. I'll probably be busy until late." Xuan Yang wasn't deliberately refusing; she was just being honest.
She also planned to buy some furniture and decorate the rental a bit.
After all, it would be her own home from now on.
She said to Zhou Dang: "When I'm done, I'll treat you to a meal."